9609/Entirely Off-Leash

Entirely Off-Leash
Date of Scene:	16 October 2019
Location:	Asgard Palace, Asgard
Synopsis:	Loki and Sif discuss Barnes and Thor.
Cast of Characters:	Loki, Sif

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Loki has posed:
The destination that Loki chose was, in fact, part of his personal quarters. He emerges from the portal in an easy lope. A lope -- as Loki is still shapeshifted into the form of an enormous wolf-husky mix. His shape is that of a big, black wolf, with a blaze of white on his nose between his eyes, and on his mid chest, with a Husky's brilliant blue eyes. He exits the portal, near the window, and strode over to his bed, jumping up onto it and laying down promptly on his wolfish belly.

Sif has posed:
Sif steps through the portal and blinks to see the resulting location. Perhaps she'd expected elsewhere, like the gardens or a side hall within the palace. Regardless, she steps over to the side of the bed and tilts her head while wearing a puckish little smirk.

"And to think: had I not arrived as I did and startled young Agent Barnes, there might have been cavorting yet." Putting her hands on her thighs, she then bends at the waist to lean in close nearly nose to nose with the greatly-sized wolf. "You seemed as if you were enjoying yourself. I very nearly feel badly for interrupting."

Not for startling Bucky, apparently.

Loki has posed:
Loki narrows his eyes at her a little bit, his shoulders shifting, as if he were deciding if he were insulted or not by it. There's a pause, and then he moves:

Loki-wolf rotates into a flop onto his side, one eye observing her now, tail curled in an amused motion. He doesn't talk to her in any language other than body. But his exposed side does clearly display his comfort level to be a little playful, allow guard to drop some.

Sif has posed:
"Ohhhhh...come now, Loki," the Aesir chides him very gently while he gives her a gleaming squint. She grins to see him rotate to his side and then dares to settle a hip upon the edge of the bed. Given earlier's permission to run her fingers through the nearly-leonine ruff of fur about his neck, Sif reaches to do so yet again.

"He seems a good man, Agent Barnes, if touched deeply by discord. I could sense it." Her eyes go half-lidded and distant, brows barely beginning to meet. "I have seen it before in the young Einherjar. His dog was very charming."

To speak of Lili seems to help her shed the momentary reflection. "She seemed a sweet and simple creature, loyal to her young man." Her smile down at the wolf is again fond, perhaps a new expression still to be seen on the usually icy Valkyrie's features.

Loki has posed:
With a sudden bucking motion of torso, the wolf shapeshifts. It's not at all like a werewolf: this is more like the wolf leaped upwards and instantly melted into Loki, back into the same position Loki was in. Black suit, dark hair sleeked back into a ponytail, rich purple shirt under the suit has a gleam of silk. He isn't disheveled at all. Her hand, if she doesn't pull away, would end up in the vicinity of his collar.

"You're not jealous, are you? I assure you, she was a horrific dance partner, entirely out of control," Loki teases. "By the way. I didn't know you had baby-talk in you, Sif," Loki says abruptly, tone teasing, a smirk under it. There's no malice in it; he lifts to fingers and attempts to run the back of the fingers up her upper arm.

"Barnes is my asset from the sanctum," Loki supplies evenly. "Loyal in his way; he needs my help. I've been generous with him."

Sif has posed:
Sif's hand does lift, but not far. The webby brushing of warmly-tempered magic is becoming familiar to her now. As such, her palm does end up rested at Loki's collar. Her eyebrows lift and then she tosses her head in a clear eyeroll at his claim of jealousy.

With a fetching tilt of her face then back towards him, the Princess gives Loki a proper eyebrowing for his tease. "I have a good number of things present in me that few have seen," she allows, dropping her elbow in order to see if she can't gather up his graceful fingers entwined with her own.

Her eyes rise to his face. "Agent Barnes is your assset?" There's a thoughtful sound to follow. "Generous how so?"

Loki has posed:
Loki's fingers are captured; he doesn't mind at all or dodge: or even pay that much attention. He reclines comfortably on his side, leaving her to do as she will with his fingers, his eyes moving towards the ceiling a little as he draws up the information she's asking.

"Yes. He's very mentally damaged: tortured by other humans in a rather disgusting way, actually," Loki explains. "I've cleared that out for him some: helped him, in exchange for him doing some tasks for me. Ones he's liked, mind. I've sent him to go help others tortured like he was, that also were... well. One of the locations had dared lay hand on Asgardians," Loki says, as if he were proud of his generosity, but venomous in his vengeance.

Sif has posed:
There is a distracted, sensate manner to how Sif then continues to hold his hand; fingertips and palm unconsciously map out the lines of tendons. Her thumb bumps across the back of his hand after she gently holds the last third of his fingers. Slowly it crosses the plane of skin and slows more yet to hear of what has occurred to the young brunet so quick to draw a weaponry on her.

Loki will feel the Valkyrie go still at the very end of his explanation. "...damn them to the seven hells," she growls under her breath. Her eyes snap to cold as quickly as the mercury on an Antarctic thermometer. "If he enacted justice in the name of our people, I find him higher yet in my estimation."

Loki has posed:
"I got vengeance, justice for our people," Loki says, his voice low, dangerous. "I haven't told Thor - or anyone - about this," he says slowly. "Thor and his love of Midgard, he would have been soft on them. He came speaking their highest praises today. He /knew/ I was injured, but he didn't even ask about my health. Just brought forward how Midgardians are //unhappy//," Loki says, frustration. "And his interest in restoring Odin? So vexed is he by the weight of the crown, he seeks it to evade the duties. I'm frustrated, Sif. How I continue to act over and over for Asgard, in shadow and secrets, and..." Loki shakes his head suddenly, staring at her, his brows knit, dark eyes fiery. "And my brother cares more for Midgard's -feelings-."

Sif has posed:
Her brows now firmly meet to divot deeply above her nose. Sif lets out slow almost rough sigh. Despite herself, she looks askance of Loki and of those eyes gone to shadowed-jade. Unoccupied fingers rise from her lap to touch at the pommel of her sword as if it were a lodestone in the situation.

"I cannot speak for your brother in this, Loki, and...I dare not try," she adds more hesitantly. "You know full well how I would have dealt with those who dared to injure our people." With the swift and shining starfall of sword unless checked.

"I spoke in your favor when he crossed my path after the latest lesson with the young Einherjar," she then reports to him even as her regard slides back him. Some of the immediate, knee-jerk rage at the report had ebbed to be replaced with some undefined if no less keen emotion. "I reminded him to look at what you had done for our people -- that you held the reins in recovering our world -- in that you had returned missing relics."

She swallows. "That time changes all things."

Loki has posed:
"Still, it's harsh to be reminded my brother cares more for where the Tesseract is than for me," Loki snorts, but lifts a shoulder. He does believe that, it seems: and there's one of those exposed scars.

"And he wonders why I always keep my secrets? Hmh. Some things have to be done -- for our people," Loki agrees. He drops his head back to the bed's surface, rotated more onto his back, and allows his eyes to shut. She still has his hand, his fingers slightly curved. "I can't be questioned at every turn." He squeezes her hand, then: "I took care of those Midgardians that dared touch us. And I always will."

Sif has posed:
Sif is silent for a time once the mage finishes speaking. Her eyes rest upon his face, marking its contours and the attempt to at least appear to be relaxed despite the mercurial flicker of moods.

Her thumbs moves to brush across his knuckles in an offering of consolation. "I imagine it is frustrating to have your gestures examined. Were that others could see as I do. But Loki..." She peters off and seems to roll her eyes almost to herself. "Your brother loves you dearly. This much I know without question. If he spoke with the weight of the crown on his head and lips, then speak to him when he may set it aside, yes?"

Loki has posed:
"We didn't speak in public," Loki says, eyes opening quickly to glance at her. Loki then smiles, a sleek grin: one that doesn't reach his eyes, not really. But that doesn't make his intentions bad, or evil. It just makes him putting a smile on, and not doing the best job of it.

"I appreciate that you /are/ seeing my gestures. It's different to speak of them so... directly," Loki says. The smile turns more real, as his gaze softens some. He moves to sit up, and turns his head, his chin near her shoulder. "I'll work on him, remind him of how he trusted me in New Asgard to advise him. I thought it would carry over; maybe in time it will. I never thought you'd be on my side, but here we are," Loki says, lingering there.

Sif has posed:
"Existence itself is unpredictable, is it not?" It's a deliberately rhetorical question from the Valkyrie. Turning her face the better to look into the magician's green eyes, she can be seen to visibly relax in turn. Social mirroring does encourage itself now and then.

"I see your gestures, yes, Loki. In time, your brother will as well. You speak truly: he is stubborn and we both know it well." Her lips quirk at the corners. "You make your people proud."

Loki has posed:
Loki considers her worlds, then lifts his head just a little. "Well. Not /always/," Loki says in a low whisper, private. His smile is mercurial. "But lately, yes. And I like hearing you say it," chuckles the mage. He pauses, and then leans in, face close to hers. He offers a brief kiss, before smirking slightly. Loki's shifted back towards his earlier mood, a more playful one, discarding the frustration.

Sif has posed:
Sif tries not to smile at the flirtatious compliment wending her way, but she abjectly fails. Her eyes track his closure towards her and they flutter shut at the peck of a kiss.

"I cannot think when you do that," comes the frivolous complaint on her own musical murmur. Dark lashes rise to remain heavy, shading her eyes bluer yet. "But I think you know this." She doesn't retreat from him in the least in an obvious showing of trust.

Loki has posed:
"Were you looking for me, earlier?" Loki asks, perceptively. After all, she did appear right there near him, during his little game. "Did you need something?" he asks. He doesn't stop her from thinking, just remains there, though he does preen a little. Like the peacock he is, he shrugs out of his suit jacket, and pulls his hair loose of the ponytail, watching her.

Sif has posed:
Sif watches him back, fully aware of the display and frank enough with herself to be open about enjoying it. Her eyes fall from his face to the motions of the coat's removal and then to the unfurling of the mage's dark hair. His question apparently requires the Valkyrie to yank her focus back to it with some effort. The delay in answering him is leading in itself.

"I was...curious as to where you had gone. Your attention has been admittedly within Asgard itself," she confesses.

Loki has posed:
"Hmmmmm," Loki replies, tilting his head. He looks down, between them. "I had been working towards sending him back into the sanctum, to confirm the status there, after Thor had suggested that I may have need to watch my back with those mages," Loki says, his voice low. He watches her eyes a long moment. "Would it have been better to have asked you to go?" he wonders aloud, watching her watch him in return.

Sif has posed:
To hear there had been advisement of potential trouble with Midgard's magical community has Sif's eyes narrowing. The subtle lift of her chin doesn't shift even after he asks her his question.

"...would it." Statement? Question? The Princess appears to be thinking aloud even as her blue eyes hold his own. "I think you grant me a great compliment in hedging that I might take the temperature of the Sanctum's occupants when they are more familiar with Agent Barnes. Admittedly, I am curious to see its interior. I have visited the London Sanctum and found it most pleasing."

Her hand finally lifts from the pommel of her sword to return to her lap. The other gives Loki's fingers a gentle squeeze. "Let me accompany Agent Barnes if I can. They are trustful of him. Do understand that I will be clear about my presence if they press for an explanation, Loki." Her eyebrows rise. "I do not wish to bring more trouble upon your head."

Loki has posed:
Loki's eyes move to the pommel of the sword, where her hand was. He doesn't mind the blade there at all: Loki would hardly have a leg to stand on if he had a problem with someone having such a thing close at hand.

Loki always does.

"What would you say is the reason? That Loki sent you, as he was interested to continue to repair the relationship? Even after having restored to them their relics, offered to help repair the ley lines... I fail to see what you could harm, Sif." Loki smiles a little bit, and then moves to kiss the side of her lips, light. "You already know what I chose to do and why. Did I take the Sanctum from him? Yes," Loki's eyes glow. "He would not have helped us, been open enough to the risks. I took the risks upon myself... as you saw. The only price he paid was moving out of his house for a time. Hardly severe." Loki shrugs, and settles his face close to her neck, drawing to relax with her. To subconsciously seek comfort? Maybe. Could he find that rare thing, that comfort, with her?

Sif has posed:
The Valkyrie sighs now that Loki has drawn in close. Her eyes fall to nearly shut. Her murmur floats past her lips after she's turned her temple to rest against the fall of his sleek hair.

"Yes, I would tell them the same: that we wish for goodwill between our people. Let me know when you have spoken to Agent Barnes again. I shall accompany him. As I mentioned before, he is of interest to me. I understand him warrior to warrior," the Goddess of War reveals even as she leans into Loki's shadow.

Loki has posed:
"Or," teases Loki, "You can stay here, and we can let the Midgardian deal with the other Midgardians," chuckles Loki, drawing her hand across between them, covering it with his other hand. "I didn't bring Asgard back to spend all my time mucking about in Midgard; I hope to not have to," Loki says, his breathing warm and mild against her neck.

Sif has posed:
With both hands captured now, the Valkrie leans the harder into him. Despite the armor, she curves like a cat against his lean frame, knowing now after confirmation that he appears not to mind its smithed edges. Her cheek draws along his hair again and back, almost appearing to luxuriate in it.

"It is true. There are other matters here to attend to," Sif agrees in a tone gone markedly more dreamy than before. His words tickle on her skin in the best of ways.

Another sigh. "But I am unfortunately due to speak to the stablemaster. Typhon has been fussing in his stall and aggrieving the stablehands." It seems to take her some effort, but she does manage to separate herself from Loki's side. A lingering kiss to the outer corner of his lips is followed by a smile.

"Be well in my absence, my lord," she teases even as she stands to leave his room.

Loki has posed:
Loki smiles slyly as she stands and moves away, lounging on his bed with a relaxed confidence. "I'll do that, princess," Loki answers her, head tilted, watching her leave with a subtle, mysterious smile.