Who: Sif and Loki What: When: Lunch sometime after this network exchange. Rating/Warning: Green
After recent events, Loki couldn't imagine that Lady Sif was having an easy time blending in with Midgard very well. He always left a double of himself behind when he was out and about, which was becoming less taxing on him as he grew more accustomed to doing so. But more troubling, because he noted how grave her expression had become, and that she came and went on her own, with only few words spoken.
It was becoming cause for concern. Whereas Thor might not know how to approach such a topic, Loki thought it might require a more subtle approach. He also meant to seek amends for Darcy's rather blunt announcement, which on Asgard would have cast an unflattering light on the royal court. One did not make such proclamations without the intent to do...something further about it. 'Something further' was putting things politely.
As part of his new-found desire to right some wrongs of the past, he would make amends with Sif, so that everyone could reside tolerably in the same home, until the Asgardians arrived. And by then, he hoped, they would have enough coin in the coffers to rebuild.
After sending a text to Sif to let her know what time to meet him in the kitchen, Loki made chicken in a cherry-wine pan sauce, making sure there was enough leftovers for everyone's evening meal. It sounded worthy enough to try while being relatively simple, and when he tasted the sauce it was quite flavorful and not at all sweet. His cooking skills were improving, even though they were on what was known to Midgardians to be 'a budget.'
Budgets were horrible things and should be outlawed.
Sif was not acquainted to spending much time around others as she had lived a fairly solitary life during her banishment from Asgard and had spent a vast majority of her time undertaking bounty hunting. It would seem that there was a need for a similar occupation here on Midgard which was fortunate as there was definitely a requirement for funds. She had thus far made “dolla” according to somebody in the office from which she obtained her jobs and had put that money into the communal pot.
She was in her room, sharpening her blade and oiling her armour, when she received the text from Loki informing her of what time to meet him in the kitchen. She placed aside her blade and pulled her hair back into a plait before she pulled on a cardigan that she curled around her form and barefooted she padded through. “It smells good,” she said in passing as she collected a bottle of wine from the nearby counter and went a step further by also gathering glasses.
"Why thank you, Lady Sif." Loki looked rather pleased with himself and her praise. He plated their food in such a way that it was artfully arranged and placed it down next to the silverware on the long rectangular table, side by side. He had tried his hardest to recreate a little bit of Asgard in the common areas. It was old habit from the banquet table to sit in such a manner, as comrades in arms, rather than sitting further apart across a table. And, in a way, he meant it to show some small measure of solidarity in the less than ideal situation they found themselves in.
He waited until she had the wine and glasses, before sitting down and taking it upon himself to open the bottle and pour a generous amount of wine, for them both.
"I do hope this will make amends," he said, smiling past a moment of embarrassment. Loki didn't really manage awkward very well. It was there, it was present, and - if it was tangible - he wanted to stab it to death. He was the cause of Sif's melancholy and her behavior, after all. "Although I fear that there is much more than sordid announcements I should be making amends for."
Loki did a very good job of recreating Asgard in the Midgardian world they now found themselves in and it was a balm to an otherwise aching wound. Sif was grateful for these touches and did not mind his magic as much now as she had done in the past.
She collected the glass in her hand and regarded the liquid before she took a liberal if not altogether generous sip. “I would be grateful if sordid announcements are few and far between,” Sif remarked as she collected up her fork and knife. “Some things are best kept between you and your.. significant other.”
But he was right, there was no error in his judgement that her behaviour was the direct result of having been banished and been too long alone.
"Yes," he conceded, "I can fathom how that it was untoward, considering it went against the sort of conduct expected of the royal court."
The royal court, which was an increasingly small circle, indeed. It likely didn't matter anymore, as they were on Midgard and it was technically only Thor. The rest of what he knew was all lies, lies, lies.
As for his significant other, which Darcy surely was (and he was still amused by her rebelliousness as well), he didn't want to call further attention to it. He still looked upon Sif with too much unrequited fondness, an old wound that was well hidden and long since scarred over. It was why he tried to be as quiet as possible while letting out a long exhale, and managed to do so with great success. Sif always seemed to him to run very hot or very cold, which was a duplicity he normally liked, as she always showed what she felt. But lately there was so much cold, that he wondered just how much was being buried. It was a tactic he tried to do, although his temper got the best of him.
"You are still bearing the weight of the banishment," Loki said, while cutting a perfectly proportioned bite of his food. "The blame for such an act is purely my own. Is there some measure of recompense that I might offer, to set you at ease? Or perhaps there are words you still wish to say to me, and have yet to speak them."
It may not have mattered but their home and their culture was so steeped in history that to simply forget in favour of this new world they found themselves in seemed disrespectful. She stabbed at her meat unforgivingly so and then her eyes cut upwards to regard Loki through dark lashes.
"There is no measure of recompense for your actions," she said simply and to the point. "You sought to claim the throne under the guise of Odin and feared I would see through your ruse so you banished me. Forbade me to ever set foot on Asgard again and made me feel as if I had failed Odin and was no longer worthy of his court. Pray tell, Loki, how does one begin to set somebody at ease after that?"
She exhaled a breath. "Still, you have proven on several occasions that you are seemingly changed and you do feel guilt which I did not think you possible of. It should be a matter left in the past however you will need to understand that I am not familiar nor accustomed to company and I certainly will forgive however I may never forget."
It was that simple, forgiveness was one thing but Sif, well, she had a long memory.
“Also you would do well to keep your matters private less you wish to draw unwanted attention to easier targets than either myself, you or Thor.”
That they were of Asgard was always on his mind, even when he himself felt he was cast out. Reading such a post as that was both shocking and infuriated him at first, but after he calmed down he realized Darcy couldn't be held to the same standard. He was angry but, like Sif, forgiveness was one thing and his memory was also very long. It contained every begrudging word or every speck of ridicule that he had ever endured.
The knife screeched across the plate for a split second. Loki was clenching his jaw at what Sif said and at the thought that Darcy might be considered a target. He hadn't exactly thought about that, and he sat straight backed and staring straight forward as a result.
After a full minute in which he took a sedate bite of food and made a show of sipping some wine, he cleared his throat a little bit.
"As you wish, Sif. I hope then that I might lure you out more often, so you are not alone with your thoughts. Perhaps we should spend more time finding what we were not at odds over, rather than my concentrating on that which we were." It was a lot to admit, and so his voice was kept soft and his wording carefully thought out. "And I will take your good council to heart. Although I am often wearing an illusion, that is of great concern if she is seen with Stark or the others. Darcy does not know how to defend herself, except for her lightning weapon. I do not know how many uses she would get out of that."
He went back to eating, mulling over that concern, looking vaguely distressed now that it was a seed planted in his mind, taking root.
Perhaps he had not been thinking as clearly as he could have been. Men it would seem were easily distracted by the pleasures of the flesh, even ones such as Loki who thought himself above it all. “Perhaps,” she agreed with a nod of her head. “Midgardians are far more fragile than us Asgardians.”
She took a sip of her wine and leaned back into her chair, gaze considering the liquid until it returned to Loki who looked very much as if she’d killed his favourite pet.
“She should learn to defend herself if she wishes to be involved in all this madness.”
Loki did look as though that was the case, his brows knit together, and lips pressed together into a tense line. He was deep in thought and only made a thoughtful 'hmm' noise at Sif's council, which was good advice that he knew he should heed.
If he attempted to teach Darcy, it might end with bickering, followed by nothing constructive getting done. It probably wasn't best that he do so, but a sudden idea occurred to him. Darcy was fragile but perhaps the odds of her surviving might be evened out more in her favor.
"You offer wise council," Loki replied, glancing over to Sif to gauge her reaction. "Perhaps you might teach her how, if you are both willing to do so? Or perhaps you and the Valkyrie, even. Darcy is under the impression she is unnoticable, as a relative no one. I do not think she yet realizes her status has changed, quite drastically."
Sif arched an eyebrow at the proposal that was being put forth by Loki and picked up a vegetable with her fork to chew on it slowly and thoughtfully. Her silence was honestly deafening along with being long, very long, eternal even.
“Fine,” was the single word that left her lips, “But,” she began before holding up a very long very straight finger, “She must understand that I do not and will not abide any tomfoolery, sarcasm or slacking. And it will not be easy.” And then she clicked her fingers as she tried to wrestle the saying from within the depths of her mind, she had seen it on television the other day.
“No walk in the park!” That was it, hopefully?
He was accustomed to such silences, having fallen into long bouts of such at regular intervals. That was why he waited patiently for Sif to come to a decision, while eating the remainder of the meal, and drinking the remainder of his wine. He poured himself some more, and topped off her glass. Then he found himself raising his eyebrows at Sif and her pointy finger which illustrated her making an important point.
He smiled gratefully, before nodding his assent.
"I do believe you have the correct phrase," he assured her, sounding greatly relieved and smiling with ease. It was good to see Sif become more a semblance of her old self for a moment, and it gave him hope that perhaps he might be more his old self again. He actually got a little lump in his throat at the sight, having to force himself to keep a straight face so he didn't make a fool of himself in her presence. "I shall relay that to Darcy, and see if she is amiable to the idea. I do hope she is, although she is nowhere as strong as you. So do bear that in mind during your training. Yet I find your points are valid, and it is becoming increasingly necessary. If Midgardians had any propensity for magic, I would try to teach her how to throw up a basic shield."
Perhaps he could find another way to do that, using magic. But it would take time and the right supplies, which would require a lot of travel. A prospect that would rob him of the energy he needed to manage things in their home, to heal anyone who was injured as best he could, to locate lost relics, and to help them find who had wounded his brother. An act that could not go unpunished. Speaking of which....
"Sif, I know you have been hunting more as of late. Have you found any trace of those who injured Thor?"
“I encountered the Spider-Man,” Sif explained. “He was in the pursuit of those in weapons. It would seem those in possession of these weapons are embolden to parade them on the open streets.” And she had returned several individuals to the local law enforcement as well as helping out local Midgardians who found themselves in need of assistance.
She finished up her meal and helped herself to the replenished wine.
“It would seem we are not the only interested parties.”
"Spider-man." Loki arched an eyebrow and mused outloud, "What odd names these heroes have."
Even so, the fact these weapons were out in this metropolis and could be everywhere was of deep concern.
"And it would seem that the task will be made all the more difficult. I have made the rounds of this area with one of my doubles, although in the guise of an old woman. I've found nothing of use, sadly."
Nothing other than petty criminals who got the fright of their life when they tried to accost an old woman, and their hands went right through her. It didn't help when he said 'boo' at them before they ran off screaming, but it was a bit of fun. Perhaps they would think twice in the future.
"If you wish for company," he offered, "do not hesitate to ask. Even if I am not here, I always leave a double of myself behind to mind our home. You have merely to speak to him, or to text me. Or you could even ask Valkyrie, or Thor...as long as you know you need not do everything alone, any longer."
“I suspect he was less a man and more a boy,” Sif shared with a shrug. “Though that does not lessen his bravery nor his intent.” She was frustrated, the same way she was sure that others were as well. She hated the thought that there were people out there who had injured Thor who had not known true justice.
When he mentioned how she did not need to do things alone any longer Sif regarded her wine as if it held all the answers in the world. Strangely enough she at this precise moment heard the voice of Hogun who had once told Fandral that he had enjoyed self pity for long enough and that it was time to focus on the duty which was clear and ahead of them.
“Thank you,” Sif finally said after a moment. “I’ll be sure to remember that in future.”
"You're quite welcome," he murmured, staring at his own very empty wine glass as though he was wishing it could fill itself.
Loki did make a face at the Spider-man being a Spider-boy, but they learned combat at a young age. Perhaps that was not too odd, then. They could use all the allies they could get to figure out this mystery, and seek revenge for the slight against Asgard, and the threat it posed to everyone. Loki being Loki, it was also a little self-serving to see this finished, as he could devote time and attention to other plans. Mostly in the form of treasure hunting and staying aware of any threat of Thanos showing up. Again.
After hmming softly, Loki glanced over at Sif and smiled a little. It didn't seem like anything more need be said for the time being, and so he was content to let a companionable silence settle in.