Who: Lara Croft and Loki Odinson What: Showing her the baller Asgardian library When: This is backdated to when Asgard appeared. Sorry, I'm a slow tagger Where: Fancy Library Rating: Low
On average, Lara considered herself to be stoic, at least she’s tried to be. Yet, today, it was rather difficult to hide her excitement. How many books had she read on Norse Mythology? As much as any other book once thought to be a myth. It was hard to imagine that she was standing in Asgard, sure it was more based off of the Marvel films, but it was still Asgard none-the-less. Add to the fact that Thor and Valkryie had offered to give her a tour, as well as Loki, it was difficult not to be excited.
The look of amazement never went away during the tour, and she almost felt ridiculous for asking so many questions, trying to compare what she was told and what she had read about in the past. When it was just Loki and Lara remaining after the tour, she had almost forgotten that he had promised a better tour. She turned to him and grinned at the God of Mischief.
“So? I remember someone saying they would give a much better tour.”
---
Loki had been doing his best to maintain his best behavior during the current predicament they all found themselves in. Never in a million years did he think he'd find himself in Asgard again, considering he had just seen his entire realm destroyed before his very eyes only a few months ago. There was something about being transported to it once more that left him feeling uneasy. Perhaps with a sense of anger, regret. Over the last several weeks stuck in this place, Loki had mostly been alone with his mind, wondering what past actions, if any, could have been altered to save his home. Yes, yes, Odin did tell them that Asgard was not a place but a people. But was it so wrong to care and have attachment to the former? It wasn't the people who loved him, it wasn't the people in which he sought knowledge and solace. It was Asgard. Thor might have been content with their father's response, but Loki certainly was not.
However, a certain opportunity did present itself. The library of Asgard had several texts that could be useful in their situation. Books on portals, traveling between realms, even some theorizing other dimensions. Hopefully, if taken, they would remain once this place eventually disappeared.
Struggling through the boredom that was the general tour of their home, Loki smiled mischievously as Lara found him afterwards. She was an interesting individual. Strong, with a good mind and a strong talent for research. The perfect counterpart when it came to figuring out the secrets of their prison, and perhaps, their captor. Whether the entity had good intentions or not, it didn't change the reality of what it was doing.
"Oh, I can certainly oblige," he said, holding out his arm to her. "But the question is, where would you like to start? The hidden treasure troves? Perhaps some object of power has been replicated there that could help in our pursuit of knowledge. Or, the library. Not the one open to the public, of course." He winked at that. "But the personal collection of the royalty of Asgard, and our best minds alike." Once he had her choice, Loki began to lead them both in the appropriate direction.
---
Lara had a comment ready but decided against it and took his arm. Such an odd gesture, but she knew, like in most places, it was considered polite. That and the very idea would throw Sam into a fit of laughter, if she were here...and if they were even on speaking terms.
“A nearly impossible choice.” Lara commented. Every single destination that Loki had mentioned held a specific appeal to her. She had a feeling he knew that already, but given his question, where would she like to start, suggested all trips were possible. Lara quietly hoped that they would be in Asgard long enough for her to see everything.
“I pick the library.” As they walked, she still turned her head from time to time to take in the architecture of Asgard. It was truly wonderful, Lara had never seen anything like it and the texts did not do it justice. “I’m curious.” Lara commented as a thought came to her head. “Did you ever read any of the texts written about you back on Earth, especially in the Nordic regions? There are still people today who still believe and worship-” She paused. “I guess I can’t say it's mythology since clearly you’re very real.”
---
At least she appreciated the finer things, it seemed, Loki giving her a slight nod as he made his way to the interior of Odin's stronghold, taking her through a series of hallways and rooms that would be difficult to remember had one not lived within these halls their entire life. Her question was an interesting one, Loki chuckling slightly as he shrugged half-heartedly. "It wasn't until my… confinement here," he mentioned casually, figuring imprisonment might be a little too harsh of a term. "That I began to read a few things, here and there. I never fully delved into the myths, but they had a few things right." He didn't exactly remember his shenanigans in times of old as clearly as he would have liked, but he had been alive for quite some time. It should be expected the mind would get a bit vague after a while.
"Though I still maintain they focus far too much on Odin and Thor. They're quite boring, really," he mentioned with an eye roll, rounding a corner into a very large hall with a vaulted ceiling, ending in a large, ornate door. Politely taking his arm away, Loki moved closer and waved his hands slightly, frowning when nothing occurred. "Well… what in the world… what was it again?" for a moment he struggled, before muttering a few words and repeating the gesture, a loud, grinding noise beginning as the door began to unlock and eventually swung open. "After you, Ms. Croft," he motioned, revealing the impressively ornate chamber within, filled with shelves upon shelves of ancient looking tomes.
---
Lara pressed her lips together, fighting the urge to ask him about Sleipnir. “You’re not wrong,” she answered. “From what I remember there was a lot about Odin and Thor.” They had even named a day of the week after Thor, but she guessed Loki knew that already and it didn’t seem like a good idea to say something.
She watched him at his first attempt to get the doors open. It was difficult where to focus, either the architecture and the detail of the doors or watching Loki use what she assumed to be magic to try and open them. As he motioned her forward, she stepped beside him and for a brief moment Lara forgot to breath.
It was beyond anything Lara had ever seen and so perfectly intact, which of course because this wasn’t some ancient rune she was exploring. There was so much, so many texts that the site was almost overwhelming.
“Holy shit.” She muttered. Trying to form more coherent words, she continued to take a step forward. “This is incredible.”
---
Oh, Loki was positively gleeful with that reaction, if only because it served to soothe the slight irritation that had bubbled to the surface over his brother and father. Always overshadowing the real talent of the family. But he supposed that didn't matter so much now. Those that worshipped them as gods were long gone, as was Asgard itself. It was difficult to remind himself of, if only because he was standing in Asgard right in that moment. But Loki understood magic enough to understand this wasn't his home. Just a home.
But the books should be the same..
"I'm glad you are impressed. Over there are our historical texts. Though take it all with a grain of salt. They do embellish many things," he said with an eye roll, motioning towards a specific part of the library. "Then there's books about the universe, the different realms, and there's magical theory," he continued to list off, motioning to the corresponding areas. "I'm not sure where you'd like to begin, but I figure if you do find something that interests you, feel free to take it back to your quarters. It's not like there's much of a line anywhere, waiting to get their hands on knowledge of old."
Flashing a wink in her direction, he couldn't help but ask. "So what is it exactly that you do? Back in your… world, I suppose?"
She seemed to know an awful lot about him, but Lara was for all intents and purposes, still a mystery.
---
Lara’s eyes followed direction as Loki named off each section and she had to admit that it was difficult for her to pick where to go first. At his comment about history, she snorted. “Everyone has a bias and writers do like to pick and choose what to leave out or not expand on their own history.” It was the same issue almost everywhere, certain parts of a country’s history not being taught or not being taught properly.
Lara raised her eyes at him. “Really? I don’t want to get any trouble. The last thing I need is an all powerful Asgardian breaking down my door.” Once again, Lara liked to think she could still hold her own in a fight, but knowing how strong they all were, she truly didn’t know how long she would last against one of them.
There was a slight pause as she looked through the texts. “I’m an archeologist, and explorer too, I guess you could say. History and learning about ancient civilizations are kind of my thing.” Carefully leaving out the part that usually it was because she was trying to track down evil corporations from trying to end the world. Getting lost in some kind of wilderness and coming across ancient tombs where she had to solve century old puzzles. A lot of gunfire, a lot of death, but Lara wasn’t quite ready to dive into the losses and what she’s had to do in order to survive.
---
"Oh, please. If anyone comes knocking, they can deal with me," Loki responded, half rolling his eyes at the very idea that someone would try to go against his decree. He was a Prince of Asgard still, whether this one, or the one that no longer existed. It also helped that since being back here, he did feel exceptionally invigorated. While he knew that was mostly in his head, born from the internal happiness he did harbor at seeing this place again, that didn't stop his ego from coming out in full swing.
Raising a brow as Lara responded to his inquiries, he gave her a bit of a hardened look, clicking his tongue against the inside of his cheek before he smiled. Though it wasn't exactly frightening, it was certainly questionable. If only because Loki could read people quite well, and he could tell there was so much more to the story there. Usually he'd try to force it out, simply because he was bored and he could. But self control won out. And not because he was afraid of the repercussions of perhaps upsetting her, and dealing with the backlash of others for such a crime. No, he genuinely enjoyed the woman's company, and didn't find himself wanting to push her away too hard, like he seemed to be doing with everyone else.
"I know there is a lot more to you than what meets the eye, Lara," he said, straightforward and deadpan as he looked her over. "However, if anyone understands keeping things close to one's chest, for whatever reason, it would be me."
Clapping his hands together, Loki began to wander, collecting a few tomes for himself that he had been wishing to get his hands on. And there was no time like the present. "Would you prefer to stay in here once you have your selections, or move on to somewhere more comfortable in which to study?" Not everyone appreciated the high ceilings and the slight draft of the large room.
---
Lara laughed. “So there are some perks to having a Prince on your side? Good to know,” she said teasingly. Not that Lara was the kind of person to ever take advantage of another, at least not on purpose. There were times she wondered how much she took advantage of Jonah’s friendship, but anytime she had brought it up, he always managed to tell her to shut it.
He was certainly perceptive, but Lara wasn’t unsurprised. There was a certain uncomfortable feeling that he could see right through her, but being used to standing her ground, even if she didn’t feel threatened, her walls weren’t easy to break through, but she appreciated that he didn’t push her further, none-the-less. It was difficult to determine if Loki would even understand what he had gone through. She had a sense that Valkyrie would, but she wasn’t sure about Loki. “Another day, perhaps.” It certainly wouldn’t hurt to tell some of the more interesting parts of her stories.
Lara continued to look as well. Her fingers trailing along the spines of each text, every few moments taking one out to look it over. She had a few a couple that interested her when Loki spoke. “This place doesn’t bother me at all. It reminds me a lot of my childhood home.” Strange how for a long time, Lara rarely wanted to set foot in that manor, but now there was a part of her that longed for it. She had no idea if the Entity would grant such a wish, it was already nice enough to send her some of her own things from home, she had doubts if it would send her actual home.
---
It reminded her of her childhood home? Now that was a new and interesting piece to the puzzle, Loki's eyebrows raising a bit and looking around them. But once again, he kept to himself. How strange though. It wasn't usual that he found someone used to this sort of lavish luxury.
"Well, alright then. In the meantime, to make us more comfortable," he said with a grin, waving his hand at an empty table, suddenly conjuring a steaming kettle of tea, along with several cups, the fixings, and various finger snacks. "No sense in letting ourselves starve during our studies, wouldn't you say?" he asked innocently, moving to pour himself a cup of tea and motioning to Lara. "Would you like one as well?"
Once finished, he settled down at a large, ornate table to work, cracking open a book whose pages probably hadn't seen the light of day in several years, eyes hungry taking in the text. "Now, if some are written in a language you can't quite understand, I would be happy to help with that," he muttered absently, eyes still glued to the pages as he wiggled his fingers in her direction. "Perhaps if we stay here long enough, some secrets to whatever the hell is going on will unfold, hm?"
Another grin before going back to his own works, which primarily focused on the multiple realms, as well as travel methods, followed by a book of highly advanced time travel theory. Seemed to be the most useful subjects. "It is… not often I find another to indulge in such things, you know. Odin, Valkyrie, and especially Thor aren't exactly well known for stalking the shelves of this inner sanctum," he mentioned quietly, several minutes into their quiet reading. "Is this something you are used to? Back home?"
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Lara watched him, she had to admit, in awe as he used an extraordinary magic in order to conjure up tea and a variety of other treats. It was the first time she had seen magic, something beyond her understanding, but there were times when she still felt unsure. This place helped her look past what she had seen back home, and it was truly remarkable to watch.
“Yes, thank you,” she replied and watched him as he poured a cup. A small smile crept across her face. This wasn’t strange territory for her. How many times did Winston bring her a cup while she poured through pages and pages of her father’s old books. Carefully, of course, but Loki wasn’t wrong. There was a certain comfort to having tea while reading. As she sat down, she opened one of the books and looked down at the writing as he spoke. “If it’s anything similar to Old Norse back home, then I should be alright.” Lara’s gift in language seemed to shock most people, but it was just part of her life. “Though I wouldn’t be surprised if I needed your expertise.”
Lara didn’t have too much trouble as she read, because she knew so many languages, it did take some time to get into the right headspace. A common problem for anyone that spoke multiple languages, even with English as her first language, there were times where she would say a word or phrase and people would be surprised to hear Japanese or Russian. It was hard to imagine this place getting better, out of everything she had seen in Asgard, this was her favorite.
As Loki spoke about Thor, Valkyrie and Odin, she was surprised but the more she thought about it the more it made sense. Not that either of the three weren’t intelligent, but she could see how they wouldn’t treasure this place as much as Loki would. “I’d spend hours in my father’s study and the library. He was an Archeologist and an explorer too. I couldn’t get enough of his stories and what he found as he traveled the world.” Purposeful leaving out how often she felt alone as he left her to travel the world.
---
It was a shame he hadn't been paying attention and missed that impressed look as he conjured their refreshments. There was nothing quite like a good ego stroking, though it could be argued that Loki certainly didn't need it. But was that entirely true? Or was it that it was a nice change of pace to have someone slightly impressed with himself, and his skills. Loki was awfully dramatic and petty, yes, but only because he felt the constant need to be better. To prove himself as powerful. Strong. Worthy.
Dwelling on it never helped though, now did it? And he dismissed such things easily enough as he settled in. He even managed to raise a brow in his own amusement at her handle on languages. Not many humans were as… bright. Or was he just judgmental?
"So… he instilled in you a love of research and discovery, hm?" Noble, he supposed. And necessary. How else would one fill the shelves of the very library they were sitting in. Just because he said others weren't here as much as he, didn't mean the knowledge of their actions wasn't held within the tomes of the library. They were simply doers. "Such a life though tends to get lonely, if you do not have others with the same sort of interest, wouldn't you agree?" The question seemed innocent enough, but the answer he assumed she would give cemented a sort of camaraderie he felt for her since they had first begun their talking.
Smiling to himself, Loki settled in, happy to stay as long as necessary. Well, until Lara's brains started leaking from her ears.
---
“He did, and my mother too. I guess it runs in the family.” Not that Lara had a lot of strong memories of her mother, but she knew their passions were what made her parents fall in love in the first place. Lara still didn’t know much, any questions to her father about her mother were hastily changed, and that was when her father was around. Thankfully Roth and Winston could fill in a few holes, but it wasn’t the same.
Loki’s words echoed through her mind. “It does,” she answered. With that small voice telling her that it was probably better off that way. Jonah followed her, and she was entirely grateful for his friendship of course, everyone had their breaking point with Lara. Jonah was just stubborn, but if she didn’t get him killed, he’d eventually would have enough too. Not that she wanted to dwell on that right now, she wanted that excitement back when she first walked in.
“But nice when you do find someone that understands.” She added before she continued with her reading.