Hail Hydra. (astolenrelic) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-09-10 00:05:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, fandral, loki odinson |
Who: Loki and Fandral.
What: Dinner to celebrate Fandral having a home.
Where: A swanky restaurant and their house.
When: September 7.
Warnings/Rating: PG (Wine-fueled admissions. Sort of.).
Status: Complete.
Loki's a bit flattered, and entirely amused. Fandral is probably the most endearing person he's ever met, and he supposes that if Fandral wants to celebrate having a home and living with him, then who is Loki to argue? He finishes getting ready, a long and involved process for both of them to be sure, and wanders down to the living room. There was no telling how long Fandral would take, really. "You know, you made the reservation for an hour from now? And with the drive it's really only a fifteen minute window."
"Nearly there. I'll be done in ten minutes." He'd forgot a few of his bathroom things in a box that was still in the garage, and had to dash down to get them. Fandral blows a kiss as he passes Loki on the way back to the bathroom. "Ten minutes!" he shouts again.
Loki just raises his eyebrows, and all he can think of is Fandral getting stabbed through the chest and asking if his face was okay. "I'm counting down. I will not hesitate to leave without you."
"Liar!" is heard from the top of the stairs. But Fandral manages to get his product in his hair and fix it to his liking in under ten minutes, and makes his way down the stairs at a more reasonable pace. "See? What did I tell you."
"You got lucky this time." He looks amused, then grabs his keys. "I called us a cab. I hope you don't mind? I won't lie, on your tab I'm planning on drinking as much wine as I can." Loki smirks and heads out to their waiting cab.
"Better for the both of us, really." And Fandral opens the door for Loki, both of the cab and when they arrive at the restaurant. He even pulls out Loki's chair for him. "Order a bottle of whatever you'd like. You were always better at that than I was."
"Such a gentleman," Loki tells him, but really he's pleased. Fandral had always been the nicest of Thor's friends, really. At the restaurant, he looks pleased at the compliment as he opens the wine menu. "It's just because I'm finicky. Are you a red or a white fan?"
"I always like a good red. Shall we start from there?"
"A man after my own heart," he murmurs. "I've always preferred white for post dinner, myself, really." After a moment, he picks out a bottle that is by no means cheap or common, then holds up his glass once it comes. "To our new home, I suppose?"
Fandral can afford it, so the price isn't something he pays much attention to anyway. He touches his glass to Loki's with a bright grin, "To our new home. May we live in peace and harmony!"
"That was cheesy." But he laughs and takes a sip. "Is being back state side everything you'd hoped it would be?"
"And more, now that I've reconnected with you and your brother. It's wonderful, seeing old friends. I couldn't ask for more."
"Honestly? I'm glad it's you showing up and not Hogun or Volstagg." Which is maybe no surprise. Loki had always been more than welcome where Thor was, but it would be silly to assume that the other two and he had gotten along well. "And I'm happy everything's going so well for you. Really."
"I'm happy to hear your shows are better than ever! I'll have to come see your next one. And you, of course, are invited to the premiere of my next movie. It's still in post-preduction right now, but I'll let you know as soon as I get dates."
"My next show should be up and running by the new year. I'm very excited, actually. Plenty of new tricks up my sleeve." Loki wiggles his fingers. "Thanks to being back in the OC."
"Ooh, well. I can't wait." Fandral takes Loki's wiggling fingers and squeezes his hand gently. "Someday we'll be so famous, we won't be able to go to restaurants like this without being bombarded."
"God forbid. You know I prefer to be aloof. It'd be bad for my reputation." He takes his hand back and sips at his wine again, starting to finally look over the menu. "I'm not the social creature you are."
"Ah yes, the mysterious Loki. So untouchable. So cool and collected," Fandral teases and leans back, holding his wine glass in what he thinks is a prim and proper manner.
"Stop it, you're hurting me." Loki leans over to fix Fandral's hold on the wine. "I'm not sure I want to be seen in public with you. Honestly."
He shrugs, not bothered by the comment. "I'm charming and you love me."
"You're mildly endearing and I put up with you," he corrects, but he's smiling. "Tell me, what's new in the life of Fandral. I feel like all we talk about is our careers and the good old days."
"Absolutely nothing, my darling Loki. Just work. And now, you. You're the only new thing in my life, really. That, and having moved here, really."
"Stop it, you'll have me blushing. I hope things get more exciting than just me. Then again, in this place, I'm sure they will and you probably won't have to wait very long." He orders his food once their waiter comes by again and has his wine topped off.
Fandral puts his order in as well and settles back in his chair with a sigh, feeling relaxed and content, toying with his wine glass. "What about you? What's new with you?"
"Oh, I don't know." Loki takes a thoughtful sip of wine. "I had a very short lived relationship. I thought it was fine, but apparently I'm a jerk so we've called it quits. Oh, and my sister's back in town. She's just as charming as I remember her being, so that's lovely." Not.
"Mm, she spoke to me on that network, briefly. I definitely think I prefer your brother," he says wryly. "Tell me about your short lived relationship, then."
He snorts. Who doesn't prefer Thor to Hela, he thinks, but he doesn't say it. That would just be rude and uncalled for. Instead he lets his amusement linger a bit on the Darcy situation.
"She was, actually, a very good friend of mine. And I think we always sort of liked one another, so finally I decided to convince her we ought to give it a go. She said she was worried about it ruining the friendship but I like to take risks. And it was pretty lovely, actually, for a while. But we're both very strong personalities, and I can be a bit sarcastic or indifferent or judgmental at times - shocking, I know. And apparently this whole dream nonsense just added fuel to the fire, and one day we got into a fight and she said she just couldn't do it anymore. I'd still rather like to be her friend, but apparently it's just too much. But c'est la vie. I'm not going to try and force her hand. It's more effort than it's worth, and clearly if that's the case then neither of us were meant for the other after all."
Fandral listens to the entire story with his chin against his hand, fascinated. "She sounds terribly charming, I simply must meet her," he comments dryly. "No, I think you're enough strong personality for me."
"She's really not so bad. Just ... Uncertain what she wants from life. And I know exactly what I want from life, so we don't really mesh." But Loki smiles a bit over his wine glass, and then laughs. "Do you know, Fandral, my favourite thing about you has always been that no matter what, you always find some way to defend things from my point of view."
"Well you're my close friend, and the brother of my best friend. So I feel it my duty as your close friend to defend you against people I don't know or don't particularly care for."
"I can't even imagine what it must be like to be so sweet all the time. Doesn't it get boring?" he teases.
"Not when it's with you." Fandral winks and nudges at Loki's foot under the table.
Loki rolls his eyes. "Always such a flirt. You know I'm immune to it after all these years. But I do enjoy the compliments, so I suppose I'll let it slide for tonight."
"Are you really? How tragic." He pouts a little and nudges at Loki's foot again. "Ah well, I suppose I can turn my sights elsewhere."
"Oh, stop that. You'll move on from me in a matter of moments." He drinks his wine with a pointed look. "I ought to be the slighted one, here."
"How have I slighted you, exactly? I've paid you compliments, I'm taking you out to this lovely dinner."
"Just another conquest and another notch. I know your game, Fandral," he teases. Actually, Loki is surprisingly enjoying himself. He's been so focused on everything else in life that it's nice to just have a day to relax with an old friend and joke around. "And you won't even call in the morning."
"Oh darling, you'd never be just a conquest. We're friends, before anything. Don't you forget that." Fandral smiles and raises his glass in a bit of a toast at Loki. "That's the most important part. Our friendship."
"Friendship," Loki toasts in return. And he certainly hopes that doesn't change once - if - Fandral gets the weird dreams. "Ah, and here's the food."
"Perfect timing." Fandral digs happily into his steak, making an approving noise. "You're very right to have recommended this place for tonight. This is cooked perfectly."
"Well, if there's one I thing I know, it's where to find the best of everything. Like I said earlier, I'm finicky." In turn, Loki digs into his fish, and he eats the majority of it without really even realizing. "But this place is certainly one of my top five."
Fandral raises an eyebrow at how quickly Loki almost finishes his meal, but doesn't question it. Perhaps his friend was simply hungry. "I'll have to bring you here more often, then."
"I certainly wouldn't complain. Good company, good food, what's not to like?" After a moment, Loki reaches over and takes a piece of broccoli from Fandral's plate.
"Nothing not to like, except for a sneakthief stealing my vegetables," Fandral scolds and pointedly spears a piece of broccoli himself.
"Quality control. Or helping you watch your trim figure, either way. Find a reason that suits you." Loki smiles and finishes off his own meal, setting his napkin on the plate. "Perhaps I'm just practicing my magic act. Making things disappear."
"Well, you certainly made your food disappear. Leave me to mine, and perhaps we can order a dessert?" He settles in to properly start his own food, eating quickly, like someone might take it from him. Which is entirely possible.
"Oh ha ha ha. And I had assumed dessert wasn't optional. They have, without a doubt, the best creme brulee, you know."
"Dessert is never an option," Fandral agrees. "I may have something chocolate, and steal a bite of your creme brulee, if you'll allow it."
"If you're quick enough, I don't see that being a problem." Loki gives Fandral a somewhat sly smile.
In which case, Fandral orders a creme brulee for Loki and a chocolate mousse for himself, and pours himself another glass of wine. "It's a good thing we took a taxi, this wine is delicious."
"It is, isn't it?" He holds out his own glass for Fandral to refill. "I think I'm starting to see it turn your cheeks and nose a bit pink. Maybe I should cut you off."
He pouts at Loki but refills his glass. "Are you calling me a lightweight?"
"A lush, actually." Loki takes a long sip. "But a lightweight will do."
"I've barely had a glass and a half, that doesn't make me a lush. Don't be rude, dear one."
"Dear one? Should I come up with some endearment for you, as well?" He taps his finger on the table, looking thoughtful.
"I was going to say darling, but I was worried I'd used that already."
"It's very possible. Should I start keeping track?"
"No need, no need. Just pretend not to notice if I call you something twice." The desserts arrive and Fandral snags a bite of the creme brulee before Loki gets a chance to put a spoon to it. "You're right, that is delicious."
"You might need to start getting creative soon, then." He goes to take a scoop of his dessert, then looks mockingly offended. "Rude," Loki says, taking a bit of mousse in return. "Of course I'm right. I'm always right, it's why I'm single."
"Oh dear. Had to prove your point one time too often? I'm sorry Darcy couldn't appreciate your ability to be constantly correct."
"You know, half the time I wasn't even right at all, I just know how to be persuasive." Loki shrugs a shoulder elegantly. "But at least someone appreciates it. Even if that someone is just you," he teases.
"Oh, just me," Fandral sighs dramatically. "As though I'm so dismissable."
"Fandral, you are absolutely not dismissible. Don't be so overdramatic. You'll get wrinkles from all that sighing and frowning."
He touches the corners of his eye with a pointed glare at Loki, "Don't threaten such things."
"Just exploiting that I know your weak spots." Loki reaches over to move Fandral's hand. "Stop that. -- Oh. I just realized, we didn't get a new wine to go with our dessert."
"Ought we? Since I'm such a lush, perhaps I ought to cut back."
"Don't be cheeky. We'll grab a good one on the way home and have it after the fact. It'll be just as good."
"Wonderful, we'll do that, then. A perfect end to a lovely evening."
"You know? You're right. It has been a lovely evening, hasn't it?" Loki almost looks surprised as he smiles. "Thank you."
Fandral returns the smile and reaches across the table to squeeze his hand gently. "I'm so glad you've had a good time. So have I."
"Good. It's just been such a ..." Loki sighs, then shrugs, then laughs a bit because he can't possibly even explain it all. "Between working on the new show, and the new house, and other things. I needed this."
"Well. I'm certainly glad I could provide. Should we head home and get our other bottle of wine?"
"I think that sounds like a fantastic plan."
On the way home, the stop and pick up a bottle of white wine to share, and once home Fandral starts trying to figure out where they've put the glasses. "Did you unpack the kitchen or did I?"
“I did. As if I'd trust you with with that much glass," Loki teases. He reaches over Fandral to open up the cupboard next to him, then takes out two glasses.
"Ah! There we are. And if you were a corkscrew, where might you be hiding?"
He just rolls his eyes, fondly of course, and goes down to a drawer to fetch the corkscrew. "All right, would you do the honours?"
"Gladly." And the wine is open and poured, and Fandral settles on the sofa to enjoy it. "This is quite nice, actually. You do have excellent taste in wine."
"Cheers." Loki settles next to Fandral, looking pleased. "I do, don't I?"
Fandral smiles and reaches over to tug lightly at a lock of Loki's hair affectionately. "Exquisite taste in general."
"Hey," Loki says, laughing. "I was going to say that."
"That I do? You flatter me, but I thank you for the compliment."
"No, that I do, don't be absurd." He snorts, then laughs again before taking another sip of wine.
Fandral's feeling a little light headed after a few glasses of wine and continues to toy with Loki's hair, because it feels quite nice and he can always blame it on the wine if asked. "Well yes, of course. That isn't to be argued."
Loki isn't complaining. Not that many people do when Fandral's around, and isn't that just awful. But he loves a bit of fun, and what's some good wine and conversation between friends? "But I suppose you're not too awful. You keep fantastic company, for one. And a good eye for the finer things in life."
"Are you a finer thing in life?" he teases gently, setting his wine aside for the moment.
A slyer looks comes to Loki's face, and he turns his amused smirk to Fandral with a look that implies he knows so much more about things than Fandral maybe ever will. "A finer thing? No, I'm certainly not."
"Well, I certainly find you fine." He tweaks Loki's chin and picks up his wine again hiding his embarrassment at his confession of sorts. Not that it's any secret that Loki is an incredibly handsome man. You'd have to be blind to deny that.
"I'm flattered. But that seems to be a common thing when you're around, doesn't it?" Loki reaches over to run his thumb quickly over Fandral's cheek before returning to his own wine. "Is that blush because of the wine or because of me, I wonder?"
"Perhaps a little of both. You're quite charming yourself, I must admit." He leans into the touch with a smile before Loki's hand leaves again.
"Silver tongue," he says. "I suppose you bring it out in me. Can't have you thinking you're the only sweet talker around, can I?"
"I make you more charming?" Fandral puts the wine down again and shifts closer to him on the couch, wrapping an arm around his shoulder.
"Oh, you know me, Fandral, I hate to be bested." Loki sets down his glass his well. "And I've always had a soft spot for you. It's much easier to be charming when you genuinely enjoy the other person being around."
"I'm very glad you enjoy my company. I genuinely enjoy you, as well." He strokes his fingers over Loki's cheek, down tease against the back of his neck.
"Do you? Genuinely, I mean," he teases. "From one master of words to another, you understand my hesitance."
"Of course. But you're my friend, Loki. I do genuinely, enjoy you, and your company. I wouldn't have moved in with you otherwise."
Loki tuts his tongue, reaching to tease his fingers against Fandral's. "And this is how you show your genuine affection to all your friends, is it?"
"Not to all my friends, no." Fandral smiles and raises Loki's fingers to his lips, pressing a soft kiss there. "Just those worthy of my most sincere of affections."
"As far as I'm aware, that's quite a number of people." But Loki's wheels are turning, always, and he's already working out how to turn this very much to his favour. And he certainly wasn't lying when he said it's easier when you genuinely enjoy the other party. "But I played right into your charming rouse, didn't I, so I guess I'm not entirely as immune as I thought I was."
Fandral isn't thinking about schemes or plans, or really thinking any more than five minutes in front of him. All that's on his mind is how lovely Loki looks right now, and how they ought to be kissing instead of talking. He strokes his thumb over Loki's lips and leans in to nuzzle at his jaw tenderly. "Is it so bad, to fall victim to my charms?"
It's an interesting development, and Loki's almost certain he should have seen this coming. But he's always been admittedly curious what all the fuss is about with Fandral. Yes, he's very handsome, and he has a goodness about him that Loki's always admired and envied. But he knows better than to fall into the honeytrap entirely. "Perhaps. I've seen your victims once you're done with them, don't forget."
"Ah yes, my trail of broken hearts," he murmurs, huffing a quiet laugh against Loki's neck before pressing a kiss there. "Who says you'd have to be another of those? I could treat you very well, you know."
Loki lets out a carefully controlled breath through his nose and raises an eyebrow. "You're not exactly made for monogamy," he teases, or perhaps he says it just as a reminder to them both. "And I'm not sure where this fondness for me has come from." Convenience, probably, but Loki decides to hold his tongue for once.
"I've always had a fondness for you." He sounds almost hurt as he presses kisses along the line of Loki's jaw. "But we've been apart so long, it's only grown stronger. Hadn't you heard that's how fondness works?"
"Fandral, you should know not to say things you'll regret come morning," Loki chides softly as he turns to look at Fandral, mindful of how close they are. "Flattered though I am that you think as much."
"Let me have one kiss, and then I swear I'll go to bed and be up early to regret all the sweet things I've said to you." He noses at Loki's cheek with a quiet noise, kissing the corner of his mouth.
"Something tells me you won't regret it at all, actually." After cursing himself inwardly, Loki lets out a reluctant sigh. "One kiss," he says, because Fandral's a bit like a puppy and Loki is surprised he can't bring himself to say no for the moment. "There's no point in ruining a good night."
"Likely not, but I'll say I do for your sake." Fandral smiles and cups a hand over Loki's cheek, tilting his head up for the perfect angle to kiss him with the utmost tenderness.
Loki's a bit shocked actually. Given Fandral's reputation, he'd expected more persistence, and perhaps something a bit less than tender. Interesting, this. And he can definitely see now what all the fuss is about. When he pulls away, he's almost hesitant to. "Good night, Fandral. Thank you for dinner."
"You're very welcome. I had a lovely evening." He takes Loki's hand and presses a kiss to his knuckles. Then he stands and drops one last kiss to Loki's hair before he makes his way upstairs. "Sleep welL!"
He just gives Fandral a smile, then exhales a breath as he takes a moment before putting away their glasses and corking the wine.