shieldborne | For magpiemythos

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For magpiemythos

((continued from here))

After a confusing, worrisome evening spent together, Steve seems to feel he and Loki have hit some kind of new level in their friendship. He's less wry and cagey, a little more overly solicitous and warm; still, in the cold light of day he's a lot more awkward about both physical and emotional intimacy, and if Loki reverts to his usual teasing banter, Steve will fall into the same comfort zone.

He thinks about him often when he's not there, though. Hoping he's found a safer, kinder way to fight his demons. Fearing he hasn't, and feeling helpless to do anything more about that than he already has. At least now, Loki won't have to initiate all their contacts. He'll get occasional texts and calls from Steve, asking if he wants something at a store, if he's seen x or y movie, whether he's all right.

The others are a little bemused about Steve's increasingly less subtle interest in their otherworldly acquaintance. Some of them are openly skeptical, afraid he could be being played, but since no one has anything against Loki, it remains a topic of quiet, civil debate.

It's early in the evening this time when Steve texts Loki. Just a brief note, and he doesn't entirely expect a response: They're trying to convince me to get a tattoo of a bald eagle with a tear running down its face. It's a conspiracy, they're all in on it.

I doubt it would last long with my healing factor even if I did.

How's your evening going?

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Honestly, more than anything, Loki is pleased by that recognition. Just as her male form was her, so was this one, and the fact that Steve was able to simply accept that fact was something she appreciated. Sure he might not get the mechanics, or the how and why exactly, but that just made the fact that he was so willing to accept it as another facet of Loki had something shifting slightly in her smile. Still teasing, but there was a softness at the edges that only ever seemed to come out around Steve.

And she couldn't help but subtly preen a bit under his stunned gaze, accepting the flower with a pleased hum as she took a moment to smell it, lowering her lashes in a teasingly demure sort of way.

"Anything?" She peered up at him in a playfully coy manner, leaning in to press a light kiss to the corner of his mouth. "Well here I've got a charming guy bringing me flowers and being so very sweet, what else could I possibly want?"

It's fascinating, too, how the body language is almost identical. Expressive and sly and playful...Steve thinks the major difference might be in the way the clothes move around the different, um, curves.

They're very nice curves. His ears are turning pink.

"You always wear dresses like that?" He starts to ask, and then he gets kissed and all but melts. "I mean...you look really pretty."

Of course, he tends to think Loki is pretty in the male formn, too, but he doesn't usually wear vintage dresses. Does Steve have her lipstick on his face now? He sort of hopes so. "Geez...okay, I wasn't expecting the surprise, but...you're gorgeous. Where do you want to go first?"

Clearly Loki is winning, because she sees his ears getting pink and just smiles a bit wider.

"When there's someone I'm hoping to impress." No lipstick transfer just yet. It'll happen at some point, but they'd just started after all! "And clearly I did just that."

Did she sound a bit pleased? Well of course. No matter how good she was trying to be, Loki was a very vain creature, and did so enjoy being admired. Even moreso because it was Steve doing the admiring, but that was something entirely different. And even more pleasant, in her opinion.

"I think... let's go down the midway and see what looks fun hmm?" She paused only long enough to tuck the flower Steve gave her into her hair, making sure it would stay put before taking his hand in hers to lead the way.

Edited 2017-07-14 10:14 (UTC)

This could be volatile, then. Steve is appreciative under the best of circumstances, but he tends to be more likely to fawn over a pretty woman than a pretty man. That's just the time period he comes from and the language of courtship he's used to.

"More than impressed," he says happily, and heads for the ticket booth. He'll pay for them both without asking. If Loki wants to make a big deal out of it later, Steve won't mind arguing the point, but it just seems natural to play the part of the guy from 1940's Brooklyn taking his gal on a date.

"Midway, huh?" His pace is leisurely. "You looking to play games? Am I supposed to win you a prize?"

Oh, boy. The carnies running the game stands won't know what hit them. Captain America and a literal Norse goddess. Even as heavily rigged as these things are, they'd be able to win whatever they want.

Loki honestly didn't mind letting Steve pay. For one, she was still on occasion unused to actually stopping and doing things like normal transactions, and for another? She did like being spoiled, and saw no harm in letting Steve do just that.

"Well good, I'd hate to think my ability to impress was slipping." It was nice, natural even to walk arm in arm with Steve, at a more casual pace. They had plenty of time after all, and nowhere to be but here. And she couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of Steve winning her one of the stuffed animal prizes, knowing that for all they were rigged as Hel, he'd have no trouble with it. "You'd win me a prize? I think I'd like that."

What she didn't like however was the small group nearby, the maps in hand hinting at tourists. A pair of them was peering over at Steve, and she didn't need to hear the conversation to know what they were trying to figure out. With a small huff, she stopped, using her grasp on Steve to turn him to face her.

"Hold still, this might tickle a bit." He'd be able to see the green glimmer of magic in her free hand before she hid that by tugging him in for another kiss, using the closeness to rest the hand against his chest, and sure enough he'd feel the tingle of magic ripple through him from head to toe. Only once she was sure the spell had settled did she draw back from the kiss with a pleased smile, especially when she noticed the two who'd been looking frown slightly as if perplexed before shaking their heads and turning their attention back to their own group.

"There we go!" What was that? Time to head to the midway obviously, Loki catching Steve's hand to hurry on in a swirl of skirts, quick enough that Steve would likely spy the seams of stockings as she led him along.

"Yeah? You have to promise to keep it in your living room or bedroom." Steve is going to find the most obnoxious giant stuffed animal he can win and hold her to that. Then she'll have a lap to sit in even when Steve's not around.

Steve has actually noticed the tourists at around the same time she did, but he's politely ignoring them, because he's found over time the more attention he pays to that kind of thing, the more it encourages people. Actually, he may be subtly trying to walk so Loki obscures their view a little. She's taller; that's a huge help today.

In any case, it makes it easier for her to pull him in, not that he would have resisted anyway. He makes a soft, surprised sound and kisses back gently, shivering at the feel of magic. And that may well be the most trusting gesture she's ever seen from him.

He's about to ask what that was about when she darts off, dragging him along, and he ends up laughing instead, while not-too-subtly taking in an eyeful of stockings. Oh, this is shaping up to be a good day...

"Hold on, are you going to tell me what that was?" He picks up his pace to draw level again, flushed and bright-eyed.

"As if it would go anywhere but there." And honestly it would- Loki wasn't married to any particular decorating style, and rather liked the idea of having something like that for when Steve couldn't immediately drop everything and cater to her need for attention. Not that she would admit as much, of course.

And it means more than Steve knows that he doesn't recoil or react poorly to the sudden application of magic. That he lets her do it without protest, kiss or no to distract. It also terrifies her a little bit to be trusted in such a way, but she harshly shoved that emotion away to be dealt with... never? Yeah, never sounded perfect.

"Hm?" She turned her head as he caught up with her, lips quirked in a small grin as she considered the question, seeming like she might simply play coy about it for a moment but deciding to reward the trust he'd offered. "Oh it's a glamour. Nothing complex, you still look like you, but if someone recognizes you as the Captain, it... dissuades the connection. They assume you simply look very much like him instead. Obviously if someone knows you it's not going to affect them."

She tossed her hair lightly, with a almost haughty look, spoiled by the amusement in her expression.

"I'm very greedy after all, don't want to be sharing your attention with all of your adoring fans."

Edited 2017-07-15 01:53 (UTC)

She may change her mind if he tries to give her a 5-foot-tall stuffed Minion or something. But they'll work it out one way or another.

He listens to her explanation, eyebrows raised and a slow grin spreading across his face. Now he's really glad he trusted her; that sounds like everything he wants from an outing. He leans in and gives her a fierce, brief hug. "Uh-huh. Greedy and spoiled? Seems like that's in my favor today."

Very softly he adds, "Thanks." Before letting her go again.

Steve wouldn't do that. That would be mean. Too awful for even Loki to consider. Not to mention if he did, every bit of clothing he owned would magically gain a minions pattern.

"I'm incredibly spoiled. Absolutely the worst when I get going, impossible to please." She sniffed as she said this, but sank into the hug without hesitation, gratified at the pleasure her little trick seemed to have earned. And what was that? Surely that wasn't a blush highlighting her cheekbones when she heard that quietly spoken thank you, she certainly wasn't flustered by that.

That would just be silly after all.

Steve doesn't understand the minion craze anyway. Chances are he'll gravitate toward something more classic, like a teddy bear or a gorilla. Loki will get the final veto, though.

"Mmhmm. I bet you are, sugar," he murmurs. It's not a sultry murmur, nothing especially sexual about it. Just a moment of tenderness.

When he lets her go, he does a momentary double-take. Holy shit, that's a blush. If positions were reversed, she would absolutely be calling him out on that...but he doesn't want to. He would rather not push his luck, and just enjoy it. He'll remember, though, filing the image away in his serum-enhanced memory.

"You can rest assured I am the most spoiled and intractable creature this side of the Nine Realms." Teasing of course, but since when was that new?

And while Steve had noticed her blushing, she hadn't, just smiling as she turned her attention to their surroundings, pointing out one of the nearby booths.

"Let's try this one here to start!" It didn't look like anything fancy, one of the water gun race games, a few people already settled in while the barker called for more players.

"Intractable now, too? What about fractious? Intransigent? Obstreperous?" Captain Thesaurus here, ladies and gentlemen. Vocabulary is fun.

Steve is reasonably well-read, himself, although he expects Loki will beat him at honest-to-god wordplay any time. He chuckles as she selects a game and reaches for his wallet. "Sure thing. You want to play or do you want me to?"

"...or both. That's an option, too." It's an option that's a waste of money if the object is solely to win a stuffed animal, but since the object is also to have fun, they may as well compete.

"Obstinate, wild, and unruly to boot." Oh Steve, you are a delight.

"I think this one should definitely be a competition." She grinned, tapping a neatly manicured fingernail against the tip of his nose. "Unless you think I'll beat you?"

A little friendly competition never hurt anything right? And she wouldn't even cheat this time around, make it nice and fair. As fair as a midway game was going to be anyways.

The carny is watching them with interest. Double the fare, what's not to like about that? She's probably a highschooler working her first job ever, but she takes their money with a polite smile and explains the rules. Steve glances at the other people seated and ready to play, then blinks at the tap on his nose and laughs.

"If I was afraid of being beaten, I wouldn't accept a competition," he says reasonably, and gestures her to a seat lightly. If they were chairs that could be moved rather than stools attached to the booth, he'd probably pull it out for her.

He sits beside her, though, and looks over the watergun skeptically. He hasn't played this game before.

"You'd be surprised how many people accept a challenge but never think they can lose. Gets them all fussy and bothered." She replied easily, perching on the stool he'd invited her to, feet crossing casually at the ankle as she settled.

"But something tells me losing isn't what gets you all flustered, is it?" She's a terrible, terrible tease at times, can Steve tell?

Oh. Steve watches her settle, distracted. Oh, Loki, look at you being all sweet and demure, is what he wants to say. Wants to tease back, except it's not much of a tease because he can tell she knows she's hit on exactly the way to make him crazy. This is going to go on all day, with the vintage dress and the seamed stockings and dark curly hair, and he's going to need about eight cold showers tonight.

The prospect is delightful, rather than daunting. "Do I look bothered?" He meets her gaze, and he is blushing just as vividly as she no doubt expected, but he's not looking away shyly, either, or protesting the tease.

Flustered, yes. Bothered, not so much.

She knows exactly what she's done, that much is entirely certain, between the sweet-looking smile and that casual bat of eyelashes.

"Bothered? No, not at all, we're having too much fun for you to be bothered." But there was a slight curl on the tone of the word, as if just as easily as bothered could be negative, it could also be incredibly positive. But she wouldn't know anything about that. She's a lady after all! And Steve best be paying attention to the countdown because she sure is. It's not cheating if she gets a head start on him because he was distracted by her!

It occurs to him suddenly that this whole date is a game, too. Not that he's being toyed with emotionally, not that it's in any way false, but it does seem like the teasing will continue most of the day, and keep him on his toes, whatever else happens. He can't pretend he doesn't relish the thought of a bit of a chase.

Who knows, maybe he can give as good as he gets? He did get a blush from her earlier.

He's distracted, though, and when the bell rings to begin, he gives a little start before lifting his watergun and aiming at the target. He's a decent shot with a real gun, but this is different, and he finds himself laughing as he struggles to adjust his aim.

As if it was any surprise really. If there was one thing Loki was good at, it was leading people on a merry chase. It certainly didn't hurt that she and Steve both were enjoying the process either.

But she was willing to let things lie during the game in favor of struggling with the cumbersome aim of the watergun. It was telling enough that she was playing fairly, and from the delighted giggle as she tilted just enough on her perch to elbow Steve teasingly, that she was enjoying herself.

Isn't she lucky Steve likes to run, though?

He bumps elbows and then knees with her, laughing, but he's not going to try to cheat by jostling her. Not right now, anyway. At some point the 'best date behavior' veneer will probably collapse, because he's not much of a gentleman, and Loki can take what he can dish out. Still, to start with, he's playing fair.

In the end, it's a kid down at the end who comes in first, by a nose, and Steve congratulates him with a handshake, then eyes Loki. "You want another go?"

Clearly this works out perfectly.

"Later," Loki waited until Steve was finished with the winning kid to take his hand in hers, falling in at his side. "I figure we can make the rounds before we settle in anywhere for too long. Besides, we should go on some of the rides too, hm?"

And it would scratch the itch to flit about too, though the impulse wasn't as bad with Steve at her side. Not that this always changed things, but today it seemed to, and Loki rather liked the grounding effect of his presence.

"What do you think we should do next?"

"Rides. Yes. We should!" Steve agrees, and for just a moment he hesitates, remembering throwing up repeatedly the last time he was here.

That was before the serum, though. The chances of that happening again are virtually nil. "Ferris wheel, spinning teacups, or the roller coasters?" He threads his fingers through hers and looks happy to have a hand to hold.

"Hmm..." Loki shifted slightly to lean against Steve as they considered their options, gaze sweeping over the crowds milling around them with a faint smile. "Let's start with the roller coasters and see where we end up from there."

Not that she took very long after that decision to start off again, keeping a grip on Steve's hand to lead him with her. And because well, she liked holding his hand, as after school special as that sounded.

His grip on her hand is tight. It might actually be tighter than would be comfortable for a human. It's a quirk of Steve's, to think of holding hands as a grab for security rather than a shy first-date activity. Maybe today it's a little bit of both.

He can't help but note with satisfaction how indifferent the crowd around them seems. Safe, he thinks, and wonders why. It seems foolish; he's not afraid of crowds, but the idea that Loki's given him anonymity, even temporarily, makes him feel peaceful.

He smiles at her and adjusts the flower in her hair with his free hand. "Sounds good. The lines only get longer later in the day, anyway."

"...although it's awfully pretty after dark, when everything gets lit up."

Not that Loki minds the tight grasp in the least. She tends to be rather aloof at times to be sure, eschewing contact in all forms, but she's not in that sort of mood at the moment. In fact she finds herself craving touch, even something as simple as hand-holding.

And she's definitely noticing the ease Steve's carrying himself with. It's something she's seen before to be sure but usually only in the privacy of her apartment or the tower. When out, with other people he always seemed to be watching, waiting. Seeing how happy anonymity makes him, how relaxed, Loki makes a mental note to figure out a version of the glamour he can use on his own. Tied to an item of some form probably.

But that's a thought for later. For now her attention is drawn by that light touch adjusting the flower, her smile widening a bit as she nodded in agreement. "Not like we can't go on some of the rides more than once when the sun's down. We've got time."

For magpiemythos

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((random question: is she the same height?))

((There's no official stats on her female form so I assume she's about the same height))

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