midsommaring | OPEN RP POST

"It's just -- " She swallows hard and shakes her head a little. "In four years of being together, I never felt like I was allowed to need anything. I always felt like I had to apologize for wanting him there.

So this is new, for me. Being allowed to want or need things."

Loki sighed, and continued to hold her. "I...can't say I'm a good man. I've never had a genuine friendship. Relationships have been casual at best, or I've manipulated the person because they had something I want. But that.." Now how did he word all of this.

"First, you are different in that with you--I...just want you to be okay." He cared about her welfare and feelings. Which was a hard admission, and also very scary as it meant Loki was in uncharted territory. "I'm not simply going through the motions, with you. Which is honestly what it sounds like Christian was doing with you."

Dani nods and keeps stroking his arms, finding comfort in the gesture. He cares about her. They care about each other, which is the important part.

"I want that for you, too. For both of us to just -- be okay. I feel like it's been a long time coming, for both of us. And I trust you not to be manipulative, if you're -- if you're worried about that. I think if you're aware of it, you won't be."

"Your trust is a gift." Loki murmured, still holding her gently. "This is new for me, for what it is worth. Actually caring, and having a friend." To remind her, and remind himself perhaps.

"Still, we've been through a lot. You especially have been through a lot. When you're ready, if you can let me go, I'll call for a servant." A wry smile on his face. "Being a prince has its advantages, even if it doesn't mean as much around here as it did back on Asgard."

"A prince?" she asks, with her eyebrows raised. Surprised and a little amused. "That's -- wow." She's not even sure how to react to that. She's learning a lot about her friend today.

"Sorry, I'll -- " She takes her hands off him and takes a half step back, letting him go. "Food sounds like a good idea."

Loki chuckled, and reached out to squeeze her hand reassuringly. "I'm a Prince of Asgard, and with Laufey dead, actually the rightful king of Jotunheim. Odin adopted me when I was a baby." Stroking his thumb over her palm, Loki's expression turned sad. "I never new until about 6 years ago, and I did not find out in a good manner."

"That's not fair, that you had to find out everything so late in life. And that you didn't find out in the way you wanted to. I hope things get better for you. That you're able to settle down, and find a home here, too."

"Life is rarely fair, from all I've observed." Said with a sigh, and another squeeze of her hand. "I doubt I'll ever settle down fully. Too much curiosity and sense of mischief. But...I'm hoping I can start healing. Even if I'm not entirely sure what that means." Really, it was touching--and a bit heady--to have someone upset on his behalf. That hadn't happened before in a long long time.

"Now, let's see about getting you settled in here." One last squeeze, before Loki let her hand go and moved to a small intercom by the door. Pressing it, and speaking quietly--calling for two servants.

Dani lets out a long, slow exhale as Loki moves away from her. Running her fingers through her hair and trying to gather herself back together. There's a sofa, and she sits on it, feeling exhausted and far too awake all at once.

There's -- something. She can't just be imagining it. The two of them, they care about each other. And she feels good when she's near him. A warmth she hasn't felt in a long, long time.

Word must have spread, as it's only a few minutes before there's a knock at the door before it's sliding open. Two servants, both women, enter--one who looks old enough to be a mother, and the other who looks around Dani's age. Both have hair that is loosely braided, one fair and one brunette. Both were in a mix of modern clothes with hints of older-styles, likely Asgardian.

Loki was surprised to find he recognized the older one although he shouldn't have been. "I'd have thought you'd have found a new hobby and employment, Saldis." He greeted with a curious tilt of his head. "Nah, your highness--I've served your family since your brother was a babe, and I'll serve ye both still. Someone has to keep you both in line."

"And you've been granted that undignified job." But it was said with a smile. "This is my friend, Dani Ardor." Turning and gesturing to Dani. "She's come to us much as we came to Midgard. With little but what she could carry. These are to be her rooms, so if you could make that official. Both of us need food to be brought here, and she'll need clothing."

"Yes your highness." And both servants dipped into curtsies. "Ylfa here has become my protégé. Under His Majesty's orders, your rooms were kept ready. Would you want a change of clothing yourself?" Saldis replied, with a motherly smile and no nonsense attitude.

"Something casual...yes." Loki replied, before moving to come sit by Dani.

Saldis nodded, said something to Ylfa who dipped another curtsy and headed off. She came over and offered a curtsy to Dani. "Milady Ardor, I am Saldis, and I simply need to know a few things before I can get you settled properly."

"Oh no, gosh, just -- just Dani is fine. Hello, Saldis. It's nice to meet you, um, there's no need to -- I'm not royalty or anything." She offers her hand to the older woman, a little stunned by the whole thing. The idea of having her own rooms, having servants to attend to her.

"I really don't need much, I promise. I won't be a bother."

"Oh I doubt you'll be a bother, child." Saldis said and took her hand. "Tis courtesy, but if you insist, then Dani it will be." A look was shot at Loki, who ignored it. "Now, what have you brought with you? Any clothes that I might borrow so as to find you the right size from what we've gathered?"

"Oh yeah -- yes, um. I have -- " She grabs her Midsommar dress from her backpack, as well as a shirt and a pair of jeans, trying to think of all possibilities. "Will this -- are these okay? I hope this is helpful."

"These will do fine, Dani." Saldis took the garments, folding them carefully. "Any particular colors you'd prefer? I'll see what we can find. We can at least set you up for a few days before you can either go find your own clothing or we can bring you more." With a reassuring smile. "My telling you that you needn't be nervous will do no good, but I'll be telling you anyways. And if you need someone to scold his highness or his majesty, you tell me."

Loki let out a snort at that statement, trying not to grin. "Now now, Saldis, you know I play that game too well." She chuckled. "Aye, but you've been gone for a few months and might not have learned some of the phrases I have."

The interaction has Dani laughing, finally starting to relax a little more. "Honestly, anything you find is fine. I'm not picky. And I'll -- try not to be so nervous. But no promises."

Saldis chuckled again. "Ah good, there's some spirit." Encouraging. "I'll send a robe at least for now, along with your clothes your Highness, and Ylfa will be along shortly with food." Turning her attention to Dani once more. "I'd suggest a good bath to relax, and I'll have the robe waiting for you. And don't you worry--he" with a nod to Loki "is good at entertaining himself and hopefully it won't be by causing trouble for the rest of us."

Loki rolled his eyes, but as soon as the servant was gone, he was turning to Dani. "She's not wrong. You should relax, get clean--I promise I'll be fine."

Dani covers her mouth with a giggle, casting a fond glance in Loki's direction. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind. And thank you, Saldis. I appreciate it."

She's still smiling as Saldis leaves, shaking her head a little. "Yeah, I'll do that. A real bath will feel good." The communal bathing area in Harga had felt awkward, so Dani had always bathed as quickly as possible. But here, she can take her time. And there will be a robe waiting for her, which is -- more than nice.

She touches Loki's shoulder as she passes him on the way to the bathroom. Which is just as luxurious as the rest of the room, and Dani's starting to feel spoiled.

He gave her a reassuring smile, and was glad to see her relaxing a little bit. She'd been through a lot in the past few weeks. Even beyond his gratitude for her kindness to him in their shared grief--he wanted her to be okay. To be happy.

The bathroom itself had both a grand bath AND a separate shower, along with a vanity section and bench, and a doorway into what would be the closet. Luxurious towels, it all matched the color of the rooms over all. The bed was large enough for two and had extra blankets folded at the end, along with throw pillows and regular pillows. There was a bookshelf and reading chair and light, as well as a small desk within as well. All able to be closed off entirely from the sitting area.

Dani was welcome to take her time, as waiting for her in the closet when she returned was a soft silk robe. Saldis had sent that and a change of clothes for Loki first. He was in his usual green and brown and black, in an outfit not too dissimilar to what he'd worn as Einar. Browsing on a laptop of all things.

Dani takes her time in the bath. Letting herself luxuriate in the hot water, scrubbing her skin and her hair with the various products offered, all of them wonderfully scented. The towels are the softest she's ever felt, and she lets herself take her time drying off, too, before she slips into the robe. Which feels, god, fantastic against her skin. Even though it was just a bath, she feels as refreshed as if she had spent a day at the spa.

She joins Loki in the sitting room again, a little surprised at the laptop. "I didn't pick you for a tech type," she admits, sitting a little away from him on the sofa.

"I'm not, generally, a tech fan. But your computers, particularly coding and how everything is all intertwined, are fascinating." Blue-green eyes flick to her and he smiles. "I'd started to settle a bit here, before I went wandering. So I've much to catch up on. Do you feel better?"

"I feel a lot better, actually. I needed that, badly." She pushes her damp hair back from her face with a warm, much more relaxed smile.

"I like Saldis. I've never seen you joke like that with anyone."

"As I said, there's a lot to me." Loki was pleased she was more relaxed, to see her smile so openly. "And she has been with the staff since before I was born, to have seen Thor in diapers. I enjoy our banter." Closing the laptop, it was placed on a side table so he could turn more to her. "You look much more relaxed, and happier, than I've seen you before."

"I feel... good. I feel better than I did before. Better now that we're away from the commune, and everything that happened there. I needed to get away from there. I don't think I would have had the strength to, without you."

She reaches over to take his hand, twining their fingers together again. Holding on tight. "I feel stronger, with you."

"If you'd decided to stay, I wanted you to go in with your eyes open. It's why I tried to point out to you the ways they were manipulating things--for good and ill. You should be able to make an informed decision." Loki said, smiling himself. "And it had to be your choice--but I'm glad you're my friend, and that you came too."

"I made my choice," she says firmly, nodding and squeezing Loki's hand again. As if cementing her decision. "I just hope -- you know, I feel like I've been floating for so long? Not really anywhere. And I want so badly for this to feel like home, some day."

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