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?"
"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."
"Well, as I said--you will always have a home with me. These are your rooms. We lack some resources, but we'll do what we can to help you make it home. I'll do what I can." Loki said softly, thumb brushing her palm reassuringly again. "As for floating on a more metaphorical sense, it would help with your panic if you learned to feel grounded and centered. To do so when you're in the midst of one." Here there was a knowing smile. "You've already learned some of that though, in the focus on your breathing."
"It's not just resources -- though I do appreciate everything you're doing for me here, I really do. Food and clothes -- please don't think I'm being ungrateful, because I am very grateful.
It's more of a feeling. I haven't felt home, in a while. Not since I lost my family. And I'm sure it will come, with time. I just need to adjust. To get used to things."
Loki chuckled softly. "Dani," Still laughing softly. "I don't think you're ungrateful at all. I'm..." He paused to organize his thoughts properly. "I want you aware of what the possibilities are so you can take advantage of them. I don't want you worrying that you're asking too much. I want to be able to give you that time and space to adjust and get used to the changes, and to help where I can."
Blue-green eyes met hers for a moment before looking away. "It's new for me. To want to help, and be so generous. With no strings attached. I'm probably over-pushing it because it's so new."
"Then it'll be new for both of us. I'll probably worry for a while," she says with a self conscious sort of laugh. "Something I -- need to work on, definitely. And you'll probably worry for a while. That you're falling back into your old ways. So we'll both reassure each other that we're both doing fine."
"We're hardly objective observers, to be trusted and ensure that reassurance isn't just comforting lies." Loki said, but offered a hint of a smile. "I'm glad you're feeling better though. And...thank you."
"We'll call Saldis in when we need an objective opinion. I feel pretty confident that she would tell us the truth."
There's a knock at the door and Dani squeezes Loki's hand before letting it go. "Will you answer that for us? I need to -- finish drying off." She feels okay around Loki with just her robe on, but less than comfortable with the possibility of brand new people seeing her in a robe.
"She already often knows more than I'd like, I'm not sure I'd want her opinion." Loki murmured with a hint of pout. But mostly he was glad that Dani was feeling better--happier. The knock had his attention, but he nodded with her words. "It's likely food. Possibly clothing too."
Loki waited until she was in the other room, before calling out an "Enter." The door slid aside, and Ylfa came in, bearing a wooden contraption--one bigger than the other, under each arm. Following her was another servant (male this time) carrying a platter and two large bottles. At the very back was Saldis, who curtsied to him before excusing herself to knock on the bedroom door.
Ylfa and the other servant began setting up a folding table and chair, and then arranging food. Hearty fare, fish and eggs and bread, with Mead and Juice.
"It's Saldis." The elder servant said with her accompanied knock. "I've brought some clothing to get you started." All folded in her arms, avarietyofwarmweather clothing. Trousers and skirts, a few tunics and tops, and at least one cardigan.
"Oh! Um." Dani wraps her robe a little tighter around herself and smiles nervously at Saldis. "Yes, thank you. Sorry, I took a bath, like you said. And -- oh, thank you." She takes the armful of clothing, holding it against her chest. "This is so generous of you, I can't thank you enough. All of you, here, for being so welcoming and letting me into your home."
Saldis doesn't let Dani close the door again, without sliding in quickly herself. "He can be very generous, when he wants, his Highness can." She said cautiously. "He can also be an arrogant and jealous ass at times, if you'll pardon me for saying so." The elder servant was determined to make sure Dani truly was alright.
"Which is to say, I want you to go into this with your eyes open."
"That's what he said, too. When he gave me the choice to come here. He wanted to make sure that I knew that if I stayed, the people in that village were -- were using me.
I don't think he is. I trust him. He's been the only one to be honest with me in -- in a long time, and I know he doesn't want to trick me. He wants me to be here because I want to be. And I do, I want to be here."
"Aye, well, honesty can be just as deceptive as truth at times when used cleverly." Saldis said, crossing her arms. "But his Highness and his Majesty have both been through much in the last year. As have we all, but especially for them." She tilted her head, and smiled at Dani. "He gives you trouble or you need a straight answer, ye come to me. If not to me, then to his Majesty. Both of them have grown up, and know each other well."
"Thank you. I promise I will. Or if he misbehaves at all. I have a feeling you'd put him in his place pretty quickly." Dani returns the smile, tucking her hair behind her ears. "Um -- I'll go ahead and get dressed, then? Uh, the food that you guys brought smells amazing."
"I'd try. No one truly was able to put 'im properly in his place but Her Majesty when she lived." Saldis said, with a hint of sadness. "Then again, she taught him all he knows of magic so 'tis not surprising." The elder servant nodded to herself, looking around the sparse room. Elegant, but sparse. "You'll be thinking of what would help make this homey for you, and what I can bring you, ja?" Wanting to be sure, before she'd leave Dani to get dressed.
"Oh -- yes, no, absolutely. I'll -- think of something. Oh actually -- if you had a picture frame? I have a photo of my family I'd like to put somewhere. If I can." She wishes she had more than just the one, but at least she does have one. She's grateful for that.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
no subject
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."
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
no subject
"I like Saldis. I've never seen you joke like that with anyone."
no subject
no subject
She reaches over to take his hand, twining their fingers together again. Holding on tight. "I feel stronger, with you."
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
It's more of a feeling. I haven't felt home, in a while. Not since I lost my family. And I'm sure it will come, with time. I just need to adjust. To get used to things."
no subject
Blue-green eyes met hers for a moment before looking away. "It's new for me. To want to help, and be so generous. With no strings attached. I'm probably over-pushing it because it's so new."
no subject
no subject
no subject
There's a knock at the door and Dani squeezes Loki's hand before letting it go. "Will you answer that for us? I need to -- finish drying off." She feels okay around Loki with just her robe on, but less than comfortable with the possibility of brand new people seeing her in a robe.
no subject
Loki waited until she was in the other room, before calling out an "Enter." The door slid aside, and Ylfa came in, bearing a wooden contraption--one bigger than the other, under each arm. Following her was another servant (male this time) carrying a platter and two large bottles. At the very back was Saldis, who curtsied to him before excusing herself to knock on the bedroom door.
Ylfa and the other servant began setting up a folding table and chair, and then arranging food. Hearty fare, fish and eggs and bread, with Mead and Juice.
"It's Saldis." The elder servant said with her accompanied knock. "I've brought some clothing to get you started." All folded in her arms, a variety of warm weather clothing. Trousers and skirts, a few tunics and tops, and at least one cardigan.
no subject
no subject
"Which is to say, I want you to go into this with your eyes open."
no subject
I don't think he is. I trust him. He's been the only one to be honest with me in -- in a long time, and I know he doesn't want to trick me. He wants me to be here because I want to be. And I do, I want to be here."
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)