"I will, but I already will be staying today and tonight, per your request." With a wink, as he was teasing her gently. "I doubt I'll be so busy as things start, that you'll be so alone either." Honestly he and Thor should probably talk about what duties Loki would have, if any.
Now Loki settled in the folding chair, joining her. "To be honest, I'm glad Saldis came and introduced herself to you. She'll be a good resource."
"After today," she amends. Dani takes a little bit of everything to start her plate; breakfast looks amazing, and she's hungrier than she'd like to admit. "I'm glad she did, too. She seems really nice and -- very welcoming. Very helpful. She told me to come find her any time."
"I'm not surprised. I suspect she worries, given my reputation." Loki said dryly, also helping himself. "As I said, I'm not a good man. I'm trying to be better though."
"Hey," Dani says gently, reaching over to touch his arm. "Maybe you just haven't felt like a good man, yet. The fact that you're trying to be better shows you can be, though. So do me a huge favour and stop just -- saying you're not a good man, because you clearly want to be one."
Loki paused, surprise naked on his face. Before he smiled and covered her hand with his. "Thank you, again, for your kindness my friend." It touched him inside, and reminded him of Thor's speech in the elevator. And some conversations since.
Her smile widens and she squeezes his arm lightly. "We both have things to work on. But we'll help each other, okay? I'll catch you when you start being too hard on yourself, and you can catch me when I'm doing the same."
"Deal. Now eat. You've been through a lot, in a much shorter span of time than I have." Loki said, squeezing her hand gently. "And I'm sure you have questions--I'll try to answer."
"I am, I am." She starts in on her eggs and sausage. "I'm not even sure where to start, with questions. Um -- can I ask -- I mean you guys aren't. Human. You're Asgardian, like you said. You can do magic, you can change forms. How old are you? How long have you been doing magic?"
"I'm Asgardian, but I'm also not an Asgardian. But no, I'm not human. We're not. I'm actually a Jotun. A frost giant." Loki had taken a deep breath before speaking, trying to keep his emotions controlled. It still hurt, in some ways, even though all of Asgard knew after his reign as Odin. "I do magic, and I can shapeshift. My mother taught me. But most Asgardians do not bother with either, if they can. Magic is seen as a woman's art, not fit for a warrior." Another pause, trying to think of how to answer. "I am 1,054 years old. I've been doing magic since I can remember."
"One thousand and fifty four," she repeats, in quiet amazement. "We must look like such children to your kind. I mean -- I can't imagine everything you must have seen over all these centuries. Everything you've experienced. No wonder we look at you all like gods."
"Our lifespans can reach into the low thousands, if we are not slain in battle." Loki replied solemnly. "In many ways, we are Gods compared to humanity. You are aware what I'm the God of, right?"
"No, I'm sorry. That was always more, um. More Christian's thing. I caught bits and pieces here and there, but I don't think I ever heard what you were the god of."
"When you're ready, I'll give you only what you ask--as I'd rather not remind you of bad memories of your ex." Loki said, reaching out to squeeze her hand for a moment. "I'm the God of Mischief. A Trickster."
"That... makes sense, I think. With your magic, with what you're able to do. With what you've -- warned me, about yourself." She squeezes back, her expression thoughtful. "But it's just a title. It's not who you are."
"No. It is who I am. But it is not all that I have to be." Loki corrected with a soft smile. "I've been doing quite a bit of thinking about it, and all that it means."
"I'll accept that. I can accept that." So long as Loki doesn't feel -- beholden to his title. Like he can't grow past it, be more than it. But if he feels he can be more than just what his title dictates, then Dani is happy.
"I'm glad to hear that." One more squeeze, before Loki let go. "I'm a shape shifter, as you saw. I have been the villain before too, and perhaps a hero as well in some ways. Right now..." Trailing off, Loki thought for a moment, before blue-green eyes flicked to her.
"I know you said you were behind The Incident, but -- " She shakes her head with a thoughtful frown. "I just can't wrap my head around that. Not really. I can't reconcile that with the you that I know now. And maybe some day I'll be able to, but for now...
"I am," she says, pointing at her plate with her fork. She's picked at her breakfast a little, but she concentrates more on it now. Making sure to finish her food before she talks again.
"I know I haven't been awake for that long, but I still feel like I could sleep for a year."
"More sleep will do you well." There's a hint of mischievous smile. "I did interrupt your sleep too, after all." Mostly so he could ask her if she wanted to leave. That had been several hours ago.
"I guess asking you to share the bed with me, even just for the first night, won't help whatever rumours are going around. But -- " She shrugs a shoulder, tucking her hair behind her ears with a soft smile in Loki's direction. "I don't really care. You make me feel safe."
"I'm honored that you feel safe with me." Loki replied with a smile of his own. "And you're correct. It will not. Allow me to be perfectly clear, however, that I did not bring you with me expecting any kind of reward for the 'rescue'."
"No -- no of course not. And that's not what this is, not at all. I just -- it's a new place. A new -- life, really. And I'm craving something familiar. And you're my friend, and I just need to be close to you right now."
"I wanted to be clear for you." Said simply, as Loki also had been steadily eating. "Whenever you're ready, Dani. You should get more rest. So should I, honestly."
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Now Loki settled in the folding chair, joining her. "To be honest, I'm glad Saldis came and introduced herself to you. She'll be a good resource."
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"Right now I very much am your friend."
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For now, I'm just happy to be your friend."
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"I know I haven't been awake for that long, but I still feel like I could sleep for a year."
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