noassgardian | Inbox [Eudio]

You should if you're being clever about insult placement, yes. Insult away after you get what you want from me, that's how everybody else has rolled since the dawn of time.

[ It's said lightly because it's mainly a fact, and not a lot of those circumstances technically apply to him. It's like inheriting a not insubstantial fortune that everyone else knows is actually blood-money; a stigma, but a worthwhile one. ]

[He shakes his head at that and plants his hands on the counter absently, tilting his head to watch Loki.

... It's kind of sad he can say that like it's nothing out of the ordinary at all, right? Even if he's referring to-- past lives or whatever.]

Good thing I don't really want anything from you... Besides company, I mean.

That I can currently provide in abundance. Come here. [ Waving him off the countertop to take the spatula, Loki beckons Billy to the cooker. ] I want you to keep stirring the veg while I deal with the rice.

Sure, I can do that.

[Sliding off the counter, he goes to start stirring.] So, did you just learn to cook through trial and error? Or did the God of Mischief actually take a cooking class or two?

I watched TV like everyone else. [ A hand rests lightly in the small of Billy's back and Loki directs the other man's hand to flip the vegetables, looming over a shoulder. ] Fold now and again, don't let them turn more than golden-brown at the edges.

[ Drifting a few pinches of spices over the pan, he makes a start boiling the rice and doing the same to that. ]

I'm not the god of anything when I go shopping, you know. It counts for nothing if I don't have the money to pay for bacon and floury rolls. [ Alas!! ] Although it would be nice if it did.

So you're a fan of Food Network, huh? [His brow arches a little at the way Loki stays close, guides his hand, but he follows the instructions.] Alright.

[He shoots an amused glance over at Loki.] What a tragedy. You have to pay for your bacon. But speaking of paying-- have you thought about getting a job here?

I am, shamefully so. [ Tongue in cheek as he wishes fervently (not for the first time!!) that he could lie, he bites his lip. ] A job? Ummmmm ...

I'm going to take that as a 'no'.

[He never really thought Loki as the type who'd go hold down a job anyway. ]

Just going to do a lot of cuddling and making out?

And cooking, evidently. [ Nudging Billy's hip with his own. ] Unless the other two are on the cards, but I rather imagine they aren't.

[ Which is why he flirts with him, really. There's no chance of anything happening that would jeopardize Billy's chances with Teddy, in Loki's opinion, so it's all very safe territory. ]

[It really... isn't about Teddy. They're okay -- or as okay as they can be. They're on friendly terms again. They're seeing other people. Billy hopes one day soon, he won't be unhappy at the thought of that-- They're hanging out again, sort of.

But there's still a lot of things between him and Loki. Fresh wounds and distrust. Not really grounds for making out. So it didn't matter that Loki knew how to say just the right things, apparently, or if there was a curiosity there... it'd be a horrible idea.]

Mm. [He shrugs and looks over at Loki.] Friends first, Loki, then we'll talk about those particular cards.

[ Loki, on the other hand, has learned the hard way that a certain level of disassociation between friendship (real affection) and make-outs is needed, otherwise what happened with Verity will occur across the board and quite possibly prevent him from forming any sexual attachments at all. The screaming, protesting face of a dead child will do that to a guy's libido, for a crime that cannot be forgiven deserves no true happiness, no actual release from the guilt, not even for a second.

So, casual sex with just as casual emotions attached to it, and hence casual flirting. ]

Those cards have been flipped by another, they aren't a requirement. You're quite safe. [ But Billy's answer does raise a few flags. ] I take it that means you and Teddy aren't together?

What's that supposed to mean?

[Billy doesn't really-- know about all of that. He just knows that if it comes down to meaningless sex without attachments -- he isn't that amazing at it. Maybe he'll learn.

But there's already an attachment to Loki there, whether he likes to admit it or not. Loki was still his mentor, still someone whose company wasn't bad.

There's a pause at the next question before he gives a nod.]

It's fine. We're trying the friends thing. I think it'll be better for both of us, honestly, especially while we're here. And if something more happens between us, it happens. But it's going to have to be because Teddy is sure it's what he wants.

[Not because Billy's begged him to come back or anything.]

Never mind what that means, I don't know how many more ways I can reinforce the fact I was a complete asshole a year ago, [ he puts out there, frankly, ] or whether I should remind both of you that this ... separation is precisely the outcome I knew all that manipulation would achieve. I was as precise as a surgeon.

[ Although he looks a bit miserable about the how and why, chin tipped down as he forks the broccoli from Billy's pan into the rice, mashing it in. ]

You should both be hating me, at least that would give you common ground to stand upon.

Edited 2015-04-10 00:01 (UTC)

Loki-- [He lets out a frustrated sigh.] We have other issues to work on besides that. The fact that he could believe you over me kind of points it out. Plus--

[He shrugs, awkwardly. He doesn't like talking about this crap--] Maybe there's someone out there who's better for him. He deserves a chance to find that out, right? Even if I want to be selfish.

[He pauses, looking at Loki, at that miserable look, before he leans in to bump his shoulder against his.]

If it makes you feel better, talking about our mutual Loki punches did break the ice again.

The only reason he believed me over you was because I knew his insecurities and played him like a fiddle, I made his emotions dance to the tune I desired, just like the monster who created me did the same to countless others. [ Billy gains a small smile when the punch-y ice-breakers are mentioned. ] If there's one thing I am grateful for, it's that I did realise I don't have to be that way inclined, even if I am 'Loki' and wish to stay just so. Being around all of you ... helped me.

And so, you see, I'll be your chef until the end of time.

[ At least the black humour is a good thing. ]

Loki, I said it's not just that anyway. I've been... kind of a selfish ass in other ways lately. [And Teddy did let him know, before all the craziness happened.

He laughs.]

I'm not going to argue about that. You're more than welcome to come cook for me anytime. And-- I'm glad too, you know. That's why I'm giving you a second chance.

[ Pulling a face that implies he rather thinks it would be best for both Billy and Teddy to just yell at him until they wind up making out from the sheer adrenaline rush, he relents with a somewhat shy, evasive smile. ]

I'm glad that you get along with Verity, I saw you chatting at the party.

[ Friends becoming friends, it was satisfying to know that was a thing which could ever happen for him (because he's selfish too, and that's how it looked). ]

Yeah... I didn't know we had you in common until recently, actually. We met at the meet and greet when we first arrived... and then somehow became Mythbusters buddies.

[Yes, Verity was a better topic than any of this. He's glad to follow it.]

She really likes you, you know. And she seems to have a lot of faith in you.

[Which Billy was hoping was a good sign, considering her abilities.]

I think she wants to sleep with me.

[ Rice, please stop bubbling when he pokes you. In other news, Loki chews his lip with a vengeance as he confides in Billy with a sigh. ]

[Uhh-- wow, Loki. That's quite a thing to confide]

Oh... well. Is that a bad thing, if she does? I mean, are you interested?

Yes. No. I don't know. Everyone who sleeps with me is a desperate sort of bedfellow, I told Thor the exact same thing and he didn't disagree. Verity's so sensible that she could probably take being in a Friends With Benefits situation but I don't want that to happen just because we're here. What if she starts to resent me because of Eudio-related sex later, once we've left? I can't afford to invest in anything long-term, not right now. Maybe she'd want that? Maybe I'd want that, it's all up in the air.

[ Look what he's been stressing over lately, and it isn't setting out the dinner as he waves Billy off from the vegetables. Cocking his head, a low noise sticks in the back of his throat. ]

She's too important to risk losing, Billy.

Hey--

[Okay, he'll move away from the vegetables, but he doesn't move far away from Loki or anything. Wow, he's really had some worries, huh?]

Okay, that is kind of complicated, but... I think the only way you're going to know what she wants is if you talk with her about it. Figure out what you both want and what you can actually do together.

[He idly reaches out, placing a hand on Loki's shoulder.]

If she's really your friend, you're not going to lose her either way, right?

Possibly, but I can still disappoint her.

[ Which is, really, the second-worst thing he can think of next to losing her entirely. The hand on his shoulder draws his focus, streamlining a road for Loki to make his point ... so he ducks down without prelude and pecks Billy on the lips with no small amount of heat (never mind it comes from frustration, it works), looking him in the eye right after. And sure, maybe he's trying to push Billy away again, showing him that's how it should be; kinder and more thoughtful as Loki is, he's still entirely opportunistic.

Also, he just really wanted to do it for a while. ]

... Sort of like that.

[That gets Billy to take a step back in surprise, eyes going wide. His mind sort of -- blanked for a moment. It was hard to register anything besides the surprise at the fact that Loki was kissing him and not... entirely innocently.

He idly brings a hand up to his lips -- and if there's a bit of hurt on his face, he really can't help it. He's trying to be Loki's friend here and... he doesn't even know what's happening even. Is Loki trying to make him regret that second chance? Looking for a distraction from Verity?

But Verity was becoming his friend too. Suddenly all those flirting attempts, that night in the bedroom kind of made his stomach sink... right along with this. If he'd known crap was going on like this between them--

Thankfully, he recovers enough to go from hurt to anger, hand dropping.]

What the hell is wrong with you? I don't know if you're intentionally trying to piss me off or what's even going on in that head of yours, but don't, Loki, or she's not going to be the only one you disappoint.

[ A lead weight settles in the pit of his stomach, somehow satisfied in a masochistic twist (that look Billy wears, that awful look, it's so predictably easy to produce and Loki hates that he's the seamless cause). He shrugs, putting real effort into turning off the stove calmly before meeting a startled, angry gaze again.

It's an agonising sort of relief when he sighs, ] That was also an excuse to kiss you.

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