[ There's that strange melancholy to Chris again, the deep rivulet of it that runs unnoticed so often and rarely surfaces. While Loki adores being adored, he finds it odd Chris's other family isn't enough to be a worthy distraction.
Playing with Chris's hair, he leans up to kiss him chastely, soft and sweet. ]
You can pray to me and I'll hear it, you know. Anytime.
[ He can't burden his crew with the knowledge he bears, it just wouldn't be fair to them. Even Spock, who knows more about the details than anyone else, doesn't know the full story, and Chris isn't going to explain it to him. He doesn't want to alter the course of history, not now that he's discovered just how badly that will go if he tries.
This is Chris's cross to bear, and he'll shoulder it in stoic silence.
He blinks away the shadows that were creeping into his eyes, refocusing back on Loki's darling face, a smile curling his lips in the wake of that sweet kiss. ]
[ His smile widens, one hand lifting to brush some of Loki's hair aside, tracing the shell of his ear with doting fingertips. ]
I don't need an altar? Some sort of ritual sacrifice? A little fox sculpture, perhaps?
[ Chris grew up studying dozens of Earth's religions because of his father. There's very little in the way of religious rituals that will surprise him. ]
People usually sacrifice a really well-made coffee these days, but that's a summoning to actually bring me to your location. I take whatever you offer up, then I help out with whatever you need. Super old trading rules.
[ In his opinion, anyway. He lays his cheek on Chris's shoulder, enjoying the touches that skate along his back. ]
One-way, unfortunately. You don't have to speak, as long as you're praying then I'll hear it. Gods always do, they just don't bother responding often otherwise they wouldn't have a life of their own. Like having your doorbell rung on the hourly.
[ Not that Chris has all that much experience with mead. He's tried some, it was very sweet, but it's not a super common drink out here in the black, what with bees being pretty scarce. ]
No specific phrasing I should use? How will you know it's you I'm speaking to?
[ As if Chris would pray to any other god, really. ]
Well, I don't reply to just anyone, if that makes you feel any better.
[ The snuggling is barged in on by a huge horse's head appearing at the kitchen window. Loki swallows the strangled noise of surprise he makes and sighs, raising his head to stare back and call across the house. ]
[ Chris cranes his neck around to see Sleipnir appearing at the kitchen window, apparently having grown bored of the paddock and let himself out — Chris can only pray that he simply jumped the fence and didn't do something like break down the gate, letting Tango and Mary-Lou escape too — come to bother them like a child standing in the doorway of his parents' bedroom. ]
[ The loud neigh Loki gets by way of a reply is followed by Sleipnir's nose butting the window. ]
You are not coming in! You're too big! You don't even like being indoors. [ More whinnying, a quartet of fore-hooves stomp. ] Chris will take you out when he feels like it, not when you get bored.
[ Sleipnir rumbles something as he snorts, prompting Loki to sit up at Chris's side. ]
[ Chris contents himself with watching Loki while he speaks to his horsey son, fond and still slightly incredulous at the direction his life has taken, that he's lying on his couch at home with an interdimensional god cuddled up against his chest, a god who can apparently take any form he pleases, even those of other animals.
Sometimes he thinks he should be a little more nonplussed by all this, but then Loki will shoot him one of those shyly pleased looks he gets when Chris does something nice for him, and all his worries fade away.
He laughs as Loki shoots up into a seated position, letting his hands settle on his waist. ]
[ Sinking down to seal a smiling kiss as Chris thoroughly distracts him with those petting caresses, Loki only startles when a loud thump echoes through from the outside wall. Sleipnir can be seen cantering away, tail swishing in annoyance. ]
Gods, I'm so sorry about him. I thought he would behave around more horses.
[ He happily lifts his chin for the kiss dropped down on him, pleased by how well Loki took his harmless teasing, forgetting for the moment about the giant stallion outside currently in the midst of a petulant tantrum.
Loki isn't the only one who startles at that thump, and Chris can't help glancing over towards the window with a frown. ]
It's alright. The first weekend at your step-dad's house is always difficult for everyone involved.
[ Chris had been in the process of sitting up, but with the way Loki pounces on him to kiss him again, he winds up falling back down to the couch cushions with a laugh, sliding his hands automatically up Loki's sides to help him balance as he peppers Chris's face with kisses. ]
I always did get along better with horses than humans...
[ Patently untrue. Chris gets along great with everyone, it's his whole Thing. ]
You might have gotten along with Jormungandr. He was the World Serpent, way more monstrous than Sleipnir, but he was smart too. Hela, of course, cares nothing for my paramours, so she won't want to meet you, but I don't care about that.
[ Giving him a squeeze around his middle, since he's grateful for the effort Chris is putting in with Loki's remaining child (like there aren't possibly hundreds of demigods running around Midgard, but who cares about those). ]
[ While undeniably curious about how many children Loki actually has, plus what they might all look like — if his son is an eight-legged horse, and Jormungandr is apparently a serpent, what are the other options? — it doesn't really feel like a topic that's inviting further discussion, so Chris just smiles at him and slides his hands down Loki's arms to pick up his hands. ]
My sister would have liked you.
[ Probably. Most likely she would have liked giving Chris absolute hell for being in a relationship with someone half his age, partly out of amusement and partly straight censure.
Tangling their fingers together and lifting Loki's hands to hold them at his chest, he bends his head to kiss his fingers. ]
Do you want to come down to the paddock with me so someone doesn't feel too left out? You're welcome to raid my bookshelves some more if you'd prefer.
[ The look of genuine gratitude when Chris muses about his sister liking Loki, it can't be kept off Loki's face. He hums thoughtfully about the paddock. ]
I'll come along, I need to remind him not to fly with you or something.
[ It's easy enough for Chris to decide that his sister would have liked Loki, considering she's not around any more and therefore can't refute him, but he's relieved that Loki doesn't seem to mind. It makes it feel more truthful. She would have liked Loki, because Loki would almost certainly have been on his best behavior around her, if only for Chris's sake. He can have faith in that assumption.
Reluctantly, he coaxes Loki to climb off him so he can swing his legs off the couch and lever himself up to his feet. ]
[ Loki stretches, tying up Chris's shirt around his waist in a knot so he can magic on some boots over his leggings and look semi-prepared to go riding. ]
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[ There's that strange melancholy to Chris again, the deep rivulet of it that runs unnoticed so often and rarely surfaces. While Loki adores being adored, he finds it odd Chris's other family isn't enough to be a worthy distraction.
Playing with Chris's hair, he leans up to kiss him chastely, soft and sweet. ]
You can pray to me and I'll hear it, you know. Anytime.
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This is Chris's cross to bear, and he'll shoulder it in stoic silence.
He blinks away the shadows that were creeping into his eyes, refocusing back on Loki's darling face, a smile curling his lips in the wake of that sweet kiss. ]
Really? How do I do that?
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You believe in me, don't you? Just pray. It's like a communicator in my head goes off, I can respond or not.
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[ His smile widens, one hand lifting to brush some of Loki's hair aside, tracing the shell of his ear with doting fingertips. ]
I don't need an altar? Some sort of ritual sacrifice? A little fox sculpture, perhaps?
[ Chris grew up studying dozens of Earth's religions because of his father. There's very little in the way of religious rituals that will surprise him. ]
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[ Wrinkling his nose, Loki laughs. ]
People usually sacrifice a really well-made coffee these days, but that's a summoning to actually bring me to your location. I take whatever you offer up, then I help out with whatever you need. Super old trading rules.
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You modern gods and your coffee.
[ He lets his hand drop back down to Loki's back, his fingers picking up their absent swirling strokes of before. ]
Is it like a one-way thing? I pray and you hear me and that's it? Is it like a telepathy thing?
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[ In his opinion, anyway. He lays his cheek on Chris's shoulder, enjoying the touches that skate along his back. ]
One-way, unfortunately. You don't have to speak, as long as you're praying then I'll hear it. Gods always do, they just don't bother responding often otherwise they wouldn't have a life of their own. Like having your doorbell rung on the hourly.
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[ Not that Chris has all that much experience with mead. He's tried some, it was very sweet, but it's not a super common drink out here in the black, what with bees being pretty scarce. ]
No specific phrasing I should use? How will you know it's you I'm speaking to?
[ As if Chris would pray to any other god, really. ]
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Trust me, dear, I'll know. You don't need any fancy language.
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Preposterously low barrier for entry. But alright, I'll remember that for later. When I'm missing you too much to bear, I'll pray.
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[ The snuggling is barged in on by a huge horse's head appearing at the kitchen window. Loki swallows the strangled noise of surprise he makes and sighs, raising his head to stare back and call across the house. ]
Go back to the paddock!
[ Sleipnir blinks, and decidedly does not. ]
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[ Chris cranes his neck around to see Sleipnir appearing at the kitchen window, apparently having grown bored of the paddock and let himself out — Chris can only pray that he simply jumped the fence and didn't do something like break down the gate, letting Tango and Mary-Lou escape too — come to bother them like a child standing in the doorway of his parents' bedroom. ]
What does he want?
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[ The loud neigh Loki gets by way of a reply is followed by Sleipnir's nose butting the window. ]
You are not coming in! You're too big! You don't even like being indoors. [ More whinnying, a quartet of fore-hooves stomp. ] Chris will take you out when he feels like it, not when you get bored.
[ Sleipnir rumbles something as he snorts, prompting Loki to sit up at Chris's side. ]
Language!
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Sometimes he thinks he should be a little more nonplussed by all this, but then Loki will shoot him one of those shyly pleased looks he gets when Chris does something nice for him, and all his worries fade away.
He laughs as Loki shoots up into a seated position, letting his hands settle on his waist. ]
What'd he say?
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[ Suspiciously eyeing his so !! Loki looks to Chris, expression softening. ]
He's just being a brat.
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I wonder where he gets that from...
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[ Sinking down to seal a smiling kiss as Chris thoroughly distracts him with those petting caresses, Loki only startles when a loud thump echoes through from the outside wall. Sleipnir can be seen cantering away, tail swishing in annoyance. ]
Gods, I'm so sorry about him. I thought he would behave around more horses.
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[ He happily lifts his chin for the kiss dropped down on him, pleased by how well Loki took his harmless teasing, forgetting for the moment about the giant stallion outside currently in the midst of a petulant tantrum.
Loki isn't the only one who startles at that thump, and Chris can't help glancing over towards the window with a frown. ]
It's alright. The first weekend at your step-dad's house is always difficult for everyone involved.
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[ Oh, that deserves kisses. Lots of them. ]
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I always did get along better with horses than humans...
[ Patently untrue. Chris gets along great with everyone, it's his whole Thing. ]
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[ Giving him a squeeze around his middle, since he's grateful for the effort Chris is putting in with Loki's remaining child (like there aren't possibly hundreds of demigods running around Midgard, but who cares about those). ]
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My sister would have liked you.
[ Probably. Most likely she would have liked giving Chris absolute hell for being in a relationship with someone half his age, partly out of amusement and partly straight censure.
Tangling their fingers together and lifting Loki's hands to hold them at his chest, he bends his head to kiss his fingers. ]
Do you want to come down to the paddock with me so someone doesn't feel too left out? You're welcome to raid my bookshelves some more if you'd prefer.
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I'll come along, I need to remind him not to fly with you or something.
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Reluctantly, he coaxes Loki to climb off him so he can swing his legs off the couch and lever himself up to his feet. ]
Is there anything your children can't do?
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[ Loki stretches, tying up Chris's shirt around his waist in a knot so he can magic on some boots over his leggings and look semi-prepared to go riding. ]
You should wear something warm, he goes fast.
[ #Pride ]
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