If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks...

[coldsong]

It's customary to have a Wake after the subject thereof dies. Even Loki knows that. But this is a special occasion. Ego-death is coming to his alternate, and the idea of letting him go off to perish alone, uncertain he will even be mourned, is too dark a proposition even for a flawed and callous person to contemplate.

That, and this Loki has been in a melancholy mood since speaking to the spirit of Frigga. He anticipates a dark choice of his own, sooner or later, and where the fates will send him after that, he can't know. Maybe oblivion, although even at that rate there may be worse places.

What's important right now is that no one dies unremembered. And honestly, any excuse for mischief a party. The first text rolls out to Harley, an innocent enough invitation to join them for milkshakes. Cricket is next, because it occurs to him that Cricket has plenty of liquor, which is good for a reckless celebration.

Things snowball from there.

As long as they don't destroy too much property, they'll call the night a success.

Comments

[smartass_captain]

Well there's the God of Mischief Jim at least has met before. His hands are full with the Andorian ale he's brought along with him but he nods by way of greeting even as he grabs a thin glass to pour Loki out a bit of the very blue drink.

"Andorian ale. Always a party pleaser." And strong enough that a little goes a long way for mortals. But if a single sip doesn't get Jim plastered it probably won't do much for Loki. Still the captain offers out the glass he's poured. "Here."

Though he shakes his head at the earlier question. "I'm not much for sweets, usually."

[coldsong]

"How pretty!" He's interested in this drink based purely on the aesthetic qualities. It doesn't really matter if it's strong. The faery wine has thus far been the only thing that's really hit him, although there may be something about mortal liquors as a chaser that's making it more effective.

"There's something wrong with you, then," he says, sipping from the glass and looking thoughtful. "Mmn. I like it. It's strong, but there's some depth to the flavor."

"But I still can't imagine not enjoying sweets."

[smartass_captain]

"Well you're not wrong. Sweet often means fruity and I'm allergic to a lot of those. Suppose I just got used to not trusting anything that leaned that way."

There's still a friendly smile on Jim's face though, not so secretly pleased that he's brought something that meets with a god's approval. He's content to pour himself a drink and settle in to do some people watching around any conversation with Loki.

"I mean, I don't actively dislike them. My fiance has a bit of a sweet tooth though, so there's more of it in my place than usual."

[coldsong]

"I'm sorry, then, that you have such an overzealous and indiscriminate immune system," he tells him. "What about honey? Can you enjoy that, at least?"

Even a god has preferences, and honey is one of Loki's. Some day, someone will compare him to Winnie-the-Pooh, and he'll get very annoyed. In the meantime, though, he'll enjoy his sweets and his mead.

"Good. If you're betrothed, you should be catering to your beloved, particularly since they clearly have better taste than you." Not that Loki has any solid reason to care what Jim's home life is like, but now his curiosity has been stirred. "Who is this fiance? I don't believe you mentioned her--or him?--before."

[smartass_captain]

"Might be a pain, but it means I'm always bringing something to any gathering I'm at. Makes folks think I'm generous."

Not that Jim isn't--what he'd give for someone who needed help is more than he should in most cases. But it makes for a good joke, good enough to wink alongside it and nod toward the bottles of ale he's brought with him.

"Oh, sure. That's the chief sweetener on Nirn too. The world my fiance is from is very different from my own. I think I'd be screwed if I was allergic to that." The sweet cakes cousin Marcella made for his visit spring to mind and Jim can't help but to smile fondly. He's never been good at hiding his feelings for other people, even when he thinks he is.

"Actually, he's the reason I'm here at all. Felix Caelus told me you were putting on an affair. I wasn't sure if the connection had come up before so I thought it best to stay quiet about it."

[coldsong]

"I like that type of thinking!" Loki gives him a brief, dazzling smile.

A cross-world betrothal is probably nothing unusual in the Nexus, but it gets Loki to thinking right away. This place provides such extraordinary opportunity, for mortals and gods and others. He is not, himself, in the market for a marriage at the moment, but perhaps he isn't using the Nexus to its full capacity yet, for his own goals and benefits.

He's been treading lightly. He's still afraid.

That thought retreats to the back of his mind when Felix Caelus is mentioned, though, and his smile returns. "Oh, him! Yes, I like him. Congratulations on securing what will most certainly be an interesting life partner."

[smartass_captain]

"He's an easy man to like." It's practically his profession. Jim knows Felix would be swelling with pride if he knew a God was praising him thusly. Maybe Jim will tell him later. If he's sober enough to remember later that is.

"I know he found your conversation exceedingly interesting. He's been holed up in our apartment making notes for days now." But then, when your specialty is conjuration, meeting new gods and learning their whims must be like Saturnalia coming early. And to meet one in person! One that likes to talk?

"He wouldn't tell me what about, but I suspect that's probably for the best."

[coldsong]

"I found him so, yes," Loki smirks. Likable and potentially trustworthy, no less. That's high praise coming from Loki.

He gives a little snort of a laugh at hearing about Felix's note-taking though. "That can't possibly bode well for me, but I think I'm flattered. If he publishes a book, I insist on co-author credit."

Okay, so he doesn't just think he's flattered. He knows he is, especially if Felix's notes have anything to do with their last topic of discussion. He might be trying to help, as well as just curious for his own reasons.

Loki decides once the hangover fades, he might have to try to pay the man a visit.

[smartass_captain]

"Couldn't it? He's like a school girl with a new crush--academically at least. It's adorable really. I think you might have made his entire time in the Nexus worthwhile just by existing."

Something that might bother Jim more if he didn't also find Loki and his brother to be more friendly than as not. It's a chance for Felix to do what he's good at, and possibly make a friend in the process.

"I can't imagine he'd even think of letting anyone else see any book he writes, but I'll suggest it. Your suggestion might even make him blush."

[coldsong]

Loki can't help but laugh at that, and it comes out neither wry nor mocking nor self-deprecating, just a simple noise of delight. "Oh, Norns. That kind of talk is going to make me blush, as well."

He shakes his head, not quite prepared to take Jim's commentary as unembellished truth, but pleased by it anyway. "I am...continually pleasantly surprised by this place. People have recognized my reputation and spoken with me anyway, people have taken my word that I am a god and treated me with respect accordingly, and those that have done neither of those things are content to treat me as an equal, even a friend, nonetheless."

[smartass_captain]

"Surely a god isn't unused to a bit of mortal admiration?" Hell Jim's had to get used to it and he's nowhere near anything so important. Anytime he's back in San Fracisco it feels like there's always a gaggle of cadets who want to shake his hand or talk to him. Maybe Loki's reaction isn't too far off, actually. Jim always feels really uncomfortable when that happens. He's really not anything special.

"Well, this is a place where sentient dinosaurs, machine based life forms, and people from every stretch of time and as many worlds all come together. A god isn't so out of place here."