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

[alittlehinky]

Pure, strong, and clear as air. Cricket distills this stuff twice, just to be sure it's as good as it can get. Aside from the natural bite, it doesn't have much in the way of bouquet, since it's fresh and un-aged, but when tasted there's a hint of vanilla and apple under the ferocious burn.

"Not sure why I even asked," Cricket tells him with a grin. "If I can drink it straight, guess there's no reason you wouldn't. Hope you like it a'ight."

He nods in response to the introduction. "Guessed that, yes sir. I live with Harley and Loki, so I knew you was around. Good to meet you finally, though."

[pirateangelbaby]

Thor snags the nearest pair of unattended glasses and pours them both a generous measure. The strength of the burn lives up to the smell, positively ferocious by Midgardian standards, and Thor can kind of see where the 'white lightning' part of the name comes from. Searing and brilliant, with a fire that warms the belly and might put a tingle in a human's fingers. It's a good deal stronger than most drinks he's had on Earth, even those taken from Stark's wine cellar. "Respectable," he deems it, topping off his glass again. Getting seconds is a compliment to the chef, he's heard.

He does a small, slightly comical doubletake when Cricket mentions his housemates, though. "So you're the one," he says with a grin. "Loki mentioned he was sharing quarters with a brewer."

[alittlehinky]

Cricket is just a human. He is a human with some notable physical deficits, and he's a little bit lanky, not a big guy. For all that, though, he has some wiry upper-body strength that doesn't show until he's using it, and he's been drinking regularly for years, so his tolerance is way higher than you'd think to look at him. He should probably keep an eye on his liquor intake, but when a god pours you a drink? He figures you better drink all of it.

He holds up his glass in a light toast and then because Thor emptied his own glass, he does the same. He doesn't wince or grimace, although he keeps his eyes closed for a moment after to make sure the sudden flush of heat doesn't make him woozy.

His grin up at Thor is sheepishly pleased, eyes bright and hazy from moonshine. "Yessir. He ain't complained about my work none, either, I'll give him that."

It's really Harley that's Cricket's booster and support, but since Loki took it upon himself to go get a little vengeance on Cricket's behalf, he's been friendlier. They'd be hard-pressed to say they're close friends, but they do have a pretty civil living situation now.

[pirateangelbaby]

Someday, Thor is going to have to pay Harley's home a visit and find out just how many wayward men she's sheltering. She has quite the collection going already, it seems. Besides, he can't help but be curious about where Loki's been hanging his hat these days.

"If he was displeased, I'm sure you'd know by now." Well. Maybe not. But Thor would rather give his brother the benefit of the doubt on this one. Besides, Cricket's work is nothing to complain about, it's a good deal stronger than most of Earth's ideas of a decent drink. "So he's been telling stories about me, hmm?" All right, he probably can't hope that they've been flattering ones. Dare he ask?

[alittlehinky]

Honestly, it seems to vary from day to day. She has a big heart, and she's a little reckless, and that makes for some wacky houseguests. Cricket couldn't be more grateful for this tendency of hers, although he occasionally side-eyes Loki and worries he's a time bomb waiting to go off and fill them all with shrapnel.

But he's not going to say that to Thor.

He snorts. "Yeah, I've noticed he don't mince words when he wants to say something."

Loki uses more words than are strictly necessary, actually, when he wants to make something known.

"Some," Cricket admits. "But I used to read a lot back home, too, so I knew some stuff already. The way he talks about you, you can tell you're brothers. Like, he's mad at you all the time but not seriously mad. I don't have no kin like that, but I've seen it before."