selfhelp | [IC] Appointments Post

[Loki levels A Look at Billy. Somewhere between Honestly you can't expect you to pretend I'm anything other than what I am and For goodness sake, I'm not going to bloody well baby you. He waves a finger at one cup, which sets down gently in front of Billy.]

[...Well... he'd been kind of hoping...

But he can't expect to make the same request of Loki as he did with Wanda. It's not like she took it very well, either.

Somehow he refrains from protesting, merely ducking his head and picking up the fallen pieces. Probably better to just ignore it...]

[Loki plucks his own tea cup out of the air and settles down in his chair, stretching his legs out. He prods one of the chess pieces with the tip of one finger so that it's in the center of one square.]

Magic is the most fundamental part of my being, Billy. It makes me who and what I am. [So are you going to accept that or not?]

[Oof. Billy refrains from looking up, though his hand fumbles again, withdrawing and awkwardly resting in his lap.]

I didn't... say anything.

You didn't need to. [Just... never play poker, Billy.]

[He's not much of a gambler, anyway.]

I mean- I wasn't going to. But I don't have to be happy about seeing it. Stopping is hard enough as it is...

It is what it is, Billy. [Neither good nor evil; a simple force of nature.

He raises one eyebrow as if to ask, And I wonder why it's so very hard to stop...?]

[He stubbornly ignores that unspoken cue. He knows it's hard. He knew it was going to be hard. But it's not stopping him.]

...Whatever, I'll... deal with it. It's just a good way to test me, that's all.

[Dryly:] Next, we can test your self control by my tickling you whilst you hold your breath.

[Equally ridiculous in his opinion.

He waves a hand toward the board.]

Had fun with Thor so far?

[...Ahaha. He was wondering if that would come up at all. Billy hums a vague noise as a response, then slides the first piece forward. He's not about to lie.]

I have, actually. His enthusiasm is contagious.

Have care. So is his idiocy. [He makes his move.]

[Ha. He's not that dumb, just... kind of innocent.

And he suspects there's more to this than Loki isn't saying.]

Worried he'll win me over and steal me away?

[Well, if we're just going to have it out there...]

It isn't as if I've much to offer you now, if you're so set to avoid magics.

[Billy snorts inelegantly at that.]

That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard you say.

Hah. [He makes an open-handed gesture, as if to say, Well, what else is there?] I hadn't realized you liked chess quite that much.

Maybe I do.

[Billy moves another piece, aiming to take out one of Loki's.]

Maybe I like tea, too. And long, intellectual discussions. And playful banter with a friend.

[He drums his fingers lightly on his mug before taking a sip.]

...Maybe I value my family too much to give any part of it up.

Edited 2013-12-02 05:22 (UTC)

[Loki cedes the piece; it's a setup.

That does make him smile, though a warm expression.]

Brothers can be a bit hard on each other at times.

[Billy accepts the piece, though he suspects that was too easy for his own good. He just keeps going like it's no big deal. The whole topic is a bit absurd - like he can't hang out with them both, like it's some kind of sibling rivalry competition - but he can understand insecurity well enough.]

Tell me about it. Tommy actually called me a barnacle once. All I did was hold his hand! But he can't seem to get rid of me, either.

[Loki laughs.]

Tommy tried to threaten me. It was incredibly cute.

..."Cute" is not a word I'd ever use to describe him.

[Despite the fact that they're identical and thus they both look all fine and good, there is literally nothing cute about his personality.]

Like a kitten falling down the stairs.

[Loki takes one of Billy's pieces.]

But it is true. I have called you brother. That doesn't change even if you wish to hang about the oaf.

Hmm.

[Yeah, he should've seen that coming. He'll give himself a moment to ponder before making another move; this is Loki, he needs to be more careful about his strategy. He can't go easy the way he does with Teddy.]

Shockingly, I can do both.

[Dryly:] A rare skill indeed.

Hm. Do you know how to use any weapons?

[That's not a question he'd expected.]

Uh... I used to carry around a staff to help me cast spells, but I don't know if I'd consider it a weapon. I guess I can swing one around well enough?

[He'd fought off a bunch of zombies, once...! And Viral had tried to give him weapons training for a while. He was decidedly terrible with a bow and arrow.]

Not the first weapon I would have chosen for you.

[He nudges a piece forward with one finger.]

I shall teach you daggers.

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