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[On the one hand, it's definitely a bit much. On the other hand, it appreciably relaxes Lawford's shoulders--because it's infinitely closer to his murky memories of Scotland than anything else in the past few months has been.

Little things, right?

His arm is lifted slightly, half to show the flask in his hand and half to keep the wood from slipping.] I take it the meager offering is acceptable, then?

[The flask will be offered directly to Loki before he finds a proper spot to ditch the logs.]

There are no meager offerings here.

[ loki can be a gracious host. hospitality, after all, is an important virtue of asgard. his mother held that title as a goddess. he takes it graciously, setting it upon the counter. ]

Unless you'd like to open it now?

I'd like to know you're warm and comparatively content.

[Which, despite the weather, Loki seems more or less to be.

And yet, which a drink wouldn't hurt.]

[ his lips twitch upwards despite himself. ]

I shall pour us two, then.

[ which loki does promptly, walking back to lawford, handing him the glass. ]

To warm you up.

[Lawford's own smile is completely unhidden, shoulders settling comfortably as he takes the glass.]

To achieving an appropriate temperature.

[That's something to clink glasses to, yes?]

[ hilarious. but loki raises his glass graciously for the clink. ]

Skål.

Sláinte.

[It could almost be normal, the way things used to be years and years ago. That keeps the soft smile on his lips around his sip of drink.]

Did all this take very long, then?

[ a careless shrug. ]

A few hours of work, perhaps.

Quite impressive. [But actually.] Which bit's your favourite?

[Surely no one could spend a few hours building something intricate and not be most pleased with some piece or other.]

[ loki mulls it over. ]

Most likely the fireplace. It was trickier than the rest.

Not shy of a challenge, then?

It wasn't what most would call challenging. At least not for me. If there are enough resources, magic can do anything.

[Dipping his head in concession to the clear expert on the topic, Lawford steals another quick sip of his drink. It's infinitely more comfortably warm here than outside, but the sensation is pleasant all the same.]

Why trickier, then?

Because magic lacks substance. It can only maintain all of this for so long. It is not meant for permanence, to shift nature out of balance.

[ because it is a trick, a lie. power that comes and goes. ]

Is it?

[Well, that's something to mull as he reexamines their surroundings. ]

Have you got to just keep holding onto it?

[ a slow nod. ]

Yes. My magic sustains it for as long as I need it.

[It sounds exhausting, from a distance. The drink in his hand keeps him from reaching out properly, but it seems a good time to lightly bump his elbow into the god's.]

Well done, you.

[ loki doesn't quite flush, but his ears turn a solid pink. ]

Ah . . . Thank you.

[Good. That feels like it landed in the right place.

Time to drift back into being absolutely flip, then.]

And to think, the rest of us were so terribly pleased with our little tents, hm?

[ he chuckles, giving a little shake. ]

Nothing wrong with that.

Ah, but will you be so gracious when we have you over for tea and can't feel your fingers?

[Not that there were tea things, but it feels right all the same.]

[ with aplomb. ]

I can at least feign graciousness. I was a prince. I was not without manners.

[The chuckle that elicits is quietly delighted.]

All the more credit to you, then.

[ loki looks pleased at that. ]

I hope so, at least. It is a valued skill.

Not valued nearly enough. [Time, clearly, for another clink of glasses.] Or, at the very least, not credited enough.

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