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[dothelokimotion]

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on Sarano, via hand-delivery

[thirtythird]

[The Tragedie of Loki son of Odin is a clear success and very much deserving of plaudits. Lawford suspects, however, that there's a good deal of merit to letting the adulation of their hosts lap around Loki in the wake of its opening performance--because there's a fairly distinct sort of enjoyment to be derived from the public reception rather than the cajoling of personal friends.

William will linger among the crowd to await his turn, but a neatly-appointed young page will find Loki promptly after the curtain to offer up a bouquet of multicoloured flowers (roses, to his own mind) and a delicately scrawled note:]

Bravo, darling. Shakespeare absolutely outshone.
Yours with devotion--
W.L.

[dothelokimotion]

[ for a god, loki has a strange relationship with worship. he wants it, always. he wants those eyes on him. and yet, some parts of him are oddly shy when it came to people he actually knew.

because there is real truth with people who know you, who carry pieces of you.

but lawford's flowers are received with a delighted flush down his neck and loki presses his cheeks against the bouquet with a quiet trill. ]

[thirtythird]

[The report that the gift had been well-received (not that he expected the youth to tell him otherwise when returning) keeps an easy smile at the corners of Lawford's lips as he waits. There's an art to this--albeit one he's not as handily accustomed to in these odd circumstances.

He does wend his way into an approach as the crowd begins to thin. His own boutonnière isn't an exact match, but he expects there will be enough of a complimentary effect when he finally drifts into place at Loki's side.]

Quite the reception.

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki rarely misses an opportunity to dress well and he does with aplomb. he smiles when lawford arrives, the corners of his eyes crinkling. ]

They seem to have taken to it rather well.

[thirtythird]

Of course they did.

[It isn't exactly right, of course, but it still feels lovely to see so many familiar faces almost in the fashion of home. It certainly suits Loki, brightening Lawford's own grin as he reaches for the god's hand to bow over.]

It was a triumph, darling.

[dothelokimotion]

[ a triumph. has he ever had one of those? still, it's nice to hear. ]

I — Perhaps it is.

[thirtythird]

Ah, mo chridhe. [It isn't awfully inappropriate to linger a heartbeat in pressing a kiss over Loki's knuckles.] I cannot imagine what I'd give for you to see what I see.

[About the success of this current production, yes, but so much more about the much more complete picture of the man himself.]

The flowers weren't too much, were they?

[dothelokimotion]

No. They were loved.

[ which may be a bit strong and the tips of his ears go a little pink. ]

I mean. They were perfect as they are.

[thirtythird]

[Nothing to comment on here, although that's a Very Lovely Thing to hear. His fingers shift absently around Loki's, finding a comfortable grip for a moment longer.]

Good. One hates to be overly unsubtle in their affections.

[And one should probably take a step back from the lingering touch, but one is perfectly happy here.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki gives a soft smile. ]

My mother enjoyed flowers. She had large gardens. There was a plant on Earth called . . . calla lilies that she loved the most.

[ it is reflected in loki as well. the clothes he wore held that design, an homage to her. ]

[thirtythird]

Quite refined taste.

[And quite a precious thing to have it easily shared this way. His fingers shift gently, tugging to bring Loki's arm into his own so that they don't seem to be skulking.]

Have you seen the gardens here?

[dothelokimotion]

Briefly. I did not linger.

[ perhaps he should have, but he didn't give it much thought. ]

[thirtythird]

[That elicits a brief squeeze of the arm.]

Will you take a turn with me? When you've finished with your adoring public?

[dothelokimotion]

[ as if lawford needed to ask. as if loki wouldn't drop everything. ]

Of course. I'd be happy to.

[thirtythird]

You'll spoil me absolutely rotten, you know.

[Not a complaint, obviously. If anything, it's something to be utterly pleased about.]

[dothelokimotion]

That is the idea.

[ spoil, pamper. it's what loki enjoys so why not pass it along? ]

[thirtythird]

Is it?

[Is it wrong that that feels really quite lovely?]

Are you going to keep me in fine clothes and gaudy jewelry?

[dothelokimotion]

Is . . . that what you want?

[thirtythird]

I shouldn't mind it. [His fingers squeeze tighter for a moment.] But all I properly want is you, Loki.

[Time just like this, really.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki makes a note to drop off some jewels by lawford's later. ]

You have me.

[thirtythird]

[William will, of course, be absolutely delighted by that--but not half as delighted as he seems to be now.]

Will you marry me, then?

[He'd meant to ask properly, with the gauzy romantic gestures meant to accompany such a request. Still, it's a bit wonderful that it bubbles out naturally on a wave of genuine contentment.

Honesty is so completely lovely to live in.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ loki gapes openly, every muscle locked into place before he closes it shut audibly, utterly perplexed. ]

— Me?

[thirtythird]

You.

[Perhaps it hadn't been clear. Time, then, to pull Loki's fingers to his lips for a lingering kiss before shifting to kneel properly.]

Will you?

[dothelokimotion]

[ how could he say no? there's no feasible way loki ever could. not when faced with such a proposition. not when he thought it wasn't even possible. voice choked, he barely manages; ]

Yes. Of course, I — [ loki swallows tightly, trembling. ] — Are you sure you won't regret this? I don't — I can't —

[thirtythird]

[The "yes" is enough to pull him to his feet again, warm and close and brimming with an easy joy. The tumble of questions that follow give him pause, thumb smoothing quietly over Loki's knuckles.]

You don't have to be anything but yourself, darling.