( None of this is unfolding in the way it usually would. There's part of Loki that wants to object from the deviation against the norm: it's always much easier when he can count on people to reach with violence, when he can lean into his worst self, because it means he he can twist any potential introspection into spite and anger that he blame on everyone else. Dante, though, is oddly persistent, even when their previous encounters would suggest he couldn't give less of a shit about anything, and Loki just rolls his eyes as he explains that this sort of thing is a regular occurrence in his life.
Surprise, surprise. )
... Innocent bystanders are usually less resilient.
( He agrees dryly, aware that their tiff is now drawing the attention of nosey passer-bys. Thank goodness Dante's already healed, and that Loki had the foresight to get rid of the dagger. It'd be a little difficult to explain should anyone choose to stop and intervene. )
Although I hardly think I owe you anything. I warned you to keep out of my way—you're the one who chose to ignore me.
( His finger and thumb pinch the bridge of his nose as a frown wrinkles his brow. Shaking Dante off in the traditional sense obviously isn't going to work, which means he may as well resign himself to his company for a little while longer. )
I need wine, among other things. You can join me if you like, although I can't promise you won't end up with a dagger in your side again.
You barely gave me a chance to get to the actually listening to you part!
[this is logical reasoning and dante won't have anyone tell him it isn't. besides, it's not like his intent was to go and find loki and keep him company; their paths just so happened to cross on this fine day, is all.]
[and so, with as much as an easy lopsided smile and a shrug of his shoulders, dante welcomes the idea of a little friendly walk for wine. it's on his way to nonchalantly scoping out the area, so it's not too out of his way.]
If this is a case for wine, then you've really fallen victim to having a shit day. For a moment I thought that stabbing me would have made you feel better.
( Loki clarifies, sliding Dante a withering look as they head towards the market. The fact that he's probably going to have a glass when he gets in is neither here nor there, because yes, he's absolutely fallen victim to having a shit day. Here's hoping he'll get some proper studying done when he gets in, just so that it needn't be considered a total write-off. )
And I suppose stabbing you did take the edge off, if nothing else.
( Didn't make him feel better, but it tamped down his anger into a more manageable form of irritation. )
Although if I really wanted to feel better I'd have gone back to get rid of my tutor. The man's worse than you, if you can imagine it.
( But would you look at that, there's the beginnings of an amused little smirk pulling at the corners of Loki's lips. Good job, Dante! )
[no real surprises there! dante has a way of making the grumpiest of people not mind his presence or just overall feel better. there's evidence in both lady and even vergil giving in at some point or another to the goofier devil hunter's presence.]
[it's a skill.]
[and so to the market they head, dante wiping at his hands on the black of his shirt.]
Sounds like competition to me. What, are you going to school now?
( Said curtly, because there's no way that basement could be considered a formal establishment of education. He waves a hand dismissively. )
But I was offered the opportunity to expand my skills in potion-making and alchemy, which I've accepted.
( The fact that he's learning a lot is unfortunately overshadowed by Rick, his crackpot tutor. The letter had claimed he was "eccentric", which Loki now understands to be not so much a kindness as a flat-out lie. )
I'll say. [a deadpan look towards loki. potion-making and alchemy? sounds boring. but then again, dante has never had to rely on anything like "magic" to handle his business; inherently having his father's blood coursing through him do give him an edge of advantage that he tries to make the most out of.]
Well, if that's what you're into.
[and with a wave of his now slightly-less-bloodied hand, dante muses over the question a moment.]
You know, just having a look around, see if Kyst's any good for opening up a shop.
( The blood on Dante's hands catches his eye as he waves it, and Loki rolls his eyes before flitting a surge of green towards the sticky red mess. It disappears in an instant, followed by neat stitching that mends the slit in Dante's shirt, which he's only doing because he'd rather not be seen wandering around with a man who looks a mess.
There. Now he definitely doesn't own him anything. )
A shop?
( Loki raises an eyebrow. )
And what exactly is it you're planning on selling?
[dante sees this and he stops just to marvel at how clean and stitched up he looks right after the matter.]
Buddy!
[you make him feel like a new man, how nice of loki!]
[loki sure is full of questions, as always, but at this point it just feels like the norm. dante simply pushes thumb to his chest to make show that he means himself.]
( Loki ignores the friendly term (literally no one has ever called him 'buddy' before, he isn't about to start responding to it now) and chooses to focus on the shop instead, although Dante's answer only serves to settle a deeply dubious expression across his features. )
... Yourself.
( He repeats slowly. )
Well you can't mean the obvious by that—you have the look of a fifty-five year old virgin about you. I'd imagine whatever service you have to offer is slightly more ... practical?
( And no, Dante doesn't really look like a fifty-five year-old human, but Loki just can't help himself. )
[dante rolls his eyes and scoffs. why are people always trying to neutralize his ideas of funny banter?? no one really seems to be at the same level as him, anyway.]
I'm a business owner back in my world.
[please respect him.]
A respectable business, too.
[he's just proud he has a building with his business's name.]
( ... In a manner of speaking. Asgard's fellow party-goers didn't always realise who they have to thank for their good time, is all. Still, the idea of Dante successfully owning a business gets a genuine laugh from Loki, who gestures for him to follow as they weave through the market to a stall selling dried herbs and flowers.
It's not just his pantry that needs stocking, after all. )
Oh, a respectable business? You should have said. I never would have poked fun, otherwise.
( Pffffft. He reaches for a bunch of yarrow, a bunch of chamomile, and a pouch of what certainly smells like ground valerian root. Disgusting stuff. )
[valerian root smells foul, and dante sniffs and makes a face as he tries to shake the smell out of his system. he's following along, loud yawning now and then because this whole shopping for things is trivial to dante. he could always just order pizza and go to the pub for side dishes and drinks anyway.]
Whatever, man. [he's not going to prove or disprove anything.] Just wanna have some more money in my pocket. Would suck to be in debt in this world, too.
There's a pattern emerging here, Loki thinks, as Dante neglects to say anything else about his business. It doesn't seem to be that hes particularly secretive - he wouldn't have mentioned he had a business otherwise - but that he won't elaborate on his statements unless expressly asked. It's an effective way of maintaining control of a conversation, Loki will give him that, but when paired with intermittent yawning ...
He turns after paying the vendor, stashing his purchases away under his cloak before gesturing back the way they came. )
No one's forcing you to stay, you know.
( He lifts a eyebrow. )
If you'd rather go and look for a premises for your mysterious yet respectable business, be my guest.
[he knows that there is sarcasm in loki's words, and yet dante can't help but be okay with it. not that he needs an excuse to leave whenever he wants, but the other man being so kind as to give dante an out really just speaks about how openly shitty the both of them are and how there's no real judgement for it.]
[and dante is more than okay with bailing on a conversation if he is given an out.]
When I open for business, maybe you'll be the first I call. I'm thinking of a place close to a tavern, or next to a sketchy alleyway for if you want to dispose of the bodies of people you stab during a bad day.
( Loki just looks at him flatly for a moment before sighing, exasperated, and pressing on. Regardless of Dante's plans he still has his menial errands to run, and the idea of a bottle of wine is sounding more tempting by the minute. )
You won't ask questions? About the bodies, I mean. It would be very kind of you not to ...
( A hint of something smug returns to his lips. )
Although not particularly respectable. A good law-abiding citizen would surely find someone to notify.
[he laughs despite himself, but this really isn't what his shop is going to be about! how incredible is it that someone isn't giving him shit for his more ~edgy~ attempts at humor, damn.]
[they keep on walking between the stalls to find the aforementioned wine. dante's just waiting till they arrive at the market junction so he can step out of the market altogether. loki just happens to walk the same way as him!]
( Loki says lightly, for all he's aware that Dante's still just messing around. )
A respectable person wouldn't wander around a stranger's party without a shirt, or spill drinks down people in taverns without so much as a word of apology.
( But that smug look becomes an amused little smirk as they reach the other side of the market. Loki will have to conjure his purchases away if he wants to fly home and save himself travel time, because Kyst isn't exactly close to the ruin he's made his home. His shopping disappears in a shimmer of emerald and he turns to Dante, looking him up and down with a theatrically critical eye. )
Alright, I think I've had quite enough of you for one day. I'd suggest we part ways before one of us ruins this beautiful bonding experience.
( And yes, he's being sarcastic, but that's only because he doesn't want to admit that Dante's actually been a pretty decent distraction from his frustrations. )
[dante didn't deign loki calling out to him with a real answer, only a grin to match loki's own smug look. it's not hard for dante to tell that they are both operating on a similar wavelength, and while annoyances and differences may crop up between the two of them, they're easily enough set aside. as it were, dante knows that loki didn't really suffer serious insult from his antics. he wouldn't be talking to him right now, if that were the case.]
[without so much of a glance, dante starts walking opposite loki's direction, a salute with his hand as he goes.]
When I get the shop, I'll let you know if you can have a bodycount!
[surely that will bother no one in their vicinity.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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( None of this is unfolding in the way it usually would. There's part of Loki that wants to object from the deviation against the norm: it's always much easier when he can count on people to reach with violence, when he can lean into his worst self, because it means he he can twist any potential introspection into spite and anger that he blame on everyone else. Dante, though, is oddly persistent, even when their previous encounters would suggest he couldn't give less of a shit about anything, and Loki just rolls his eyes as he explains that this sort of thing is a regular occurrence in his life.
Surprise, surprise. )
... Innocent bystanders are usually less resilient.
( He agrees dryly, aware that their tiff is now drawing the attention of nosey passer-bys. Thank goodness Dante's already healed, and that Loki had the foresight to get rid of the dagger. It'd be a little difficult to explain should anyone choose to stop and intervene. )
Although I hardly think I owe you anything. I warned you to keep out of my way—you're the one who chose to ignore me.
( His finger and thumb pinch the bridge of his nose as a frown wrinkles his brow. Shaking Dante off in the traditional sense obviously isn't going to work, which means he may as well resign himself to his company for a little while longer. )
I need wine, among other things. You can join me if you like, although I can't promise you won't end up with a dagger in your side again.
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[this is logical reasoning and dante won't have anyone tell him it isn't. besides, it's not like his intent was to go and find loki and keep him company; their paths just so happened to cross on this fine day, is all.]
[and so, with as much as an easy lopsided smile and a shrug of his shoulders, dante welcomes the idea of a little friendly walk for wine. it's on his way to nonchalantly scoping out the area, so it's not too out of his way.]
If this is a case for wine, then you've really fallen victim to having a shit day. For a moment I thought that stabbing me would have made you feel better.
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Wine to take home, not wine to have now.
( Loki clarifies, sliding Dante a withering look as they head towards the market. The fact that he's probably going to have a glass when he gets in is neither here nor there, because yes, he's absolutely fallen victim to having a shit day. Here's hoping he'll get some proper studying done when he gets in, just so that it needn't be considered a total write-off. )
And I suppose stabbing you did take the edge off, if nothing else.
( Didn't make him feel better, but it tamped down his anger into a more manageable form of irritation. )
Although if I really wanted to feel better I'd have gone back to get rid of my tutor. The man's worse than you, if you can imagine it.
( But would you look at that, there's the beginnings of an amused little smirk pulling at the corners of Loki's lips. Good job, Dante! )
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[it's a skill.]
[and so to the market they head, dante wiping at his hands on the black of his shirt.]
Sounds like competition to me. What, are you going to school now?
[???]
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Please. I'm a little old for that.
( Said curtly, because there's no way that basement could be considered a formal establishment of education. He waves a hand dismissively. )
But I was offered the opportunity to expand my skills in potion-making and alchemy, which I've accepted.
( The fact that he's learning a lot is unfortunately overshadowed by Rick, his crackpot tutor. The letter had claimed he was "eccentric", which Loki now understands to be not so much a kindness as a flat-out lie. )
What are you doing in Kyst, anyway?
( Looking for pizza joints? )
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Well, if that's what you're into.
[and with a wave of his now slightly-less-bloodied hand, dante muses over the question a moment.]
You know, just having a look around, see if Kyst's any good for opening up a shop.
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( The blood on Dante's hands catches his eye as he waves it, and Loki rolls his eyes before flitting a surge of green towards the sticky red mess. It disappears in an instant, followed by neat stitching that mends the slit in Dante's shirt, which he's only doing because he'd rather not be seen wandering around with a man who looks a mess.
There. Now he definitely doesn't own him anything. )
A shop?
( Loki raises an eyebrow. )
And what exactly is it you're planning on selling?
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Buddy!
[you make him feel like a new man, how nice of loki!]
[loki sure is full of questions, as always, but at this point it just feels like the norm. dante simply pushes thumb to his chest to make show that he means himself.]
I'm selling myself. What else?
no subject
( Loki ignores the friendly term (literally no one has ever called him 'buddy' before, he isn't about to start responding to it now) and chooses to focus on the shop instead, although Dante's answer only serves to settle a deeply dubious expression across his features. )
... Yourself.
( He repeats slowly. )
Well you can't mean the obvious by that—you have the look of a fifty-five year old virgin about you. I'd imagine whatever service you have to offer is slightly more ... practical?
( And no, Dante doesn't really look like a fifty-five year-old human, but Loki just can't help himself. )
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[dante rolls his eyes and scoffs. why are people always trying to neutralize his ideas of funny banter?? no one really seems to be at the same level as him, anyway.]
I'm a business owner back in my world.
[please respect him.]
A respectable business, too.
[he's just proud he has a building with his business's name.]
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( Loki's face splits into a grin. )
As a matter of fact, I am.
( ... In a manner of speaking. Asgard's fellow party-goers didn't always realise who they have to thank for their good time, is all. Still, the idea of Dante successfully owning a business gets a genuine laugh from Loki, who gestures for him to follow as they weave through the market to a stall selling dried herbs and flowers.
It's not just his pantry that needs stocking, after all. )
Oh, a respectable business? You should have said. I never would have poked fun, otherwise.
( Pffffft. He reaches for a bunch of yarrow, a bunch of chamomile, and a pouch of what certainly smells like ground valerian root. Disgusting stuff. )
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Whatever, man. [he's not going to prove or disprove anything.] Just wanna have some more money in my pocket. Would suck to be in debt in this world, too.
[Not A Good Look]
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( Ah, good. Back to this.
There's a pattern emerging here, Loki thinks, as Dante neglects to say anything else about his business. It doesn't seem to be that hes particularly secretive - he wouldn't have mentioned he had a business otherwise - but that he won't elaborate on his statements unless expressly asked. It's an effective way of maintaining control of a conversation, Loki will give him that, but when paired with intermittent yawning ...
He turns after paying the vendor, stashing his purchases away under his cloak before gesturing back the way they came. )
No one's forcing you to stay, you know.
( He lifts a eyebrow. )
If you'd rather go and look for a premises for your mysterious yet respectable business, be my guest.
no subject
[and dante is more than okay with bailing on a conversation if he is given an out.]
When I open for business, maybe you'll be the first I call. I'm thinking of a place close to a tavern, or next to a sketchy alleyway for if you want to dispose of the bodies of people you stab during a bad day.
no subject
( Loki just looks at him flatly for a moment before sighing, exasperated, and pressing on. Regardless of Dante's plans he still has his menial errands to run, and the idea of a bottle of wine is sounding more tempting by the minute. )
You won't ask questions? About the bodies, I mean. It would be very kind of you not to ...
( A hint of something smug returns to his lips. )
Although not particularly respectable. A good law-abiding citizen would surely find someone to notify.
no subject
[he laughs despite himself, but this really isn't what his shop is going to be about! how incredible is it that someone isn't giving him shit for his more ~edgy~ attempts at humor, damn.]
[they keep on walking between the stalls to find the aforementioned wine. dante's just waiting till they arrive at the market junction so he can step out of the market altogether. loki just happens to walk the same way as him!]
You really thinking me respectable? Aw, touching.
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Please, I said no such thing.
( Loki says lightly, for all he's aware that Dante's still just messing around. )
A respectable person wouldn't wander around a stranger's party without a shirt, or spill drinks down people in taverns without so much as a word of apology.
( But that smug look becomes an amused little smirk as they reach the other side of the market. Loki will have to conjure his purchases away if he wants to fly home and save himself travel time, because Kyst isn't exactly close to the ruin he's made his home. His shopping disappears in a shimmer of emerald and he turns to Dante, looking him up and down with a theatrically critical eye. )
Alright, I think I've had quite enough of you for one day. I'd suggest we part ways before one of us ruins this beautiful bonding experience.
( And yes, he's being sarcastic, but that's only because he doesn't want to admit that Dante's actually been a pretty decent distraction from his frustrations. )
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[dante didn't deign loki calling out to him with a real answer, only a grin to match loki's own smug look. it's not hard for dante to tell that they are both operating on a similar wavelength, and while annoyances and differences may crop up between the two of them, they're easily enough set aside. as it were, dante knows that loki didn't really suffer serious insult from his antics. he wouldn't be talking to him right now, if that were the case.]
[without so much of a glance, dante starts walking opposite loki's direction, a salute with his hand as he goes.]
When I get the shop, I'll let you know if you can have a bodycount!
[surely that will bother no one in their vicinity.]