[A very soft happy noise works. A slight leaning closer works even better. They can simply not acknowledge it but both enjoy the light lazy brush of Loki's fingers through Lin Lie's hair.]
We have wolves?
[Even Loki doesn't sound entirely convinced that they qualify as "funny." It's just that they're the first animals that come to mind when asked about home. His hand with his phone lifts again, flicking quickly through pictures.]
Father's are a bit silly, sometimes.
[Another moment, and he hits a good patch of nearly horse-sized wolves, one grey and one black, scrambling about at play. True, both wolves seem to have mouths slathered in coppery red gore, by maybe don't focus on that part!]
That's Freki-- [a pause on one cheerful shot, tapping first on the darker wolf before shifting to the paler one --and that's Geri.
[ If Loki keeps that up, Lin Lie might be at risk of melting right next to him. It just feels so good, and he's always weak for hair touches and scalp massages. Forget trying to beat him in a fight; this is his biggest weakness. ]
Ohh, look at those big boys!
[ Yeah, he's going to try and ignore all that blood. Wolves will be wolves; he isn't going to judge them. Lin Lie is just going to appreciate the super-sized doggos. They might not be what one calls fun, but they sure are impressive looking, and Lin Lie is clearly appreciative of the impressive creatures.]
I like them already. Wolves have no business looking so fluffy when you can't really pet them without risking losing a hand. [ HEH. This part of the myth he knows. Then he murmurs under his breath: ] ...forbidden puppies.
[Honestly, that's a pretty good reaction to pictures of Odin's war wolves. Even Asgardians tended to be a bit leery of the fearsome creatures, although Thor and Loki had never been properly afraid of the pair. "Forbidden puppies" is close enough to that.]
Incredibly forbidden. [His fingers still in Lin Lie's hair but don't actually leave, simply resting in the comfortable allowance of being tangled up in one another's space.] They'd smell the battle on you.
[And as well-mannered as the wolves had always been in Asgard, they'd certainly never had to behave themselves in Midgard, particularly around anything that even had the faintest whiff of the battlefield on them.]
There's loads of actual fluffy dogs around here, though, yes?
[ Other people might have a more normal, subdued, or more visible intimidated reaction, because the wolves really are big. But when you are the Iron Fist and you face a giant dragon on the regular, other creatures stop being so frightening. Besides, wolves are just cool in general; who wouldn't adore them? ]
Pity. Not like wrestling a big wolf wouldn't be an incredible way to go, but I don't want to hurt them or get eaten, no. Can you pet them, though? They should be familiar with you.
[ The fingers feel nice where they are. But what feels much nicer? when they're moving and coming through his hair, so Line Lie moves his head back slightly to press against the pads of Loki's fingers to subtly try and prompt him to keep touching his hair more. He's not very good with subtlety, though, so Loki might notice that he's being needy. ]
On earth in general? We are very big on having pets in general. But in my culture, and also in K'un Lun, we tend to like felines more. In Chinese mythology, cats are often associated with good luck and fortune. And they're just so cute too.
[Loki hasn't spent all that much time around normal cats and dogs. The slight shift of being pressed against is familiar all the same, the god's fingers settling easily back into carding through Lin Lie's hair. Not subtle, but not worth drawing attention to.]
They are. They've known me since I was a child. [His thumb taps his phone's screen lightly, a bit fondly.] They'll suffer an ear-scritch every now and then.
[Something he admittedly hadn't attempted until spending a bit of time in Midgard. Always strange, how often he found himself bringing bits and pieces of this realm home with him.]
[ The advantage of normal cats and dogs is that they can't eat you or step on you by accident, unlike the giant ones. They're easier to hug too, and that Lin Lie considers a big plus. The clam sight that escapes his lips when the fingers resume playing with his hair is followed by a soft laugh, almost like a fond giggle, when Loki tells him about the ear scratches. ]
I bet they love it; all dogs do, even the wild ones. They might just be too prideful to show it. Try rubbing their belly the next time?
[ Not only is the image of a giant wolf on its back getting belly scratches adorable, but Lin Lie thinks Freki and Geri might get a kick out of it. At Loki's next question. He doesn't even hesitate a second before answering. ]
I do. I mean, I enjoy all animals; I'd pet an alligator if it let me —and I did, once— but...cats are different. I like them a lot. We have plenty of them wandering around the temples in K'un Lun. I usually leave food out for them, and they're allowed inside during the cold months. Some even let me pet them, but it's rare.
[Doubt is obvious in Loki's voice, but everything is too comfortable to pull back and make a face about it. Hopefully the tone will be sufficient os they can both keep enjoying their lean and pet.
Not that he won't try. He will, obviously. Lin Lie will probably get enviable selfies about it, even.]
And you just let the cats wander?
[Maybe that was the secret to why this was such an easy place to keep coming back to. The sort of person who kept feeding cats that came and left was certainly much more likely to be the sort of person who wouldn't mind Loki's inclination to pop in and out as the ebb and flow of his own internal chaos demanded.]
You never tried that? Oh man, dogs love belly rubs; it helps them relax, and it's pretty much the same with wolves. Who doesn't enjoy that kind of attention and affection? Of course, yours are giant ones, so there's more risk. Especially if they start to wag their tails and hit you, so be careful if you decide to give it a go.
[ Which he knows Loki might since he just gave him that idea, and the god is endlessly curious. Lin Lie doesn't want him to get accidentally crushed by an overexcited giant wolf, though. And since they're sitting close and chatting quietly, the one not holding onto his own phone is down on the seat brushing against Loki's leg. ]
Of course. They're free to do as they please, but people still watch out for them. The cats seem happier like that. [ It's like that old saying: 'If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it's yours. If not, it was never meant to be.' Lin Lie is all for respecting the animal's freedom. ] The only time I might chase after one is if they're injured, and I let them go as soon as I heal them. But they're really smart kitties; this doesn't happen often.
[Of course he'll try it. If Loki is a cat, which he absolutely is in an incredible number of ways, curiosity is very much a part of his DNA. There's an infinitely dubious expression on his face just now, but he'll overcome that by the time he gets home.]
I'll only attempt it in my heaviest armor, then.
[Loki will, however, attempt a few idle passes of nails against Lin Lie's scalp. A reward, perhaps, for the excellent choice to let all the other cats in the universe keep being cats.]
Good. Better safe than sorry. [ Going by Lin Lie's tone, it should be clear that he doesn't enjoy the idea of Loki getting hurt. He knows that Gods like him —Asgardians or jötunn, it doesn't matter— are more of really tough stuff, but knowing doesn't change the way he still worries.
The fingernails scraping his skin catch him by surprise, making him shudder and draw in a breath that comes out as a low moan, tipping his head back slightly. Lin Lie closes his eyes, heat blooming on his cheekbones at the sound he just let out. ]
I'm...happy like this. [ He whines softly, almost more of a hiss than an answer. God, this is embarrassing, but he really likes Loki's hand on his hair. He is only human and apparently, really touch-starved. ]
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no subject
We have wolves?
[Even Loki doesn't sound entirely convinced that they qualify as "funny." It's just that they're the first animals that come to mind when asked about home. His hand with his phone lifts again, flicking quickly through pictures.]
Father's are a bit silly, sometimes.
[Another moment, and he hits a good patch of nearly horse-sized wolves, one grey and one black, scrambling about at play. True, both wolves seem to have mouths slathered in coppery red gore, by maybe don't focus on that part!]
That's Freki-- [a pause on one cheerful shot, tapping first on the darker wolf before shifting to the paler one --and that's Geri.
no subject
Ohh, look at those big boys!
[ Yeah, he's going to try and ignore all that blood. Wolves will be wolves; he isn't going to judge them. Lin Lie is just going to appreciate the super-sized doggos. They might not be what one calls fun, but they sure are impressive looking, and Lin Lie is clearly appreciative of the impressive creatures.]
I like them already. Wolves have no business looking so fluffy when you can't really pet them without risking losing a hand. [ HEH. This part of the myth he knows. Then he murmurs under his breath: ] ...forbidden puppies.
no subject
Incredibly forbidden. [His fingers still in Lin Lie's hair but don't actually leave, simply resting in the comfortable allowance of being tangled up in one another's space.] They'd smell the battle on you.
[And as well-mannered as the wolves had always been in Asgard, they'd certainly never had to behave themselves in Midgard, particularly around anything that even had the faintest whiff of the battlefield on them.]
There's loads of actual fluffy dogs around here, though, yes?
no subject
normal, subdued, or more visible intimidated reaction, because the wolves really are big. But when you are the Iron Fist and you face a giant dragon on the regular, other creatures stop being so frightening. Besides, wolves are just cool in general; who wouldn't adore them? ]Pity. Not like wrestling a big wolf wouldn't be an incredible way to go, but I don't want to hurt them or get eaten, no. Can you pet them, though? They should be familiar with you.
[ The fingers feel nice where they are. But what feels much nicer? when they're moving and coming through his hair, so Line Lie moves his head back slightly to press against the pads of Loki's fingers to subtly try and prompt him to keep touching his hair more. He's not very good with subtlety, though, so Loki might notice that he's being needy. ]
On earth in general? We are very big on having pets in general. But in my culture, and also in K'un Lun, we tend to like felines more. In Chinese mythology, cats are often associated with good luck and fortune. And they're just so cute too.
no subject
They are. They've known me since I was a child. [His thumb taps his phone's screen lightly, a bit fondly.] They'll suffer an ear-scritch every now and then.
[Something he admittedly hadn't attempted until spending a bit of time in Midgard. Always strange, how often he found himself bringing bits and pieces of this realm home with him.]
Do you prefer cats? Personally?
[Outdoor cats, hopefully?]
no subject
I bet they love it; all dogs do, even the wild ones. They might just be too prideful to show it. Try rubbing their belly the next time?
[ Not only is the image of a giant wolf on its back getting belly scratches adorable, but Lin Lie thinks Freki and Geri might get a kick out of it. At Loki's next question. He doesn't even hesitate a second before answering. ]
I do. I mean, I enjoy all animals; I'd pet an alligator if it let me —and I did, once— but...cats are different. I like them a lot. We have plenty of them wandering around the temples in K'un Lun. I usually leave food out for them, and they're allowed inside during the cold months. Some even let me pet them, but it's rare.
no subject
[Doubt is obvious in Loki's voice, but everything is too comfortable to pull back and make a face about it. Hopefully the tone will be sufficient os they can both keep enjoying their lean and pet.
Not that he won't try. He will, obviously. Lin Lie will probably get enviable selfies about it, even.]
And you just let the cats wander?
[Maybe that was the secret to why this was such an easy place to keep coming back to. The sort of person who kept feeding cats that came and left was certainly much more likely to be the sort of person who wouldn't mind Loki's inclination to pop in and out as the ebb and flow of his own internal chaos demanded.]
no subject
[ Which he knows Loki might since he just gave him that idea, and the god is endlessly curious. Lin Lie doesn't want him to get accidentally crushed by an overexcited giant wolf, though. And since they're sitting close and chatting quietly, the one not holding onto his own phone is down on the seat brushing against Loki's leg. ]
Of course. They're free to do as they please, but people still watch out for them. The cats seem happier like that. [ It's like that old saying: 'If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it's yours. If not, it was never meant to be.' Lin Lie is all for respecting the animal's freedom. ] The only time I might chase after one is if they're injured, and I let them go as soon as I heal them. But they're really smart kitties; this doesn't happen often.
no subject
I'll only attempt it in my heaviest armor, then.
[Loki will, however, attempt a few idle passes of nails against Lin Lie's scalp. A reward, perhaps, for the excellent choice to let all the other cats in the universe keep being cats.]
Are you happier like that?
no subject
The fingernails scraping his skin catch him by surprise, making him shudder and draw in a breath that comes out as a low moan, tipping his head back slightly. Lin Lie closes his eyes, heat blooming on his cheekbones at the sound he just let out. ]
I'm...happy like this. [ He whines softly, almost more of a hiss than an answer. God, this is embarrassing, but he really likes Loki's hand on his hair. He is only human and apparently, really touch-starved. ]