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It's a cool day on the beach. Bruce has taken off early to wander down to the beach. A nice empty place for him to clear his mind. It's chilly, and he is wearing a knit cap and scarf with his coat. The hat and scarf do not match. He likely got them from a second hand store or they are lucky finds from lost and found boxes. He needs to look for gloves. His hands are buried deep in his pocket as he shuffles along, pausing to examine shells on the beach.
*
Loki is lurking. He has taken to lurking, lately, to sort of…/find/ interesting people, and to either benefit or harass them according to his whim of the moment. When he spots the somewhat unfortunate soul moving down the beach, shell-hunting, he focuses and judges, trying to figure out which of those two Bruce might be. So, Bruce might notice the dark-haired man, dressed in a fine suit with a warm, wool scarf, watching him, while dark hair floats in the winds. He may have seen the angled features on SHIELD warning lists, but…its always a little different out of context. After all, he's not menacing anyone yet.
*
Bruce doesn't work for SHIELD. Not yet. He's still working on Tony's research and his own in the meantime, though he hasn't used himself as a test subject for a while. So, when he looks up and sees the dark haired man in the distance, he is unaware of any danger. He is surprised, but probably shouldn't be. Whereever he goes there are always people. He continues his trek along the water's edge, which takes him closer to the stranger. He stops to pick up a shell when he gets between Loki and the water. He lifts up a hand in greeting.
*
Loki smiles faintly at the man and then begins to pace closer to him, though, at least he doesn't look like he's going to try to sell Bruce some magazines or ask him for money. "Good evening. Find something you like, there?" Pale fingers gesture towards the shell he's found. "You know, once upon a time…there were clams like that the size of chairs."
*
"Mercenaria mercenaria," says Bruce. "Really? Much longer ago, I think. And look." He picks up another, "Busycon carica," says Bruce showing the shell to Loki. "Look how big it is. And it's intact. You know the curve of teh shell can be described mathematically." This is the best Bruce can do at being cordial, because of course everyone should find this as fascinating as he does.
*
Loki does find it fascinating, but in an entirely different way. He has no clue about the scientific names of anything, and Asgard has no name for these Midgardian shells. He knowshis own, only. He holds his hand out to take the shell gently from Bruce's palm when he's shown it. "Do you eat this sort? The creatures inside, I mean of course."
*
Bruce nods, "Yes, you can eat whelk. I think that some people even eat them raw. Not my thing really, but it's a pretty shell." He looks up at the man. It's just starting to get dark. "It's cold out here, isn't it?"
*
Loki makes a humming sound. "It could be. Does it bother you?" There's something a little off, or unworldly about the man before him, but he doesn't seeeeeem dangerous, at the moment, anyway. "We could go somewhere warmer." He arches a brow and his thin lips quirk with a flash of mischief.
*
Bruce shakes his head, "No…I could use some gloves but it doesn't bother me yet." When Loki suggests that, Bruce laughs a little awkwardly. "I suppose we could, but …. I don't know you. " Something about the man makes him take one step back.
*
Loki nods once. "That is true. Though, even those that know my name do not really know me." He winks, "I like…sponteneity. I believe that life tends to reward those willing to take a little risk, to venture boldly into the unknown. What would you say to that?" He places the shell back into Bruce's palm.
*
Bruce slips the shell into his pocket, "Oh, I'm not much of a risk taker." He points up the path away from the beach and starts walking. It's okay for some people…unless you are talking about scientific discovery. Then that's a different matter." He looks aorund. "It's getting dark. Are you parked up here somewhere?"
*
"No. I cannot drive a car. So strange. Chariots without beasts. I fear nothing in the dark. So…you study science?" Loki moves along near to Bruce, but not so close that he'd be tripping too many danger circuits.
*
Bruce says, "Yes, I'm a research scientist. Boring, huh? I come out here to clear my mind. It's like putting a blank piece of paper in a typewriter. What do you do? Why are you here? And I took the bus out here." He heads to the bus stop."
*
"It could be boring. It depends what you are researching. If you are looking for…pathways through alternate realms, or trying to discover how to awaken the slumbering old beasts, then it is interesting. If you are trying to figure out how to make beer taste good and not make you fat…I do have some /very/ bad news." Loki flashes a smile at the scientist. "I was just…/bored/."
*
Bruce chuckles lightly. "It's somewhere between the two, but I'm not allowed to talk about it. You're an interesting fellow. Hard to believe you would be bored. Where are you from? You don't sound like a New Yorker."
*
"No, actually, I am not from Midgard. Have you heard of Thor? God of thunder? I am his far-superior brother." He smiles with humor flickering through his eyes. "I…just need to find someone spontaneous to enjoy a few hours with. That's all. If its not you, that's fine. Just…you might regret it, later."
*
Bruce gets that befuddled look in his eyes, "Uh…okay…." He's convinced he's dealing with a well dressed mental patient. "Are you propositioning me? I mean, because I really don't … I mean…maybe you should get back to your brother. He's probably looking for you? And your dad Odin, too, right?" At least Bruce knows his mythology.
*
Loki seems amused. "I am not propositioning you for sex. What is your name, again? I am Loki…and I have all the sex I need. What I do need though, is a fun, surprised face on someone…who will not 'freak out'."
*
Bruce holds up his hand gently in a stop-type signal. "My name is Bruce, but I warn you, I do freak out really easily, so please don't rob me, or anything like that."
*
"No…I was not going to rob you." Loki stops moving. "How about a deal…I will take you to the place you wish most in the world to see, and in return, you will share a drink with me there." Loki offers a smile and tucks his hands into his coat pockets.
*
Bruce laughs lightly, "Oh, if it were only that easy. I'm afraid the place I want most to see doesn't exist in this time. And I don't remember us having any drinks there…"
*
Loki lifts both hands, "Birth canal? Really? Oh dear..how can I have fun with a complete derranged fellow? And you seemed so normal when you were speaking about the shells."
*
Bruce says, "Oh, God no," gasps Bruce, "But New Mexico, my old house when my mother was still alive. I would like to see her again. " He takes a breath. "But if that's too hard, just take me to …oh, I dunno, London.""
*
Loki reaches out suddenly to brush Bruce's fingers and immediately teleports them to London. Maybe…/maybe/ with enough practice and an arsenal of photos, he could give Bruce his old home, but London is far more immediate and easy. the time difference means that its late, there, and they are thrust into the darkness of evening, small groups of people here and there, and lively music coming from various bars along a cobblestone street. He pulls his hand away. "Mmmmm…breathe less deeply here." He chuckles.
*
Bruce cries out a little and promptly throws up onto the cobblestones. He thrusts out his hand to hold himself upright with the help of a suspicious-looking police box. "Oh my god! What are you?" He wipes him mouth, pushing down the fear and the Hulk, who threatens to see what all the excitement is about. "This isn't London? Is it?"
*
Loki stands there, patiently waiting, seemingly amused by the barfing more than repulsed. "It is London…" He looks upwards, the gaslights catching his angular features. "And I am Loki…the God of Mischief?" He grins crookedly. "But, I did tell you that. Do not worry, I will return you. However, I would not lose me. An American without a passport could make for a difficult journey home."
*
Bruce has been an American without a passport before, so that doesn't bother him as much, though he is still wanted. What bothers him is, "How did you do that? That's scientifically impossible? Did you drug me and induce a hallucination?" He reaches out to touch a brick building, which feels quite firm and real to him. "Asgard…is it real?" Bruce tries to piece this all together.
*
Loki arches one brow. "Asgard is real and I did NOT drug you. I simply cast a teleportation spell. Well, I say simple, but, its actually rather difficult for most beings to do it, but I am an accomplished sorceror." He smiles again, winsome. Its London, so everything about it feels real. "Have you been here before?"
*
Bruce takes a deep breath and looks around, "Yes. I have been here before. Not this particular street…but London. " He rubs his hands over his face. "I can't believe this…take us back!"
*
Loki pinches his lips. "Ahhh, but…you promised me a drink once we got here. I'll take you back after that."
*
Bruce says, "B…b…but…I think I'm freaking out! " Bruce looks at Loki wild-eyed and desperate. "Loki, is it? Look. I don't do well when I'm stressed. THis is very stressful!"
*
"But you are in London…and I am not harming you in any way." Loki spreads his hands, calm, himself. "What happens when you are stressed?"
*
Bruce says, "I…I…just get stressed! Things go bad. Maybe I do need a drink." Bruce swallows down the Hulk, who is struggling against Bruce's will. He is eminating gamma radiation at a very low level. "A drink and then we go home?""
*
|ROLL| Ransom +rolls 1d20 for: 16
*
"Yes…that was the agreement. Just because you did not believe I could do it, does not invalidate the deal." Loki insists. He does seem to notice that there's something…different about Bruce. "YOu know…you have a slightly different aura than other mortals."
*
Bruce shakes his head and says quickly, "No, I don't. Let's grab a pint and go. " He points to a pub across the street. "The Boar's Head…perfect."
*
Loki follows Bruce on into the pub and seems to just fit right in, with his accent and everything. "We will each have a pint." He orders and settles in at the barstools. "I am a wizard, so…do be mindful of outright lying to me."
*
Bruce says, "What? You're a lie detector now?" Bruce heads to the bar and orders two lagers, then turns to Loki. "I have no money…no English money.""
*
Loki wiggles his fingers. "I can solve that problem." He conjures a fiver under the table, apparently familiar enough with the concept of money to do that. Once the beers arrive, he relishes his for a few sips, then throws the rest back in a few swigs.
*
Bruce chokes down his lager, looking around, still trying to figure out how all this fits in with his concept of physics. He barely tastes the the drink. "I … this is unreal…were you following me? Did someone send you?" Poor Bruce. Just too paranoid to enjoy his outing.
*
"I was watching you on the beach. And…I am a prince. No one sends me anywhere. I do…what I want." Loki smiles slyly and studies Bruce while his poor brain tries to make it all out. "Finished?"
*
Bruce says, "Yes…yes, sure." Bruce puts down the pint glass. "He gives Loki a fake smile. "Thank you for the drink. I'm done now."
*
Loki looks around the bar, and then makes a motion with his hand and sends Bruce back to the beach, exactly where he was before, the day only slightly further along. Loki is no where to be seen.
*
Bruce is left gaping and blinking on the beach like a fish. He touches his body and then rubs his eyes. "My god, that experiement is still effecting me!" But then he burps…a beer burp.
*