It's tempting to reassure him that as far as afterlives go, this is pretty good, but that would be jinxing things, wouldn't it? At least she gets a little laugh out of him with her joke about dreams. It's nice to be able to find humor in such things again. "Consider yourself lucky, then. High school is a very specific kind of Tartarus, I'm glad I only have to go back in my dreams."
And then, when the subject turns serious, she sits still and listens to all he has to say. It's a relief to know that she wasn't rude to ask, although the answer is far more complicated than she anticipated. As he speaks of being close to the human experience, and yet so fundamentally different, she nods a little in understanding. This is why it's easier, in a way, to be in the presence of gods who are entirely inhuman. Loki is close enough to what she is familiar with, that it's easy to forget the parts that are wholly divine.
It is also no surprise that he would reject compassion, in light of his explanation. He's right, that's a tough thing for her to wrap her head around, although it's interesting that even Thor has the same problem.
When he tells her that he is fond of her, she blushes automatically, flattered by his graciousness, but doesn't stop thinking about his words. She finishes her coffee, giving herself a few more seconds to ponder them.
"Thank you," she begins. "For trying. I know that puts you in the position of having to explain yourself yet again, but I think I have a better idea now of where I might trip up, anyway, so I'll be more careful, too."
Her gaze slides over to the street, where many other Nexus-goers are out and about, enjoying the mild weather. "When I first came to the Nexus, I befriended a... a spirit. He was very kind to me. My closest friend here, in many ways. And then... well. I don't know what happened. Maybe it was something I did, maybe it was something I didn't do. But he stopped speaking to me, and... well, I knew our friendship wouldn't last forever, but it hurt a great deal that I didn't even get a chance to find out why he turned his back to me."
She looks up at Loki tentatively. "I don't want that to happen with you, too. If I mess up, I want at least a fighting chance to make things right."
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And then, when the subject turns serious, she sits still and listens to all he has to say. It's a relief to know that she wasn't rude to ask, although the answer is far more complicated than she anticipated. As he speaks of being close to the human experience, and yet so fundamentally different, she nods a little in understanding. This is why it's easier, in a way, to be in the presence of gods who are entirely inhuman. Loki is close enough to what she is familiar with, that it's easy to forget the parts that are wholly divine.
It is also no surprise that he would reject compassion, in light of his explanation. He's right, that's a tough thing for her to wrap her head around, although it's interesting that even Thor has the same problem.
When he tells her that he is fond of her, she blushes automatically, flattered by his graciousness, but doesn't stop thinking about his words. She finishes her coffee, giving herself a few more seconds to ponder them.
"Thank you," she begins. "For trying. I know that puts you in the position of having to explain yourself yet again, but I think I have a better idea now of where I might trip up, anyway, so I'll be more careful, too."
Her gaze slides over to the street, where many other Nexus-goers are out and about, enjoying the mild weather. "When I first came to the Nexus, I befriended a... a spirit. He was very kind to me. My closest friend here, in many ways. And then... well. I don't know what happened. Maybe it was something I did, maybe it was something I didn't do. But he stopped speaking to me, and... well, I knew our friendship wouldn't last forever, but it hurt a great deal that I didn't even get a chance to find out why he turned his back to me."
She looks up at Loki tentatively. "I don't want that to happen with you, too. If I mess up, I want at least a fighting chance to make things right."