A meme round-up.

[my_belfry_of_fun]

Various Memes from Bakerstreet--see the Top-level comments for the memes.



The Rain Meme

The Insomnia Meme

The Stargazing Meme

Nursed back to Health Meme

Let's go to the Fair Meme

Late Night at Denny's Meme

The Enchanted Forest Meme

Comments

Mix of 5 and 11~ =3

[crowneddragon]

They couldn't make it back to their homes-- either of them. Water poured from outside the little gazebo, their jackets already peppered with the first of the downpour. Esteban tossed his off his back and onto the nearby picnic table, huffing his amusement.

"Woops~ so we didn't beat the rain," he snickers, ruffling a hand through his red hair as he glances at his companion. At least the late summer meant the water is fairly warm.

"Are y' gonna melt from it?"

That's a bit mean though. Loki is hardly the Wicked Witch of the West, just-- but the words are out of his mouth, and Esteban has never been really good with them.

[whose_son_am_i]

Loki huffed and shot a mild glare at the other, blue-green eyes narrow. A moment, before he shrugged his head and a wash of greenish magic overtook him. Drying him off. "I think I'll live. If you hadn't started running I could've created us an umbrella or two as well."

[crowneddragon]

He could have. But Esteban just shakes himself, like a big fluffy dog after a bath, and grins.

"Where'd be the fun in that?" he asks, snickering again. "Hav'n't you ran in summer showers b'fore? Or danced in the rain? Or splashed in puddles?" There's gaps here and there, he thinks. Things that are usual for him that would not be usual from the-- god? Demi-god? Before him.

Esteban's not even truly sure what kind of powers Loki might be, but he is on Earth, he is with him. And Esteban likes giving these simple joys to his friends.

"Y' should loosen up! C'mon!" He calls, leaping out onto the asphalt just a few steps down.

It's pouring. The rain rolls down against his skin and into his hair and Esteban stretches his arms wide to welcome it, twirling on the ball of a foot. Laughing, like when he was just an itty bitty Stebby.

He waves at Loki again.

"C'mon! The water don't bite!" And, just because he can, "but I might, 'f y' don't get over here!~"

He doesn't think Loki would see it, but he winks anyways, because. Well. It's not something that had never occurred to him before. Loki's slick, perfect look has always been something he's wanted to ruffle a bit. Preferably with his hands, but-- not-- he hasn't-- it's not been an option he's pursued often before.

[whose_son_am_i]

Even under the Gazebo Loki was still getting wet at the edges. Watching the other as he splashed and played. There had been rain in Asgard, and more than enough times his brother being the cause too. Fond times, but also times when it had been part of the pranks and rivalry between them.

Loki was too well practiced to let it show, but Esteban's carefree playfulness in the rain wanted to provoke a smile. Then he grudgingly let it show with the threat. "I've seen scarier things than your bite I'm sure." Oh he saw that wink too. They were so different--but...not. Not in some ways.

When had Loki last let himself have fun, too? Blue-green eyes shifting to look up, head peeking out near the edge at the Gazebo roof. Eyes tracking the raindrops before sighing. One hand moving out, conjuring up an umbrella which he opened, moving to join the other. "Better? Not sure what I'd catch if you bite anyways."

[crowneddragon]

Oh, that's cheating! That was not what Esteban meant, and he would bet that Loki knew this.

His nose scrunched up over his curved lips, and Esteban's mischievous smile promised nothing good. If Loki was willing to cheat-- well then! Esteban could cheat too!

He danced carelessly, feet light and soul-soaring, twisting as if he could catch all the rain in the world by beckoning it closer. His toes skittered around a puddle as he laughed.

"You'd catch *hickeys*, Loki!" He, uh. Thought he's been quite forwards enough to make that understood. "An' maybe a really good night!" he teases again. "But not of sleep!"

He'd be willing to give him that, in all honesty. But he's going at it all wrong, and it's not what he wants to leave between them.

So Esteban swings and leaps, feet gathered together as he splashes into the puddle, like a great big dog that didn't heed any warning. The water soars, but he's not done-- throwing his entire weight forwards to collide with his friend, gleefully laughing all the way.

He hopes his little prank will be enough to startle his companion. Will widen his eyes so he can catch their colour, even for a fraction of a moment. Will brighten him and soften him and pull him from his demure act.

He's seen Loki have fun before, and he will give it his all to see it again.

[whose_son_am_i]

It wouldn't be the first time, nor the last, that Loki was cheating. The mischief was a good look on Esteban though--and part of what had drawn Loki admittedly. Someone to match him. "Good thing I'm usually so well covered up then." He teased back and watches the other carefully. The splash was well expected, but the follow-up leap?

That's surprising. Loki has to make himself not react as if it's an attack. The umbrella is dropped completely to catch the younger man. Esteban was one of the rare who was taller than Loki himself, but catch him he does as blue-green eyes widened. Holding the other easily, with the rain now soaking them both. There's a soft huff from Loki, and a more natural smile before he tries to blow his wet hair off his face. "Happy now?" But he doesn't sound as disgruntled.

[crowneddragon]

Oh.

Oh no. Oh nononono-- that's not fair! That's beyond cheating and--and--

Esteban's thoughts unravel. There's rain and water and it pounds in his ears and Esteban can barely hear anything beyond his own heartbeat.

His eyes are so pretty. They're so pretty, the colour so striking, beyond blue, sharp and warm and Esteban has got to shut his mouth now before he keeps on gaping like an idiot. The tip of his ears are burning.

He's never been this close to Loki-- at least not like this, and the crook of his smile is disarming and Esteban had never been one ready for a fight. He had to kick himself mentally to scramble for the edge of a thought and Loki huffs the hair out of his face and Esteban is doomed.

Swallows thickly and kicks himself again.

"Y-yeah." It comes out weaker than he intended at first-- too distracted by the way Loki's eyes crinkle at the corners-- but Esteban is recovering, will recover, because he can be smooth, he will be smooth and not just stumble over his own tongue. Hopefully.

There's a short huff, his thoughts bright and wordless and sunny and trickling like summer into his lungs and it takes him a minute before Esteban even knows that he is laughing, loud guffaws that climb to the sky as he cheers.

"Hah! Gotcha!!!" Esteban shouts his triumph, trying hard not to squirm from their position.

He's done something dumb, but excuse him, he is perfectly content to stay right here in Loki's arms, enjoy the contact as long as the Asguardian allows him.

[whose_son_am_i]

"Well done then. I'm hard to surprise." Loki praised, doing a little flip and tilt of his head to get his hair out of his way. Not bothered by holding the other, perfectly content. Well, aside from the rain. "Did you have a plan beyond this, or was this something you're making up as you go along?" He's teasing him, watching the play of emotions in Esteban's blue eyes that hide nothing. Unlike his own, which can hide many secrets and lies and more.

Part of the other's charm though--where he complimented Loki besides matching him. The other was an open-book, and so free. Loki usually wasn't one for sentiment either, but he would admit to himself at least the the other was adorable. Especially when he'd found himself in trouble that he didn't know what to do with.

Like then.

[crowneddragon]

He could still feel the blush on the tip of his ears, the warmth at his throat. Esteban's blush was never one that showed on his face but it didn't mean that he couldn't feel it, rushing along with the heartbeat caged by his ribs.

Loki has got to know that he was being unfair. Esteban wouldn't put it past him, and the hair flick nearly gets him too distracted for thoughts again. But no! He will focus!

His grin rivaled the sun, earnest in his approach as Esteban shrugged easily.

"Here's the thing, though; 'f you don't have a plan, y' don't get thrown off when it doesn't go like y' thought!" There was still laughter in his lungs.

He knew that on this point, they were opposites; that Loki would much rather lay out his predictions than go at it blind. He might be a better man for Esteban than that.

But this was about the now. About their moment, stolen underneath the warm summer rain. It was about fun and flirting and Esteban launching himself at his crush like an idiot and making it work anyways.

So he grinned and lifted his head, and his hand lowered to the small of Loki's back, and Esteban took a step and guided his friend along with the dance. Their clothes were sticky and heavy, and couldn't accommodate something like a waltz or a charleston, but this wasn't a ballroom, and Esteban wasn't here to impress anyone.

He twisted on his foot again, pushing and pulling and rolling into the motions; something easy and structureless and breathless and just fun, feeling the rain pelting across their skin and soaking through their hair and laughing, soaring, freedom caught in both his hands, and trying his best to share it with the companion who meant so much to him.

[whose_son_am_i]

It was true that Loki was a planner. BUT, Loki also was adept when it came to changing things up. Adapting and using new strategies and tactics. Part of what made him so dangerous really. It was not necessarily what Loki would've chosen, for a dance spot. He was not used to something this...carefree.

But again--he was good at adapting, so adapt he did. Settling his arms loosely around Esteban where they rested against his shoulders, looking up slightly. (Which was still a new experience.) And moving with him. Easy grace and control of himself, practice considering that he was unlike other Asgardian warriors. Lacking their size and mass, he moved more like a dancer on the field--and that translated well to now.

"If you get sick, I'm going to say I told you so." Teasing again, trying to enjoy the moment for what it was and ignore the heaviness of their clothes.

[crowneddragon]

"I'm not gonna get sick~" Esteban assured him, careless and reckless and breathless and keeping himself from staring back into his companion's eyes. There would be no end to his foolishness if he did.

So he guides them, sure-footed and graceful, the both of them. He's never asked too much about Loki's past, seeing as his friend will tell him if he wants, but he can't help but know that Loki has some training. Whether that is as a fighter or as a dancer, he cannot guess.

The rain is still falling around them; a deluge that cuts away the rest of the world. It makes it strangely private, even though they are out on the streets. Esteban shakes himself from the strange lull of his senses, grins and brightens and twirls Loki just because he can.

"What was the first thing y' remember enjoyin' on Earth?"

Always curious, always greedy. Esteban reaches out to his friend, curious to know, wanting more from him that Esteban might gather and hide away, like a precious jewel. Something he can use to cheer Loki on, whenever he might need it.

He wants to know more. Wants to know about him-- whatever Loki might give him-- so that one day, he might build something upon the little shards of knowledge that he gathers. Bit by bit.