In regards to a certain fic.

[halfassed]

No, I have never been to Alaska. No, I'm not particularly inclined to go to Alaska, especially after that. Really just seems like tempting fate, to me.

God help the town that has Loki as its doctor.

Comments

[beguilement]

[ ... ]

You say that as if I have no skill.

[halfassed]

Never disputed your skill, --

[ Just... the rest of the package.

Hint of a hesitation there, Loki might find, as Clint stifles the urge to add a sir on the end. ]

[beguilement]

Then what is the problem, exactly?

[ Go on. It isn't as if he doesn't know what Clint's thinking. ]

[halfassed]

That it might suit your purposes more to let someone bleed out than give them a hand. Not exactly what I'd look for in a doctor.

[beguilement]

I suppose that really all depends on the person. Everyone has a price. Both to pay and collect. Perhaps it suits my purpose more to keep them alive.

[halfassed]

You're unpredictable, you're unstable, and you're exactly not what an isolated community needs to depend on.

[beguilement]

There is no fun in predictability. [ s h r u g s ] I can hardly be blamed if people want to depend on me. I am efficient and get things done.

[ A pause and he smiles. ] Certainly, even you know that.

[halfassed]

[ A surge of irritation. Loki pushes to hard; he's too obsessive. He takes risks, and unnecessary ones. He was never entirely about the mission. ]

Is that what you took away from this?

[beguilement]

[ Everyone takes risks. Loki just happens to take the ones that put others in danger and not himself. Or... he tries not to, anyway. ]

What was I supposed to take away?

[halfassed]

I don't know. Don't mess with humans?

[beguilement]

Ah, yes. I will be sure to hold that near and dear to my heart, Agent Barton.

[halfassed]

You wouldn't have failed if you'd listened to me. I told you surfacing was a risk. You put petty shit above your overall mission, and you paid the price for it. That's why you're not efficient, and that's why you don't get things done. Nothing goes above the mission, for me.

[ Except when things do. Like Natasha. ]

[beguilement]

[ Loki is silent, an unreadable look on his face. Clint has a point, certainly, but there's also plenty he doesn't know. But then he smiles, low and devious; nonchalant. ]

Or perhaps it wasn't a failure at all.

[ Or maybe it was and Loki just doesn't want to admit it. ]

[halfassed]

Then you ruined my life for nothing. So I suggest you don't imply that to me.

[beguilement]

Ruined your life? [ Hahaha, really?! ] In what way?

[halfassed]

You didn't --

[ Moment of vulnerability, of choking fury. ]

I mean, you tried. You didn't do it.

[dreamsofpoison]

As I am a god, is that town not helped by my presence?

[halfassed]

Didn't even look at the link, did you?

You weren't a god. It was after Ragnarok, or something.

[dreamsofpoison]

Would you prefer I did?

[beguilement]

If I didn't do whatever it is you claim, then how have I ruined anything at all?

[ Please explain this logic, he doesn't get it. ]

[halfassed]

...no.

[halfassed]

Because you gave me a taste of something I can't have. [ He spits the words. And he means loyalty: real loyalty, without question, in harmony that was as close to perfect as he'll ever get. And Clint's brain feels like it's in shards from it. ]

[beguilement]

[ Ah. ...interesting. ]

You could have it, even now. But your mind, your feeble mortal mind, refuses to give it to you. Thoughts, questions and doubts plague you because allow them. You are too bound by morals to accept that the sides of right and wrong are relative and subjective.

In the end you made your choice to fight against me. If I gave you what you wanted, what you crave--why fight it? Did your sense of duty and honor keep you on the same side as her, as your little...team? Or was it because you did want what I gave you and fought against yourself?

[halfassed]

You killed my boss. You made it real simple for me.

[ Not as simple as Clint would like, though. ]

[beguilement]

And yet you still speak like you want that sort of order within chaos again. Is it that simple?

[ He sees through this nonsense, Clint. ]