video; un: sg.rogers

[livingsymbol]

How do you go about picking gifts?

[ He's just going to dive right in. No real introduction, but Steve figures that most people won't care too much about who is asking this or why. ]

I'm sure a lot of you are better at this than I am, so I guess I need some advice. How do you find a good gift for someone that already has far more than you've seen for half your lifetime? Not that I'm aiming to impress anyone, but it'd be nice to pull it off.

[ He grins a little. Okay, so maybe he's trying. Just a little. But Steve is rarely the one that surprises anyone else. He just wants a chance at doing something cool for a change. Of course, he's realistic and knows this is unlikely, but he can try. ]

I'm in a little over my head on this one. Everyone else always has the flashy stuff covered.

Comments

[livingsymbol]

I think I can handle that. I don't mind work.

[He's not sure how he likes being called a peasant, but that's probably not going to change.]

I'm sure we can find one. There are plenty of people that use weapons and armor in town, so one of them must use a forge.

[ragnarsson]

Good. Find me one and I will show you how to create something that your paramour will love.

[Then his smirk turns impish.]

I suggest telling them you wish to see them wearing it and nothing else when you give it to them.

[Alright, now he's just being a little troll. Someone stop him.]

[livingsymbol]

[ And that sly answer throws Steve into a surprised coughing fit. The gift he had in mind was definitely not going to be covering, and he can imagine Loki getting smug and shamelessly displaying himself just to mortify him. ]

I don't want to give him any ideas!

[ And he's blushing now as if he's anticipating his own embarrassment. ]

[ragnarsson]

[Yup, that worked exactly like Ivar thought it was going to. He can't help the laughter that bubbles up.]

Well, generally a gift of this nature doesn't suggest you only want to hold hands.

[Really, Steve, having the sensibilities of an old maid is not doing you any favors. Become more free-spirited like the Viking!]

[livingsymbol]

[Ivar can see the way Steve huff in his response. The short, heavy breathes that indicate he's trying and failing to hide his embarrassment and brush off the heat on his face.]

I didn't say that. And there's nothing wrong with holding hands.

[He knows it's a bad idea to say that, but his stubborn urge to be contrary kicks in and he has to argue in favor of holding hands even if Ivar is right. It's a matter of pride.]

...You really think we can impress him?

[ragnarsson]

You know, I'm half-convinced right now you might be a virgin.

[Not really, but he's pulling out all the stops when it comes to teasing Steve. He momentarily sobers up when he asks about the gift. He knows very well the anxiety that comes from trying to impress a crush.]

There's only one way to find out, right? Besides, it's not entirely the jewelry that shall impress him. It's the hands that will be making it.

[livingsymbol]

[ Steve frowns when Ivar accuses him of being a virgin. Part of him wants to speak up and ask what the problem with that would be, but then he'd be sending the wrong message and even Steve realizes how messy that is. He opens his mouth, aborts the line he wants to say, and sighs instead. ]

Maybe I just don't like talking about it. There could be kids listening to us.

[ Well, that doesn't make it any better. Damn it. But living up to the popular image beats trying and failing to subvert it with falsehoods, so Steve has to live with his choices. ]

Hm. That means I'm going to have to trust my teacher to show me how to do a good job. I don't want my gift to misrepresent what I'm capable of.

[ragnarsson]

Please, kids can learn all they need to know just from watching a farmyard full of animals for a few hours.

[Was it any wonder Vikings had such a cavalier attitude towards sex when they were exposed to the wonders of nature from such an early age?]

You'll do fine. The good thing about metal is that if it turns out horrible, you just melt it back down, and start again. Much better than working with something like wood.

[livingsymbol]

Maybe, but that doesn't mean they will. And whatever happens between us isn't something I'd like on display.

[So, yes, maybe he'd like it if his gift led to other things. But Steve isn't about to completely admit that. Part of his resistance comes from pride.]

Mm, in that case I'll see if I can rent some space. If you'll teach me, I'll pay you back too.

[ragnarsson]

[Ivar just shakes his head, muttering under his breath something about 'the old woman on the other end of the screen.']

Sounds like we have a plan. Let me know when you're ready. We can work out the prices later.

[livingsymbol]

[Steve does seem to catch that, because his look becomes sharper just briefly as he holds a thought on his tongue. But he doesn't say anything. Not this time at least. He nods, agreeing to the open-ended bargain easily enough.]

I'll let you know as soon as I find a forge.

[Because he's totally going to scour the city for a space he can rent. It's his mission now.]

[ragnarsson]

Good. This shall be a learning experience for you.

[And an opportunity for Ivar to continue to troll Steve about the object of his affection. He doesn't even know who it is yet. Once he finds out it's Loki, oh, there's going to be so much more ammunition for him to use.]