paraboxical | consequences;

[When Loki strolls in, rather relaxed looking and pretty content, he takes in Tony, the ice pack and the couch and pauses.

A slow tilt of his head.

And he sighs, striding over towards the couch.]

Dare I ask what happened?

Your brother happened.

[And that's just his mutter as he shuts his eyes and you know, about 75% of the pain looks like it isn't an act.

Oops, going toe to toe with a god.]

[....wow.

He can't quite help the comment that slips out of him--]

Truly? Thor did this?

[Blink. Blink.

But that pain does look pretty authentic, and he steps closer, removing the ice pack for a brief moment to get a better look.]

[Well, Tony's a bit scraped up but that's not entirely from Thor and probably more from debris.

However there seems to be a nice bump developing on his head, presumably where Thor thumped him a few times. Just don't mention the bruises, he doesn't want to think about hiding those.]

Well... partially. I was a lot better off before he got his hands on me though.

[...hmm. He considers that bump for a long moment.

And he's only half focused on the conversation as he crouches and reaches out, gently resting his fingers on Tony's bump. And then he focuses the remainder of his attention on cool and ice and caution because he knows he can do this without giving Tony frostbite but at least helping the injury some--

And he's always cleaning up after Thor anyway, really.]

What did you say to him to upset him so badly?

[... oh. Magic.

He still winces a bit and as much as he'd like to lean into the touch, he can't do that yet. So instead he continues to rest on the couch and roll his eyes.]

Apparently he didn't pick up on the dripping sarcasm when I said a hot date tonight.

[Magic of a sorts--he's the only one noticing that his hand and arm are starting to look a little bit blue.

But he just snorts at that.]

He thought you were being unfaithful?

[Just. a roll of his eyes, so unimpressed.]

Yeah and Cap didn't look pleased about the joke either considering the look he gave me...

[And he sighs, a little distracted in the story to notice the change in Loki. Oops self-centered.]

So in the end, I had to reschedule my dinner with the ever-charming Miss Christine Everheart.

[He doesn't mind that--but he's too focused at least numbing the pain some to stop either, even as the color crawls up his arms (seems it's a symmetrical thing, at least).]

I rather doubt they would have believed it if there was no basis for it before--

Though it seems they could both use a lesson in sarcasm.

[He doesn't seem too bothered, no.]

Hey, I'm a lot better now-

[And now he's distracted as he catches sight of the rest of the change. So he pauses in the conversation to reach out a hand, curiously touching Loki's other arm lightly.]

Is there a reason why you look like you're going on Na'vi on me, sweetie?

[He blinks.

And tilts his head at his arm, though he leaves his hand resting on the lump on Tony's head.

The look he gives the blue color is ever so distasteful, though he's calm as he responds.]

I'm sure you already know of my heritage, correct?

Yes, even though I haven't gotten the chance to investigate much further than a name and the obvious implications of Frost and Giant.

[Except now his hand is curiously tracing down Loki's arm, pondering the temperature and the color and seeming to be entirely entranced. It's how he always gets when he encounters something new.

Though there's no sound, his mouth is already forming the shape of 'fascinating'.]

[His mouth quirks down a little at that obvious fascination, not entirely sure how to treat it, but even when he pulls his hand away from Tony's head, the color remains for a moment. He considers it before meeting Tony's eyes.]

Indeed. Frost giants are blue. Now you are aware.

[And then he allows the color to begin to recede, the coolness surrounding his hands in the very atmosphere receding as well.]

[Tony makes a face-

And then he winces because ow, headache, he probably should be taking a nap except he might have a concussion.

So he'll keep himself awake and entertained this way.

His hand finds its way to Loki's again, still ever curious and pondering exactly why it was that the color also denoted the temperature. Or was it something else?]

Frost giants...

[And he likes it when it's easier to get into Loki's good graces so he pulls the hand closer so he can press his lips to the knuckles.]

You should let me see again.

[He arches an eyebrow at that--

But the wince softens any refusal he was considering. He supposes while Tony is stuck on the couch and "slain" by his brother, he can humor him.

So he rocks back to sit on his heels, pulling his hand away gently.]

Frost giants' touch has been known to cause frostbite if not careful.

[so don't touch. He just knew he had enough control to act as an ice pack.

And then he closes his eyes briefly, though growing to control the frost giant part of him was never as difficult as magic. After all, it's what he is. And the blue color spreads across his skin, and when he opens his eyes, the green has been replaced by red.

...hrm.]

[Tony blinks and despite every bone in his body protesting and his head sharply arguing with him, he sits up. There is ache and pain but that is all drowned out by the chaos going on in his head-]

You said you wanted my thoughts?

[Loki always seemed to enjoy that so Tony figures he'll return the favor of this little joy and lets the thoughts spill from his mouth.]

It's about twenty-six science-fiction schemes all broiled into one. I've heard of the Nine Realms and Thor goes on and on but SHIELD hasn't seemed to be able to tie him down long enough to get the information they'd like about any of them until Jane comes in - and I need to pay a visit to Jane some weekend so I can learn more about it myself - so there's nothing I've gotten about Frost Giants except that, the name.

So I'm sure I could probably grab some Norse mythology but a lot of that seems really inaccurate at this point seeing as there hasn't been any sort of new text popping up about Thor and his poptarts.

You're probably going to have to answer all my questions at this point because headache or no headache, you're fascinating and that's not about to change.

Frostbite, right? See, frostbite tends to occur at zero degrees Celsius, thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit, or two-seventy-three degrees Kelvin and when exposed for long periods of time. What I assume you're proposing is that if I touch you at all, I'll undergo a bad kind of frostbite- more likely second- or third-degree than first.

What causes frostbite is the lack of circulation and lack of heat, reducing whatever layers that get exposed to be rendered useless. I assume that in order to cause such insane frostbite is that it has to be less than zero degrees Celsius, perhaps even closer to Absolute Zero. JARVIS, make notes of getting those calculations for me. Call Bruce if you need to, he's the biologist among us.

What's remarkable is that you can still manage to breath and exist in such cold temperature, which makes me wonder what your blood must consist of. This goes beyond being cold- or warm-blooded, it's simply alien.

Though I guess that's expected of a different species but that's perfectly fine, it's remarkable all the same. Maybe it's similar as to what's in Bruce's blood that makes him go all green along with jacked up on steroids.

[Then it's a blink as he takes the time to breathe and he looks into Loki's eyes-]

Did I ever tell you that red is my favorite color?

[...wow then.

He does enjoy Tony's thoughts, but this is just...something else.

Loki blinks once, startled, and then meets Tony's eyes and stares.

And he scrambles for a response because...well, he knows Tony said he was fascinating, but this is still something he was never expecting--not for a frost giant, because they're the monsters of the Nine Realms, as Asgard would say.

So he answers the easiest, red eyes blinking once again.]

I had assumed...

[Red suit, red suit--

But he'd never applied it to his eyes.

And then he sorts out his thoughts, shaking his head slowly.]

...You are truly ridiculous at times. There is very little on the physiology of Frost Giants in Asgard, I'm afraid-- [monsters, who documented monsters] --and I was unaware of my lineage until very recently, so there is little I can tell you toward that end.

[He...is honestly a little bit curious now, though. Which is an absolute first when it comes to Jotunn--]

Well that just means more mystery to crack.

[And Tony manages a very eager grin at that. If there's anything that he's always been enamored with, it's puzzles.]

I can't do much today thanks to your rhinoceros of a brother but if it's all fine and dandy with you, I'd prefer to run a few tests in the lab some other time to get a few readings. Temperature-wise first so I can see what would be appropriate to have when taking other tests. Simple things, blood samples, radiation readings, the like.

To be honest with you, what I do with the information is still up in the air- probably nothing since we've yet to encounter any other Frost Giants as far as I'm aware. But if anyone is going to be the first to actually look into anything about the intricacies of your race, I'd like to have Anthony Stark written in as a pioneer.

Besides it's pretty fantastic.

I mean your skin naturally gives off a different temperature reading that can seem to be controlled enough to act as an ice pack or as a weapon. There must be some default of your magic running through your veins- a knack for it, maybe. The switch between the ability to act defensively, offensively, and the in between nurturing sort of way--

My understanding on magic is still limited and I've just barely gotten anywhere on teleportation but this is... something else.

I'm assuming it's in your blood-

[And he reaches out to touch curiously before realizing that he shouldn't add frost bite onto his list of injuries- but his hand does hover right by Loki's cheek, where he can feel the temperature change and his eyes light up at it, confused and intrigued.]

Talk about one of a kind.

[He looks torn between confusion and amusement (which is better than the distaste of before, if a little), because while Tony's excitement is endearing, he truly does not understand how anyone could be this fascinated by what he is now, like this, without his Aesir form.

He just huffs faintly, shaking his head slightly.]

Lie down before you fall over.

[He felt the size of that bruise, and he just numbed it; he didn't heal it.

And then he considers the rest. It takes him a moment, a marked hesitation that was absent for the rest of his magic, of which study he found to simply be fun and games. But this--

He still doesn't understand, but he also has no desire to deny Tony when he is that eager.

...]

Very well then. You may study this form if you wish.

[maybe he'll learn a bit more about how it works as well...]

[Well he seems to enjoy the permission and does ease himself back down on the couch, though he keeps his eyes on Loki, studying and analyzing. The shade of blue, mentally replaying the transition to that form in his head as if it was some sort of Pokemon evolution if he had to compare it to something crude, and the red of Loki's eyes-

Why were they red? Was there something special about them? How far could he see? What was his eyesight like and were his peripherals any better?

Though of course these would have to be tackled later, in the lab, where he could properly write down all the answers even though his mental memory was remarkable for things he found fascinating and scientific.

But perhaps this was more than just science.]

You want to unfreeze your head for a sec? Because I could really go for a smurftastic kiss right now.

[...He just huffs faintly, amused, but the blue bleeds away into his normal, paler skin-tone, eyes shifting back from red to green, and when his body temperature is once again "normal", he leans forward and presses his lips to Tony's slowly.

"Fascinating". He wishes to study his Frost Giant form.

...He supposes he can...perhaps get used to that.

Though he does murmur a moment later--]

I would prefer none of the information you obtain make it to Thor.

[...as if Thor needs any more reason to consider him a monster, right...?]

[Well Tony's hands just work their way into Loki's hair to keep him close for that kiss anyway. When they do pull away, he doesn't go far, just murmuring in response.]

I'm not your brother's biggest fan right now.

[And another kiss.]

But if that's what you want, alright... No need to be worried about what makes you... you, though.

[Not the most poetic he's ever been but he doesn't seem to have a single issue with the actual content of the message.]

[...That draws a sigh out of him, and he pulls away properly, separating them for a few moments so he can meet Tony's eyes properly.]

Yes, it is very clear how little you know about the Jotunn.

[...because there's everything to be worried about being a monster wrapped up in fair skin, though it suits him rather well as the god of lies, doesn't it?

His entire being is a lie. That's clever.

But he doesn't look like he intends to elaborate all too easily, so he simply leans forward again after that, returning to their closeness so he can press their lips together.]

[... alas, Tony normally would let this go if he was drunk or otherwise muddled.

Instead he's quite focused on keeping himself awake and the headache definitely helps in keeping his mind sharp. So he accepts the kisses readily enough because they ease some of the pain somehow - endorphins and some sort of brain science, he thinks - but he is back to the same topic soon after.]

I don't need to know much about Jotunn to know that I've gotten pretty fond of Loki.

I mean... so what if you've got a few layers to peel to get to the truth- you're not the only one.

[and another brief kiss because... hey, he's a man in a big suit of armor. lots of armor.]

[...Tony always picks the worst times to be stubborn about topics, he can't help but think.

He considers that, sighing heavily--and moving from his crouch to his knees, a more comfortable position, and one that also allows him to...drape his upper body over Tony slightly.

It means his face is buried in Tony's neck when he responds, which is--

good. Yes.]

No, I am not. And it fits me well to have my entire identity end up a lie.

[A bit of a self-deprecating, humorless snort.]

...Tell me, did your mother ever tell you stories as a small child?

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