strangetrip | [EP] your game is weak

Loki had bolted almost the moment he heard about a door opening to a new world. Yes, he knew it was temporary, that on previous such openings there was no more chance of escape than there was from the Inn. It was a new place, that was enough to disappear in for... as it turned out, roughly two minutes. It wasn't exactly small, but it was certainly limited.

Fortunately, the festival-like atmosphere was entertaining enough to walk through, and the various games were... interesting. About half of them, he thought, were very clumsily rigged to bilk players. It was obvious enough that Loki rather thought people expected the cheating, that it was meant to be part of the experience. Still, the clumsiness was offensive when there were any number of ways to get the same result without being so obvious.

Naturally, he un-rigged a few of those in passing, and on a couple of the un-rigged games he set a few spells to ensure a higher winning percentage for players than they might otherwise have. Subtly, of course.

He paused briefly at a sort of shoot-the-duck game, pondering what if anything to do to it.

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Valkyrie squeezed his pale, long fingers, her own hand radiating warmth. “You seem popular with your inn-fellows.” In many senses of the word, at that.

“Hardly. I’m tolerated, in most cases, and that likely for Thor’s sake.” There were exceptions, more than he might have expected. Bo, Bucky, Annie. Valkyrie herself, to be sure. But as tolerance was his goal at present, it worked well enough.

As far as Valkyrie was concerned, tolerated was a vast improvement, though she yawned doubtfully. "His Majesty was gleefully traipsing about." Though she wasn't interested in intruding on his bliss, she was eager at the prospect at challenging his strength with her own.

“Did he manage to get you on the rides?” He’d failed with Loki, of course, but it was remotely possibly that the Valkyrie would be a softer touch for her king.

“Is that what he’s on about.” Valkyrie stated in sharp non-surprise as they lined up. “Like that great Viking Boat that simply goes back and forth?”

“It was, last I saw him. The swinging boat, the wooden roller thing. I assume even the teacups.” They were still holding hands, but now that they were in line that just ensured that they wouldn’t get separated. Very sensible!

"He has a partner to do that with, I assumed." Not that Valkyrie was opposed, but the thrill offerings seemed...underwhelming in comparison to everything she'd gotten up to. Despite that sentiment, her turn at the Test of Strength was swiftly approaching, and she hopped from leg to leg as 'DING!' after 'DING' sounded.

“I assumed as well, but that didn’t stop him trying to drag me.” Not as hard as he usually did,though. For a wonder, Thor had taken no for an answer not just faster than normal, but wi decent grace.

"I'm curious about the one that...spins." Whatever it was called, it resembled some of the abandoned Sakaarian ships. Was spinning literally the only thing it did, or was there some other mystery within? As they neared the front of the line, Valkyrie unbuckled her belt and mounted it over Loki's shoulders.

“I’m sure he’d be willing.” Loki glanced at the tacky belt and its fishy cargo now slung over his shoulder. Some of the fish stared blankly back. No, there was nothing remotely like intelligence in there. “But first, destroy this thing.”

Valkyrie patted him on the cheek as she sauntered to the fray, fingernails leaving shallow marks as they glanced over his sharp jaw. The tall announcer in black passed off the mallet to her as she entered the rig, obviously quite charmed with the enthusiasm contained within her small frame. It was feather-light in her hands, and she opted to hold it in one to the condescension of the announcer as she stepped up to the brightly lit pole. The digital number at the top read '0', and Valkyrie idly wondered if it would even read what came next.

Brandishing the red mallet in mimicry of how Thor wielded Stormbreaker, Valkyrie lined up the swing and swiftly brought it down--

--and the machine uttered a clipped death chime as the spring-loaded platform became one with the asphalt and the puck shot through the reader and into orbit like the world's tiniest, kinetically-powered spaceship.

Loki closed his eyes briefly to enjoy the slight scrape of fingernails, which could have been accidental but almost certainly wasn’t, then reopened the to watch the show. It proved to be as short as he’d anticipated, but no less delightful: destruction and proof of strength in one.

The small crowd was silent as the now-extraterrestrial object sailed away - mostly shocked, but in the case of the announcer, horrified. Loki, who had expected nothing less from the Valkyrie, laughed and applauded.

Valkyrie handed the mallet (somehow still intact) off back to the announcer as she exited, dusting off her gloved hands as she rejoined Loki. "Somewhat refreshing. I can see why his Majesty prefers hammers." Still no comparison to a sword, though.

“They are good for hitting,” he agreed, unslinging her belt and offering it back to her. “Never my style, but undeniably effective.”

Back on the fish went, swaying in unison as they re-entered Valkyrie’s orbit. “Come pick out the prize.”

“I think more fish, if that’s an option.” Loki smiled and took her hand again, since they were back to moving for at least a short distance. “We might as well commit to the bit.”

Valkyrie squeezed once in affirmation (heedless of her strength--her blood was pumping), tugging him towards the prize booth before the staff could scurry off. "Pleasing to see you got attached in the short time I was away."

Loki let himself be tugged without protest. "Hardly. It's simply that at this point there's no harm in increasing the collection." He was already going to have to put a large tank in his room, after all. As well, fish seemed a better option than stuffed animals. "Also, the higher the numbers, the more effective the army. Generally speaking."

[EP] your game is weak

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