“They made one of these movies of Pride and Prejudice?” Loki might not be up to date on film, but he has always been a rather voracious reader and has never been one to make exceptions based on where the book comes from. As such, he’s read many of the popular collections he could get his hands on from any realm. “I must admit, I am interested in seeing how that might work.”

It must be like a stage adaptation of writings, he thinks. He dips some of his own bread into the sauce on his lasagna. “Is that common on earth? Adaptations? I saw some Asgardian stories adapted into theatre when I was younger. I always enjoyed seeing how the director might change things to adapt to the medium.”

”I see. It must be a rather popular story on earth then.” It makes sense. Loki remembers the story fondly himself. It had been a nice story to get lost in and dream of the day he might find love. Especially since at the time he’d assumed he would be married off to some princess. This, he admits, is much nicer. Hob is far better than some princess from Vanaheim.

”Well, I am excited to see it. I have always been a fan of theatre. I think it will be interesting to see a new visual medium. You can do such different things with each adaptation.” It’s interesting to him to see what kind of differences there will be. There must be quite a few considering this seems like it will be watching theatre from the comfort of ones own home.

Loki nods as he eats a bit more. “I might have to find out what other adaptations I might be interested in then.”

Loki will only happily tell him, if it were ever to come up. He’s known far too much of royalty and the grand majority of them were total bores. Though he knows well enough that anyone who may have been considered in line to be his wife were likely relieved to be let off of that hook too. He never really considered himself the marrying kind, never being able to imagine what it would be like to be tied to one person. Though that thought has changed a lot lately.

There’s a pause in the conversation as they eat. Loki can’t help but be impressed with his own cooking skills, but more than that, he’s happy to see Hob enjoying the food. Strange, but it feels good to make sure Hob is taken care of like this. It’s not a feeling he’s overly familiar with, but he likes it all the same.

”Well, I admit to liking a few of what I am sure must be popular in all versions of Midgard. I quite take a shine to the stories of Sherlock Holmes. I would’ve liked to have met him, were he real. And of course, with my love of theatre comes a love of Shakespeare. How about you? What are your favourites?”

That is a question that neither could answer accurately, but Loki likes to think he absolutely would have. He’s said it before, there’s something special about Hob. He is attractive, of course, but it’s more than that. There’s just something so good in him, even if he doesn’t always do good things, that shines out from him and Loki finds it quite addictive. Beauty should be more than just what is on the surface and Loki thinks Hob has that more than anyone he’s ever met before.

There’s a clear reaction from Hob when Loki mentions Shakespeare that he notices, but does not understand. Loki smiles curiously at him, raising one eyebrow. “There is a story there you are hesitant to tell, isn’t there?” Hob’s smile is appreciated, but not fooling him.

Loki chuckles softly. “I admit I am not overly familiar with human writings of your mythologies. It’s rather strange for me since apparently I am from myth according to some. And besides, Zeus is a jerk. There are a few lesser known stories of the Greeks and Romans of your world that are entertaining though.

I would like to ask though, is that why you have enjoyed getting to know me?”

Loki tilts his head to the side, an open and curious smile spreads across his face. “Oh? Well that is a story then.” Loki clasps his hands together and rests his chin there, smiling as he waits to hear more of what happened with a young Hob and Shakespeare. When he starts to hear some details, his eyebrows shoot up into his hairline in surprise. “Did he steal ideas from you?” Loki is both unhappy to hear that on Hob’s behalf and curious to know which ones might have been penned by the man sitting across from him.

”Oh nonsense. I’m sure you have every right to still be upset. Time, as it happens, does not cure all wounds.” This is something Loki is acutely aware of. Though some things do get easier, he wouldn’t say they go away completely.

It’s true, Loki might feel a little jealous to hear those things (though he still very much does want to hear more), but he is aware that Hob must have had previous relationships, just as Loki has. Perhaps one day he could return the favour and tell Hob of how highly he thinks of one Mobius M. Mobius. But that is for another time, surely. Not that he’s thinking of his friend while enjoying Hob’s company. When Loki is with Hob, he feels like they are the only two people in the world.

Myths do sometimes seem to be wildly inaccurate, but with his knowledge of other timelines and universes and all the different ways anyone can turn out, Loki is aware that all those stories might still be true, even if he didn’t experience them himself.

Another grin breaks out on Loki’s face when he makes Hob laugh. He didn’t expect such a response to what he’s said, but he loves that he got it. Hob’s laugh is lovely and Loki finds he wants to hear more of it, would spend a lifetime using his wit around Hob, if only to hear more of that delightful sound.

Loki finds himself leaning in as well, amusement and happiness on full display in his eyes. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear that. Getting to know you in return has been an utter joy.” And there it is again, that intense urge to lean full across the table and kiss Hob, even if it meant getting lasagna on his clothes.

”Oh I see.” Loki’s grin widens. “Trying to catch the eye of some lovely young man or woman then? Well, if they could not see what you have to offer, then they are blind. And I am very lucky.” He knows this would’ve happened hundreds of years ago, and he does not think that Hob is still hung up on anyone, but he stands by what he’s said.

There’s some part of Loki that understands he must look like a besotted teenager as he leans in and rests his head on one hand, just looking at Hob with a smile on his face. It’s hard to pull away, but he also knows the night is still young.

”I am glad you enjoyed it. What do you say I clean this up a bit while you make yourself comfortable and then we can watch one of your movies. We can save dessert until later.” Just another reason to keep Hob around longer, right?

Oh, but how much does Loki love seeing that blush? It really highlight’s Hob’s loveliness and causes a warm feeling to fill Loki’s chest. Has he ever liked someone this much before? He’s honestly not sure he has. “You would not have had to try very hard. I cannot imagine not noticing you.”

One of the strange things Loki has discovered since coming to Etraya and even more so since he’s met Hob is that he rather likes domesticity. It’s not something he ever thought would suit him, and he does still want some excitement in his life, but after so much time alone on his throne, he finds this kind of activity far more attractive than he once did. “Oh nonsense, I do not mind one bit. Besides, I have a few tricks up my sleeve.”

With a wink, and a smile, Loki stands and carries the dishes into the kitchen, where he fully intends to put away the leftovers and clean the dishes using his magic. It only takes him a few minutes to clear everything up and have everything set to rights again, though he does take a moment to peek at the cake. He’s never had store-bought before, but it looks delicious at least.

As he makes his way back out to the living room, Loki can’t help but smile as he sees Hob ready with the movie set up and two fresh glasses of wine on the coffee table. It looks… cozy and Loki is struck by how much he wants this. Even if he can’t imagine his life ever being boring, the idea of coming home every day to a nice meal and even nicer company to hang out on the couch and watch movies. Well, he’s not sure he’s ever seen anything better.

He moves to sit on the couch and finds himself hoping they end up sitting closely. Loki doesn’t actively advertise his enjoyment of cuddling, but it’s likely Hob will find out tonight anyway.

Cleaning with magic is something that Loki is actually quite new to. When he was young, he did it on occasion, but he had been a prince. There were employees of Asgard who cleaned for him. When he was with the TVA, he had had to clean his quarters without his magic, and though he wouldn’t admit it to just anyone, he actually came to enjoy the manual labour. But tonight he wants to spend as much time with Hob as possible, so magic it is.

As the movie starts, Loki’s eyes lock on the tv, but he shifts in closer to Hob until their legs touch, a small smile on his face as he feels Hob’s arm on the couch behind him. He really does want to watch this movie, but he suspects he will be easily distracted.

When Hob speaks, Loki does turn to look at him. They are a little closer than he realized, which makes his heart beat a bit faster in his chest, but all he can do is smile at his lovely date for a moment. “Thank you for having me. I always enjoy our time together and I hope we can do this more often.”

Perhaps, if they’re really lucky, they can have both worlds, together. Some adventure and then they can come home and have moments like this.

Loki is having similar thoughts in that it’s a marvel that someone like Hob seems to enjoy his company so much. Loki is aware that he’s much different from how he used to be, the last time he lived in any sort of world with regular people. Hundreds of years of first learning all about the TVA and the loom and then all the time he spent on his throne will do that to you. Though if he’s honest, he knows he had started to change before that. It seems all he’d needed was someone to believe in him. But much more of his life has been spent not really getting along with others. And Hob is really such a good and kind person. It seems almost impossible that someone such as Hob would be so interested.

And yet he is, and that thought alone warms Loki from the inside.

The movie is quite enjoyable, at least for as much as Loki can pay attention. It’s clear to him early on that he’s going to need to watch it again. As suspected, he’s much more interested in what Hob is doing. Far from annoying, he enjoys all the commentary and description his date gives. And when he mouths some of the words? Well, Loki thinks he might be just a little bit in love.

With a slightly amused and very fond smile, Loki turns to Hob again. “Would it be wrong if I said I would like to kiss you right now?”

Borrowing it is probably the best way to have Loki actually see the movie because he’s more and more convinced the longer they sit there that every time they do something like this together, Loki will spend the entire time captivated by Hob’s presence. He’s far more interesting and lovely than any story presented to him.

”Then I feel remiss that I did not act sooner.” Loki says with a smile. He moves in a little closer, his eyes dancing with excitement, and pauses for a moment, his eyes roaming over Hob’s beautiful face as he wonders at how he got this lucky. After a moment, he closes the distance and presses his lips to Hob’s and lets out a quiet, but happy sound as he finally kisses him. Something it seems they have both wanted for far too long.

Loki tells himself that he has only been waiting for the right moment, but truthfully, he’s also been nervous about it. He hasn’t kissed anyone in… a very long time. Hasn’t really wanted to until now and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. It turns out, he’s worried for nothing because Hob kisses him back. Despite the slight conversation just prior, there had still been a tidbit of doubt in Loki’s head as he had leaned in.

If anything, the feel of Hob smiling into the kiss only makes it better. Loki finds himself returning the smile, even as he keeps his lips pressed to Hob’s. After a moment, he lets out a soft laugh, his breath puffing out against Hob’s lips.

This is Loki’s first trip into sappy and romantic, but he has to admit, it is lovely. To him, their first kiss is perfect and he wouldn’t change a second of it.

In Loki’s previous encounters of this sort, when he was younger, kissing hadn’t always been much of a thing for him. In theory, he liked it, or wanted to, but most of the people he’s been with he hadn’t felt all that close to. Now, he thinks, that might be why it hadn’t affected him. Because this is very much affecting him and he likes Hob more than anyone else he’s ever kissed before. It’s like a light has turned on in his head and he finally understands what the fuss is about.

And Hob is so very much worth the fuss.

Loki looks back at Hob, eyes sparkling with happiness as he takes in the lovely visage before him. Why had they waited so long? It seems silly now as Loki recognizes that he’s wanted to do this almost from the jump. It all feels so inevitable, in the best possible way. He only hopes he didn’t waste too much time.

With a sigh, he presses back in for their second of hopefully countless kisses, the feel of Hob’s hand on his chest warm and comforting against the racing of his heart. His eyes flutter shut as he brings his own hands to rest on Hob’s waist as if he needs something to hold onto, if only just to prove to himself that this is real.