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[Her stomach drops, but it's not as if she didn't anticipate this discussion happening early on. She tries for a laugh and fails, but ultimately nods, refusing all the while to dislodge herself.]

Yeah. Traveled a little, but I was trying to get back for most of it. And when I finally got home, well— it didn't go great.

[Loki notes her tone, holds her just a little tighter. He won't press, just yet.]

I'm sorry. I'm glad the Navarch chose you. I thought it would just be William and I. And, well. Rhys.

[Who hasn't exactly been a source of joy, lately.]

This ship is...less dangerous, I think. Not perfect, obviously. But I don't think it's going to fall apart around us, which is something. The inmates are mostly squabbling amongst themselves. No particularly horrible squalls.

[He shrugs.]

It should be easy to settle in and...relax.

[Or forget whatever happened back home.]

Here's hoping, huh?

[It would be easy to get misty-eyed again, but he's going easy on her. There's a laugh, the strength of her own hold increasing.]

Nothing's on fire, though, haven't seen anybody fighting each other. I think you two are doing really well so far, especially since this is— well, it's not a test, is it? It's real life, and that's a lot more daunting.

I'm so proud, and so, so, so relieved to see you.

[It takes an effort, but Loki manages to keep most of the emotion out of his voice. Not all of it, though.]

I feel much the same.

[Okay, yeah, he needs to pull back to swipe at his eyes. He tried.

Sniffing awkwardly, he flashes a sheepish smile.]

How have you been settling in? Who have you met so far?

[It's easier to feel seeing it reflected by someone else. She grins, blinking furiously and managing despite all odds to hold it together. Her grip on his upper arms, she sighs before considering the question.]

Not many in person, you and William. Just chatting, uh, Grace, Alice, Claire, it's- well, only wardens, I have no clue what the inmate crowd's like. Who should I meet?

Well, there's a version of B here, which is strange. Goes by Barnes. Save you the trouble of embarrassing yourself like I did.

[He perks up, eyes bright.] Oh! You should meet my first temporary inmate. Jack! She's. [Intense? Obnoxious?] Well, I think she'd be a challenge, if it was made permanent.

[It's good to see him brighten, and she squeezes him in a way she hopes he'll correctly interpret as encouraging.]

Good challenging, or kill-you challenging?

Before we were paired she stole an ATV from the other inmates she'd been escaping with. I'm sure killing me isn't off the table, if it got her what she wanted. But she's mostly behaved since. Just a bit rude, really.

Oh, there's probably going to be a ton of that. [Said, as she realizes as much herself.] There's no history to fall on, so it's gonna seem a lot more viable.

Good you're keeping busy at least, hm? You seem in good spirits about it.

I-- [He hesitates, but no. He won't get into Malekith yet.] Yes, well. Adjusting is giving me plenty to do.

[But. Specifically. What has he been doing? Uh.]

Oh! I fell off as we landed in the last port. Spent the entire thing as a fish-person. That was a strange one. I suppose we ought to warn people that that's a possibility.

[It's a hell of a thing she's fighting to imagine, and it brings her closer to a laugh. A grin is cracked, at least.]

What, the overboard bit, or fish people specifically? And what was it like-? I've never heard of them like that, it's always mermaids.

[He stutters a laugh, can't help being amused even at his own expense in this instance.]

Going overboard, obviously. I doubt fish-person will be an option in every port. And no, the opposite of that. I think I had a salmon head. Was about-- [He holds a hand up somewhere below his hip.] --that tall. Mostly normal body but for the head.

[He pauses to think on what the life was like, what he had been able to retain of it, and lets out another slightly exasperated chuckle.]

Even in that form I was something of an outcast from my society. Too obsessed with knives and spears. The others didn't see the appeal.

[The description gets a laugh out of her; it's a surreal thing to imagine, him whittled down so small.]

I can't say it sounds as good as being a bat alien, but I'm sure it had its perks. Why the knives and spears?

[Loki summons one of his daggers. Does a few spins with it, very casually.]

Somehow I think that part's just me.

[She is very impressed.]

Did much else translate, or is it just daggers all the way down? I'm suddenly wondering if there's some whole chunk of you I haven't paid nearly enough attention to.

[Loki disappears the daggers and shrugs.]

Well, I was as stylish as ever. Very popular and charismatic. Fantastic relationship with my parents. Never made a single mistake. Devastatingly handsome, as fish go.

[Grin.]

I'd say it was pretty accurate.

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