Neutral Omens

Well, at least he wasn't being nasty about it. That was the short way to a fat lip with Pepper. "'Course I'm sure. He didn't hold Odin because he doesn't want anyone here against their will. If Odin had to leave, then it's none of Adam's worry; just 'cause he wants certain types 'ere doesn't mean he's goin' to chain everyone to the manor lobby."

Which was sort of a funny thought in itself, but she shoved the smirk aside. "Dun't need proof, I just know he can. Known 'im long enough to know what he can do."

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"Then why would he have brought him here against his will in the first place?" Loki asked. "Nah, I don't think he's as powerful as he'd like to make all of us believe." Yes, that was it. Adam was just charismatic and this young woman was easily influenced by a strong personality.

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"I'm sure Adam probably wanted to see 'f he could convince 'im to join the cause," Pepper said reasonably. She was good at working out Adam's motives when she actually took the time to puzzle them out, and if what this man said was true, it was the only thing that made sense at the moment. "But he wouldn't keep 'im there if it wasn't workin'."

She had to kind of snort/snigger at the assessment of Adam's abilities. Well, if that was what let him sleep well at night... "You can sure believe that if you like, but I'm afraid I'll have to really disagree with you there."

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"My kind," said Loki with a slightly mysterious grin. "Don't do believing all that well. We prefer to leave that to your kind. We either know things, or we are very, very careful." He winked at her wondering what she'd make of that.

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Well, this was Pepper. Winking made her instantly suspicious, especially when paired with the knowledge that he definitely wasn't human. She'd sort of figured that with what he was riding, but there wasn't enough information.

"Your kind? And who are they, exactly?" She raised an eyebrow and tilted her head cautiously. Wait. Odin. "Which... god are you?"

She was getting better at this detectiving stuff.

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Ah, a clever one. Well, then she might enjoy a challenge and Loki always enjoyed playing games.

"Indeed, who are they? That's always been a bit of a tricky question with me. Where do I belong? My kind could be so many different groups, or perhaps none of them." Okay, maybe he was exaggerating a little, but it really felt like that sometimes.

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The sphinx had been following the conversation, mostly amused by the exchange, but also eager to learn new information about the hotel's owner. Then the talking shifted to Loki and who she was, and that much she already knew.

"Why, I didn't know you liked this sort of games", she said. "If you want to play with that girl, Mr. Hospital Patient, go right ahead. But I'm not going to remain as your chair, so you would better get off my back."

She flashed the red haired girl a smile. "And don't you think you should introduce yourself before asking things like that from other people, mortal?"

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"Ah, come on, beautiful, I thought you like this game even more than I do," Loki coaxed. "My favourite game would be three card monte." Well, actually his favourite game was triple agent, but he tried to keep that a secret as long as he could. Once people figured that out it became so hard to play the game around them.

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Okay, so Pepper hadn't expected her to talk. She she covered her surprise fairly well by coming back with, "'M tryin' to figure out whether bein' called 'mortal' is better than 'girl' or 'lady'. Think mortal might be better since it's not gender-specific." She shrugged. "I'm Pepper. And no one's gonna be playin' with me, thank you. And now that I've told you my name you could return the favour since it would be polite an' all."

Suddenly what Sphix said finally hit her, and she looked squarely at Loki again. "What you in the hospital for? You all right?"

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"Oh, of course I enjoy these sort of games", the sphinx said. "But there isn't much point in her guessing my name, is there, since she can see what I am. Rather spoils the surprise."

She turned her head towards Pepper. "And of course we are playing with you. Everything's a game. And I never claimed to be polite." She smiled. "But it is nice to meet you, Pepper."

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"Ah, but she's guessing my name right now," Loki returned smugly. "Pepper eh? Got a twin sister named Salt?"

He ignored Pepper's new question. He didn't feel like telling her that he was as good as dead, nor did he want to think about it himself right now. Tonight he was determined to have fun.

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Pepper smirked at Sphix. Most things were a game with her too, she supposed (they certainly had been in childhood), so she couldn't find fault with anyone who took that as their view on life. "Guess it all depends on who's in on the game, then. Nice to meet you too."

Loki didn't get as kind of a response for his quip. "You know, the last person who insulted my name gotta shoe full of my teeth for it," she explained with an eyebrow raised. "'Course, it was a different name back then, but all the same 's not nice to go makin' jokes about the names of people you only just met."

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"No Salt then?" Loki asked unperturbed. She'd have to lean against the sphinx to bite his toes after all. "A pity. I'd have liked to bring my own Pepper and Salt to a restaurant sometime."

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"You could still bring Pepper", Sphix said. "I'm sure we would find some salt somewhere. As well as any other things we would need to make it a meal."

Sphix gave Pepper a charming smile. Then she moved her shoulders a bit, trying to change the place where Loki's toes met her fur. She considered shaking the annoying god off, or even changing her shape, but then thought better of it. That sort of things shouldn't be done in front of mortals.

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Loki pretended to consider it. "Roasted on a spit," he suggested. "Over open fire, of course."

Hey, just think of all the things he could do with that fire while waiting for the meat to be finished!

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(Sorry this took so long! Insanity over here. >.<)

"Well, this particular Pepper isn't so good for seasoning," she said of herself, pursing her lips momentarily at Loki before smiling back at Sphix. "You doin' all right with all that weight on your back? If you need a break, I could help 'im." Maybe he wouldn't tell her what was wrong, but Pepper had good enough instincts to know when someone wasn't quite right.

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"Do I look like a weakling to you, mortal? I can carry him just fine." Having someone sitting on her back wasn't the most comfortable thing, and Loki's feet were terribly annoying, but that was not something the sphinx was ready to admit to anyone, let alone a human who didn't even understand to be afraid. "Although, skinny that he is, I am sure even you could manage to get him from one point to another. You would certainly make a more appropriate seat."

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"What, you expect me to ride a human? What'd that look like?" Loki petted Sphix' head affectionately. Much as he like women, animals were much better. "Besides I'll most likely never get a ride as cool as this again. Got to enjoy it while it lasts."

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That did it. He was petting her hair? Like the horse smell and the toes weren't enough! He was treating her like she was some sort of an animal, wasn't he? And she had specifically told him to keep his dirty hands out of her hair.

The change started out as a simple shiver, and it was over quick. Sphix's wings disappeared and her human features faded away. She turned her lion head as far back as she could, bared her teeth and let out a growl, a final warning for the god to keep his fingers in check. And while the sphinx, as a human or in her original form, feared and respected Apollo enough to follow the rules of this place, such thoughts didn't even cross the lioness' mind.

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Loki beamed at her. "Lion mode! Oh, you really are a beauty! Isn't she magnificent?"

He loved big cats almost as much as he did wolves, though he had a lot less experience with them and that muzzle was simply adorable. He vaguely wondered whether it would be going too far to attempt to kiss it.

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Pepper almost laughed at him. He really was being a bit dense at the moment. "I dun't think she's exactly happy with you right now," she informed him with a smirk. "Or didn't you notice?" Nevermind that Sphix had transformed into a lion right before her eyes, there was only so much a human brain could account for at one time.

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