Darling Daisy Bell

[magpiemythos]

It was a fine day. The sky was wide and blue as a robin's egg dotted with little puffy clouds, there was a subtle breeze bringing the scent of green growth and flowers, and the sun was shining overhead. That perfect, mild sort of day where one could wear their jacket if they please or not without trouble, as nice a springtime day as one could ask for.

So where in the world was Loki? Not in the house he shared with Cricket, not by the chickens (though he had been around given several of the hens were sporting tutus of varying shades,) and not at the Viper's Pit either. Wherever the trickster was, he wasn't at any of his usual haunts, and Thori was stalking the house utterly infuriated in his canine manner that he had been left at home. Even if he enjoyed being able to laze about with Willie.

Even more tellingly, Cricket had not gotten one single ridiculous kissy emote, meme, or random picture texted to him for the past several hours. Something was clearly afoot.

Comments

[alittlehinky]

The more Cricket works, the more and faster his business expands, a perfect snowball effect. He's had to hire a few people part-time to make deliveries, just to enable him to keep up with his orders. He's proud of that. It's not unusual for him to get a little distracted at the end of a week, working with the books, but he always has time if approached by Loki.

Today as he closes the ledger he realizes he hasn't heard from Loki, for most of the day. For a moment he feels terribly guilty for neglecting him. Then he remembers that Loki simply doesn't allow himself to be ignored unless he's up to something.

Uh-oh.

He pets the Poke-pups to soothe them, then texts Loki: I'm starving. What do you want on the pizza?

But he's sure as hell not going to just sit and wait for a response. Not with the idea of his boyfriend getting in trouble in the back of his head. He leaves the house with his PINpoint in his hand, limping slowly past the chicken coop (aww, rainbow tutus!) and into the backyard.

[magpiemythos]

Wow Cricket, he's not always up to something when he's quiet! He could be eating, or sleeping!

Once again the text gets no reply- not even a read receipt, though Cricket would notice why when he saw on the little bench around the side of the house where Loki had dumped his coat and apparently his phone along with it. Any panic that might brew over the uncharacteristic abandoning of his phone would likely be cut off at the pass as Cricket would hear his boyfriend in the back yard. And the godling singing wasn't terribly new, for all his usual preference was spirited show-tunes, though the sweet gentle tone he was singing with now was a little new as Cricket was getting close enough to hear better.

"-Sometimes it's hard to tell;
Yet I am longing to share the lot
Of beautiful Daisy Bell!"

In the little chain-link fenced in yard they'd set up for the Poke-pups to run, Loki was plopped down in the grass, with a pair of burly little calves nosing through the grass as they cautiously investigated around him, uncertain to be sure but seeming okay with their new location, even with the little flower crowns perched on both of their heads. Loki's focus was mostly on the smaller grey calf in his lap like she was trying to hide under his arms, a few uneasy little bleats of sound let out as he was gently rubbing one of her ears and continuing to sing in that soft soothing tone.

"Daisy, Daisy,
Give me your answer, do!
I'm half crazy,
All for the love of you-"

It seemed to be working at least. The little fluff seemed to be much less nervous, which just had the trickster grinning down at her.

"Oh, Cricket's going to adore you little fluffballs."

[alittlehinky]

Eating, or sleeping, or getting into scuffles with sorcerers and ghost dogs in the Nexus plaza. Maybe that incident made Cricket a teeny bit overprotective.

Oddly, the sight of Loki's coat abandoned worries him more than the phone. Cricket has strong associations with that coat. Loki left it for him to care for when he went home to face ego-death. And then he gave it to him over the winter storm to keep him warm and safe. He reaches out to press his fingers against the inside of the collar to see if it's still warm--

And then he hears the singing, and all is right with the world again. Smiling a little, he wanders toward the yard. He's already melting inwardly at the song and the voice singing it, even before he sees Loki seated amidst the grass and the baby animals.

...Geezus, they're even wearing flower crowns. He can't handle this much cute.

There's a small squeak, a cough, and if Loki looks up, Cricket is leaning with his elbows on the fence, one hand cupped over his mouth as if to stifle an impulse to laugh or cry or both. His eyes are sparkling.

[magpiemythos]

Okay the scuffle with Strange wasn't his fault!

Technically.

Alright Cricket was right to worry about his ridiculous godling.

The noise attracts his attention, green gaze skipping over to see Cricket at the fence-line, a soft startled little noise escaping him. The bolder calves wander over, heads lifting to snuffle in Cricket's direction. Did he bring snacks? The grey girl stayed where she was, but peeked curiously from under Loki's arm to watch.

"How am I supposed to surprise you if you're gonna snoop around and catch me in the act?" He played up a sad tone but the amused glimmer to his eyes belied that. "Honestly my Pretty Cricket, what am I going to do with you?"

He peered down at the little calf in his lap giving her ears a ruffle. "What do you think I should do with him? Clearly he's trouble."

If she had an opinion that little moo from her was it, not that she seemed overly bothered by Cricket discovering the surprise early.

[alittlehinky]

It's hard to tell whether he's going to tear up for a moment. He's certainly misty-eyed. After a moment, he manages to pull himself back together and heads for the gate. "If you'd checked your phone, you'd have known I was lookin' for you," he tells him, but there's zero reproach in his voice.

"I think you know exactly what to do with me." That's unquestionably innuendo, but ruined a little by the emotional crackle in his voice.

"Oh, no." He all but whispers, crouching stiffly to put his hands through the fence to pet the approaching calves. "Look at the two of you, just the fluffiest little--Loki, what're we gonna do with them?"

This is not a complaint, and he dissolves into giggles as one of them tries to nurse his fingers.

[magpiemythos]

Loki didn't mind the reply, especially with the innuendo earning a chuckle and a wink before he was watching with no small amount of amusement as Cricket was waylaid in his approach by the calves snuffling and lipping curiously at his offered fingers.

"Well, I figure names to start. And if you think they're fluffy now just wait- they'll all get even fluffier when they're grown!"

Curiosity was finally outweighing nervousness- the grey calf gingerly rolling to her feet and delicately picking her way over the grass to come see what the new person was all about.

[alittlehinky]

"We're keepin' 'em, right? All of 'em?" He scratches behind the nearest one's ears, then straightens and opens the gate a crack, easing carefully inside, checking that the grass is dry, then sinking to sit on the ground, legs out in front of him.

This, naturally, prompts the calves closest to him into investigating. At this rate it won't be long before they start snuffling at his hair.

"Where did you get them? I ain't never seen cows like this!" He takes stock of the grey one approaching, how shy she seems and how much smaller she is than the other two. "Aw...hey, sweetheart. Welcome home."

[magpiemythos]

"Indeed we are!" Loki chuckled, following the calves over to plunk near where Cricket had settled in, smiling as the boldest calf did exactly as expected, mouthing at a tuft of blond hair. "I was originally just going to get the little red girl, but she and her sister were so cute together I couldn't bear to separate them."

The sappy godling shrugged idly, watching as the grey girl was edging closer, heartened by the reception of the other calves by the newcomer as well as his kind tone.

"And then I saw this little girl and well I couldn't leave her either. They're Highland cattle. Common enough in Scotland, apparently very good if you want to try your hand at cheese. And terribly sweet-tempered."

[alittlehinky]

"Just 'cause I can make moonshine don't make me a chef," he laughs a little. "Although I reckon Forrest would know someone who could give me some pointers on making just about anything."

"And you ain't fooling me. You got 'em because they're cute." He gives Loki a fond look and reaches an arm around the red calf's back, petting between her shoulders. "I don't know what to name a calf, Pretty-Bird...maybe nothin' to do with food this time, though."

He holds out a hand to the grey baby, making a soft chirp and click similar to the noise he uses to call the chickens for food.

[magpiemythos]

"I bet between you and me, if Forrest finds a teacher, we could muddle through. And besides I didn't get them because they're cute," He sniffed, a playfully haughty gesture. "I got them because they're adorable, obviously."

And because it would make Cricket happy which clearly was mission accomplished which just pleased Loki to no end, watching the grey calf shyly shuffle closer at the urging to ever so cautiously bump her velvety muzzle against Cricket's fingertips.

Boop?

"Hmm I suppose I can agree to that. Maybe flowers?"

[alittlehinky]

Cricket worries his lip, clearly smitten by the adorable creatures surrounding him, Loki included. His hands are gentle where he pets the calf's muzzle, and he makes a couple soft murmuring noises--hey there, sweet thing, who's a good baby? yes you are. "Honestly, Loki, I was thinkin' about beehives, too. Fresh honey and maybe mead after a year or so. Is this what we're doin'? Gonna have a little farm together?"

He gives him a soft smile, warmth lighting up his eyes. They were technically halfway there already, between the chickens and the Pokemon.

"I think the little one's gotta be Daisy Bell. You were singin' to her, and don't deny it. I heard you."

[magpiemythos]

Loki found he liked watching Cricket. It was just a thing, the godling entirely enamored with him, especially at times like this, watching him sweetly coaxing the shy little calf to relax as he was petting and sweet-talking her which she seemed to be responding well to, batting her lashes as she lipped curiously at his fingers while the red calf was busily sampling the petunias off the brown one's crown.

A faint huff slipping from the godling at being called out, ears reddening as he smiled wryly.

"Well she was so nervous I had to do something to help her calm down. But Daisy Bell it is. As for the other two... Dahlia and Daffodil?"

[alittlehinky]

It's hard not to be happy when surrounded by soft, drowsy baby animals. Cricket is in his element. "They're gonna grow up fluffy? Shoot, we're gonna be brushing them a lot at that rate."

That sounds kind of nice, though. He's been toying with the idea of hiring, anyway. Less work at the still and the delivery wagon would mean more time for tending the animals and the garden...and more time he could be at Loki's side. His expression goes soft and dreamy.

"Dahlia and Daffodil," he agrees. "I like your singin' too, you know."