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[doeswhathewants]

[He's sitting on a cement retaining wall, legs dangling over the edge, a makeshift card table done out of milk crates and a box on the sidewalk below. The phone is propped up on something beside him, filming as Serrure flips through the deck of cards he was just conning people with.]

I don't know why people become so angry over losing. Spoiler alert- it is a trait you mortals share with gods and demons alike.

Or perhaps it is not the losing I do not understand, but the insistence upon returning to lose again after being so frustrated the first time.

Comments

[doeswhathewants]

You looked bigger when we first met. [Maybe being ground level takes away a bit of that mystique.] All right, all right, here's the game. [Loki holds up three cards, a King of Hearts, A Knave of Hearts and a Queen of Hearts.] Find the queen. [And flips the cards over, starting to shuffle them around. He's fast, but not undetectably fast.] The name of the game is find the queen, the queen of hearts, but the queen's a heartbreaker, she's as fickle as luck.

[He stops shuffling and looks at Miles' mask.] Now. Find the queen.

[spiderkid]

[ This should be easy, right, just follow the card as it moves around. Left, center, right, center, right, left, and...

Miles thinks he has it. ]

That one.

[doeswhathewants]

Are you sure? Well, then. [Loki flashes a smile and runs his finger over the back of the card slowly, there's an almost imperceptible flash of green and he's flipping the card over.] Told you she was a heart breaker. [Knave of hearts.]

[spiderkid]

[ What was that? A trick of the light? ]

No, but... I was sure it was there. You did something.

[doeswhathewants]

I won, that's what I did. [A Cheshire grin.]

[spiderkid]

You better not be playing me.

But fine. You win.

[doeswhathewants]

Would I do that?

[A half bow.] I accept your defeat.

[spiderkid]

I dunno. Would Loki 2.0, Loki the good guy cheat people at cards?

One favor. No questions asked. 'Cept I'm not doing anything like killing somebody for you.

[doeswhathewants]

According to your evidence, the answer is no. [Just the most angelic smile ever.]

I'd not ask you to do that.

[spiderkid]

Good. 'Cause I'm Spider-Man 2.0, definitely a good guy, who wouldn't cheat people at cards and definitely wouldn't kill anybody.

[ Uncle Aaron doesn't count. The police lady said it wasn't his fault. ]

[doeswhathewants]

It is only cheating if one gets caught, you know. [A flash of white teeth in a smile.]

But no, I'd not squander a favor on someone's death. It would be for a great purpose. Such as.... something great. I'm sure I'll think of a good thing when the time comes.

[spiderkid]

So you did cheat!?

[doeswhathewants]

I never said that. [Silvertongue.]

[spiderkid]

[ Grr. ]

Whatever, I already promised you my favor.

...Say, say you did cheat. How did you-- how would you have done it?

[doeswhathewants]

If I had cheated... well, I might have used- [Wiggles his fingers] magic.

[spiderkid]

Real magic? Sweet!

[doeswhathewants]

Metaphorically speaking, of course.

I am still learning.

[spiderkid]

Show me some?

[doeswhathewants]

Any locked doors you want opened? We could go to the Underground and raise a bit of mischief.

[spiderkid]

Dude, I stop mischief, not start it.

...but what's the Underground?

[doeswhathewants]

It's where all the bad people go and have shady dealings.

So. Mischief there is good.

[spiderkid]

Ok, I'll go, if just to keep an eye on you and stop you from starting up too much mischief.

[doeswhathewants]

Play your cards right and you might be invited to be a part of the Super Secret Spy Club. [Nevermind the name changes every time Serrure says it.]

[spiderkid]

Dude, your club needs a better name.

So who else is a member? Your girl Leah?

[doeswhathewants]

Yes. And others. Occasionally. We fight evil. And save the world.

It's a thing.