"He started it," Loki said. "I just finished it. But I had to go with the motif, didn't I."

She hadn't snatched her hand away, she didn't look upset, and she was still playing with his hair. So he supposed that meant this... whatever it was... was alright with her. Again he moved his thumb lightly cross her knuckles, finding the tiny imperfections of the skin where they had split and later healed. It was fascinating, and... something else besides.

He licked his lips nervously, then cleared his throat for good measure. "A good knife shines just as brightly as some bauble," he said. His voice sounded odd to his own ears. "And is far more useful to have around as well. I'd certainly rather have a good knife with me in a fight than a handful of gems to throw at whatever wants to eat my head."