Open Stripper!Loki post (human AU)

[you_have_heart]

[The club is dark and the pulsing strobe lights are sure to overwhelm any who come in from the dark of the outside. There is a main stage where a lithe man twists and turns around a metallic pole, moving with the beat of the music. Surrounding the stage are patrons, some watching silently in rapt attention, other being more vocal in their appreciation of the dancer.

Should you approach the stage you will come up just as Loki sinks down to accept tips tucked into his strangely still-present thong.

Should you wait, Loki comes out into the club about 20 minutes after a platform takes him below the stage. He starts smoozing the crowd.

Comments

[you_have_heart]

"Nonsense. He promised me an extra hundred everytime I made you blush." Loki winks at Steve and scoots closer.

"So, what are you doing sitting back here all by yourself?"

[starspangledspandex]

"Of course he did," Steve mutters, scowling in the direction of the billionaire. He's so dead. Tony is going to wish he'd never talked him into this.

That's not the stripper's fault though and he is trying to be polite.

"Just don't like this sort of place too much."

[you_have_heart]

"Well, I can help you acclimate." In one fluid movement Loki manages to somehow move into position to straddle Steve's lap, fitting perfectly into the space between Steve and the table.

"Help me with my tie?" he asks as he slips off his jacket and lays it on the table behind him.

[starspangledspandex]

He stiffens when he finds himself with a lap full of stripper and he gives Loki an uncertain look. Steve really doesn't know about this. The jacket coming off isn't too bad but the words paired with it make him shake his head.

No blush, yet, but he's tempted to just offer him an exorbitant amount of money to leave him alone. Tony is grinning across the club and he shoots the man a death glare.

"I'm good, thanks," he mutters, pointedly looking away from him.

[you_have_heart]

What's made Loki so successful here is his ability to read people, to be able to tell what the patron wants. He thought that once he started engaging Steve the man may loosen up a bit, but no such luck. Not even that blush he'd been counting on.

So he sits back, relaxing against the table. He stays on Steve's lap but acts as if the other is simply a seat.

"You didn't want to come here tonight, did you?"

[starspangledspandex]

There is still plenty of time to wring blushes out of him. He's just not convinced that this is something he's even remotely interested in. It's a little... well, vulgar is the best word he can think.

Steve sighs as he turns his gaze back on the man in his lap. "No, I didn't but someone thought it'd be a good team bonding exercise."

Mostly it's just irritating him but again, not the stripper's fault. "Sorry, it's not you. You're very..." Steve glances down sheepishly, "handsome."

[you_have_heart]

He raises an eyebrow.

"Team bonding is only useful if it's something everyone enjoys. You seem to be having the opposite of a good time."

He smiles, not smirks. He knows the other is doing it because he feels bad but for some reason he honestly thinks Steve means it. "Thank you, but you don't have to compliment me out of sympathy. I know how good I look."

"Would you like a drink?"

[starspangledspandex]

"I was outvoted," he mutters and naturally Tony had started in once he'd refused to go. "And they talked me into coming. I didn't expect them to go this far."

He shakes his head, "It's not sympathy." He's just trying not to offend him or insult him.

Steve debates at the question before nodding--he can compromise see? "Sure, I'll have a drink. Something that isn't beer."

[you_have_heart]

"As far as to buy you a lapdance?" Loki smirks and orders them both a jack and coke. Even when the drinks come he stays on Steve's lap. The man doesn't seem to mind this much.

"So what was your vote for team bonding?"

[starspangledspandex]

"Yeah," he mutters, taking the drink when it's brought over with a quiet 'thank you' to the waiter. It doesn't really bother him to have the man in his lap but he's not sure he wants him to do much more than sit.

"I suggested Paint Ball." Or laser tag. Or some variation. Something not a strip club. His suggestions had been legitimate team bonding exercises.

[you_have_heart]

"While I do enjoy your group's patronage here," read money "I do think that would have served your ends better." Strip clubs only worked when everyone was on board with the idea.

[starspangledspandex]

"I thought so too," Steve tells him, taking a small sip from his drink. "But I was outvoted, so here I am."

He looks super happy about it too. No offense, Loki.

[you_have_heart]

None taken. He's actually rather intrigued that Steve hasn't reacted in a more typical way to him. Even the most reluctant at first would normally loosen up once they had a lap full of Loki.

"At least you got a somewhat engaging conversation out of the deal."

[starspangledspandex]

It is hard to ignore a lap full of Loki, Steve will agree to that much, but he tries to be as proper as possible. Seeing people as nothing more than crass entertainment really isn't his style.

Steve smiles and makes an amused sound, then nods, "Yeah, there is that." He hesitates then adds, "And a nice view besides."

[you_have_heart]

Loki gives a devilish grin.

"Flattery will get you everywhere, Steven. Especially when coupled with those lovely eyes."

[starspangledspandex]

Well, Loki has something else to grin about now because Steve is blushing and ducking his head at the compliment. It's a natural reaction to a compliment right?

"Thanks."

[you_have_heart]

Yep, that gets another grin from Loki. Wider this time.

"Is that all it took? A compliment? Well, I wish I had thought of that sooner. There's so much to work with. You're dimples, that smile, those arms..."

[starspangledspandex]

Sheepishly, he makes an amused sound and shakes his head. Now he's gone and handed Loki his weakness. Steve is lucky that he's not the one forking out a hundred per blush. Tony is going to be sorry that he'd made that arrangement.

"I don't need compliments," he murmurs. He's good, okay. "I'm surprised Tony didn't tell you anything."

[you_have_heart]

And Loki couldn't be happier.

"Everyone needs compliments. And where would the fun be if he told me how to get to you?" He polishes off his class and sets it gently on the table behind him.

"I actually enjoy working here. Things like this present me with a challenge. It's even better when the challenge is so humble."

[starspangledspandex]

Steve really isn't surprised that it makes Loki happy. Tony is paying him a considerable amount for this.

"I guess," he murmurs with a shake of his head as he raises his glass to take another drink. "But I'm just sitting here. You're the one doing all the work."

Well, at least Loki is having fun. Steve would really hate this if the other man hadn't been. "I'm glad you think so. I don't mean to be so difficult; I'm just... a bit of a romantic, I guess."

[you_have_heart]

"There is nothing wrong with that view." He hops off Steve's lap and collects his jacket from the table.

"If you want to keep talking I get off at 11. We could go grab a coffee."

[starspangledspandex]

He leans back in the seat, raising an eyebrow in surprise--that's it? He's surprised he hadn't tried to milk him for more blushes.

"You're the only person here that seems to think so," he tells him with a small scoff. The offer surprises him and he blinks at Loki, considering it for a moment. He's handsome, definitely. His mouth opens and closes for a moment, "Yeah, okay. Let's get coffee."

[you_have_heart]

He's quite happy with what he's earned. Besides his next set is soon.

"I'll meet you in front of the club as soon as I get out. If any of the others give you a hard time about leaving early, just tell them you have a date." With a wink he prances back over to Stark, collects a few hundred dollar bills, and disapears backstage once more.

[starspangledspandex]

"Okay, I'll meet you there," he agrees with a nod and he shoots Tony a dirty look as Loki goes to collect his payment. It's strange that he's getting a date out of this.

Is it weird to go on a date with a stripper? Probably. If he says he has a date, Tony is going to be all over figuring out who so that's not a thing that's happening. He can leave whenever he wants without an explanation. Hopefully Tony would just write it off as Steve being done with shenanigans.

[you_have_heart]

Loki dances his next set with his usual enthusiasm, making sure to make eye contact with Steve in the back of the room a few times.

He leaves the club around 11:15, most of the glitter and make up have been scrubbed off his face, though in the right light glitter can still be seen in random places. Instead of the suit he had Loki stays by the entrance, looking around for Steve.