Gwen certainly hadn't anticipated bumping into Loki at the supermarket, but that wasn't all too strange. The supermarket they were visiting wasn't a regular one, but a shopping place designated by S.H.I.E.L.D., where only the purchases for daily necessities could be reimbursed. Gwen Spider-Man, whose economic situation was far from great, would naturally shop there.
What she found peculiar was that the princess of Asgard was also here. So, she gave Loki a sarcastically amused look, saying, "I thought you only appeared in places like Luxury Street."
"Make way," Loki bumped Gwen Spider-Man with her shopping cart. Gwen Spider-Man looked her up and down and said, "You look like a hungover drunk, your brain obviously isn't functioning, what's happened to you?"
"Why do you care?"
"Asgard is a big customer of the Spider App." Gwen Spider-Man redirected her cart and walked shoulder to shoulder with Loki, adding, "Your brother likes launching very simple yet highly generous tasks."
"You could just say he's an easy mark."
"I was just about to say that, but to avoid getting axed by him, it's better if you say it."
In truth, Gwen Spider-Man was merely trying to make small talk. She and Loki had only met once when Gwen was making a delivery to Asgard. They were not exactly well acquainted, merely nodding acquaintances.
Gwen Spider-Man just wanted to get rid of the memory of her conversation with George. She needed some distractions, so striking up a conversation with someone was a good choice.
Gwen Spider-Man was not very hopeful initially. She thought after a few words, she would get dismissed by the Asgardian princess. But it seemed Loki didn't mind Gwen Spider-Man chatting her up. It appeared Loki too wanted to take her mind off things, so they just chatted away about nothing in particular.
"Are you looking for some seasoning?"
"Barbecue sprinkle." It took Loki quite a while to find the seasoning she might need from the fully stocked shelves. After picking it up, instead of putting it right away into her shopping cart, she turned it over to check the ingredients list.
"Oh my god, seriously? You're one of those people who read labels while shopping?" Gwen feigned surprise.
"I believe the short lifespan of humans is largely due to their apathy towards what they're putting into their bodies." Loki responded sarcastically, "Generally, I'd say the stuff you add to your food would be enough to poison a god, yet you just somehow manage to eat it without a second thought. Any Asgardian who can do the same deserves a commendation."
Gwen Spider-Man leaned over to check the ingredients list and then, with a surprised look, turned to Loki, "Are you planning to have a barbecue at your place?"
"No, they are having a barbecue party on Long Island."
"Who are?"
After Loki gave a concise explanation, Gwen Spider-Man shrugged and said, "I'm pretty sure they wouldn't invite me. Because, according to them, I'm just a wet-behind-the-ears kid, and not even of this cosmos. But I really need a place to take my mind off things. Would you mind if I tagged along?"
Only then did Loki snap back from her daydream. She stood before the shopping cart, gave Gwen Spider-Man a detailed once-over, and said, "You seem to have this 'why the hell isn't this damn world destroyed yet?' look on your face. I don't think it's a good idea to bring you to those who are trying to save the world."
Loki pushed her cart forward and Gwen Spider-Man followed suit, chiming in, "I bet you have no idea what snacks to buy."
Loki turned her head sideways to glance at her, asking unsurely, "Buy snacks? What for?"
"Come on, no snacks at a barbecue party? Are you kidding me? What about the drinks? Didn't you ask them about their preferences? What if someone doesn't like sweet drinks? How about the dice and the wheel? Have you bought those?"
Gwen Spider-Man, acting as if she owned the place, started rummaging through Loki's shopping cart only to find that besides meat, seasonings, and fire-starting tools, there was nothing else.
"Oh god, surely you don't think a barbecue party is just about the barbecue?"
"What's wrong with that?"
"This isn't Asgard, your highness. Remember, humans don't throw parties because they're hungry or because they have to eat together. Partying and making merry is the main theme of any gathering. You can't just buy food!"
Looking a bit embarrassed, Loki scratched her nose and said, "Well, I never attended a party on Earth."
Gwen Spider-Man took a couple of exaggerated steps back, looked Loki up and down the same way Loki had done to her before, and said, "No way! You'd be the queen of the most dazzling parties in New York! Boys would break their skulls to win you over!"
"Enough of that," Loki frowned in annoyance and pushed her cart forward again.
"What's wrong?" A bit confused, Gwen Spider-Man trailed after her, "I'm complimenting you on your beauty and charm. Why are you reacting as if I'm making insincere comments?"
Loki, as if being hit where it hurt, came to a stop. She slapped a hand on her shopping cart's handle, turned around to look at Gwen Spider-Man, and asked, "Do you feel happy being affirmed by those people?"
"Don't you enjoy being affirmed?" Gwen Spider-Man asked perplexedly, "If they pursue you, it means you're loved, very charming. Even if they just want to sleep with you, it still indicates that you're attractive and lovely."
"What about intelligence? Integrity?"
"Please," Gwen Spider-Man wave her hand in front of her face, "what does that have to do with boys? In the lab or at school, I strive for those affirmations, and I get more of them than my male and female classmates. Isn't that enough proof of my smarts and character?"
Standing there, Loki let out a sigh, "But when I was a man who could only display my intellect and integrity, not a single Asgardian affirmed me. When I transitioned into a woman, quite many registered for my dating program."
"Why would they change like that?" Loki asked as if questioning herself, then she answered, "Because a female body has sexual and reproductive value, they thought that was all I had."
She stood there in silence for a while, then dropped her hands and said, "Perhaps that's what Odin and Frigga thought too. That's why they were overjoyed to have a daughter again. Another valuable marriage, another valuable heir would be born."
Gwen Spider-Man walked up silently. Loki raised her eyes to look out of the supermarket window to the twilight outside. She wasn't able to perceive the distant life under the brilliant sunset, but she could almost see a silhouette on the crest of the contrasting clouds.
"How did you manage to be a princess in Asgard for all those years?" There was confusion in Loki's voice. After a moment of silence, she added, "And how did you manage to be more than just a princess?"