The very next day, Loki was enjoying the respite that he had been given from his lashings. They had not come for him the day before and he sincerely hoped they would not return today either. He knew he couldn't possibly have been freed of them, but why they even allowed him time to recuperate was beyond him. He tried to work it out; he didn't exactly have anything better to do anyway. "What was different the last time..?" he wondered aloud as he paced the cell. He stopped in his tracks as he realized. "Thor came and cut the cord keeping my mouth bound..." he murmured. A slight twinge of guilt came to his conscience for a moment as he remembered his harsh words, but he staunchly stifled the emotion. "Couldn't have been him," he spat, thinking aloud, "Perhaps mother..?"
His thoughts were interrupted by his guard friend. "Ah, hello, my good man," he greeted amicably, walking right up to the center of the glass wall, "And how are you on this fine day?" Loki had decided that he would toy with this man, first by talking his ear off. But the guard totally ignored him once again, simply going to the side of the glass wall to slide the bowl and cup through, just as he had for the past few weeks. Without having missed a beat, Loki continued, "Well, you know, I actually don't know; is it a fine day? How is the weather out there on the outside? I enjoy the cold, but then I suppose that's to be expected from my kind. But really, fine, cool, crisp air is truly the best, would you not say?" Finally, the guard threw him an irritated glance before heading down the hallway. A surge of triumph made Loki grin as he continued talking, "Oh, must you go? Are you sure you won't stay? I do so enjoy your company." The guard kept walking and Loki called, "Okay, farewell for now, I enjoyed our talk!"
