"You aren't seriously considering this absurd notion, are you?" Loki asked, raised brow, arms crossed, and a pose like he didn't care one way or the other. It was the best stance when dealing with something he was extremely opinionated about, "I've already chosen a bride."
Odin was standing with his back to him as he gazed out his window, looking over the bustling cityscape. The bearded man hadn't said a word since Loki had entered the room. This was odd since Odin had been the one to request the meeting in the first place.
"And you know very well that if I'm forced to go through with this it won't be much of a contest," Loki continued when Odin remained silent, "There is no way I could choose Muspelheim or Svartalfheim. Krylor is too weak. We both know Maisy will lose. That leaves Alfheim. It isn't a competition, it will only show our enemies where our loyalties lie."
"Unless another realm sends word wishing to compete. Vanaheim, Jotunheim, and Nidavellir have said nothing so far. And there are many solar systems that may have interest."
"Nidavellir?" Loki laughed, "You think the dwarfs would care? The only ones who will be truly put out by a refusal are the people of Muspelheim - more specifically the king. Since when does the mighty Allfather bow to the whims of Surtur?"
"Though it took him some time it would seem Thor learned my advice. You never learn, do you?" Odin turned around and stared Loki down. Loki didn't let his face show his pain at hearing his father say that.
"And what advice," He swallowed and broke the stare, carelessly poking at some trinkets on Odin's desk, "Is that?"
"A wise king never seeks out war."
"You are the one who told me I was born to be a king. No one ever said I would be wise," Loki sneered.
"I know that you can be wise if you wish to be," Odin gripped the back of a chair and Loki noticed that one of his hands still wore a black glove, "But not all of us have the luxury to choose to be foolish."
If he still wore the glove then he must have sent out one of his ravens recently. The black birds often spied for Odin or ran errands. On occasion they even delivered the letters that he wrote.
"What did you do?" Loki's fists clenched and he took a threatening step toward his adoptive father, forgetting the guards that watched him from by the door.
"When the contest ends the Midgardian will have her wish. I will annul your marriage."
"You cannot do that!" Loki took another step and he heard the guards shift, "You cannot just leave her to die to appease Muspelheim!"
"She will not die," Odin declared, "Should she place well in Taka af Brúðr then you may choose her and it will be as if nothing changed. If she does poorly then this mockery of wedlock will end she will go to Surtur as he requested. She will not be pleased, but she will not be dead."
"You were not the one to officiate our marriage," Loki smirked, thinking to have found a loophole, "You cannot undo it and Thor will not."
"Thor will do what is best for Asgard as he has been taught to do since birth," Odin narrowed his good eye, "As you were taught."
Loki clenched his fists so tightly that he could feel his fingernails cutting into his palms, but he did nothing more than give a stiff bow, spin on his heel, and leave. He could not argue against what was good for his kingdom, even if he did not sit on the throne.
