It was later that day that Loki found himself alone with Eric. It was not intended but it had happened that Thor had been telling a story Loki had heard before so he had taken the chance to escape and get some air to cool his head.

Eric had had the same idea and had almost bumped into Loki on his way back from the bathroom. The two had tried to go around each other three times but had bumped into each other every time and were now feeling more awkward than ever.

Loki stepped to the side and moved to let Eric past but the man did not move. Instead he fixed Loki with a calculating look and crossed his arms.

"Can I be of service to you?" Loki asked, feeling slightly confused as to what he wanted.

Eric shook his head. "I just wonder at what could have pushed such a seemingly intelligent man to the point of trying to take over the world." He frowned slightly. "Much more, what made you think you could do it?"

Loki sighed quietly. "I was blinded by guilt, self-hate and overpowering ambition for control. If I could not be loved, I would try to control that which I thought lower than me. I was wrong to be guided in such a direction and those I met did nothing but stir my hatred of myself."

Eric frowned slightly. "I have never heard of a God hating himself before. It seems unnatural." He stepped back to observe Loki clearer. "Or feeling guilt."

Loki sighed. "I had almost destroyed something I should not have, it was not wise of me nor am I proud of the deed." He turned and walked towards the window, standing with his legs slightly apart and his hands behind his back. "I would not have done so if certain things had been revealed earlier or if they had remained secret. But that was not the case and so guilt and despair drove me to the hands of my," he turned to look at Eric. "/Saviours/." He finished in a mocking tone, disliking the term for those that had stopped his fall through the abyss.

He remembered all too clearly the crushing cold of space, the feeling that there was nothing there to stop the free-fall and that there was no end until death came to claim his soul to take before Valhalla to be judged. He had felt lost, without grounds or purpose. Those that had rescued him had changed that.

They plucked him from the reaches of space and had taken him in, giving him care and attention beyond what he had expected, every day telling him he was better, born to rule, and that he could be so much more than king. He could be overlord forever.

"Capture Earth they said. It will be easy, they said," Loki sighed. "I admit, I also thought it would be easy. Your kind knows neither of magic nor of the endless supply of it that filters through the universe, available to any that might find ways to bend the power to their wills."

Eric nodded. "We rely on our machines to work miracles for us. Our machines and our chemical labs, they are all that stands between us and the primitive place earth used to be."

Loki nodded. "I have read up on earth histories and events that took place throughout it but I knew not what all of them were. Thus it was that I spent many long afternoons researching some of this modern language that seemed so alien to me, though I am the one new to this planet."

Eric chuckled. "English, I can read but not the fiddly little text notes. They just make so little sense to me."

Loki smirked slightly. "Eric. Goodman Eric, They confuse me more than I care to say. I only just discovered the workings of what your world calls, a mobile phone, before I was called away again and captured. It leads me to wonder what my brother might think of them. I'm most certain that they would confuse him."

Eric chuckled. "I still remember him throwing a cup on the floor and demanding another. I'll admit," he coughed. "That I did as such while drunk. I rather think he carried me back for I have no memories of walking there."

Loki nodded. "I have seen him do the same to Volstagg before, which is no easy feat as usually he is just as drunk as the man he is carrying. It is quite something to watch them stumble through the halls, singing and falling over themselves."

Eric grinned. "I have no doubts that it is indeed. I don't wish to see that in any such form though it sounds quite funny."

Loki nodded and smiled slightly. "I have no doubts, that should you ever visit Asgard, you will become as intoxicated as them." He smiled slightly. "It's more or less tradition to drink yourself into the ground when you have visitors, a tradition Thor takes great advantage of."

Eric crossed his arms. "I'm not sure Jane would like that so much. She's never been one for drink or those who get drunk."

Loki shrugged. "Thor can hold his drink well, he should be ok. More than that, he loves Jane dearly and I would not be surprised if he would cut down for her." He wrinkled his nose slightly. "I more or less end up at the end of one joke of or other after he's had a few and I would not mind cutting that away."

Eric looked at him in a slightly new light. "You've always been kind of, well, under Thor in some respects haven't you."

Loki nodded. "I remember a shadow, always drowned out by Thor's glory. It is a place I have come to accept now. I will always be the younger and lesser Prince."

Eric turned. "Younger, is not always lesser," he said firmly before walking back to the sitting room where the others were sitting and laughing, leaving Loki standing by the window in silent thought.