Loki loved Dionsysus parties. Everything was well over the top extravagant – the music, the dancing, the wine, the ambrosia, the food – golden apples everywhere. It was fantastic. Perfect. So, why, then was she starting to feel just a little fed up and perhaps even lonely?

Loki was far too proud to want to admit weakness, and to in her mind feeling lonely was a weakness, but as she looked around the disco and realised that all of her friends had deserted her, if she could count them as friends, she could not ignore the strange gnawing feeling in the pit of the stomach. Maybe she was hungry.

Thor, she knew, was busy skulking around, looking mopey as he waited for Hercules to arrive. Arthur had gotten bored of sitting on her shoulders and dashed off somewhere. Hulk and Korg were doing the conga on their own. Heimdall was no where to be seen. As was Valkryie. And as for Sigyn...Loki had no idea where she could be, but it was probably not anywhere on the planet. Parties really didn't seem to be Sigyn's thing, she was far too shy and timid. She found herself wishing that Sigyn was around.

Eventually she spied Hildegund sitting on a golden chair at a golden table, also alone, also looking a little lonely, and made her way over to her. She had never initiated small talk with Hildegung before but she was going to now. Hopefully Hildegung wouldn't be dreary.

'Enjoying the party?' Loki asked, sitting next to her.

Hildegung looked surprised to see her. 'I would if my husband was here. He was my soul mate, you know. Oh, well, the children are having fun.'

Oh. So she was going to be dreary.

'Volstagg used to make fun of me.'

Loki didn't know why she said it. Perhaps to make herself feel better about Volstagg's passing. Not that she had ever liked the warrior, but she had known him.

'Yes, well, he made fun of everyone. I miss him.'

Loki looked at her hands. 'Hildegund, that day we were supposed to have a picnic I smashed most of your dinner plates -'

'They weren't mine personally.'

'Well, the ship's then. I understand that it's made your kitchen duties more difficult to carry out.'

'And Opla's.'

'And Opla's,' Loki nodded unhappily, not so much from guilt but because admitting to having done wrong was always embarrassing.

'We've been using card and old book covers. Whatever we can find. Not that you'd notice.'

'No,' Loki agreed. She tried to smile. 'The thing is no one told me stop. Sigyn may have said something, but I can't remember. Sometimes I just feel an overwhelming compulsion to break things. Or to put things out of place. Or to disorganise. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I am very sorry and I will make it up to you.'

Hildegund looked at her sharply. 'How?'

'Well, there are lots of gold plates around here...'

'Oh, no, no stealing, please!'

Loki raised her hands up. 'Fine. I won't make it up to you.'

'You could babysit the child-'

'No.'

'Or offer to cook -'

'Hildegung, please! Either I apologise to you on my own terms or not at all.'

'Fine. Do nothing.'

They sat in stony silence. Their table was an island caught in the sea of the happy revealers. They may as well as have sat on opposite sides of the room for all their lack of communication and connection.

Hildegung felt Loki lean against her to wrap her arms around her neck.

'W-what are you doing?'

'I'm embracing you.'

'Why?'

Loki thought about it. 'I don't know,' she said, slowly. 'I think it's the alcohol.'

AN: If you're still reading this fic, thanks! I find writing difficult, every word has to be dragged out. Writing does not come naturally.

Anyway, I wanted to write this scene for a while. I wanted something that was a little similar to Thor 1, in which Thor gives the cafe owner a new white mug after he smashed one.