When Loki entered the Grandmaster's tower or - more specifically - flew in there he saw tens of different models of spaceships.
Some of them were new even for him.
He started to suspect that they were made only for the Grandmaster, which wouldn't be too surprising looking on impression the old man made on Loki until now.
One of them was the model on which he flew inside and it was one of the most impractical models he has ever seen.
Not that he was too traditional himself, but it was just painfully non sensible to do something like that.
"So, my asgardian Loki." Said the Grandmaster walking out of the ship and standing next to him. "How do you like my collection? The rest of those gewgaws are on other levels."
Loki stifled sneer. The man seemed to be strongly obsessed.
"Truly unparalleled." He judged. "Made on your wish?"
"Yes, mostly." Answered the Grandmaster proudly.
He is almost same obsessed with ships, as Thor is… well, I suppose now was on his hammer - thought Loki smiling to himself.
The Grandmaster looked on him closely and frowned. Then he sighed heavily.
"Now, you're already another person who needs new clothes." He commented probably suggesting water that kept streaming from Loki's clothing every time he moved.
The god couldn't say he wouldn't agree, but looking on the Grandmaster's outfit he didn't think he wanted to convict himself on his mercy.
"I don't think this will be necessary." He said and focused on new clothes he'd like to see on himself - green suit with short armor ending at his waist, extra protectors on his arms and dark, green, space pants. Than he raised his head looking at the Grandmaster to see his reaction and in one moment charmed out himself new clothes.
The old man raised his eyebrows and even opened his mouth.
"Oh, wow, now you're great." He said delighted. "What else can you do with those sparks changing one's outfit?"
Loki frowned. He heard a lot of definitions of his illusions but that one was completely new for him.
The god cleared his throat.
"I'll let myself mention that these was more than just sparks changing one's outfit. I would rather to call it..." But Loki didn't get to end his sentence.
"Oh, you want to say tricks?" The Grandmaster laughed truly amazed. "Show me more, Tricky Loki." He ordered.
Loki sneered. The Grandmaster started to call him Tricky Loki once he heard he is the god of mischief.
He had no idea how he had mistaken those two things, but he did.
Also, Loki was starting to feel the more uncomfortable the more he was talking with that man. He kept making things really awkward, but he wasn't even that wrong - after all his illusions were tricks at some point.
In fact he could as well use the situation and relax a bit. Whatever Hela was doing now, he could do nothing to stop her anyway, so why shouldn't he chill out a bit?
"I would be honored to do so, but my abilities don't work too well, when I'm tired and famished." Lied Loki with ease. "It would be a blessing to nourish and take a rest."
He didn't have to wait too long for reaction.
"Of course, that's actually not bad idea!" rejoiced the Grandmaster. "I was going to feast today anyway… also there's someone I'd like you to meet, so why don't we start now?"
The room the feast was going to take place turned out to be a huge, half glazed hall with a long table next to the wall, few couches, armchairs and a lot of place in the middle.
There were already a lot of people there, mostly standing in the corners or sitting somewhere and talking loudly to each other.
On one side of the chamber there was some music machine and on the other were tables with food.
Loki felt a rumble in his stomach.
Who would think one can be so hungry just after a few minutes of swimming and falling twice during one day?
He definitely went out of shape, while pretending to be Odin.
"I hope you will find something you will relish, Tricky Loki." commented the Grandmaster who didn't step aside from the god since he met him. "I can't wait till your power will nourish and you show me some more of those super powers of yours." He laughed.
"All of those meals look very tempting." Loki answered changing the subject very indelicately as for him and went to the table to take himself something to eat. He took one of the plates laying there and choose - just in case - one of the dishes he already knew from Asgard.
"That's one of my favourite dishes." admitted the Grandmaster. He either really liked it or tried to make Asgardian impressed by his taste. After all he was talking to a sparking person.
Loki sighed. He slowly started to have enough of the man-who-seemed-to-be-a-ruler-here. Of course he knew it was hard to resist him, but commenting every single thing he was doing was becoming more and more irritating.
"I know it from Asgard." Said Loki looking around for somewhere to sit. "They served there almost as exclusive meals as they seem to be in here."
The Grandmaster visibly swaggered.
That's too easy - thought Loki glancing at him discreetly.
Finally the god spotted an empty couch and an armchair next to it. Seemed like as good place to sit as any. He slowly started to walk in this direction.
The Grandmaster went after him and took a place in front of the god.
Most of the time Loki was eating the Grandmaster was talking about something the god was listening only at some part - he was too focused on looking around and judging his situation - but he was answering and commenting from time to time.
The conversation could probably last even longer, but after more or less half an hour some woman with long, brown hair, dressed in yellow shirt, long, silver skirt and purple mantle with gold edges came to them and smiled matey to the Grandmaster.
Loki squinted his eyes.
He could swear he already saw her somewhere, but something was now different about her.
"I was looking for you, Grandy." She said smiling even wider than before. She took a weird device out of hers mantle pocket and showed it meaningly to the Grandmaster.
The old man probably didn't see that, but it didn't escape Loki's notice that something about her expression was visibly fake.
The Grandmaster made a strange grimase, which expressed halfly a strong desire to do whatever you are supposed to do with the thing this woman showed him and halfly wish for continuing the conversation with the god.
"We have a new one, Darcy." He said finally choosing the conversation and pointing proudly at Loki, who raised an eyebrow.
Only now the woman called Darcy - it said Loki nothing at all, but he remembered faces better than names - noticed the Asgardian sitting next to her.
She frowned and just sat there for few seconds looking at the god of mischief until she finally said with a shocked voice.
"Dear Lord, Loki? Thor's brother? I thought you're dead."
And only then Loki finally remembered. He saw her while driving the huge metal robot against Thor.
Now he understood what was wrong about her - last time he saw her she was dressed like a typical Midgardian and - if he remembered well - she had glasses.
"I thought I killed you." He said with a ironic smile. When Darcy frowned, not understanding what he meant he added. "Back in New York."
Darcy opened her mouth in shock and still not understanding what the heck happened, said involuntarily.
"Erik would be terrified if he saw you. And Ian would attempt a murder."
Loki laughed. His posture and head raised high clearly said he is proud of himself.
"You're probably not wrong." He smiled charmingly. Darcy looked at him distrustfully.
"How can you be so calm about this?" The Midgardian glanced at the god with disbelief. "You almost killed Ian's mother and… I don't know… possesed Erik!"
"This way or another." The Grandmaster cut in. "I'm surprised you two know each other."
"In fact we don't." Stated Darcy.
"That was a rather unnice accident." Said Loki at the same time as the mortal.
They both looked at each other irritated.
The god started to wonder what was that mortal doing on Sakaar. He thought they didn't have spaceships on Midgard. Or at least not good enough to get with them farer away than their moon.
He also got worried about one thing - he didn't like the friendly tone Darcy was talking with the Grandmaster and the way the ruler was answering.
That's truth that Loki didn't consider her as danger. He also didn't get to know yet, how the elite system work in there. But it was obvious for him that the Grandmaster hold a power in there.
And the god didn't like having competition.
That's why he said.
"In fact I think I'm ready for a few tricks now."
Darcy looked at him even more irritated than before.
"Just great! The best moment." Said the Grandmaster forgetting about everything else that was happening. "See Darcy, you came just in time to know a few tricks of Tricky Loki."
"Oh, about that." Loki cut in. Maybe now he could finally tell this man that he is not called Tricky Loki "I think you overheard the god of mischief for Tricky Loki."
Maybe that was a bit indelicate, but The Grandmaster didn't seem to catch most of things happening around him.
And he didn't even seem to care.
"So, what are you waiting for?" Wanted to know the old man. Loki frowned impatiently. He hated when people ignored him this demonstratively.
The god sighed and said looking at Darcy challenging.
"Well, I don't think I like having audience."
The mortal clenched her fists and glared at Loki.
"I assure you it will be like I wasn't even there. Mischief." She said trying to keep calm, but still killing Loki with her look.
The god didn't even blink, though he heard her last word perfectly well and wasn't happy at all from it.
"I think I won't be able to ignore that." He pushed. "And then it might fail."
Now he evidently crossed the line.
"Stop your theater "Tricky Loki". I saw what you did in New York." Said Darcy a bit too quietly and dangerously. Loki was almost scared. "Back then you didn't seem to complain about too big au…" Continued Midgardian, but she didn't get to end, cause the Grandmaster suddenly interrupted her.
"Darcy Lewis it's awful to affront the new ones. If he says he will show his amazing tricks only to me…" The Grandmaster stopped to look meaningfuly on Loki, though that wasn't exactly what the god said. "Then don't impose your presence to him."
Darcy swallowed and glared dangerously on Loki. The god just smiled triumphantly and shrugged.
"Come on, trickster, I can't wait to see your sparks." Announced the Grandmaster standing up and both of them started to walk out of the room.
Before they left Loki turned around the last time to see Darcy's reaction. She looked at least confused.
He had to admit his victory in this round satisfied him. But he also had to admit yet another thing.
He wasn't sure he wanted to stay with the Grandmaster by himself.