Darcy woke up the next day full of unpleasant thoughts.

She didn't consider herself a discriminant, excluding or not giving a second chance type.

She mostly didn't look at what awfulness people have done to someone before, if they truly regretted it and wanted to become better.

She even went as a volunteer to help people in prison, when she was on her first or second year of university.

But here it was a whole different situation.

Primo Loki didn't seem like someone who wanted to become a better person.

Secondo he and the Grandmaster together appeared to Darcy as a double volcano, which you are not sure when is going to explode, but you know it will.

And finally tercio, he reminded her about Ian's mother's injuries and what went with that, about her and her friends, which were probably worried sick by now.

What's more, it didn't look like she was coming back anytime soon.

That meant that for not a long time they'll decide she is dead and make her a funeral with an empty coffin.

Maybe at least she'll be on news?

Darcy chuckled on that thought and decided that she has to stick to the bright sides.

Van Gogh also wasn't famous until he died and if that was so maybe she also had a chance.

After all, what's a thing to die for right?

Or maybe more like 'die'.

This way or another what Darcy would be most willing to do was hiding somewhere and trying to find a way to run away.

Except that somewhere in the back of her head she knew perfectly well that once you become someone in Sakaar for the Grandmaster, you couldn't just disappear unless you were melted.

So despite all her thoughts every day she was waking up and going to meet with the ruler and - unlikely - mostly also Loki, which was even more intensive than she thought it could be, for the god got the room just next to her own apartment - probably same luxurious with big bed, private jacuzzi, few armchairs, big table, and personal equally exclusive bathroom.

And it was really bad, cause the god was malicious for her and she was ironic for him, so as one can imagine their relation wasn't going very well.

As for the Grandmaster he either looked like he loved their disputes or despised them - it was hard to say with this man.

Anyway, after the meal that the god cooked for them, the ruler wanted to spend time with both Darcy and Loki and rarely with only one of them - even though the god did everything to provide being in the same room as the mortal.

This day it was just the same. Darcy woke up, dressed as always, took her iPhone (which by the way had like twenty percent by now, which was seriously worrying her for there was no place she could charge it on Sakaar) and went to the game room.

Except that when she did arrive there, she was almost directly hit by chaos - or more precisely guards running on her - that prevalent inside.

And when she thought chaos, she meant it.

The people there were almost directly going crazy about something and she was almost sure she could sense a smell similar to the melting smell.

After the first wave of shock, she wanted to slowly move away and pretend she was sick or something, but just then she felt a strong grip on her hand and a moment later she was pulled by Topaz over the conner and found herself standing in front of the Grandmaster and Loki.

"Darcy Lewis!" The old man looked relieved. "How good you're here already!"

The mortal slowly blinked a few times observing him closely. She was still too surprised to read anything from his unclear expression, so she finally just nodded her head.

"What happened?" She asked with a bit nervous voice and showed the chaos going on around them.

The Grandmaster sighed heavily and rubbed his forehead. He was silent for a long moment and Darcy almost jumped when she heard him speaking again.

"It's gone!" He announced straightening up and looking at her with something surprisingly close to panic.

The Midgardian raised her eyebrows trying to figure out what does he mean. Finally, though she decided there were too many things that could possibly get lost in the tower and asked.

"What's gone?" She said slowly and clearly.

"My scepter! Someone stole it." The Grandmaster clenched his hands. He would probably look dangerous if it was possible while being dressed like him.

Darcy could hear Loki sighing on her right and she glanced at him

"The guards will surely find him." The god tried to cheer him up, though he evidently didn't believe in their abilities himself.

The Grandmaster looked at him not believing in their abilities either.

"They don't know what my gestures mean how do you think they'll find my scepter?" He asked with irritation.

Loki pursued his lips. He saw at least a few alternatives for this situation, but none of them seemed to be satisfying enough for him.

So before he got to figure out which one to propose, Darcy came on one herself (actually choosing the one Loki wanted to avoid the most) and said.

"How about I'll look for it?" She proposed looking at the Grandmaster with a weird spark in her eye.

Loki definitely wouldn't trust that gaze, but the Grandmaster wasn't him and obviously didn't notice anything odd.

"You?" he frowned looking at her. "Didn't you say you got lost out there, Darcy Lewis?"

Darcy shrugged.

"I'll deal." She assumed. "I mean for such a great purpose." She smiled at him with sympathy and slightly patted his shoulder.

The man stared her up and down probably wondering how high are her chances of coming back.

Finally, though, he sighed again and shook his head.

"I can't risk losing two things in one day." He cut her plead.

Darcy winced on the fact that the Grandmaster clearly saw her and his scepter as they were equal.

From the other side, in his case, it wasn't sure if it was an insult or a compliment.

Darcy wanted to argue with the ruler, but just then, Loki cut in.

"I'll willingly go instead." He announced glancing at Darcy with lofty expression.

She glared back at him.

The Grandmaster though didn't seem to notice this exchange of glances. He evidently was more focused on Loki's proposition.

"No." He said suddenly, making up his mind.

Loki looked at him surprised. He definitely didn't expect that answer.

"Why is that, Grandmaster?" He questioned.

Something in the old man's face told him he won't like the answer he'll receive, not even a little bit.

And when it came, he turned out to be very right.

"There's a way that will give you more chances to succeed." He decided. "You'll go together."