Disclaimer: I do not own Thor. I don't own any black capes, either.
Tartak shifted through the plastic hangers in his master's closet looking for the correct shade of black. The master had said to gather the Black Black cape, as opposed to the usual Blackish or occasional Off-Black ones. Tartak was aware he was considered A Lowly Mind, but really, couldn't the master be a little more specific? Or better yet, send that pretty Hagar girl to figure out his capes. Girls were supposed to be good at that stuff, right? Surly she knows the difference between Off-Black and Black Black.
Tartak sighed as he held up two capes and tried to decide which was blackest. Maybe if he had magic he could figure out which was darker. Or, maybe if he had Master's Uber Cool Power- Enhancing Amulet (Mucpea for short) he could gather whatever small amount of magic he had been allotted in life and figure out this stupid problem. Or, as long as he was really wishing, he could just drop the master, catch a camel ride to the ocean, swim to Italy, buy a villa, marry Hagar and live happily ever after.
He wasn't sure which was more far-fetched: Hagar marrying him, or picking the right cape. Tartak was starting to think he had a better chance swimming to Italy.
…...
The stairs were starting to get rather monotonous. Loki was beginning to think that if he ever owned an abandoned castle in which he plotted to steal innocent children, he would at least put some art on the stairwells so when said innocent children's fathers came to rescue them the dads had something pleasant to look at. Honestly, crime had no class these days.
…...
The idiot child is grinning again, Kuthah thought as he paced and practiced his cape swishing skills.
"You look awfully silly, sir." Sven happily intoned. "And your roots are showing."
Kuthah whirled to glare at the child, then straightened, smoothed his silk vest and black-dyed hair, and took a deep breath.
"I don't think you fully understand your position here dear: you are The Prisoner." He crossed the room to where Sven still sat on the couch and bent to look him in the eye. "Preeeeee-soooooon-eeeeer. Do you know what that means, little child?"
Sven smiled.
"It means my dad's gunna kill you."
…...
Acenath proved herself to be invaluable as she related to Loki the inner workings of the castle. Regardless, Loki was a little more than happy when they parted at the ground floor- Acenath heading to the kitchens and Loki continuing with Quadir up the steps.
"Me thinkssss the secretsss sssteps be easssts of heresss..."
Loki felt a twitch starting to take root in the corner of his eye as he pounded up more stairs. It seemed that as soon as he got rid of one ridiculous speaker, the other decided to pipe up. He would have a hard time explaining the new nervous tick to Darcy.
…...
A/N Thank you so much for all the kind reviews- you guys really keep me going! Alas to say, this story is coming to a close. I just recently worked through a bit of my writers block, and am happy to say that there are going to be 16 chapters. My Beta's a bit busy, though, so it may take sometime before they get up :)