The passing of time was uniquely different and strange in the dungeons of Asgard. The heat and darkness generated in this deep place worked together to swallow both light and hope; even the flames of the guard's fire seemed dim and cheerless. Loki was uncertain if it had been only days, a week, or more since his sentencing. The thick walls of the prison had been constructed by mining deep into rock in order to ensure its security and didn't have the small luxury of windows. Unable to view Asgard's stars, the only way he could track the flow of time was through the changing of the Einherjar between shifts and the occasional meal he was granted when the guards were feeling brave enough to remove his mask and loosen his chains. However, one by one, the brave Einherjar of Asgard were unnerved enough to relinquish their posts in defiance of their orders, intimidated either by Loki and the rumors of his misdeeds, or by the suffocating darkness of the dungeon itself. Shift changes were often and irregular; meals were scarce.

Sleep came often for Loki, but it usually happened in short spells that brought little rest. His dreams were violent and chaotic, something that was especially disconcerting for one who could often control what happened in his own subconscious. His arms constantly ached, as they were always chained tightly against his chest. He hadn't been allowed to stretch his limbs since the night Sif had, in a moment of kindness, healed his back without shackling him afterward.

Loki had always been patient when it came to the fruition of his own plans, but his discomfort was affecting him deeply. He had already begun to lose muscle tone in his sedentary state; he could tell by the contractions of the muscles in his arms that he had grown weaker. He felt constantly ill, and his mind was beginning to play tricks on him, possibly from the lack of quality sleep or his environment. He started hallucinating lightly, feeling as though he was being watched when he wasn't, or thinking he saw something moving in his cell. This was the one problem he knew how to resolve. He just needed a project - something to keep his mind focused and busy.

The sound of heavy footsteps shook him from near-sleep. At first, he assumed it signaled a shift change, and perhaps the opportunity for a meal. However, as the individual drew closer, he recognized the weight and timing of his heavy footfalls. His guess was correct, confirmed by the rich, loud voice that was suddenly at his cell door demanding to be let in.

He groaned lightly and lifted his head up, blinking the haze from his eyes as Thor's form came into view. "I was wondering when you would come. It's been so long since I've had a visitor."

Thor chortled wryly. "A joke? Even in your condition?" Loki's face betrayed a brief moment of confusion. Thor wasn't sure if his expression was part of an act, but he explained. "It's been less than a week since you were sentenced. Don't tell me you've weakened to the prison so soon."

"Less than..."

The astonishment on his face was sincere, but Thor proceeded cautiously around the trickster. He took a torch off the wall and held it up near Loki's face. He squinted and recoiled slightly in reaction to the sudden brightness of the firelight. Thor frowned deeply; his brother's skin was nearly white and he looked thinner than he had only a short time ago. The dark circles under his eyes attested to his lack of sleep, but Thor surmised he was also not getting enough food or water.

"Your sentence has already begun taking its toll on you," Thor said with a sigh. "Father built this place as a last resort for his own people. It is said that it embodies both the suffocating heat of Muspelheim and the hopeless darkness of Niflheim, and was created this way in order to engender repentance. It was Odin's hope that the people of Asgard would fear this place, and trade any atonement in order to escape its walls. Those who have been sent here in the past often begged for death before their sentences were over."

"And you've come to persuade me to repent so you will release me..." Loki concluded.

"Absolutely not," Thor said firmly. "I doubt you will ever show any real remorse for what you've done, and if you did, I do not believe Father would ever again grant you freedom within Asgard."

Loki nodded subtly. Thor was finally beginning to understand his nature. "Then why are you here? Have you come to say goodbye? Am I to be left to rot in this vault as a forgotten remnant of your childhood?"

"In some ways, I regret not having ordered your death. If you had died, I could mourn you and move on. As it stands, I am caught between enjoying my own life and remembering what I have done to my brother."

Loki sneered. "Oh, don't concern yourself with me, Brother. Whatever warm memories are driving your compassion for me will fade with time. Besides, this place seems to foster a part of me I have been holding back. I rather enjoy it, actually, though I could do without this infernal mask."

"I may have had trouble seeing through your falsities in the past, but I am not stupid," Thor stated. Loki looked as though he was about to offer a clever retort, but had not the energy to see it to completion. "You are not well. I can see it, even in the dim light of this cell. I only want to make things easier for you. Cooperate with me and I will make you more comfortable."

"And how would you do that?"

Thor scratched his chin. Loki scoffed, recognizing the telltale signs that Thor had, once again, failed to think before he acted and was unprepared. "I could convince Father to continue your sentence elsewhere."

Loki didn't like alluding to the fact that the offer seemed appealing, but he hardly had the energy to argue or negotiate, and this was after less than a week in this deep place. "What would be my part? You said it yourself, my redemption is unlikely and the damage I have done is beyond repair."

"Odin would not believe you if you tried to convince him you had atoned. However, he may be persuaded of your desire to cooperate if it resulted in your personal gain. Share your information; tell us about the ally who supplied you with an army and what his future plans may be."

Loki smiled crookedly. "Ah - you've been talking to Sif," he said. He quietly laughed; he had given her too much credit. She was much more predictable than he had assumed when it came to her loyalty to Odin and Thor.

"Yes, I have. She believed you may have been simply trying to incite fear, but I know you better than that."

With a humph, Loki asked, "Do you?"

"You would never go out on a venture such as this one without a contingency plan. You're a planner; you were always bothered by my spontaneity. It's what makes us so different from one another."

"Oh, we are different in many ways, Thor," he said with a dry chuckle.

Thor sighed. "That has never stood between us before, not in any way that really mattered - until now." He kneeled in front of Loki so he could look at him on his level. "You know I have nothing to gain from this except the continued safety of Asgard and her people - but it would benefit me and the others who still care for you to see you taken from this place. Let me help you."

"I would take your offer a little more seriously if I could relieve myself without having to ask permission. These chains are hardly necessary considering my location."

Thor stood again and took a deep breath, considering Loki's suggestion carefully. "You are a powerful magician, and lately, you have begun dabbling in magics far more dangerous than your typical illusions. The chains and mask are in place to prevent you from being able to use your power. I cannot remove it without some kind of assurance..."

Loki cut him off. "Then we have no agreement."

"That isn't a reasonable demand," Thor argued. "I have the safety of the Einherjar who guard you and the entire population of Asgard to consider. What if I allowed the healers to cure the pain on your back? It must still be..."

Loki scoffed. "You mean your pet Sif didn't tell you?" It was Thor's turn to be confused. "She healed me herself, only an hour or two after they brought me down here. I'm surprised she would conceal it; she said she was doing it for your benefit."

This news was disconcerting to Thor; it showed on his face, but he did not remark on it again. "Then I have nothing more to offer until you decide to talk. Alert the guard if you change your mind."

Thor turned to the door to leave, but Loki began speaking again. "It must have felt good to make your first kingly decree. When the Allfather asked you to judge me on his behalf, did it make you feel - powerful?" Without waiting for a response, he continued. "Do you honestly expect me to believe you would renege on such an important decision just to help me?"

The Odinson opened his mouth to argue, but closed it again, choosing instead to respond differently to Loki's accusation. "You are right about one thing, Loki: we are very different from each other. You're so consumed by your selfish ambition that you cannot comprehend why we would grant you such mercy after so much wrong. Keep playing the role of the victim. If that is what you want, then you can remain here."

Thor held no delusions that he would be able to reach a reasonable agreement with Loki. However, he was unwilling to concede to the notion he had lost him forever. He would try again to convince him to speak and remind him of the chance he still had to return to his former life, but he was concerned another visit at this time would only seal his lips tighter; his next effort would have to wait a few weeks. If mere days had such an impact on him, then perhaps a month or so would inspire his cooperation.

In the interim, Thor set an appointment to speak with the captain of the Einherjar regarding Loki's state. Asgard's valiant guards were of the best blood in Yggdrasil, and they were regularly put through extensive physical and mental training regimens to ensure they were as strong and as sharp as they had to be to defeat any invading enemies. In spite of their exceptional training, several of the most resilient and brave-hearted Einherjar had found themselves losing their courage and strength of will while on duty. Some of them had described feeling as though someone had kicked the back of their knees unexpectedly; the sensation was abrupt and intense, and it left them feeling ashamed and baffled to the point that they would abandon their assigned stations - one of the greatest offenses an Einherjar could commit. As a result, their prisoner was neglected to the point of cruelty.

The dungeon had specifically been designed to drain hope from even the strongest of hearts. This wasn't aided by the fact that Loki could be a difficult and intimidating prisoner. Thor reasoned these factors, in addition to the length of time most of the Einherjar had been removed from war and real challenge, had weakened their resilience. Guarding a prisoner such as Loki in the Asgardian prison would be best left to the supervision of those who were recently war-hardened, or at least those whom he knew would not falter to unfounded fears after a short stay within its depths.

He summoned several of the strongest warriors he knew. Sif and the Three had proven

themselves many times and knew Loki well enough to see through his verbal devices. Two brothers named Folkvar and Garik had also been requested. Although Folkvar had occasionally trained with Thor and the others as a child, the brothers would be unfamiliar with Loki's games. However, they were well spoken of within the ranks, and each brought a measure of skill beyond that of any other in Asgard. Finally, Thor called the captain of the Einherjar himself, chosen as a measure of accountability for his failure to ensure his guards' resolve and dedication.

He explained the matter to the ones he had gathered, emphasizing the fact that, although he was troubled for his brother's welfare, the guards' neglect was also a concern that could result in Asgard's vulnerability. It had become more apparent with time that Loki had a coconspirator. It was imperative that someone with resilience was there in the event his benefactor attempted to contact him, or in case Loki decided to show his cards.

"And how long would this duty last?" asked a displeased Folkvar after Thor had finished his explanation.

"That is uncertain," Thor answered honestly. "My brother will not break easily, and it would not surprise me if his allies abandoned him here after his failure on Midgard."

The six that Thor had summoned sat around a circular table in one of the smaller corners of the palace. The rubber soles of Thor's boots squeaked quietly as he paced behind their chairs, the sound emphasized by the silence as each considered the prince's argument. Volstagg looked uneasily towards Fandral and Hogan while Thor's back was turned. They all seemed to have similar reservations, but their loyalty stopped them from voicing this outright.

"There are only six of us; that's a tight schedule and a long time for each to spend in that dreadful place," Volstagg stated. "We have sturdy hearts and minds, but Asgard's prison was designed to bring even the strongest to his knees."

Thor nodded. "I understand, but what I'm asking for is not a large commitment. Only a few moments each day would be sufficient. Make sure he has no primary needs and try and convince him to talk; that is all that is necessary."

"What if this is all just one of his tricks?" Fandral asked. "We could waste a very long time chasing shadows and false information. He is a crafty spinner of lies."

"I am not willing to gamble on the chance he's bluffing," Thor said firmly. "I have seen what Loki's army is capable of, and that was only our first contact. If there is a surviving leader, he will make a better effort next time."

"I have a child coming very soon," Garik spoke. "This would not be a good time for me to spend many hours away from home."

"We could arrange for your wife to stay in the palace while you're here. She will be well taken care of in exchange for your service."

"Compensation matters not to me. I can't tolerate babysitting him," Hogan said.

Thor sighed deeply through his nose, disappointed that none of them seemed willing to meet his request, though he understood the position was beneath them. "Would you consider it a personal favor, then? At least for a month or so?"

The group remained silent, but looked increasingly uncomfortable. Guard duty was not exactly in their vocational plans, but they were intensely loyal to Thor. The dissonance between their sense of duty and friendship, and their distaste for Loki and Asgard's dungeon was evident on their faces.

"This is a misappropriation of resources," the captain stated argumentatively. "What does Odin have to say about this?"

Thor remained stoic, despite his temper flaring underneath the surface. "Odin has - distanced himself from everything regarding Loki's imprisonment," he explained. "I am the authority in the matter."

The captain bowed his head in symbolic submissiveness, but he continued. "I'm only trying to say that six of our strongest warriors can be better utilized elsewhere if we are to improve our defenses against..."

"I'll do it," Sif interrupted. "I don't trust Loki - and I would sleep better if I knew he was under the watch of capable eyes."

"The Einherjar are capable. They aren't to blame if the prison does what it was designed to do by overwhelming them with fear and despair," the captain stated.

"If they were truly as well-trained as I have heard, we wouldn't be here," Fandral argued. "Perhaps your perspective is skewed by your own complacency. We haven't been at war in a long time. Some of us may have grown soft in this peaceful era."

The captain abruptly stood from his chair. "I had fought my share of battles while you were still a..!"

Thor did not allow the argument to continue. "Enough!" he shouted, his roar echoing off the walls and throughout the large room. The captain sat back down out of respect, crossing his arms defensively in front of him. "I cannot force anyone to do this, for me or Asgard. If this is your wish, I will find someone more willing, or I will do it myself."

Fandral spoke hesitantly. "No - I will help Sif with her duties."

"As will I," Hogan said.

After some hesitation, Folkvar also agreed.

Thor sighed in relief and looked towards Volstagg. He rolled his eyes. "Well, I don't suppose anyone would let me live it down if I didn't help."

Thor chuckled. "Thank you, Friend."

"Very well. I will also assist you, though I'm not certain what an archer can accomplish in a confined space that a palace guard cannot," Garik spoke.

"An ally of mine once told me the best archers often see better from a distance than up close. Although they are limited by their quivers, they are effective at protecting the blind spots of the rest of the party from their distance."

Garik raised an eyebrow in confusion. "With all due respect, My Lord, I think you may be mixing metaphor with reality."

Thor put a hand on his shoulder. "You are the only one who has not had previous dealings with my brother. Your unique perspective may help us catch things our bias would cause us to miss."

"Thor is correct," said Sif. "I doubt I will ever believe another word that comes from Loki's poison tongue, even though the best liars will often build their deception upon a foundation of truth. Perhaps you will be able to discern between fact and fiction due to your objectivity."

Garik took a moment to consider what they had to say and then nodded. "From what I've heard about Loki, I don't hold much hope for your victory in this game, but I admire your effort. I hope I am able to live up to your expectations."

"Excellent," Thor said, relieved. "The captain will tell you what you will need to know, including how to remove his mask. Decide on a schedule soon, for every day that passes, his health deteriorates and his lips seal tighter."

The group silently agreed and rose to leave. As they walked out of the room, Volstagg turned to Fandral, "We're supposed to take off his mask?"

"He has to eat at some point. I thought you of all people would understand," Fandral replied with a chuckle.

"Yes, but - he is a master of magic with shape-shifting abilities. What if uses that moment to cast a spell and escape? Or what if he changes into a poisonous snake and bites us just to watch us suffer?"

Fandral stopped in his tracks and looked at Volstagg as though his old companion had lost his mind. With a hearty laugh at his expense, he slapped the other man on the back, "It's best if you don't believe every rumor you hear, Friend. Loki is still an Asgardian - there is a limit to even his power without the help of powerful allies and devices."

Thor flinched lightly as he heard Fandral's words. He had debated on whether or not to tell them, but he didn't wish to worsen their thirst for Loki's blood. Sif, who had lingered behind the rest of the group, did not miss the change in Thor's expression. She catalogued the observation in her memory for a later date, feeling this was not the best time to discuss these matters. Thor, however, had a different perception.

"Would you remain behind for just a few moments, Sif?"

She nodded, sitting back down in her seat. "Is something wrong?"

"Not necessarily," Thor answered.

Sif looked at him curiously, attempting to read the face she knew so well. "This is about your brother," she inferred, realizing that if Thor had recently visited Loki, he'd probably noticed he was faring well despite the beating he had incurred just a few days before.

"You healed him."

"I did."

Thor verbally stumbled, not expecting her direct admission. "Why?" he asked in astonishment as he sat down next to her. "Why would you undo his punishment? If I were stronger, I would order him to endure it again."

"I know the council and your advisors will be pressing you to distance yourself from him - and I would agree. Your coronation draws nearer and Asgard has acquired new enemies and allies that beg for your attention. Loki should not be your chief concern right now. I did what I did in hopes of quieting him, but I also know of the pressure you place on yourself for having shouldered such a decision. At the time, I believed I would be doing you a favor..."

"Forgive me Sif, but I don't understand. If you were doing it to help me, why didn't you tell me?"

"Some people would consider what I did an act of treason. I thought it would be best if I didn't involve you. But I..." she sighed, finding her next words difficult to say. "I was also ashamed. I felt pity towards him - and towards you; I didn't want it known I had acted out of sentiment."

Thor smiled softly and leaned back in his chair. "You have always been concerned with appearing weak, but you are one of the strongest people I know; stronger than I, in many ways," he said. "I am glad you have been so willing to lend me your aid with this situation. I will rest much easier knowing he is under the watch of someone who exhibits such a marriage of grace and strength."

Sif stood and stepped closer to him. "That I can take some of this burden from you is a great relief to me, Thor. I would do more, if you should ask it of me," she said with a smile. His eyes shone in understanding and adoration for her. She had already committed treason for him once, ignoring the decree of the temporary King Loki and breaking the laws of Asgard by traveling to Earth without consent. "I do not want you to think you have borne this onus alone."

Sif raised her hand and placed it on his cheek as she moved nearer. Thor's smile slightly faded and his posture stiffened. She hadn't touched him like that in a long time. He stood and gently took her hand from his face, holding it in his for a moment. "You have always been a good and loyal friend to me, Sif."

Her eyes fell to the ground and her smile dimmed. "Thank you," she said simply in reply. She pulled her hand away and left abruptly. His heart ached to see her eyes lose the light they had due to his gentle rejection, but he made no move to follow and console her.

In the dungeons of Asgard, Loki busied himself by testing the limits of his abilities, despite his powers being bound by the various measures taken against him. The mask he wore prevented him from being able to focus his energy through his words; the enchantments on his cell made it difficult to expand his energy beyond his own body. However, Asgard's magicians had underestimated his strength and talent in the art of mind-based magic and Loki had located a weakness in their defenses.

At first, this weak point wasn't fragile enough for him to work with; he had been able to "whisper" in the ear of an already paranoid guard, making him think he saw something moving in the deep shadows. With a little work, he was able to make another sentry believe his food had grown mould by using an illusion. None of that was of any real use to him, aside from the occasional moment of entertainment as various Einherjar would lose their resilience and leave their posts early.

As time went by, he continued to press on the point and it grew bigger, like a crack in the icy surface of a lake. Its growth was exponential, but it expanded slowly; he knew his success would require patience. It could serve him well if he paced himself, assuming the palace magicians did not recognize their tactical gap first. Luckily, patience was one of his strongest virtues, and in time, he knew he would be able to use skills of a more pragmatic fashion.

Being able to access the conscious minds of one of the guards in order to gain control was his main objective. A full possession would not only ameliorate his current circumstances, it would also help him make things easier for his allies and a recently-acquired skill would allow him to do so without needing any additional tools. Before he could succeed, however, he would need to work through the barriers that prevented him from moving forward.

Loki leaned back against the wall of his cell. This would be his second attempt that day. Normally, he was quite exhausted after just one try, but the guards had allowed him to eat earlier and he was feeling stronger than he had in some time. He dropped his chin to his chest and closed his eyes, willing a part of his energy to travel out towards one of the sentries guarding his door.

His breathing slowed to almost nothing as he drew closer. He could almost see the matrices of the guard's conscious and subconscious thought. However, just as he believed he was making progress, he was suddenly met with stubborn resistance. Loki's intrusion into his mind had tripped an alarm of some sort, alerting the Einherjar that something wasn't quite right. In Loki's experience, this often resulted in a sensation similar to what one feels when they're being watched. He was suddenly faced with an impenetrable wall of defense as the guard tried to fathom from where the sudden, eerie feeling he just experienced had come.

Realizing that he was far from succeeding in this attempt, Loki opened his eyes and terminated his efforts. The sentry shifted uneasily in his position and began pulling at the stiff collar on his robes.

"Are you alright?" the other guard asked, noticing his partner's discomfort.

His intended target looked back towards Loki, seemingly suspicious that he had something to do with this, even though the guard believed this was impossible. "Yes, I am - suddenly not feeling well," he answered. "I think I will go get some air for a moment or two."

The other man nodded in acknowledgment and looked apprehensively back at their prisoner. With his head slightly bowed, Loki's smile was concealed by darkness. This was a stronger and longer connection that what he had previously accomplished; he was slowly regaining access to his powers. Although his progress was evident, he realized he would have to find the right mind at the right time in order to succeed to the level he needed. A mind at rest, in their cycle of dreaming, was much easier to invade and control. Not every mind would work, either. Someone who was susceptible to his lies and schemes, or someone who would allow him to get under their skin would work best.

It was odd and a bit ironic that the people he bothered the most would also be the most welcoming to the presence of his consciousness in their own mind. He believed this had something to do with how accustomed they were to dealing with him as a stressor in their waking life. A person who was not used to his ways would sense his intrusion into their subconscious. Only a person who often thought of him in a negative light would ignore his presence. Of course, the ideal candidate would also have to be someone with some authority, but not someone so high ranking that they would be carefully watched or attract suspicion if they were caught acting out of the ordinary.

Loki reviewed a list of potential candidates. This took hours, and in that time, the other sentry did not return. He was pleased with this result, as it satisfied his mischievous spirit. As a magician, however, he considered it a failed test. He had tripped too many alarms on his way into the other man's mind. His next approach would have to be much more subtle.

The heavy door to the prison opened with a groan. At first, Loki assumed the missing guard had found coverage for his position, but the footfalls were too energetic and forceful to be just another Einherjar. Loki's assessment was accurate entirely. He looked up to see the face of Fandral, complete with this immature smile and his ridiculous mustache.

"What do you want?" Loki asked. Although Volstagg's habits annoyed him more, Fandral was the comrade of Thor's he liked the least. This was probably due to the fact that Fandral was almost his polar opposite in personality. Of course, this also could have been due to his obsessive need to chase after women - usually the scraps that had been rejected or disappointed by Thor.

"Is that any way to treat your old friend - and your attendant?" Fandral asked. Loki furrowed his brow in confusion. "Thor wanted us to look after to you, to make sure you were fed and kept healthy. What do you say to that?" Fandral asked with a cocky flair.

Loki's brow flattened in utter annoyance. "Tell my brother that I am not in need of a caretaker."

Fandral chuckled. "Really? You look a bit squalid. I would think you'd welcome the change."

Loki scoffed, but found himself almost welcoming the idea of help and did not argue. His stomach regularly ached with hunger, but his constant attempt to infiltrate the minds of the guards did not do much to improve their level of attention to his needs. "They couldn't have at least sent me the grim, silent one?"

"Who? Hogan? Oh, he'll have his turn, as will Volstagg, Sif, and a few others who were loyal enough to Thor to accept this wretched duty," he said. His voice was ever-chipper as he sat down to tend the dying fire. "We've arranged a schedule of sorts. You should feel relieved and honored."

Loki did not reply. When Fandral's voice dimmed from the echoing hallways of the dungeon, he hoped that would be the last he would hear from him, as his glorified guard duty didn't exactly require a lot of communication or redundant speech. Unfortunately for Loki, Fandral was feeling antagonistic that evening. The warrior grabbed a torch and stuck it into the fire. For a moment, the dark prison lit up with a warm light, before the shadows swallowed the flame and obscured its glow. Fandral opened the cell door and leaned against the wall opposite of Loki's bench, shining the light directly on his face. At that particular time, Loki's arms were chained tightly to his chest; his legs bound underneath the bench. His movements were limited to leaning forward and back against the wall behind him. He had no escape from whatever Fandral had planned and he had no concept of his motivations behind volunteering for the position.

"Well," Fandral started. "I know what you've been up to lately. Perhaps I should update you on my recent achievements."

Loki groaned and leaned his head against the back wall of the cell. Fandral's mustache twitched in self-gratification as he crossed his arms and took an audible breath. "Let's see, there was the redhead from the highlands, the brunette from the lowlands, the two blondes from… well, I don't know where they were from, but there were two of them, the light brunette from the outskirts, the councilman's daughter …"

Loki tried everything to tune out his voice. Fandral's mind was too cluttered with women and wine to be as vulnerable as needed for his normal trick to work. Getting through his thick skull would be as successful as trying to dig through marble with a sewing needle. Loki also tried meditating and counting the bricks on the wall. However, nothing could abate the sound of Fandral's voice and his regale in his conquests.

If Thor wanted me in Hel, he should have just killed me, Loki thought.

"…and I suppose that's it…" Fandral finished, finally growing silent. Loki breathed a sigh of relief. "…for the summer. Do you have any questions – anything you would like to say? Or shall I go back to spring?"

Loki quickly searched his mind for anything - a verbal weapon that could counter the other man's attacks, or that would distract him too much to continue.

"Spring was a particularly busy season…"

"I do – have a question," Loki started, desperate to stop the onslaught of the second round.

"Well, this ought to be good," Fandral said sardonically.

"All of these women – you pride yourself on scoring them as trophies, but they are paltry, little

things. Why not chase after someone a little more – substantial? Someone who may help your rank and standing?"

Fandral could tell by his narrowing eyes that he had decided to play a part in this game. Going against his better judgment, he indulged Loki's question, despite the fact that he hadn't intended on steering the conversation in this direction. "And who would that be?"

"Lady Sif; why is it you never pursued her?" The question was one that had planted itself in his mind a long time ago, though he was not necessarily interested in obtaining the answer in this way or at that very moment. His words had spilled out of his mouth in a moment of desperation, during one of very few instances when his tongue was not well-prepared for conversation.

"Excuse me?" Fandral asked. The question had obviously caught him off guard, but his posture and his unfailing smile indicated that he was not entirely as bothered by the inquiry as Loki had hoped he would be.

"Sif – you seem well-suited and friendly. Why haven't you expressed interest? Certainly, she must be attractive enough for you…" His eyes narrowed further in curiosity as Fandral took a moment to calculate his response.

With a light chuckle, he answered, "When we were younger, I considered embarking on that perilous journey. That thought was abruptly ended when she became promised to Thor."

Loki leaned forward and furrowed his brow intensely. "You speak as though that archaic arrangement still stands."

"As far as I am aware, it does."

He chuckled wryly, "Even though Thor has bedded a mortal?"

"I don't believe that has happened, judging by the way he speaks of her. This is not some off-world fling."

"Yes, you'd be an expert on those, wouldn't you?"

Fandral's cocky smile returned. "At any rate, if it is of Sif's choosing to wait for Thor, she has not long. Human lives are short; perhaps she is willing to remain in waiting until the inevitable."

"I see," said Loki. There was a confidence in his voice that made Fandral uneasy. "So Sif is willing to play the part of the understudy until the main act gets too old for Thor's taste."

Like the sudden feeling of an icy blade against the nape of the neck, Fandral's blood ran cold. Loki enjoyed psychological warfare - and he'd just handed him a brand new weapon to place in his arsenal against both Thor and Sif. He straightened his posture and stepped closer to Loki, looking down from a heightened view.

"On Jotunheim I was ran through with blades of ice. When one of the frost giants descended upon me for the kill, you held him off with your daggers until Volstagg was able to come to my aid. Consider my following advice repayment for your deed." He crossed his arms and leaned down to Loki's level. "If you value your life - the head upon your neck - you will not play your little games with Thor and Sif's relationship. If you try, I don't doubt that Sif will take your life from you, but if she is merciful, I will not be far behind."

Loki's face remained perfectly stoic, as he was not a man who threatened easily. "Those are harsh words," he started in a low voice, mimicking Fandral's earlier tone, "coming from a man who amuses himself with women as a cat would play with its dead prey. Don't act so righteous; we both enjoy our little games."

Fandral smirked and stood up straight again. "Yes, I would have difficulty defending myself from your accusations after our recent conversation, but I am not the monster you are, Loki. Do not mistake our qualities as similar in any manner."

The warrior was far too stubborn for Loki's tastes; he would not provide the same kind of "fun" that his other guards had. However, at least for the moment, Fandral's desire for conversation had been sated, and the silence was satisfying enough. In fact, Fandral had seemed to learn his lesson about over-sharing. Although he remained in the prison until the guards changed shifts, he didn't utter another word.

Another day produced yet another visitor and Loki's determination to exact revenge on Thor increased; Volstagg and his protruding belly were on shift. His heartiness had always confused Loki, but never more so than it did that day. He acted as though nothing was out of the ordinary, and his conversation did not contain any bitterness or sarcasm as Fandral's had. He seemed as though he was content not to exacerbate Loki's position. Despite this, Loki was irritated. The man ate constantly, explaining that it "helped his mood." Noxious smells and rude noises followed, and Loki was powerless to do anything but sit there and seethe.

One measure of kindness Volstagg had extended that Fandral hadn't was to offer him a meal - not the typical prison fare, but an actual meal of bread, wine, and fresh meat. For this, Loki had almost considered him a tolerable guest, until it came time to actually remove his mask and loosen his bounds. The portly warrior released his chains so he could move his arms, but the slack he left was far from generous and made it difficult for him. Volstagg also removed his mask, but in his distrust, he increased his guard. Loki ate his meal with the tip of Volstagg's ax pointed at his throat. He dared not sneeze or wipe his mouth, lest the man run him through accidentally. Overall, these were not Loki's preferred circumstances, but although he had always been rather abstemious with food and wine, he was quickly growing tired of chronic hunger and thirst.

After the joys of the first two days, Loki could hardly wait to see what the next would bring. Part of him was almost surprised when he awoke from his restless sleep to find her brown eyes staring back at him from beyond his cell door. He smiled wryly.

"Are you going to be watching me so closely all day?" he asked with a groan as he attempted to stretch his cramped position.

She sighed through her nose and answered in a smart tone, "If I have to."

"... always so suspicious of me," he said in a low voice she could barely hear. "This is going to make things awkward between us when I have to use the facilities."

"I'll deal with that if it becomes a problem."

"I suppose privacy has become a rare luxury." He sardonically chortled.

She shot him a withering look, "You surrendered such privileges when you betrayed your people."

"My - people..." he said slowly in a voice so quiet, slow, and bitter that each syllable seemed to drip with venom.

Her frown deepened as she remembered what Odin had called him on the day of his sentencing: Laufeyson. She was curious enough regarding the use of the Jotun king's name to ask him, but as the question came to her lips, she pushed it back. He enjoyed lying to her, and she was far too cynical to believe his answer, even if it was the truth.

Instead of pursuing a conversation, she went to sit by the guard's fire. However, there were no Einherjar in the room and the environment was dreadfully silent; he felt free to attempt to satisfy his curiosity and was confident that he would get her to answer.

"Since you seem content to linger down here and do nothing of any importance, maybe you can use your time to explain something." She looked up from the fire. In the warm glow, he could read the distrust and suspicion on her face. "What sin did you commit against Thor, Odin, or Asgard to warrant your service down here?"

She was not in the mood to play. "That's not your concern," she answered shortly.

"Oh? Now I'm very curious."

She prodded the fire and added a log. The heat may have only added to the stifling environment of the prison, but the light was welcome in its darkness. "We volunteered." Her voice was stoic; she was unwilling to grant him the gratification of her annoyance.

"And what would you do that for?"

"Thor asked us to," she said impatiently.

"Right," he said incredulously, "so you can care for his poor, suffering, little brother."

"...so you can be carefully watched."

Loki smirked dryly. "I suppose some cautious cynicism is warranted," he started, "but I wish he'd chosen a less - abrasive group. I'd just assume starve on the occasional scraps from the Einherjar."

Sif was already beginning to grow weary of his talkative mood. She had nothing to discuss with him, and unless he chose to yield information about the Chitauri, nothing he said was of any value to her. Plus, it was exhausting to evaluate the truthfulness and motivation behind every word that came from his mouth. "His intention was not to make you comfortable," she said curtly, "and I know your attendants could not care less if you found them annoying."

"Obviously," he said. "The fat one would not stop piling food down his gullet - and he eats very loudly."

Sif replied firmly, "you know his name."

"He seemed to think food would save him from the despair of this dungeon, but honestly, the only variance from the norm was that I was forced to watch it for several hours," he said in disgust. "And then there was the playboy, who insisted on recounting to me the details of his recent sexual escapades. I'm not certain if he did this to bother me, or if he assumed I would see it as a sign of strength."

"Fandral has always been one to brag. Perhaps you should use your talkative mood to say something of value and rob him of the opportunity."

Loki chortled quietly. "Ah yes - I imagine Thor's plans involved me spilling my secrets to my old friends after they'd shown me great mercy."

Sif scoffed. "You love the sound of your own voice, so why not allow it to do some good for once?"

With a contemptuous look, he replied, "There will be a cold day in Muspelheim before I loose my tongue to any of Thor's pets."

Sif rolled her eyes at Loki's disrespect, but she did not respond to it. She wasn't surprised that that Loki would have anticipated and assessed Thor's intention with sending her and the Three down to guard him. "You were right; Thor wanted us to watch you for pity and because he was hoping you would talk - but what you see as suspicion and cynicism is actually love. He wants to forgive you." As she spoke, she pulled out her sword from its sheath and began examining it by the light of the fire for knicks and dents. "Do you really believe he's as heartless as you? Even after all that he's done to save your life?"

Loki did not reply, but Sif was uncertain if his silence meant he was beginning to understand, or if he just did not want to listen. For the moment, the dungeon grew silent again except for the occasional crack of wood in the fireplace. The smell of oil filled the air as she began polishing her blade. He actually found it pleasant, considering the stench that had been filling his senses for days, but he did not admit it.

"Speaking of Fandral..." Loki started casually. She was familiar enough with him to know that this was only an effort to change the topic, but she didn't expect him to broach the subject he would next. "I was trying to quench my curiosity and ask him why he had not pursued you along with the countless of other women he has had. Apparently, he believes that you are still promised to Thor. Of course, this was a surprise to me, since I've witnessed his strong attachment to Earth and a mortal firsthand. Perhaps you can clarify..."

"What has happened or will happen between Thor and I is no concern of yours," she answered sharply.

"Isn't it?" he asked coyly. "The future queen of Asgard and the mother to Thor's successor is of no concern to one of its chief enemies?"

Sif narrowed her eyes. "No," she answered simply and firmly, hoping he would end his questions.

"My apologies," he said. His inflection and tone reeked of insincerity. "I did not realize the topic was still of a sensitive nature to you. You seemed so complacent and accepting of his feelings for the human; I assumed you had moved on."

She stood and turned her back to him, crossing her arms defensively in front of her. "I don't care what decisions he makes for his own life - as long as they are for the good of Asgard and its people. I trust his leadership."

"Oh really?" Loki raised an eyebrow. His heavy chains rattled as he turned as much as he could in his position to look at her more directly. "He sacrificed himself against the Destroyer Armor, even though he'd known those people for merely a week or so. Through his death, he was content to abandon Asgard into my hands, despite his discovery of my deception."

"His sacrifice did not equal abandonment," she argued passionately. "He charged the Three and I with taking Asgard back. We would have..."

"And if you would have bested me, Laufey would have successfully assassinated Odin," he interrupted, "leaving Asgard with no king worthy of its throne. Perhaps I'm ignorant, but I fail to see how in his carelessness, he was acting 'for the good of Asgard.' He willingly traded the throne and all of his responsibilities for the life of one - mortal - woman."

Sif scoffed and tried to argue. "He was doing what he thought was best at the time."

"...what was best for Earth and what was best for her," he added.

She opened her mouth, but no words would come to her lips. She had admired Thor's works on Earth, even more so when they resulted in permanent changes to his life when he returned. It was difficult, however, for her to ignore the small part of her that happened to agree with Loki's current point: Thor had given up hope that his banishment would end, and had abandoned Asgard in attempt to save a small Midgardian settlement. Her own injured pride and envy toward the mortal woman who monopolized his affections, and her love and friendship for Thor had interfered with her ability to discern this. She could not hide her dismay as she came to this realization.

Loki's smile grew. In the firelight, she could just make out the line of his smirk and his examining stare. Her face hardened, her lips set in a deep frown, and her own focus on him did not waiver. "We are done with this discussion."

They seemed to be challenging each other as their intense stares met. He dropped his eyes first. "As you wish, Lady Sif."

Neither of them said much to each other once their chat regarding Thor was finished. In fact, Loki's silence had only convinced Sif that she had lost a kind of battle. She was ashamed that she had allowed herself to be so easily swayed by his argument, but it didn't change her new perception of the events on Earth, or the betrayal she suddenly felt.

Loki was surprised that the eternally loyal Sif had been so effortlessly influenced. What he'd said to her was no deception, but it did serve to muddle the image of Thor's integrity, and he had always assumed that anything of this nature would be automatically rejected by the person who was the most faithful to Thor in all of Yggdrasil; it was an interesting development.

Loki's thoughts diverged on a tangent as they sat in stoic silence. He hadn't thought of Sif as a good candidate for his experiment into the subconscious minds of others. She was too stubborn, too set in her ways, and her battle instincts were too keen. He would never get through, and if he did, she would most likely detect him. But he wondered if these weren't qualities that would actually make her vulnerable. Her devotion to Thor made her predictable, and her intense desire to be strong ironically created its own insecurities and weaknesses. If he could sneak past the guard of her subconscious, he could use these elements to his advantage.

Their familiarity with each other might also serve to benefit him. Loki may not have been one of her close friends, but he'd spent a long time watching her. He knew many of her idiosyncrasies, her habits, and many of these the thought processes she used when she was attempting to solve a problem. He would be much better equipped to avoid the alarms her mind would have in place. He also knew her personality, weaknesses, and strengths. This would only give him more ammunition with which to work. The fact that she was somewhat used to his presence the games he enjoyed playing with others would also help lower his risk. A person who was not familiar with him may identify his intrusion immediately. Sif, however, may see it as a mere sign that he had affected her on some level, and dismiss it like a bad dream.

While other thoughts and theories flittered through his mind, she waited in the dungeon. She wouldn't leave until a fresh patrol took their station in front of his cell. He had time. He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing, feeling his energy struggle to expand beyond the enchantments surrounding his prison. Unlike the paranoid guards who jumped at shadows and shrunk at his sneering looks, her mind was not an impassible wall of stone. Whether it was due to their history with one another or if it was because she was distracted by her cold revelation about Thor, he couldn't tell, but there was very little resistance to his intrusion.

He contracted his diaphragm and released a sharp breath through his nose, pushing himself even further. The resistance gave, not much, but it was progress. He opened his eyes, unwilling to take the risk of continuing at that moment, for as he had pressed against her mind, she had turned sharply to look towards him. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, but she said nothing. She did, however, wrap her arms around her stomach, as though she had somehow felt a chill in that hot, stifling prison. He had his confirmation.

He ignored her stare and leaned his head back as though he would sleep, but this wasn't his aim. She could hear his steady breathing and believed, for a moment, that she had been entertaining rumor and an overactive imagination. She nearly laughed at herself, but the sensation appeared again, a coldness up the back of her neck that sent chills throughout her entire body. Ice invaded her veins, and although it should have brought relief in the hot prison, it caused her to shudder.

Loki released a deep breath and suddenly, he was there. A small vulnerability in the guard of her mind had cracked, revealing an opening. It was a small success, but it was further than he'd gotten before. Just as he tried to move further into her higher mind, the door to the dungeon opened; his fresh patrol had arrived for their shift. The presence of the others changed something about her frame of thought; he lost his hold.

The loss was of no great matter to him, as he was content to try again soon. Sif seemed relieved when the sensation left her, but at the same time, her posture changed, and her face straightened and hardened. The mask she often wore had returned, which made Loki suddenly curious about who she was when it wasn't present, and whether or not he'd ever seen that version of her before.

"Lady Sif," one of the Einherjar greeted as they both bowed slightly to her.

She bowed in return, but her gaze was set towards Loki. As he watched her from beneath his brow, her frown deepened. Her eyes filled with uncertainty and suspicion. Shaking the eerie sensation from her mind, she left.