Next morning, Kari was rudely awoken by her phone ringing much too loudly, the resulting noise metaphorically puncturing her skull and splitting her brain in half. Never had she achieved a hangover quite as magnificently out of the nine realms as this one was. She was also unaware how she had gotten home but her last memories of being with her grandfather quelled further worry on the subject.

"Shhh already." She sobbed and groaned at her phone, desperately trying to take aim at the off button but foiled several times by the sheer brightness of the world.

It was quite a feat, managing to crawl her way into the communal bathroom and somehow not drown herself in a bath tub but she desperately needed the wash – not only to wake up but jointly wash the alcohol from her pores. Back to work today, plenty of time to feel sorry for herself after breakfast was over and boy did she feel sorry for herself. Her head hurt, her pride hurt, pretty much everything just kind of hurt all at once. Memories of the night before were coming back slowly as she hovered around the dining hall like a zombie haphazardly filling cups and tittering back and forth with platters that felt a lot heavier than usual. Nobody said anything to her, even Prue was just acting as if everything was normal but the sense that people had been gossiping certainly reddened her ears. She had caught wind of a few snippets here and there when entering the kitchens but nothing lengthy enough to fully gather what it was about.

When lunchtime finally arrived she assumed her role, from the last several weeks once more, and filled a tray for Odin's youngest son. He was indeed in the library when she got there, messing around with something on his desk until he noticed her approach and made it disappear. Oh good, he was up to more mischief. She ignored the action and his staring, placing the tray down next to him as he gave the contents a bewildered look.

"I did not request this." His response was immediately irritated.

"You didn't tell me to stop bringing you lunch." She countered.

"I have been without such services for several days."

"Um, because I was locked in my room by your father. You were there that night."

"Indeed I was." Loki looked away, placing his quill back on the desk in order to free his hand for a dismissing wave. "You may leave now."

Kari rolled her eyes as soon as her back was turned and began walking towards the exit. Still unthankful, still rude and still up to no good. Had she really expected him to be a different person? Why did she even care? Breaking ties completely with the god of lies and mischief, ending the war of retaliation, would be so easy but on some level she kind of enjoyed it – if she was being honest with herself.

As she reached the door, her hand gripping the handle, Kari stopped as if a robot out of batteries. Her hangover was still in effect, if clearing, and so her brain was still trying to get up to speed with thinking. She turned, determined and began the walk back to the centre of the library; though this time with added haste. Loki's shoulders slumped as he heard her coming back, head turned to the heavens as if requesting the universe for patience whilst he again hid his work from view.

She didn't have time for whatever he had opened his mouth about to say. It wouldn't of mattered anyway, most likely a riddled insult and equal dashings of plausible threats.

"I need you." Her words caught him noticeably off guard as he froze mid syllable then shut his mouth for a communication restart.

"You, need me?" Oh this was grand, he was staring right at her amused by something he hadn't even heard explained yet. "Pray tell."

"You're basically the only person around here that seems to be into all this magic stuff." She flailed her hands around at several bookshelves to indicate the magical tomes on display. "And I need to learn something about it but I can't read any of these stupid books. So, I need you."

He was laughing, at her of course, but she had expected this reaction to some degree. Let him laugh it up all he wanted, Odin had said she would have to humble herself but at least the end result would hopefully not be her getting exiled. Still, it was a long shot, the mischief-maker not being the helpful kind of nice guy as his brother was but perhaps he would do it if only to tease and humiliate her in a newer way.

"Repeat that again." He smirked, elbow resting on his desk with chin on top of his palm to give her his full attention.

"I need you." She sighed.

"Again."

"I… need you." She was looking away now, this humbling stuff was really rather embarrassing.

"Once more."

"I. Need. You." She gave her words a little more conviction this time, eyes locked on his with the hope this would be the last time he would ask.

"No."

The word, his rejection hung in the air like a wandering apparition. He was watching her with a muted expression of aversion, until bored of her paling countenance, and leaned back into his chair, straightening his attire. Was he really going to say no after making her jump hoops? Of course he was, Loki was the biggest dick in all asgard.

"Leave, I have work to do." He dismissed her for a second time.

"But…" Her mind was whirling, desperately clawing for any strands of hope. "I- I'll never lick food on your plate again, I swear."

Loki jolted at her confession, his face forming an angry scowl as he stared down at the plate to his right then over to her petrified expression. Oh he was seriously angry, madder than the time she had been eavesdropping or dyed his hair blond. Maybe running away would have been the better option but she did still rather need him.

"It was only the grapes this time." She reached out towards his plate and removed the offending article.

"Leave. Now. Before I change my mind about the subtleties of murder."

She didn't need telling twice; or four times in this case. Without another word, Kari turned on her heels and scampered out of the library all too well aware of the eyes practically boring holes in her back.