What a mess. Well, it had been really quiet in the library as she waited for Loki to return, which he did not. After flicking through the 'romance' section as she had renamed it – discovering several saucy 'historical documents' on asgardian love pairings amongst some dribble about magic swords and yearly mining reports – for four dull hours she had to return to the kitchens for her evening shift. That is when the chaos had been discovered.
According to one of the maids, Loki had stormed in, accused Thor of misdeeds and the pair got into a very heated argument involving weapons, destruction of property and a guard getting set on fire. She really had missed a good show if all the disarray was anything to go by. The corridors all the way from an observation room, through the dining hall and straight to the throne room were in a very poor state with tapestries even hanging on their last threads.
Of course, who would be left to clean up all the vandalism? The staff and Kari whilst the wayward princes got a slap on the wrist from their father in the throne room. Oh to be royalty and accidentally born into a high position.
Neither of the two brothers were at dinner that night. Serana spent most of her time crying on Fandral's shoulder, much to Kari's disgust, as she knew very well who would be staying over tonight. Maybe she could stay with someone else? Prue? No way, that woman looked about ready to blow in more than one manner. Balder perhaps? He was smiling at her across the room in a very come hither style, or perhaps that was just her pent up hormones making something naughty out of what was purely innocent. A bit of corruption might do him good though, it sure as hell would make her feel better and get away from Serana copulating with her grandfather.
"Ewww." She grimaced at the thought pouring a hairy drunk warrior, reduced to grunting, another glass of wine.
How to seduce Balder was now the question. She could not just go up to him now, he was out of her work zone and after dinner, when he and the others left, she would be stuck behind clearing up for at least another three quarters of an hour. Maybe Serana and Fandral would be done by then and she could sleep in peace. Who was she kidding, her grandfather would be at it all night with a ridiculous amount of stamina he got from who knew where. Had to make her wonder, were all asgardian men as virile?
Screw it, she would just got to Balder's place, knock on his door and keep him awake until even he could not take it anymore and took her hard on the floor if needs be. First, pits stop to freshen up in the communal bathroom and sort out her ridiculously poofy hair. She was looking kind of tired when she saw herself in the mirror, even in a seventeen-year-old body fatigue showed and it was rather late. Slapping her face several times had certainly awoken her somewhat, adding blush to her cheeks as she spotted a bottle of perfume someone had left out on the counter. They would not mind, surely and it would definitely help the wooing process.
Tidier, brighter and smelling nicer, Kari made her way out into the palace now pretty deserted with the vast majority of people away to bed. She giggled as she skipped through the corridors unabashed and unreprimanded. It was almost like having the place to herself, her own palace in her own kingdom where she was princ-
No, no, no, he had to ruin it.
"Loki." She huffed, caught in the act and held to the spot by the god of mischief and his foreboding green eyes.
"A vast quantity of vigor for so late an hour, Motter." He leaned back, a hand reaching his chin to fuss and increase his cognitive assimilation of her appearance. "And how rude of me not to appear for our earlier appointment."
"I heard you were quite busy." She rolled her eyes, staring at a hideous vase to her right in order to escape his scrutinizing gaze.
"Indeed, I was quite overcome with a more pressing matter but seeing as you are here now, and so bright eyed and bushy tailed, let us make up for your lack of knowledge immediately."
"What? No… no… " She raised both hands in front of her chest with the shake of her head to assure him of her negative resolve. "I'm really tired and stuff to do in the morning you know… well maybe you don't know but some people have to get up in the morning to work."
"You accuse me of idleness and lacking purpose?" He was either amused or incensed.
"No I… it's just you know… you're a prince and all that so you don't have to get up if you don't want to."
"A prince of asgard is burdened from the moment of his conception with great purpose." Definitely incensed.
"Oh just leave me alone Loki!" Kari grumbled, scowling and pouting with a dash of exasperation. "Seriously, just, go away and be burdened by your great purpose somewhere I am not. I'm exhausted and I am not in the mood for whatever this stupid game is. I'm sick and tired of all the goddamn backhanded insults, physical stuff and drama whenever you come near me! Just back off and stop provoking me!"
"I provoke you?" He laughed.
"Yes, yes you do." She stated in all seriousness. "And you damn well know you do."
"Karian Motter, innocent and begrudged by all. Persecuted at no fault of her own."
"I am about this far," she took a step closer till they were almost chest to forehead – why was he so tall? – and held her fore finger and thumb an inch apart, "from poking your eyes out with an icicle."
"I would like to see you try."
"So would I."
All the glaring between them was really starting to give her a headache. It was a relief when Loki actually started laughing, dragging her into a fit of amusement with him as they both took stock of the scene they were players in. This was so stupid and tense; the dam had to break into lunacy and hilarity at some point.
"Come, I will walk you back to your room." The prince offered, holding his arm out for her too take in his best charming manner.
"Uh… noooo I'm not heading that way, Fandral is entertaining uh…" Don't say Serana. "A lady friend."
"I thought this an unusual route for you." He relaxed once more thought his eyes were now twinkling with on coming trouble.
"Yeah so I'm just gonna-"
"I will escort you nonetheless, the palace is dangerous at night. Who knows what monsters lurk the corridors. Giant spiders even."
"Or Gods of mischief." She sidestepped his second attempt at arm offering.
"There is only one of those and he you do not need to fear when at my side." Wait, was he flirting with her?
"Right but still I'd rather just… it's… a private matter so… shoo?"
"I do recall now, is this not the way to Balder's accommodation?" He queried as if not hearing or seeing her general shooing motions.
"Maybe it is." No he was not flirting, just biding his time to embarrass her with what he knew.
"Then I certainly must act as your guardian. A young lady alone, so late at night heading towards a strange man's abode."
"You are far stranger than he is." She took another step back as he came forward keeping him at a safe distance just out of arms reach. "Look just… fine I'm going home instead. Is that better? Will you leave me be now?"
"And what of your grandfather and his 'friend'?" He tilted his head to the side, his expression all concern but she knew better by now to believe his lame acting skills.
"I'm sure I can wedge some pillows over my ears as usual."
"That cannot be comfortable. You shall just have to return to my rooms with myself."
"Uh… no?" She sounded skeptical but not because she wanted to go with him, because she did not, but purely because this was getting really weird now.
"I could order you to come back with me." Loki Smirked. "It is a perk of being a prince burdened with such power and responsibilities."
"I am not a whore!" How dare he insinuate such a thing; she was furious.
"Strange, you smell just like one of the courtesans." He leaned in, smelling the trail of perfume between the curve of her neck.
Kari was shocked, wide-eyed and shaken by his action. Taking a swift step to the side her hand rocketed upwards slapping him clean across the cheek and causing his head to snap to the left at the unadulterated force. Was she really wearing some sort of prostitutes signature scent? She hardly had time to think about it further as he straightened himself, rubbing the side of his cheek checking for damage as he cast his gaze along the corridor.
"I deserved that, this time." He commented wryly.
She was still shaking, despite the knowledge he was not going to retaliate to the strike, her breath horrendous and loud in her ears. This stupid effect he had on her, she hated it, she hated him and she hated herself for all of the aforementioned. To top it off her eyes were now blurry, water welling up, pending to burst into tears at any second. Wiping the excess fluid away, furiously, she turned around so he would not see she was so close to tears.
"Forgive me."
His words caught her attention like a hot poker to the brain. Turning about she stared at him disbelieving. Had he just apologized to her? Genuinely? It sounded genuine but this was the god of lies after all. Who knew what she could believe.
"You have slept in my rooms before, my canapé is yours if you wish it for the night." He continued, finally locking eyes with her once more. "You have my vow I will not touch you."
"Difficult to trust you on that when you sniffed me and spoke about ordering me to your rooms for smelling like a prostitute, in your opinion, oh and that whole… prank, when you turned up as Heimdall to my room?" She could fill the fire in the pit of her stomach stoking into a full blaze. "How far exactly were you planning on going with that rouse?"
"I gave my solemn vow, as a prince of Asgard, I will not touch you in any form."
"Why what's wrong with me now?" She was confused, was he insulting her because he deemed her unworthy of sleeping with the likes of him or was this some weird chivalry from the prick that slapped her back when she first met him.
"Motter, sleep on my canapé or go back to Fandral. I can offer no more."
They were both aggravated and disgruntled by the turn of the conversation. No matter the dialogue it always led to insults, distrust and petty bickering between them like a precision missile. Still, she really kind of did need somewhere to sleep. Balder was no doubt too far-gone to awaken without upsetting him and she really did not want to have to walk over Fandral and Serena in the throws of passion or even just hear them.
"Why do you keep saying canapé?" It seemed like a perfectly reasonable question to ask. "I'm not sleeping on a cracker with cheese on it."
"Kari-" Loki paused to enjoy a good hearty chuckle at her misunderstanding. "Your simplicity amuses me greatly."
"Dick."