For the next month, try as I might, I couldn't shake the conversation I'd had with the Midgardian girl from my mind. How could a mere mortal, who looked to be only in her twenties, possibly early thirties, have such a perspective? One which was making sense to me, day by day.

I enjoyed ruling over Asgard and it's people, I enjoyed the realm prospering. The people were happy. Well, I expect except for Heimdall, I'd banished him and found an excellent replacement who didn't question my bidding. I had everything I wanted at my beck and call, and if I was feeling a little in need of attention, I'd simply disguise myself as a handsome guard and seek it out. Life was good, I had my throne, my people's respect and trust and... and... it wasn't enough! I slammed my empty goblet onto the table.

"More wine, Allfather?" A servant asked, pulling me from my seething.

"Yes." I replied sharply, and then remembered I needed to tone my voice down. "If you please." I added, and only just managed to not press my palm into my forehead.

I enjoyed ruling Asgard, but was it truly ruling when everyone believed I was Odin? I didn't have their respect, their trust, because they foolishly followed the face and name I hid behind. The mask I'd taken on. This was one of my longest lasting pranks, and it was becoming tiresome. Yet, I couldn't very well stage Odin's death and suddenly come back from the dead as Loki.

Thanos was still out there, and if he knew I lived... well, he'd be making sure it was brief. Rage and fear prickled beneath the facade of my skin, and I rose from my chair, needing to walk, needing to talk. But to who? I had no one. In a banquet hall of a hundred, I was completely alone.

The classy bar I'd found on my last trip to Midgard was rowdy, filled with people and loud music which pulsed through my veins. What a racket. Yet, the music had a sensual undertone. There had also been a line to get in, and not wishing to draw the wrong attention, despite being far from New York, I'd lowered myself to waiting my turn with the mortals.

Pushing my way up to the bar, I couldn't find the young woman who'd served me a month ago. What was her name again?

"What would you like?" A man with a black goatie asked.

What was it, Victoria? No, "Tori?"

"Toria?"

"Yes! Where is she?" I called over the noise.

"She's working at the Capricorn tonight." The man replied.

"Where's that?"

"East Side." A patron got his attention, and he took their order. Annoyed the girl wasn't here, I left, receiving a raised brow from the bodyguard on the door.

I hailed down one of those cabs or was it a taxi? The glowing sign said taxi.

"Take me to the Capricorn." I comanded the male driver. He raised a brow in the mirror.

"Very well, sir." He said, and nothing happened.

"Are we going?"

"Once you've fastened your seatbelt, sir."

"My what?"

"Your seatbelt, to your left, sir." I found a flat rope and pulled on it.

"I don't require a safety harness."

"It's law, need you to put it on mate."

"I've been on far more dangerous transportation." I muttered, but humoured the man, clicking the belt across my body. To my relief, the taxi accelerated down the road.

Twenty minutes later, I was entering another bar, this one with far more guards than the first, and I had to conjure a midgardian I.D before they let me pass! It would have been quicker to use more magic, but I didn't need to alert those brute Avengers I was back on their precious soil. The music was still loud, but the vibe of the place as I pushed my way into the building was different. There were more males here than femals, but, there were women working behind the bar. I barged my way up to the counter to be greeted by a blonde women wearing well, not much.

"What can I get you, handsome?" Oh , I liked this kind of greeting, I flashed her a charming smile.

"I'm looking for Toria, is she here?" The woman's inviting expression immediately closed off.

"Whose asking?" She hissed out, eyes wary.

"I am." I frowned, confused by the sudden hostility.

"You know, Theo?" She demanded.

"Uh no." I scoffed, bemused by this strange woman. "I met Toria at a bar she works at, and I wanted to see her, they said she was here."

"I'm surprised they gave you that information." The woman's lips pursed.

"So, is she here?"

"She is." The woman nodded past my shoulder, and I turned, attention immediately caught by a bright spotlight at the other side of the room where a stage stood. "But, if you want her attention tonight, you'll be paying for it." I stared in disbelief as the barmaid I'd spoken philosophically to but a month ago, strutted onto a stage in nothing but white lace undergarments, the hair which had been braided down her back when I'd first met her, now cascading down her back in fiery red waves.

"What in the Nine Realms is she doing?" I uttered, transfixed on the figure, and the woman outright laughed.

"Don't tell me you've never been to a strip bar before?"