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   Thor grumbled while pushing disgusting steamed vegetables around on his plate. He had been informed it would be required for him to greet the jötunn runt after dinner. Mother had made it clear he was to make him feel welcome and show him around. Thor didn't want to spend his evening with the blue runt. He wanted to go spar with Fandral and Volstag. Maybe even Sif, if she was up to it.

     She had been transferred to the boys fighting class a month ago, since she proved to be capable of keeping up with them. Some of the guys were insulted or felt threatened that a girl could pass them up, but Thor liked the challenge. He didn't see her as a girl, but as a new way to prove his superiority in the ring. He had no doubt in his ability to defeat her, and wasn't worried about his reputation being tarnished.

   It was great fun to taunt her to anger and have her lash out during the fight. Thor grinned as he remembered their training yesterday. She had fallen in the dirt, and the patterns of dust on her enraged face made her look animalistic. Other boys were basically cowering from her, weak cowards that they were.

   "Son, are you listening to me?" His mother's voice cut through his daydream. He rolled his eyes and lolled his head over to see her. "No, mother. This topic bores me. Can not a servant complete this task? I have better things to do, then babysitting a miniature frost 'giant'."

   His mother scowled. "Thor! This is your future bride! You will show respect! You must get to know him and create a bond of familiarity and coadaptation. Some day you will be ruling Asgard with him by your side. We only want things to go well for you."

    Thor snorted and started stabbing potato wedges with his knife. "Well? If you want things to go well for me, than maybe you shouldn't force me to be with an ugly MALE frost giant! How is that even proper? You just called HIM my BRIDE. I want a voluptuous woman, mother! With curves and breasts that fit in my hands."

   Thor held his hands out, pretending to squeeze breasts. Thor stopped when he noticed his Mother's scolding glare. "Son, we do not talk of women that way. Nor your.....bride." Thor slumped, his chin on his fist, elbow on the table. "Well, no worries there. He does not HAVE breasts, Mother. If you would recall my original complaint. Not female. Can he have my heirs?"

   Frigga swatted at Thor, "Of course he can bare children, or this arrangement would not have been made."

   Sitting up with a sigh, Thor started to get up. "I do not understand why I have to converse with the blue whelp before my wedding day. It matters not. I despise him, and do not want him as my bride. Just because I am forced to wed him, should not mean I have to make meaningless small talk and pretend to like him now. We have many years before we are even required to be in each others presence. After we are wed, I intend to get him pregnant, then not talk to him till it's necessary."

   Thor turned and left, not allowing his mother to scold him to further. He didn't care how she felt about it. It was partially her fault he was being forced into this. He would do it, but it didn't mean he had to like it, and he wanted them to be as miserable as he was.

   It had been a relief the runt wasn't ugly like the rest of his race. Though Thor mocked him for his size, he was also grateful the jötunn was smaller then Thor was. It will make it easier to get his way and be in charge.

    Loki climbed down from the steed he had been offered for the ride to the palace from the Bifrost chamber. The palace had looked impressive from the city, but here at the steps looking up, it was magnificent. So gold and bright! So BIG.

   Loki had been offered a black sheer wrap to tie around his eyes to block out the brightness of the sun, until his eyes adjusted. The Guard said it could be several days for his eyes to adapt, after living in darkness his whole life. Loki was glad they didn't force more clothing on him, as he was sweating profusely as it was. Though some form of portable shade would have been nice.

   The sheer fabric dulled and darkened everything around him, but still he was fascinated by the plethora of color. Each color seemed to have scents too. Green, red and pink being his favorite so far. He had been able to observe some of the village and it's people along the way. The bustle of activity had not really seem much different than Utgard.

   It didn't take long to enter the shade of the palace walls, but it had the illusion of much time, as Loki was dying of heat. Probably not literally.

    A maturing and slightly cracking, monotone voice of a teenage boy caught his attention.

"Prince Loki. Welcome to Asgard. I am Thor, as you probably know.... What is with the blindfold?" The guard informed him of it's purpose, which made Thor's nose wrinkle. With a huff he continued.

   "My mother said I should show you around, so, come on, if you think you can see good enough through the cloth."  Loki had never spoken to Thor before, and did not know what to expect. But unless he was mistaken, Thor seemed bored and reluctant to speak with him.

  Loki had hoped that, though they were very different, and had very different upbringings, they could find a kinship with one another. They were bound for all eternity after all. Eternity would be much more bearable if they could be friends.

   So, though Thor seemed to be indifferent to him, Loki hurried to walk by his side and give him the friendliest smile he could muster. Thor glanced at him and scowled, looking forward again and quickening his pace. Loki's smile dropped a bit, and he took on a look of confusion. This may be harder than he thought.

    "What is it you like to do here?" Loki asked after trotting forward to catch up again. Thor huffed in exasperation. "Not hang out with ugly, frozen, frost giant runts, at the very least." Thor gave him a look of derision, "Honestly? Probably just about anything that doesn't include your icy behind following me around. Or math." Thor shuttered at the remembrance of that days math lecture.

    Loki's pace stuttered and he fell behind a couple steps. He felt dejected and frustrated. How could Thor treat him that way? It was not like Loki wanted to be here either. He was only trying to make the best of it. His kingdom relied on it. Relied on this union going well.

      He quickened his own pace to match up with Thor, this time his head held high and no hint of friendly pretense. "What did math ever do to you, for you to reject it? Perhaps, I will get more acquainted with math and learn it's secrets in how to vex you so. It does seem like such great fun." Loki shot Thor a mischievous grin.

   Thor just scowled. Loki shrugged and continued. "Very well. I do not wish to be in the company of sweaty, pink pigs myself. That is an animal of which you share a skin tone with, is it not? It appears you have more in common than I had thought. Good day Your Majesty."

    Loki pivoted and headed down a hall perpendicular to the one they had been going down. Thor, caught off guard and still recovering from the insult, had to run to catch up, once he was composed.

  "How dare you insult a prince of Asgard! I could have you lashed for that!" Loki looked at him with a smirk and raised eyebrow. "Can you now? I deeply apologise. No insult was intended. Rather, I was merrily stating facts and observations. Is that a crime in your land, sire?" Loki was looking at him with mock innocent inquiry.

   Thor sputtered before changing tactics. "Where are you going anyway? Do you intend to just wander the halls? You don't know where anything is!"

  Loki gave him a sly grin. "Don't I? Are you quite sure of that sunshine? Sorry to disappoint, but I ALWAYS know where I am going. So, if you don't mind, I would rather not stay with you to be taunted further. Again, I say, Good day, My Lord." He gave a smirk with a slight dip of a mocking bow, spreading his arms wide, then took off again.

  Thor stared after the preteen. What had his parents gotten him into?

  Loki found his room with no problem or wrong turns. His luggage had been brought there before him, so he only needed to seek it out with his seidr, made easier by the familiarity of it. He was sure Thor had been taking him to the training grounds, at least that was what he sensed ahead of them. But if Thor was going to be like that, he had no wish to spend another moment in his presence. He would not stand by and be treated that way. 

   Loki marched towards the desk and conjured a paper and quill set. In his newly practiced, looping script, he began to write to his family, assuring his safe arrival. He was not concentrating on the mundane words of the letter. Loki could not think past his interactions with the thunder prince.

   Thor would not beat him down. He was stuck here, and would make the best of it. He had met very few people he couldn't get along with, and had no intentions of letting his future husband be one of those people. He would be patient, and insistent. The Aesir prince obviously was not accustomed to being challenged or insulted and lacked discipline. He would have to use caution as he was not keen on the idea of getting a whipping or time in the dungeons.