Despite the efforts of The Avengers and armies around the world, Loki had succeeded in taking Midgard. All had been forced into submission, and those who defied the god were often sentenced to death. Rebel groups remained, of course, but the lacked the power to confront Loki. Regardless, that was where people like Catherine came in.
When Earth had fallen to its knees Loki sought out those with unique abilities and dubious morals to serve him. She fit the bill, even if he did have to keep a competent scientist around to produce her serums. Loki often called on Catherine to gather intel or assassinate a problem individual. Or multiple individuals. He had far more important matters to attend to personally. Thus far Catherine had served him well. She never failed to deliver when assigned a task.
She still didn't know what to think of the man, but her position was better than the alternative.
It was late one evening when she was told he had summoned for her. Not too unusual since she usually kept a nocturnal schedule. She made her way to his study - he was working, she supposed - and knocked, only entering when given permission.
"You called for me, King Loki?" she asked when she reached the center of the room. Catherine bowed but did not kneel. She never kneeled of her own will and doubted she ever would.
Being King, Loki thought as he sat in his study, poring over a complex treaty he sought to conclude with Alfheim, was a lot less fun than he'd thought it would be. Granted, when he had fantasied about this and envied both Odin and Thor, he had imagined the generalities of it, the power, the respect, the satisfaction of being valued at least, not the petty day to day affairs, the endless diplomatic exchanges and complaining from the mortals. He had little patience for these anymore, delegating to his ministers and devoting himself to higher matters.
There had been amusing moments, mischief-wrecking on unsuspecting citizens, confusing the ministers on purpose or being blatantly unfair and pig-headed as Odin had sometimes been on small matters.
But still, he often found himself inescapably bored. Upholding the law was a lot less entertaining than breaking it and even the illusion of power he held was beginning to wear thin. Usurped respect rang hollow, he had found fairly soon, as those who bowed to him would immediately denounce him should he lose any inch of his power.
He arched an eyebrow when a guard informed him that Catherine was there, gesturing for them to let her in and dismissing them. “Leave us,” he ordered commandingly, knowing this discussion would be better held in private. Loki was unsure of what to make of her just yet. She was efficient, ruthlessly so, but he knew her allegiance was only circumstantial, at best, not born out of respect.
"Yes," he confirmed, setting his pen down and motioning for her to come closer. He did not overtly mind her not bowing. As long as he did what he asked for, he could dispense with the simpering. "I have a matter you may attend to, for me."
Catherine did not envy Loki's position in the slightest. Being in charge of everything seemed glamorous in theory, but when put to practice she knew there were too many mundane tasks involved. It didn't help that most people hated Loki and his rule. He had his share of loyal followers, but far more loathed him and would see him fall.
She tilted her head to one side, but obeyed his silent command to move closer, hoping he wasn't feeling moody. If he was, there were better people to take it out on.
"Another assassination?" she asked thoughtfully. Gathering information could be boring, but killings were usually quick and easy for her.
Loki did not seem particularly moody or annoyed, his face remaining impassively cool as he motioned for her to come closer. He selected a file from the pile on his desk and flipped it open, ignoring the confidential stamped in angry red letters on the cover.
“Yes,” he confirmed, skimming through the first pages with furrowed eyebrows. “And information gathering, first.” He arched an eyebrow. “I am given to understand that seduction would work better than torture, in this particular case.” He watched her closely, handing her the file.
Great. Gathering information. That was always such a bore. Catherine almost yawned at the thought. Almost. She kept herself in check as she followed him to his desk, her pale eyes skimming over the sheer amount of files and papers there. No, she didn't envy him at all.
"Wait, wait," she said as he explained further. "Seduction? I have a nice resume, but that is definitely not on it."
Was he kidding? Even if she'd had the skills, Catherine didn't consider herself attractive enough for such things. That, and she really didn't want to do it.
"Don't you have someone else for this kind of thing?"
Loki arched an eyebrow at her, his eyes unkind. "That was not a request," he stated, his tone measured but with underlying steel. Loki did not ask, did not offer missions. He ordered, commanded, and would brook no denial.
He steepled his fingers in front of his mouth, watching her coolly. "Seduction is the easiest form of manipulation. You have proved yourself efficient at manipulating your target into doing your bidding. This will be no different."
He gave her a flat look as she asked whether someone else could do this instead of her. "Do you want me to have someone else for this kind of thing?" he challenged, clearly implying that she could lose her position, if she refused, her secure status in the new hierarchy of her realm.
She hummed in thought, clasping her hands behind her back as she glanced up at the ceiling. Not that the issue required much thought.
"Yes. Yes, I do," she replied as she returned her gaze to his. Challenge met. Did he really want to get rid of someone who had been of so much use to him? Even if he did, she felt confident that she could get by on her own. A bit arrogant, maybe, but she wasn't going to cower and beg.
"Like I said, seduction's not on my resume."
He needed someone a bit more feminine and a lot more attractive for this.
Loki arched an eyebrow at her, his eyes narrowing minutely. He did not truly wish to dispose of her but his pride would not allow for such insubordination. After all, if he couldn't even have the respect of those who had sworn allegiance to him, how could he hope to conquer the others'? He would have to remind her, then, and unpleasantly so, that she was, along with her entire realm, in his power.
“I think you'll regret that,” he answered coolly, an unmasked threat. His lips stretched into a thin grin and he leaned up on his chair, the glint in his eyes between contemptuous and malevolent. Loki would have to disagree. Being feminine or even attractive had very little to do with seduction. “Well, let's put it there, then.”
To be perfectly honest, Catherine hadn't minded serving Loki thus far. He could always find interesting uses for her skill set, and it was nice having the opportunity to be what she was. He didn't seem to care as long as she got the job done.
His threat was met with casual indifference. At least until he suggested - no, demanded - that seduction be added to her list of skills. This couldn't lead anywhere good.
"I'd rather not," she replied, maintaining a cool facade. "But for the sake of argument, how would you suggest I do that?"
“That's assuming I would give you a choice,” Loki pointed out, his magic flaring a little around them, a cool, metallic hum. He was beginning to suspect that he would not, indeed, give her a choice. She was too rash, too insolent, and he it would be too fun to put her back in her place for him to miss the opportunity to exert his power.
“I rather think I shall have you start with me, for practice,” he taunted, the glint in his eyes growing wicked. “I am a master of lies. If you can lie to me, you can lie to anyone.”
Catherine huffed indignantly, but the feel of his magic surrounding them was enough to raise goosebumps all over her. Loki was powerful. If he wanted to end her right now he wouldn't even break a sweat. It was probably a good time to kneel, but she found his suggestion ridiculous.
"You've been with gods, and you expect me to seduce you?" Still a bit defiant, but her tone was softer. "I'm pretty sure I can't live up to those standards."
Though it wouldn't necessarily be a lie. Catherine found Loki very attractive, and not just due to his power. He was intelligent, articulate, handsome... what wasn't to like? Except maybe that abusive tendency. Fine if taken out on someone else, but not her.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
When Earth had fallen to its knees Loki sought out those with unique abilities and dubious morals to serve him. She fit the bill, even if he did have to keep a competent scientist around to produce her serums. Loki often called on Catherine to gather intel or assassinate a problem individual. Or multiple individuals. He had far more important matters to attend to personally. Thus far Catherine had served him well. She never failed to deliver when assigned a task.
She still didn't know what to think of the man, but her position was better than the alternative.
It was late one evening when she was told he had summoned for her. Not too unusual since she usually kept a nocturnal schedule. She made her way to his study - he was working, she supposed - and knocked, only entering when given permission.
"You called for me, King Loki?" she asked when she reached the center of the room. Catherine bowed but did not kneel. She never kneeled of her own will and doubted she ever would.
[If you want anything changed just let me know!]
no subject
There had been amusing moments, mischief-wrecking on unsuspecting citizens, confusing the ministers on purpose or being blatantly unfair and pig-headed as Odin had sometimes been on small matters.
But still, he often found himself inescapably bored. Upholding the law was a lot less entertaining than breaking it and even the illusion of power he held was beginning to wear thin. Usurped respect rang hollow, he had found fairly soon, as those who bowed to him would immediately denounce him should he lose any inch of his power.
He arched an eyebrow when a guard informed him that Catherine was there, gesturing for them to let her in and dismissing them. “Leave us,” he ordered commandingly, knowing this discussion would be better held in private. Loki was unsure of what to make of her just yet. She was efficient, ruthlessly so, but he knew her allegiance was only circumstantial, at best, not born out of respect.
"Yes," he confirmed, setting his pen down and motioning for her to come closer. He did not overtly mind her not bowing. As long as he did what he asked for, he could dispense with the simpering. "I have a matter you may attend to, for me."
no subject
She tilted her head to one side, but obeyed his silent command to move closer, hoping he wasn't feeling moody. If he was, there were better people to take it out on.
"Another assassination?" she asked thoughtfully. Gathering information could be boring, but killings were usually quick and easy for her.
no subject
“Yes,” he confirmed, skimming through the first pages with furrowed eyebrows. “And information gathering, first.” He arched an eyebrow. “I am given to understand that seduction would work better than torture, in this particular case.” He watched her closely, handing her the file.
no subject
"Wait, wait," she said as he explained further. "Seduction? I have a nice resume, but that is definitely not on it."
Was he kidding? Even if she'd had the skills, Catherine didn't consider herself attractive enough for such things. That, and she really didn't want to do it.
"Don't you have someone else for this kind of thing?"
no subject
He steepled his fingers in front of his mouth, watching her coolly. "Seduction is the easiest form of manipulation. You have proved yourself efficient at manipulating your target into doing your bidding. This will be no different."
He gave her a flat look as she asked whether someone else could do this instead of her. "Do you want me to have someone else for this kind of thing?" he challenged, clearly implying that she could lose her position, if she refused, her secure status in the new hierarchy of her realm.
no subject
"Yes. Yes, I do," she replied as she returned her gaze to his. Challenge met. Did he really want to get rid of someone who had been of so much use to him? Even if he did, she felt confident that she could get by on her own. A bit arrogant, maybe, but she wasn't going to cower and beg.
"Like I said, seduction's not on my resume."
He needed someone a bit more feminine and a lot more attractive for this.
no subject
“I think you'll regret that,” he answered coolly, an unmasked threat. His lips stretched into a thin grin and he leaned up on his chair, the glint in his eyes between contemptuous and malevolent. Loki would have to disagree. Being feminine or even attractive had very little to do with seduction. “Well, let's put it there, then.”
no subject
His threat was met with casual indifference. At least until he suggested - no, demanded - that seduction be added to her list of skills. This couldn't lead anywhere good.
"I'd rather not," she replied, maintaining a cool facade. "But for the sake of argument, how would you suggest I do that?"
no subject
“I rather think I shall have you start with me, for practice,” he taunted, the glint in his eyes growing wicked. “I am a master of lies. If you can lie to me, you can lie to anyone.”
no subject
"You've been with gods, and you expect me to seduce you?" Still a bit defiant, but her tone was softer. "I'm pretty sure I can't live up to those standards."
Though it wouldn't necessarily be a lie. Catherine found Loki very attractive, and not just due to his power. He was intelligent, articulate, handsome... what wasn't to like? Except maybe that abusive tendency. Fine if taken out on someone else, but not her.