Chapter 15: Dull
Arianna stared up at Loki without moving, waiting for him to speak. When he stayed silent, she asked, "What is your plan now, your Highness?"
He tilted his head, regarding her. Even now, if he looked with seidr, he could see her skin covered in glowing spells. "You are to become my research subject."
Her expression was stoic. "What does that mean for me?"
"It means," he replied with a cold smile, "that you are to follow my every command or forfeit your freedom forever."
She was quiet for a moment, deciding what to say. "You'll need my help."
"I don't need anything from you," he retorted coolly. "You shall simply obey."
Arianna sighed. "If you insist, prince. What is your first command, then?" The way she raised her eyebrows ever-so-slightly as she asked irritated him. The desperate girl from moments ago had so quickly been replaced by an annoyingly confident woman. Which one is real? he wondered. Regardless, he was sure of which one he preferred.
Loki decided she needed to be softened a little more. "Wait. I have to make preparations, and you shall simply have to wait patiently." He turned around to leave, but her voice caught him just before he stepped back out.
"If you keep doing this, I won't be of any use to you." The way she said it didn't sound like a warning, persay. It was simply a statement of reality.
Loki left without acknowledging her words.
It took a full week for Loki to put everything into place. The biggest hurdle was convincing Syn that these specialized "interrogations" would yield more information than the typical routes. But pointing out how Arianna always reacted favorably to his appearance had been the final push to give him exactly what he wanted. After all, it wasn't like anyone doubted his words. How noble of him, to dive so deeply into this duty as a prince, for the sake of Asgard's safety.
And just as he had hoped, his prisoner was much more sedate. She had almost stopped singing entirely, and spent much of her time in bed, either asleep or otherwise looking miserable. She was going to be like putty in his hands.
...Or so he thought.
Seven days later, Loki reappeared in front of Arianna's cell. She had surely noticed him, sitting against the side wall, but she didn't acknowledge his presence.
"Woman."
She didn't react except for a brief flash of distaste.
"Arianna," he called, more sharply this time.
Finally, she turned to look his way. She looked dull, yes, but also...cold. Cold in a way he hadn't seen before. Suddenly he wasn't so excited about his plans.
Still, those plans were hardly going to slow down just because she was being stubborn.
"You're moving cells," Loki began. "I need you within reach, and under a different kind of supervision. Cooperate, and-"
"I need to see them." The strength was back in her eyes, but quiet, like a smoldering ember. "It doesn't have to be the same room, or anything. I at least need to know they're safe." She came closer to the barrier, standing to meet his height.
"You're hardly in-" he began, but then he got a good look at her face. Beyond haggard, he could see the worry tugging at her expression, pulling out that desperation he so liked to see in her. And as hot as her eyes were, her expression was pleading. "You're hardly in a position to demand anything," he continued, "but I might relent if you were to request it properly."
Arianna barely took a moment to consider his words. "As you wish." She knelt on one knee, bowing with her hands clasped atop her knee. "Please, your Highness, allow me to meet with Simon and Chandra." But her face was tilted out of view. What look of frustration was she wearing right now, he wondered? With a little twitch of his fingers, he sought out the image like a mirror with a tiny touch of seidr. Loki nearly started at the view. Her expression was perfectly schooled, blank and cordial. As he stared, it almost looked like she was watching him back through his invisible mirror.
"...Very well. I shall arrange it myself. Be ready to behave tonight, when your retrieval comes." Loki turned and left, wondering why he felt so disappointed, now that he had finally gotten the subservience he had wanted.
But after a bit of space from Arianna's gloomy cell, Loki came to think that perhaps her dullness was simply an act. That bow of hers was practiced, and considering her background, it was likely that she had done the same for nobles from her own realm many times before. And considering that she was foolish enough to use magic with him in the room with her...perhaps she was foolish enough to fall for a much more well-crafted trick.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Arianna_Griffith
Arianna_Griffith I'd like your opinions, everyone. I'm still working a full-time job while writing this and a couple other things, so my progress is often slow. Would you prefer more frequent, but shorter updates, or less frequent, but longer ones?
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone