"He has mellowed somewhat, in recent years," Loki tells him. "He was raised as a warrior amongst warriors, the eldest prince of an ancient race of divinities, the heir to his father's immense power. His enthusiasm for battle was never discouraged, and it grew untempered for far too long."

"By most measures, his mistakes and transgressions are lesser than mine, but without intervention, he might have become the monster I am accused of being. And that would be a tragedy." An ambiguous statement. Almost like Loki's taking credit for doing bad things so Thor didn't have to. Light can't exist without Darkness, after all. Or can it?

"But no. Now he is a friend to mortals and a shepherd to his people, and that is fitting." He takes a bite of the pastry he's been playing with, savoring it quietly, and picks the crumbs up off the table, fastidious as a cat.

"I appreciate your attempt to give me the benefit of the doubt, by the way. I will not forget that."