Fanfic / Light the Blue Touch Paper and Run Like Hell

Given a second chance by Zelretch after falling from the Bifrost, Loki, partnered with a beautiful Caster, will wreak havoc on the Fourth Grail War...and perhaps find salvation...

Light the Blue Touch Paper and Run Like Hell is a Crossover fanfiction of Marvel Cinematic Universe and Fate Series by Quatermass, where Zeltrech asked Loki to participate in the 4th Fuyuki Grail War as the Master of Caster Servant to ensure that the ensuing chaos is the one The Wizard Marshall likes, instead of the disastrous kind the Canon has.

This fic was completed on June 15, 2018.

Beware of unmarked Spoilers!

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The story has the following examples:

• Abandoned Catchphrase: Loki did introduce himself to the other Grail War participants with "I am Loki...of Asgard. And I am burdened with glorious purpose", but not after reminding himself to not use it too much to keep it from being stale.
• Adaptational Context Change:
  • Loki shows fear after hearing thunder, his opponent smugly asks if he is scared by it, and he replies that it's what comes after that he's wary of. in The Avengers (2012), his opponent was Tony Stark, and the thunder heralded Thor's arrival. Here, it is Kiritsugu, and the thunder signalling Rider's.
  • Someone asks Kirei what does he wish using the Grail, and deduces from his Suspiciously Specific Denial that he secretly has dark desires. In Canon, this person is Gilgamesh. Here, it is Loki.
  • In Fate/stay night, Medea takes control of Arturia for her own sexual interest, trying to break her into obedience using bondage & torture. Here, she does it to help Loki and let him convince the Saber Servant to join them, which leads them to become more of Vitriolic Best Buds.
• Adaptational Karma: In canon, Tokiomi was killed after being backstabbed by Kirei. Here, while he lives through, he witnesses The Grail showing its true nature and causing the Fuyuki Fire. This causes him to have a Blue Screen Of Death from realizing that the things he has done and sacrificed to maintain his Magus tradition and goal to reach the Root, including handing Sakura over to Zouken, were All for Nothing.
• Adaptation Species Change: Sakura becomes part-Frost Giant as the result of drinking Medea potions that purge Crest Worms out of her body, which contain Loki's blood as part of the ingredients.
• Adaptational Nice Guy: In a Character Development way. At the start of Thor, Loki was more of Humans Are Insects guy. Here, he realizes that humanity has more ingenuity and innovation compared to Asgard.
  "Humans are interesting in of themselves. It's something I've come to realize in my time on this world. I can see why Thor fell for one."
• Ain't Too Proud to Beg: In the end, what convinces Arturia to join Loki's team is that he begs her to help him.
  "I cannot promise you answers or conviction, Arturia Pendragon. I cannot promise you and I have compatible goals and ideals. But at the very least, help Caster and I right at least one wrong."
• All of the Other Reindeer: Loki sees himself as this, being a Frost Giant among Asgardians, with a chance that it's an Open Secret, hence his doubts that the Asgardians would accept them as their king.
• Alternate Timeline: Zelretch tells Loki and later Frigga what would have been his fate if he ended up found by Thanos; Loki will be swayed to follow the path of conquest to seek Infinity Stones in his stead, end up killing his adopted family, and yet fail in his duty.
• Alternate Universe: Zelretch tells Loki that in Fate's Earth, Asgard no longer exists, yet their stories remain as legends.
• Armor-Piercing Question:
  • Loki gives two to Arturia, one questioning if her wish to Set Right What Once Went Wrong won't backfire from Butterfly Effect...
    "So the question I have to ask you, Arturia Pendragon…can you be sure you can change your life, and those of your knights, for the better?"
    • and the other questions if her decision to become Messianic Archetype is worth the price.
      "Doubt once made me act with certainty and conviction…and in doing so, I lost the nearest thing I had to family. How many of your friends and comrades did you lose through your own conviction? How much of yourself did you lose?"
• Badass Boast:
  • Loki gives one when Medea agrees to prank the Masters & Servants with him.
    "Then we shall embark on a reign of terror against them the likes of which they have never seen before. The terror and uncertainty will reduce them to the level of mewling babes ere we crush them".
  • Loki leaves a silent one with body language to Arturia when she glares at him, thinking he has ill intent toward Irisviel.
    Arturia: Attack at your peril.
    Loki: I'm not going to attack you, but I think I'd surprise you if I had.
  • Loki wants Kirei to tell Tokiomi that he learns about Zouken using Crest Worms on Sakura and that if the Frost Giant finds out that he has a semblance of awareness about this, he will end him.
    "Tell him that Zouken Matou infested her with Crest Worms. And if I ever find out that he knew a single iota of what he was putting his daughter into, I will put him through a prolonged period of torment and misery the likes of which will be spoken of in whispers for centuries to come. I don't care why. Tell him from me, that if I learn he is complicit in the violation of his own flesh and blood, then his days are numbered. I know that number, and have started to count."
  • After rescuing Sakura from Zouken's clutch, Loki swears to her that she will be taken care of in Asgard.
    Loki: You are neither Sakura Tohsaka nor Sakura Matou any longer. When the Grail War is over, I will take you back to my home, where you will become Sakura of Asgard, and take your rightful place amongst gods. I will teach you magic of both infinite subtlety and immense power the likes of which your enemies will tremble, and will speak of in awed whispers for centuries to come. You may think that the worm pit defiled you. In truth, it was but a crucible, forging you into someone who stands above humanity. I will ensure that, though you may believe yourself out of place in the company of Servants and those of Asgard, you will soon be every bit our equal.
    Sakura: …I won't have to go back, will I?
    Loki: Never, as long as I draw breath. Any who try to reclaim you, barring your Uncle Kariya, I shall abjure or slay.
• Barehanded Bar Bending: Loki singlehandedly stops Kiritsugu's thrown knife with his fingers before bending it.
• Berserk Button: Knight Templar & Never My Fault is this to Loki, after realizing that everything he has done was because he was utterly convinced that the only way for him to be accepted in Asgard is to rule over them.
  "It is those who act with utter certainty and conviction that I detest. Those who wholeheartedly believe they are in the right."
• Blatant Lies: When Loki arrives just as Ryuunosuke is about to summon his "demon" and believes that something's wrong, the frost giant assures him that he is often associated with the devil and he will be the serial killer's tech support to summon a proper demon. Yet Ryuunosuke fully believes it.
• Borrowed Catchphrase: Kariya & Zouken repeats Loki's "I am burdened with glorious purpose" to his face, finding it ridiculous.
  Kariya: You're Loki, of Asgard. And you are burdened, so you claim, with glorious purpose. Who talks like that?
• Brutal Honesty: Loki is a firm believer that this is a superior tool over lies.
  "Lies are insidious, Arturia, but the truth can sometimes be the most painful weapon of all. I may be known as Loki Liesmith, but I know that better than anyone."
• Call-Forward: Loki unknowingly uses future Kirei's memetic "Rejoice" line on him when he assures him that he will help him find a proper Goal in Life.
  Kirei: By the way, nice line. The one about rejoicing about fulfilled dreams. I think I might use that one day.
• The Caligula: As a sign of Character Development, Loki admits to Arturia that he might end up as one if he decides to continue his old goal of becoming Asgard's king and succeeds.
  Arturia: Tell me, Loki of Asgard, how would you rule?
  Loki: ...I am a better administrator than a monarch. I ruled Asgard briefly, and that period was filled with treason, some admittedly of my own making, some of it from others.
• The Chains of Commanding: Loki eventually realizes that leadership is not a privilege, but a burden.
  "A throne and a crown are merely a set of shackles in the shape of an ornate chair and a shiny band of metal and jewels."
• The Cobbler's Children Have No Shoes: Loki tells Kirei that, for someone titled "Liesmith", he cannot discern whether his adoptive family's love for him is true or not.
• Commonality Connection:
  • As a fellow prankster, Zelretch allures Loki for a chance to help him by causing some mischief. He even displayed a smirk Loki himself would've displayed if he come up with a brilliant plan.
    Zelretch: Thanos would have set you on the road to conquest and failure…but I, however, have something considerably more entertaining in mind. And I would like your help.
    Loki: I'm listening. Intently.
  • Loki & Medea start bonding over the fact that they receive Historical Villain Upgrade, and later share an interest in pranking the other Masters & Servants. And then Medea starts to trust him more after listening to his backstory, seeing themselves as someone who got betrayed by their loved ones, and their path to evil was because they were wronged too often.
• Compliment Backfire: Loki compliments Arturia for being a more proper royalty than Iskandar, Gilgamesh, and even Odin & Thor. But since this is after him calling out her Honor Before Reason for willingly obeying Kiritsugu's command, it only left her perplexed.
  "You mock me in one breath, and yet compliment me with the next."
• Composite Character: Zelretch in this fic is a combination of his responsible, Not So Stoic earlier Canon version and his memetic & recent Canon The Gadfly version.
• Consummate Liar: It isn't Loki if doesn't do this.
  Ryuunosuke: Hey, what?! What the hell is this? You lied to me!
  Loki: I am Loki, I am known to do so.
• Contrasting Replacement Character:
  • Ryuunosuke is a normal human and a straight-up serial killer, while Loki is a frost giant Master of Illusion who, while enjoying making chaos, can keep his handiworks non-lethal and still has a better sense of right and wrong compared to the former.
  • Gilles de Rais is a grotesque, insane man who requires Prelati's Spellbook to be even qualified as a Caster, while Medea is a gorgeous, level-headed woman who can use the Age of the Gods magic by herself.
• Contrived Coincidence: Loki & Medea happen to check in at the same hotel Kayneth stays at.
• Cruel Mercy: While Zouken is frozen by Loki's Casket of Ancient Winter, he is still alive, albeit unable to breathe, and the ice lasts for decades, if not centuries. All while Loki gloats that he will take Sakura from him, effectively ending Matou's chance to restore their diluted bloodline.
  "Given that she was abandoned by one family, and another did disgusting things to her, I think she will do well with a new surname. Sakura Lokidottir has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
• Crystal Ball:
  • This is the medium Medea uses to scry.
  • Zelrecth gives Asgard's Royal family and several others this to see Loki's journey throughout the story.
• Deadpan Snarker:
  • When viewing Assassin trying to infiltrate Toshaka Mansion, Loki notes how Assassin moves like someone who has too many drinks and how he has seen more ostentatious armor than Archer's back in Asgard.
  • When Diarmuid snarls that Loki impugned Kayneth's honor, he retorts that he could not impugn things that do not exist, like Waver's bladder control and Iskandar's indoor voice.
  • There's Loki's response to Kirei killing Maiya's familiar before tossing it to her with Black Keys to keep her from escaping.
    "You know, flinging dead birds at women doesn't help win their hearts."
  • Risei bids Loki farewell out of his church by saying "May God be with you, Loki".
• Death by Adaptation: Loki encasing Zouken in ice with Casket of Ancient Winter that that lasts for decades, if not centuries on human.
  Loki: Do you feel that, Zouken Matou? That is the magic of the Casket of Ancient Winters, capable of freezing all in its path. I'm sure you are struggling in there, but it took Heimdall a long time to free himself, and he is more powerful than you. He was more than human, and you are considerably less. The ice won't melt unless I will it to, and I don't particularly feel like doing that. And I won't kill you either, despite the fact you can't breathe. The Frost Giants were truly cruel, being able to manipulate the ice so that those affected were kept at the very edge of death.
• Declaration of Protection: After hearing about Sakura's plight from Kariya, he solemnly declares that he will rescue her. Later, he promises and swears that he will not let anyone taking her away from him.
• Déjà Vu: Loki has this from drinking Gilgamesh's wine. From there, he recognizes the Servant's identity by recalling that he had this wine from a Mesopotamia's king's treasury Odin have raided before.
• Did You Just Flip Off Cthulhu?: Other sees Loki repeatedly taunting Gilgamesh as this.
• Dies Differently in Adaptation:
  • Ryuunosuke died after being shot in the gut by Kiritsugu in Canon. Here, it's by being pushed back by Medea, causing his neck to break from hitting a table.
  • In Canon, Maiya was killed by Berserker. Here, she was killed by Medea to kidnap Irisviel as bait for Kiritsugu.
  • In Canon, Diarmuid is forced to kill himself under Kayneth's Command Seal, curses everyone in his dying breath, while his Master, Kayneth, is assassinated by Maiya just minutes afterward. Here, the former were anticlimaticly killed by Medea's Machia Hecatia Graea, while Kiritsugu shoots the latter with Origin Bullet soon after before stomping on his throat.
  • In Canon, Kariya succumbed to the Crest Worms in him as he was burned alive. Here, he is head-shotted by Kiritsugu with a sniper rifle so he can take Berserker as his Servant after Arturia joins Loki & Medea.
• The Dreaded:
  • Zelrecth, to those who know him.
    On Midgard, a popular phrase was "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts" [...]. Amongst Magi, on Asgard, and within a number of cultures and organizations aware of a certain Dead Apostle, the phrase was modified to "Beware of Zelretch bearing gifts".
  • Then there's his Kaleidosticks. Heimdall tosses it off the Bifrost as soon as Zelrecth shows it to him, and Gamora & Nebula treat them as if they are radioactive.
• Equal-Opportunity Offender: Loki assures Arturia that he mocks and making fun of everyone.
• Even Evil Has Standards: Loki has discovered a new low: Crest Worms.
  "And if your patriarch is disgusting enough to defile a young child with Crest Worms…there are many things that offend my sensibilities, Kariya Matou, but despite my only knowing of them for a short period, Crest Worms have quickly become one of my most detested things."
• Exact Words: After killing Diarmuid & taking Arturia's contract, Loki assures Kirei that he has "dealt with" the two Servants and that they "won't be a threat to him". Kirei can see through the double-speak, but Loki insists.
  Kirei: Are they both dead?
  Loki: They are no threat to you.
  Kirei: That does not answer my question.
  Loki: I believe it did. To my satisfaction if not yours. Just know that Lancer and Saber are no longer a danger to your personal quest, Kirei Kotomine.
• Face Death with Dignity: Now that Sakura is rescued from Zouken, and meeting her for the last time to say his goodbyes, Kariya is more than content that he won't last long on Earth and might die from either the Crest Worm or being killed by Tokiomi.
• Flashback Nightmare: Loki has one after arriving at Fuyuki, recapping what he's been through in Thor.
• Freudian Excuse: Zelretch, and later Frigga, defended Loki when Heimdall & Warriors Three + Sif respectively insisted that Loki is obviously evil by stating that, while his crime is severe, he feels like he has no other options because he has no one to trust or turn to during his internal crisis ever since he found out that he is a Frost Giant among Asgardians.
  Volstagg: And we were right not to trust him! He turned out to be a Frost Giant and a villain!
  Frigga: And he felt as if he had nobody to turn to. Thor was exiled, Odin had gone into Odinsleep, and he didn't know whether he could trust me. I know he certainly couldn't trust you.
• Hidden Disdain Reveal: Loki expects this from Medea, considering her past and that he is a god, but turns out to be Subverted; When Loki asks her that, Medea says that The Gods she despises are of the Greek pantheon, not Nordic's and that he's technically not a real God, just a mortal with long lifespan.
  Medea: I am wary of you, and understandably so given your reputation. But I do not hate you.
• Hollywood Tone-Deaf: Volstagg. Loki uses his singing to be aired on a radio in Kayneth's room as part of a prank.
  Loki: Damnation. I wanted them to enjoy the dubious delights of Volstagg's Euterpean efforts for a bit longer. It took a lot of trouble trying to dig up that memory for you to channel to their radio.
  Medea: I have to say, I'm relieved. I pity you for knowing such a man who cannot sing so well. Even that oaf Heracles wasn't as bad.
• Humiliation Conga: Kayneth's second day in Fuyuki did not go well. The toilet broke mid-flushing, splashing his face with his pee. Then he tries to complain about the bathroom's quality and orders breakfast on the bed for his fiancee, only to be laughed at by the hotel's staff because, to them, his room didn't exist in the hotel. Then, realizing that he may be under the charm of another Magus, he summons Lancer for protection only to hear Sola-Ui slep-talking about having sex with his Servant, causing him, in fury, to waste 2 Command Seals to force Lancer to confess if he ever sleeps with his fiancee.
• I Am What I Am: In the end, Loki only sees himself as himself, neither hero nor villain.
  Kiritsugu: Are you trying to be a hero?
  Loki: I am trying to be myself, that is, Loki. And it is only now that I think I am beginning to realize just what that is. I am not a hero by any means, nor am I a villain. I just am. If I do heroic things, it is because I wish to on my own terms, and no other. I am not here to save the world. I am here for my own satisfaction, and to discover myself, and even now, I only see myself dimly. I thought I had known myself, but I did not.
• If I Wanted You Dead...: The reason Kiritsugu believes that Loki has something to do with Zelrecth is because the Frost Giant preferred to mess with him than kill him.
• I'm a Doctor, Not a Placeholder: After hearing Loki's backstory, Kirei says that he's not the kind of priest that do confessions.
• Implied Death Threat: Iskandar gives Kiritsugu a short one after the Servant-less hitman asks to talk to Waver.
  "Then come in. But be warned: treachery when I have offered you the chance to parley will not end well..."
• I'm Your Biggest Fan: While not as bombastic as this trope usually portrays, Loki mentions how he is a big fan of Zelretch as a master of magic that even Odin fears with a penchant for pranks, and the Wizard Marshall replies that he is his as well.
• In Spite of a Nail:
  • Irisviel still dies and becomes Great Grail, pouring out a Grail Mud that ends up causing The Fuyuki Fire.
  • Kiritsugu still finds and saves the amnesiac red-haired boy he rescues from the above's aftermath and adopts him and renames him Shirou Emiya.
• Insult Backfire: Arturia snarls if Loki thinks that he sees everything as a game, and he retorts that the Holy Grail War is a game in the Maguses' eyes.
• Internal Reveal:
  • Medea & Loki figures out that Assassin may survive Archer's assault and their Masters may be collaborating.
  • Loki & Medea also figure out that Kiritsugu & Saber may have Teeth-Clenched Teamwork due to the Servant having this chivalrous air around her and the Master is a hitman.
  • People eventually learn that Loki is participating in the Grail War on Zelretch's behalf.
  • Kariya tells Loki of Sakura's predicament, with Medea filling the holes on what Crest Worms are.
  • Through Loki's request, the Masters also reveal what they are hoping to achieve by winning the Holy Grail during the Banquet of Kings, not just the Servants.
• I Owe You My Life: Kariya promises that he'll be in debt to Loki for life, and even starts worshipping him, if he can rescue Sakura from Zolgen...not that he has much life left to spare.
• I Reject Your Reality: Loki really doesn't believe that his adopted family truly cares for him, with his last sight of Thor screaming in anguish as he fell off Bifrost is seen as well-done acting, and not believing the words from Zelrecth — his idol — that Odin, Freya & Thor truly mourn for his "death".
• It Amused Me:
  • One of the reasons Zelrecth wants to influence the 4th Fuyuki Grail War, besides preventing the loss of innocent human lives, is that he is against the kinds of chaos Ryuunosuke & Gilles bring in canon and prefers a more humorous one.
  • This is also the reason Loki aids Diarmuid & Arturia in fighting off Berserker since the other Servants are not as amusing to mess with as them.
    Diarmuid: Why warn us?
    Loki: You're more amusing alive than dead! and those two (Archer & Berserker) don't seem like they wouldn't react well to Gadflies.
  • Gilgamesh holds back from killing Loki in their second meeting because he enjoys seeing Tokiomi's reaction when Loki rescues Sakura.
• It's Personal: Loki always intends to not let Kiritsugu get the Holy Grail because he finds it entertaining. However, after hearing about Kiritsugu's wish, he is so offended that he swears in front of him that he'll put some genuine work into making the hitman lose the war.
  "Even before I learn of your wish, it was going to give me great pleasure to deny yours. Now, it's a solemn duty as much as a pleasure."
• I Want Grandkids: Downplayed; Frigga is quick in accepting Sakura as her granddaughter when she sees how protective Loki is toward her.
• It Was with You All Along: When it was Medea's turn to tell what she wishes for from the Holy Grail, she admits that she already has it; A second chance in life free from the Greek Gods' machination.
• Jerkass Has a Point: Waver groans when Iskandar declines to swap his allegiance to Kiritsugu nor spill Caster's identity after the former Saber Master reveals that he has a daughter to return home to, with the Rider Servant stating that just because he's a Servant doesn't mean he can be traded like a property, and that the hitman practically offers nothing to Waver in return of handing over Iskandar to him.
• Jerkass Realization: Loki realizes that his life could have been as bad as Sakura's since he is a Frost Giant and Odin knows the whole time, yet he, for all his faults, never physically harms him as Zolgen does, making Loki's plight seems petty in comparison, and his action of declaring to Odin's face that he did not accept him as his father all the more terrible.
  Loki: You at least were told of your destiny, Arturia. I was kept ignorant by my fool of a father. And I was still considered an outsider, a perpetual outsider. But…when I heard about Sakura…I realized it could have been worse, and she, a human, endured worse. How old are you, Sakura?
  Sakura: Six.
  Loki: Six…and you were in that abominable pit for a year. I should not complain about my own accommodations.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold:
  • Loki. He may be an agent of chaos, but he is capable of sympathizing with the plight of Medea & Sakura.
  • Lampshaded with Kiritsugu; While he is a pragmatic hitman, he did feel enraged by that Sakura being constantly submerged in Crest Worms pit. Not to mention that he could've just blown up the hotel to kill Kayneth, yet he took his time to evacuate its guests & staff to avoid collateral damage.
  • Tokiomi is inwardly glad that Loki managed to rescue Sakura from The Matou, and wishes that he could attend the truce meeting in person to personally apologize to her.
• Jumping Off the Slippery Slope: Kiritsugu killing Kariya to take over Berserker's ownership so he can stay in the Holy Grail War is seen as this by Loki & Arturia.
  Arturia: Kiritsugu...what have you done?
• Kill Steal: Arturia is disappointed that Diarmuid was killed instantly by Medea's A-Rank lasers before the two Knight-Class Servants can finish their duel.
• Knocking on Heathens' Door: Loki tries to be subtle in getting into Matou's house through the front door by pretending to do this, earning him a Door Slam of Rage from drunken Byakuya. This causes Loki to resort to kicking the door (and Byakuya by proxy) down.
• Left the Background Music On: On his first morning in Fuyuki, Loki hears Ashes to Ashes by David Bowie.
• Lesser of Two Evils: The way Sif sees it, Loki falling on Zelretch's clutches is much better than on Thanos'.
• Like a Son to Me: Frigga insists that Loki is her son, no matter if he's hers by adoption.
• Love Epiphany: Downplayed; Medea didn't suddenly realize that she loves Loki, but she can feel that her feelings about him are starting to shift.
• Lying to Protect Your Feelings: Loki assures Sakura that the Crest Worm pit did not ruin her, but reforge her into someone strong in soul and spirit, even though he's certain that her experience in it doesn't exactly toughen her up as much as merely make her subconsciously numbing herself to pain.
• Magic Is Feminine: Asgard, being Proud Warrior Race Guy, has this opinion, hence why Loki is often looked down upon.
  Loki: While their leaders are mostly good enough at strategy, they are rather too linear in their thinking. They think magic to be the province of womenfolk and scholars, not of warriors, and deception to be the province of cowards.
• Master of Disguise: Loki, obviously
  • To get away from Kayneth looking for him in rage, he disguises himself as a drunkard, causing the Magus to immediately halt his attack when finding him and dismiss him, thinking that any memories about magic ended up dismissed as drunk hallucination.
  • He pretends to be the dock's security guard to approach Kiritsugu in his sniping position.
• Master of Illusion: Again, Loki.
  • He summons illusion clones of Arturia to distract Berserker and later of Maiya to let the real one escape Kirei.
• Milholland Relationship Moment: Thor admits that he's proud of Loki's growing change of heart as he sees him admitting his faults to Arturia & Medea through the crystal ball. When Fandral reminds him that he does so by insulting him, the Mjolnir wielder lets it be since not only he and Loki used to throw insults at each other, but he also believes that Loki has a point with the flaws he sees in him, and promises to rectify it.
• Mirror Character:
  • Loki & Zelretch are master of magic who loves pranks and are The Gadfly. Even Kiritsugu thinks that the former has the same air as the latter about him.
  • Loki & Medea are masters of magic whose legends paint them as untrustworthy.
• More than Mind Control: Arturia joins Loki & Medea by the combination of questioning her motivation for the Grail, questioning Kiritsugu's character, appealing to her chivalrous nature, and begging for her help in saving Sakura.
  Arturia: You make me doubt my purpose.
  * Later*
  Arturia: I must be taking leave of my senses to even consider this, even with the power you have over me and your rhetoric.
• Mr. Exposition: Both Zelretch & Medea can be considered this for Fate-related information for Loki.
• Mundane Afterlife: When Loki ends up in Zelrecth's pocket dimension that looks like an office, he mistakes it for Frost Giant's afterlife, which he finds disappointing.
• Muscles Are Meaningless: Loki, being a Frost Giant, is stronger than average human despite his lithe build, shown as he palm-strikes Lancer onto a shipping container, making a dent.
• Mythology Gag:
  • When Ryuunosuke asks Loki if the book he used to "tech support" his "demon summoning" is made of human skin (which is actually just an illusion to disguise the book), the latter mutters if the human thinks he will chant Cthulhu fhtagn next, which Gilles does in Canon.
  • Loki mentions to Arturia that he can understand her wish to redo her time as the king of Camelot and would've looked down on her if she chose to have someone else take her place instead, something her canon self in Fate/stay night does.
• Names to Trust Immediately: Double-subverted; Loki & Medea know the reputation that comes from each other names, but that was used as a reason to bond through Commonality Connection, that they know what it is like to betray others means that they will not abuse the trust they give to each other.
• Nay-Theist: Kirei, which is ironic for the Church's Executor & son of a priest, but Justified due to his awareness of his inner darkness.
  Loki: Well, do you believe in God, then?
  Kirei: ...It's sometimes hard to believe when He creates someone like me.
• Noodle Incident: There was a time when Zelrecth tricked Sif, Gamora & Nebula into using Kalediosticks, causing the Asgardian to wish to strangle the Dead Apostle the next time she ever sees him, and infuriating the space assassins when they encountered the magical device again.
• "Not So Different" Remark: Medea states to Arturia that, despite taking the different ends of the extremes, they are both shackled by their responsibility as royalty and causing their own downfall while being remembered as "inhumane" because of their response to said responsibility.
  "You and I are both royalty, Arturia. We understand the responsibilities that come with such a station. I, to my shame, abdicated those responsibilities for a man who was not worth it, thanks in no small part to the meddling of the gods. You, on the other hand, took those responsibilities to an extreme. You suffered civil war because your subjects could not comprehend how inhuman you were as a king, holding yourself to the highest standard you could. I was too human, and you were not human enough. By our detractors, we are considered inhuman."
• Oh, Crap!: Kiritsugu say this out loud when he learns Loki participates in the Fuyuki Grail War on Zelretch's behalf, because logically, the Dead Apostle does not need The Holy Grail, meaning the Caster's Master is after something else.
• O.O.C. Is Serious Business:
  • When Loki tells Kirei to deliver his threat to Tokiomi, the priest notes the surprising level of venom in the usually whimsical Frost Giant's tone.
  • When Arturia tells Kiritsugu of Sakura's plight and asks him what if that happens to Illya, the hitman's stoic facade cracks as he glares away from her.
• Outside-Context Problem: Loki is this to the Fuyuki Holy Grail War participants. Nobody is initially sure if he is a Master or a Servant, he's full of tricks & illusions, and, despite being later shown to be the Master, his physical strength is on par with Servants.
• Parodies for Dummies: Zelretch actually wrote The Grail Wars For Dummies for people to read, but his reputation as a prankster makes people hesitate to read it. This contains the steps of the Servant Summoning Ritual, and ends up helping Medea concludes that Irisviel is a vessel for Lesser Grail.
• Point of Divergence:
  • Loki ends up in Zelretch's realm instead of Thanos' after falling off the Bifrost.
  • Loki is transported to Fuyuki in the house Ryuunosuke kills a parent of one and, using a golden fleece Zelretch gives him as the ritual's catalyst, summons Medea as the Caster Servant.
  • In Canon, Arturia still holds on to her "A King must stand alone" belief, causing Iskandar to mock her and declare her to be unworthy as a king. Here, she is more dubious about that belief, and now leans more on "apart, but not alone", making Iskandar respect her more as he claims that there is still hope for her.
• Power of Trust: While Loki currently has trust issues, he himself hates thraldom, so he assures Caster that he won't use his Command Seals unless it is necessary, that even though he is the one in charge, he values her cooperation and intelligence, and that he won't object to any independent action she took as long as she explains her reasonings to him. This convinces her to reveal her true name to him.
• The Prankster:
  • They enchant Kayneth's room, controlling things and casting illusions in it, disabling the elevators & doors to the emergency ladder, and hypnotizing the hotel staff and Sola-Ui, all to piling him in a Humiliation Conga.
  • He disguises himself as the harbor's security guard acting like catching Kiritsugu red-handed in trespassing, then pretending to be affected by his hypnosis as he turns invisible and sends the illusion of his security guard disguise leaving, before freezing the hitman's firearms, tied one of his legs with the crane's rope and pushes him off the crane, making him dangling upside-down.
    "Do you want to play a game? I call it Dope on a Rope."
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech:
  • Loki gives one to both Diarmuid and Arturia for their Honor Before Reason attitude making them blindly obey less than morally good Masters who treat them as nothing but tools despite their chivalrous nature, and to Asgardians, indirectly.
    Loki: *Dodging Diarmuid's attacks* That was rude.
    Diarmuid: So is impugning the honor of my Master.
    Loki: As I said, I can't impugn what doesn't exist. Then again, honor tends to lower one's IQ, doesn't it? My family went on about honor, and yet, they were liars, thieves, and murderers. Uncultured brutes who thought scholars were beneath them. At least I am honest about what I am. *Facing Arturia* Though I daresay my fool of a brother might learn more from you, Arturia, about what honor and self-restraint mean. If he can get over the fact that you are a woman. I doubt he will. He took centuries to get used to Lady Sif being a warrior.
  • Loki gives one to Kiritsugu for how extreme his wish for "world peace" is due to him being Well-Intentioned Extremist.
    "Kirei was right. You are a pathetic excuse for a human looking for salvation in the wrong places! You would better serve humanity by putting a head and pulling the trigger, instead of pursuing such a dangerous idea! Better to mitigate the horrors of your species than to effectively neuter humanity. Better to be a monster who restrains or channels his impulses and tries to do good in spite of it, than to fall into being a killer who dresses up his goals in a righteousness he doesn't deserve."
• Set Right What Once Went Wrong: Discussed; it is Arturia's wish to return to when she pulled the sword from the stone and redo her time as King of Camelot and avoid the mistakes she made then, but Loki, as tempted as he is in wanting that himself, doubts that undoing the bad things that happened in the past would keep the Bad Future from happening, if not making things worse and/or erasing the good things that would've come from the bad timeline through Butterfly Effect.
  "Arturia, you have stood as an example, as a hero, to people throughout the ages. What if, by making your wish, you inadvertently end up destroying the beauty of your myth? What if those inspired by your myth to do better never are, or are inspired to do worse? The results of meddling with time are incalculable."
• Self-Made Man: When people ask Loki what he wishes from the Holy Grail, he insists that he has none that he can't achieve with his own hard work.
  " I would rather stick to the desires I know that I can achieve myself, Arturia. I have functioning limbs, a sharp mind, and a silver tongue. For a mere human, that is more than enough."
• Shared Family Quirks: Loki is a bit frustrated that Thor's hot-headedness is rubbing off onto him.
• Shout-Out:
  • Zelretch tries to juggle a crystal ball like Jareth the Goblin King, only for him to drop it, causing it to shatter.
    "Damnation. David Bowie makes it look so easy."
  • The song Volstagg sang that Loki uses to annoy Kayneth is the infamous Hedgehog Song by Nanny Ogg from Discworld.
  • Loki silently calling Gilgamesh unarmed in a battle of wits is based on when The Doctor thought the same with Major Dickens in Big Finish Doctor Who episode Night Thoughts.
  • When Kirei asks Loki if he knows Zelretch, he answers by quoting the Character Catchphrase of Francis Urquhart from House of Cards (UK)
    "You might think that. I couldn't possibly comment."
  • During passing out from having her contract taken by Medea's Rule Breaker, Arturia dreams of the early parts of episode 3 of Fate/Cero, where Irisviel Drives Like Crazy with her on the passenger seat before being forced to hit a break after almost run over Loki who tries to sells some t-shirts.
  • Loki's threat to Tokiomi is ripped off from the time bomb James Bond got in Live and Let Die.
  • Loki was inspired by The Divine Comedy's Cocytus when he decides on how to punish Zouken.
• Silly Rabbit, Cynicism Is for Losers!: Loki perfectly counters Kiritsugu's whole "Heroes are self-righteous mass murderers who have deluded themselves and society into thinking they're idols worth admiring and worshipping" belief.
  "Have you forgotten, rather conveniently, of the good heroes like Arturia, or Iskandar, have inspired? How much good have they inspired that outweighs the bad? Your pathetic species needs heroes to look up to, for how else would they strive? They need examples. Look at Waver. He is but rough clay, but he has the potential to reach heights you can only dream of, and perhaps Iskandar will serve as that example."
• Sneeze Cut: Played for Laughs. When someone unknowingly quoting someone from another work, the quote originator sneezes.
  • When Loki asks if Gilgamesh shits gold and that's what his Bling of War is made of, Tywin Lannister sneezes before he was shot in the toilet to his death.
  • When Loki swears that Zouken will end up having a bad time, Sans sneezes.
• Spared by the Adaptation:
  • The kid whose parents Ryuunosuke killed managed to flee with Medea's help instead of being killed by Gilles like in canon.
  • Loki, Medea & Arturia save Sakura from Zolgen's grasp and have the Crest Worms in her get purged.
  • Byakuya Matou is spared by Loki as the latter rescues Sakura and ends up running away, taking Shinji with him.
  • Tokiomi lives through The Holy Grail War, at the price of witnessing the Fuyuki Fire.
  • Sola-Ui survives the Holy Grail War and takes Waver as her apprentice, avoiding her canonical death.
• Sticky Fingers: Loki manages to pickpocket Kiritsugu's Thompson Contender & Origin Bullets as he leans over to whisper to him, confiscating the weapon for the truce talk.
• Take Care of the Kids: Kariya's last wish is for Sakura to be taken care of, and let her visit Aoi & Rin before Loki takes her to Asgard.
• Tell Him I'm Not Speaking to Him: Played With; While Maiya isn't exactly neutral, she ends up becoming the middle man between Loki & Kiritsugu using her radio when she's preparing to blow up the hotel. Fed up with talking to the former, she ended up handing him over an earpiece so he didn't have to talk to her to talk with Kiritsugu.
• Tempting Fate: Lampshaded; When Frigga ponders on how Loki could get worse if he ended up on Thanos' hand, Volstagg asks if that's even possible, earning him a Dope Slap from Hogun.
  Hogun: Never say anything or anyone could not possibly be worse than it is. You tempt the universe and its forces to prove you otherwise.
• That's What I Would Do: After finding out about Caster's Noble Phantasm, Loki questions her if she won't be attempting to use it on her own contract to leave him, knowing that it is something he would've done if he was forced to serfdom.
• Threat Backfire:
  • Diarmuid proclaims that Loki has sullied his master's and his fiancee's honor, to which the Frost Giant retorts back that Kayneth has none, so he technically sullies nothing.
  • Loki is also not intimidated by Gilgamesh.
    Loki: Ah, we have the Lesser Golden Peacock sitting on his perch.
    Gilgamesh: You dare mock me, mongrel?
    Loki: Well, as mongrels tend to be more genetically diverse, I am proud to be called a mongrel.
    Gilgamesh: Be thankful I have better things to do than to match wits with you, Loki of Asgard.
    Loki: A battle of wits? How nice of you to come unarmed.
  • Loki cuts off Kiritsugu's threat on the earpiece Maiya lends to him before he can finish it.
  • Zouken tries some Badass Boast, but it's ineffective on Loki.
    Zouken: I am over five centuries old, and I have forgotten more about magecraft than you will ever learn! *Sending locusts to Loki*.
    Loki: Five hundred years old? I was around long before then. *Freezing the locust, before encasing Zouken in ice* Advanced age, especially in a body as decrepit as yours, is nothing to boast about.
• Title Drop: Zelretch says "Time to light the blue touch paper ^meaningdo something which causes anger or excitement, and run like hell" after Loki agrees to join the Holy Grail War.
• Touché: Loki is upset that Kiritsugu throws a knife at him, while the latter remarked that the former pushed him off a crane, which he conceded on.
• Too Desperate to Be Picky: Kariya, being dying, is more than willing to beg for Loki's help to save Sakura, to his surprise as the latter was trying to hypnotize him to trust him more.
• Troll: Loki.
  • He gives Kayneth Humiliation Conga, which includes having Sola-Ui sleep-talking about having sex with his Servant.
  • He baited Kiritsugu into saying "Please".
    Kiritsugu: Are you Master or Servant?
    Loki: *Invisible* Ask nicely, and I'll consider answering.
    Kiritsugu: *Gritting teeth* …May I ask whether you are Master or Servant?
    Loki: *Grins* I've considered it. I'm not telling.
  • He mocks Archer for willingly submitting to a lesser man like Tokiomi & how gaudy his Bling of War is.
• The Unfettered: Deconstructed with Kiritsugu. he's more than willing to sacrifice a lot to get the Holy Grail, even his wife, as Irisviel is the Grail's vessel, therefore she needs to die to manifest the Grail.
  Medea: You (Arturia) have killed, but at least you did so in defense of your kingdom and people, as was your right by your station. For what reason does he kill? Peace? A corpse is remarkably peaceful, and he is no king defending a kingdom. His family? If I am correct, he is more than willing to sacrifice his wife for the Grail. No, you and I may have stained our hands with blood, but he has stained his soul.
• Villains (and Anti-Hero) Takes an Interest: Both Gilgamesh & Loki have their intrigue set on Kirei, to his confusion, seeing himself as no one special.
• Vitriolic Best Buds: After Medea puts down her hood and tells Loki her true name, Loki pointing out her Pointed Ears, in a way assuring her that he accepts her as his Servant despite her legend.
  Loki: *Smirks* I never expected you to have pointy ears.
  Medea: *Smirks* Oh? And is it true about you giving birth to Sleipnir, Odin's horse?
  Loki: *Scowls* I don't know where those idiot skalds got that from, but it never happened like that.
  Medea: *Titters* Your denial is a bit damning, I think.
• Well-Intentioned Extremist: Deconstructed on Kiritsugu by Loki; Not only he's more than willing to kill people to achieve his goal of world peace, his "any means necessary" methodology means that his wish could be granted in the worst way possible.
  "Don't get me wrong, saving the world from an immediate threat is laudable, Magus Killer. If the Grail would help you against an invasion from aliens, or from a plague sweeping the world, then I would not sneer. But to try and change the very foundation of humanity, no, to change a foundation of sentience itself…aggression is needed for survival, and while it causes war…it also provides a drive to strive and improve. it's not a utopia you are going to wish for, just a static, indolent nothing that makes Asgard look progressive by comparison. For all it being a realm of war-mongering imbeciles, it is more interesting than the world you desire!"
• Who Would Be Stupid Enough?: While Tokiomi knows that The Matous has Crest Worms, he initially thinks they won't be stupid enough to use it on an underage girl like Sakura.
• Why Didn't I Think of That?: As he watches Loki's journey through the crystal ball from Zelretch, The Grandmaster wonders if he can create his own Holy Grail War as a new game on Sakaar.
• Working Out Their Emotions: Zelretch admits to Frigga that one of the reasons he sent Loki to participate in the Fuyuki Holy Grail War is to let him sort up his emotions, something Loki realizes on his own, calling it a "holiday".
• Yes-Man: Loki sees Knights of The Round Table as Arturia's, unable to be truly honest with their opinion when speaking to her.
• You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Loki assures Sakura that she is stronger than she thinks.
  "Sakura? You may not be strong of body…but never let anyone say that you are not strong of heart and spirit. Lesser men and women of many times greater your age would have been reduced to mewling, whimpering messes not fit to even be called human by such an ordeal."
• You Just Told Me:
  • Loki manages to correctly guess that Kirei is a Sadist by stating that he can tell that Kirei's the type that kills Pedophile Priest rather than being one himself, causing the Executor to admit to having killed one as a mission and enjoying the agonizing look on their face in their last moments.
  • While already knowing it, Loki tricks Kiritsugu into revealing to him and the others that Irisviel is the Grail's Vessel.
• You Remind Me of X:
  • Iskandar reminds Loki of Thor with his Large Ham, No Indoor Voice & Blood Knight-ness, much to his chagrin.
    Oh dear All-Father, it's a ginger Thor.
  • Loki implies to Kirei how much they are alike; someone who was raised with a certain value, only to discover that they are the antithesis of such values.
    "Can you imagine what it's like, being told tales since your childhood of monsters like Laufey, only to find out you were one yourself?"
  • Loki admits to Medea & Arturia that he draws a comparison between himself and Sakura.
    "A child, abandoned by one father, to an uncertain future with another..."
  • Medea chose Arturia over Diarmuid as a Servant to become an ally because the Lancer Servant's Chick Magnet reminded her too much of Jason, even with Arturia's assurance that Diarmuid is too chivalrous to leave her for another woman like Jason does.
  • After hearing Medea's devotion to winning Jason's heart, Arturia can't help but compare her unfettereness to Kiritsugu's.

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