Learning to Fend for Yourself

[losthunter]

After a brief absence from the Nexus, Hunter has returned. He is still without his magic, as evident by the growth of hair on his head and not being covered by tattoos or piercings. However, Hunter does not have one tattoo, a freshly-created recreation of the rose bush tattoo on his left forearm.

Hunter seems to be deep in thought, as he taps a pencil on a large sketch book with one hand. His other hand is playing with a protection rune hanging from his neck.

"If you had to face a foe that has abilities you do not... how would you prepare yourself?" Something about his question might clue a listener to the fact that this is not hypothetical.

Comments

[pirateangelbaby]

Maybe he'll regret this, but it's hard to give advice without knowing all the facts. And who knows, maybe something good can come out of what he's been through. "Tell me of her."

[losthunter]

"It is sort of a long story." Hunter looks around, and then nods to a table and chairs nearby where they can sit.

"There are only a few people in my world that can do magic, as far as I am aware. I did not know there were magical blessed people at all, until my 20s. When I unfortunately insulted a witch, and embarrassed her publicly."

"That witch, Kendra, used her magic to change my appearance to something that I had thought was 'ugly'. And told me that I had one year to find someone who could love me as I was. In reality, that year was a learning experience for me. I truly discovered myself. And after my allotted year was over... the changed appearance had become my new face. My new identity."

"Which is not this..." Hunter gestured to his face. "Normally, I have a lot more tattoos. And piercings. And no hair."

"But three months ago I had encountered another witch. One who looked so much like Kendra that I thought it was her sister. But this witch stole the magical essence that I had because of Kendra. And it changed my appearance again."

"That witch, Karlene, has only caused me pain since then. I can't get near her without her causing my intense pain, with her chaotic magic."

[pirateangelbaby]

"I have the time," Thor answers, a faintly amused look in his eye.

It's a shame there aren't any drinks to share, because a tale like this deserves a mug of ale or two. He listens to the human's story, and thanks the Allfathers that it doesn't involve a goddess of death. One was enough for a lifetime, thank you, even an Asgardian one.

It's not really a familiar story at all, really, but it's easy to follow. "So... this is a revenge thing, or you need your magic back?"

[losthunter]

"I want my magic back." Hunter pauses to find the right words. "I miss my tattoos. The appearance I had... instead of this one."

"And besides... Karlene wants me dead. I don't really have another choice at this point."

[pirateangelbaby]

Absently, Thor runs a hand through his hair. "Hmm, yes, I know how that goes." It's been days and he still can't quite get used to how much lighter his head feels now.

The decision to go on the offensive is a respectable one, and he nods in agreement. "Either you kill her, or she kills you. Been there too, actually. Hopefully you don't have to blow up a realm to do it."

[losthunter]

Hunter notices the motion. His own hair feels heavier these days.

"Speaking from personal experience?"

[pirateangelbaby]

"Oh, yes." Thor sounds a little more casual about this than he really feels, but he doesn't know this human, and so he glosses over a lot of the details. "The goddess of death destroyed my magic hammer and stranded me in prison. Got my hair cut off, had to learn how to use my power without Mjolnir to focus it. Lost my eye. Destroyed my home realm to stop her from conquering the universe. It was one Hel of a week."

[losthunter]

"An actual goddess?" Hunter asks softly. "Sounds like you had a lot of misfortune yourself."

"Is she still a threat? Or did she die when you destroyed your realm?"

[pirateangelbaby]

"As real as I am the god of thunder," Thor answers truthfully.

"If she somehow survived it, she's powerless now. It was a heavy price, but worth it."

[losthunter]

"We did miss introducing ourselves." Hunter chuckles.

"I'm Hunter."

"I hope I don't have to pay a heavy price to stop Karlene."

[pirateangelbaby]

"Thor, son of Odin." He offers a hand, familiar enough with Earth customs to know that's the thing to do when meeting new folks. He doesn't look very godlike at the moment, dressed in Steve Rogers' civilian clothes, but he's used to the skepticism by now, too.

"One human witch should be easy. Relatively speaking, of course," he adds belatedly. "You said you've got one on your side already, yeah? Anyone else?"

[losthunter]

Hunter sets his journal on the table so he can accept the handshake.

"I do not know if she is human, to be honest. Kendra lived for centuries. And has spoken to me even after her death. I am pretty sure they are not gods, but maybe something in between." Hunter frowned slightly.

"I have other friends in the Nexus. Who have helped me before. Steve Rogers. Adia. Caspar. My boyfriend Jim. All of them are pretty special, but I don't think any of them have magical powers."

[pirateangelbaby]

"That depends on how you define a god." Good to know, though.

Thor smiles fondly at the first two names on that list, one of them more familiar to him than the other. "Don't count Rogers out. He's mightier than most humans, and I've seen him in action many times. A witch is a tricky foe to fight without magic, but not impossible. You just have to be more clever than they are."

[losthunter]

"I do have a lot of clever friends."

"I just worry about Karlene learning about them. Hurting them."

[pirateangelbaby]

Hunter's concern is a valid one, but even in the wake of the losses of his own he's lived through recently, Thor still looks at him. "Then tell them the dangers, and let them choose whether to risk themselves. She might learn of them anyway; isn't it better for them to be prepared?"

[losthunter]

He thinks of Bellatrix. And the attack at his apartment to get to Hermione that had caused him to be injured. And he nods.

"I need to find a way to learn more about her, so they can be prepared. I just don't know where to start. The only thing I know of Kendra is that she was connected to the Seven Sisters. Tied to the actual stars of that name. Karlene may be too.."

[pirateangelbaby]

Thor's brows draw together in a frown as he considers that. Seven Sisters... he's pretty sure he knows what star cluster Hunter means, though he knows them as Freyja's Hens. Not very helpful. "I'm told there's a library here somewhere. Maybe that could be a starting point."

[losthunter]

Hunter recognizes the look of deep thought. "Did you recognize the name?"

"The Grand Library? I have not been there yet, but I know Hermione goes there often."

[pirateangelbaby]

"No. Well, yes. But it's nothing helpful. Unless she's secretly a pheasant." He's doubtful, but hey, you never know. Weirder things have happened.

"I haven't either. I'm more of a hands-on learner, myself."

[losthunter]

“I can ask Hermione to join me for a study session. It is a good suggestion.”

Hunter still feels a little nervous. It is his life on the line.

[pirateangelbaby]

"Your witch friend." He recognizes the name from earlier, and nods towards the rune around Hunter's neck. "Yes, good. She'd know what to look for better than I."

[losthunter]

"And to research how different cultures consider the Seven Sisters just might give me a clue on how to proceed."

"I know there is likely not much a God might need, but if there is anything I can do to help you. Let me know."

[pirateangelbaby]

Thor chuckles, but not because the offer is a ridiculous one. "It could be more likely than you think. I've had help from Midgardians before, and I've never once regretted it."

[losthunter]

Hunter writes down his PINpoint information. And holds it out to Thor.

"I am glad we met."

[pirateangelbaby]

Thor takes the number automatically, and frowns in puzzlement for a moment before he realizes what it's for. "Ah, for the Bifrost devices. I have one of those. Somewhere." He pats himself down, locating Rogers' pockets until he finds one with a rectangular lump in it. Ridiculous that he even needs one at all, but if hanging around humans has taught him anything, it's that it pays to take advantage of opportunity.

His PINpoint is something like a smartphone, if smartphones were made out of clear glass all the way through, one edge lined with silver. The display is all in runes, the language close to but not quite Old Norse. Thor taps out the number, storing it in the device's memory, before pulling up his own identification and showing it to Hunter.