nexus_crossings | +1 King of Asgard

+1 King of Asgard

Thor really should have no right to be as cheery as he is right now. Mjolnir destroyed, his father dead, his eye ruined, Asgard exploded, the last of his people crammed together onto a single spaceship on their way to seek aslyum on Midgard, one cannot really say they've been having a good day, to put it mildly.

But it could be worse.

It's taken him years to fully understand what it means to sit on the throne of Asgard, and now that kingship falls to him at last, the lack of that throne doesn't bother him at all. Asgard isn't a place to rule, it's a people to guide. And even if they couldn't save all of them, those who remain are precious to him. A new start awaits them all on Earth.

Or so he hopes.

Thor strides down the corridor of the Statesman, cape billowing behind him as he navigates his way towards the bridge. Hmm. Or was it this way? It's so easy to get turned around in this blasted thing. But ah, the sound of a multitude of voices; surely this is the way.

It takes him a moment to realize that he's no longer surrounded by Asgardians, or even Korg's crew. No, the people here are of all shapes and sizes, and the sky above him suddenly opens up, wide and blue. Not on a spaceship anymore. How very strange to find himself suddenly transported across the galaxy - again - without so much as being shot through the Bifrost. His attention is caught by a familiar voice, and despite his confusion, a delighted grin lights upon his countenance to see his good friend Rogers giving prerecorded messages in his battle regalia.

Perhaps this is Midgard, then? But no, the more he listens, the more he understands. A place between the worlds, hmm. A place to seek counsel, and befriend countless warriors from across the universe. Thor crosses his arms over his chest, and contemplates what question he should ask. Something somewhat relevant to his current situation, perhaps. "If you were put in a position of power, what would you first command?"

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Thor's eye lights up at the sight of such a person, close enough in appearance to the Groots that perhaps it is one? But no, he speaks as a man, and Thor can't help but be mildly disappointed that once again, his elective language class is for naught.

Still, the answer is a good one. "A bold course of action," Thor says, approving - as long as 'reclaim' isn't a euphemism for 'invaded' anyway. "You are a leader of your people, then?"

He gives himself a shake. The soil here is far richer and he's getting used to it. Swamp Things can't get fat persay, just larger and more lethargic and he's feeling that today as he stretches himself again, vines twitching. He's a deeper richer green. How long was I rooted for?

"I am the avatar of the green. The representative of all plant life on the planet earth." He frowns, "There's no way to explain that without sounding pretentious. Sorry about that."

A few of the plants he's standing by blossom and he waves them down, "Welcome to the Nexus."

He chuckles at that, amused by the irony. "Comes with the territory," he says, well aware that his own title comes across as pretentious and high-and-mighty. "I am Thor Odinson, king of Asgard, god of Thunder. I know how you feel." Maybe not literally or anything, but fancy titles, he can do.

God of Asgard. It's on the tip of his tongue to ask if he knows the Amazons and Diana, but he's honestly never heard of any of the Norse Gods working to be involved in the affairs of humans. He'd know these things. There have been two viking avatars.

Extending a great big green hand he nods, "I'm Dr. Alec Holland."

No, he has to, "Have you ever spoken with the Greek Gods? Or the Amazons?"

He's willing to accept different realities but still, he and Wonder Woman don't agree. If this man knows her, it's best to be cautious.

Thor is eager to greet him properly, grasping at his elbow in a warrior's handshake, smiling broadly. "Well met, Holland." What an appropriate name... woodland.

He's heard of these Greek gods, or at least that there were some, but the name Amazon doesn't sound terribly familiar to him. "Not that I know of. My people have traditionally kept to ourselves, mostly." Oh, wait, that's not entirely true anymore, is it? "In recent centuries," he adds.

He can relate to that. The green is reclusive by nature, well, each kingdom.

"The kingdom I rule over is the same." of a sort, "...Why ask about command? Did you just take your throne?"

A few leaves rustle and Alec sighs as they grow a bit taller, visibly, "...Constant questions from my kingdom. Constant."

"Officially, I've been king for perhaps twenty hours. We were in somewhat of a rush," he adds, as if that explains his lack of regalia. Truth be told, even if Odin's robes and armor had survived the cataclysm, Thor feels he probably would never have worn them anyway. A shame about Gungnir, though.

Consider him curious. "Your kingdom... you hear them even now?" How does that work, he wonders, to have a kingdom made of every green thing that grows?

"Always. I am it, and it is me. I must answer their concerns as well as keep track of their wishes. We're one of six in my world. It's...difficult. Not impossible to manage but with so many beings requiring my protection..."

He frowns.

"...Well. There it is. Are you hungry?"

It's not the same, not exactly, but Thor feels a kinship regardless. So many being to protect, yes. Not just Asgard, what remains of her, but also Banner, and Valkyrie, and Korg, and the other prisoners from Sakaar. And Midgard, Odin willing.

The question comes as a sudden shift, and Thor blinks a moment as he processes it. "I could certainly eat." When is the last time he had anything? On Sakaar itself, surely. He's been too busy to stop and do otherwise since.

Alec doesn't hesitate to raise a hand and pull an apple tree from the earth. In this case, the Nexus's green rebels a hair and he quiets them with a word. Still, the apples are red and delicious, covered in blossoms, "...The more trees the better."

Curious indeed. Thor has seen many powers at work in his centuries of life, but he's not quite certain he's seen anything like this. It's almost the exact antithesis of Hela, her ability to draw weaponry from nowhere, blades and spears with the flick of a wrist. Death on demand.

Not so here. Life from nothing, green and growing, the sweet scent of ripe apples causing his stomach to growl involuntarily as he reaches up to pluck one from a branch. It's no roast ox, but it'll do. "My thanks, Holland," he says, biting into the crisp juicy fruit. "That's quite a talent."

The plant kingdom. Alec tilts his head to the side, listening to the annoyance of the Nexus's green before he shrugs, "The green is bountiful. Your kingdom though, what sort of a place is Asgard?"

The loss is still fresh, of course, and there's a pang in his heart at the destruction of his home. But in the end, the place is not important. The people are. And so it does not quite hurt as deeply.

"Once it was the jewel of Yggdrasil, gilded and celebrated across the Nine Realms, with gardens thousands of years old, and a palace even older still. Much has changed of late. But my people still live, saved aboard the Grandmaster's ship, and that is what matters."

Yggdrasil gives him pause. The world tree was a big part of the parliament of trees. Different realities, apparently they truly were the world tree, keeper of worlds.

"...As long as those you care about survive, no matter how changed or hurt they might be...they can heal." He's speaking to himself, turning over his hand as he stares at the grass, "...I'm sorry. You just sound so assured. It reminded me of something I was struggling with."

He waves a hand, "A good part about this place."

Thor's confidence is legendary, but even he has his doubts sometimes. And his demeanor is a quiet one while Holland speaks, continuing to eat of the apple. "Yes. Precisely. Asgard is not a place, it's a people." He says it as if it was a mantra, a reminder to himself, more than wisdom meant for the other. "Gardens can be regrown, palaces rebuilt, though I feel we will not revel in such opulence again. A kingdom is nothing without her people. Or... plants," he adds, remembering who he's talking to.

Alec can't help but smile at that. It's slight and Thor might not have caught that, "...Few beings of the red acknowledge us. That is gratifying to see. Sometimes a return to simplicity, the basics...can be the good."

"The nexus may be a place for you to find a new kingdom for your people."

Thor's vision isn't quite what it once was, thanks to the missing eye, so he can't be sure he saw any such smile or not. One thing's for certain, he doesn't need a translation for 'beings of the red.' He's spilled more than enough blood to get what that means. "I agree. Maybe we've been stagnant too long, relying on past victories to hold power, rather than work to prove ourselves worthy of it." Something he has personal experience with, as it happens.

Use the Nexus to find a new home? Now there's a thought, and Thor rubs at his beard. "It might, wouldn't it? We're on our way to Earth at the moment, to ask for sanctuary, but there's no guarantee they'll allow it. Having options is nice."

Interesting. He's seen aliens (of a sort? Would that be true? Interesting.) make their home on earth before but it's always felt like...like someone poking him with a sharp stick. He buries that discomfort. They have a right to their home. Superman makes his home on earth. It's not your green.

"...People who respect the earth and the balance of nature should be welcome." He pauses, Wow that's pretentious Alec. "...If you're refugees they'd be cruel not to welcome you, but this place can connect you to hundreds of other worlds, possibly millions."

Once, Thor might have bulldozed right past that hesitation and not given it a second thought. But now he pauses a moment, and reflects on that. "I've been to Midgard many times, and found its people friendly and welcoming, for the most part." Abrasive personalities aside - looking at you, Stark. "But we will not take that which is not offered freely. If Asgard is to be rebuilt, it will be with peace, not conquest."

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+1 King of Asgard

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