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?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What a wonderful sentiment. She dwells on that a moment, her hand idly stroking Zelus' feathers. "It's the people that matter," she quietly agrees. "How many are on board your ship?"

Fifteen hundred years ago his father was alive? Asgardians are a long-lived species, apparently. She's about to ask about the frost giants, but then Thor says a place name she recognizes and her eyes light up. "Oh! I've heard of Norway! They have the fjords, right?" She's pretty sure that's what Carmen Sandiego stole from Norway when she was playing the game. She glances at her terminal, an idea coming to her. "You know, if you wanted to do any research about Earth, the Nexus is a wonderful resource. There's a Grand Library, and there are the computer terminals here. That's how I learned about Earth geography."

Leave it to Adia to suggest that the God of Thunder spend his time with his nose in a book.

"I haven't taken a formal census, but hundreds, at least. Mostly common folk, craftsmen and the like. There may be more, scattered throughout the Nine Realms, but they will have to make their own way to Midgard." Thor rather hopes that there are, and that they do. Every man and woman learns to use sword and spear, but those not recruited into the Einherjar rarely have cause to use them.

"That's right. It reminds me of Vanaheim, with its forests and mountains. My father brought me there several times in my youth, though I did not come to appreciate it until much later." Something he regrets a little, not that he could have shaken any sense into his young self, arrogant and caring little for anything outside his own desires. Being banished to New Mexico may be the cruelest kindness Odin ever dealt him.

Thor's not much of a bookreader, but intel can be valuable, and he doesn't dismiss it immediately. "Like the Earth internet?"

Only hundreds. But he didn't say how many of his people there were before Asgard was destroyed, so perhaps the overall loss of life was not as great as her people's. She hopes so, anyway. "It's a slim chance, but you might meet people that you know here. Or... well, versions of them from another universe. It's happened to friends of mine."

She smiles to herself at the way he speaks of his father. She, too, knows that special blend of nostalgia and regret. Although he keeps throwing unfamiliar place names at her. Is Midgard another word for Earth? Where is Vanaheim? Was that on Asgard, or another of these Nine Realms he mentioned? And what about those Frost Giants?

"Yes, exactly like the Earth internet." She beams, pleased that there is at least one concept she doesn't have to explain. Zelus hops out of the way as she gets up and gestures to her seat. "Here, would you like to take a look? I can show you how to log in." And maybe once he's settled, she can gather a little intel of her own about his world and satisfy her growing curiosity.

Thor’s eye returns briefly to the giant looping video of Captain America, that fond smile taking root again. “Yes, so I’ve noticed.” Though the idea of multiple versions of people is a fascinating one - is there another Thor here somewhere, he wonders? How odd that would be. Loki’s illusions are one thing, but this...

The interface looks more primitive than he’s used to, even on Earth, but that’s to be expected when most Earth tech he’s seen has Tony Stark’s fingerprints all over it. “Certainly.” It cant hurt to get a brief once-over, right? Thor takes the indicated seat and his gaze sweeps over the terminal, getting a feel for the setup.

Her gaze follows his, up to the video of Steve in his uniform. "Do you know him?" she asks curiously. "Is he from the Earth you've visited?"

The terminal's screen is simple, whether by ease of design or lack of imagination by its creator. There is an icon to click if one already has an account, and another icon for a guest. "You use the mouse to move the cursor around, and the keyboard to type," she explains. "You can click on the guest icon now and make an account later, if you feel like it. A guest account has access to a web browser and a few other applications."

She leans over to point out the relevant icon, then gives him space to do what he needs to.

Thor chuckles in response. "Oh, yes. One of the friends I spoke of. We're both Avengers, Earth's team of their mightiest heroes. We've fought together on the battlefield many times over the past few years."

He spends a minute wiggling the mouse cursor on the screen, amused at its simple efficiency, before doing as she suggested. A simple password system is child's play compared to the biometric locks he's used to seeing on Stark's tech. A simple username... well, there may be a tiny amount of smugness in his choice of STRONGEST AVENGER, which somehow isn't taken. "Take that, Stark," he mutters. Well, and Banner, but that's more collateral damage, to be fair.

Knowing little of Steve's life as a superhero, she's happy to meet one of his team members. Not the robot one, clearly. "Steve is a friend of mine, too. A friend to a lot of people here, actually. He used to care for Zelus."

The bird perks up at the mention of his former trainer and other favorite human. "Brave," he confirms, before resuming his vigil of the Plaza for trouble.

She reads over his username and looks away just as quickly, fighting off a smile. The screen prompts Thor for a password, and though it is not as complex as a biometric lock, it needs to have at least one uppercase letter and a number, and no, it can't be some variant of STRONGEST AVENGER. Once he's logged in, she'll point out the various icons. "This is for email, a chat program, a word processing program, and there is the internet browser." The computer even has a couple games, but Adia never bothers with them. Solitaire is boring and Minesweeper makes her anxious.

Once he's gotten the hang of things, she politely clears her throat. "You said earlier something about the Nine Realms? Can you tell me more about that? Is Midgard the same as Earth?"

The system seems simple enough, once she explains which icon stands for what. Something to play with later, then, when he's not taking up her time.

He briefly considers vacating the chair again, but he'll tower over her if he does, so he stays seated, turning the chair to face her better. "Yes, it's the Asgardian name for it. Our kingdom is made of nine realms, connected by the cosmic branches of Yggdrasil, the World Tree." Not nine, not anymore, but Thor is reluctant to reduce that number to eight, not yet. "Asgard and Midgard are among them, as is Vanaheim. Jotunheim, the home of the frost giants. Nidavellir, Alfheim, Svartalfheim, Muspelheim, and Niflheim." It's a lot of names, and ones he's learned many humans have trouble remembering. Or pronouncing. "Don't worry, there won't be a quiz," he adds with a grin.

She does not have the same concern; even with him sitting and her standing, she feels tiny next to him. It's the way he carries himself as much as his brawny shoulders.

Listening attentively to his explanation, she almost forgets to laugh at his little joke at the end. "They are names I'm not used to," she admits with a soft smile. "Have you visited them all?" She thinks he probably has, if he was destined to rule them. "Why did the Frost Giants decide to invade Earth -- I mean, Midgard? Are you still at war with them?"

“Of course, though some were visited more... briefly than others.” Svartalfheim and Niflheim, in particular; who would want to spend time in those dark, barren lands? More than needed, anyway.

As to her next questions, he must shrug a little. “I was a babe during the Jotun War, but I’m told it was a grab for land and power. The humans of that era were armed with little more than swords and spears, and were easily intimidated by both the Jotuns and my people. My father seized the source of their power and kept it locked in the treasure room on Asgard, enforcing a peace between us. With Asgard destroyed, and the Casket of Ancient Winters with it, who can say what they will do.” That’s something to worry about after his people are safe, he hopes.

Edited 2018-09-07 18:58 (UTC)

"I once had a goal of visiting all Twelve Colonies," she confesses. "I made it to four. Earth must be special if you are deciding to live there."

Ah, so he's old, too. Long-lived, she quickly corrects herself. She listens thoughtfully, even as she gives a nervous tug on the strap of her messenger bag. Talk of war, of peace negotiated and then shattered, inevitably sets her on edge. "So... they weren't the ones who destroyed Asgard?"

"It is," he says, the fondness clear in his voice. "A king's not supposed to have favorites, but I've enjoyed my time there more than any other realm except perhaps Vanaheim."

Her nervousness is just as clear to him, even if he's not entirely sure of the cause. "No, they weren't." It's a long story, one he's not sure how much he could condense without a great deal of explanation. "There's long been a prophecy of a great cataclysm that would destroy the realm of Asgard, an event we call Ragnarok. We always thought it to be something to fight against, to try to prevent. But a long-forgotten foe reemerged, drawing her power straight from the realm itself, with intent to conquer the entire cosmos with as much bloodshed as her black heart demanded. To stop her, I gave the order for Ragnarok myself."

It's nice to hear such fondness from someone not of Earth. "It's a lovely planet, isn't it? I'm so glad my people found it."

She drops her gaze, even as she listens, twisting on her strap now instead of tugging it. "That's quite a sacrifice," she says. "But it saved your people." She can't help but think of the rebel Cylons who destroyed their own resurrection hubs as a way to stop the Ones from continuing their sadistic plan for revenge. "She's gone now, I take it?" She can't imagine Thor would lead such an enemy to Earth, even inadvertently.

"Yes, it did." Despite the gravity of what he did to save his people, he still smiles, and means it. Asgard is not a place. "We left none behind but those who had already given their lives, and they will be honored."

Her question gets a firm nod of affirmation. "There's little chance she survived the destruction, and if she did, the realm beneath her feet became little more than dust and stone, floating freely in the void."

Yep, floating in the vacuum of space would certainly put an end to most life. Unless his foe was a tardigrade, but somehow she doubts that. (She likes water bears far too much to imagine they could have any blackness in their tiny little bodies.)

Reassured that his people are safe, at least for the time being, she consciously decides to drop the subject of war. She smooths out the kink she left in the strap of her bag, glancing briefly at the terminal screen, wondering what he'll decide to research first. "What's your favorite thing about Earth?" she asks curiously. "Mine is the sea. We live on an island, and the water around us is the bluest I've ever seen."

As it happens, vacuum is not an automatic death sentence for Asgardians either, but Thor is fairly certain that even if someone happens to stumble across Hela in the debris field, it won't be for a very long time. Long enough that she will have certainly perished, if she didn't die in the cataclysm.

Thor, too, is ready to leave talk of war behind. "My favorite thing, besides the people, is certainly the food," he tells her with a broad smile. "There is always something new I haven't tried, whether it be mere seasoning or a dish that has never graced an Asgardian table. I never had coffee before my first modern visit to Earth. Have you tried it? It's far superior to tea."

"I love coffee," she replies enthusiastically. "I practically lived off of it for a time." The Twelve Colonies had coffee, too, but she's willing to cede it as an Earth specialty.

Unconsciously, she glances back at the vending machines and the free coffee that she used to drink daily. It kept her going whenever her energy flagged, and for that, she'll always be grateful. (Even if it isn't that great.)

"Have you had hot chocolate?" she asks, on the subject of drinks. "It's not as strong as coffee, but it's my favorite."

"I don't think so," Thor says after a moment's thought. "I've had chocolate before, but not heated to the point of melting." He can assume it's a tolerable temperature for humans, though; it takes very little to start melting the chocolate he's encountered.

"I've spent most of my life drinking ale with my meals," he adds, a spark of amusement in his eye. "Or mead, or beer. Apparently many Midgardians frown on that."

"You haven't had hot chocolate yet?" Adia looks... well, appalled is a strong word, but clearly, in her eyes, this is a situation that needs to be remedied. "Oh, it's fantastic, especially on a cold day, with lots of whipped cream on top."

Impulsively, she shifts the weight of her messenger bag and gestures towards the Shopping District. "There's a wonderful coffee shop not far from here, and they make the best hot chocolate. Can I take you there? You should try it before you leave."

Zelus flutters his wings and looks up at Adia skeptically.

"We don't usually drink with every meal, it's true." She wonders if Asgardian beer is as potent as human beer. "I do like mead, though. A number of home brews have started on Atlantis, but it's slow-going."

Never let it be said that Thor turned down an opportunity for food or drink, especially shared with a new friend. "Certainly," he agrees with a broad smile, and swivels back to the terminal only briefly to log out before getting to his feet. "Will payment be needed?" He doesn't usually carry anything on him, but he knows where he can get his hands on some valuables. The Grandmaster's tastes may be good for something after all.

He chuckles at her comments. "Yes, a proper brew may take a great deal of time and attention to perfect. The finest vintages of our ales have been aged for a thousand years, though those are usually reserved for special occasions."

"It's my treat," Adia says happily. All those years she relied on the generosity of Nexus strangers, and now she gets to return the favor!

Zelus doesn't look as pleased about the change of locale, not wanting to go inside a coffee shop, especially one that doesn't have any treats for him. Adia gently brushes the back of his neck. "Why don't you go back to the Professor's, Zelus? I won't be gone long, and I'll pick you up something on the way back. Okay?"

"Airy," he chirrups. He gives Thor another look, then spreads his wings, and with a few hearty flaps, takes to the skies. He'll circle above until she's been safely escorted to the shop.

"It's this way," she says, making her way out of the Plaza. "That's amazing. Your ales, I mean. I think our all our wine would have turned to vinegar if it survived that long."

The Allspeech hasn't had enough to work with to translate just yet, but Thor can see Zelus' displeasure easily enough, and he places a hand on his chest and bows his head politely. "She will come to no harm in my company, noble Zelus," he promises.

Thor accompanies her half a step behind, and though he's paying attention to her, his head turns this way and that to take in the sights on their way, compensating for his blind side. "I never learned the techniques," he admits, quite shamelessly, a smile tugging at his mouth. "But the only brewers trusted with it are those who have spent centuries perfecting their craft. It's well worth the effort; only a small amount is needed to loosen the tongue of even my people."

Adia smiles softly to herself at the way Thor speaks to Zelus. "I hope you get to see Steve before you leave," she remarks. Then he'd get to meet Sarah and Ethel. She has a feeling that he'd enjoy rough housing with them, Sarah especially.

The scenery, as they walk through the Shopping District, is a mix of seemingly random architecture. Everything from old stone and iron work to sleek glass storefronts dressed up in neon lights. The people are as varied -- mostly human, but some obvious non-humans as well, including the more "traditional" looking aliens. Adia keeps an eye on her surroundings as well, but mostly to take the proper steps to the coffee shop. "Something you should know about this place," she says while they walk, "Is that sometimes the geography changes. Buildings will change location, or streets will shift direction. But if a place is visited often enough, it usually stays put. Ah, here we are."

She stops in front of a rather nondescript brick building. Only the little brass sign overhead emblazoned with a coffee cup indicates the business within. She holds the door open for him -- inside is a rather austere shop with high-vaulted ceilings, the standing stables and low bench along the back wall made of dark wood and accented with polished copper.

Behind the counter is a monstrosity of an espresso machine, also copper, and a smaller drip machine in a similar style. The barista, a very thin, very tall blue-haired man with elven features and an expression that suggests he is not in the mood for small talk, is currently wiping both machines clean with a rag, preparing them for their next order.

There's unmistakable fondness in his voice as he answers. "As do I. It will be good to see him again." Thor hasn't seen his human friends in a couple years, and while that's practically the blink of an eye to an Asgardian, his human friends don't have the luxury of quite that much time to live their lives. Any time spent with his mortal companions is precious and to be treasured.

"Shifting geography," he repeats, intrigued by the idea. "But stabilized by frequent visitation... it sounds like some manner of mind magic to my ear. It encompasses the entire realm, or just this location?"

Thor nods his thanks, and does not hesitate to step inside and stride up to the counter, fully at ease with human-style establishments like this one, and the decidedly not human person behind the counter. The smell of freshly ground coffee reminds him of the diner in New Mexico, and more recently, New York. Rare was the occasion where someone on the team was not seeking a cup of the dark, hot brew, and he smiles a little at the memories. "I would like your largest hot chocolate, if I may." What else did Adia say it needed? Oh, yes. "With a great deal of whipped cream."

Should she tell him that there's more than one Steve in the Nexus? No, she decides, that's something Steve -- either Steve -- can share if they are feeling up to it. Besides, who knows if either Steve is from the same universe as Thor?

"The entire Nexus," she replies. "It happens in the Wilds, and with the portals in the Plaza, too. My theory is that reality here is inherently unstable, and only by repeated observation does something stay in the same place. Like quantum mechanics, except on a grand scale."

Now it is Adia's turn to walk a half-step behind, catching up once he reaches the counter. "Hi, Farel," she says to the barista, who has turned to acknowledge Thor, his expression unchanging. "I'll have a hot chocolate with whipped cream, too, please. A small."

Farel looks from Thor to Adia, then nods and turns towards his work station to begin making their drinks. Halfway through heating up a stainless steel container of milk, he says in a gruff monotone, "Decided to take someone new out for drinks?"

Adia laughs, her cheeks coloring a touch. "He's never had hot chocolate before. Besides, Caspar has taken at least two Nexus newcomers out for coffee, I need to catch up."

"Hmm." The barista doesn't comment otherwise, although a faint smile appears on his face. "You didn't tell your new friend about the chocolate whipped cream."

"Oh, that's right. Thor, would you like to try chocolate whipped cream instead of plain?"

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject