Re: [In between: Sif and Hel]
There was still doubt that lingered in Sif's mind, but she kept her own counsel and didn't let any of it reach her expression. Instead, she was calm and continued to watch Hel as she smoked and talked. Her own opinions were far from what Hel felt, but she tried to understand as best as she could.
"This is true. We do each have our own strengths." There was thoughtfulness and a bit of pushback in her words. "It doesn't make either objectively dull. Only unsuited to a certain personality. Best to stick to what we both enjoy." It was one of the places she could often find friction in her own mind - those people that disregarded what she represented. In the years that were far past, their people recognized the strength and status of women who were mothers, and not just shield maidens. But she'd seen enough of the other side of those arguments as well. She didn't want to hear it from one of her own.
There was more family in their small pantheon than in some, and though the two of them were some of the more distant relatives, they were still family. Fate or not, hierarchy or not, Sif wouldn't discount that, and she nudged away her irritation until her words would no longer snap, or even hint at it. She returned to matching the warmth and light of the late afternoon dreaming.
The next topic felt like an intrusion, and an abrasive one at that. There was no doubt that Hel didn't place much weight on being polite, when it didn't suit her ends. Sif looked at her, blue eyes gone sea-floor deep. "I don't know what it's like for him. We haven't spoken since it happened to him."