WHO: Death and Thor WHAT: Thor greets an old friend with chess, good Abrosia, and flirtations. WHEN: Sometime recently WARNINGS: innuendo, talk of death, and Death STATUS: Closed and Complete
Thor smiled as he sensed her. His mind filled with a warm anticipation and he moved to check the warming bucket where he was warming the Ambrosia. The chess table was warmly lit already as he turned toward her, knowing, from her, where she would be. He had felt her touch enough in the past, and knew he would not feel it for finality for a very long time. But that he would likely feel it briefly many times. Such was the way of a life of one who was a champion and a god.
He was very fond of her, and of her way, and he hoped he could offer her true friendship in this odd little town.
***
She appeared. Which is to say she forgot to use human manners and just arrived sitting across from him. Death would have to remember things like doors existed for use. She offered him a smile.
“Good evening, Thor. I see you are prepared for me.” Her eyes sparkled a bit, she was amused and pleased.even if she'd forgotten her own manners.
****
Thor didn’t mind, and he moved to shake her hand, then changed his mind and simply hugged her. “Welcome, Lady Dee. No one is ever completely prepared for you, but I am long since grown unafraid welcoming you, this is true.” He grinned warmly at her.
Once he had hugged her, he settled opposite her.
“Can I get you something to drink, or eat? I do have Ambrosia warming, if that is to your desire and a very nice roast on the firepit.” One small part of his mind was keeping an eye on the firepit, and the rest of him was focused on her.
*** She allowed him the hug, and even returned it gently. “I am pleased that that is true.” at least for a few people. She didn’t mind being welcomed, though she wished people didn’t freak out nearly as often as they do.
“Both would be wonderful and welcomed.” she inclined her head to him. She was still a little stiff and formal - it would be a few weeks before she’d relaxed into a routine here. For now she was finding her feet again.
“It smells lovely.”
***
Thor smiled as he nodded, his eyes welcoming with warmth and care. Here was a being who, in the cosmic order of things, was far beyond him, but to Thor, that mattered not. She was also a good being, a woman of heart and soul, and someone he had found himself curious about, and intrigued by. He had felt her hand many a time, and indeed, most potently in the Battle of the Destroyer, when he had completely fallen into her embrace, only to be raised by the hammer, for it not being his time.
He had found himself warm and welcoming, it is true, and today he was hoping to make her feel a little more welcome. After all, she too was trapped, and should, he hoped, also find joy here.
He poured Ambrosia for her, and for himself, and carved roast for both, setting the plates to the side of the game board.
“My thanks. Working here in this world, I have found a great love of brewing and cooking, and I am glad to share.”
He nodded to the food. “I hope you will enjoy it.”
*** Death was simply her. Here things were stripped away from her and left her a little raw and exposed feeling. She really felt off balance, not that she let that show of course. Unlike him, she'd survive everything that came at them. She'd be the one to shut off the lights and lock the door at the end.
She inclined her head at him. “Thank you. They are both welcome in this day.” Fingers moved to pick a piece of the roast from the plate. It was hard to watch her eat, things seemed to merely vanish. Once she relaxed it would be more human in nature.
“A skill set that has done you well.”
***
“More useful here than rushing into battle and causing mayhem. There is little need for a battle prince in this town.” He chuckled as he ate himself, being sure, by now, to eat with his mouth closed, which had been an alien thing to him the first time he ate on Midgard. Mortals were so very odd. But he managed, despite this, to talk. It was a skill he had picked up, of necessity, in the mead hall of the Avengers Tower.
“Hopefully, you will find a skill, yourself, that will be useful for you, while you are here.” It was hard, for those of them who had had a specific purpose, to adapt to this place, where that purpose was not useful in the grand sense. And while there would always be Death and need for her, he imagined that being trapped in this limited dome would make it somewhat so that she had far more time on her hands for other things.
***
Death could feel her working, both inside and outside. But she just didn't reconnect with herself outside. It was a strange feeling. But even now sitting here with him: bugs were dying, trees did, squirrels lost to cars. She would forever be busy but very much less so.
“I am unsure. I only spend one day in a century among the living, I do not acquire jobs or anything at that point. It will be hard, I think.”She took a drink from the glass, sighing softly.
***
Thor nodded. “I know it is not the same, your and my situations, but if I can help, please let me.” He, too had had to adapt to humanity’s way of requiring jobs, and dealing with bills, and living among mortals, first in Manhattan, and now, more so, in Madison Valley. He knew something of the… oddness, of suddenly having to worry and think of such things, when you had not had to before.
“At the very least, you will always be welcome here, at my home, for a meal and a game.”
***
One long hand waved lazily. “Do not fret over me, I will be fine.” the town might not be. But what could she do? She sighed a little, much weighed upon her mind. “As much as I wish to play the innocent, I really am not.” she sighed again and shrugged a bit. “I will make do, but thank you for your kind offer.”
It did mean a lot to her. “I look forward to meals and games, Thor. They are lovely things to have in life.”
***
Thor arched one eyebrow. “Tis my nature, Death, as your work is yours, to worry.” He nodded to her. He canted his head to the side. “I know you can make do, fair woman, but that is not the point. The point is to do better, and sometimes a helping hand can do that.” Thor nodded, wagging a finger at her.
He was not afraid to chide Death, as foolish as that might be.
“They will always be here for you, My house, wheresoever it is, will always be open to you.” He spoke the words softly, an oath older than most human customs, spoken by a god in earnest, for a moment, then he smiled.
“For now, enjoy this food. I think you are thinner than the last time I saw you.” He teased her lightly.
***
One brow arched upwards sharply. Possibly in disbelief that someone would chide her so. Oh she let Constantine talk back once in awhile but she never let anyone chide her. Finger wagging included! “Truly, Thor? You wag your finger at me?” Incredulous! But she was smiling when she replied.
“Your word is accepted.” She said curtly, a glint in her eye. A force of nature she may be but oaths mattered. Even to her.
“I am only thinner because this is truly my body, goodness Thor you are trying your luck tonite.” She teased as she tucked into food, smiling.
***
“I do, I do.” He grinned at her, teasing a little, enjoying himself, and enjoying giving her an experience she likely rarely got, someone treating her like both a normal person and herself. He winked at her.
At her acceptance of his word, he nodded his head, solemn for a moment. “My thanks, Fair One.”
“And if that is truly your body, then that means all the more to eat.” He smiled warmly at her, and gently. He respected her, and despite her being a force of Nature, he also liked her, genuinely.
“I tend to try my luck. Going to punish me?” There was more teasing there and maybe a touch of flirting, too.
*** Her fingers flicked outward, a cold icy breeze slapped him in the face. Gently, of course, because she wasn't exactly angry with him, but enough to know she would push back. Even if she was grinning while she did it.
“I will leave you for the ravens, you know.” She waved away the breeze, it hadn't been much of course, but she rarely exerted herself.
“You're lucky I like you.” Before taking another bite, finally lifting her eyes to look at him, mischief dancing in their endless depths.
***
Her words brought a flush of his skin and his eyes caught hers a moment later with a much more serious and also more silly tone.
“I consider myself very lucky to be liked by you. Very lucky indeed.” His voice was a little lower and just a touch huskier.
***
Death lifted a brow at him, “You fall under the sway of my sister-brother even though you know the woman before you could turn you into a pile of dust. How fascinating.” She had ancient rules to follow, but they extended to mortals.
Not gods, like Him, or immortals, like Kenny. People she was strangely fond of. She laid her fork down with a gentle clink.
One moment she was seated at her place, the next she stood before him, one hand out to drag her fingers down his face, their touch cold as ice. “Don't try anything silly, I'm merely curious how far you're willing to push.” She genuinely looked curious.
***
Thor blinked, opened his mouth, then closed it. “And how exactly are you going to learn, if I don’t as you say, try anything silly?”
He raised one eyebrow at her, one hand gently landing at her hip. Just a touch of warmth, and of a curiosity of his own.
“I would never push beyond where you are willing to go, my friend. Say the word, and I would stop.”
*** Seeing him momentarily speechless made her grin. She had a vicious streak, she'd have to give her old friend the satisfaction of telling him was right. It would almost be worth it.
She stretched up and placed a cool kiss to his forehead, disappearing back into her seat before the feeling of her lips on his head vanished. “Play with me, Thor. We shall place a wager upon this game.”
Her fingers spread out over the chessboard. “For every lost pawn you may ask a question, mindful that there are things I cannot answer. For every pawn I take, I ask you. The rest of the pieces you may ask one thing of me. For winning, a prize worth winning but you'll have to win to find out what. Are you willing to pay with Death?” Her words were honey sweet.
***
He responded immediately. “So long as the following is made part of it. No questions requiring answers that would imperil or harm, in any way, anyone else. Only me. And no questions that involve secrets of others. As well as no requests to do anything that will harm others.” He nodded.
“Those ideas included, I am willing. Are you?”
***
“I would do no such thing. I play this game with you. Only you are affected by it.” She inclined her head, hiding the smirk. Her words were true; she'd never ask to harm anyone physically or otherwise, but he was smart to drive the bargain that way.
“As you say, so it shall be.. No questions or requests that lead to harm of anyone other than ourselves, no secrets that are not ours to give and no requests or questions that involve anyone but us.”
**
“Very well then. Pick your color, for the game, and let us begin.” He smirked at her, eyes alive with interest, warmth, and curiosity. “You are a fair, if naughty, friend. I look forward to the game.”
And he did. He was curious as to how she would take it. And where.
*** Death waved her hand over the board, setting black to be her pieces. “Death is always fair.” She replied cooly as she ran a finger over the Queen, the carving shifting to look more like her.
“You may have first move.”
***
He raised an eyebrow, and nodded, then looked at his pieces and began. He was a good player, not brilliant, but excellent at tactics and strategy. And as he played, he was curious, entirely, in both endings.
“You are quite skilled.” He spoke while choosing a piece and move some halfway through.
***
Death was ruthless. She played to win. Everyone challenged her to games for their life. She only lost when she felt like it. “You did know people try to bargain their life via a game with me right?”
She deftly took out one of his pieces.
***
Thor, it might be noted, had not challenged her. She had challenged him. He meant to win, but he had no idea whether or not he could. She was good.
“I do. I have no intention of ever doing so. It seems… dishonorable to me.”
***
It was the only reason she played less ruthlessly than normal. Although she made a single mistake that, if he seized it, could win him the game. She caught it too late to fix.
“It feels cheap. Desperate. I do not lose when it comes to a game for someone's life, as desperate as they may be.”
***
Thor was playing to win, as well as he could, and when he saw that mistake, he let himself take advantage of it, sure, for the moment, that she would not throw the game.
“I agree. And good. Such is the right fate for such.”
As he realized that he had the winning move, his hand seemed to move as if controlling itself, and he spoke, as he made it. “Checkmate.”
***
Death stared at the board, looking for a way to break that. A brief flash on her eyes, anger at herself for the mistake but her hands came up.
“Checkmate accepted. I have lost this round.” She said easily, lips curled into a wry smile.”that does not happen often “
***
“I consider myself lucky to have won. I do not think I am nearly so good as to beat you on any kind of regular basis, but I would love to learn more of the game from you.” Perhaps he could learn to be far better from her, if she was willing.
“Thank you, for the game.”
***
Death inclined her head and waved a hand, the board returning to it’s original place, pieces carefully set up. They would begin a long game another time, one that would be playable from anywhere. She enjoyed it.
“I missed a mistake and found it too late to be of use to me. Luck was on your side tonight.” she settled, a little regally, in her seat. She felt like her again, instead of someone adrift. A good game would do that. “You have won, thus you have won the right to ask me to do anything or ask any question your heart desires.”
***
Thor blinked, then stared at her, and nodded slowly.
“I have only one request to make, then. Please always be yourself with me. Never do a thing you do not wish to do, never act outside your own wishes. Just… be you. And tell me if I bother you, or push you, too far.” He nodded to her. “That is all I will ever ask of you, when it is not of your own free will.”
He nodded again. He was a fool. But he was Thor.
***
Death stared. It was unnerving and eerie. Then she tilted her head and laughed. “As you say.” she inclined her head at him and rose from her seat. “Thank you for a most interesting evening, Thor. I do look forward to more of these.” she smiled, sweetly.
She leaned down and pressed a cold kiss to his forehead. “You are a delightful host and a wonderful person to play against.”
***
Thor smiled as she kissed his forehead. “Any time, any day, I will be here, beautiful one. This door is never closed to you.”
He smiled as he rose, in turn, and gently pressed a kiss to one cheek of hers. “You have been an excellent guest, and a welcome one.” He smirked sillily. “Come back anytime you want to… play.”
He swept her a bow and then winked exaggeratedly.
***
Death smirked at him, patted him lightly on the cheek. “You're a sweet host.” Then smiled gently, lowered her hand and disappeared, leaving nothing but air in her wake.
She'd had an interesting night, he was certainly an interesting one.