Re: Odinson Family Values
The warmth on Thor's shoulder eclipsed that brought by the heat of the flames; hearing of Russ being a most different man to the Emperor and having little time for authority granted him a sense of respite, shallow as it was.
That sense of respite evaporated, yet was not replaced with panic, at the mention of his brother. "We hath had two different Lokis come to this place, neither were the one from my universe," the Asgardian continued in a slow whisper. "I was exiled from Asgard - the Allfather used a spell to banish me after I confronted him. But I have used the machine sorcerer's communication device; Loki is a powerful mage, and he can escape the Allfather's predations." He exhaled after he reminded himself of that... please brother, may you be safe now.
His eyes drifted back to those of Ragnar and witnessed the sad smile; it was a familiar bittersweet expression many Asgardian warriors had when remembering the heroic deaths of their lost comrades. "My condolences for your loss, friend Ragnar," Thor intoned sonorously as he nodded at the Fenrisian. No family apart from his battle brothers? Did he not fight and die as a human? Was he an orphan? He returned the light shoulder-clasp.
"That hymn you sang," Thor said, "it surprised me." I must be cautious when saying this. "It did not sound like the hymns of the warrior peoples I hath known. Clearly our cultures have great differences as well as likenesses." His tone remained neutral and observational.