Re: Pretty things...
"Keyword 'actual'," Eva said distractedly while her brain processed the truth of what Nate had confessed. She'd been aware herself, but considering the visiting and tampering with the realm that had been going on, Zap had mostly credited the shift to those goings-on. She felt foolish and distracted, frankly. It had taken a lot of willpower to keep up face until Strange had left the throne room earlier that morning.
Nate's hands extended toward her and she took them, transferring a small affectionate current into his fingers but not up his arms. Her eyes remained even, logical as she watched Caltrops' face, and finally, she revealed a smile. "We've both been off our games, lately." Their work had suffered, admittedly. "Your dark impulses haven't been very secret," the queen reasoned, partly teasing. "I know you're against me traveling there, but if I could locate the exact source of the hemorrhage, I think I could stop it. I just... don't know how long it would hold." She smirked at the thought of the Odinsons (and possibly other gods) taking shifts keeping the slithering dark forces within Helheim. Zap stepped closer and rested her head on Nate's chest, then wrapped him up around the waist, dress be damned.
"I told everyone we'll have a council meeting after the party and go from there. I'd like to hear everything Strange has seen and heard, and we can ask Freyr if he's noticed any odd activities in the forests of Alfheim." There were beings of all varieties (alignment-wise) in that realm, so there was a possibility of mischief or worse (probably worse). "Baldr should be able to give us some incite, too." And she knew others of the magical nature had been experiencing negative feelings. "For the record, I know you weren't just speaking in innuendo," when he'd said 'entice'. Eva leaned back to see his face. "We'll set things straight." And she kissed his lips with a soothing sensation that would hopefully pull some of the worries from his head.