5145/Life in Norway

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Life in Norway
Date of Scene: 10 August 2018
Location: Norway
Synopsis: Nuala goes to Norway to check up on the Asgardians. Asgardian mead brings out a conversation that might not have otherwise happened.
Cast of Characters: Thor, Nuala Duvall




Thor has posed:
    Kvalvika beach is becoming another thing else entire. It has been several weeks of work and so the curious hodge podge of construction is to be expected. But if one were to squint hard enough or peer close enough they might be able to discern small tell-tale signs of stonework that hasn't been seen on Earth before.
    For most their first glimpse of the Asgardian settlement would be the docks. But for those arriving by air they'd likely see the large clearing that's been used for the VTOLs that land and at times deliver supplies. Then they'd see the construction atop the side of the mountain that's had its top sheared clear to create a level area for the work of a fortress to begin.
    Yet the settlement itself is behind a large concrete and natural stone barrier wall that has been erected quickly, the temporary housing has been put together and assembled to house the nearly three thousand Asgardians and provide places for them to gather and support themselves as they work towards creating homesteads of their own. Simply by the nature of the need for them, small 'businesses' have come to the fore, though they seem to be at least partially communally shared. An area for the craftsmen and blacksmiths to work has been cleared with a firepit and the beginnings of a work area are in evidence. A publick house of sorts has formed by several areas being built together providing a place for the Asgardians to go to share their stories and a drink or two, only marked out by an actual Broken Antler atop the doorway.
    This time of the day just after the lunch hour, the living area is mostly clear save for some work teams and those cultivating the homesteads. The others are out bending back over the construction needed. Some at the quarry, others at the sites themselves. Thor, however, for his part... is standing atop that mountain top with a scroll in his hand and speaking to some of his advisers.

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    Following the Oomycetan's defeat, Nuala vanished from the grid for about ten days, having returned to Knowhere to retrieve her ship. It wasn't a short drive back, even with her advanced hyperdrive. She had to make a few days showing at the business she supposedly runs in New York City. She was met with some uncomfortable responses, now that the people of her business know that she comes from another world, she found herself even more of an outsider than she was previously. She has needed some time off, and so she took it. Hence, the Sea Song made its way across the Atlantic, a very short trip for the fast vessel, and in a cloaked state, it makes a descent into the Asgardian territory.

    The Sea Song decloaks at about three hundred feet, so that it will not be too horrible an alarm when it lands. She finds a clearing appropriate to stay out of the way. The ramp lowers, and she makes her way off the ship. She isn't wearing the slim suit. She's wearing blue jeans and a red/black longsleeved flannel shirt. Her hair is down, and only loosely combed. She glances at the impressive progress, casually making her way toward the center construction of the palace to see how his majesty is faring.

Thor has posed:
    It is from his place amongst the construction that Thor will espy the descent of the Sea Song, his brows rising as he smiles sidelong towards Bjarke. "It seems we have a visitor."
    "Indeed, my lord." Bjarke sets his heavy maul down head first and leans upon the handle, a shattered stone behind him offering proof to his skill in the handling of the large tool. "I will make sure we finish the clearing and gather what material we can for the shapers."
    "Aye, I will go greet our guest." The Odinson smirks sidelong and gives a nod to the former captain of Frigga's Mercy, "Give word to Marte to prepare a homestead should she wish to stay for a time."
    "Yes, my lord." Bjarke offers a small salute, not quite as formal as in the past but couched with a smile. It's enough to set Thor on his way as he holds out a hand to the side while he's walking down the path and some distance off from within a tent, Mjolnir rises up into the air and whoms across the distance to land in his hand with a thump before he fixes the ancient weapon to his side.
    It only takes a few minutes to reach the landing strip, but once there she'll see him lifting an arm in a wave of greeting. "Lady Duvall."

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    Nuala looks weary in some ways, her blue eyes look like they need a vacation. In other ways, she looks like she's happy just to be here. "Your majesty," she responds to the wave with a smile, a less formal tone to her voice than she has often displayed. "It looks as though your people are hard at work, I am glad to see them able to begin finding a new city, it is a testament to your leadership and resolve."
    She pauses as she grows closer. "Your people look to be much happier. Have you been able to collect everyone that ended up scattered throughout the Earth?"

Thor has posed:
    The gravel crunches under his boots as he walks and he stops some small distance from her, smiling as he meets her gaze. He looks off towards the direction of her ship, and then back to her. His one good eye gives her a once over then he rests his hands on his hips. "We are making do and matters are progressing." He turns to the side and gestures with the sweep of one hand to indicate the settlement as a whole.
    Glancing sidelong to her he then asks, "I trust glad tidings carry you here? You are welcome to stay should you so wish, though I should warn you that our amenities are... limited." That having been said he starts to walk forwards, gesturing with a small nod that she should follow if she were inclined.

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    Nuala's own shoes are work boots, steel toed. It looks like she came ready to help. "They do," Nuala answers. "You may have heard that the Oomycetan has finally been subdued, which gives me a few minutes to breathe," she says with a relieved looking smile. "I had to travel to Knowhere, so I have been a little hard to reach lately, and I thought I would see how you and your people are doing."
    She starts to follow with another smile. "To see you again, now with land to build on, is all the amenities that I need. She puts her thumbs in her back pockets as she walks, glancing at the construction taking place.

Thor has posed:
    Climbing up to he living area she'll see such a curious mix and match of high and low technology. Small aspects of the arcane that wend around the mundane. Some of those homes they pass are just emergency shelters, containers, tents. But others have felt the touch of the stoneshapers, and others have been built up with the work of carpenters, builders. It is progress, albeit curiously chaotic progress. But progress all the same.
    "It seems you have had no small part in the matters that have befallen Earth." He turns as they walk so he can face her directly, steps falling into time with her. Around them other Asgardians smile and offer greetings, salutes and hellos that he returns with ones of his own though likely waving them off as well where he can.
    It's only when they reach the communal dining area, its long benches in an open air market atmosphere, that he'll gesture for her to have a seat should she so wish. Some of the Broken Antler's servers are still clearing away some of the dishes from the meal she just missed. "I did see your address to the United Nations, and heard the passion in your words. You have done much for us." He tilts his head towards her, "What can I do for you?" Then there's a slight half-smile as he gestures towards one of the young Asgardians clearing the table, "Other than something to drink and a bite to eat?" Guest-rite, of course, is very important.

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    Nuala tilts her head to one side and shakes it slightly. "I did what I thought was right," she says. "I am not certain that my words had much significance to a group of able-bodied politicians. I am no public speaker," she admits, removing her hands from the pockets, and sitting down at the bench upon the gesture.
    "It was not the wisest thing I could have done," she says with a half-hearted laugh. "Nova takes the non-interference pact very seriously." She leaves the comment there, "I really only came to see you and your people. I have no needs. I feel that all this time I have been rushing about, it would be nice to be able to see your people in a less strained situation."

Thor has posed:
    "Ah," Thor's lips part as he takes a seat as well. When offered a pair of tankards he accepts them with a smile and presents one to Nuala with some small measure of formality as if it had some significance. "Then let me extend to you the freedom to spend as much time amongst us as you wish. I will have quarters readied and we will celebrate." He lifts the tankard and then tilts it back, taking a nice long pull and then setting the mug down with a heavy thump.
    "Frolo has been busy," He wipes his forearm across his lips and then settles into a place opposite her on the bench, lifting one leg over the seat and straddling it. "There are plentiful hives in the mountains, honey, and his talent has given us our first taste of our mead in this land."
    Then his brow knits slightly, "Though be wary, it is... strong." He offers with that same half-smile.

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    Nuala takes the tankard, lifting it in response to Thor. She starts to take a large drink herself, and then with wide eyes, she coughs a little, pulling it back, wiping it from her face with the back of her hand. She laughs, "It is," she agrees. "It is good, I should probably take it slower than you do," she admits. She takes another drink, this time with a little more respect for the strong mead. "Frolo knows his craft well," she says. "I never visited Asgard," she admits. "Do you think that you will be able to recraft its glory here?"

Thor has posed:
    "In time," Thor answers as he turns to the side, casting his one-eyed gaze upwards to the cliffside above them where the beginnings of the fortress rest. He lifts a hand and gestures somewhat before he turns back to meet her own gaze with a smile in his, "Right now our people are having to learn new ways of doing things, rediscover the old, finding what works."
    Another pull of his tankard is taken then he leans upon the tabletop, elbows supporting his frame as he looks to her, "When I was young..." He begins what is clearly to be a story, hesitates a moment to look at her as if trying to gauge what possible interest it could be, but then he presses on anyways. "My father gave each of his sons a weapon. My brother, Balder, he gave a sword. Loki, he gave a dagger. And myself, he gave a hammer. And when I say young," His smile shifts a little wry, "I mean eight years old I believe I was? Nine?"
    A hand lifts and waves to the side, "In any case. My brothers liked theirs, myself... I didn't care for it. I said, what good is a hammer?"
    He flares his hands slightly as if he were his father shrugging at the question, "My father told me that a hammer has many uses, and most not for war."
    His words come a little hurried as he admonishes his younger self, "Of course I hated that answer. But..." His smile shifts to the other side as he lifts a hand and waves as if encompassing all that surrounds them. "I find now, with the rebuilding, how right he was."

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    Nuala does seem genuinely interested as Thor tells his tale. "Your father sounds to have been a wise man," she says, taking another drink of the large container. "And now that the time for battle is out of season, here you are, forging a new legacy with your people, new stories that will be passed down for generations as a significant history."
    "I think the hammer suits you well," she adds, "You are an able warrior, but you appear to me to be a man who would rather build up than to tear down." She leans on the opposite side on her own elbow, glancing up at the construction as she lets her finger tap against the tankard just above the handle.

Thor has posed:
    "Ah, as to that." Thor smiles sidelong as he looks down at his tankard and swirls the last of it around. "I may have been gifted a hammer, but perhaps not all the skills regarding its use in such situations." He finishes the last of the mead and then pushes the tankard away. "I have infuriated some of the headmen and their work crews and so for the nonce I am banished from the work site." His lip twitches, but doesn't go into the details as to the hows and the whys.
    "Suffice it to say, if they need something heavy moved or broken, then they call on me. Otherwise..." He grins a bit and shakes his head.
    That's the moment, however, when the rather tall young blonde Asgardian woman comes back and sets a plate in front of Nuala. "I hope this is suitable." She says in a voice barely above a whisper as she presents the currently cold plate with roast venison, some biscuits, and of all things a 'fruit cup'.

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    Nuala laughs, "The mighty Thor, whose name is anathama to the foreman." She laughs again, maybe a little longer than would be appropriate for the joke, and looks down in surprise as the meal is brought to her.
    "Oh, thank you," she says with a genuine smile. "That is very kind." She moves her drink out of the way of the plate. "I did not intend for them to need to make me a meal," she admits. She takes the cold venison in her hand, taking a bite out of it, chewing sufficiently before swallowing and adding. "No one has ever accused me of being a builder," she consoles. "I think it was long ago determined what I would be doing with my life," she says. "However much longer I will be able to do that," The statement seems to have an element of uncertainty, as if it may not be much longer at all.

Thor has posed:
    "You risked much in our cause." Thor tells her even as he straightens up a touch, then waves off the attention of the young woman when she offers him a refill from her decanter of mead. His blue eye shifts back to Nuala as he adds, "Endangered yourself and risked your livelihood. If the unthinkable occurs you will e'er have a place with us, such as it is."
    The Thunderer does, however, presume a touch by leaning forwards and breaking off a small buttery ridge of one of the biscuits and pops it into his mouth. He chews for a time then he tilts his head to the side, "Though I am sure you are not one who would be short of prospects. There are any number of talents you could ply."
    His brow knits as he looks up, "You could continue to be a warrior, or a soldier if such were your wishes. Enforce justice. You could train others." He snaps his fingers and points, "Ah, my teammate Janet, she makes her living with beauty and clothing. I could tell her you would be perfect for such a role."

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    Nuala laughs again, and takes another drink of the mead. "Beauty?" she echoes. "I know nothing of fashion, she gestures to her rather plain outfit. "And women of this world paste their faces with creams and oils," she shakes her head. "I am no beauty."
    She takes little attention to the biscuit that is removed from the plate. "And most of my knowledge that I think this world would be interested in, I should not give them. They are not ready." She takes another bite of the venison. "But if they court martial me, then I need not worry, I will have a place to sleep and eat, and a hell of a lot less stress, right?" Her demeanor relaxes, likely due to the mead.

Thor has posed:
    "Fishing for compliments, for shame." Thor admonishes her with a small smirk but then he takes a bite of the biscuit and furrows his brow a touch, gaze distancing if only for a moment. Looking back to her he refocuses upon her words as she relates them and gives a nod, "Well yes, but if you allow yourself to be captured then you would put me in a most difficult situation, would you not?"
    Another bite of the biscuit as he finishes it off and then dusts his fingers to clear them of crumbs before he goes on. "For them I would have to assemble a crew, create an elaborate plan to snatch you from their clutches, and then escape to another planet with you as cargo all the while maintaining my anonymity." He meets her gaze again doing a decent job of hiding the smile.
    "In all honesty, terribly rude of you."

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    Nuala blushes a little at the accusation that she was fishing for a compliment, "I wasn't..." she starts to protest, but decides not to continue the line of thought. "So you would mount an expedition to Xandar and be my knight in shining armor?" she asks. She rests on both elbows. "How romantic." Immediately after the statement, she seems to realize that it came out of her mouth. "If... we were romantic," she adjusts, "Which we are not."
    She turns a bit red, and avoids direct eye contact, scratching her neck behind her ear, then continues as if she had said nothing awkward. "You do not have a ship anymore, at any rate," she comments. "You would need space worthy craft, and you do not." Her words flop out of her mouth a little, it seems the mead taken effect.

Thor has posed:
    Ever the gentleman, Thor seems at ease with not giving a sign that he noticed any awkwardness a'tall. He just smiles a little as a look of manufactured if mild incredulity flickers over his features. "You pretend I would allow such a small thing as distance to interfere with my plans?" But the smile is only hidden for a small amount of time before it returns.
    Then he uncurls a hand in a gesture of explanation as he says, "In truth, Lady Duvall, with what you have done for me and mine, then yes. I would feel honor bound to take exception and advance your cause. Your freedom at the minimum would be the least of such gifts that are owed you."
    And then his tone softens a touch and he murmurs, "And were I perhaps a touch younger, if perhaps times were different and I was not King and but still a prince? Then aye, I would likely woo you. For you are brave, strong, and beautiful. But my life..." He looks to the side and considers the settlement before he looks back to her and says gently, "It is not entirely my own anymore."

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    Nuala shakes her head, "Of course," she agrees, perhaps a little too much. "I would make an awful queen," she says, waving at the concept as if it were a fly in her face, a rather hard backpedal. "I cannot stand politics, and I far too often speak where I should be silent, and say too directly what I mean."
    She starts to pick up a piece of fruit, then suddenly drops it, holding her hand out in a defensive push against the air. "Not that you do not say what you mean," she adds. "I have likely had too much to drink," she apologizes. "Did I mention that I speak when I should be silent?" she asks, rubbing her left hadn across her face.

Thor has posed:
    A clever shift if it were intentional, she argues against herself which in turn casts him on the other side to argue the case for her as he is drawn to say, "To be fair, those that have..." He pauses and he tilts his head towards her, smiling a little gently. "That have shared such emotions with me, they had similar traits as yourself. Strength, fiery outlooks, intensity."
    When she seems to be so strongly degrading herself he will at the least reach forth and rest a hand upon her arm gently as he says. "It is more that as things are, I must focus on doing my best for my people. Not that you would make an ill Queen." His lip twists as his fingers gently squeeze if only for a moment. "More that this... all of this... will require stability."
    He looks to the side at the Broken Antler, and the quiet comings and goings of the people amongst the newly created settlement. Then back to her, "Perhaps then I'll feel more free to allow myself to have such feelings. But for now..."

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    Nuala keeps her left hand over the left side of her face, perhaps even more embarrassed at the compliment than she was before. "I did not mean to press any..." she looks for the word. "Anything."
    She takes the piece of pear which she had previously abandoned with her right hand. "You have thousands of people to care for. It is not like me to cause such an uncomfortable position." She takes a bite of the fruit, regains her composure, then lowers her hand from her face. "Very unprofessional. I am very sorry," she says, in a close to a professional demeanor as she can manage while inebriated.

Thor has posed:
    Another small squeeze to that hand but then he sits up and lets her have it back to herself. He does, however, hold up one hand as if staying her from that course of action as he murmurs, "There is no need to apologize." He looks away, but then looks back and says to her. "Here, what if we decide, here and now... to see how matters turn for us?"
    Thor's smile is gentle if a little wry, "Perhaps in a year's time, we each can take stock of how life has passed for us. Perhaps matters will be different. Hopefully our home here will be strong and stable."
    He gestures towards her, "And for you perhaps all of these concerns will have resolved and you'll have the freedom to consider such. We can agree to meet again then and..." He lifts his hands as his gaze lifts upwards, as if seeking what it is Earth people do for a date. "Go to a movie?" He offers, as if it were some arcane ritual that escapes his understanding.

Nuala Duvall has posed:
    Nuala doesn't move for several seconds, as if afraid the moment will escape if she does. The squeeze of her hand this time is mildly reciprocated. "A movie?" she echoes. "I have never been to one," she admits with a genuine arch of a brow. Or the Xandarian equivalent for that matter. "I think it sounds nice." She smiles, perhaps not the most comfortable looking smile, but it's a genuine one.

Thor has posed:
    "There, you see?" Thor smiles as he plays into the role that he is so often cast in, the lovable galoot. "So it's a date. If you don't get eaten by some giant space mushroom or end up battling across the galaxy against evil starfish." He rests his hands flat upon the tabletop and pushes himself upwards, gaining his feet and his full considerable height. He tilts his head to the side, as if gesturing for her to follow him. Which he is.
    "Come, I'll show you around and get you squared away. Then you can come up to the quarry and the site where we intend to build the fortress. Afterwards is dinner and there will be many who will wish to speak with you and meet you." His lip curls but he nods and says solemnly. "I was not exaggerating, Lady Duvall. You will e'er have a place with us."
    He then adds with a broadening of a smile. "Such as it is for now."