9685/Thunder and Silence

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Thunder and Silence
Date of Scene: 21 October 2019
Location: Den and Study, Avengers Mansio
Synopsis: Thor and Nat have a chat...about portals and Loki.
Cast of Characters: Thor, Black Widow (Romanoff)




Thor has posed:
Thor was reading Midgardian literature...and can't quite seem to figure it out. Oh, sure, the words themselves make sense, but he can't make heads or tails of what he's reading. Or maybe he just doesn't want to believe it.

What book had he picked up? Well, it was the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. People should not put portals to other dimensions behind wardrobes. What were they thinking! Just anyone could walk through that, and 4 children did. Truly the people of Midgard did unknowable things. And yet, Midgard has created so many things it's hard to tell which books are histories and which are just fiction people made up.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
All Avengers had times they were on duty at the Mansion. There was a schedule and rotation. Since at times, people needing help would just knock on their door. Today was Natasha's day.

She was dressed comfortably in civilian clothes, a pair of jeans with a pullover green t-shirt and gray hoodie over the top. Her feet were in a pair of well worn sneakers.

She entered the library, heading toward a specific shelf in search of a book she needed for some research. A pause just as she stepped in the door, giving a brief smile to Thor. "Welcome back. You've been gone for a while," she offered in a friendly tone as she continued to the bookshelf across the room.

Thor has posed:
"Unfortunately. With Asgard just restored, my duties compelled me to lead and comfort my people. It is well that I have the Bifrost, or I would have trouble making time for everyone that requires it." But hey, this is a friend he hadn't seen in a while. "Have you been well?"

Oh, yeah, the book he was reading. "And someone must explain to me who left an interdimensional portal behind a wardrobe. Why, anyone could walk through that, and..." Well...he hadn't gotten through the book yet, but it was clear somebody was very careless about that.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"I have," Natasha answers to the query about her status. She is about to elaborate but he starts to prattle about the book, causing her to furrow her brow as she wonders what in the world he's reading.

She changes direction and moves to look at the cover, reading the title. A hint of a smile then a slight clearing of her throat. "It's alright. That story is fiction. No one left a portal, although I do agree it was a careless thing to do."

Thor has posed:
Oh, good. It's a fiction. He puts the book down. "After the things I've seen, it's difficult to tell which is fiction and which is not." Cause he's seen plenty of portals to other dimensions, and it's entirely plausible somebody could've carelessly left one behind a wardrobe.

"I almost regret asking, but is there anything Loki's done that I might not be aware of yet? All of Asgard is grateful that he restored it to its original state, but I've been finding all sorts of people displeased by how he did it here on Midgard." It's a question he had to ask. Responsibility is quite the burden.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
Now that the portal problem is resolved, Natasha heads for that bookshelf again. It was a book about alien physiology. She tucked it under her arm and turned back to continue the conversation.

"From the reports I have seen, he apparently took over the Sorceror Supreme position for a time. I'm not sure how it was done as the reports are not complete. During that time, he drained a lot of power from the ley lines around New York City. I'm guessing to do the restoration of Asgard but again, that's just a guess from the little data I do have. I wasn't around for most of it. I was on other assignments from SHIELD at the time."

Thor has posed:
"There were also incidents with the Xmen...and also, with Steve and Bucky. You probably understand what was originally done to Bucky better then I do. I'm told it's some sort of mind control that works without magic. At any rate...Loki cast a spell that dispelled the original mind control on him. The problem is, now he can use that spell as leverage against both Steve and Bucky. Because if he doesn't like what he sees, it is simple for him to end his own spell."

Hmmm. "I suggested they go to Doctor Strange to get a different set of spells to protect against the inevitable, but...well, you've outwitted my brother before. Have you any other ideas on how to end this sort of leverage?"

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"That explains it," Natasha murmurs in a low voice, almost to herself. Then she focuses back on Thor, moving to lean against the arm of one of the big chairs in the room, in a half lean, half sitting position. "I knew Bucky was acting oddly. That right there is why."

She gives a negative shake of the head. "Honestly? There is no leverage there. He survived without the spell, he can do so again. If they are allowing him to lead them around like that, then there are other problems here. Steve and Bucky's friendship have broken through those commands more than once when they were triggered. Was it a fun time? No. But each time, Steve got through to him. So they shouldn't let Loki hold anything over their heads."

Thor has posed:
"They are both very concerned about what happens when there is no magical support dispelling the original commands. Perhaps...they just wanted to take the easy path for once. To not have to worry about those commands at all. But then...because Loki was tricky enough to leverage his own magic, he is now giving commands through different means."

"Still, there is some relief to know that the problem isn't insurmountable without magical help. Also a relief to know it's been successfully done. Still, I have not confronted my brother about it because he is likely to dispel his magic quickly if he knows he's busted." And he doesn't seem like he wants to be the one that throws them back into the ringer. "I think it better the rejection come from them. They must find it in themselves to return to the hard way of doing things."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"Which they need to do soon. I trust your brother about as far as I can throw him. And considering the extra mass you Asgardians carry? That isn't going to be very far," Natasha points out with a faint smirk. She sobers, getting serious again.

"They should've known better than to trust Loki. And if he is giving commands to Bucky? No good can come of this. For all we know, he'll use Bucky against us here. The two of them must be able to see that."

Thor has posed:
"They do not trust him. They merely fear the spell being dispelled. I get the feeling they hate the situation, knowing that Bucky's...comfort I suppose you'd call it...comes at the price of doing things they surely find objectionable." He smiles at the 'extra mass' bit. "Well...I've been training." Or working out. Or whatever it's called here on Midgard.

"Still, it seems the ultimate solution must come from them. I should not do it for them, lest they blame me for the results. Steve has always been a courageous leader. Despite it being my brother...on the inside, it is his fight. His and Bucky's." Maybe they don't even need him.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"Precisely. But if you talk to them again, perhaps you should suggest to them they cut that cord. They are compromised if they are letting Loki call the shots. While I would trust them both with my life, knowing this has me less comfortable now."

Natasha had stayed alive for so many decades from being paranoid. She had relaxed about her teammates but now she was going back into Widow mode a bit instead of Natasha. "Because they aren't thinking clearly. If Loki was able to remove the mental conditioning via magic, then Doctor Strange should be able to do the very same thing. If he can't, Loki likely never removed it and simply is blocking it somehow. Again, something the Sorceror Supreme should be able to do. Perhaps they could go talk to Doctor Strange first, have things lined up or just have him look Bucky over to determine if Loki is telling them the full truth."

Thor has posed:
Widow mode doesn't disturb Thor the way it might those on Midgard. From where he stands, her training makes her the kind of person he'd put in charge of security if ever she wanted off this realm. He hears the strategy in the words, and the 'battle', and that's actually makes him feel a bit more...normal. "Well said. I shall surely speak to them again as soon as I can manage it."

"From what I know of my brother...his primary calling is still cleverness and deception. I would imagine what he did was less a cure and more the block you described. A cure, once given, doesn't require support. A block does, though, and that's how he obtains pawns, by giving benefits that can be ended." Adding, "I did suggest they talk to Dr. Strange first. I am only speculating about exactly what spell Loki cast. Dr. Strange will have information."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"And until you talk to them and they have gotten with Doctor Strange, some due diligence when around them would be for the best. We have no idea what Loki might ask Bucky to do, and what he might agree to in order to have removed that albatross from around his neck," Natasha states flatly.

"I'll have a chat with Tony about it, unless you've already done so?"

Thor has posed:
"Not with Tony, no. I've been hesitating a little, as I do not wish to cause a rift between Tony and Steve." He's been told there HAVE been rifts before. He wasn't there for any of it though. Thor, however, was always one of action. "I had something else on my mind I wanted to discuss...but perhaps that can wait for a more peaceful time. In the meantime, I must find them soon before the God of Mischief does exactly what it sounds like he should do."

Motivated, he heads for the door. "...It was pleasant speaking with you. It helped clear my mind. If ever you want off Midgard, you're the best security advisor I've ever seen." And, with what he at least considers a great compliment, he heads out.