Summary:To find Hod, Baldur seeks out Kate. He bears gifts. Log Info:Storyteller: None |
Related LogsTheme SongNone |
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The apartment Kate stays at is actually a fairly decent one all things considered. It's the third floor of a small brownstone building in a not-too-terrible part of town. Inside it's sparsely but tastefully furnished with a dark blue couch, a fluffy white area rug over the hardwood floors, a dining room table with fold down leafs to expand it when needed. A TV, a very nice stereo system, and several bookshelves tastefully filled with a mixture of school texts, fashion magazines, and the odd decorative knick-nack. There was also a small side table that was covered in arrows currently being mended in some way or another.
The small kitchen area is where Kate currenty is leaning over a coffee pot staring at it and willing it to brew faster through sheer mind power. It doesn't work.
*
And into this homey little scene comes a knock on the door. "Kate Bishop." Baldur's not shouting but his normal enunciating makes it sound like he's speaking to an auditorium without a microphone. And being heard in the back row. "It is I, Baldur Odinson, god of light, brother to Hod." Just in case she forgot. "I would speak with you."
*
Kate Bishop jerks her head up at the knock and near thunderous voice. Maybe not thunderous, really, but she'd pulled an almost-all-nighter and just woke up after a much needed sleep. Her schedule wasn't as wonky as her namesake's tended to be. "Yeah, hang on," she calls out with a sigh. Quickly raking a hand through her hair to make sure she was presentable for company, the coffee pot is glared at one more time. "Going to get a new one soon if you keep that up," she mutters beneath her breath threateningly to the device.
Then she crosses the room to unlock the door. The motion causes the tan colored dog sleeping on the rug to lift his head and sniff questioningly in the direction of the open door. "It's okay, Lucky, no need to attack," she offers with a bit of wry humor to the one-eyed dog.
*
"Greetings to you." Baldur says as he walks in, looking around the apartment but making no comment about it. He's still wearing armor with his swords sheathed on his belt. "And to you as well, Lucky." he says to the dog. "I have brought a companion for you though you will need to be gentle with her as she is young." In a hand that had been shielded by his cloak is a kitten. Kate would recognize it from the day before. Extending the hand to Kate, he says "She said she wished to be with you and after seeing you protect her from the scorpions, I agree that you would make a good home for her."
*
"Voof," comes the deep half-bark from Lucky at the sight of the kitten. Kate has already reached out to accept the familiar kitten with a smile. "Aww really?" She really shouldn't, she knew, but it was cute. And she felt kind of bad trying to hold the kitten hostage in an attempt to make the Egyptian god stop attacking. "I don't think Lucky will mind, will you, Lucky? So long as she doesn't steal his food." Kate glances at him adding, "I'll make sure she has her own." This at least seems to mollify Lucky who lays his head down on his paws again just watching.
Turning her attention back to Baldur, Kate holds the kitten gently against her chest with one hand supporting it while the other scritches behind it's ears. "What did you want to talk about? Something else happen?"
*
"She'll need you to protect her and teach her." Baldur tells Lucky, kneeling next to the dog to pet him. "I am certain you will do it well. Merely be patient for she is young and excitable." Still petting LUcky, he looks back to Kate. "Finding Hod is difficult. Finding you was easy. Therefore, I shall tell you what Hod needs to know and when he returns to you, you can pass the information on to him."
*
Kate Bishop turns back to the kitchen carrying the kitten with her. She didn't have any cat food yet, but she did have a can of some tuna. The kitten is placed down as she urges, "Go explore but be careful," then stands again to begin opening the can. "Mm. So I'm a messenger, got it. What's the message, then?" A small shrug is given. "I don't really have a way to get ahold of him myself. I *am* glad he's trying to help get rid of this mark though since it's kind of because of him I have it."
*
"It's entirely because of him that you have it." Baldur corrects, walking over to a couch to sit. "As he dragged you into his schemes. You fell asleep while we were talking so you might not have heard that I sent a message to Khonsu and proposed the Pesedjet question Hod using their magic. Once they are convinced he is not responsible for the death of the priestess, and that they are being manipulated, the marks will be removed."
*
Kate Bishop cringes just a little bit at mention of falling asleep. Not her most shining moment. "Yeah I was a bit exhausted after that fight. Too many targets at once." A light shake of her head comes before focusing back on the tuna. The juice is poured out amidst lots of kitten crying, and she places a few choice lumps of tuna down on a small plate she settles by the cat. "There you go. That'll fill you up for now." Dusting her hands off on her side she reaches for the pot of coffee, "Want a cup? I've got cream and sugar if you don't take it black."
*
Kate Bishop also asks, "What *are* the pesedjet anyway?"
*
"She wanted the liquid as well." Baldur tells Kate then nods. "With some cream, thank you. The Pesedjet are the gods of the land you call Egypt." he explains. "So, Hod agreed to this which is well since I have heard back from Khonsu. He has agreed as well. We each shall bring a neutral mediator and meet in a neutral place, here in Manhattan. Loki is arranging for a mediator for us so all we need is for Hod to be present. Which is to say, stay where we can locate him. Here would be convenient.
*
Kate Bishop glances down to the kitten a moment. "I'm not entirely sure that's good for your tummy." Sighing softly she heads back to the kitchen area to get what was requested. "Just a little bit." It's fixed up while she listens to Baldur nodding slowly. "Loki is arranging for a mediator." She pauses, and looks over to Baldur with an eyebrow raising. "Sorry. I've been reading up on what history and mythology I can, but… Isn't Loki kind of the *reason* you need mediators most of the time?"
*
"Loki… is full of mischief." Baldur says after some time to pick his words. "He is also clever. Too clever for his own good and too impressed with his own cleverness. Despite this, he intends no ill toward any but enemies of Asgard. The one he intends to seek out is the one called Sorcerer Supreme of this world. I find this acceptable as we cannot be certain who is behind our recent troubles. Khonshu's choice is Amaterasu and she is probably a good choice." After a moment, he adds "The goddess of the sun of the land you call Nippon."
*
"Japan. I'm familiar with that one a little bit," Kate remarks with a shrug. "I saw a play featuring her when I was younger. Isn't she also a caretaker of deceased children? Or maybe that's a different one." The tuna liquid is drizzled down on the plate, just a bit, before she pours out cream and coffee in three mugs. There's just a little bit in one which she sets down in front of Lucky earning a thump of his tail before his nose goes into it to lap it up. The other mug is offered to Baldur. "Okay. I'll let Hod know this. Is there a time set for this yet, and a location? You said a neutral place."
*
Baldur nods his thanks as he takes the cup. "No time nor place as yet. I am waiting to hear if the sorcerer is agreeable before sending word to Khonsu. Which is why he needs to keep himself at the ready. If he cannot be found, it will be taken as a sign of his guilt with both you and Sif being accomplices. Ideally, he should stay here and not leave."
*
"Well, one of us could fill in for him, couldn't we? In this case, all our truths are tied together… Just like our guilt would be if we were guilty," Kate points out as she leans against the arm of the couch. Lifting her mug of coffee she takes a long sip. "Would it be any less honest if it came from me or Sif?"
*
"No. You could have been manipulated by him and not know the truth." Baldur points out. "Needs must it be Hod as he is the one they will accept. By his very actions and demeanor, even from the little I've seen of him, he is the one making the decisions."
*
Kate Bishop considers that concept a moment with a slow frown. "So basically… If he *were* guilty of manipulating us, we'd still be guilty even though we weren't aware of the manipulation and had no idea this is what would happen. … Guess you guys don't believe in 'innocent until proven guilty'. Or heck even a fair trial for that matter." Her head shakes a little as she looks around her own apartment thoughtfully. "I can see if I can get him to stay put, or at least give me a way to get in contact with him."
*
"If it were proven that you were manipulated and used, they might not demand punishment of you." Baldur tells Kate. "But finding you innocent of the murder does not mean Hod is innocent of it. Innocence does not run in that direction though in your case, his innocence would imply yourself seeing as you're a mortal and unlikely to have been in a position to engineer all of this."
*
Kate Bishop draws a slow, deep breath. That kind of made sense in a way now that it was explained. A nod of satisfaction is given, and she takes a sip of her rapidly cooling coffee. "Okay, that adds up. Normally I'd be a bit annoyed by people thinking I'm not capable of things… But this is one thing I wouldn't even consider to begin with. My father is the criminal, not me."
*
"Beyond your ethical leaning, there's the matter of practicality. You would need to have known where the temple was, when the priestess would be in the temple, murder her, then arrange to be with Hod and show up there at just right right time for Thoth to discover you. Even knowing little about you, it is likely a fair assumption that all that is beyond your abilities." Baldur points out. "If the point was to frame Hod, you wouldn't have been there as well to be given the mark."
*
Kate Bishop shrugs indifferently at all the options given. "Those are all good points. Either way…" She tips her head toward Baldur offering him a smile. "I'll let Hod know to stay nearby. I'm sure he has some way to get ahold of you if we need, even if he may be reluctant to use it." For all she knew they had some mystical twin thing going on. "I should apparently head out shopping to get some necessary items for my new cat friend. Before she decides to use the rug for a toilet."
*
"Do not relieve yourself until the human returns." Baldur tells the kitten who meows in return. "She says she shall not." he assures Kate as he rises. "I expect we shall need Hod in the next day or two. You may reach me at the embassy if you need to speak with me." Walking over to pet LUcky on the head, he heads for the door and leaves.
*