Summary:Thor is on a longboat yelling at the sea and Mera drops by to see if it is related to the Gorgon problem. Log Info:Storyteller: n/a |
Related Logshttp://empirestateheroes.wikidot.com/plot:gorgon-rising Theme Songn/a |
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Those known as the Gods of Asgard each have their areas of influence, what they know of as their purview. For some it is in some ways an honorific, declaring an aspect of their personality and what they hold as their strength. For others it is more than that, it is a part of them and who they are. The God of Thunder and War embodies this in many ways, for he is a man larger than life, bombastic in manner and wild in battle…
Yet the god Aegir is another thing entire.
For like his counterparts across pantheons many, the Ocean is his and his wife's domain. Warring with others for this right has perhaps given him a stronger sense of identity and ownership to the world's oceans and waterways. Protective yet firm. So he may take it ill when Thor comes a calling.
It is upon an old wooden ship that the Prince of Asgard stands, its pedigree ancient and the curve of its dragon masthead declaring the past it held of warfare and raiding. A longship, brought forth from its place of prominence in Asgard and once again now set asail upon the Atlantic. Grey clouds swirl above the armored man with the hammer, tempestuous and grim with the occasional flicker of lightning to signal a threat of the future. Then a voice as loud as thunder calls.
"Aegir! Tis I, Thor, God of Thunder! Son of Odin!" The words have a rhythm to them, almost ritualistic. "Mine father it is to him you have sworn and I am here to find what has passed!"
Silence, save for the lick of waves at the sides of the boat, the brush of wind through the rigging.
"I summon you! I stand for your sovereign and would know what you have wrought!"
And still silence greets him.
News of the strange boat with the strange man had rippled through the undersea world. Even though the sea is a vast place, Thor wasn't hard to find; the lightning strikes around him make it hard for discretion. Soon, Mera is on the scene. Red hair floating atop the ocean as she break the surface enough to peer at the ancient vessel.
The yelling man is familiar. Mera had gone to help for help with Aegir. Perhaps she was expecting something a little more…structured…than a man in a boat yelling at the sea. Sliding through the water, she jumps up onto the ship and arcs an eyebrow at the 'god'. "I could have done this myself" she deadpans at his efforts to summon Aegir before looking over the unresponsive ocean. "With as much success as you are having."
The Atlantean noble in her green scaled bodysuit, dripping on the deck without regard - it's only water. "Please tell me that this is not your main effort. The other Avengers are nearby conducting a search?"
The great hammer, Mjolnir, is not at hand with him. Though it hangs at his hip and flicker of lightning dance across its surface in time with the way it lashes over the clouds high above. She might see it as he turns to face her, his own eyebrow quirking as his regard falls heavily upon her with eyes narrowed.
Then recognition dawns and his expression shifts slightly, warming a little as he gives a nod. "Call me foolish, and may well be that I am. I seek to have words with Aegir and Ran before matters escalate beyond our control."
His large hands rest upon his hips as he turns fully to face her. The armor hugs the contours of his form, as if made to such tailored specification that it is a second skin though the gold and red is augmented with plates upon the shoulders and the knees. Yet his features are the same as she saw before, bearded and perhaps a touch bedraggled with his hair pulled into a ponytail and tied loosely.
"If he foregoes such a meeting with one such as I, then it may well be he has chosen to break his oath. And if that is so I shall be saddened."
"You have yet to have words with him?" Mera looks a touch frustrated at this - she did warn him some time again. "Foolish? No, I would not call you foolish." There are ruder words she would like to use but she is a lady, so they are stuffed down behind a polite smile.
"An oath to your father? Perhaps you could ask Odin to look for Aegir? Summon him. Whatever it is that you do." Mera stamps her foot on the deck. "Interesting craft you have here. New?" Arms fold across her chest. "Tell me, Thor, is Aegir your size?" A nod towards the ocean. "If he was swimming around out there, how big would he be? I may be able to find him rather than wait for him to show up." A beat. "Where does he live? Could we not just go there?"
"Aye," Thor answers, not seeming to be cowed too much by the much more local storm that threatens with Mera's ire. "I sent word and heard naught. I spoke to the Court and a summons was sent." Thor turns his head to look out upon the ocean, his brow creasing with concentration as if he might well summon the giant with the effort.
Then he shakes his head and looks back to the other royal and tells her, "It may seem to you that matters lack the pace you so desire, but these things take time." For the immortals are… the immortals.
He lifts a hand and gestures to the side, "As for Aegir's size, he is a giant. Yet not only is he a giant he is gifted with great magic." And thus may well be hard to track down.
"I am sure he likes to present himself as a giant, but would his wife agree?" Mera smirks before a little sigh about 'immortals'. "The humans are far from immortal. It is for them that speed is of the essence. They do not like to wait…or think. They will strike rather than wait, and that means war. A war they will lose." What else is she going to say? "And that will mean a great reduction in your worshippers afterwards." People still worship Thor, she's seen the selfie queues.
"It is not just Aegir we need to find. There is also the Gorgon itself - who he is working for. With. It is not important. What is important is stopping them." Mera sighs, it's not as if you can make Thor move quicker if he doesn't want to. "You did tell the other Avengers?"
The tall Asgardian flares his hands as if trying to stay the advance of Mera's ill-omens and doomsaying. He shakes his head and looks to the side, taking a step closer but stopping to meet her gaze. "I seek not their worship, Lady Mera, though I would see no ill befall them."
The water continues to rock the boat, still gently, still with the storm clouds above that threaten a grim portent for the future. He shifts his feet a little wider to ease into the motion of the see. "I have told the Avengers, and trust that I move as I am able. There is little that has my attention beyond this matter."
Though his eyes do distance past her for a moment as clearly his thoughts slip to whatever other aspect of the world demands his time. He frowns, biting his lower lip with a hint of consternation but then shakes his head and looks once again to the sea. Then his lip twitches a little as he tries to add a touch of humor if only to perhaps disarm her slightly. "If it will make you feel better then feel free to rail at me. I am able to endure."
"Why would I rail at you?" Mera asks, perhaps a little confused by the word 'rail'. "I am sure you are doing all that you can do. I will also talk with the Bat people about it as well. One of them was there at the original incident and they should know what I have learned. Though if they fine Aegir first, I will be rather disappointed in you, Thor."
A wave of her hand to lift the water she has been dripping on the boat and over the side, back where it belongs. In a moment, she is completely dry - though sea spray will soon put an end to that. "Is your intention to roam the seas until he replies? That seems a very random thing to do."
"No," Thor answers the last of her questions first while holding up a hand. He turns his head away and then folds his arms over his broad chest, eyes distancing as he ponders. "I had intended to grant this a day. Two at the most. To fulfill all the suitable terms of the ritual. I offer respect by holding at this boundary to his realm. I offer honor, by requesting his presence instead of demanding. I offer history, by choosing this particular vessel to convey me."
The Asgardian nods to himself then looks back to her, eyes drifting momentarily then returning to her gaze. "If matters take a turn for the ill I want it not be said that I did not observe the old ways. Nor that I gave insult in such an instant so in flux."
That said he uncurls a hand toward her, "Are you satisfied now in your understanding?"
Mera considers Thor's question for a moment before finally nodding - she only does quick agreement to her own ideas. "Very well. Should I leave? Am I interrupting the ritual by being here?" At least she is polite enough to not get into an argument about whose realm the undersea actually belongs to. She relaxes, letting her arms drop by her side, becoming more agreeable it seems. "And you are well otherwise?" Is she attempting conversation?
"Your presence should make no difference." He says at first, Thor's gaze drifting out across the sea. Then he realizes how bad that might sound and then adds quickly as he glances askance. "For the ritual, I mean." His smile twists up a little as he gauges what level of anger that may have engendered from the formidable woman, then he adds. "For me, your presence is a lovely thing and will assuredly make the time pass much more blissfully."
There, he nods to himself while still smiling. Perhaps that may mollify the redhead with the temper. He takes a step back and sits upon the edge of the ship, his cape hanging just a bit above the crest of the waves, the sea spray still misting over them as the ship seems to just lift and lower with each smooth wave.
"Though I can hardly impose on you to take up too much time from your schedule. It would be an ill use of your efforts." Perhaps politely offering her a way out. Ever thoughtful is Thor.
Both the original mis-speak and the attempt at flattery get an arched eyebrow from Mera - alternating between the two in an unintentionally humorous way. It seems to be enough for her to stay, and she settles on the opposite edge, hand trailing in the water. "If you would like me to still the water…" A casual offer but it's there.
"This is part of what I am doing" Mera shrugs. "Being here is just as useful as randomly swimming the ocean in the hope of finding what I need to. We need to." Though she can also take a hint. "I can always go" she states casually in that fake 'I don't care' way popular with many a teenager.
"Company in such times is always a blessing." Thor's blue eyes slip to hers as he smiles a little, then his gaze drifts away as he leans to the side, resting his weight on one hand and looking across the slow churning of the ocean. Those clouds high above continue to swirl and hint at whatever has the Thunderer so unsettled, though he shows naught of it. Then he looks back toward her.
"Though yours is a pleasure." His smile slips a little roguish as he uncurls a hand and then embarks on a tale. "In ages past when I sailed with many mortals during the war with the Svartalfar, times were difficult for many a crew. It was a difficult time. And dangerous."
He lifts a metal-clad fingertip to rub at the bridge of his nose, "Though in some ways those are some of my more fond memories."
"All times are dangerous. Especially for those who try to hide and live in peace. It is almost expected by the surface dwellers that one must bluster and brag to be treated with respect. One day they will kill themselves, though it will also kill off the entire world" Mera replies, keeping the mood as light and breezy as the stormclouds above. Clouds that she now nods up at. "That your doing?" Mera asks. "Part of the ritual or part of your mood?"
His gaze lifts and he bites the inside of his cheek in reflection. Thor lifts his hands and holds them out to her as if encompassing a box as he tries to relate to her a phrase he's heard before. "A little from column A and B?" Which doesn't exactly make sense? But he seems to think he pulled off the metaphor and continues.
"There is much afoot and I find I have not the eyes nor the knowledge needed to deal with what passes. I am more suited at facing a threat that is obvious that is clearly dangerous. Tis my brother who is best at negotiating, or the solving of puzzles."
He waves one hand to the side, "Forgive me, I should not weigh on your thoughts so with troubles not your own."
"Columns?" What do build supports have to do with it? Not a lot of paper use under the sea. Perhaps he means lists? "Could your brother find Aegir for us?" A beat. "If this ritual fails. Though I have complete faith in you, that you will succeed in communicating with him." Good recovery.
"I do not mind hearing about your problems, Thor. You are acting on one of mine after all" Mera shrugs - such a giving person she is. "Tell me what ails you."
"Ah, in the greater scheme of things…" He interlaces his fingers before him, his forearms resting on his knees as he looks thoughtful, "They are of little import." For a time he seems content to let it sit there, to let the rest remain unanswered. And she might be able to read the Thunderer's face easily enough, considering he is no good at hiding his feelings, could almost hear the inner monologue of his as he ponders the situation.
Then he finally gives voice, "There is a youth who has stumbled upon old artifacts from wars past that are harmful for him and those around him. I am having as much success finding him as I am here seeking to gain audience with Aegir."
His forearms tense a little as his fingers tighten and he scowls, "I am much better having my enemy before me, declaring themselves as such than I am in… not." He shakes his head again. "Bah."
Turning to face her, "I wish not to speak of it for it is yet another thing over which I can do naught for now. Tell me of yourself, Lady Mera. What drives you, makes you who you are. I know naught save that you are strong and beautiful, but such any can see. I would know more."
"Does this youth have a name? Where did they find such artefacts?" Mera can be concerned by this revelation too. Anyone with power, who does not deserve it, needs to be watched; she can be quite snobbish…most of the time. "Oh no, Thor, you do not get away that easily. As much as I like to talk about myself, there is something troubling you that is affecting your ability to be a hero. This is, for the moment, more important than I." Only a brief moment of course. "So, tell me. And even the enemies in front of you are also working in other directions."
At that moment the sky begins to roil all the more, the clouds twisting and turning high above them. The lightning is there, though muted by the motion of the clouds and the color darkens as if the sun were setting above. Thor gains his feet, frowning to himself. "This is not me." He answers an unspoken question, the other ones Mera gave voice to are forgotten for the moment.
"Forgive me, Lady Mera…" He turns toward her and gives a short nod, "But I must away. We shall speak again soon and pursue matters as best we can. Trust I do not abandon the cause."
And with that said the hammer blurs off of his belt and into his hand with a faint /whom/ just before he sets it spinning and then hurls it upwards where it pulls him upwards and into the sky, a short /Crack-Boom/ sounding as the circle from the sonic boom splits some of the clouds asunder.