aa_valkyrie | Invitations to Glory (Thor) (Reply)

The sweltering July day bears the whispers of oncoming storms in its thick, muggy heat. It bakes into the sidewalks of the city causing sneakers to squelch with sweat and cloth to cling unpleasantly. On the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Valkyrie lounges against the base of a statue with a popsicle in one hand a pamphlet for the museum's upcoming NORSE exhibition in the other. Why //not// capitalize on the public's curiosity when one arrives on your doorstep? She has shed her leather jacket in deference to the heat, but Dragonfang remains at her side, chuckling as she reads a bit of buzz-copy on the event.

A tall man with shoulder-length blonde hair strides down the sidewalk. He wears a white t-shirt, dark denim jeans, and sandals on his feet. Flop, flop, flop. Hands in his pockets, he wanders along the sidewalk towards the Museum of Art, humming an ancient tune. As he approaches the steps, he spies Valkyrie. Grinning slightly, he approaches her at an even pace.

Blonde hair falling over one shoulder, Valkyrie takes bite of the iced sweet and shakes her head at some description or another. Caught by the sound of approach, she lifts her eyes from her reading to regard the tall, blonde man over her reading. Rather than immediately greeting him, she takes another bite of popsicle.

Thor flop, flops along, moving at his slow speed. When he is nearly within reach of Valkyrie, he looks up at the sign. "Norse exhibition," he reads aloud, voice booming. He chuckles to himself, and eventually re-focuses on Valkyrie. "Will you attend?" he wonders, hands shoving themselves a little farther into his pockets.

"Indeed. It seems you have caused quite a stir," Valkyrie replies idly, smile little more than a slight curve to her mouth. She carelessly flips the page of her pamphlet, brows lifting at Thor's question. "Potentially. The portrayal of Asgard by mortals never ceases to amuse me, better in paint and etching than song. Will you?"

"Then you know me?" Thor asks, raising an eyebrow. He watches the woman and her pamphlet, remaining still. After her question, he replies, "I am vain, but not stupid. My attendance would cause only harm." Grinning, he adds, "Although I would enjoy the look on their faces." His attention narrows. "Now, enough idle talk. Tell me who you are."

"The illumination of the television suits you, son of Odin. You are far older than you were when I last saw you in flesh and bone," Valkyrie pauses, slip of a smile skirting broader, "And with a decidedly larger flare for dramatics." The lines at the corners of her eyes crinkle, cold gaze gleaming with amusement. His question comes with a simple answer. "I am Valkyrie."

"Hah," Thor replies, his grin a thin line across his lips. He searches the woman's face for several moments, grin remaining, before he exhales and his eyes narrow. "You are Valkyrie," he repeat, his tone ponderous. "So, then, you remain Odin's vassal. Let's talk more, then, Valkyrie. Tell me of your travels, and what brings you to this city." He marches up the steps and seats himself next to her, though several feet away.

There is little to find in her broad, defined features but the marks of age and the pale markings of scars. Cold blue eyes watch him in turn from beneath her solemn brow, the only motion that of her hand as she brings her posicle to her lips and takes a lick. Son of Odin or no, Valkyrie unworried by his searching gaze. "His alone. Tell me the same, Thor? I had through you had returned to Asgard with your brother in hand."

Thor reclines slightly. His attention returns to Valkyrie and he smiles slightly. "I shall. After I hear your tale," he answers. One arm is lowered to support himself against the steps while he waits.

"I know not what you expect to hear," Valkyrie begins wryly, then pauses to polish off the last of her popsicle. No need for it to drip. "I wander the earth, doing my ancient duty. The heroes today are not as easily found as those of the past. Wars alone to not weigh the victorious."

Thor listens quietly, watching Valkyrie intently. He nods his head when she is finished. "I returned with Loki and the jewel of my father. My brother stands trial," he explains, tone pained. "The jewel has been locked away. My father thought it best that I remain in Asgard, and I disagreed. We opened this realm for war, and I cannot willingly stand by without offering aid." He heaves a heavy sigh, gritting his teeth. "I convinced my father to allow my return. I will remain here, on Midgard, until humans no longer desire the aid of Asgard." His attention narrows on Valkyrie, awaiting her reply.

Listening in silence, Valkyrie greets the close of Thor's tale with a short nod. "The Allfather can be convinced to see reason...at times." Her smile skews decidedly wry in recollections of the times he was not so convinced. "It is well that you seek to serve Asgard's responsibilities with your own blood, it is as a son of the Allfather should. I see not what hope you have pushing back the tides of war alone, though."

"He can..." Thor answers, gaze distant. After several moments, he finally says, "He is a wise king." Nodding to the rest of what Valkyrie says, he replies, "I do not stand alone. I have allies. Humans, mostly. But they are extraordinary." He smiles, gaze re-focused and intense. "You should join them, if your duty allows."

"Aye." Odin is the wisest. Thor's assessment of his...uncommon allies cause her brows to rise with mild interest. "My duty follows where ever I would go. To what purpose do you allies join your cause?" Valkyrie queries pensively, gaze intent as a hawk on Thor.

"Not my cause - their cause, which I am only a part," Thor explains. "They are the Avengers of Earth, a group of extraordinary men and women who have vowed to safeguard this realm. The first of their kind, as Asgard has kept this realm in peace for an eon - now they seek to stand on their own and reach for the heavens." He focuses on Valkyrie. "They will stumble, they have stumbled, but they are good men and women. And they will need help."

"They are mortal. They do little but stumble and turn themselves to ashes, only to burn all the fiercer the next," Valkyrie judges with a softness akin to fondness for their kind. Her cool gaze shifts beyond Thor to trace the movements of those mortals climbing the steps. Moments tick by without answer, jaw set as she considers his proposal. "I would meet them."

Thor listens quietly, remaining silent until she agrees. "You will be surprised," Thor says with a small grin. He straightens, then adds, "I will inform them that you intend to visit. I will warn you that they are often curious. Scientists, they call themselves." Thor chuckles. "I will try to arrange a meeting with one who is not a scientist, for your sake."

"I look forward to it. My surprises come so rarely," Valkyrie muses, pushing off from her lean to right herself as well. "That would be kind." It would be sad if she hand to scruff a scientist. She takes a moment to confirm a location and details of their meeting to be, then nods. "Very well. Until then, Odinson. May you enjoy your visit." She offers him the pamphlet to take if he should wish it.

Thor takes the pamphlet, but doesn't look at it. "Visit the Stark tower at midday tomorrow. There will be someone there to greet you, if I am not there myself," Thor says with a nod. "Fairwell," he adds, attention focused on her.

Turning towards him, Valkryie crosses her arm across her breast in a gesture of a warrior's respect. Then she counters it with a brief wave of fingers, slipping her hands into her pockets and striding down the steps of the MET. Beyond that she disappears into the crowd of the city.