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[ It's not long after the discussion over dinner that they all set off to seek out the shrine near the coast. Thor hadn't necessarily expected them all to come along, but the company is welcome ⁠— even Nero, though he would never say as much. Aside from the usual amount of bickering, the journey to the shrine is relatively uneventful; between the four of them, keeping their sacrificial animals from the odd beast is little trouble.

He doesn't know these woods, not even as well as his companions, but there is an aching familiarity to them just the same. It has been an age since he traveled with companions like this, and longer still since he'd been so uncertain of where the path might lead. If he stays up late at night, his gaze lost somewhere in the dying embers of the campfire, no one has to know.

The shrine, when they reach it, is a humble thing, but well cared for and elaborately adorned for Solvunn. The people of the Primary Settlement were more than willing to speak to Thor of their Gods and their customs and their favored gifts ⁠— whatever discussions they have behind closed doors, this is apparently not one of them.

Maeve and Declan had been kind enough to allow him to take a small share of the crops in exchange for additional work, especially when they understood the purpose. Thor kneels to set a bundle of wheat upon the shrine — an ordinary enough offering, but it seems wise to start small. ]

I am Thor, Son of Odin, God of Thunder. [ He turns to the others, allowing them a moment to introduce themselves or make any observations they wish. When they're done, he'll continue: ]

We've come seeking the Old Gods. In exchange for our offerings, we would have only words.

[Not like he's gonna admit it either, but most of the reason he's going is to make sure nothing happens to anyone when he's not around. He's never been the type to sit around with his thumb up his ass, but if they're gonna pick a fight with a god -- wlel, hell yeah. He's gotta be there.

Besides. Wanda's been a dream and given him his girl back: Red Queen is strapped to his loose clothing against his back like she never left. And it may not be his girl, perfectly recreated, but she did a hell of a job between his drawings (crayon) and showing her the blade in the Horizon (complete with fuel-injection system). After how she blasted his room apart and put it back together, he'd be nuts to doubt she could make him a sword.

Besides. He's worked plenty of hours to deserve a damn break on a sword.

Right. Introductions. He gives the altar a sarcastic curtsy.] Nero.

[No son, no god, no surname. Nero's good enough.] And they're awesome offerings. You're gonna have a blast with them, promise.

[Nero, the perfect hype man. (Everyone's lucky he didn't bring his weird plant to be one of the offerings. He might've joked about it on the way over, though.)]

[this is the place, is what wanda thinks when they approach the forest. treading inside, towards the shrine, it's easy to tell why it is this way; it is old, but the fine silk and crocheted lace remains for the most part intact—the colorful crystals likely a source of some kind of mysticism. the animals are tied to a nearby tree, and she moves away from them once secured.

as nero introduces himself with a sarcastic curtsy, wanda moves forward near thor. a hand on his shoulder after he's set the bundle of wheat down, she, too, gets on her knees—more sitting than kneeling, really, and adds flowers to what's thor has offered.]

Excuse Nero for his manners.

[—it's fine that he's skeptical, but they are playing with different rules here.] Wanda Maximoff. I travel with Thor.

[........after a moment, she turns back to face the others. is something supposed to happen, or should they just continue with regaling purple prose at the shrine?]

[ It's reminiscent of some of the shrines she's visited in the area before, but it's clearly not to the same deity that she last reached out to. Years of training and tradition doesn't fall away easily, so Himeka finds herself playing what she perceives as proper homage to the "god" of this shrine fluidly.

She bows, holding her hands together as she offers a quiet prayer in her native tongue before straightening to join the others. ]

Himeka Sui-- [ Thor gave a big old title introduction, should she do the same? ] --Scion of the Seventh Dawn and Master Champion of the Dellemont d'Or.

[ Which is really much more impressive. Has anyone's meal ever placed a perfect ten? No, just hers. First in history. (Take THAT H'mhasi.) ]

I've spoken with one of your colleagues before, I believe, though we hope what we've brought today will please you.

[ As introductions are invoked and the sacrifice is offered, the noises that nature normally provides in full have all but disappeared. Even the sound of the gentle breeze rustling the trees has been silenced. Everyone gathered will start to get the creeping feeling at the back of their necks.

Something tells you there are many eyes watching the shrine. Waiting.

The flowers so diligently chosen and offered start to dry out, color draining from petal to stem. Once all the color vanishes, they crumble to ash. ]

[ Thor glances over his shoulder at the others. ] I think we have their attention. Keep your wits about you.

[ At the moment, he can't say if it's a good thing or a bad thing. Though he sees nothing in particular lurking in the silent forest, that does little to reassure him of this course of action. He has wondered about these Old Gods for the past few weeks - whether they had the strength and desire to communicate, or if they were gods at all.

If they are something else, he supposes there is only one way to find out. What's the worst that could happen? Apparently the priests have already raised zombies.

When nothing else happens, Thor moves over to the tree where Wanda has tied up the animals. He crouches before a goat - one of Wanda's creations - and while the creature is nothing but a construct of magic, it's flesh and blood enough that Thor feels a little badly for it. It seems as frightened into silence as the rest. ] Easy. This won't hurt. [ He puts his hands on either side of the goat's head and an electric current flows through it, stunning it instantly. From there, it's easy to carry it over to the shrine and set it down. ]

If you're vegetation or evil or something, this is a good time to tell us. Ominous forest silence doesn't really create a dialogue, is all... [ If the shrine gives him no other sign, Thor will cut the animal's throat with little fanfare. It's not all that different from butchery after a hunt, but it feels more wasteful. Where he's from, a sacrifice to the gods is a sign of respect and little else. He has a bad feeling that things work a little differently here. ]

Edited 2022-07-29 23:12 (UTC)

[ As the blood of the goat is spilled, some of the teardrop gemstones hanging from the ceiling and bits of lace shimmer. At first, it seems as though the sacrifice is accepted.. Until the bloodied bundle of wheat also starts to drain of its color before turning to ash.

All remains silent, though the wind picks up, blowing through the shrine. If one was to listen closely, the wind could be mistaken for discordant whispers. ]

[Nero huffs, crossing his arms. Manners, schmanners. They all know they're sticking their noses where they don't belong, and Nero's not here to befriend the local monstrosities these people call gods. (Don't ask why he's here.) He doesn't see how being polite -- which he's never been a day in his life -- is gonna change anything.

Besides. He already doesn't trust them. Doesn't trust whatever is out here, and the people who worship them. He's got no proof of anything, but that old man missing weighs on him.

Not like it's his fault.

But like it is, too.

Nero turns his back to his companions to watch the treeline, hand ready to grab his sword. A light pull at the back of his neck, his skin prickling. This isn't just some imaginary force these people believe in. It's something. Like he figured. He removes his sword from his back, punching the tip into the dirt at his feet. His hand rests on the hilt.

This way, he only hears the goat die. Not that the thing's real, and he doesn't care about a goat --]

What's that? You gotta speak up, man, we're only human. [He turns back to them, eyeing the goat. The wheat.] Animal blood not doing it for ya? Bet you're into bigger prey, huh?

[If they can draw this thing out, he can figure out what the hell it is. Besides, what's the problem? He'll heal. Nero leaves his sword outside the shrine, stepping up with a slight grimace at the goat. (Poor thing.) He holds an arm out over the goat's body.] C'mon, Thor. Pop a vein.

[Look, he's not using Red Queen for this. She's got dignity.]

[the response from the shrine seems pretty obvious, especially when thor setting one of the goats over it causes the shrine to shimmer in reaction. plant-life won't do and, likewise, it seems that the animals she's created for the occasion aren't as enticing as, perhaps, the real thing.

wanda's stepped away as she allows for thor to proceed with his offerings, shuddering as the wind picks up, at the feeling that it isn't the rustle of leaves she hears. the discordant whispers are similar to a chanting she's all too familiar with.

leave nero to disrupting the tense situation. she lifts an eyebrow at the we're only human, but says nothing, watching as he sets red queen on the side and holds out his arm—his 'lizard' arm—atop the shrine.

this should be cause for alarm, but...]

It'll grow back. [in case it hadn't been discussed.] Thor, use this.

[scarlet magic builds into shape in her hand, a large, heavy axe fitting in the palm of her hand. she actually doubles over from the weight, for one comical moment tipping her balance to the side as the head hits the ground. it's ornate, with delicate designs on the metal, and sharp as one could imagine. with a huff, she lifts it up with both hands.

once taken from her, she looks over at nero, and touches the arm that he's holding atop the shrine. she imbues her magic over it, numbs the limb. for a moment, wanda searches nero's eyes, and then pinches his cheek. that's for offering a rather stupid idea.

she steps back, giving them space, hopefully away from the blood spray.]

Edited 2022-08-01 13:33 (UTC)

[ She can feel it--not just in the shine, but the air around them. There's a presence though she can't discern if it's a familiar one or not. She's quiet, staying mostly back from the group so she can listen further, but nothing new reverbrates in her horns.

Then Nero decides to up the ante. Himeka blinks, tilting her head to the onside. It does grow back, but that is certainly one way to get someone's attention.

A personal sacrifice, hm?

Well, just in case, she summons up a large shimmering bubble to encase the area in a cool, healing aura. It won't make Nero's arm grow back, but it will help quell the bleeding once Thor does his work. ]

[ Thor catches the handle of the axe just as Wanda starts to stumble under its weight. He gives her a nod, then lifts it from her hands once she's steadied herself again. It's finely crafted, well-balanced. He doesn't really understand why he needs it for a little bloodletting until she says It'll grow back.

Thor looks between the three of them as if expecting this to be some sort of elaborate prank, but Wanda is steadying Nero's arm and Himeka has surrounded them in gentle magics of her own.

It's not as if he's never seen a limb severed from a body before, or had occasion to be the one to drop the axe, but this is different. It's not the heat of battle or even the terrible aftermath. Nero is his friend who, despite their many foolish arguments, he has no desire to harm, even if he would ask it. That Nero would ask at all is both impressive and horrifying. It also begs the question - what is Nero? Had he not called himself human?

Thor meets Nero's eye, unable to hide the uncertainty in his expression, the way his hands shift and flex on the axe as if he can't find a comfortable grip. This was his idea, so he supposes he has to see it through. ] Right then... Alright. Well, if it's not really a big deal. On the count of three? [ He clears his throat. ] One. [ Thor swings the axe. ]

Oh, ha, ha. You're hilarious, Wanda. [Is his soft bite back at her "it'll grow back," because... yeah, he heals, and even if she's never really seen it up close, that memory told her everything. But, like a normal person, Nero thinks she's joking to lighten up the mood -- which is cold, and overbearing, as whatever Solvunn's got in store starts closing in closer.

And then there's the axe. Nero rolls his eyes. Is this ceremony, seriously? (And why does the axe look so nice?)]

I mean, the knife would've been fine --

[Annnd his arm's numb.] You don't need to do that. I've had way worse.

[Which was the wrong thing to say, though he doesn't know it yet, because it's only going to fuel Thor on what he's about to do. Like a normal, sane human being, Nero assumes there's just gonna be a cut. (Axe is a weird choice, but sure.) Even a long, deep cut -- it'll hurt, yeah, but it'll heal. Though apparently it won't hurt now.

Nero gives a shrug to Thor's gaze. Yeah, he can't summon armor and capes and shit, but he's still cool. Impressive. Totally impassive to the idea of his arm being split open. Whatever. Blood's blood, and he's had worse.] Yeah, it's not a big deal.

[Said like a man who is completely confident he is not about to lose a limb.

Thor counts.

Nero could move fast enough to get out of the way. He should be able to, once he sees the arc of that axe. Maybe if it was someone else. Maybe a swing from someone who isn't touting that they're a god -- who may have merit in the fucking claim. And maybe, just maybe, a swing from a normal fucking dude would've been just lodged into the muscled meat of Nero's bicep. No big deal, right? He's seen muscle, fat, blood. Even a couple of his own organs in between an impaling or two, as he stuffs them back in. But the shit heals right up.

Sure, he's never offered it on purpose like this. But they came here to do a thing, and a little blood's never --

There isn't any pain. (Not like last time.) Thor fucking lies on his count -- of course he does -- and then there's a swing. A splintering in between the wet, wet slice of the axe blade through meat and bone.

His arm falls from his body onto the altar, the fingers twitching. The stump spills blood all over the ashened wheat, overtaking the offering of goat blood.

The numb moment where Nero is staring down at his own disembodied arm stretches far too long, a piercing sound between his ears. He didn't feel it, but he heard the splitting of every sinew and the crack of bone.

He stares at the other end of the stump that is still attached to his body. It's bleeding all over the place, too, soaking into his (now torn) shirt.

Reality hits him.]

What the fuck, Thor? [The crescendo to yelling comes fast as his voice cracks.] YOU JUST CUT OFF MY ARM! WHY THE FUCK DID YOU JUST CUT OFF MY ARM?

Edited 2022-08-02 08:01 (UTC)

[whatever splash of blood comes from the act of, wanda deflects it with her magic as a shield. however, it all still happened too fast, and while she's joked about hating the fact that nero's arm just happened to ~*grow*~, it's a little jarring now that she thinks about it.

how long does it take the arm to grow back? is it days? weeks? months?

ah, shit.]

Nero!

[the younger one of the lot is yelling (as he should be), and wanda raises her voice too.]

It's going to grow back, right?

[maybe he didn't hear her.]

It's going to grow back, right!

[ Nero is truly...truly "badass"!

Offering a body part is absolutely the sort of thing that would get any would-be gods attention. Hells, it would get anyone's attention and Himeka, for as fond as she is of him, and never quite pegged him as the sort. So she watches with the sort of morbid fascination that shouldn't come from someone who dubs themselves a "healer" to any degree.

She doesn't even back away from the blood. No. She kind of watches the way his arm flops down a little awkwardly and wonders if she should be the one to pick it up.

But then Nero screams.

And Wanda screams.

Himeka blinks, looking between them, Thor, and the hand. ]

...

[ Hm. ]

...It grows back!! We saw it get cut off before!

[ Sorry to bring up your trauma all over again, Nero. But they definitely did see someone rip off your arm and we also definitely know that you have another one. Or was that just a coincidence? Surely that was why he would have offered it...

...wait, he hadn't offered it?

Oh.

Shite.

Well.

Himeka does the first thing that comes to mind--and that is to cast her most powerful healing spell right on Nero. An array of bright lights swirl around him and stop the bleeding on the spot. They...well, they don't regrow his arm, though. Now she feels a little bad for not realizing... ]

...Wanda! Can you make me a knife?

[ Don't worry about it. ]

[ Thor stares at the severed lump of Nero's arm just laying on the floor for a long, dumb moment before Nero starts screaming. Then Wanda starts screaming. Himeka doesn't seem at all phased by the turn of events, which would perhaps be reassuring if everyone else wasn't screaming.

Thor drops the axe on the ground, but his arms and face are still splattered liberally in Nero's blood.

As any reasonable person would he, too, starts screaming. ]

[ To Nero: ] WHY DID YOU LET ME CUT IT OFF?? WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SOMETHING WHEN -- [ To Wanda: ] WHY DID YOU TELL ME TO CUT IT OFF???

[ To Himeka: ] NO KNIVES! DON'T CUT THE OTHER ONE OFF, PUT THIS ONE BACK!!

[ She already stopped the bleeding so now she can activate Nero's weird arm thing and fix this, right? Some kind of lizard solidarity thing? ]

Edited 2022-08-03 14:04 (UTC)

[ In the commotion of blood and severed limb, the gemstones shine brighter and then begin to glow. The whispers weaving through the wind become an eerie, unmistakable laugh. Where the other offerings crumbled into ash, this sacrifice seems to be consumed by the very earth itself until all that remains is the grass and altar stained red, as well as a few bones that belong to a certain hand. They are whitened with age as though they have sat there for a long time.

Should Nero look, he will find a faint aura around the shrine. Behind it, there is something reaching out. Look close enough and he will see the grotesque form point northwest towards some deep woods few venture into.

If anyone else touches Nero, they too will have the veil lift for them briefly and witness the same image. Perhaps it might be worth investigating...once the situation with the arm is resolved.

Later that night, each one of them will also find a small bloodstone in their pocket. Try not to lose it. ]

I DIDN'T MEAN CUT IT OFF! [The cacophony that happens all at once is NOT helping his nerves, which are basically being fucking blasted to nothing at this point. He's just. He's staring at the stump that's left of his arm, his mind racing and going nowhere, jutting back to the moment where a man with a shaded face ripped it off of him like an old band-aid. But he'd felt it. He'd felt all of it, collapsed in his blood, and now he's. Staring. And he can't feel it.

The arm twitches on the altar.

Himeka's answer is to cast a light show, and at least the stump stops spraying blood over everyone and everything. He takes a step back as the world begins to lull, rocking, as Himeka mentions knife.

You are not gonna pass out, man. It's just an arm. Totally normal. Wait, what?] How the fuck is a KNIFE gonna help?? Don't you even think about it!

[Before he can shove Himeka away from him -- with whatever insane idea she has on how to fix this -- he stops. Jerks his eyes towards the altar, to watch the thing eat his arm like it's a melting candle. Something about it pisses him off -- that's his arm! -- and the only thing stopping him from toppling this entire altar is what he sees reaching for him.

For him --

No. Past him. Pointing into the woods with one long, over-knuckled finger. He's lost a shitload of blood and never seen anything from it. So this thing --

A demon? (His arm isn't glowing. But then again, his arm's fucking gone.)

The creature disappears and Nero falls to the ground, catching himself on one knee and the hand he's got left. Energy crackles around him, the air becoming tight as if he's sucking it all in himself. Gathering it. And then his body shudders, changing into something entirely inhuman. With a blue, unwrapping light, a form like an arm bleeds down from the bloodied stump, coats his torn shirt, the blood, the snapped bone poking out. His right arm rebuilds itself, solidifying into skin and digits, wrist and knuckles, bone and blood right where it belongs.

Then in a second, even less, he's back to very-human-looking Nero, with two arms, except he's swallowing vomit down and kneeling until his head hits the ground, shuddering.

It wasn't like this before. He'd felt -- he'd felt more strength than ever. Then. The first time. (It's really good to know it didn't happen only the one time.)

Heaving himself up with a grunt, he approaches the so-called god, still with half a golden gleam in his eyes.] Thor. Don't. Ever. Do that. Again.

[Annnd now he's gonna collapse on the nearest body. Thanks, Wanda. This was your idea.]

Edited 2022-08-04 07:24 (UTC)

[there is so much yelling, wanda's own rebuttals to thor's demanding question lost amidst the other shouting and screaming, on top of the additional sounds and voices and thoughts wanda is catching in her mind from all around them. on the one hand himeka, asking her to create a knife for her (which she makes without a second thought—some kind of lizard solidarity, she thinks), and on the other hand nero's thoughts are just really loud static—likely from the trauma and shock—and then there's laughter, eerie and ominous.

she whirls around, spins into a full-circle, careful steps in the area, but doesn't see anyone else here with them.

—no time for that, though. wanda turns back to see nero, wrapped in a blue light, changing into this form that she had an idea of, that she had seen before, in the flesh, so many weeks ago when she destroyed his room with her magic by accident. it's one thing to have seen this full-body transformation in a shared memory, but in the flesh... sure is different. but then it's nero again, and in her walking about to see where the laughter had come, she's right in the path for nero's collapsing body.]

Oomph—

[she holds on to him by his shoulders and then finds her knees giving out at his weight. boys when unconscious sure are heavy, and nero's pretty lean and muscular to begin with. butt-first on the ground she goes, but at least nero's fall got cushioned by her.

this paints a bit of a comical picture, of wanda trapped under nero, holding an ornate and sturdy knife in one of her hands.]

Shit, Nero, you're too hea— [but this contact, it makes something happen, and wanda's eyes wander toward the shrine. her eyes widen, taking in the grotesque, bloody, deformed shape pointing... somewhere? northwest.] Guys. There's something there.

Edited 2022-08-04 13:01 (UTC)

[ Nero's transformation is--well, it's amazing. Seeing this in person in full, to feel that rush of power shoot out from him in a wave of hot aether seems to be fueled by his rage and will, that he's able to use this new form to regenerate...he's truly something!

That in combination of the unnerving sounds on the air does not seem like a good sign. No, not at all. The way it devoured his arm was...fast. Almost hungry. Blood is clearly whatever this god wants. And if anything it only solidifies her own resolve. Looking down at the knife Wanda created for her despite both Thor and Nero's protestations--see? Wanda understands--she nods and brings it to her own tail. ]

If you've bound yourself to whatever this is, you won't be alone.

[ Digging it under oner of the larger scales near the base, she grits her teeth as she pries one of her pearlescent scales off, letting out a quiet yelp when it's finally free. It's a relatively clean cut, but the wound is turning pink to red rather quickly. Himeka exhales and moves to put it on the altar, but--

A pause.

She looks at the discarded brochure Nero spent so much time on...

Picking that up, she wraps it around her scale instead and places it on the shrine. Clasping her hands together, she bows, unaware of the terrifying visage attached to it. ]

I hope that you will accept these offerings and know that no one acts alone; art made for a love of the community and a token of appreciation for the people I can call my family here. Please protect them in the days to come.

[ Himeka claps her hand twice, then turns around to face the others with a smile. ]

Hm? Something?

[ Thor doesn't exactly make a habit of cutting off his friends' limbs but he nods mutely at Nero. He's accustomed to their bickering, even to the point of real anger, but he takes this particular warning seriously. He's in no hurry to lose something far worse than a fight.

Then Nero collapses on Wanda, which Thor respects, because she did sort of deserve that.

He watches Himeka approach the shrine with Wanda's knife and remove one of her own scales. A token of appreciation for the people I can call my family here. And that what they are now, isn't it? Himeka is just the only one who can say it.

Thor steps forward and picks up the axe long enough to drag the blade across his palm. His blood drips beside Himeka's little bundle. ]

Himeka is right. Where one of us goes, we all go.

[ As Steve would say, too.

He doesn't really bother with the wound - it will heal itself quickly enough.

He walks back over to Wanda and takes hold of Nero's now unconscious body, hauling him up into his arms. They could lay him out until he wakes, but after the ominous laughter and the blood sacrifices, the shrine doesn't seem like an ideal place for that.

It's clear that neither he nor Himeka saw anything amiss, so he shakes his head at Wanda. ] What did you see?

[she appreciates having the weight of nero's unconscious body removed, though she stays on the ground. she leans her weight back against her hands, catching her breath and thoughts from what it was she saw—did nero see it, too? her eyes remain fixed on the shrine for a moment, before blinking back to look at both thor and himeka, their offerings having been made.

wanda's a little too rattled to move.]

It was — something, and it was pointing...

[she frowns, looking back at the shrine, but then she lifts a hand to transform her thoughts into a shared illusion, so that thor and himeka may also see the grotesque form that pointed the way for them, further into the woods. it feels as foreboding as when she first saw it.

but it seems pretty clear to her what it is they should do.]

We should set up camp, and when Nero wakes up, [—because he will, wanda can hear his thoughts even in his sleeping state, though quieter and more subdued.] we should go.

Edited 2022-08-07 15:48 (UTC)

[ The laughter grows darker, fading into whispers. Himeka's scale on the alter begins to shiver, then crumble into dust. Thor's offered blood spiderwebs along the pamphlet. It soaks into the parchment, staining the pages black.

Slowly, the magic around the shrine dies down. All returns to normal - except the pamphlet. The black has receded and the original drawings have been scrubbed away. Three new drawings are on its pages instead. They are done in a similar style, but with a much different aura. Do enjoy your new art piece...and remember that new paths are now open to you. ]

[Nero does wake up. Eventually. Sluggish, with a groan that announces his return to consciousness. At least this time when he opens his eyes, his body isn't thumping like one large bruise of pain. The walls aren't white, either.

Good thing he was unconscious, 'cause he's gonna kill them for adding more sacrifices after that shit.]

What the fuck? [Always topical, Nero. He tries to move, finding that. Ah. Yeah. Those are arms. And what he's staring at is not the brown of bark, but Thor's beard about an inch away from being sucked into his mouth.]

If you wanted to shoot your shot, you didn't need to cut my arm off first.

[Yeah, he's still mostly delirious. No, he's not turning down being carried for, like, a minute.] No one got eaten by the resident altar demon, right?

[ Several weeks after the sacrifice, around mid-October, the shrine begins to stir in the woods, alone and unseen. An unsettling etheral mist hangs over the area. The strong odor of petrichor fills the air whether or not there's been a recent rainfall.

The mist will remain over the shrine should any of them return to check on it. Nothing else seems to have been disturbed, but there's an inexplicable aura that might cause one's skin to prickle. ]

[The whole thing's fishy. Stinks of it. And obviously, that means something's up, right? He can't be the only fucker suspicious of an old man dying in the woods. Which, yeah, probably happens sometimes. Maybe that's all it is.

No issue poking his nose into it, then. He'll leave a few flowers, wish the poor bastard a good afterlife, and be out of there.

If that's all it is.

He's got his new sword strapped to his back (and yes, he gave her a kiss when Wanda offered her), humming to himself as he's on his way out towards the woods. Thor's there, doing his -- his big, sweaty, handsome guy thing -- and Nero considers.

Look. He works alone. He doesn't need backup. But it'd be kind of funny to waste his time, too.] Hey, Wonder Boy. You busy? Joke's on you, I know you're not. Wanna come check out some cult shit?

[It's likely what it's gonna be. Cult shit, or boring. Either/or.]

It's Wonder God. [ Thor shoots back dryly.

He walks over to grab his tunic from where he'd tossed it over a fence post. If Nero is hoping he's going to get dressed, he's out of luck - Thor mostly just uses it to mop at the back of his neck. Working in the field isn't difficult, but it does get uncomfortably warm after a few hours.

It is also, as Nero has already surmised, tediously boring.

He could have suggested that they go tip cows for a while and at this point, Thor would have agreed. Still, seeing Nero kitted out with a weapon and asking for company - even in his annoying Nero way - isn't something Thor takes lightly. ]

Yes, let us go check out the cult shit. [ He claps Nero on the shoulder, perhaps a little rough, but no more so than he might be with someone like Steve. He has no idea what this is about but he's game anyway. ] What would I do with myself if you were lost to the woods and I finally knew peace?

[Nero moves on as if he didn't hear the correction, 'cause he totally didn't. And there's not a chance he's gonna acknowledge this god thing, unless Thor does something really cool, which he won't.

Look at him. Walking around like he's on an ad for Sprite during a heatwave.

Nero doesn't flinch at the clap, but he does roll his eye. Don't worry, Thor, he's shoving you in the first sacrificial pit they find.]

Yeah, you'll never know, 'cause I'm never letting you have it. It's just hell, forever. [Nailed it!!] There's giant boars and shit out there. You might wanna bring something with you. [Since this guy is just gonna. Walk around. Like that. Nero nudges his shoulder, pointing out the sword. Since it's hard to miss.] Some stupid god weapon? What do you use, a hoe? Giant fork?

[Yeah, he knows they're called tridents.]

[ Thor rolls his eye as if he's terribly put upon by the idea of Nero sticking around.
For Nero, this grousing about weapons is practically fussing - Thor has to wonder what it is about this cult activity that has him so worked up. He hasn't noticed any dire turns of events. ]

Well, I had a magic hammer that I shared a special bond with, but my evil sister shattered it in front of me... you know how it is. Nothing lasts forever. [ He's not tearing up a little. He's fine, it's fine. It's not like he misses it every single day and dreams about holding it again and has it with him in the Horizon. That would be weird.

Nero has a point about the weapons though. When he nudges his shoulder, Thor nods and takes a couple of steps away. Where the sky had been clear and blue before, it darkens with storm clouds in an instant, just over Thor and Nero and the farm. Thor holds up his hand. In a flash of lighting, he's dressed in his black armor, a red cape billowing down from his shoulders. A few errant sparks scatter across his armor and the grass beneath him is scorched, but none of it will harm Nero, even up close.

The clouds remain, bringing a gentle rain down upon the farm - and also Nero, wherever he goes. Right beside him, Thor remains completely dry. ]

So, new sword. From Wanda, I presume? Does it have a name?

[Unfortunately, the answer to that is as simple as "past experiences."]

Your -- wait, what --

[Okay, first of all, he is debating asking what could be special about a hammer to the idea that he could bond with it in the first place, but then. Pauses. Doesn't really consider the idea that, hey, he hounded Wanda with demonstrations and blueprints to create the Red Queen, not just any sword --

Anyway --]

Uh. Sorry your sister is... evil? Sounds like it sucks. [Actually, now he's looking at Thor, he's pretty sure he's getting mopey over the hammer, not the sister.

Hah. Oh, wait. Evil dad. Fuck.

He is not making parallels with Thor. Like. Look at him! He's. He's a caricature. Of something. Something really stupid.

Look at him, even being stupid. Showing off his stupid lightning and shit. What, does he think someone's filming this right now? Nero's not impressed. At all.] You know, last time I saw somethin' like that, it was giant, evil armor encapsulating a lighting-wielding lady. Way more badass than you, though. [He sniffs. Cavalire Angelo was a hell of a guy... lady... armor. Thing. Whatever. Trish had seemed cool, even if Nero was still confused as hell about the Gloria thing.

What is it with blonds and lightning, anyway?]

Well, yeah, I didn't pull it out of my ass. [He does not care that Thor, for whatever fucking crazy reason, can make armor (and a cape???) out of lightning. Some people just do weird shit. It's fine. It's lame.] Red Queen. [He reaches back, giving her a pat on the hilt, just above his shoulder.] Made her myself. So be nice, or I'm gonna insult your broken hammer. Speakin' of -- why don't you ask Wanda for one?

[Why did he ask? He steels himself for the "it's not the same" speech -- the same one he'd make about Red Queen if he was asked. There are no parallels here! None!

And why the fuck is he getting rained on? Nero glares at the clouds, reaching up like he's gonna shoo them off.] Hey, fuck off. We're doing some real shit here.

Edited 2022-08-01 06:40 (UTC)

[ Sounds like it sucks. Thor nods, more weary than anything. It's difficult to find grief for someone he never knew beyond her worst moments, someone who had caused nothing but pain and destruction her whole life -- someone whose mad reign he had benefited from.

All of it, as Nero says, sucks.

Thor raises his hand and slowly squeezes it into a fist. In response, the cloud hanging over Nero wrings itself out, attempting to drench him in water, then disappears. That's what he gets for even implying that he would be mean about Mjolnir. ] I would never insult a fine weapon, only the hand that wields it. Red Queen looks like a special sword so I'm sure you understand... Mjolnir was special, too. A copy just isn't the same.

[ And in truth, he shouldn't need it. He can control his power without it. But a a part of him misses the weight of its company, the assurance that as long as it came to his hand, he was still worthy.

Thor starts toward the forest, though he has no idea where Nero is actually planning to lead them. He figures Nero will just assert himself if he starts going the wrong way. ] What about you? Do you have any family back home? Or is it just you and the sword ogling the cool lightning lady with the evil armor?

[Nero gives a level glare to Thor -- he's clearly the one making it rain, and even if that's weird as shit, it's hardly the weirdest thing Nero's ever seen -- but it's just rain, and he's just wet, so who cares.

Let him have his fun. He makes sure to shake his leg fast enough it splashes back on Thor, anyway.

(Maybe, for a second, he got a glimpse of that real grief. The grief that comes with having an evil family member.

God. That sounds stupid.)

Nero turns his back on him, heading towards the forest. He shrugs a single shoulder.] Maybe I get it.

[Red Queen's been with him his whole career. He knew her grooves, the roar of her systems, the burn of her fire. The nicks and gouges where she got caught on demonic horns, or bones, or the occasional scythe.

Nero gives a sigh, a shake of his head, as they step into the shade of the trees. It's not the first time he's navigated through one, but he'd known those trees his whole life. Not that he's worried about getting lost; he's gonna bet Solvunn isn't exactly geared for air defense.]

This is really what you wanna talk about? Family? Man, I barely know you. [And, all right, he only knows Himeka and Wanda a bit better, but he didn't exactly ask to share his memories with them, either.] I didn't oogle, by the way. She'd have killed me, and I got a girl. [All right. Maybe he doesn't mind talking about Kyrie.] Back home. She's not here, far as I know.

[He shoves a branch out of his way, considering holding it back so it thwacks Thor in the head. Next time. When he doesn't see it coming.] I was on my way back home to her when they dragged my ass here.

Edited 2022-08-08 05:05 (UTC)

[ Maybe I get it, Nero says, and Thor watches his back as he turns away. In a strange way, he thinks that maybe Nero is one of the only people who really does understand. Maybe that's why the argue so much -- too much in common. Not that Thor would ever admit that aloud, least of all to Nero.

He lets Nero lead the way, content to fall into step beside him. He can't say he's glad to know that Nero is prickly about his family as well. Thor loved his family -- even Loki, even at his worst, and that was what had made it so painful in the end, to lose them one by one. To be betrayed by them. It isn't something he would wish on Nero who, as far as Thor can tell, is a good person despite his bad attitude.

But what does he know? Maybe Nero's family all love him and he just finds it embarrassing. ]

Wait wait... You have a girlfriend? A real one? [ As opposed to, you know, a sword.

Thor claps him on the shoulder, genuinely delighted. ] What is the lady's name? What is she like?

[Nero's glare, normally, could boil lava, but maybe it's just -- it's a fucking weak moment, bringing her up in the first place, and it's the first time anyone's asked about her. Nero wasn't exactly keeping her a secret, but they all had. Shit going on. And Wanda lost her robot-husband. He wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea of bringing up his current, still-living significant other.]

Of course she's real. [Nero pushes his hand off, but maybe it's more an accepting annoyance than real anger.

He really does want to talk about her. He misses her, and it's not... he doesn't know what to do with it. He missed her during the months he spent in Redgrave, too, and he'd been on the way to see her again, to see the kids --]

Kyrie. [Nero is completely ignoring this is definitely becoming a bonding moment, holding a branch just to spring it on Thor as he moves closer to try to thwack him in the face. The forest closes quickly around them, growing darker, only shards of sunlight making it through the canopy. Not as hot as the jungles in Fortuna, luckily. Even in the middle of summer. (This is probably summer, right?)]

She's... she's nice. I mean, everyone loves her. I don't know a single person who's ever hated her. You just can't. She'd probably apologize if you did. [And he means that. He can't imagine not liking Kyrie; what isn't to like?] Known her since we were young. Her family took me in. [He stops it there, thinking, when I didn't have anyone else. And that holds true now. They don't really have anyone else anymore. Not from their family.

Guess they built a new one, huh? (And now he has his own? He still doesn't fucking know what to do with it.)] She takes care of kids. I mean -- we both do, I guess. Lot of orphans where we're from. She used to sing, but... well, she sort of gave it up for them. She'd take care of every problem on the whole damn island if she could.

[It doesn't really matter it's here, in the forest, or it's Thor. Maybe he'd even spill to Wanda, though he bet she'd think he was making her up. It's just --

Shit. He really misses her. Even just being able to give her a call would be enough.]

[ Thor, following a step after Nero, immediately gets slapped in the face by a branch for his trouble.

He shoots Nero a scowl, but he's long come to understand that this is Nero's annoying way of expressing his feelings, especially the soft ones, of which he has plenty. It isn't the worst, Thor supposes, pulling a pine needle out of his beard.

His years of friendship with Tony Stark have worn down his defenses when it comes to this sort of thing, so Thor accepts that, somewhere along the line, friendship with Nero became an inevitability that even he couldn't fight against. They're bonding now. This is the endgame. He's processed all of the other stages of grief.

He feels a pang of empathy when Nero talks about Kyrie. With everything that's happened recently, he hasn't thought of it so much, but even so... He had never really stopped missing Jane, or wondering what could have been between them. He hears an echo of that in Nero's talk of Kyrie -- the love, the wonder at her, the longing to be home.

Perhaps a part of him is jealous, but even so -- he doesn't begrudge Nero this. ]

So where you are brash and irritating, she's lovely inside and out. I would say that I hope to meet her, but considering our circumstances... I hope that instead you are able to return home to her. I'm certain that she misses you, so she should have you back, and I can finally be rid of you. [ Thor gives him a light shove and keeps walking, pulling ahead. The forest around them seems to get thicker and darker with every step, but the sounds of wild birds are plentiful, as is the occasional rustle of small game scurrying away somewhere underfoot.

Still, this forest is old, and rich with magic, Thor suspects. Perhaps Nero is right about something strange happening out here.

Thor stops suddenly and holds out an arm to (hopefully) stop Nero. ] Do you know of anyone who lives out here?

[Aloy has been aware of people in her general vicinity for some time now--even without the focus, she's an adept tracker, which means that any out-of-the-ordinary sound (something that's not the usual noises of the forest, or the animals in it) gets her attention.

It doesn't take her long to find them, mostly because they're not doing a very good job of keeping stealthy. Despite the fact that she knows she has nothing to fear and should probably reveal herself sooner rather than later, she definitely eavesdrops on the latter part of the conversation. It's only when Thor seems to pick up on the fact that they're being watched does she push out of the bushes, bow on hand but not nocked or raised.]

Yeah, me. I do.

[Which, of course, begs the question of what these two are doing out here.]

[Haha. Nice. Unfortunately, he's way too somber by the time it comes for him to really enjoy the bit of face-slapping. Maybe next time.]

Brash and -- [He sighs, shaking his head.] Yeah, actually. Guess she'd agree with you there. [And he'd agree she was -- okay, he wouldn't use the word lovely, but. Something like it.

Nero gives Thor a look. Less like a dog about to bite.

Guess he's not a total asshole, huh? (Thor, not him.)]

I mean, this place has probably got some weirdos --

[He jumps a little when a face pops out from the forest. Not because he's surprised (only a little, all right?) or because he's threatened, but because for a second, all he's seeing is long red hair. Just like Kyrie's. His heart skips a beat. But only one.]

You're gonna give someone a heart attack, poppin' out like that. [Totally not him, though. He gives Thor's arm a pat, lowering it. Yeah, he stopped.] Hey, didn't I give you a brochure? The one that said not to fuck around in the woods?

[ That Nero doesn't protest his own description just goes to show how far gone he is for this woman. It is... sweet. For Nero. Thor thinks about teasing him a little, but for better or worse Aloy appears just then.

Thor blinks in surprise. He had expected to run into something or someone, but not her. He drops his arm when Nero pats it, recovering somewhat. ] I don't know, she seems to be doing alright for herself. Not even a little bit kidnapped by chicken houses.

[ Thor looks her over; even at a glance, it's easy to see that what she carries has been scavenged or made by hand. ] Do you live out here by yourself, Aloy?

[Aloy is used to being called much worse things than "weirdo"--though she's more revered than not, nowadays, she finds the relative anonymity of Solvunn to be slightly freeing. She might like it better if being here didn't mean being removed from everything she needs to do back home. In that sense, living out in the woods is preferable.

At the mention of the brochure, she rolls her eyes.]

I can take care of myself, thanks.

[Luckily, Thor seems to agree with that, to the point where she does not bother to affirm that she lives out here alone. As far as she's concerned, she finds her living situation to be nobody else's business.]

If the woods are so dangerous, what are you two doing out here?

Man, you don't know! [That's about the kidnapping. Maybe she escaped? To be fair, he only knows about the chicken house because of Himeka, and he's at least 80% sure she wasn't fucking with him.

He looks between them.]

Oh, yeah, of course you know each other. Cool, introductions out of the way -- you know, that's probably what the last guy who disappeared in these woods said.

[He has no idea if that's true.]

We're out here because neither of us give a fuck about listening to our own advice, and apparently we're not the only ones. [Nero shrugs a shoulder, giving a point of one finger to his back where his sword is. Look, I'm prepared.] I'm looking for -- something. Someone. A guy. [And here Thor came without even needing much of an explanation.] Guy from the main settlement. He went out with a group and didn't come back. Said he died out here, but, you know -- seems kinda fishy, huh? [And if she's living out here like some kind of off the grid yahoo, then --] You see anything a couple of days ago?

Edited 2022-08-25 08:17 (UTC)

[ Thor raises an eyebrow at Nero. Granted... it's true, he has no idea. Maybe she's out here fending off chicken houses every day.

She doesn't dignify his question with a response, but he takes it as a yes anyway. Thor folds his arms and lets Nero explain the gist of their little adventure. He's dressed for the occasion in his armor and cape but, Thor himself isn't carrying any weapons to speak of.

He seems to zone out a little bit while Nero speaks, his gaze cast toward the forest, but he picks up the thread of conversation near the end, turning back to Aloy. ]

Or before, or after that, really. If it is as we suspect, it may have triggered... disturbances, magical or otherwise.

[Well, the good news is that Aloy is an expert tracker. Sure, the loss of her Focus has been frustrating, but it's just a device--she has her own skills (and, perhaps, something she's recently picked up from the Horizon, though she isn't sure how effective it will be, if this man is long gone).

As for what she's seen in the last few days, she shakes her head.]

The forest is big. They didn't cross paths with me, but I might be able to help you look for a body.

[She's not optimistic, given the amount of time, but at the very least, maybe she can help put this mystery to rest.]

Where were they last seen? What direction were they heading?

I mean, no shit. But there's paths the people from the settlements take for the most part. All interconnected.

[Not hard to find out after a few stints in the woods looking for -- well, demons at first, but he's still swallowing the idea that maybe, just maybe, this place doesn't have them. Not out here in the woods, at least. Ghosts, maybe. But not what he's used to.]

It's down this path. It veers off a couple times, just gotta mostly stick to the bigger one. [He jerks his head towards one leading northeast, deeper into the woods.] I know the way. I've been past it before. I just wanna see what they left, if anything. Might not even be a body. [He shrugs. Body's not the worst thing he's seen, it's just... yeah. This whole thing is fishy.] Pretty thick back there, though. Might wanna bring your machete.

[Would be nice. He's tired of branches slapping him in the face. With that, he gives a tip of his head and heads off. She can come or not; doesn't seem like Aloy's gonna be a liability, at any rate, if she's livin' out here alone.]

[ closed ]

for Nero, Himeka, & Wanda

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cw: animal death

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cw: gore. a lot of it.

mistakes were made

bob ross said only happy little mistakes

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EVENT #10 - Something Stirs

[end of july, prob. before the local family sacrifice]

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guess who forgot to set up notifs for the thread :)

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