as so it begins (avengers)

[wonderman]

"Thanks Tony." He said, nodding to his fellow Avenger, as he watched him walk away, before turning to Valkyrie, who seemed more then ready for a fight. "Tell Thor that I sent you, he should agree to an audience with you, if he knows I gave the order. Also, if for some reason he still refuses to see you, I'll need you to find Dr. Strange and see what he can tell you, as Hood has made it known that he intends to challenge him for the title of Sorcerer Supreme." He didn't like involving Dr. Strange in Avenger business, as the Doctor already had enough responsibilities as it was, and didn't want to add to it. He turned back to Angus, and smiled. "Just keep close to the streets see what you find out. Hood has his people out in full force, so you're bound to come across something, if you look hard enough. Also, see what Fisk knows about his successor. You know where to find him." Steve's next stop was to be to see Sage on the Helicarrier, although he didn't want to tell Angus, in the event Sage were to learn of his arrival and try and stop him before they could talk. He didn't know her like he knew Fury, so he wasn't sure what to expect from her yet.

[valkryie]

Whatever doubts Hjordis still had about contacting Thor were kept silent and she nodded her acknowledgment to Captain America. For explanation’s sake, she would still write the letter. Even if she showed up in Asgard, breaking her exile if only for a time and for good reason, she wanted to be prepared if Thor wouldn’t listen to her. Reading a letter handed to you by an exile was far different than listening to their words. Somehow, it was easier.

If talking failed, then she’d leave the letter.

Except here in this room didn’t seem the best place to write it and she pushed in the chair nearly as soon as she’d pulled it out. Steve most likely had other things to do and she didn’t want to be in the way. Holding the paper and pen at her side, she gave the two men inside a nod and walked out.

In her mind’s bid for distraction from the unpleasant, she couldn’t help but wonder what Angus had been doing here. He was not the SHIELD liaison unless the Avengers had more than one, and it was clear enough he hadn’t known what had happened until he’d arrived. But he had been on scene when she’d first arrived in New York and, though the initial confusion had been resolved, hadn’t he made mention that she’d see him again?

The thought that he was there for her made her pause halfway down the hallway and look over her shoulder toward the Situation Room’s door.

[grimmtoof]

Angus nodded in reply to Steve's comment. "Right,” he told him, “he I'll see what I can find out. I’ll also get in touch with some of my contacts in the police, see if they know anything.”

Angus waited a little while more, but that seemed to be the end of the meeting. So with a nod to Steve, he turned to go. As he left the room and turned into the corridor, he saw Valkyrie walking away from him. Angus quickened his pace to catch up with her, reaching her just as she looked over her shoulder. “I actually came here today to talk to you,” he called out to her. “Sorry to bring this up after what’s just happened, but it needs to be sorted out soon. It’s about what happened when you arrived.”

[valkryie]

Valkyrie let out the smallest of sighs before nodding her acknowledgment to Angus. That first day had not seen her in the best of situations and she had reacted purely out of instinct. Unfortunately for Times Square (and whoever the poor gentleman was in the car that ran into her), her instincts proved to be rather destructive.

She had already offered her sincere apologies, but for some it was not enough. This was the way of any race or culture, though it seemed to be far more prevalent in Midgard. Humans wanted not only remorse but compensation. Oh, and not just equal compensation either. So many seemed to want far more than what had originally been taken from them.

This was something Hjordis did not believe in, but if it was necessary to keep her peace with Midgard and its peoples, then she would do it.

“There is no need for apologies. Thou has offered thine assistance to us without prompting and I can do no less. Tell me what thou came to say and I will make what reparations I am able.” Sometime while she was speaking she’d begun walking again, slower this time, and gestured for him to follow. Time was of great importance here and she needed to get ready for her meeting with Thor. Walking and talking were easy enough to do at the same time and it would serve to complete both tasks at once.

[wonderman]

Having other things on his mind, as well as more leads to track down on his own, Steve followed suit, walking out the door, and heading outside towards the garage where his Indian motorcycle was kept.

(Exit thread)

[grimmtoof]

Angus matched his pace to Valkyrie, walking alongside her. He took a deep breath before replying to her, it wasn’t got to be to pleasant for her to hear. “I’ve managed to sort out most of the consequences of your ‘arrival’, but there is one outstanding problem. The owner of the car you destroyed is not unsurprisingly very angry, and is threatening to sue the Avengers. It might help if you were able to offer something to him to persuade him drop it.”

[valkryie]

“I have nothing to offer him,” she said simply. It was the truth. All she had were her clothes, her weapon, and her own skin. She had no money and no ‘credit’ as Midgard called it, and no matter how angry the man was, her weapon was not something to be bartered with. The idea of having to give that up did nothing to improve the cheerfulness of her countenance. In fact she looked downright pissed for a second.

After a moment though, her face turned thoughtful and she paused outside her room once they reached it.

“I will see what can be had in Asgard. Perhaps Thor would grant me a moment to take the belongings I left there.” What she failed to mention is that her list of belongings, even in Asgard, was spartan to say the least and she doubted anyone but a warrior wound find them useful. But she did have a small amount of gold and perhaps that could be exchanged for whatever this man felt he needed.

[grimmtoof]

Angus nodded as he listened to Valkyrie, “I suspected that might be the case, but I needed to make sure. The man involved did suggest another way you could pay him back, but I took the liberty of turning him down on your behalf. I didn’t think you would be very keen on spending the night in his bed!”

Angus stood for a few minutes thinking over the options. “What you could do is speak to Tony and Steve and see if they could provide you with some cash. You’ll be getting paid as part of the Avengers, maybe they could give you an advance on that. I could also pay a little visit to him, and suggest he takes whatever you give him and leaves it at that. Otherwise, SHEILD might just have to start looking into what he’s up to. Most people have plenty of things they try to hide and tend not to like the idea of someone poking about in their secrets.”

[valkryie]

They’d reached her room at last, but Valkyrie froze in the act of reaching for the door knob as Angus relayed what the man had initially suggested and the look she leveled the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent could have frozen lava if she’d had the power. It took a rather large amount of effort for her to open the door rather than ripping it from its hinges, but the doorknob itself was a little worse for wear. She’d crushed the thing in her hand so the once smooth, round door knob now resembled a wadded up piece of paper.

“I will ask mine comrades as thee has suggested, but perhaps I should give him nothing if that is the kind of man he wishes to be. Perhaps too I should come with thee to convince him he need nothing from me save mine absence.” Most would have said that as a threat. Hjordis said it as a promise. Come to think of it, there was very little threat about her. Intimidation she had in spades, but she never threatened. Whatever she said she would do, she did. End of story.

[grimmtoof]

Angus quickly held up his hands to try and calm Valkyrie down. "That would not be a very good idea you don't want to get into any more trouble. Like I said, I knew your reaction would be something like this, that’s why I declined his offer on your behalf.” He told her, before glancing at the remains of the door knob. “I also took the liberty of suggested to him that even if you agreed, your 'abilities' would mean he would not be likely to survive the encounter!”

Angus put his hand on Valkyrie’s arm. “Look, personally I agree with you. If it was up to me I’d have flattened the guy just for making the suggestion. But that would only have ended up with me getting arrested for assault. Sometimes in this world you have to do things that you don’t want to, but trust me the alternative is worse. Yes, a lot of men are scum , but trust me we are not all bad. There are still some people left with honour and decency left.”

[valkryie]

The anger over the man’s impudence didn’t entirely go away, but at least she looked less…driven as she walked inside her room, leaving the door open so they could continue the conversation…only to be stopped again, this time by his hand on her arm.

The room inside was nearly bare. A single bed stood in one corner with a simple, white duvet tucked in to each side carefully. One nightstand sat beside it with a small lamp on it and nothing else. A chair stood in another corner beside the closet, which was closed. The single window that graced the back wall was shut and the curtains, which were a deep navy blue, were drawn over it. The wallpaper was really the only decoration in the room and it matched the curtains but for a delicate silver embellishment that ran through the entire expanse. A privacy screen stood in the last remaining corner while a large desk dominated the wall opposite the window. It was clear of anything.

All in all, it was a spartanly elegant room, though the only thing that kept it from looking like a soldier’s bunk was the quality of the wallpaper and the antique furniture.

“Agent Angus, I am not unfamiliar with going against my own wants and needs for the benefit of others. I know full well the heavy burden of weighing outcomes, even when all are distasteful and when the best one fits not with mine own opinions. If this is what thou asks of me, then it is what I shall do though it pains me not to teach this man what dishonor and crudeness brings.” She shook her head, almost as if silently disagreeing with the fact that she was agreeing with him. “If this were Valhalla, this would already be settled, be it by fists if necessary. However, as I must constantly remind mineself, this is not Valhalla. I am new to thine ways and must trust that thee knows best what should be done.”

Lightly, or as lightly as she generally managed, she set her hand atop his for a moment.

“The knowledge that others of honor and decency remain gives me hope whilst it saddens as well. Such virtues should not be in such short supply that one must hope for them and be disappointed.” For perhaps the first time tonight, she smiled though it was small and perhaps a bit wistful. “Let us hope, Agent Angus, you continue not to disappoint.”

[grimmtoof]

Angus' eyes widened as he took in Valkyrie’s room and a small giggle escaped his lips. “And people say my quarters are spartan!” I truth his room it wasn’t that much better than her’s, being slightly dominated by his large collection of guns along with the equipment he used to build and maintain them. But there were still a few personnel items in it, some photos of home and his old REME comrades, as well as the green beret from his tour of duty with the Royal Marines. “Come back Caprica, all is forgiven”

When Valkyrie talked about hoping he did not disappoint, Angus nodded. “That is something you do not have to be concerned about. I was raised that my word should be my bond, and it still is. That is of course unless I’m fighting you, in which case I’ll be using every dirty trick in book!” He grinned at her again. “And don’t worry about me trying to take advantage of you. Not only would I probably not succeed, but my girlfriend, my boss and most of my team would be out to get me. Given what my girlfriend is like and what my boss can do, I wouldn’t have long to live. Anyway, no offence but you’re not my type. Nothing personal, I just prefer Redheads!”

[valkryie]

Hjordis took a moment to survey her room at Angus’ comment and shrugged lightly. It sufficed for her needs well enough and that was all she asked for. If others thought it too plain, that was their problem.

“That is something you do not have to be concerned about. I was raised that my word should be my bond, and it still is. That is of course unless I’m fighting you, in which case I’ll be using every dirty trick in book!”

She gave a half smile at that, mostly because she could not disagree. There is a certain degree of honor in battle, but there is also a difference between battle and war. War is not honorable. It is not orderly or tame or fair. War is survival and survival is not clean.

“And don’t worry about me trying to take advantage of you. Not only would I probably not succeed, but my girlfriend, my boss and most of my team would be out to get me. Given what my girlfriend is like and what my boss can do, I wouldn’t have long to live. Anyway, no offence but you’re not my type. Nothing personal, I just prefer Redheads!”

She smiled again and nodded, moving further into the room toward the desk. She still had her missive to write before making ready for the visit to Asgard and time was of the essence.

“No offense was taken. I would hope not to meet thee in battle whilst on opposite sides, but like thee I would not…how doest thou say it?...pull mine punches. ‘Twould be an interesting encounter to say the least.” With that she pulled out a sheet of paper and a pen, setting them on the desk and turning back to Angus.

“I do not wish to be impolite, but I run short on time. I will ask mine comrades for the money this impertinent man requires to be sufficiently satisfied and contact thee once it has been acquired. I wish this ended and done, so I will not dally, but more important events need take place first. I trust thou knows the way out?”

She wasn’t trying to be rude, but if he knew the way out then she didn’t have to worry about taking the time to escort him. Considering his familiarity with finding them in the first place though, she doubted very much he would need her help. In fact, he probably knew this place better than she did.

[grimmtoof]

“That’s alright,” Angus replied to Valkyrie, “I’ve got other things to be getting on with as well. I hope the next time we meet is under better circumstances.”

Taking a final look round Valkyrie’s room Angus turned and walked towards the exit. As he walked along he smiled, talking to Valkyrie had reminded him about Aislin for the first time in days. She was back in Scotland visiting some of her family, with everything that had happened he hadn’t had much of a chance to think about her. He missed her, but she was meant to be back soon and he was looking forward to hearing all her news from home. Also, if this thing with the Hood turned serious I wanted to have her by his side.

[valkryie]

---Fifteen minutes later---

My lord Thor,

I plead with thee not to disregard this missive based solely upon its bearer. Were it not of utmost importance I would not have broken thine decree.

Captain America has asked for thine assistance. An evil stalks Midgard that has no honor and it has targeted the Avengers. Captain America’s shield has been stolen and he asks for thine help; if not to help retrieve that which was taken, then to lend thine hand in defeating this evil. He calls himself The Hood and he grows bolder with each passing hour.

I ask only one thing of thee, my lord. I ask that thee take this request not as one given by an exile, but one given by a friend and ally of Midgard. It was Captain America’s wish that I speak with thee.

Whatever consequences thou deems worthy to bestow upon me for mine actions, I will accept without complaint or argument, but I beg of thee not to punish those of Midgard for the actions of one shamed Valkyrie.

For the glory of Asga—

Hjordis paused and for an instant the pen in her hand trembled as she picked it up from the paper. The parting line had been unconsciously written and an unexpected shaft of grief and shame stabbed through her. Though she was not forbidden from using that statement, it did not seem right anymore.

But there was no time to re-write the letter.

“—rd,

Hjordis

Rolling up the piece of paper into a scroll, she tied it closed with a bit of string and left it on the desk. Then she disappeared behind the privacy screen for all of five minutes, emerging in the familiar leather battle dress. Her sword belt remained leaning against the chair beside the privacy screen and she looked at it, a resigned look on her face. Her weapon would stay here. The very last thing she needed was to disrupt the hornet’s nest any more than necessary. Her simply being there would be more than enough to cause an uproar.

With one last, long breath, she picked up the scroll and closed her eyes, picturing the gates of Valhalla clearly in her mind. The power to traverse to the realm of the dead rose up obediently and she took hold of it. In the next instant, she was gone.

[[Exit thread - Continued here]]