Tea with a Trickster ((for Thor))

[coldsong]

The first message that arrives to Thor via PINpoint is a snapshot of what is clearly a picture drawn by one or more of the children. Loki may have helped with the lettering. You are cordially invited, it reads, to a Frost Giant Tea Party, hosted by Sigrid Lokidottir, this afternoon at the Big Hall. There are coordinates written on the bottom, and there are a lot of blue heart stickers all over the page.

A moment later, some texts follow:

Sigrid has had a difficult week. She's begun learning magic, and attempted to shapeshift on her own. And she's a bit stuck just now. I'm working on untangling it, but in the meantime she's impressively large and quite blue.

I'm sure you're busy but it would make them all very happy to see you.

And I have apple cider as well, since I know how you feel about tea.

There are any number of people who would be thrilled to have a tea party with the children, he knows, and none that would make Sigrid feel awkward about the magical misstep, but sometimes it's best to just appreciate family bonds.

Besides, he's spending the day in Jotun form too, and it'll be fun to be taller than Thor for a while.

(And maybe the reassurance of seeing Thor basically comfortable around his hulking blue form is something he needs from time to time as well.)

Comments

[pirateangelbaby]

Thor frowns a little, nodding along, and not regretting for one moment that he chose not to settle Asgard here. If even a small homestead like this might one day find their borders have changed, what's to say what would have become of a nation?

But there's little time for such thoughts, as his attention is drawn to the secret entrance, revealed at Loki's hand. A glint of amusement in his eye, he steps through, the doorway arching high over his head as the palace of their childhood had. But where the palace had been cream and gold, the colors here are muted, closer, cozier than he was expecting. It feels less a hall built for a king's audience and more like a meadhall, where brothers might sit shoulder to shoulder and share roast meat and stories, whiling away the long winter with song and company.

Thor's gaze sweeps over the children, his eye drawn to Sigrid first. It's somehow more and less jarring to see her thus - not quite Jotun, but still so very different, yet still unmistakably a child. His gait pauses only a moment as he takes it in, then he continues to stride forward, heading toward the table. "Well, it's a good thing that I'm here," he calls up to them, a smile on his lips.

[coldsong]

True. And it makes sense to have the Aesir settle close to the humans whose stories have become so entwined with their own. Time will tell whether that alliance holds, whether gods and mortals intermingle and grow together or remain cautiously isolated, but it's unquestionably the right place to start.

But the Nexus seems to have been the right place for Loki to start, or re-start. It's a home for outliers and outlaws, and the chaotic nature of it suits him.

Loki lets Thor go on ahead of him into the hall, and maybe something about his brother's demeanor tells him he approves of the place, because even without Thor saying a word, he starts to look a little more pleased with himself. Whether the decor has anything in common with Jotun architecture, Loki rather doubts, but it's a comforting hybrid of space and simplicity. A refuge designed for the very large, or for large groups needing sanctuary.

Sigrid looks up when Thor speaks, eyes wide and excited. She beams at once, then looks a little shy, aware of how different her appearance is. Seeing Loki nearby, tall and blue, does seem to reassure her though. Meanwhile, Eindrid is handily diverted from his snack-stealing task, looking over at Thor and waving enthusiastically. Una tumbles off the table and comes running over to hug his leg, while Agnarr, like his brother, waves hello.

[pirateangelbaby]

Thor waves hello to Eindrid and Agnarr, though that does not last long as Una comes barreling for his legs. He laughs a little, reaching down to scoop her up for a proper hug - and so he can continue towards the table, giving Sigrid a smile.

"Well hello there," he says to Una in his arms, and casts his gaze around to the other three children. "This is quite the table you've set. Did you all help?"

Best not to mention Sigrid's mishap, he decides. The girl looks uncertain of herself enough without him calling attention to it, no matter if she's not the only one in the room who is big and blue at the moment.

[coldsong]

Loki follows, and pats Sigrid's shoulder gently, then straightens the bow in her hair. "It was Sigrid's idea, but I think everyone contributed. Ein suggested the cookies. With no ulterior motives whatsoever, I'm sure."

Thor is going to be beset with hugs at this rate. Eindrid scrambles across the table toward him with a soft but distinct, "Hiiiiiii Uncle Thor!" His speech is still delayed, but he's improving by leaps and bounds.

"Umm, would you like to sit and have tea--or juice?" Sigrid invites, with a half curtsey from her chair because she's trying to be a proper lady. "You can sit on the table if it's easier. The chairs are kind of huge."

[pirateangelbaby]

A deluge of hugs would be, by far, the best way to go as far as Thor is concerned. He pauses only a brief moment to assess - Sigrid's idea is a good one, and there's only a small hitch in his step before he's hopping up onto the table too, Una still held securely in one arm. She giggles, and he briefly kisses her forehead before setting her down and kneeling to pick up Endrid, giving the little boy the same courtesy. "Hello to you too, Ein. I hope you've left some cookies for me," he teases gently, lightly tweaking the end of the boy's nose.

Still holding Eindrid in the crook of his arm, he turns to face Sigrid and bows slightly. "I'd be honored to accept a juice," he tells her, matching her attempt at manners. She is hosting a king, after all, even if he is her uncle. "Whatever you have will suit."