12136/So, about the thing.

So, about the thing.
Date of Scene:	24 July 2022
Location:	Asgardian Embassy
Synopsis:	Jimmy comes clean about his mutation and issues around it.
Cast of Characters:	Sif, Jimmy Hudson

---

Sif has posed:
The Bifrost was the easiest way to travel. Though it could be a shock to the system for those uninitiated. Yet, it took them but a moment to return from Suriname to the courtyard of the Asgardian Embassy in New York City. As the rainbow light disappeared, the trio of adventurers were left standing in the scarred ground which was marked with the symbol which had been burned into it after so many teleports. The first thing to do was secure the artifact and one of them headed off to do that, giving the other two a bit of privacy.

Why privacy? Because perhaps there were things that needed to be figured out that had been learned on the trip.

Sif considered Jimmy as they stepped out of the Bifrost mark, getting clear in case another might light up at any second. Though admittedly, Heimdall was far better at things than blasting them while bringing in others.

"I am glad you are well," Sif said as she looked him over. She knew he healed but it had still be something new to see happen. Reaching out, she tried to take his hand in hers. Then she rubbed her fingers over his knuckles before looking into his eyes again. "Perhaps we need to talk more."

Jimmy Hudson has posed:
    While the artifact was being secured, Jimmy Hudson had been at ease about things. The operation went well, they'd worked pretty decently together, Caitlin was a trip for sure. But all in all... a success. Which left him with a smile and a certain spring to his step as he had started to pick up his camp pack and sling it over one shoulder, clearly getting ready to mosey.
    Then he had said, "I reckon I should be gettin' back, think I wanna take like... five showers after all that." And the poison, and the weird plants, and not even to mention the bugs. Ew.
    But then she had taken his hand and the tall mutant was checked pretty darn easily by the Goddess of War. Not that she was restraining him, more that their connection was one of the few things that disarmed the man who hides the feral aspect of his life so well. "Oh..."
    His hand curled in hers, a small squeeze, gentle. Then he lowered the pack down with a soft whumpf of fabric and aluminum. For a moment he looked around a little awkwardly, mindful of the guards that are often around. Sif rarely seemed to mind folks seeing them together, but Jimmy had always had a subtle hesitance. As if their shared time might... rob her of some of her influence somehow.
    "Yeah about that. I imagine we prolly should. Here or..."
    A glance is given aside, even having visited the embassy a half dozen times he still can't negotiate its large number of rooms.

Sif has posed:
She knew his discomfort at them being seen. It wasn't something she had asked about yet but she gave a brief nod. "Come. We can move inside for now."

With that she turned, her own bag still on her shoulder. THen she led the way into the embassy proper. Though a few hallways, nods or words exchanged between Sif and others as they passed. Eventually they came to the chambers she used when here. It was quite comfortable and a bit too fancy for her tastes but she was respected and it suited her station. There was a small sitting area around a fireplace, large windows though they were currently hidden behind heavy curtains. There was still enough light coming around them that it was easy to move in the room. A large bed was on the opposite side from the sitting area. By the windows was a smaller table with two chairs, a perfect spot for a meal. She tossed her pack into one of the chairs then moved to the window, pulling open the curtains so they would have more light in the room itself.

Then she turned her attention back to him. "First, I want to be sure you understand. There is only curiosity. I am not upset in any way. It just shows we have more to learn about one another and I would like to assure that we recognize that."

Jimmy Hudson has posed:
    "Yeah, I mean, I figured." Jimmy says as he walks with her into those quarters. His own pack was lowered to the side. The whole place was in a lot of ways... opulent. Even moreso than the X-Mansion. It had an entirely different vibe. Otherworldly. Which had his features registering that thought as one eyebrow quirked and he tilted his head to the side as his inner monologue told him, 'well duh.'
    Then he smiled at her as she was just making herself at ease. When the whole thing seemed so foreign to him. If he lived in a place like this... he'd be so worried about messing stuff up. Then again if he actually owned it maybe he'd feel differently. Which that too shows up on his features as he has this little internal conversation with himself, manifesting in raised eyebrows not connected to anything she says.
    "Sorry," He adds, "I mean..." He walks over to her and then seems more comfortable taking her hand and then gently drawing her into his embrace as he exhales slowly. Just his hands lightly on her hips so they can have a talk that close about serious things but maintain that physical connection.
    "I wasn't meanin' ta... hide it from you. More like I kept comin' up reasons why 'now' wasn't the time. If that makes sense."

Sif has posed:
As he lowered his pack and responded, she unfastened the belt at her waist and drew off her sword. The sword was laid on the bed, still in the scabbard. THe belt was laid next to it for now. Then her helmet came off. She finger combed her shorter hair so it wasn't just standing up but really, it still could use a brush.

As he moved closer, she squeezed his hand then smiled a bit as he moved closer. She rested her hands against his chest as she looked up at him, though it was only a two inch height difference.

"It seems terribly helpful to always have your blades with you instead of being forced to maintain hold on one," she said with a bit of a smile. "You feared I would be jealous?"

Jimmy Hudson has posed:
    That got a chuckle from him, a deep rumble of a thing as he smiled and lowered his eyes to the side while shaking his head. Then he looked back up at her and semi-smirked. "Oh nah, that wasn't it at all."
    For a moment he bit his lower lip with a hint of hesitation to him, but then he presses on, "More I think... it's... you gotta understand my family. And my place in it, I think." A tilt of his head is given the other way as his eyes distance over her shoulder before he looks back to her.
    "We all get this from our father. He's a good man. But a hard man. Wild. He's spent his whole life fightin' against the feelin' that he's a step or two away from... bein' a monster." His eyes lower, then he looks back up, one eye crinkled slightly as if trying to see exactly what he's saying.
    "Sometimes he's slipped. Done things he doesn't feel he can live down to this day. I mean... he hasn't said this. But you can kinda see it in him sometimes." Then he lifts a hand from her side to gesture a little. "Anyhow, me. I mean, every son tries to avoid the pitfalls his dad has had."

Sif has posed:
She liked when she made him laugh. When he smiled that way and she felt that rumble from his chest against her hands resting on him. But she paid close attention, realizing this was something important for him. Though she wasn't sure what about his family might explain his hesitancy.

When he explained, she thought a moment before she spoke. "Does he suffer the warriors' madness?" she asked. Which might be a curious thing for someone but her next wods might clarify why she asked it. "I too suffer this madness. I must ever guard against it when in the heat of battle. Else I might hurt those I fight beside." She tilted her head a little. "So you suffer as well? Or do you simply fear you might?"

Jimmy Hudson has posed:
    "He has," James answers with a small nod accompanying those words. "He's close to nature. Treads that line well but it's a thin damn line." Then he tilts his head to the side, lifting a hand from her to push through his hair and then rub at the back of his neck as if trying to wade through these thoughts...
    Since in some ways he rarely lets himself think about these things, so perhaps it's more like she's along for the ride as he considers, less him just informing her. Then he returns his hand to her side and smiles a little as he considers what she's said.
    "For us it's... something feral. We revert, become like... a beast. It can be pretty hard to come back from. I've felt it twice. And it's not a good thing."
    His eyebrows rise and he say, "How this figures inta stuff... like I said I wasn't not tellin' ya. More just, I don't think about them much myself. Or try not to. It's not who I am."
    A beat, then he adds. "Or I try not ta let it be."

Sif has posed:
"You do not like that part of you."

Sif is a smart woman and can read between the lines. She reached up a hand, touching his cheek. It wasn't the soft hand a woman-of-leisure might have. Though she was a lady, she was also a warrior. Her hands had the roughness to show it. Yet, he had never seemed to mind them.

"The madness makes us act as such. Though perhaps not to that level. I understand why you avoid it. But you should not have any discomfort over how you are. Who you are."

She smiled softly. "I find you amazing. Fascinating. Primal at times. Balanced by being a total gentleman. Intelligent." The smile broadened. "Handsome." She knew that would probably make him react after the long list. "I wish you could see yourself as I see you."

Jimmy Hudson has posed:
    He doesn't answer her when she says he doesn't like that part of himself. A hard thing to voice, and not flattering at all. Yet he does lift his hand to hers on his cheek, interlacing fingers for a moment as he smiles a touch wanly. She tells him all those kind things and indeed as she murmurs the word 'handsome' his chest lifts with another slight chuckle as he shakes his head.
    Then he turns his hand over, and very slowly between the knuckles three thin and sharp bones sliiiide forth. It is not a nice thing, pleasant to look at. They slice the skin open, tearing it in a brief instant before the sharp points pierce then ease forward. Not fully extending, just a few inches out. Bony, ridged, with an edge to them that seems wicked. Not gleaming with silver as they were when he had drawn them during their trip to South America.
    Yet he'll let her look on them as he turns his hand slowly one way, then back. "They're a part of me and I'm still not comfortable with 'em." Even after over a decade.

Sif has posed:
Yet as they slide out of his skin, causing those wounds to him in the process, she simply watches. There are some Midgardians who would be fine seeing the like, most 'normal' people would not be so calm. They would likely look away or be slightly horrified even if they did continue to watch. Sif was none of those things. Simply curious.

As he turned his hand so she could see them more closely, she put her hand on his and touched one ever so gently. Just to get a feel for it and how sturdy it was. It was very impressive, even if he didn't see it.

"I would be using them all the time, I suspect. But we all have our giants to battle. Self acceptance is yours." She looked him in the eye. "Thank you for showing me. Though, I am curious. They appeared differently when we battled the stone guardians, did they not?"

Jimmy Hudson has posed:
    "Yeah," Jimmy says, though he hesitates after that.
    A moment passes before he nods again, then he says, "If I concentrate..." And he focuses for a time, brow furrowing as he bites his lower lip. After a space of several heartbeats a reddish energy shimmers around the exposed bone and then a silvery sheen washes over the extended claws, sliding over the bone and filling in the gaps, creating liquid smooth lines of flawless blades. Instead of something rough and crude they seem more elegant and clean, gleaming with the only color difference in them being a greater brightness along the edge.
    And then they resemble what she saw in the caves of South America, gleaming as he tells her quietly. "Goes over my entire skeleton, so feels... warm and cold and weird at the same time. Like I have... ice cubes in my joints." Which has him smirking a little at the absurdity of it.
    But then he retracts the claws with a quick /schnakt/ of sound as they click into place. A single smear of blood mars one of the places where it came through, but other than that no sign of injury. As if it never happened.

Sif has posed:
"Truly amazing. Your skeleton becomes steel, allowing for greater feats of strength. Despite the ice cubes," Sif adds with an amused smile at the idea. She can't even imagine what that might feel like. Certainly she could understand something cutting through the hand. She'd been wounded many a time. Though, that brought another question to mind.

She took his hand that she was still holding and leaned her head forward, placing a little kiss on one of the spots the blade had come out of. Like someone kissing a boo-boo. Yet, it did leave a spot of blood on her lips. She had to be aware yet she didn't seem to care. "Does it cause pain each time you extend them or is there a part of your power that deadens that?"

Jimmy Hudson has posed:
    "Well, greater feats of surviving getting my ass handed to me." James says with a little bit of chagrin. But then as he realizes he just swore in front of her, he says softly, "Pardon."
    Then she asks him that question afterward and he shakes his head, no part of it deadens the pain. "No, it kills." Which has him smile a little bit more. "But you get used to it."
    Which has him turning to look at her, watching her for a time as she looks at his hand and considers the man... or being that he is. He leans in to touch a small kiss to her brow as he says quietly, "I just know what... how it's affected my family. They're all good fighters, can tear it up with the best of 'em. Me? I'm... tryin' ta make my mark on the world mebbe slightly differently. Helpin' the kids at the school, tryin' ta make folkses life better. Figure we got plenty of brawlers. Maybe my role ain't quite along the same lines. Ya know?"

Sif has posed:
"Pardon what?" was the response to that request. She hadn't really even noticed what he said that might be offensive. Spending her time with fellow warriors, that was rather tame language in her experience.

When he finished, she gave a nod. "This is commendable if that is what you wish for your life," Sif said. She wet her lips and continued. Even as an idea comes to her mind and her lips curl up in a smile but he can see the amusement in her pale eyes.

"Though perhaps if you choose another path, I can put you in some armor and we can begin your training as an Asgardian warrior." She was pretty positive he wouldn't be interested but thought it might amuse him. He really did seem intent on being a good teacher.

Jimmy Hudson has posed:
    A small scoff comes from him as he shakes his head at the last, "I'm up for anythin' so long as it's a good work out," Jimmy half-smirks as he squeezes her hand with his, "But I do train as I can, since best to be ready. Just..." Not his end game, as it were.
    "So alright, no more secrets then. At least about my mutation. I probably have some crazy ass family members off in the shrouds of the future or the past, but beyond that no idea." Which might be more true than he knows. He then starts to step back, squeezing her hand again. Sidelong he murmurs, "Ya know..."
    A look across the room toward her own water closet, then back. "Could save some time if I were ta shower here..."

Sif has posed:
"No more secrets." That soft squeeze of her hand on his before he starts to step back. Then she releases his hand and she considers his statement. "Of course. You are more then welcome."

Then she thought of something and added. "And another thing that perhaps I should tell you about myself. I don't know if you drove down or not? If you brought a motorcycle, I can teleport you and it back to Harry's if you like. Not the Bifrost. It is an ability that I have but I can only teleport to places I know. Having not been to your school, I cannot get you all the way there. Perhaps sometime show it to me from the street so I can offer my services for speedy travel in the future."

Jimmy Hudson has posed:
    As Jimmy had been starting to step back and away, his hand in hers extended out so that they were still holding hands though starting to disentangle... yet reluctantly so. "That..."
    His eyebrows rise, but then in the next instant he takes it in stride, "That is a pretty handy thing to have. But sure." A small smile lights his features. "Should make things easier."
    Many things assuredly.
    Then he squeezes her hand again in the moment before letting go as he adds, "Alright, I won't be too long. Gimme twenty or thirty minutes or so. I still got that 'blech' taste in my mouth from that poison Caitlin totally intended for me to inhale."

Sif has posed:
"I am certain she did not intend for you to inhale it," Sif said with a faint laugh. Even as he finally moved away enough to move toward the water closet. Though she moved to the bed then paused, glancing his direction.

"The caves were quite unpleasant. I believe I shall join you." Then she looked at him with a straight face. "To help conserve water, of course."