14556/Courtyard Recovery

Courtyard Recovery
Date of Scene:	30 March 2023
Location:	Asgardian Embassy
Synopsis:	Sif and Brunnhilde train at the Embassy's courtyard where they talk of the war with the dark elves and what it may mean to Asgard. Plans are made.
Cast of Characters:	Brunnhilde, Sif

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Brunnhilde has posed:
It's been a few days since the battle against the Svartalfheim, almost a week. Such a long time to some but to those who have the longevity of a few thousand years? Only a drop of water in a bucket.

Or in the Valkyrie's case a drop of mead in her goblet.

For Brunnhilde had been indulging after and had made herself a guest here at the embassy, joining the festivities and drinking her ass out to a stupor a few times. Hedla was getting exasperated with her already and if she could get someone with the patience of a saint exasperated ..., well....

Today it was different. She had gone to Sif's room early on. "Come outside. Time to see how your recovery is going along."

Outside it's a nice spring morning, sun up, birds chirping. The Valkyrie dressed in a light vest, wielding a rather long spear made of some heavy material.

"Come on. I don't got all day." she probably does.

Sif has posed:
Admittedly, things had been complicated for Sif's recovery. There wasn't a physical injury to be seen to. The cuts and bruises from the battle had not been what brought her close to death's door. That had been magic, a magic which had sapped away at her lifeforce itself. Or her soul. Depending on the point of view perhaps. Either way, it wasn't something that could be fixed with some herbal tea and chicken soup. It was just a matter of time.

Thankfully, each day she had been getting stronger. Though it had taken her a good four days to manage to stand up. But being who she was, she kept pushing. At least when she was alone in her room. At times, others would help her, beginning a sort of 'physical therapy' to help her start moving.

Today would be the first day she went outside. And again, that stubborn streak was there for she had insisted on dressing the role though the armor itself was left in her room. This was more training gear, the tunic and skirt. But she did have her sword at her side.

By the time she had made it to the courtyard, she could feel she was slowing. Which made her grit her teeth before Brunnhilde added the verbal barb. "Somehow I doubt the veracity of that statement," she muttered but she did make it down the steps and into the courtyard itself.

There she paused, lifting her face toward the sun as she closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of the beams.

Brunnhilde has posed:
There had been no offer of chicken soup (ugly thing, urgh). Instead Brunnhilde had come by from time to time with some mead for Sif. Patented great for recovering from wounds of the soul. The Valkyrie could attest to that, she was perfectly stable, wasn't she? At least there had been no more 'bed sittings' of 400 lb of weight stopping Sif from getting up, in fact even rushing her up to her feet as possible.

Like today.

Kohl-rimmed eyes are looking up at the sky, squinting at it until she hears Sif's retort, "I always tell the truth, unless I do not." is what she says back with a raised brow.

A quick assessment of Sif, taking in the slowness of movement. It was not physical, that much she knew of already, "About time. A warrior isn't to be sleeping in bed all day." she twirls the spear on her hands, pacing around the courtyard to find a position.

"When you recover you should go back to Asgard." You, not her.

Sif has posed:
"Should I?"

Sif had turned her face away from the sun, focusing on the valkyrie and watching her starting to move around the area. The ease she was moving that spear gave Sif a pang of envy but she knew she'd be back to fighting form in no time. And today she would start back along that path, working a little each day until she reached her fighting form once again.

"I spend my time between both realms of late," she explained, since Brunnhilde hadn't been around as much in the last fear years. Decades? Centuries? It was all relative to those who were practically immortal.

"I have a place here that I purchased. Looking at their horses, considering how to bring some of their best traits to Asgard stock." There is a moment of sadness as she thinks about it. Then a shake of her head and she focuses back on the now.

"Perhaps you should go back with me. Join the celebrations of Svartalfheim's defeat and Thor's return."

Brunnhilde has posed:
The motions are indeed made with ease yet to the keen eye of a true warrior there's something missing there. The sharpness of centuries back when Brunnhilde was the apex predator where it came to fighting prowess, undefeated and unbroken. This version? It seems a mere shadow of the past, haunted by failures and guilt. It's noticeable in the way one of her hands trembles as she takes the spear in one of it's twirls. Or how she's slower as well.

It probably doesn't help she had a goblet or three before getting out here today.

"And you never invited me to sightsee the house." A playful tsk at Sif, yet the part about the horses gets a longing look out of the Valkyrie, old memories coming to the fore, "Most of their horses are lazy. Did you have any success with it?"

That Sif invites her to go is a touch surprising, "And see the old man again?" most likely referring to Odin. She rolls her eyes, "I already know what he will say, and the look he will give me." clearly someone didn't get the memo about Odin being in deep slumber.

Sif has posed:
"I actually have not invited anyone to see the house," Sif admitted, a little surprised as she realized it herself. "Loki has seen it because he invited himself at one time. Other than that, only Midgardians have seen it. Those that work the land. Friends such as Zatanna. Jimmy Hudson. We were close for a time but when we lost Thor, I became obsessed with trying to find out what happened, if he could be recovered." That moment of sadness again as she looked into the distance, eyes not focusing on any specific point. "I forget time for Midgardians is short and we parted ways due to my neglect." She shrugged and suddenly drew her sword.

"Come. Help me see how bad the damage is and how much harder I will need to work." She motioned to her friend but did add. "And you have no danger of Odin's disapproving eye for he Sleeps." The way she said that last word made it obvious what was meant.

Brunnhilde has posed:
"Look at you, fucking the locals." Brunnhilde comments with some measure of amusement in her blue eyes, "Good." she says in ways of approval, "It never lasts but such is love. To be lived furiously fast and without inhibition." it's clear that's what she does. She opens her mouth as if she'd say something else but then stops herself. Uncharacteristically odd for her not to say all that is on her mind. But maybe she can only tease her friend so much when she sees her in such a weakened condition.

"Eager to have your behind handed to you. Very well." And Brunnhilde angles the spear forward, knees bending just so. Tension. She springs forward for a few short jabs at Sif. Not too intense, but perhaps with more weight behind them than would be proper for someone in recovery.

Too bad Brunnhilde has never been proper.

That Odin sleeps gives the Valkyrie pause. "What?" the surprise betrays a worry in tone and gaze, "How did this happen?"

Sif has posed:
If she had given any less, Sif would've been annoyed. She was not one to want to be treated with kid gloves. She would want to be challenged and to force her body to work.

She did manage to bring up her sword, pushing the spear away and twisting her body around to try to line up a return attack. Which likely wasn't going work both because she was slower than normal and this was Brunnilde, out of practice or no. The woman was a damned fine warrior. Throw in she had a spear and thus a longer reach and the odds were in the valkyrie's corner.

Sif did not let on that she caught that worry. Better to let it slip past. Though she did answer. "Around the time Thor disappeared. When we lost Thor, I returned to Asgard to carry word and found Loki dealing with Odin having fallen into his Sleep. Thus Loki has been acting as regent." In case she didn't know that little tidbit either.

Brunnhilde has posed:
The longer reach is indeed quite the advantage so Brunnhilde only has to jump back to get out of the way. "You are hungry. Good." she says, returning on the offensive a beat later. Entering that practice routine of centuries past. Perhaps a good 500 years since they had done so. "No skinny dark elf can sap the spirit of an Asgardian." she boasts.

She twists and weaves, closing the distance as she feints to them attempt a booted kick towards the other Asgardian.

"So Momma's Boy is on the throne now?" She huffs at that as the sound of weapons clanging fills the couryard, "That must be going great." sarcasm dripping from her tone. She doesn't have much faith in the God of Mischief!

"Maybe I will go with you then. If only to make sure Loki doesn't burn down the whole kingdom." And not to check on Odin. No, never that.

Sif has posed:
"I am loathe to admit it," Sif says as she blocks another attack, falling into that routine that they all knew from childhood. Because while they were not following the exact training routine from those days, the muscle memory built over millennia could not be denied. She managed to avoid that kick but just barely and a swing of her sword would be the warning needed to push Brunnhilde back again slightly to get some distance.

"He seems to be doing well, serving Asgard instead of himself." Sif is as surprised as everyone considering her past with the mischief-maker. "I will not say he has changed but I feel this...may have helped him grow up some perhaps? Losing his brother and father in the same day."

When Brunnhilde says she might go for that reason, Sif just nods and does /not/ smile because that would just draw the ire of the blonde warrior most likely.

Brunnhilde has posed:
The news that Loki is actually handling things well is answered with a grunt, the blonde parrying the return strike with her spear and keeping their weapons connected for a moment. Strength against strength. Testing to see how recovered Sif's own strength is, "Loss has a way of changing people." she knew it well, it had partially been due to the loss of all valkyrior back then that had made her leave.

"Do you think Thor will want the throne?" She then questions, taking in a breath. Feeling she does not have the same stamina as before. Oh, she could go all day. But not without craving a good mead.

She circles the other Asgardian with her spear for a few moments longer, "For Asgard may have won the war, but there seems like there will be much to be done to recover it."

Sif has posed:
As they lock weapons, Sif can feel her arm trembling to hold the weapon steady. She brings her second hand to the hilt, a sign of that weakness though she was doing her best. But alas, she was not fully recovered and Brunnhilde was the stronger, despite her stamina not being what it was centuries ago.

"I do not know. At one time I would say no but after this experience?" Not actual shrug but it was apparent in her tone she was throwing that up into the air as one of those unknowns.

As she circles with her old friend, she doesn't spin her sword or any of those moves she would do to flourish and look fancy when 'play' fighting. "The fact we have prisoners. That is unheard of and I fear that such may lead to conflicts in Asgard." A bit of a face then she swings her sword, going in for a strike. And realizes she left herself wide open because she was so much slower than normal.

Brunnhilde has posed:
"Harder.." Brunnhilde tells Sif when she spots the dark-haired warrior bringing another hand to steady her grip. Pushing her to do better, "Asgard will need you to do better." the weapons come apart.

"And so will Thor." The delivery of that line with an odd connotation to it. "There is something in his soul that's different. His destiny was settled but now ..? Something changed, he should be *dead*." her tone heavy. "And yet here he is." which Brunnhilde doesn't know how to process yet.

The talk of prisoners has Brunnhilde mmm, "Svartalfheim should handle their own prisoners. Fuck them..." but the opening gets her to go silent. And she is not one to not take advantage of it. Or to go easy on an old friend.

So she does just that, moving her spear to move the blade away so she can move in to deliver a full shoulder tackle, her strength behind it.

Sif has posed:
And with that, down goes Sif. She managed to bring up an arm and to brace her legs, to try to block the blow, but the strength just wasn't enough yet. She was going to have to build up to it. And thus, Sif landed on her ass.

If any of the guards assigned around the courtyard that noticed, they didn't say a word. Not a sound. They knew she was recovering, knew that less than a week ago she had been on the verge of heading to Valhalla for good. So for now, they were giving her a little leeway. Of course, they were also comrades so no telling how long that good will might last.

"Dammit!" Sif growled angrily as she rolled back up to her feet. She stomped a booted foot then the other as she took back up a stance to be ready for them to continue. Because she was not going to just go quietly back to her room. Not yet. She had something to prove to herself and Brunnhilde was right.

"I know not what Malekith had done to Thor. It was not the same as what was done to me. Heimdall could not see him. His spirit was not in any of the realms of the dead." For they had gone and looked. "I have not had the opportunity to speak yet about what happened to bring him back."

Brunnhilde has posed:
The Valkyrie takes in the way Sif falls. The weakness still there. But also the stubborn resilience of her spirit. There is no nod of approval from the blonde warrior though, or words of encouragement. Instead she turns her spear and hits it's butt down on the floor, waiting for Sif to get ready again.

There's a snort when Sif then gets back up again, "Only fools don't know when they have been beaten." cruel words perhaps if they weren't Asgardian warriors who have known each other for centuries. But it's all about stoking that anger of wanting more, wanting better. Wanting to surpass themselves and their limitations.

It's what makes them Asgardians.

The spear is levelled again and she taps the tip on the ground. "Those odd people with him looked to be from space. Space Pirates most likely." Brunnhilde has had her experiences out there. "So whatever happened..., should be worth a saga. Time enough to learn of it. If you can find some time where you are not sprawled back on the ground." some more taunting.

"Who was the other one there ...?" A pause, "The one holding Mjolnir. I felt a kinship to her but she did not go to Valhalla when she fell."

Sif has posed:
At the taunting, that gets a derisive snort from Sif. "Who has been beaten? I tripped." Which she said with a grin. She quickly takes position and prepares for an attack. Watching Brunnhilde but more focused on her body and the weapon she wielded as opposed to looking into her eyes. Never letting down that guard.

"I did not see those that arrived with him," she admits as she goes for the attack this time. Driving forward in a sudden burst of speed that she likely will pay for in a minute as she can't keep that up for long at this point in her recovery. But she goes for a swing, expecting a block and quickly changes the flow and direction of the weapon to go for a lower attack than the first. Admittedly, unlikely she'll get through but hopefully the sudden offense instead of defense will count for something.

At mention of the one with they mystical hammer, Sif gave a little nod. "Jane Foster. A friend from his past who I came to know in the last year. When Thor disappeared, the hammer was destroyed. She gathered the pieces. Then the next thing I knew, she as able to transform and wield the power of Thor, obviously having been found worthy." She frowned a little. "I wonder if she went to the same place Thor had? Since he simply disappeared when the spell was cast on him? Is it possible?"

Brunnhilde has posed:
"Fool it is then." The same grin on Brunnhilde's expression as they exchange 'pleasantries' as Asgardians do. The valkyrie readies herself as well, again an aggressive stance, raising the spear above Sif's head some as if ready to stab from above.

They circle for a few and then there's a burst of motion. Uncanny speed that is matched with Brunnhilde's own. Eager for conflict. And she being who she is she doesn't care much in keeping the distance, or the advantage of the spear, moving in as if to end this quickly. That Sif changes angles at the last moment has Brunnhilde having to improvise, body moving to a side and the spear only coming up at the last moment, she partially parrying with a grunt before being tossed back. Not that she falls, one hand on the ground making her roll over and back up to her feet. She chinjerks back at Sif.

"Not good enough." even if enough to throw the old warrior back and almost fall. But she won't admit to that!

"A mortal wielding Asgard power. Interesting." then she shrugging at the possibility of she being sent to the same place Thor. "Beats me. I am no sorcerer like Momma's Boy, or Frigga. If there's anyone that might have an inkling about it is them." a pause to frown. "And perhaps that wizard they call Strange. I still have some words to have with that man."

Sif has posed:
"When I have the strength, and his tale, perhaps I can investigate. Heimdall's sight should help."

As she managed to mess up Brunnhilde's footing, she was quite happy with that but there was no giving in like she'd been victorious. Not even close. "Perhaps not good enough. But it felt good," Sif admits with that little shrug of one shoulder, a grin on her face. "Made me feel not completely useless."

Which is how she's feeling and thus forcing herself to continue even though her shoulder already burned from the weight of the sword and their impacts when exchanging blows.

Though there was something there which had her curious as she circled, looking for another opening. A feint here or there to test. "Zatanna Zatara is also a good user of magics. Though, why do you need to have words with Doctor Strange?"

Brunnhilde has posed:
"He had Dragonfang." The legendary blade Brunnhilde used to wield, "Don't ask me how..." in truth she doesn't remember. Though she has the burning feeling she may have bet it away. Or sold it for something. Perhaps she was too drunk to remember. Or simply gave it over for safekeeping. Who knows?

"And now he doesn't..., and I want it back." A frown creeping onto her features, "Hence. Words." good that it's only words to be honest. For her! "Just comes to prove I should never trust magicians.." she still has a score to settle with Amora.

She notes the way Sif is carrying herself. The exertion that is telling she will be coming to exhaustion soon enough. Which wouldn't do considering tomorrow there will be more of it. "Bah!" she straightens up, again the spear hitting the ground with the butt. "I tire of this training. I need a drink."

"Tomorrow we do this again. And let's see about visiting that house of yours soon. I will be your first official guest." does it count if she just invited herself to it?

Sif has posed:
Sif knew it for what it was. For an instant, there was gratitude in her eyes. Then it was gone and she gave a terse nod. "Perhaps that will speed my recovery. Or make me not care. Either works."

And she sheathed her sword back at her side. "I had not realized he had your blade. Words indeed." But then she gave her friend a nudge with an elbow as she turned toward the building proper. Starting to head inside and careful to hold herself upright and show no weakness.

"We will visit Asgard. See if Heimdall has any hints of Jane Foster. Then a trip to my ranch. And after that, who knows."