15213/Queens in the Park

Queens in the Park
Date of Scene:	23 June 2023
Location:	Central Park
Synopsis:	Caitlin and Mary Jane get an invite from Frigga to the Midsummer feast at the Asgardian Embassy in return for stories.
Cast of Characters:	Mary Jane Watson, Frigga, Caitlin Fairchild

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Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson is taking a jog out from the Central Park Zoo. Opening the lion exhibit again after some supervillain or other had tried to free them and mutate them over into an all powerful monster army. Having spent the better part of an afternoon there, currently she's just out and enjoying the weather on a day off where she's not being called in to work. She's wearing a Spider-Man t-shirt and a pair of shorts.

Frigga has posed:
Nearer to the water, there are boat races happening with a whole group of small children. Small wooden boats dot the water, with little sails affixed to each. There is something decidedly 'different' about the children, even if they really are children; they're just dressed a little oddly. And, if given a chance to see, the boats, too, are a touch different. Each looks like a variation of a longship with intricate carvings, each face unique in its design. Intermingled with the children (and boats) are smatterings of City kids, with their balsa wood boats in the water.

Cheers rise from the small masses as the boats seem to glide across the mirror still lake, the small wakes showing their progress.

Off to the side, there is a woman dressed in green and gold finery, her wheat colored hair braided such that it surrounds her head before falling back behind her shoulders. One small child runs to Frigga, says something excitedly, though what it is is lost in the airy breath of the youth, and runs off again, calling to his friends. The queen straightens once again, and blue eyes watch the play, her smile easy on her face.

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
The regal looking woman doesn't stand alone. For one, it would be inappropriate for a Queen to go anywhere, unattended. Second: she *has* a factor on Earth, one who is a loyal ally and staunch friend, to boot. Thus, the invite to Caitlin Fairchild to join Frigga's little expedition.

"...even I didn't catch that," she admits as the kid runs off. "Something about Iron Man ultimate vampire going to the library green?" she hazards. She's in a simple, modest sundress of cornflower blue, with elbow-length sleeves and a floating, ruffled skirt that hangs to her calves. With her hair straightened and pinned back with a black headband, Caitlin looks more like a Sunday School teacher than a superhero at the moment.

Which is fine with her. The celebrity can get exhausting at times.

The jogger gets within a few dozen yards and Caitlin glances over at her. There's some sense of familiarity in her expression, like she recognizes the other ginger woman but can't quite place a name to her yet.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
There's a moment over as Mary Jane goes to glance around, and sees the pair of very tall, powerful woman! Fairchild she can identify as being a member of the Titans, and their brief meeting during a SHIELD briefing on the crisis event of a couple of years ago, and Frigga she's met. Would go to jog over in the direction of the pair, watching attentively for just a moment before bringing her hands together to give a formal bow to the pair.

"All Mother, a pleasure to make your acquaintance again. I hope that times on Midgard have gone well for you and that it's an honor to run into you again." She would speak formally in the way one would to royals - though her posture wouldn't quite match.

Dipping her head over to Caitlin, "Doctor Fairchild, a pleasure as well." The off-duty SHIELD agent would give a bow to her as well.

Frigga has posed:
There is a warmth to Frigga; Midsummer is a joy for those of the family and those closest to them. The joy, the celebrations and the shadows of what had been worship so many centuries, millennia ago still resonates through the ages, and it touches her still. It is all still done even if the reason and the meanings have been lost.

Caitlin's translation of the younger child's utterances gains a laugh from Frigga, and she turns those gleaming clear blue eyes to her Midgardian friend and, for the moment, attendant. Her features scrunch in humor and she shakes her head, "I am not certain either. At least his friends understand." Which is all that matters, yes?

Mary Jane's approach, the diversion from her jogging path to the pair is greeted by a warm smile, "Well met once again. You are looking well." The formal bow is acknowledged with a brief inclination of her head, and she continues, "It is the first Midsummer on Midgard that I've had the occasion to see in," she looks back at Caitlin, and with a wry smile, adds, "some time. It's nice to see the children, at least, enjoying the same things we did when we were young."

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
Caitlin reflexively bows back. It's a little awkward, for both lack of practice and surprise at the gesture. Still, it passes for pleasant, and by the time Frigga makes her remarks, Caitlin's placed Mary-Jane's face and name. She flashes a smile back at Frigga, because Frigga has one of those smiles that makes people feel that way about her. It's hard to *not* be in a good mood around her almost magically pleasant demeanour.

"Agent ...Watson, right? Mary?" she double-checks. The Amazon offers her fingers for a carefully gentle handshake. "It's really good to see you again. It's been quite a while. We met at that SHIELD, uh, thing." She glances apologetically at Frigga, back to Mary. "Right?"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would give a bright smile to Frigga, "I'm glad that you're doing well here in MIdgard. And Midsummer is a unique period. I think the solstice is around now?" Or close to it. Summer just started. IT could be before or after and Mary Jane doesn't pay particular attention to the cycles beyond the weather and the seasons.

"I guess I'm surprised that Asgardians were ever young." She would amend that. "Sorry, that sounded better in my head before I said it. But I'm glad that you have that in common. And I'm glad that it crosses cultures and experiences." Were Themyscirans other than Diana and Donna ever young? The Greek Gods definitely never were by reputation.

"And yes Doctor. I'm surprised you remember me over it. I was mostly just standing in the back and listening. I didn't leave much of an impression, particularly with everything going on. So thank you. And you have an excellent memory."

Frigga has posed:
"It's now," Frigga offers. "Midsummer, that is. Celebrations with feasting, drinking and story telling, though //some// are a little disappointed that fighting isn't part of it." Who could that 'some' possibly be? "Asgard is absolutely festooned with the holiday finery; their houses are decorated... well, very much like the Embassy is currently." A little holiday decoration can't hurt!

Frigga does catch the quick glance, and with her own in return, it's meant to soothe any feelings of discomfort. Just like mom.

A quick quirk of her lips form an active smile, and a laugh follows it easily. "Yes, yes we were. We weren't all born out of body parts, or from clam shells and the like. My children were actually children once, just as I and the All Father were." Though, yes. Years ago. Many, many years ago. "It was so nice hearing their voices in the halls, their footfalls." Heh.. and as quickly as she'd entered her reverie, Frigga emerges. "I am finding many, many echoes of the past here. It's actually very interesting."

The pair seem to know each other, so introductions aren't necessary... whew! "I'm sure there will be something going on this evening at the Embassy. Do join us tonight?"

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
"Don't sell yourself short," Caitlin reassures MJ. "I talked to the other agents there and they said you could handle yourself in a fight. I'm glad you were there when it all went pear-shaped." She smiles again, and if there's any insincerity in her words, MJ can't find it.

She flashes another grin at Frigga's laugh, and nods her head enthusiastically at MJ. "The Asgardian Embassy's here in town. It's a great place for a party. I mean, I'm not much of a drinker, but the Asgardians are a lot of fun to celebrate holidays with."

She looks sidelong at Frigga, and curls her lips to bite back a smile. "I have a really hard time picturing Thor as a kid, Your Majesty," she tells the Queen. "Let alone, you! I'm just imagining a little toe-headed boy riding on Mjolnir like it's his play wooden horse," she admits, and laughs merrily at the mental image.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "I'm glad that it's such a wonderufl thing. It's.. Not particularly common here in the states. For me it's somethign over on a calendar which I tend not to notice and I most associate with Shakespeare. So thank you for correcting me over on it. And a holiady is always a lovely thing. People spending time together and appreciating it.."

As Frigga 'corrects' her she goes to burst with quiet laughter, not restraining it. Also imagining Odin as 'young'. "Oh? Here in New York? It's not got a particularly deep past as far as old human cities go."

"ANd it would be a privilege and an honor to join you for the festivities and to learn some things. Thank you very much and it's gladly accepted."

Then Caitlin is going to takl to her over and her smile would get brighter. "Thank you. But it's not really all me there. It's mostly her. But she appreciates the acknowledgement of her ego. And it's good to know that some of the agents think that I'm decent enough." Spoken by the girl who was brought into SHIELD by Daisy and was partially trained by May.

Frigga has posed:
"The boys were inseparable," Frigga recounts, "With their friends, it was a very noisy court." Another laugh exits the Queen's lips and she inclines her head, "He was a very cute little boy, though he was the one that always had to be watched. How many times I had to wrest an apology from him for one misdeed or other."

As for her? A soft noise comes from her throat, a note of amusement lifting, and she adds theatrically loftily, "I was a perfect child. Dutiful in all things." Is that a mischievous glint in those eyes?

Absolutely.

Mary Jane's acceptance of the invite has Frigga's smile relighting her features and she nods once. "Perfect. I will let them know there will be one more guest," as opposed to tourist. "There will be a story competition, and not necessarily of battles fought, so any may enter. Winner will be chosen by acclaim."

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
"Oh my gosh, I can't-- I can't even /imagine/," Caitlin says, with a wistful little laugh. She does try to picture it, and the result is that her ears turn just a little pink before she breaks out laughing and shaking her head at herself. "Nope. Can't do it. All I see are adorable little Thorbabies," she explains, and flips her fingers in the air in defeat.

"What are the rules of the story competition, though?" Caitlin inquires of Frigga. This is something she's seen a time or two but not been privy to an invite for it. "Is it just like.. acclaim, whoever's story everyone likes the most?" she hazards.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would go to cock her attention over and laugh, "Oh? Now that gives.." Yes, she's having some thoughts along the lines of Caitlin's. And she goes to break into her own quiet set of laughter at her imagination. There's no blush over on it. Just some shaking of her hair. "I do wonder if you have a tradition in Asgard like on Midgard where parents share embarrassing stories about their children and show pictures when you meet people. If not, you should probably start it."

And of course the All-Mother was a complete and utter saint by the standards of any culture's. "And I'm sure that you were completely dutiful and attendant at all times." She's not trying to hide her laugh.

"Story competition? That sounds interesting. I'm definitely not qualified to participate though." Her stories are too personal in nature or don't lend themselves to fond recollections. There's a quick frown on her face that vanishes.

Frigga has posed:
"He did charm most everyone in court. As did Loki." The actual dutiful son! Frigga laughs at the expressions on her companions' faces, her hand reaching to her heart in gesture. "That is all I shall say, and we do not, sadly. I only recount the occasional story to remind them how far they've come, or, well, that they do continue to make the same mistakes and haven't yet learned."

Just like a mother.

"The rules?" Frigga looks to Caitlin directly, her gaze silently stating that she, indeed, should also be present! "By popular acclaim. Sadly, that usually does include a great deal of drunk Asgardians, but it is easy to win some of them over. Even without wars mentioned." She lowers her voice and leans towards Caitlin in a conspiratorial attitude, "Tell your story either before the drinking begins, or when they are full in their cups."

MJ's withdrawal from competing has Frigga's brows rising. "Surely you have something? A fire where some were saved? A moment with a friend?"

Caitlin Fairchild has posed:
Caitlin shakes her head negatively and holds her hands up in mock surrender. "I'm no good at telling stories, your Majesty," she apologizes to Frigga. "I always get hung up on details and sidebars. That's something Donna's much better at 'n me," she explains. "Or really any of the other Titans. If anyone wants a stirring lecture on RNA telomerase degredation, I've got that locked and loaded, but somehow I don't think anyone at the Embassy wants a complex discussion about genetics," she quips, and manages another wry, amused grin.

"Agent Watson, though, you've seen some crazy stuff," she reminds the agent, and gestures at her encouragingly. "SHIELD's had to deal with some cowboys now and then. Isn't there one good, funny story in that whole bunch you could share with some heroes?"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would laugh over at Frigga, "I can't imagine that. But I really don't know the Odinson or the Laufeyson at all beyond stories." And files. Which may or may not be particularly accurate in the grander scheme of things after all. she counted having 'seen' Thor in person being during briefings where members of SHIELD and the Avengers had been present. "And children will always find ways to make the same mistakes and also entirely new ones. Then thier children will do the same to them and even things out."

She would chuckle over for a moment and then go serious. "Sonja's.. Sonja's a bad person by the standards of where she's from. Those stories aren't meant to be met with acclaim, they're to be warnings. And me.." She would consider softly, head to the side. "My best stories are personal and the type I can't share without the okay of the people they're with." At Fairchild speaking up to urge her she would smile.

"And I'm sure you have a lot from things with the Titans. But sure, I'm willing to give it a try. If you insist, All-Mother. And you have faith in me, Doctor Fairchild."

Frigga has posed:
"Odinson," Frigga corrects softly, "Loki is our son." Was, is, and as far as she's concerned, adopted or not, his place is with Asgard and the court. There is no anger, no malice, nothing behind her words but a gentleness and an obvious affection for her sometimes wayward son who has shown his ability over and over, and there is a pride.

Frigga reaches out to touch Caitlin upon her arm, extending the invitation, "Then she should attend as well. Perhaps she can draw you into a recounting. I think, though, that the air of celebration will aid in loosening your tongues," And perhaps there is that mischievous tone that adds for MJ's sake, "If not a cup of mead, or wine. Good spirits, good company, good food, and the stories will come."