248/When in Darkness...

When in Darkness...
Date of Scene:	03 March 2020
Location:	Avengers Mansion
Synopsis:	Thor and Kitty speak on deep matters and decide to celebrate life.
Cast of Characters:	Kitty Pryde, Thor

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Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty Pryde had called early in the evening, and was happy to hear the phone make its connection. Would he be interested in having her come by this evening, she was going to be in the city.

Events transpired quickly after that. From the Asgadian's first, "Lady Pryde," he would be able to sense the young lady warrior felt as special in his presence as she had the night they had met. A band of rogues, an unexpected melee. Lost handbag and jacket in the night, only to be returned.

Those were all fine memories for Kitty. But mostly she remembered how she felt. That sense of being special, of being something more than she had ever thought of herself when she heard of herself through the eyes of Thor Ordinson.

But there were other things to be picked up on. Different than before. A person of Thor's years and countless battles had likely seen it many times before. Perhaps even felt it himself. As if the young lady had a void that she were trying to fill. A hole of emotion that was not there when first he met her. One that Kitty tried with a quiet desperation to fill.

Hours later, Kitty rises, brushing a kiss to Thor and whispering she is going to clean up. There is the sound of the shower for a few minutes, and then the door to the bathroom opens again, the light going off. Kitty walks back, body covered in a man's dress shirt she found. She slides back onto the bed and lies on her side, looking over at the immense golden-haired man. "I'm glad you were here," she tells him quietly, her eyes studying his.

Thor has posed:
    Indeed he had seen it's like before. It is a spectre ever summoned when one encounters a brush with death, when one is exposed to the mortality of existence. Which is no strange concept for Asgardians, so much of their world focused on what passes after the fall. Yet long life does not steal the sting of any of it away. The ending is a thing harshly realized, and Thor is far from inured to what pain it has wrought.
    Rising up on one arm, the Prince meets her eyes and answers such concern with furrowed brow. "I was glad to have been able to be here for you, Katherine. The times are dark and we seek what shelter we can. Where we can." His lip curves up slightly, dark blue eyes shifting between hers, one and then the other. He takes a deep breath.
    "Would you speak on what has passed? A burden shared..." He leaves the saying uncompleted, turning over a little more to face her, the sheets on the bed rasping faintly.

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty folds her arm beneath her for a pillow. Though far from the first person to call her 'Katherine', the Asgardian's use of her name provides exactly the warm feelings that she needed so desperately tonight.

Kitty looks down for a moment, a soft smile forming. "I guess I was a bit of an open book tonight?" she asks as she looks back up towards him, gazing into the azure shades of the man's eyes. Kitty clears her throat, and her hand moves to a small necklace she wears. A six-pointed star hangs from it. She had it on the night of the Broadway play as well. The way she touches it speaks of something that gives her strength in dark moments.

"It's... Genosha," Kitty says quietly. "Not just that it happened. That I knew a number of people there," she says, her eyes moving away from Thor. Darting about rather than focusing on any one thing for too long as if that constantly changing stimulus could help her keep emotions at bay.

Kitty's one shoulder gives a little shrug, and her eyes finally move back to Thor. "My father. My father lived there," she says in a very small voice. She swallows and moves her lips to speak, but nothing comes out.

Thor has posed:
    Rising up smoothly, Thor turns, setting his feet on the floor and resting an arm around her shoulders, drawing her to him as he takes her in his embrace. Holds her as if that would shield her from the pains brought forth. Though knowing how lacking it is in truth. His brow furrows, heavy with the weight of what has passed only in these last few weeks and then nods slowly. "You have my sympathy, Katherine. It is a horror what has occurred. A horror unknown in the nine realms. So strong that for many it is... incapable of comprehending in full."
    There's a pause as he turns to her, hand gentle upon her shoulder, seeking her eyes. "And to have it touch you so closely, you endure much for such a young soul."
    He takes a deep breath, frowning as he looks away and to the side before back again. "There is little I would not do to ease your pain. If only I could."

Kitty Pryde has posed:
As Thor's arm goes about her and draws her near, Kitty reaches out for him. Arm's slipping around the man's muscular bulk and settling into those arms that fold about her. Even if they cannot remove the pain, there is a comfort to be found within them. The caring of another. One she has truly known only briefly, yet who earned in such a short time a place of high esteem.

The young warrioress lifts her eyes up to meet Thor's. She swallows, and manages a smile though a trembling one, before it slips away, hidden back away somewhere inside. Kitty slides her hand up atop Thor's where it rests on her shoulder. "This helps. You help," she tells him quietly. "I needed to be reminded of... the good things," she says.

Kitty looks down, giving a shy laugh, though one in which the raggedness of her emotions can be heard. "This... falls under 'good thing'," she tells him. She slowly looks back up. Then manages a soft chuckle as she admits. "Ok. 'Very good thing'."

Thor has posed:
    For a time he just nods to those small word she speaks, smiling a little at the explanation and the elaboration. He squeezes her shoulder and holds her there, simply content to be what support he may be. Though his eyes drift to the side as he lets his own thoughts drift to what has passed in these recent weeks. A faint look of focus, of intensity is there for a small moment. Then he shakes his head slightly and takes in a breath, returning his attention to young Katherine.
    "You have much to deal with in these coming weeks. If there is aught I can do to relieve some aspect of this burden. You have but to say." A short nod is given, curtly as if not wanting these words to intrude upon her soulful reflection. And then there is silence for now, until perhaps broken by her.

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty reaches a hand to Thor's shoulder. Fingers moving slowly over it and down against his chest. "I hoped you wouldn't feel... that this was any less special, just because... well because I needed it for other reasons," she tells him. "It's even more special, actually, that you are here," Kitty says, then looking down and biting her lip for a moment.

She swallows and lifts her head again. "When we think of someone living so long, we often think of how everyone we know would... age and be lost. I guess it's a blessing that your people are all so long-lived," Kitty tells him.

She looks down again. "He was there, in part, because he broke the law here. It wasn't his intent. His new business partners started using our bank for ill," Kitty says quietly. "He eventually did the right thing. Turned them in and testified against them. It also meant he had to leave home. For his protection. So he went over there. If his daughter was a mutant, then, the homeland of mutants was good enough for him," she says quietly.

Thor has posed:
    A small smile is given as Thor takes her hand in his and holds it to his chest. Just letting her feel him taking in those deep breaths, that thunderously slow heartbeat simply from the strength of the being beside her. There is a warmth in that closeness that entirely defies the chill of Winter outside, and yet more is found in that gentle look.
    "We are no stranger to loss, Katherine." A shared insight offered as he murmurs, "We are long-lived, aye. But our lives are... perhaps to some they would seem bold, adventurous. That we are quick to celebrate and exult in life. And we do, but it is because we all have lost those near us. Some remain with us as they can in the halls of Valhalla. But we all carry with us... memories of friends, lovers, family whom we shall never see again."
    He stops talking for a moment to smile a little weakly, one eyebrow lifting as if knowing that all of this does little to ease her pain as she speaks on her father. About what brought him to this pass.
    "So perhaps, this e'en. When we have had some time. We can step out and say farewell to the twilight sun in the company of well worthies. And you can spin me the tale of your father's life. And once you have done so we shall toast him. And celebrate the man who brought forth such a wondrous young soul."

Kitty Pryde has posed:
The young woman listens to Thor quietly. A young woman that he watched moving so deftly into the fight nights past. Never stopping to see who the man was she was defending, only knowing it was a fight worth being fought. She slides over as gracefully as during that melee, a leg slipping across his lap until she sits astride and facing him.

"I would like that," she tells Thor as she looks into the man's dark blue eyes. "I would like that a lot. I think he would too," she tells him. Kitty reaches up, fingers brushing along Thor's jawline and back into his hair below his ear. Her eyes reflect with the warmth that his presence has brought her. His words which help make that void inside feel a little less.

If he allows her, Kitty leans forward, bringing her lips to his in the softest of kisses. Not withdrawing, but sweet, and tender. As if saluting the gentleness that she has found exists within warrior known for his thunder. His skill at healing her hurt and making her feel there is something special in the world, something worth going on for.