4084/Near Hel

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Near Hel
Date of Scene: 09 November 2020
Location: Avengers Mansion - Labs
Synopsis: Hela comes to Bruce Banner's lab and they both learn some things.
Cast of Characters: Hela, Bruce Banner




Hela has posed:
Where Avengers might be found is quite easy to find out. However, how to meet one is perhaps a bit difficult. She doesn't know exactly where to go, so she has to scout around - but she also doesn't want to antagonise all the natives, either. Neither does she want to bust in on Thor.

So, she scries Thor a bit to ensure he's somewhere else - and then astrally projects down to Midgard, and into the tower. It looks just like her - but she passes through walls, making it much easier to poke around. On the other hand she really hopes she doens't blunder into someone and cause an incident so she does it very, very carefully, mostly sticking her head through the walls to peer.

So it is with Bruce's lab. One moment all peaceful - next moment, Hela's pale face suddenly appears in the wall, the wide antlers her headdress many feet across, and her presence making the room suddenly go quite cold.

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce Banner had been looking through some dimensional breach data he'd been asked to analyze by Bobbi Morse. Some sort of incursion had been occurring in different places, complete with tentacled beasts and heroes being sucked to the other side and coming back. He was to help find a way to seal off the dimensional wall and prevent further attacks.

Hyperfocused as he is, he doesn't even notice Hela at first, poring over the data and taking a sip of his (decaffeinated) coffee, a few empty packets of sweet and low and non-fat creamer nearby.

Hela has posed:
Oo there's someone in here. And here, right at the top, on his own. Seems like a good chance he might be someone she's looking for. So after spotting him, she emerges from the wall fully, and floats over to him.

"Hail, Midgardian." she says when she's about half way, as she doesn't want to look like she's sneaking up on him or something given how distracted he is, and pauses, curious what he's doing.

Niffleheim doesn't exactly have many scientific laboratories in it, after all, and not being Thor she's not that familiar with Midgard.

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce Banner startles for a moment, almost knocking over his coffee. He catches the cup barely and sets it down carefully, "Please don't startle me. Startling me is a very bad idea. You wouldn't like me when I'm startled," he says.

He turns and is taken back by the sudden appearance of Hel, eyes going wide as he pushes to stand up, putting the swivelling office chair in between the two of them, as if it would do any good, "Thor isn't here."

Hela has posed:
Hela pleasantly surprised, spreading her arms. "I was trying not to startle you." she says, quite gently. The Queen of the Dead can certainly manage a gentle voice after all. "I did not realise I would be recognised. Few in this realm do.". She seems quite pleased, though. "Do you follow the Asgardian pantheon?" she wonders, a bit hopefully.

She frowns at mention of Thor. "I'm not here to talk to Thor. I can talk to him whenever I want." she says, somewhat irked. "Why is Thor so popular here?" she adds, shaking her head, eyes narrowing momentarily.

But then she relaxes, and smiles. "I am looking for an emissary of the Avengers. As I wish to fight at our side, defending your realm. My realm needs allies as much as yours. You are one of them? I am not as familiar with you as you evidently are with me. I have had little to do with Midgard until now.".

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce Banner straightens his glasses, "Technically I don't recognize you, but you did say Midgardian, which is a phrase associated with the nine-world hierarchy of Norse mythology and would indicate that you have some connection to Asgard. Hence my directing you to Thor, as he's your world's primary emissary and ambassador," he says.

"Thor has saved...Midgard on several occasions, along with the other Avengers and on his own. I am an Avenger, yes, but I...what kind of threat are you under?" he asks curiously. Now that he's over his initial shock, his scientific mind is coming to the fore in its own right. This, after all, was an extradimensional being even as he was in the midsts of studying quantum veils and dimensional transference.

Hela has posed:
She's not exactly mollified by Thor being described as her worlds primary ambassador, the room getting a bit colder, though she stays happily smiling. "I know Thor is the most popular Asgardian god here. But, technically I do not represent Asgard, but Niffleheim, which is a different realm. Though I do have Asgardian blood in my veins." she admits.

"And my realm isn't under threat now. And neither is yours, to my knowledge anyway. But alliances are best made before they are needed, no?" she asks. "And in the future, maybe my realm will be under threat somehow, in the same way yours may be.".

She looks around the room, a bit curious at all the equipment. This place is definitely coming along, all this shiny gleaming gear isn't like the Midgard she generally remembered. "I see you must be a scholar. Perhaps thats why you recognised me.". At least she knows what the gear is for vaguely. "Anyway. I would be pleased to be your ally, and aid you in saving Midgard as my relative does.".

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce Banner has a wary disposition, if only because he's had problems in this regard in the past. He isn't good at reading people or playing mind games or even really talking and relating to other human beings. Numbers and scientific data make much more sense to him than the complex interplay of sentient creatures.

"As I said, I do not recognize you, but I can generalize your association. Niffleheim is one of the underworlds, yes?' he says, "We do have a basic Nine Realms model put together through discussion with Thor, although his terminology isn't always easily translated into our understandings. Strange that another world, so advancedi n some ways, remains mired in tropes of the dark ages," he sighs. "Did you know the Dark Ages are called such because of the lack of records involving them, not because they were particularly horrible or full of suffering, although...they were horrible and full of suffering, but that's not where the name comes from"

He looks back over his shoulder and remembers who he's talking to, "No, you don't know that, of course you don't, why would you? Irrelevant," he shakes his head, chastising himself for his own awkwardness. "I'm sure we would be more than happy to have help from anyone, although trust might be a issue. I'm afraid Loki has poisoned the well in that regard."

Hela has posed:
Hela looks blank at most of this talk. "Niffleheim is, yes, among other things. Hence why I am the Asgardian goddess of death, though my business is primarily with Asgardian souls.". She tilts her head, veeeery slightly, at the talk of the Dark Ages - but her antlers make the motion visible regardless, accentuating any head movements. "Mired in the tropes of the dark ages?" she echoes. "I think that was when Midgardians were more aware of Asgard, not less. But yes, I am sure you are much more familiar with the history of Midgard than I.".

She nods. "Ah, Loki. His spreads his mischief and lies throughout the Nine Realms. Not that you know me, but I would hope I have a reputation for being honorable among our kind. Even if I have had a history of disagreements with the others.". Spreading her hands, she adds, "If trust is an issue though, I assume a tentative alliance can be made, until that trust is earned.".

Her lip curls, very slightly. "I am used to being treated with wariness.".

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce Banner nods,' I didn't mean any disrespect, I'm just being realistic. Loki should be held responsible for his own actions, but trust can be a difficult thing to earn. I know that better than most. I tend to be treated with wariness for good reason myself. Many people are initially quite afraid of me. I have had to learn to overcome that barrier and prove myself. Sometimes even to myself."

"But if you're sincere about doing good and making an alliance, then...you maybe have to suffer a few slings and arrows. A goddess of death, you say?" he says. He doesn't necessarily consider that sinister. He knows, for example, that the Greeks had a very neutral relationship with their god of death and that natural processes of entropy make it inevitable. For most people, anyway.

Hela has posed:
Hela may not think much of effete Olympian softies, but if she knew that, maybe she'd have a change of heart.

"I don't even know who you are. You seem gentle enough... but maybe you can make reality crash in on itself with a twitch of your hand. This IS the Avenger's palace after all. The champions of Midgard fight alongside Thor, so must be capable of great deeds.". And that's the other reason she projected here rather than be here!

"Yes, I am the Asgardian goddess of death. The protector of the souls of the dead unworthy of Valhalla. Though Nifflheim is not necessarily an unpleasant place, other Asgardians do not greatly like me." she admits. "Including Thor, though I spoke to him before my dealings with Midgard. We have history, but we have agreed that it is now in the past.".

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce should probably explain the Hulk thing, but, honestly, he doesn't like to talk about it. Him. And the element of surprise is always a useful advantage to maintain if you can. If she doesn't know who he is, all the better.

"I've never quite understood the definition of worthy in regards to Valhalla. It seems to be measured by achievements in the arts of war, but my ethical point of view doesn't regard martial prowess as particularly a matter of character. If anything, they often are bad for it. But don't let me tell you how to arrange your metaphysics," he says with a slight smile.

"I'm glad that you and Thor have worked out your issues. Thor's one of my favorite people. I'm sorry that your associations lead you to being unfairly judged."

Hela has posed:
"A noble death in battle was traditional. I think most in truth would prefer to die of old age, certainly the mortals I have met in the Asgardian embassy do." Hela smiles. "As far as Niffleheim is concerned, murderers and evildoers are sent there to suffer in the ice, but the common dead are treated well enough, depending on their deeds and general worthiness, not to mention the mercy of Hela.".

"And I would respect any sort of prowess other than martial'." she promises. "I do not have a hammer for a brain, unlike some.". Maybe those issues will resurface! but for now....

She glances at all his stuff, and then around the room itself. "So this is a place of learning? Was I disturbing some critical work with my entrance? You seemed... very busy.".

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce Banner nods, "This is a scientific laboratory. These are instruments and computers that I use to study the world and discover new principles and concepts to use in our intellectual development. To help us understand the laws of nature," he says. "Except that machine. That machine makes smoothies."

"I'm afraid a lot of my work is classified. Top secret, so to speak. Also: you getting in here is probably a major security breach and I should have called someone. But I do not think you want to hurt me and I don't feel threatened."

Hela has posed:
Hela laughs softly at that. "You are one of few." she says a bit wryly. But not unhappily. She does LOOK quite ominous, even if she's being pleasant, but then Midgardians are cynical, and the Avengers probably don't scare easily on top of that, while Asgardians are quite conditioned to be wary of her, not only because of what she is, but of what the Norns foretold about her.

She doesn't know what a smoothie is really, but she nods. "Attempting to make appointments is difficult, and Thor, while not hindering me, was not helping me either. And everybody has secrets, though I have no desire to divine yours. Your kind have never been a threat to my realm after all. Or even aware of it, a few individuals aside. That said...".

"I have made my welcome, and been received. If you could mention my visit to others here, I would be grateful. In the meantime, perhaps I should better leave you to your own devices.".

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce Banner nods, "I will leave a post-it note about it on the pinboard. And probably fill out a security alert just so people are aware. I don't recommend, uh, this approach because there are a lot of security measures or some heroes that might respond less well than I do. I have to work very hard to maintain psychological equilibrium, so strangely enough I'm better equipped for these sorts of surprises."

"Yes, your realm is a secret and eldritch one and most people don't know anything about it. Do you have a...contact number you'd like to leave or would Thor know how to get ahold of you?"

Hela has posed:
Hela sighs softly. These Midgardians and their phones. Even if she wanted to use one, that would be quite inconvenient for her. "Thor would be able to contact me. I could scry you... but it sounds like that would not be well received, so I shall refrain. Friends do not spy, anyway. I shall visit you again, in a week's time or so, in any case... perhaps you could tell your mortal attendants to be ready for me, and then I would be able to be escorted in, past your less mild mannered heroes.".

All she's seen so far is a very chill guy, after all!

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce Banner considers, "I'll check and see about it. Like I said, I don't have a lot of say or influence around here, except in scientific matters. Security is probably more Tony Stark's line," he says. "But I will let them know and I'll make it clear that you did not threaten or try to harm me. That may go some way to help."

Hela has posed:
"It would be odd to threaten those you wish to ally with.". Hela moves away from him, though before she vanishes entirely, asks, "What is your name, Midgardian? I can hardly refer to you as that should I need to in future...". After all, there are billions of them!

All those souls...

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce Banner nods, "My name's Bruce Banner. Dr. Bruce Banner," he says.

"People do very strange things all the time, even when they aren't gods of death. I know better than most.