6610/The Asgardian Tinder

The Asgardian Tinder
Date of Scene:	18 June 2021
Location:	Lily Anne's Lounge - Hellfire Club
Synopsis:	Sif and Thea meet at a speakeasy but instead of marvelling at the jazz music and the 20s they marvel in creating Sif a profile on Tinder. And much swiping is done that night ...
Cast of Characters:	Thea Queen, Sif

---

Thea Queen has posed:
It had been some rather tense few days. Fighting off Al-Fidr's men, discovering his slave ring of mutants, then fending off against some .., rage spirit with the help of a new ally by the name of Abcde. Investigations were ongoing to discover on where they were holing up in Egypt but Thea being Thea felt they needed something to relax from it. It's not like worrying too much about it would help, and nothing they could do just yet so ...

> What do you say about coming with me to a cool place? One of our drinking halls. But you will do the drinking...

Turns out that the place she asked Sif to go to is right in the middle of the Hellfire Club, one of their finest bars which has been fashioned like a place from the roaring 20s. To the detail of even having to tell a certain password to get in! Of course that with Thea being part of the VIP members it meant she had certain perks like knowing what each day's password would be.

> When you arrive the password is: laced bodice.

Of course it is. It's the hellfire club after all.

> Also, it's a thematic 20s bar. Were you around back then? Come dressed the part if you can!

As for Thea she certainly *is* dressed the part, a cocktail dress of the 20s, all black with golden geometric shapes, gloves up to her elbows and a tiara on her head. Her bobcut hair does look perfectly adjusted too. She knew there were reasons her usual hairstyle is good for these places! But inside she waits, perhaps wondering if it wouldn't had been a better idea to accompany Sif here. Ah well, what can go wrong?

Sif has posed:
Enter detective work, Asgardian style. Upon the invitation, Sif hit the street, dressed this time in low-riding, flared jeans and a too-tight elongated-sleeve tee. Chelsea being where and what it is, she had no difficulty finding random people to accost until she found someone who knew fashion.

    "What is the roaring 20s?"
    "What!?"
    "What is the roaring 20s?"
    "It's in the name! The 1920s. ... You know what they are, right?"
    "Almost hundred years ago?"
    "Yes."
    "What fashions did they wear?"
    "How the fuck am I supposed to know? I'm a construction worker!"

    ...

    "What did people wear in the roaring 20s?"
    "I don't know."

    ...

    "What did people wear in the roaring 20s?"
    "Well that depends. Are you going for the whole androdgynous flapper loo... Know what? Never mind. You'll never pull that off."
    "You know much of this?"
    "Hon, I sure hope I do. I'm a designer."
    "I will hire you to make a gown for me then."
    "Woah! I'm a pretty big name to be just hired by a rando in the str..."

At this point in the conversation Sif pulled out her thick roll of cash. "Will this suffice?"

The result was a glittering black gown of the form known as a "robes de style". Carefully altered for her to conceal weapons beneath. Because of course!

Thea Queen has posed:
Only too late does Thea remember the shopping spree they did to get Sif and Vin some appropriate clothing to Midgard. Of course Sif wouldn't know what the 20s are! Face, meet palm. Thea lets out a small sigh. "I reaaalllly should had went with something simpler, shouldn't I?"

Ah well.

> Or just bring something simple!

But too late. Detective work had been done. Dress acquired. And it's not as if Sif doesn't look fabulous in those robes de style!

It's enough to get some heads turned her away. A whistle heard here and there. What? This may be a 20s bar doesn't mean the people there are classy! As for Thea, she looks up from all the swiping left she was doing on her phone, eyeing the dress before bobbing her head back and forth in approval.

One hand goes up and she waves to call the Asgardian's attention. "Hey, over here. Now, where *did* you get that dress? I don't think we got that one when we were out on our shopping spree!" she says, an amused little grin on her expression. She squints and then murmurs. "Your dagger is showing.." is she just teasing her? Or is the dagger really showing?

Sif has posed:
"It's not!" Sif says, frowning a mock frown. "I tested in my boudoir. It cannot be dislodged without specific force. You try to fool me!"

Give her points for self-discipline. She's not looking or checking, openly or surreptiously. Its location in her outfit is absolutely still a secret.

Or it would be if the handle weren't clearly visible, flashing ever so often, when she walked.

"I found an expert near my domain and we did hurried work to get this gown made in time for this event. I will have to frequent this man's place of work again. He is very good with his hands."

She probably didn't mean it that way.

"He worked those needles like the finest swordsmen work their blades."

Nope. Definitely didn't mean it that way.

"Now I am still confused because I still fail to hear any roaring. Does there have to be much in libations first for the roaring to start?"

Thea Queen has posed:
"Mmm, if you say so ..." Thea says in that oh-so-uncaring manner of hers that can be so unnerving even if those sharp eyes give another look over Sif's dress, almost as if she could see right through it! Or could notice the thing! She does have those sharp eyes for being such a good archer. Maybe it's her superpower!

Of course that the handle is indeed visible and it makes Thea laugh in a more merry manner. She reaches atop the table where she is sitting at, touching her purse. "We need to get you one of these so you can carry your knife *in* it." she tells the other woman before rapping her knuckles atop the table. "But come on, sit down with me. I am glad you could join up. Think Vinnie was busy today at her work place so couldn't join. Means it'll be just us two! And some good drinks ... Which speaking of..." she gestures to a server, "I will have another ice tea. Peach." nothing like drinking ice tea in a bar. "What will you have, Lady Sif?"..

"Good with his hands, uh uh..." she smiles, it only broadening further when Sif mentions being a rather fine swordsman. "I can only imagine ..., did you woo him with your Asgardian wiles? Mmm?" A wink.

As for the roaring 20s. "Well .... Libations help, but it's just the name that's given to that period you know. The roaring 20s. Exuberant, celebrating life.." she opens her arms to the her sides.

Sif has posed:
"I have not yet wooed him, no. It is ... crass ... to woo the help. Sadly often done but not by those of breeding."

At the subject of libations she perks up. "Do you have pitchers of ale?" At the affirmative, she smiles. "Ah, splendid! Two pitchers for me, then. When I empty one, replace it. Keep it up until I have fallen under the table. Then just bring me a pitcher every fifteen minutes."

The important part done, she turns once again to Thea. "If I were to wear an outfit this ... revealing of form ... in Asgard, people would view this as a signal that I am open to ... adventurous assignations. Is this true here in Midgard as well?"

Beat.

"And if it isn't how does one signal such?"

Thea Queen has posed:
"Woah, I didn't know you were so .., posh.." Then Thea gives it a thought. Maybe posh isn't the best word. A fingertip taps over her lips in thought, ".. Or is it snob, mmm?" a wink back at Sif. She is clearly jesting! Or at least she hopes Sif sees that.

Pitchers of ale though? She looks apologetic up at the waiter but then nods. Better go and do what Sif said! Someone will get quite the bill to pay in the end ...! Maybe Thea can put it on Ollie's tab. He won't mind....

As the first round comes Thea almost coughs into her ice tea when Sif speaks about adventurous assignations. "Is that why you ...." she gestures, a mix of amusement but also just a touch of embarassment. Her ears do turn a little red! But just a little...

"Well, there's various ways. Just sitting at the bar by yourself would help in getting approached. And we were also sitting here so .., maybe someone will.. OOooor.." and she brings out her phone.

"There's this..." she opens an app. Tinder. "Did you bring your phone? I can show you..."

Sif has posed:
Sif starts pulling things out of her little clutch. A roll of large bills. A larger roll of large bills. Another roll of large bills. A small paper bag with what smells for all the world like beef jerky in it. A bottle of bourbon. Finally her phone.

The rest of the items, in aggregate far too large for that clutch, get replaced.

"Here it is. I carry it with me always as you instructed."

It's pretty obvious it's hardly ever used.

"Show me?"

Thea Queen has posed:
Thea watches the various things as they are put in display on the table. Her lips part as if she was going to comment. Maybe at the beef jerky. But then decides against it. Better leave it be! The bourbon though? She eyes it. A little frown. Then both hands hold her ice tea and she brings it up to her lips, drinking near half on one go before exhaling quietly.

Temptations are always around ....

"Good..." She reaches to take the phone, swiping it open and tapping here and there, starting to put the app on Sif's phone.

"So basically...." and she puts Sif's phone to the side while it installs and brings out her phone instead, showing an image of this guy standing on his hands. "So imagine a place where you can look at someone's picture and some small blurb about them..., and then choose if you'd like to meet them or not... it's that simple!" she looks at her screen again, "So in this case..., hello, I am Frank and I can do this all day..." handstanding?! She rolls her eyes and swipes left.

"Left means no, right means yes. And that's it! If the other person also sweeps right you can communicate with them."

The marvels of technology!

Sif has posed:
Sif looks it over and starts reading profiles. "How would they know anything about me?" she asks, mystified. "I have not spoken with them yet."

She peers closer at one of the candidates. "Why would one do such to his hair. His features are not entirely unattractive, but they should not have attention called to them like that. One should dress and carry oneself to amplify one's strong suits, not weak."

She shakes her head and swipes left.

"So if I swipe right, then the other must also swipe right? How does he know that I swiped right?"

Thea Queen has posed:
"Well, we need to get a picture of you to put on your profile .., and then you write a little something about yourself.." Thea explains to Sif while continuing to demonstrate on her phone. It's all left swipes. Thea seems to be picky. Or maybe just waiting for the right one!

She chuckles at the hair thing and shakes her head, "Some people just don't know what their best traits are... Besides..." and now she looks up at Sif, deep blue eyes flashing. "... Sometimes beauty is all in the eye of the beholder, mmm?" don't tell that to Amora!

She leans over afterwards, elbow on the table to keep her hand up and propping her chin while with the other hand she helps Sif with the details, dragging her chair closer to the other woman. "And well, when you both swipe right you get a notification and then you can chat with the other person through the phone. Set up a meeting, know more of them, or whatever you want... It's really simple! I suppose that's why it's so popular. I mean .., I have used it.."

Even Thea isn't immune to .., adventurous assignations.

Sif has posed:
"Am I to take from this, then, that in Midgard it is appearance and only appearance that is used to decide if one wishes a relationship with another?" Sif asks.

Well, that's hardly an ominously judgemental thing to say.

"I'm proud of you!" she then continues. "It was so hard teaching you to follow your passions to their ends! Seeing you like this just puts joy in my heart!"

She starts going off the list again. "Is there a way to swipe for 'not yet, but perhaps later'?"

Thea Queen has posed:
"Woah, that's hurtful. Calling humanity callously shallow that only looks at appearances?" A beat, "Why yes, of course that's all that matters. If one is shallow!" That's what Thea replies. "But ...! This isn't exactly for relationships. It's for what you said, the adventurous assignations. The occasional roll in the hay with someone, no strings attached." she smiling up at the Asgardian.

"And what? Did you think I didn't do those too? I mean ..., a girl's got to .., girl, right?" a wink.

"What about in Asgard? Is there space for romance in the more traditional term? Or are marriages with others set by the family?" some curiosity on her tone as she asks that.

That last question has her quirk a brow. "Indecision doesn't fit you, Lady Sif. This is all very simply, just left or right. No middle-term." a grin. "Sometimes it can just be a fun way to talk with people as well. You know .., for those lonely moments.." which Thea was no stranger to.

Sif has posed:
"I am promised to the Crown Prince," Sif says, "which is a promise I take seriously. I will be Queen." She pauses, looks at Thea, then giggles. "Queen of Asgard, not your family name, naturally."

She stares at her phone again in confusion at one picture, turning it almost upside down before her eyebrows raise in surprised recognition.

That gets a very swift left.

"Whichever of the princes becomes king will be my husband. Most likely Prince Thor. I've known this for centuries." Her face, until this point serious, almost sombre, lights up with mischief. "Of course while I wait for that I have my share of flings. My friend Brynhildr once, when she was upset with me--which happens frequently; we are rivals after all--called me the Lady "Bury Me In A Y-Shaped Casket" Sif. Which is grossly unfair when you consider she has twice the field to choose from and makes those choices frequently!"

She raises an eyebrow incredulously. "Or did you think I would be chaste for a thousand years?"

Thea Queen has posed:
"That took you a while to figure out what it was..." Thea's smirk is oh-so-amused. It wasn't the first picture she saw like those apparently! But her focus then goes to what she said before. Promised to the crown prince? It makes her blink. "So .., that's Thor, right?" she asks, but then as she clarifies that makes her let out a 'ahhhhh'. "So you will marry to whoever is King. I thought you'd be set to one or the other, not to whoever wins the throne! That sounds very favorable to you, mmm?" another wink.

Then .., twice the field to choose? Ah ..., Again ears are burning. She got very well what that meant. What fields do Thea play in though? She ain't telling!

"And no, I didn't mean you'd be chaste. That's so last century, and really what is it with the catholic church and all their notions of purity, right?" but she doesn't get too far about religion with Sif, instead focusing on something else. "I meant in terms of romance, if there was room to follow your heart or if in the end you'd be having to marry someone that wasn't chosen by you." then she making a face, "Sorry, I didn't mean to make it sound like that.."

Sif has posed:
"The Allfather said to the court that I would marry the Crown Prince," Sif patiently explains. "At the time he did not say who the Crown Prince was yet. That was chosen later. And choices like that change. It is most likely that I will marry Thor, but it is not known with certainty."

She snorts.

"And of course we are not forced into marriage. We agree to it. It's possible for either of us to refuse. It would be scandalous. Tongues would wag. But ... Thor could marry this mortal that he's been so obsessed with again and then she would be queen."

The tone suggests this is not a likely scenario. It's a bit dismissive. Like the Pacific Ocean is a bit wet.

"But truth be told, I have been friends with the Princes since childhood. I would say 'no' to neither. There is room for love, even in arrangement."

The wistful look on her face vanishes at one of the profiles. She doesn't even read the profile. She just swipes right.

"OK, I must learn to have a profile."

Thea Queen has posed:
"You are getting the hang of it.." Thea grinning and reaching to pick up Sif's phone, taptapping on it again. "Alright..., I am signing you up and ..." she points the phone to Sif. "Now lets take a pic..." a beat, "No duck face ..., and ..." *snap snap*

"Perfect."

"And now we write something witty here..., like ..., Lady Sif of Asgard, fair maiden ready to defile valiant knights?" ouch, corny.

But she has that little glint on her eyes that tells she is poking fun at Sif. Always a dangerous prospect! But Thea likes danger.

Sif has posed:
"Lady Sif of Asgard, Goddess of War, Conqueror of All." Sif decides. "Grand feasts, romantic poetry, and bloody battle are the best paths to my heart!"

It's hard to tell if she's joking or serious. The fact that it's hard to tell probably means she's joking.

"Having my age might present a problem. Will this device even accept my birth date in the 900s?"

Protip: it doesn't.

It becomes slowly apparent as the pair work out the profile that Sif has been gently, then not-so-gently pulling Thea's leg. For example when discussing 'greatest accomplishments' her suggestion of 'slaying ten thousand svartalfen single-handedly in the Battle of ...' yadda yadda yadda is a bit of a giveaway.

In short, it seems Sif dishes out as much as she takes.