originallutece | (no subject)

[Ah, look at him. It's not the first time she's seen a man puff up like this under her attention, and it never fails to amuse her. Whether it's patronizing amusement or endeared depends on the man in question, but for him, it leans more towards the latter than the former. God knows he has more than enough to be proud of, and to be fair, she is admiring.

She's also observing, though.

Details emerge as she approaches, things she hadn't been able to see before. (He's still so tall). The scar is interesting, if not shocking; of course he's gathered scars in his lifetime. The eye color difference is more intriguing, and she wonders if it's a case of heterochromia or a false eye. If it's the latter, it's very good; she's never seen one so realistic.

But those traces of electricity are the most interesting. She reaches out before she can help herself, fingers pressing lightly against one forearm, touching right where a spark had just sank into his skin.]

[ Energy is a natural thing, and like all natural things, worthy of study. Not by Thor, though. He doesn't dedicate his life to trying to understand what he doesn't know or isn't told, or whatever isn't necessary in his daily life. He knows how control the lightning, knows it even better than he had a few short years ago, but he still hasn't studied it. He thinks of it like flexing a muscle, like learning to hold you breath.

And so, her fascination is interesting to him. What does it matter how it works, if it works? He prefers to study people's expressions, like watching the way her eyes wander between his with curious intelligence, and learn by touch, which is why he can appreciate her hand on his arm. He lifts it, to encourage that touch, turning his hand to catch her elbow, just enough to rest his arm under hers, at least until she's had her fill of study and pulls away again. There's no spark under her fingertips, no burst of static to shock her. The lightning's gone and stays gone as if it'd never been there, the same as the clouds from the clear blue sky. Thor's voice is a little gentler than before as he jokes, for her closeness. ]

If you're planning to ask me to hold a light bulb next, I can tell you from experience, it won't light. ...Until I strike it. Then it'll light, and also break the glass. ...That last part won't be on purpose, though.

[ Dated a scientist, remember? He's used to being treated like a potato and an encyclopedia of the cosmos in one. As to the former, the problem isn't his aim (which he's had hundreds of years to practice) so much as the force (which he's never been good at controlling, needed Mjolnir in hand until only recently to channel at all). "Overkill" might be the word for it. It doesn't matter how hard you hit a monster when you want it to die, and so he's never learned how to pull his metaphorical electric punches. Or the, uh, literal kind. ]

[She glances up in slight surprise, making it clear she'd gotten lost in her thoughts. But the humor registers a moment later, and she shakes her head.]

I wasn't going to ask you that. Though it is good to know.

[It sparks a hundred more questions, ones that she'll undoubtedly ask after in the coming weeks. Rosalind's fingers curl against his skin, and she takes a moment to greedily enjoy the simple hold he has on her. His fingers are broad, large enough that it's a noticeable difference, and she likes that, and so it's somewhat reluctantly that she pulls back, taking a step backwards and putting some space between them.]

But I was going to ask if you can be touched while you're channeling all that power.

[A beat, and she sighs.]

Don't make that filthy, please.

[ She steps away, and that's a disappointment but it was inevitable. He drops his hand, tossing the weight of the axe handle gently in his occupied palm. The comment after her question is a true surprise, because Thor hadn't planned on making it filthy; he was too busy thinking filthy thoughts that involved her skin on his that didn't involve electricity. He laughs to be called out, but answers genuinely, head tilting as he struggles to explain it. ]

...Kind of. The axe's handle is wood, and it touches my hand and doesn't burn. But I've seared it already in other places, for where the lightning strays. It's not my skin that would burn you. But there's risk still, which I don't take lightly.

[ Generally, he doesn't need to be touched in battle by anything he isn't killing, so it's not a problem. And the few times his hand or arm was grabbed, at worst, it shocked the person grabbing him, and at other times, they were fine. More intimately (because of course he makes it filthy; why wouldn't he?), it's a risk he hasn't taken in centuries, since burning lovers for trying when he was young and stupid. The lightning is wild, and unpredictable at times, and he loves that. Like taming an animal, it will only ever be so tame, never truly controlled. He knows he's a fool to try. ]

[That's a good answer, thorough and sensible, and she nods, pleased by it.]

Once I discover how much invulnerability I have left, Thor, I'd like to try and see how much of a risk it would be.

[Not that she's desperate to be fucked while all that lightning is running through him. Truthfully, it's nothing to do with sex (though it's very hard not to think of sex here, with him, with his arms bared and his hands broad and anyway). She's always an impulse to push the envelope, discover the edges, try and test both her limits and others.]

For the moment . . . I thank you for indulging me with this.

[ He lifts an eyebrow at the idea of any invulnerability she might have left. Hadn't it all been taken? Obviously she wasn't eager to test it, and that's for the best. Thor doesn't agree to take that risk she considers either, but addresses the thanks instead with a nod. ]

And thank you for indulging me with your own stories, Madam Lutece. I'd be glad to hear more about your travels, the next time you're looking for company.

[ Thor offers his hand not holding the weapon, not to shake hers, if she even offers it, soon soon after the lightning's faded, or with her reservations overall. But if she does accept, he'll bring her hand up to kiss the back of her fingers, in parting. Old fashioned, even for him, something of Asgard more than Earth, but the idea of it seems to suit her, considering he wasn't even granted permission for her first name. ]

[Ah. The brush of his lips against the back of her hand is enough to leave her pleased, and she smiles again. Anything that reminds her of the better parts of home is fantastic right now.]

All you have to do is ask.

[ That smile of hers warms him, and Thor smiles back, pleased to have won it. ]

I will. Take care.

[ He promises, then nods, as much a bow as he ever gives in farewell, and turns to leave, to replace the axe to safekeeping in his room and change into something more comfortable than armor in this god awful heat. ]

(no subject)

still good to know tho!

yeah probably can't use it for ACP either if that becomes a thing

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