#rivervale_lodge

"You are welcome here, Earl. Do not feel that you need to rush." With that, she takes the scroll and heads upstairs.

Earl watches her go and shakes his had "She's a troll's troll and then some." He goes back to sketching

"You don't have to..." but oh, she looks at that half-done sketch with longing.

"Actually, I kind of do..otheerwise it'll nag at me'

"You said you do this for a job?" She watches him work. "I can see why..."

A smile and he says "Now, you never said what god or goddess YOU were so..."

"I didn't... I dunno."

"Thor's my favorite, but I can make ice and I'm learning to make thunder..."

"Well, how about this...." he turns and sees , herself, as a Valkyrie but with bracers like Thor in myth and nordic designs she doesn't understand Theree is a skin of drink by her side, but she currently holds a weapon. Wings, not feathery ones, but ones of something akin to sunlight spread out protectively over a downed Thor that looks a lot like Jaymes. And there Dagmar is, Goddess Dagmar, with comic book captions stating in a speech balloon saying "No, none will have this one, not today!"

Her weapon is raised defiantly, as if she would fight even her fellow choosers of the slain

"Oh...wow...."

"Behold Thrud,...sometimes pronounceed more like tooth... Daughter of Thor .. her name means Power, or Strength. Little is known of her from the myths.. meaning her legends can be great"

"Jaymes makes thunder! I didn't know Thor had a daughter!"

"Not many do. She's got maybe three mentions in the epics. She's said to be a Valkyrie in one, to serve drinks but only to the greates warriors in another. She's not as well kknown as her brothers Magni and Modi... but remember, guys tend to write the legends that have lasted. That means that Thurd might be greater than either of them but folks just haven't heard."

"Hmph. Sexist jerks."

"It happens. bunch of monks transcribing pagan lore, they're bound to have some biases , even if they're not aware." He says "So you like?"

"I do! How much?"

"Nothing" he says "It's yours. I said it was a wway to pass the time and it was .Besides, this isn't nearly as good as I normally do when I have my paints and brushes. this is just a sketch. Not saying it's nothing, but you're of Rivervale, an ally. I would no more charge you for this than you would charge me for the Dr. Pepper" A pause "you're not charging me for the Dr. Pepper are you?"

"Nuh-uh..." She holds it up. "This is awesome."

"I gotta show it to Tove. Are you good?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. Thanks. And... sure. Maybe I'll do some more when I come back"

"But that maybe awhile" He says

"Yeah? Then I hope it's soon!"

"You don't know, but you could visit just to visit too."

"I suppose I could" He smiles "thank you for the invitation." Earl waves "Have a nice night"

"You too! Tove is gonna love this. Jaymes too!" ANd she's off, too excited to show it off to linger.

Earl watches her go "Good kids they have around here" He pulls at his neck where the rune shields him. Then finishes his slightly flat dr. pepper, and heads out. I hope someone explains to her that the mention of Thrud being a cupbearer part time is NOT an insult but an honored position or she's going to be miffed. The rest sounds bad ass though. _ he looks thoughtful _mmm comic books. And gone.

.........