→ video

[valr]

[You know where people probably shouldn't make video based announcements from? A bar. But here Kara is, tucked away in a corner with the device propped against her beer, so she doesn't have to hold it, freeing up her hand for the cigarette she's smoking.

At least it's only early evening, so the background noise isn't as bad as it could be.]

Okay, hi, uh-- fuck. [Off to a good start, as she forgets where she was even going with this. Maybe she should've written some notes, but at least she's got the basics down before she thought about addressing the network.] Never been much for the whole youtube thing, but I guess this is how we do things here.

[She runs a hand through her hair; her tattoo is hidden under a collection of leather bracelets, because she really doesn't like being marked against her will.]

Whatever, point is, name's Kara, and I'm not gonna take up too much of your time. I don't give a shit about this cold war bullshit or playing heroes, but I heard there's assignments, missions, whatever they wanna call 'em, and if you're going on one, you should come to me first. I won't bore you with the long explanation, but I can give you a little bit of extra luck in a fight. It won't make you invulnerable or nothing, but it's the best I can do unless you happen to follow the Old Norse religion. [Her overall demeanor is "unimpressed and surly", but with that sentence her gaze flicks away from the screen, a little wistful before she remembers herself.] If you do happen to, let's talk.

[She doubts anyone is going to take her up on that, though, even if she has to say it just to make sure. It's been a long time since she's expected more than a few re-enactors who take things too seriously. Even the few pagans tend to prefer Celtic religion over the Norse, so she isn't getting her hopes up.]

Second order of business, someone tell me where I can buy decent cigarettes, 'cause these ones taste like shit.

[And with that, Kara cuts the feed.

She's all about first impressions.]

Comments

[ video ]

[hostage]

Does the luck thing only work in a fight?

[ video ]

[valr]

Yup, so don't even bother asking if I can help you on your trip to Vegas.

[Is there even a Vegas in this place? It didn't seem a priority when she was looking over maps.]

[hostage]

Not like that, but like... Maybe before a fight? Like, luck not getting my head randomly chopped off by the monster of the week while I'm on my way to work?

text | private

[attractedtodarkness]

[have a friendly private text with just a location and a cigarette brand name]

text | private

[valr]

Much appreciated. Come find me some time and I'll buy you a drink.

video | private

[attractedtodarkness]

[have a surly teenager's face pop up on the thread]

Fair warning. I'm underage.

[not that she's saying no really.]

Video

[fantasykiller]

Are you a magician that uses Norse mythology for your spells? Having to believe in Norse to get the full effect seems kind of odd.

video

[valr]

Fuck no.

[Magician. Pls.]

Valkyrie, I only get the choose the fate of people who follow the right gods. So if you don't believe in Odin, the blessing is all I can do.

video

[fantasykiller]

I've heard of Valkyries. They exist in my world, but I never really met one before.

[He silently wondered if it was worth asking her questions. There was a good chance that any information she provided might not apply to his world. After a brief second of thinking, he decided to ask anyway. It's not like he has anything to lose by asking.]

Are you familiar with Othinus?

[heartstings]

[For a moment Kenzi is excited because Valkyrie so maybe she knows Tamsin! Maybe she's from home and from after the whole Hel gate thing and knows if everything is all right back there. But luck in battle? She's not familiar with Valkyries doing that, just casting doubt on their enemies (or maybe that's just the Dark Fae Valkyrie power, maybe Light Fae Valkyries cast luck?).

Well, it's worth asking.]

Do you know someone named Tamsin? Figured I'd ask since you're a Valkyrie and she is too and maybe you two knew each other up in Valhalla or wherever it is you Valkyries like to chill when not doing Valkyrie things.

[valr]

What's her real name?

[Tamsin isn't really a Scandinavian name, so Kara's just assuming it's a pseudonym.]

[heartstings]

[Kenzi's going to take that as a no.] I only know her as Tamsin or Tamtam or Little T, though she isn't so little anymore.

But I'm guessing if you don't recognize the name you don't know her. Which...means I got my hopes up about finding someone from home here. [Or this Valkyrie could be younger, born after Tamsin was exiled.]

VIDEO.

[indenture]

[ He looks mildly amused, though not surprised that a new imPort would make a beeline to a bar on their first day. Seems like a fair enough impulse. ]

The "luck" thing-- [ Harvey's expression grows a bit more curious. ] How's that work?

VIDEO.

[valr]

It's like a blessing, helps you get through the fight. Depends on the individual though. It can't keep you alive if you're going in alone against fifty guys, but it'll make sure that stray bullet doesn't hit you, or that you'll hear the guy trying to sneak up behind you. Shit like that.

VIDEO.

[indenture]

A blessing. [ He considers that a bit dubiously. ] So it improves your chances, is what you're saying. Evens the odds? ... Or raises them?

video

[corviform]

[ Suddenly he's quite tempted for a cigarette, but he also wants to tell her she shouldn't be smoking because it's unhealthy, etc.

But she doesn't look that young he can chide for it... Anyway, it's not what's caught his attention. Kenzi interacting with her is enough to get him to stalk that conversation. ]

It all sounds good, but how can someone be certain there isn't a catch?

video

[valr]

They can't. Unless there's someone around who can tell you I'm not lying.

[Which she actually means; there are plenty of things back home that can pick out lies.]

video

[corviform]

[ There is, actually. ]

And you would offer that to just anyone?

[khajidont]

You make people lucky? Is that the power they gave you?

[valr]

No, it's-- [She lets out a breath, kind of regretting her choice of words.] I'm a valkyrie. You go into a fight, I give you a blessing, and you've got a better chance of coming out the other side alive.

[khajidont]

Oh. [That makes him pause to readjust his line of thinking. He's been trying to keep track of what sorts of powers people have been given here, and somehow, the power of luck hasn't aligned with the others he's aware of. It's nice to know that they're still following a trend.]

Okay, that's cool. I've never met a valkyrie before.

[How much does he know about valkyries? Pretty much nothing. He's underneath the vague impression that they sing for some reason.]

It's nice of you to offer to, uh -- bless people.

[andallbite]

[ ... Well, call him a bit curious. ]

What's "Old Norse" supposed to be?

[valr]

Norse paganism. What the Scandinavians used to believe before Christianity came along.

[She's still operating under the assumption that most people come from at least a similar Earth, if not exactly the same one.]

[symbionic]

Where does the Old Norse religion come in?

[See, that's not a thing he would have noticed, if he hadn't started dating a valkyrie. The Valkyrie. God does he miss her terribly, even with her weird shared body thing going.

TOO BAD HE HAS TO PRETEND TO BE ORDINARY CITIZEN FLASH THOMPSON.]

[valr]

I'm a valkyrie. Can't do my thing properly unless someone believes.