#✦ Atreus || Answered ✦ I don't want to fight anyone. I just want answers.

[stardustedstories]

@dragetunge asked: maybe you should stick around for a while. (for atreus)

Atreus (or Loki, as he was known in Asgard) had befriended the young smith in his time here. The two of them had a lot in common, and he honestly enjoyed spending time with him more than pretty much anyone else he'd met here. Thrud was pretty cool too, but Hiccup just seemed to get him, on some level. They were both small, tended to be overlooked, and were more capable than people gave them credit for.

Not to mention some of the things Hiccup invented were absolutely fascinating to witness; he just needed to get the balance of science and magic together, and he was going to do some really cool stuff. And there was part of him that wanted to stay, wanted to help him with figuring out that ratio.

He was good with magic, and he'd been helping Sindri with a few things while the two of them had been looking for Tyr, so he wasn't completely in the dark when it came to smithing. Still a novice, absolutely, but maybe he could be helpful anyway.

Of course, he wasn't going to insert himself into anything, not unless Hiccup asked him for help; he would hate it if someone did that to him. Still, he had some time when he wasn't trying to decipher the mask and other texts that Odin had given him, and he enjoyed spending some of that time with Hiccup.

The two of them had gone a little ways out of the main thoroughfare of the city, so that Toothless could spread his wings a little bit, without having to worry about running into any of the nearby stalls or houses.

Atreus looked at the dragon with a grin. "You sure you wanna race?" he asked, already prepared to give him a run for his money. "Don't say I didn't warn you if you lose," he adds with a laugh. And after checking to make sure it's just the two of them, Atreus transforms into a wolf, taking off to the designated spot they'd been heading, to see if he really could beat Toothless.

By the time Hiccup joined them, Atreus had returned to his regular form, and lay on the ground next to the dragon as both of them caught their breath, which was harder to do when Atreus kept laughing.

"Maybe you should stick around for a while," Hiccup said, and Atreus looked up at his friend, bright grin on his face.

"You think so?" he asks with a laugh. "Maybe I will," Atreus says thoughtfully, though there's that nagging in the back of his mind that they don't have all the time in the world, that he can't just stay here, not while they still need to figure out a way to stop Ragnarök.

But maybe….maybe being here would change things. Maybe he could stop the end from happening by figuring everything out. If he could translate the mask, decipher everything, maybe he could manage to outthink Odin. It's certainly worth a try.

And in the meantime, he can spend time with his friend. And maybe, if he needs to, he can convince Hiccup and his dragons to side with them if it comes right down to it. He hopes it won't, but…., they'd be formidable opponents, and they would need all the help they could get.

[storiedhistories]

@trenchedstars asked: ❛ i don’t mean to be rude, but this is not as easy as it looks. ❜ (from apollo to atreus.)

Truth be told, Atreus was still getting used to meeting other people, let alone other gods. Before Mother had died and he and Father had set out on their quest to fulfill her dying wish, he had really only ever seen his parents, after all. Which was why he was still kind of figuring out how to react to others in a way that wouldn't be seen as naïve or rude.

At the other's words, Atreus starts, realizing that he'd kind of been staring again.

"Right, sorry!" he exclaims, slinging his bow across his chest to help him carry the large deer. He wasn't nearly as strong as his father (yet, he hoped), but he could still help carry a deer.

[the-broken-truth]

I really loved the last ask I sent that you answered! Poor Magni, Modi and Faye, being forced to fight their evil uncle, Loki! But tell, will Kratos betray Atreus/Loki, since he made a deal with Freya that he will give up Revna to her as long that she lets Björn and his children bind with him and Atreus?

Even after Atreus make that clear that he doesn’t want to give up on Revna? What will be Atreus’s reaction when he finds out that his own father “betrayed” him?

Broken Truth (Reads the ask): Glad to know you were fond of that ask as for this town, Atreus deserves all the misfortune that comes his way after what he did to Revna and Björn. Now, let the words weave together.

[Midgard - The Ghost of Sparta's Cabin]

The frozen winds were heard from the inside of the house through the hollow windows, causing Atreus to look at the window with narrowed eyes. It was dinner time for the Sartan Family - or what was left of them - while they were waiting on Freya to arrive with intel as to how to approach getting Björn, Revna, and Björn's Children: Magni, Modi, and Faye.

"Relax, Atreus. She will be here." Kratos said as he placed a piece of meat in his mouth and slowly chewed - it was deer meat, causing him to look at the empty seat at the table: Björn's seat. He would have loved this meal but was with the Aesir in Asgard, living a false life; the Aesir put him in the face of danger every day instead of protecting him like he was supposed to be. It didn't matter, Kratos was going to correct that. A knock on the door caused Atreus to get up from his seat and open it - revealing Freya, the Ex of the All-Father, Odin.

"You're late," Atreus said as he let Freya into the building and closed the door when Freya was inside. The Valkyrie walked into the room and sat in Björn's seat, much to Atreus' annoyance but he didn't say anything.

"What plan do you have to obtain The Lost Bear, The Raven Girl, and the Bear's Cubs?" Kratos asked as he looked at Freya with his golden eyes. Freya reached into her pocket and pulled out a set of 5 rings - all golden and engraved with a strange rune. However, one of the rings had a red jewel embedded in it, causing Kratos to pick it up and examine it.

"These are Binding Rings - all of them keyed to the ring in your hands. Placing a ring on Björn and his children and wearing the ring in your hand would bind them to you so that they would never escape you." Freya explained.

"Wait. You're missing a ring - The Ring to bind Revna. Where is it?" Atreus asked as he looked from the rings and back to Freya who smirked and lifted her hand, revealing a gold ring with a blue stone in it.

"I didn't make a Binding Ring for you being I am going to make Revna mine. That is my price for helping you get Björn and his children." Freya smirked at Atreus who stared at her.

"I told you once - Frevna is my sister and I won't let anyone else have her! Now, give me her binding ring!" He demanded but Kratos raised his hand.

"Silence, boy. Freya has named her price to aid us and she shall have it." He said, making Atreus look at him with wide eyes.

"You made a deal with her, didn't you?!" Atreus stood to his feet and glared at his father, who just groaned and told him to sit back down but Atreus didn't listen to him, "Father how could you do this to me?! I told you that I didn't want to give Revna to Freya but you go behind my back a make a deal with her?! What's wrong with you?!"

"That is my price to give you Björn & his cubs. Revna is soul-bound to my son, Baldur, and I want her to be my daughter. If you go back on your word in giving me Revna, I won't give you the rings to bind Björn to you, Kratos." Freya said as she looked at the Ghost of Sparta.

"You want the raven girl, you shall have the raven girl. That was the deal." Kratos said as Freya smiled at him before smirking at Atreus.

"No! YOU'RE NOT GETTING YOUR TALONS ON MY SISTER! I DON'T CARE IF SHE'S SOUL-BOUND TO YOUR SON, SHE IS MINE AND INE ALONE! I WON'T LET YOU HAVE HER! YOU HEAR ME?!" Atreus got in Freya's face who just continued to smirk at him.

"I have her binding ring. She will be mine, Atreus. There's nothing you can do about it." Freya smirked. Atreus glared at her again before turning on his heel and running out the door with tears in his eyes - his father betrayed him, He had to make a binding ring for Revna on his own or Freya was going to get his sister and he couldn't let that happen.

[remycroft]

Cross my Heart, Hope you Die || Heimdall X Reader

Chapter 9 - Call to wind

I woke up heavily confused.

The first thing that confused me was why I was in Baldur's chambers when I vividly remember passing out in the middle of a pavement. The only answer was that I was brought here. But by who? Did Forseti return and find me like that? Or did someone else, possibly Atreus? The thought of it being anyone other than Forseti or Atreus made a shiver run down my spine. I was so vulnerable. I could have been killed or worse.

The second thing that confused me was the fact that whoever it was who had found me had clearly healed my wound in their own special way. They had burned, what seemed like a split in my head from the impact, and my hair with it. I didn't care too much about my looks, but for the lack of humiliation, couldn't they have found a healer to do it for them? Or waited till I was up so I could do it myself.

The third thing wasn't exactly confusing, just annoying and overwhelming, the moment I got up and started getting ready I had noticed that the chambers had been cleaned from my consistent breakdowns over the past two weeks and then a servant came with a tray of food and water. "Eat and drink, please. You look like a ghost and the All-father would not like you to die yet." There was malice in her voice and I questioned whether it was poisoned. I had forgotten about the fact I hadn't eaten or drank. Normally I have to eat at least within a week before hunger kicks in, one of the negatives of being a demi-god, I had to remember. For the likes of Kratos and my mother they could last months, but I couldn't. They had served me what looked like stale bread and cheese, and a red apple which had mold at the bottom. I almost wanted to ask if they were serious but at this point within my fast I had to eat something. If it was poisoned, then I guess I'll have to force the poisons name out of them and get an antidote by any means necessary. Screw Odin's 'no harming Asgardian's' rule. I ate the food and drank, what turned out to be the lukewarm water. She left immediately. I looked around the space and sighed, I really don't want people in here while I'm sleeping, if they had just given me one day I would have had it cleaned. I suppose I may just have to stop sleeping and passing out so I don't get killed in my most vulnerable state.

I also don't want to be killed while I'm awake. That would just be humiliating. If I went down, I'd go down fighting. I would defend myself, Atreus, anyone who was innocent, till my final breath while I'm here and to do that, to be efficient in my skills. I didn't need to just train physically, I had to train my magic too.

In those years with my mother after Baldur's death she had me train both vigorously and then when my magic amounted to nothing, she screamed at me and told me to only focus on my skills with weapons as that was the only thing I was good at. So I did, but I wasn't good enough to actually beat Heimdall in single combat, and if I couldn't beat him, I couldn't defend Atreus from just a simple threat such as Heimdall who just bullied him, he's not Odin or Thor, who I know could do so much worse to him if they wanted to. I know I may not be able to face either of them and eliminate them but I could try and maybe give Atreus time to run. I also know that the only advantage Heimdall has on me was his strength and his ability to violate my mind and give me a massive headache.

~

To begin training I thought it best to improve on what I am weakest at, magic. So I cleaned myself, changed into decent clothes , grabbed my weapons and went to the library. I also thought it best to cover the bald spot by braiding my hair around it into a crown around my head, it wasn't just beneficial to me for vanity, it also kept my hair out of my eyes for later. I went searching for certain books and found all that was necessary; I looked for one on Asgardian history to find out more about my opponents, I doubt there is something about weaknesses but I could at least try, magic as a whole to learn more about the different kinds and what I can use, poisons and antidotes, just in case, creatures of the nine realms for I am somewhat aware some creatures carry ingredients to poisons and antidotes, I also needed to know , and Asgardian fighting techniques.

I found all of them. Although it was a lot more than just 5 books, I was interested in all areas. For example with magic I needed to know what I was capable of so I picked up four books for just magic. I ended up with fourteen and I didn't have anything to carry them in so I made use of my hands and jaw. I proceeded to leave after checking them with Bragi, the God of Literature and librarian of Asgard. He was skeptical but allowed it as he was 'moved by attitude to learning'. Well, if he decides to harm Atreus my attitude to learning will bite him in the ass. I was at the threshold of the library when Heimdall faced me, pushing himself off the wall and took a step toward me. "Now, what do you think you're doing?"

"Taking books to read until Atre - Loki, comes back from his lessons." I lied.

He picks the book on top of the pile, one of the volumes on poison, specifically on their styles. "Interesting, one could think, this would be useful for using against us."

"Then one would be a moron. I was ill for two weeks and I'm in enemy territory. One might think she was poisoned." I bit back, he scoffed and I knew he caught the lie, of course he did.

"Liar. Besides, if we wanted you dead, we wouldn't have to do it discreetly. You could be put to the sword or burned at the stake, like the witch you are." I recognised the emphasis, and I saw the jab at Freyr. It boiled my blood. "Do you want to know what I think?"

"No, but you're going to say it anyway."

"I think you're here to dismantle, to cause chaos. You are here to protect the brat, that is certain, despite the terrible job you're doing." I winced at the jab, "but I also think your traitor of a mother wants my home reduced to rubble, and you're here to help. That I will not allow!" And with that, he kicked my shin, and I plus the books toppled onto the floor. Despite the pain and burn that rippled throughout my body, I laughed. At this point, I only had one card up my sleeve, his ego.

"You really think I'd try something like that with you watching. I'm the Goddess of Logic, for Ymir' sake. I know not to do anything this explicit, even though causing chaos for you sounds like a lot of fun." I smirked at him and his eyes flashed, "I got them because I was genuinely curious to see if I was poisoned, I also wanted to try my best to help with the patrols I'm forced on with you. If I have a knowledge of the creatures outside the walls, I can maybe help keep new Midgard protected. They are my people as well." He looked like he had his entire perception changed and then reverted immediately.

"Maybe you do have a brain, or perhaps not. These won't be of much use to you though, the Einherjar protect them from the creatures outside, I only get involved in inter- fighting that causes death." He rolled his eyes like the entire thing was pointless and meaningless to him. It wasn't surprising. He wasn't like my mother or Freyr, who actually cared about mortals. He was one who believed the gods were above all. A true racist bigot. "I'll allow whatever this really is, for now. See how useful you may become." The ire in his words made me uncomfortable. He turned on his heel before turning his head to his shoulder, I saw the glint of purple of his eyes, a shard of the real gemstone, "See you at dusk."

~

After picking up all of the books and walking to willow tree, my entire body ached. I never wanted to do this again, but I could think of no alternative. Well, there is no alternative apart from magic to keep them preserved. I may as well start practising then.

I searched into the books for anything pertaining to preservation. The sun was at its peak when I succeeded. I found it in a volume that looked like it was hanging on to the threads of it's spine, and definitely needed rebinding, but hopefully, if I succeed, it may last a little longer. The spell would only preserve something for a day, so I suppose I had to come here before midday for as long as I train. I thought of what I did when I used magic to heal, I felt the world around me, the earth under my knees, the wind that blew around me, the ripples that went through the pond, and finally the magic that resided within me. The moment I felt it, I knew something was different. Normally, there was just a spark, something that was small, barely there. Now, it felt like that spark had grown into a flame of what size I didn't know. It felt so far away. I tried pulling it to me, and some of it yielded to me. The rest, I could not reach. Hopefully, this was enough, I placed my hands on one of the books, "vard-veita." I chanted, letting my eyes close only slightly, I felt the flow of magic run through me like water in a stream, wind through a tree, and opened my eyes. Because I can't recognise magic, I have no idea if it actually worked, so I only have one way of finding it out. Dip it in the pond and see if it worked.

I picked up the book and opened it, so it was just the cover page being dipped, I don't want to ruin the entire thing. I may hate the Aesir and everything they stand for, but I'm not monstrous enough to destroy a perfectly good book, I also need the volume for practising magic while I'm here, there's that too. I dipped the cover into the pond, wincing as it entered. Please work, I begged to the magic that ran through every living thing. I pulled the book out of the water and felt the leather cover.

It was dry.

~

I immediately started screaming and dancing in pure ecstasy. I'd done something with my power, I wish someone, specifically my mother, could see this. I hope she would be proud of me. I then became conscious of how I'd look to others, despite how remote and away from the main city this was, and composed myself. Although I did start laughing at the thought of someone seeing the sight of me, the Goddess of Logic, daughter of the first Valkyrie queen, Freya, first person to knock the God of Foresight on his ass in over a century (probably), dancing and screaming like a child because she finally thinks she becomes useful. Ymir, I hope no one saw this.

I knelt back on the floor, preserved the rest, and returned to the book feeling drained. It didn't matter though, I had to continue. For Atreus, for my mother's approval once I returned. I thought of things my mother had done and remembered how once when fighting against me, after I had started to push her back, she had conjured a beam of energy so bright it had blinded me and she gained the advantage. I looked for that.

It wasn't in the first volume that contained the preservation spell, and after hours of searching for it, I found it in the third book. It didn't contain an incantation of any kind. It said that you had to feel for your power and imagine the beam in your hand. I did just that, I felt for my power and imagined the beam of energy. I started to feel my hands warm up, and I thought I'd be able to do it, that I'd have not just one, but two successes. I failed. All that happened was sparks started to appear, and then they fizzled out. The feeling of disappointment was familiar to me, and so was the feeling of exhaustion. I think it is probably best if I stopped, maybe looked into the history of Asgard and looked at fighting techniques to oppose the Aesir.

~

I did just that and by dusk I'd found out some useful information; I read that all sons of Odin (apart from Tyr as he was imprisoned) took part in pacifying the dwarven rebellion in Svartalfheim and that Heimdall was the one to brand a dwarf named, Durlin (one of the rebellion's leaders. This made me hate him more, knowing that he probably loved doing something so cruel. I didn't know much about the rebellion but what I did know is that the dwarves, a giant named Laufey, everyone who fought, were incredibly brave for fighting for their freedom and that Odin ensured that the spark of rebellion would always be quenched. It disgusted me how Heimdall was praised for such an act of cruelty in the text, so much so that I gagged. He also helped assist Tyr with the imprisonment of the hound of hell. The surprise that went through me was interesting. I couldn't believe he'd assist with such an honourable task. I suppose Garm threatened all realms, including Asgard, so the narcissistic piece of shit had no choice but to help defend his home.

I had exhausted myself by remembering Heimdall's fighting style from the initial fight, the day Atreus and I arrived here. I lost because I got cocky, because he had invoked a furious inferno that ran throughout my entire being and I wanted to see him on the floor, wipe off his perfect exterior and show to everyone that I could take him down and show that he was weak, and I was good enough to defeat this God who immediately turned up his nose at Atreus and I because of our blood, the realm we were born in, because he was eternally loyal to a monster who had ordered the death of my father, the imprisonment and violation of my mother, and the deaths of millions. Heimdall was a walking shit stain, and I wanted him to suffer, most of all, for the threat he posed to Atreus and for his violation of my mind. I worked tirelessly at figuring out how to fight him best, I figured that having the range to give him a good shot to the heart would be preferable, but I trained with my sword anyways, just in case.

When the sun started to set and the moon started to rise, I was dripping with sweat, and threads of my hair had started falling out of the braid. In my reflection, I saw a mess. I suppose that was a good thing. It showed I'd done something. I groaned when I realised I had to walk to the wall and, in the end, would be by the side of the worst person to ever walk the nine realms. That may be an over exaggeration since his father existed, but he's definitely in my top five of the worst people to ever exist.

The walk to the wall was refreshing. The sweat started to disappear off my body from the wind that blew through me and I welcomed the breeze, I was walking through fields to get there so I focused on the birds chirping, the feel of the blades of grass that tickled my ankles. It grounded me, which was useful for the conflict and rage I would feel inside me the moment I saw the protector of Asgard.

The silence I felt on the platform was different to the silence of my walk. That was serene, this was filled with so much resentment and the tension was so thick that I would have less trouble gutting a hare for dinner than cutting through the tension that was between us. I welcomed getting of the platform and having more than a five meter distance from him, I moved away as fast as I could and went to my perch on the wall. I actually had an objective for today that wasn't ignore Heimdall, it was protect the humans from the creatures because the Einherjar are pathetic. I equipped my bow and focused my vision onto the illustrious Plains of Ida. I found my mark of a nightmare that was getting far too close for my liking, I knocked an arrow onto the string of my bow, drew it back to my cheek, and loosed it. It didn't surprise me that it hit the nightmare, killing it, but I was happy either way. I'd done something, something good. I've felt so useless while being here as Atreus was clearly being split from me it was nice to do something which might help, which did make me wonder, why was Odin keeping me here? It clearly wasn't out of any benevolence, he's a monster after all, it wasn't to use me, I wasn't as malleable as Atreus could be; I was my mother's daughter after all, there had to be something more here. He couldn't kill me as that would weaken his relationship with Atreus, he could send me home, which was a perfectly decent option. I was a potential distraction for Atreus, I was loyal to my mother. The fact that he hasn't sent me home, gives me reason to think the likelihood of me actually returning is slim. So why accept me here in the first place? The fact that I didn't know made my head go fuzzy, there was a logical explanation for this and yet I couldn't see it, which meant I needed more facts.

The first few stars had entered the sky, and I'd eliminated countless creatures when my arrows started getting low, I didn't mind much. I knew I couldn't collect them because the likelihood of me being allowed out, then allowed back in, was low but thankfully, there were trees which I could collect sticks from, I had spare feathers in a bag on my belt, and I'd find the steel somewhere for arrowheads. If someone would actually sell to me, that would be awesome. "You do know we have Einherjar down there to protect them?" Heimdall whispered into my ear.

I froze, but eventually, I refocused my vision from the plains of grass down below to the plains of lavender that were his eyes, "I've seen the Einherjar fight. a kitten could do better."

Heimdall laughed at that. It took me a second to register, that he laughed. It was short, sweet, not sinister, not the ice cold laugh that sent blades of ice through my entire body. This was genuine, beautiful. I suppose it fit with the exterior of him, even if the inside was rotten and disgusting.

"Okay, waste your arrows. It doesn't affect that pathetic b-" he didn't get to finish his sentence because I wrapped my bow back around my body and punched him as hard as I can, that I may have broken one or more of my fingers. It was a shame I could only heal cuts. This would be a nuisance. The look on his face was worth it, though. His eyes flashed, and he gritted his golden teeth that I gritted my own at the sound of metal on metal. "What the hel was that for?"

"You insulted my people." And with that, the mocking laughter came, and I felt the ice. It was funny how this man could make me boil with rage and freeze with fear at the same time. Why did he have such an effect? he seemed to relax a little, then he delivered a swift pommel strike to my abdomen, making me keel over. He proceeded by kicking me to the floor and placing his foot on my chest. "I've killed your people, thousands of them, actually."

"And Ragnarok will be your retribution." I spit back, trying to get myself back on my feet, but am just met by more pressure on my chest.

"Not if the All-Father or I have anything to say about it." he snaps, and I let out a breathless laugh.

"It is prophecy, you can't ignore fate, you imbecile."

He placed more pressure and I let out a hoarse groan, "Prophecies don't always come true, although, I suppose you wouldn't know enough about them, considering you were isolated with no one but your traitorous, bitch of a mother."

Before he insulted my mother, I felt defeated. He was right, I didn't know enough. Then, I didn't care. He would not sully her name. I used every morsel of my strength to get him off me, which made him lose his balance, and it was my turn to bring him to the floor. I ended up with my knee on his chest and my face hovering over his. "Do not insult her."

"Hypocrite, you insult my father, my King, you threaten my people, and yet you call us the aggressors? Now, where is the logic in that?" He smirked, and I punched it off his face, drilling my fist into his nose. Blood printed itself onto my fist.

"Your father had my father killed, he destroyed my mother, he started the war . You fucking deserve it." Tears had started leaking from my eyes and had landed on his own cheeks, I saw the hypocrisy in the insulting parents part, I immediately realised that he was just a son, a follower of his king, I hated to say it, but in that way I was the same. The rest was bullshit, they were the aggressors, they started the war and watched as it raged on from the comfort of Gladsheim. They live in peace while the remaining Vanir live in poverty, they suffered the most. The Aesir deserve Ragnarok.

"One, your mother was a traitor, and you are my enemy. Therefore, I don't really care. You deserve the suffering." I gritted my teeth, "Two, which war? My father started a lot of wars and has never lost one." The boast wasn't missed. How was he proud of having a tyrannical conqueror as a father?

"She refused to give Baldur's curse to Odin! How is that traitorous? I'd call it a fucking blessing."

"Either way, still an enemy."

"Then give her exile, kill her, not curses that destroyed her." Maybe if my mother had died, it would be some solace, and I wouldn't have had to have been born. I was a mistake, I had to be, I was weak, naive, I couldn't get most things right. In every way, I was a failure, and after the incident with the raiders, the person who looked like my mother had made sure to remind me of it. I rejoiced when she came back to me, brought back by Atreus and the desire for true vengeance.

*~*~*

For a singular moment, I felt sympathetic, I saw from her expression what her mind must always be screaming. She was entirely alone for her entire life. Her father killed. Her mother was destroyed and distant, with no allies and no friends. From what I knew, it was just a small sphere of nature for just over a century. Then I remembered I didn't care about her at all, Frigg deserved everything she got, so did the Vanir people, they or Freyr seemed charming at first, Freyr reminded me of a nicer version of me, maybe what I could've been if I didn't have this curse or gift, to know what people thought at all times made me see the evil of everyone, how treacherous they could be, but it was also a gift, I could protect my home, erase the threats before they lie there way out of it to someone ignorant. Freyr seemed good at first. He genuinely came out of diplomacy to help us so the war wouldn't start and peace could be achieved. I was wrong. Apparently, it was just self-preservation. His magic didn't do anything, and the famines we had just got worse. He helped almost cripple us so the Vanir could actually stand a chance. It was pathetic really, considering the moment the marriage ended, and Frigg was gone, they had nothing, and they lost easily. Thor and I didn't even break a sweat. It was a shame I was sent back to allow Thor to finish the job, seeing the fear on their faces as we swept through the ranks, picking them off one by one, was one that made me feel so happy. It was one of the few things Thor and I actually agreed on. War was one of the best things we'd experienced. The only war I truly feared was Ragnarok's. It is the end of all that would mean this place, the All-Father, it would all be gone. Everything good with this world would be erased.

"Do you know how many of my people you're uncle left to starve during our famine? Do you know how many of our soldiers died due to your ever so precious mother in the initial attack?" She looked so dumbfounded it was almost adorable, "No? Okay, I'll tell you," I paused, "thousands died to the starvation, mortals like the ones you claim to care for. Then, it was countless in the war."

"It was the same on both sides."

"Don't care. Frigg, your entire family and country deserved everything they got." She stared into my eyes for a moment. They were filled with emerald fire. It was exhilarating if I was being honest. Fun. Her pupils started moving in thought and I wished I could no what's going on in that mind, so much so that I tried to enter again only to be met with silence, a wall that I couldn't pierce through. It was a direct contrast to what it was like as a child. I had had no control whatsoever, I used to start crying whenever I was in crowded spaces as they'd all be blending together. They were all so trivial as well, what they'd do, how they were going to do it, sometimes it would be their own conflicts, and then some would be monstrous. I saw them for who they all were, and it hurt me, not just physically but emotionally. So much so that I hated them, so much so that whenever someone good would come along, I'd be waiting for when they'd think something horrible or just do it. Most of the time, I wasn't disappointed. She started gritting her teeth as I tried to push past. She didn't break, though. I hated to admit it, but she was strong, physically and mentally. Her knee on my chest hurt, and so did her punches and then her will. It was made of something stronger than steel.

"And so will yours." And with that, she stood up and got off me. I was quite grateful for it. The air going back through my chest was refreshing.

The remainder of the night was silence, I guarded with the normal, extreme, vigilance, and I made sure to keep an eye on the Vanir. None of the creatures started wandering near the Midgardian settlement, so she was left without anything to do. Even without it, she seemed in her element up here more than on the ground. It wasn't lost on me that that would be because of her uncontrollable, unbeknownst to her, power to control the wind. It was disgusting to see her look like she belonged in a place she didn't. She doesn't belong anywhere in Asgard. Despite how much I hated her, I was intrigued by her. She was the only one who could block me out. She was intelligent and resourceful when she had the information necessary, powerful. I wanted to see her at her most powerful though, when I found her last night, it was a struggle to get past the wind she was unleashing, and I wanted to know what she was capable of. If I did know, I could use it to strategise a plan with the All-Father to take her down and find out what could be used to fully destroy her. Although, I do believe it's somewhere in her mind, she hid something deep down and from what I've heard from the brat's discussions with my good-for-nothing niece he didn't know much of her apart from what we know. She has had a life which, even when she left the stave, we didn't know, and me breaking through her shield would be the key.

When we returned to the Great Lodge I was prepared to go brief the All-Father as I do normally, but I remained for a moment to see (Y/n) pet Gulltoppr and thank him for holding the both of us, which the noble beast responded with a purr. I rolled my eyes, "Go to Baldur's chambers." I made sure not to say they were her's, they weren't they were my brother's, whether he was dead or not, it didn't matter. It was an insult to him that she was even allowed to sleep in them and wear his wife's clothing. I don't even know how Nanna hasn't crossed paths with her yet. Oh wait, yes, I do. Ever since Baldur's death, she's refused to leave her home. I know Forseti checks on her from time to time, I don't care enough about her to check. It was disappointing, though, despite her being a Goddess of Peace, she was still fierce, now that was gone. "Jealous?"

I scoffed, "Please, I trained him, tamed him. The day I become jealous of any connection you two have, Ragnarok will have come." She puts her hands up in surrender and said goodbye to my mount, he responded by licking her. She laughed and smiled, and I had to appreciate the purity of the moment. I didn't care if it was her, I didn't get them much, so I appreciated the small scenario. I went to leave, and before I entered the lodge, she called for me, and I turned around, "What?"

"I would like to apologise." I couldn't help but scoff again. Why was I allowing this folly? I had to debrief the All-Father about her, about tonight, just everything I found out that was known. I went to leave, but I was met with the bringing down of her mental shield, and I was halted in my tracks. This most definitely was a development. I couldn't see much. The rest was buried to the back of her mind, and It would take time to search, time in which she could easily put up her shield and block me out again. I could see her sincerity though, that I was right about her hypocrisies and that she was grateful for me teaching her that war was not black and white, it was complicated, both sides doing it for the good of the other and it was just the innate horribleness of people with a conscience. I didn't particularly know how to approach this. All I knew was that there was a positive effect to earlier as I'd clearly helped her. It was strange, I'd not known her long, and I hated her more than literally anyone else, and yet this made me feel something. I could see that she wanted to be better, to not be such a failure, and I a sort of kinship with her. She may not be good, or sincere, no one but the All-Father was, and yet she wanted to be, truly wanted to be. In that moment, I knew what that feeling was, one that I couldn't explain. It was some small sliver of hope that people could be better. I reminded myself of her allegiances and crushed that hope. She could not be truly good as she went against the All-Father, the only good person there was.

She brought the wall back up and I felt myself being pushed out, "We'll see." I muttered and I left to my father's office.

"Is that a bruise I see forming?" These were the first things I heard as I started my descent down the steps, "It's nothing." I had no idea why I decided not to tell him that she threw a hook to my jaw, chipping one of my teeth, and then punched me in the nose. It was probably still those weird little feelings she'd been able to coax out. I'd call this my forgiveness, then be done with them. "Sure." I reached the bottom, and I walked to him, "So, what have you found?"

"She let me in her head." His eye widened, and he gestured for me to explain, "We had an argument about the war, how she was a hypocrite in certain respects, and for once she listened. She allowed me into her head to see that she wanted to give a genuine apology."

"Did you see anything else?"

"No, the rest was buried so far deep it would've taken time to search through. Time I didn't have as she could shut me out in a second's notice."

He gave a slight nod, "This is good." I didn't tell him about the preposterous explanation of how she thought the war with her people wasn't straight forward, it was incredibly clear. The All-Father was right in what he did, conquering Vanaheim was deserved. After what Freyr did, the people that died, every death, every agony they ever experienced, was deserved. I may not have liked them, I may not have known them, but it is my duty, the reason for my entire being, to protect the land and the people in it. Only in death will I be separated from this. I failed them when I cleared Freyr. Watching him burn was one of the best moments of my life.

"I also watched her train today." I remembered watching from my place on the wall, when she did the preservation spell, her funny little movements afterwards, her failure at creating energy. I remembered watching her study me specifically, I made sure to look at the pages she was reading; I saw her negative expression at branding Durlin, I smiled at the memory of when I'd burned the dwarf and then how she'd looked shocked at when I helped with Garm. I didn't understand it, I'd made my stance on being the protector of the realm quite clear, I was doing my duty when I begged to be relieved of my duties so I could fight, it was the one thing I'd ever asked the All-Father for, he was skeptical as I'd just been bestowed Gjallarhorn but allowed me to help. Then there was her ruthless efficiency with a blade that I also noticed was to fight against me. Her movements were awe-inspiring. Every stroke, every parry, every block was precise, strong, and swift. I had to resist the urge to watch for longer as I had to keep to my duties, I also had wanted to try and copy her movements, fight back against what she had started to perfect. I had to keep to my duties, but I made a mental note to practice more, considering she was the first to hurt me in over a century. I repeated all the facts, not my opinions, to him, and then I gave my evaluation, "I believe she should be sent home or killed. She's powerful, and she doesn't even know it, we don't know what she'll be like if she starts realising how powerful she is."

"Did I ask for your opinion?" I was taken a back, I believed my reasoning was good. She was a threat to this realm. How could he keep her here, especially alive? My dream of her burning this realm to the ground replayed in my head, and I winced.

"No, All-Father."

He hummed, "Continue to keep an eye on her. I'm sending you both to Svartalfheim tomorrow. The dwarves aren't meeting the quotas I've set. Remind them of the war, do what you want with them, just make sure they start working how I want them to."

"Why not send Thor?" The question was insubordinate, I had realised immediately, but I was protector of the realm, not his executioner.

"Thor's sloppy. He goes for the kill and doesn't care about what he breaks. You, you tortured in the wars before, and you were beautiful at it. You made examples of them. I'd like you to start doing that again, with tensions rising." I couldn't help but smile, I had missed this, and I couldn't wait. There were two questions to be answered, though, "Why is she coming with me? And who will protect the wall while I'm gone?"

"For the first question, I'm not stupid, and I have eyes and ears everywhere. She hurt you. I promised punishment, and here it is. Remind her of how weak she truly is, make it impossible for her to defend them. You can threaten the kid if you'd like, even follow through if you want, I don't care as long as he's functioning enough to find the mask pieces." The ecstatic feeling running through me made me feel a little dizzy, I don't think things could get better than this. I'd actually been given the go-ahead to torment the boy, not like I'd been doing it already, but this would be special. I mean, I've been planning to kill him because of how much of a threat he is, but I also know I'd have trouble with it, considering he's under my father's protection. "For the second question, we're in a time of peace right now, so it's not entirely necessary for anyone to be. Just in case, I've placed two Einherjar soldiers for every metre of the wall across it." I've seen the Einherjar fight. A kitten could do a better job. I gave a slight smile at the memory. She was right, though. They were pathetic in comparison to literally anything else. They were only formidable in population. It worried me that it wouldn't be enough.

"Could you either double them or place the Valkyries up there, too?" I was concerned, especially after the arrival of those two half-breeds. The tensions were rising, this was shown by the fact that I had to go to Svartalfheim, that we had to send more soldiers to the other realms, especially Vanaheim.

"I'll see what I can do, is that all?"

"Yes All-Father, thank you."

"You're dismissed." I bowed as I normally did, perfect, respectful. It was what I was meant to be to the people who deserved it, and he was the only one.

[saltymongoose]

OK SO I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF TAKING OTHER CHARACTERS INTO MADCOM AND SINCE GoW IS ONE OF MY FAVE GAMES I HAD TO

I feel like Kratos would tolerate the your other vassals at best. He doesn't have the patients to deal or even talk to them since all they do is try to pry into his past or compare themselves to himself. He's only focused on what needs to be done and that's it. He also only really talks/listens to you, since he knows he can trust you, which probably leads to a lot of conversations where the others try to chime in but are ignored (Trying to teach Kratos about guns with the others and he only responds to them like 😒ok)

Also if you brought in young Kratos before the fall, Phobos would be dead in -5 seconds. Would also lead to Kratos not trusting you much because Phobos being so "Ohh Player my lord and savior💖" would lead him to believe you ARE a god.

I would write more but I can't come up with words and I'm bad at writing. Idk if you like GoW but I wanted to share anyway <:))

😱OMFG!! THIS IS SO COOL!!! I would have never thought of Kratos in Madcom without this; this is amazing, I love it. You're definitely right in how he would only really be tolerant of the grunts, but would in no way entertain them and their inquiries. They're untrustworthy compared to you, and they don't really have any legitimate reason to be prying into his personal life, so he could care less about interacting with them in any broader way than just being cordial.

If anything, he'd be most focused on getting home, since he has his son to watch over and who knows what trouble has found Atreus without him there to keep an eye on things. And you'd immediately assist him with this because that's what you do.

(Rest under the cut because this response got long.)

The others would probably be curious about Kratos and very interested in his abilities at first (their Player said he was a legitimate God and there isn't anyone else like that in Nevada, at least not to the extent you described him as). However, Kratos is so unresponsive that nothing gets answered or elaborated on; speaking to him is like talking to a brick wall, he just ignores everything they say and do. Asking him questions or trying to give him new weapons yields no response. The only time they actually see him fight is if you need him to, most likely for your protection (in which case they'd be distracted by killing targets themselves, so they can't take in everything anyway).

Honestly, to the others it probably feels like they're "third-wheeling" or something like that, since Kratos really only listens and responds to you, and you're so focused on helping him that they don't get much attention. You also have drawn-out discussions with the man sometimes, and the grunts have to just sit and watch silently because you're too immersed in the conversation while Kratos simply ignores any attempts they make to add their own input. A side-eye is the most they'll get out of him, and nothing more. It's very weird for the grunts, but it's not like you're gonna ask Kratos to be nicer to them and he won't change regardless.

I can honestly imagine Deimos complaining about it to Sanford as well, like a "What's up with this guy? Who the hell does he think he is?" type deal. Your grunts can argue that Kratos doesn't value you as much as they do since he doesn't shower you in praise or affection, but it's not like the point would make much of a difference; you'll still help the God out, and you have a long history that makes you doubting him very unlikely. Plus, the guy was married and lost his wife pretty recently, and he's got a kid, the last thing you'd want or expect is for him to show any feelings towards you beyond respect or trust.

And you also want to make sure Atreus stays safe too, so Kratos needs to get back home asap. Though at this point, Doc is honestly considering having the S.Q. help you find a way to get Kratos back to wherever he's from, so at least you have their assistance in that. It'd certainly stop him from being a nuisance to them in how he's interrupted their routine with you.

As for young Kratos, there isn't any question, any threat would be just eviscerated immediately - especially regarding the "God Emperor" of Nevada. I'm not sure if Kratos would completely turn against the Player because of how Phobos worships them as a God, but I do agree that he'd be more suspicious of them. Then again, Phobos is also a fool, so you could just play it off by saying that he mistakenly thought you were a deity, which is the truth. Though given that Kratos' history is filled with betrayal, it doesn't fully appease him.

With this case, I think it would probably be best to just reinforce the notion that you don't want or need him to do anything specific for you; he's not your errand boy and he has no "oath" towards you, unlike what the other gods demanded of him, so that could help a lot with repairing the trust you had. He's strong and can protect you, but you don't have a task for him to do. Even killing Phobos could have been done by another one of your vessels, so he has the free will to do what he wants (it's just more helpful to have him assist in getting you both where you need to be since you do have to get him home at some point).

[Also, can I just take a moment to fawn over this art? I've always loved the way you draw the boys, but omg, this is just phenomenal. I love the facial expressions they have, and just how your designs for them look (Hank's goggles especially, the way you colored them adds a lot of dimension). And Kratos too, he looks so cool and you really captured the essence of him well. I am just in awe, thank you so much! ❤️💕💗💖💝]

[stardustedstories]

@dragetunge asked: "There's a reason I slip out as often as I do." Atreus seemed like he could be trusted to not tell anyone where he went. "I'm looking for someone. A dwarf." Hiccup was nervous about it regardless in case someone else were to hear. "He's the one who apprenticed me. Everytime i get a little close he's gone." He had a hunch the other knew who it was he was looking for. It was a long shot but it was one he needed to know. (For atreus)

Unprompted // always accepting

Atreus sat on the wall of Asgard, high above the rest of the realm, one leg dangling over the edge. Now that he'd been granted leave to stay for a time, now that he was a guest, being up here didn't bother him as much. When Heimdall wasn't here, anyway; he was staying as far away from him as possible. He didn't like the way he looked at him, how he seemed almost able to see what Atreus--Loki, in Asgard, was thinking.

But right now, he and Hiccup were the only people up here. His friend had told him he had something to say, and he didn't exactly want to be around other people, and coming up here had made the most sense.

He listened as Hiccup said there was a reason he left Asgard as often as he did, the he was looking for someone. A dwarf, the one who had apprenticed him, something that gave Atreus pause. Brok and Sindri were the greatest blacksmiths he knew…; was it possible Hiccup could be talking about one of them?

"Yeah, dwarves can be tricky like that," he agrees with a little grin. "This dwarf who apprenticed you have a name? Maybe I've heard of him."

[storiedhistories]

calledkore asked: ❛  i suppose you think you’re brave, don’t you ?  ❜ / for atreus

When Atreus had journeyed to his father's homeland, he hadn't expected to find any of the gods, considering the stories of his father. His father had killed the gods before he left, but apparently only the ones who had wronged him, something that Atreus was glad to learn.

Of course, the gods Kratos had killed had probably thought they'd been in the right, but it was nice to know he'd been provoked, at the very least.

But when he met Persephone and Hades, he was surprised to learn that they were the rulers of the Greek underworld, which was a different place than Hel, with different rules. And his father had escaped from the Underworld several times, which was apparently unheard of here.

They had apparently come to some sort of understanding with his father, that had allowed all three of them to live, to go their separate ways.

At her question, he stood up straight, despite the fact that he was not early as tall or imposing as his father.

"I'm definitely trying to be brave," he told her. "I know I'm not as brave as some, but I don't have much of a choice." If he didn't put his fears aside, to make this journey, then his people would continue to just be lost. He had to be as brave as he could be……for them.

[storiedhistories]

Anonymous asked: Atreus - Has your father ever told you of his first wife? What of his daughter?

Send My Muse Anons About Their Relationships // Accepting!

The question comes as something of a surprise.  He thought back to the time after they had scattered Mother's ashes, after the two of them had finally started to figure out how to be a FAMILY without her. His father had told him that he was a god, the first time he had really said much about his past.

Atreus knew that it was......painful for his dad to talk about his time in his homeland, but there had been one night, when they'd been staying warm around the fire, enjoying a moment of companionable silence, that his father had spoken first, telling him more about what had happened to bring him to this land.  He wasn't naïve enough to believe his dad had told him everything about his past, but he had mentioned, at least briefly, that he had had a family before, that it was their deaths had started the killing spree that had led him to kill his own father.

"He didn't tell me much, but I know that his first wife's name was Lysandra....., and that I had a sister named Calliope."  His father had sounded so sad when he talked about them, and Atreus had been able to FEEL his regret.  The sadness and pain that had washed over him as his dad had talked...., it was different than how he felt when Kratos talked about Faye.  

"I hope he'll tell me more someday."  He didn't want to make his father sad, or force him to relive his past if he didn't want to....., but he wanted to know more about his dad, so he could TALK to him, the way they'd finally started to be able to.

[storiedhistories]

@calledkore asked: “did you find what you were looking for?” / for atreus uwu

More Random Dialogue Prompts // Accepting  

Atreus (or should he be using Loki on his travels? Perhaps in other places he would be Loki, but in his father's homeland, it felt only right to use the name his father had given him) had not expected his search for the rest of the giants to lead him back to Greece.  And yet, here he was, the place his father had come from.  That was still a full story that he needed to ask his father to tell him, but that would have to wait until he went home.

He had thought that one of the giants was here, but he'd had yet to find them, something that frustrated him.  Atreus knew full well that his journey wasn't going to be EASY, but he'd expected to find SOME sort of clue as to where he needed to go.

The young god let out a little sigh, adjusting the bow on his back as he tried to figure out where to go from here.

But before he could do much more, a voice called out behind him.  He turned in the direction it had come from, wary, but not yet drawing his bow.

"Not yet," he replied to the question.  "But I haven't had a chance to look that much," Atreus admitted.  The young man hesitated for a moment, then decided to ask, just in case this woman might know something.  "Have you seen anything around here that might have a different sort of writing on it?"  It was the best starting place he had, while he was still figuring out the writing of his father's native tongue.

[storiedhistories]

Anonymous asked: Atreus, do you see Freya as a mother?

Send My Muse Anons About Their Relationships // Accepting!  

"Freya's family," he says, as though that explains everything.  "She could have killed me when I went to see her, but I KNEW she wouldn't."  He hadn't answered the question, not really, but it was ..... complicated.  No one could replace his mother, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't care about Freya.

If they'd spent more time together when he was younger, it might be different, but he and his father had had to learn how to be a family without Mother, and while he wouldn't say he didn't still miss her, he didn't NEED her as much as he had before.

But Freya was still very important to him, and he loved her like she was family.

[storiedhistories]

Anonymous asked: Atreus, how do you feel about Thrud?

Send My Muse Anons About Their Relationships // Accepting!    

It wasn't a question he'd fully expected, and he looks up at it, offering the stranger a small smile.

"She's a good friend," he replied.  "Super strong, really good in a fight.  Thrud's gonna make an amazing Valkyrie someday."  But his smile faded as he thought about his friend, about how upset she'd been at seeing her father in the mead hall again.

"I wish our families weren't fighting," Atreus said, his voice soft.  "I think our dads could actually be friends if things were different.  She's been through a lot with her dad, and I can tell she cares about him.  And even after all of Mimir's stories, I'm pretty sure there's more to Thor than most people think, though Thrud's probably one of the only people that sees that."  

He cared about his friend a lot, and he wanted what was best for her, wanted her to have a better relationship with her father, the way she so desperately wanted. 

[storiedhistories]

Anonymous asked: Atreus - what do you remember of your mother?

Send My Muse Anons About Their Relationships // Accepting!

The expression on Atreus' face shifted, so full of sorrow for one so young.  It was clear he had been through the tragedy of losing a parent, one he had thought would live for a much longer time.  He hadn't expected to have to deal with losing his mother when he did, especially with the relationship he and his father hadn't had, at that point.

"She was always teaching me.  How to read runes, how to hear the forest...., the stories of gods, giants, men.....," he started, a faraway look in his blue eyes.  "Mother was always so kind, even when the lessons she taught me were about surviving."  

A soft smile slipped onto his face, sad as it was.  "I miss her," he murmured.  "I can't help but wonder what else she would have taught me if she'd lived."  

And part of him couldn't help but wonder if she was still out there somewhere, if he might be able to find her, to talk to her, in some way.  But he also knew that that was likely impossible.  He should just concentrate on remembering the sound of her voice, what her smile looked like, and how SAFE she'd made him feel.  

[storiedhistories]

@wornempathy asked: “did you find what you were looking for?” - Atreus

More Random Dialogue Prompts // Accepting    

"I.....don't know," he admitted, looking away from the goddess.  "I thought.....I thought I was doing the right thing, but I think I just made things worse."  Atreus' voice was soft, and it was clear that he felt.....shame for what he'd done.  He really had been trying to do the right thing.

They'd needed information, hadn't they?  They had needed to try to get ahead of Odin...., but he was pretty sure he'd accidentally given away more than he intended.  Atreus hadn't been accounting for Heimdall or his ability to read minds.

"How did you manage living in Asgard for so long?"  There were definitely good people there, but....., everyone seemed to have their own agendas.  

[storiedhistories]

@warpaiint asked: Stop being so stubborn before you bleed to death! - Atreus

More Random Dialogue Prompts // Accepting  

He was bleeding profusely, but he didn't have time to deal with it; his dad was out there, fighting right now, and he needed to help him.  The prophecy was still hanging over his head, and he needed to make sure to be there to offer his dad support, to make sure that nothing happened to him.  Odin could be anywhere, and he did not believe that the Allfather would hesitate to hurt his dad to try to control him, not after what he'd seen.

"I don't have TIME for this!" Atreus exclaimed, pushing past Aloy. "I have to find my father!"  

She was right about one thing, though; if he didn't stop for just a second, to FOCUS on healing himself, he wouldn't be much good to his father when he DID find him.

Atreus closed his eyes, putting a hand over his chest as he focused, the way his father had taught him, concentrating on healing the wounds he'd sustained.

[storiedhistories]

@warpaiint asked: ❝  hey, shh, it’s okay.  ❞ - Atreus

More Random Dialogue Prompts // Accepting

His parents had left him with Aloy, and he'd been practicing his writing.  Atreus was getting better every time he worked through the runes, but there were times he couldn't quite manage to make his thoughts legible, which frustrated him.  And when he got too frustrated, he could get sick.

Right now, he was having trouble getting the hang of a particular rune.  He glared down at his journal, getting more upset by the moment.

But before he could get TOO  angry at everything, Aloy was there, telling him that it was okay.  Atreus looked up at the young woman, his attention drawn away from the journal, which helped.

"I just can't get this rune," he said with a sigh, flopping down onto his bed.  "It shouldn't be this hard."