#playful and musical and so angeline!

[lothirielswanmarvel]

“Just Muscles. And Abs. Lots of Both.” (Sneak Peak)

Word Count: 2260

Love Interest: Thor (+ Peter Quill Love Triangle)

Summary: A romantic and playful scene with everyone’s favorite Seductive God of Thunder—look out for twists!

**This is a sneak peak for a book I’m considering writing. I MUST have feedback before continuing this novel. Please enjoy, and I’d love to hear your thoughts. 

~*~

I finally realized why Tony liked large flatscreens. The living room suite of Avengers Tower was unoccupied tonight, which was rare: Steve loved documentaries, Clint enjoyed watching people contemplate buying extravagant houses, Wanda would kill anyone who tried to change the channel from the Bachelorette, and Bruce had a secret love for The Big Bang Theory.

The remote control almost felt foreign in my grasp. Spending time with any of the Avengers made my day, but alone time meant I could finally indulge in films or television shows without restrictions. I decided to go full range with my power, and settled for Game of Thrones. [Before you look away, Readers, NO, there are no spoilers to Game of Thrones as you read on. It’s incredibly vague, doesn’t talk or name any characters. Don’t stress. Love, fortune and glory to you!]

I was thirty minutes in, trying to decide who would make it alive to the next episode when I finally heard someone behind me. It had been a quiet night, and I didn't feel like ruining it with an argument.

“Sorry, I didn't know you were here. I'm changing it,” I called out as I paused the show.

“Are you sure? It looks interesting.”

I turned to look at Thor. He smiled warmly at me and walked around the long couch to my cocoon of blankets. Thor sat down beside me, leaving little room between us. I liked his closeness—not just because of the ridiculous crush that I’d been harboring for him for years, but the implied friendliness of it. It was nice to be close and comfortable with someone; no boundaries, no professionalism. As Pepper’s niece, it was nice for someone to treat me like a person and not some reserved business workaholic.

“I don't mind putting on something else,” I offered. Game of Thrones was so popular, no one in the tower really had an issue with it, but there was only so much fantasy some of them could take—and the Avengers witnessed enough dramatic deaths in daily life without the help of George R. R. Martin.

“I like it. The cold and the creatures remind me of Jotunheim—not the fondest memories I have, but it’s familiar.” Thor replied, his tone slightly wistful as he relaxed into the couch. I offered him some blankets from my comfy makeshift nest, although I could feel his body heat through my layers.

“Jotunheim? That's were Loki’s from, technically, right?” I said, glancing at him.

Thor caught my gaze, nodding slowly. “Yes, you are a perceptive one. I'm surprised you remember.”

“I think it's cool, the stuff you talk about. The nine realms, Asgard, it's fascinating.” I said. I forced myself to look back at the TV. I usually didn't want to miss anything, but I found myself losing interest this time.

“You think so?” He sounded miffed.

“Yeah.”

We continued watching. I tried to pay attention to the dialogue, but I was too aware of the presence right next to me.

“What's Jotunheim like?” I asked as the scene on television was full of snow. “Is it as freezing as what’s on TV, or…?”

Thor grunted as he sat up a bit straighter. His voice was deep and rich with a unique accent. “It is—was—a realm of eternal winter. There weren't any trees, or woods—I don't think any life could’ve survived such harsh conditions. Mostly rock and ice. It was always dark, as well: blizzards were their sunlight.”

“Wow—I mean, I guess it makes sense. You have a mountain terrain, that fits frost giants,” I said thoughtfully. “What about the frost giants, if it's okay to ask? What were they like—were they anything like those things?”

I gestured at the screen where creatures sprinted across the icy fixture. Thor hummed thoughtfully, “Hmm, somewhat. Anything the frost giants touched turned to ice—a dear friend of mine, Volstagg, made that discovery. And they’re tall, of course, but they didn't have blue eyes: frost giants are red.”

For the first time in human history, Game of Thrones was forgotten. I was too intrigued in our conversation. Thor’s voice was thrilling to listen to, not to mention that the topics we discussed were bizarre. The only attention I paid the TV was when I changed it to Lord of the Rings as I asked Thor about orcs and elves.

“Were there any kind of creatures like orcs across the nine realms?”

“What about dwarves? Do they stay on Asgard?”

“When Mjolnir was created, were there other things made too, like the rings of power?”

After many rounds of my questions, Thor smiled apologetically. “I feel like I am boring you with my stories, Lady Evangeline.”

I sat facing him now, and most of my blankets were discarded to my other side, making a cozy barrier around us. His presence kept me warm.

I shook my head, “You don't have to be so formal, Thor, especially with titles: you can call me Evie, or Angie, or whatever part of my name you prefer. And I'm not bored, I like hearing you talk about the nine realms and where you’re from. I think you're much smarter than you give yourself credit for.”

The grin on Thor’s face stretched from one ear to the other. My heart started to race in my chest. “You flatter me, my—Angeline.”

“It's not flattery, it's true. You know so much about the universe—and not to mention, you’re one of the best fighters I've ever seen. Seriously, that takes so much practice—and you learn a lot from fighting things. That's how you gain experience in video games, you’d probably be max level in all of them.”

As I stared at Thor, something caught me off guard. His face was turning red. Not just his cheeks; everywhere, from his hairline to his beard.

Did I just make the God of Thunder blush? Was I hallucinating? I never made anyone blush that hard before, not even the few people I had dated. It was such a bizarre sight. Thor, a literal god among men, unfazed by alien armies and robot uprisings, was blushing. Because of me.

But the redness didn't go away. It lingered, like a rose bush in full bloom. I didn't know what to do: this had never happened before, and I would have never expected it. I forced my mouth to open and say something, anything.

“Nat’s showed me a few moves for self defense and that kind of thing, but I wish I could do what you do. You’re really talented.” I said.

Dammit! I made it worse! The redness had multiplied like trees overcome by the vibrant colors of fall.

Thor must’ve regained some sort of composure, at least enough to speak. “Evangeline, do you need furniture moved?”

My eyes narrowed. “No. Why?”

Thor covered his face with his hands, one lingering on his chin to stroke his beard. “Such praise must have a purpose, I assumed.”

“There is no...purpose.” I said, confusion filling me as I tried to follow his train of thought.

I still didn't understand as he stood and offered me a hand. “How about a fighting lesson?”

I blinked twice, trying to process where the conversation was headed. “Uh...sure. Sounds fun.”

I took his hand and stood. We faced each other. Lord of the Rings was still playing, and it's magnificent music became background noise for whatever was about to commence.

Thor smirked as he watched me.

My eyebrow rose. “What?”

“You move with such grace. The nymphs of Asgard would be envious of such enchanting beauty.” He declared.

Like karma, my face felt like a tray of embers. Flashbacks of the many times I had bumped into coffee tables, counters, doorways, and yes, even walls, came to me.

“You remind me of them often, actually. Your beauty is so natural, like an earthen goddess.”

“Thor.”

“Yes, Evangeline?”

“Do you need furniture moved?”

Thor laughed. “No, but you’ll be the first person I come to when the problem arises. Raise your fists,”

I did as he instructed. “Like this?”

“Yes, and your feet a little farther apart.” Thor closed the distance between us. His hands enclosed around mine, making my skin tingle, and setting them up a little higher. I glanced down to make sure my feet aligned with his.

“Right, that looks good.” Thor held onto my hands a little longer than necessary. “Your hands are so tiny.”

“Thanks?” I laughed when he kissed my knuckles, then retreated back a few steps.

“You’re smaller than I am—”

“In my defense, everyone is smaller than you. And everyone is taller than Tony.”

“True,” He agreed. His tone was serious, but there was some lightness to it. “But to overpower me, you have to think differently. You have to find a weakness.”

My eyes scrutinized Thor’s bulking frame. “I don't see any weaknesses. Just muscles. And abs. Lots of both.”

Thor smiled, and some of the redness returned. “Look harder.”

My head tilted to the side. Then it hit me. “Your eyes?”

Thor grinned. “You are perceptive.”

I bit my lip. Thor was tall. I’d probably have to climb him like a vine to reach his eyes, and I ignored the voice in my head that giggled at the idea (which could've also been Wanda eavesdropping).

“Okay...what now?” I asked, tightening my fists.

“Try to take me down,” Thor said.

I stiffened. “I know this is going to sound stupid, but I don't want to hurt you, Thor.”

“We could continue our battle of compliments if you’d like—”

I made up my mind and charged. I knew I was too short to reach him; Thor was massive. So I made a detour and went for the couch first, then pounced.

I yelped when we made contact. I wrapped my arms around his neck out of instinct. One of my legs came around his waist.

“Bad plan, bad plan,” My words were breathy, but not just because of the physical exertion. Thor’s eyes were captivating up close. They were a unique, popping blue-gray like a stormy sea. I took one shaky breath and my mouth was filled with the scent of him; something natural with warm tones and a musky aroma.

“It was a good plan,” Thor insisted. I should’ve let go. My arms wouldn't move. My leg remained glued to his side, unresponsive, but completely aware of the warmth seeping from his body.

“It was a well-thought advantage point. The Valkyries would recruit you for such cleverness,” Thor spoke softer, but up close, I could feel the deep vibrations of his voice. The unique accent that made me stop whatever I was doing and listen.

Thor’s arms came around me, securing me so I wouldn't drop to the ground.

“This is nice,” I mumbled. “The air’s a little thinner up here.”

We smiled. Thor’s chuckle was low. I continued, “You’re so tall...I’ve never seen you up close like this before.”

Thor nodded, and our noses brushed together. “Perhaps you should visit up here more often.”

“Maybe if you could supply a ladder next time…”

“Yes. Of course, my lady.”

I didn't dare look away from Thor’s face, but I could still hear the faint score of Lord of the Rings. It was the scene where Arwen, the elven princess, admitted to giving up her immortality to be with the human ranger, Aragorn. For the first time, I appreciated how soft and soothing the singing voices sounded. It was like heaven. It was like staring at Thor, and sharing that gentle but happy smile.

“Hey, uh, Thor...Jane’s on the line, bud. She’s asking for you.”

My eyes widened. Heaven had dissipated. Reality had sank in. Like a cool morning mist, burned away by the sun.

Thor nodded mutely. His muscles felt stiff. “Please excuse me, Lady Evangeline. . .”

Thor set me down, and I reluctantly unhooked my arms from his neck. I couldn’t decipher his facial expression. He passed Clint on his way out of the room.

Clint crossed his arms and leaned on the couch. “Good thing I came in and checked on you guys instead of Wanda. We’d be knee-deep in gossip for weeks.”

“Uhuh.” I glumly sat back on the couch. The cushions were cold, no longer holding the remnants of someone else’s warmth.

Clint perched on the armrest. “You know, when Laura and I were dating, at some point I sat down with her and had a conversation. I explained that I loved her very much, and my job was very time-consuming. I wouldn't quit my job, but I sure as hell didn't want to leave her. Luckily, we were two very independent people, who kept in touch, who supported one another, and could still carry on with our own lives.”

“Why are you telling me this?” I asked, shaking my head.

“ ‘Cause Jane didn't sound very happy on that phone. After they got together, Thor left her. Left earth. For two years.”

“But they’re still together.”

“I know the sound of somebody about to deliver some bad news when I hear it.” Clint said. He was crossing his arms again. “Look, you and him...I’ve seen you guys interact over the years. There’s something there. Half the people in this tower have bets on when it's gonna happen. But is Thor really what you want? Can you live that kind of lifestyle?”

Clint was silent, letting me ponder. Eventually, he stood. “I'm not trying to discourage you from anything, I just want you to make the best decision for you. ‘Cause you’re the one that's gonna have to live with it.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Hi Awesome Adventurers and thanks for reading! I’ve been playing around with the idea of this novel for awhile, but I’d like to hear personally from you guys before I start publishing actual chapters. There will be one more sneak peak at the novel, and you can catch a glimpse at another sneak peak here, a very intense piece that will probably happen at the end of the series. But thank you so much for reading, and please, if you enjoyed this, I’d love to hear from you! If I do start hearing from people, I will post this story on Tumblr, Archive of Our Own, and Wattpad. Your words are powerful, and I’d love to hear them c: love, fortune and glory to you!!

[thelostpagesofportlyndon]

Dumpster files: Angeline’s perspective.

Angeline's face was close to the camera as she adjusted it, Leaning back a little and running a couple fingers through her hair as she tilted her head. "Close enough, Right?" She said in a playful tone as she cleared her throat with and awkward smile.

"I'm not really sure how to start this..." She admitted as she looked at the camera lens, Debating with herself. "I don't even know if I'm going to give this to you but - This is the only way I'm ever going to be able to explain myself without interruption or making a complete fool of myself in front of you again..."

She sighed, Lighting a cigarette as she spoke. "I really like you, Jackson. A lot. But I - I realize that I'm a complete fucking trainwreck so the only way this will ever work is to just throw it all on the table... So let's just - Start from the beginning..."  

"My name is Angeline Katherine Andurgor. I'm the daughter of Ameila and Vladimer Andurgor.  My parents aren't the best people in the world but one of the many lies I tell everyone is that I hate them. I couldn't ever hate them, They're my parents... And there was some good times. I don't remember much until I was four or five. My dad is probably where I got some of my music tastes from... My mom only ever listened to classical but he liked a lot of stuff and would occasionally play it when she wasn't around. My grandmother also did, Obviously.  

We used to do some fun stuff. Family stuff...My mom used to be a lot different. I still - I still don't know what changed.  I remember her sitting and making flower crowns with me. She'd always set up these little basic science experiments for us to play with and she was calm even when I messed it up..."

A smile tugged at her lips before she let out a sigh and shook her head.

"My parents aren't monsters but I don't dare to admit that to my friends - What would they think of me to defend the people who almost killed them several times? Some of my friends already don't really like me and I feel like that'd just - I don't know.

I realize now that my parents did want the best for me but they also made mistakes that led them down the wrong path. My mother is blinded by fear and my father has been trying to mend the wounds he's made but it's to late...

I'm getting a little ahead of myself again - I was probably a weird child. I'm more intelligent then I let anyone think I am...My parents taught me everything to be known about science but I've never done much with it. I actually really liked it but I wanted to be a rebel and so I decided I was going to do music one way or the other just because that's what my parents didn't want me to do. “

[respectanimalrights]

"Inside The Killer Whale Matriarchy" - 🔵@maestro320 's Notes: This is an excerpt of a 5 minute video from TED Ed Lessons Worth Sharing. Lesson courtesy of Darren Croft, Directed by Boniato Studio, Narrated by Addison Anderson. Music by Fabien Bolzinger. (Full version is up in my IGTV) Youtube link: https://youtu.be/sQpGT1BgdX4 It's a simplified film feature I am posting for the benefit of the children this weekend so, 1.They may understand how the family dynamics of the Southern Residents work. 2. How important the roles of Granny (J2) and Princess Angeline (J17) was to the Southern Residents. Granny passed away in 2016 at the age of 105 and Princess Angeline passed away recently at a young age of 42. 3. How their loss has impacted the family's cultural system and, 4. How man is further pushing the Southern Residents closer to extinction. Upon recently, it has mainly been the grown ups in the frontlines fighting for the SRKW. If the children will get to see this and know the value of what they are losing because of their governments indifference to these poor earthlings, Im sure they would understand more what we are fighting for. Resident killer whales off the west coast of Canada and the United States eat about 66 kilograms of fish every day. They seem to prefer herring to salmon but are adaptable, eating one food source when another is suddenly unavailable. In recent years 50,000 sea otters in the area where these killer whales reside have disappeared. No one knows for sure what happened to them but it is believe they were consumed by killer whales, whose traditional source of food, salmon, has declined. Killer whales in the Pacific Northeast feed mostly on chinook, or king, salmon. They also eat lingcod and flounder. They sometimes follow fishing boats and eat fish that is discarded and thrown overboard. When not feeding they are noisy and playful. They often hang around making an array of sounds, splashing and breaching. https://www.instagram.com/p/B1SvtPBFqno/?igshid=ksdvh9kluz9u

[americanahighways]

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Ian Moore at the Blue Door in OKC? Heck yeah. Count me in. With that said, I really didn’t know what to expect. Certainly, what was experienced was beyond the realm of my expectations anyway and anyhow. I had initially expected this to be a full band show. I was wrong in assuming so. Rather, this was billed as the Ian Moore Duo and even more unexpected, a Christmas themed show. Now, I’m not the biggest fan of “seasonally themed shows” in general, so although my wife was really excited about the show, I was a bit more dubious. Boy, was I wrong.

Moore has been doing this small run of December Christmas shows for several years, with The Blue Door a constant stop along the way. After a brief, playful argument about how many years, (it was the ninth) owner Greg Johnson welcomed Moore to the stage. Many in the audience were veterans of many of the past holiday shows, which Moore was quick to acknowledge. It is, after all a very small, intimate room. Joining Moore to complete the duo was multi-instrumentalist Kullen Fox, who also tours with Charley Crockett. Fox provided the keys, trumpet, xylophone and more, while Moore handled acoustic guitar and the occasional kick drum. It was a wonderful, warm, casual night of music. In fact, there was only one Christmas song played, “It Just Don’t Seem Like Christmas”. So, take that expectations!

Instead, Moore played songs from various stops of his vast, prolific catalog, and even took requests along the way. Highlights included, “Angeline”, “New Day”, and an absolutely stunning version of “Muddy Jesus”. Moore is also quite an entertaining storyteller, regaling us with tales of his time on the “Sling Blade” movie set, and the premier party. Highlights of this tale included Harry Dean Stanton, alcohol and getting punched by one of the Monkees. Keeping with the intimate theme, Moore and Fox even ventured into the crowd for a song, and provided a classic Susannah Clark joke. It’s really a show to be experienced first hand, as my words fail to do it the accolades it deserves. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait until next December to catch it, as the short tour concluded the following night. But, Ian Moore does tour with his full band throughout the year, and more information can be found here: https://www.ianmoore.com/  See our earlier interview with Ian Moore here:  Interview: Ian Moore Talks New Release “Toronto,” “Sling Blade,” and SMASH Musicians’ Healthcare  For our interview with Greg Johnson of the Blue Door, click here:  Interview: Greg Johnson of OKC’s Blue Door — on the Evolution of the Best Listening Room in Oklahoma

Show Review: Count Us In at Ian Moore's Christmas Show at the Blue Door @lastchancemusic @bluedoorokc @westernpub @nowels_david #americanamusic Ian Moore at the Blue Door in OKC? Heck yeah. Count me in. With that said, I really didn’t know what to expect.