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[b][center][color=859ECC]Old Friends, Old Feelings[/color][/center][/b]
[/h1][/sup][/color][indent][sub][COLOR=859ECC][I]The Ball[/I][/COLOR][/sub][/indent][indent][sup][right][COLOR=859ECC][b]Hel & Skadi[/b][/color][/right][/sup][/indent][hr]

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[COLOR=7b36b0]“You can go.”[/color] Hel stood over a corpse lying on the cold steel of the autopsy table. Bright, luminescent lights beamed down over it. The cadaver looked oddly peaceful, even with a bullet hole in between his eyes. The mortuarium in of itself was an oddly bright and open place. While the rooms where they performed their autopsies had those cold, sterile white tiles the antechamber before it was made of a more pleasant wood and windows. Though with the massive bulbs hanging over the steel slab, it felt like day. While in fact, it had just passed 7 a.m.

A girl looked up from behind a nearby cold, steel desk as she wrote something. [b]“Are you sure, Mrs- I mean miss Krogh.”[/b] Jessie, the girl, brushed aside her long auburn hair as she spoke. It looked a little endearing. [b]“I can stay. I don’t really like parties.”[/b] That was a lie, and Hel knew it. The girl had far too many wild party stories to not like parties. Though she didn’t really know why she would die. For the past few weeks now, she had joined Hel as an intern while she studied anatomy as a major.

[COLOR=7b36b0]“It’s okay.”[/color] Hel said as she walked up to the girl and took the clipboard she was holding on the desk. Her eyes scanned through the form. It was filled in perfectly. Her eyes turned to look at an anticipating Jessie. [COLOR=7b36b0]“Yeah, you’ve done more than enough for me today. Go and enjoy yourself. It’s a Friday evening, after all.”[/color] Hel said as she was about to turn around and walk back towards the corpse. The cause of death was simple enough, even if you forwent Occam’s Razor. All she had to do was draw blood and get it to the lab.

[b]“Thank you!”[/b] The girl squealed as she suddenly rounded the desk and hugged Hel tightly. Surprising the older goddess of death. As a reaction, she almost hugged the girl back but then pulled back. Not wanting to subject her to any freezing embrace. Instead, she just lightly put her own head against the girls. A moment later, Jessie released her and ran towards the changing rooms to throw off the PP&E. Leaving Hel alone in the mortuarium.

The goddess just continued with her work. Drawing blood and other needed tissue samples for the lab. From the corner of her mind, she heard Jessie shout: [b]“See you next week!”[/b] From Jessie. She just smiled and raised a bloody hand to wave at her as she left. Maybe she should remove the bullet as well. So she didn’t need to do it on Monday. With that done, she realized the labs probably closed already. For a second, she looked at the samples of blood sitting on her desk. It was getting late, but she could do them. She could tend to the graves later tonight. They wouldn’t run away.

The bloodwork didn’t take so long. Though Hel found herself stare out the window from time to time as she waited for a centrifuge or some other machine to finish its cycle. The sun was already down, casting the whole world in a familiar sensing shroud. Maybe she could take a little stroll through the city. Walk along the water. Hear the siren call of the waves. Maybe later, after she tended to the graves.

The fates had other plans when Skadi’s message made Hel’s ancient flip phone buzz. She frowned as she read the message. She loved Skadi dearly, but the Jötunn had a strange habit of bothering the goddess of death at times with things she preferred not to be bothered by. The message didn’t even attempt to hide away the lie. For a moment she just wanted to put down the phone and ignore it. But then guilt started gnawing at her. She couldn’t see her own family for obvious reasons, but she had no such reason not to see Skadi, and it had been ages since she last saw her Norse friend. It was unfair of Hel to ignore her now even if she felt apprehension about the party in every fiber of her body.

[COLOR=7b36b0]I’ll be there in an hour.[/color] She texted back as she got into her Mercedes. And as promised, an hour later a very friendly Uber delivered her to the party’s main entrance. Which was flanked on both sides by scores of photographers that were as utterly disinterested in her as she was in them. The goddess walked across the red carpet as if it was laid out specifically for her and showed her invitation to those at the door. Who graciously let her pass. Inside though she garnered more attention. Despite the fact that Hel felt like she was dressed for a fight. Chainmail was replaced by a  black dress, the kohl around her eyes was replaced by impeccable eyeliner and her hair that normally was braided in the fashion of a shieldmaiden now hung loose down her shoulders. Skadi was easy enough to find.

Hel approached her, making sure she walked into her view before ever being near. She flashed the Jôtunn a small smile. [COLOR=7b36b0]“You know that Draugr are a real danger, right?”[/color] she said, only half-joking.

An innocent smile tugged the corners of Skadi’s lips up as she gave a diligent nod. Yes, of course, the Draugr were plagues upon this earth, but- [color=859ECC] “Being so dutiful and neglecting your friends and yourself is also dangerous, Hel.”[/color] Skadi met her friend the rest of the way and threw a friendly arm around her shoulders in a quick side hug. Showing her affections came easily to the Goddess, but she was aware Hel didn’t always have an easy time accepting said affections, so she kept it brief.

[color=859ECC] “Well, you look gorgeous. Is slaying ghost-monsters in designer brands a requirement for the seance?”[/color] The question was utterly playful, and Skadi made quick work of snagging champagne from a passing tray for the two of them to enjoy, [color=859ECC] “Here it’s expensive, so it’s good.”[/color] Skadi passed the flute to her friends before leading them closer to the outskirts of the busybodies networking and schmoozing,[color=859ECC] “I needed someone reliable to be here when all of this goes to shit. Can’t bring all the gods to one place without madness quickly following- if the last four conclaves have been any indication.”[/color]

The goddess of the dead turned a little red at the mention of her dress. [COLOR=7b36b0]“Well…It’s just… I don’t think they would’ve let me in wearing leather armor.”[/color] She knew Skadi was joking… probably. The Jötunn goddess was one of the few of the Norse pantheon that she could talk to freely. While she didn’t do it often enough, she did believe she knew her well enough to know when she was joking. Or so she hoped. Hel let herself be guided away from the main mass of people. Something she was grateful for. Then she got a glass of champagne thrust in her hands. [COLOR=7b36b0]“Oh I… I really shouldn’t.”[/color] And with a quick hand she managed to place the still full glass on a pass waiter carrying away empty glasses.

She was, however, not as gullible as Skadi might make her out to be. [COLOR=7b36b0]“I’m very happy to see you again.”[/color] She said, even though she hadn’t returned the hug. Skadi understood that about Hel a long time ago, luckily. [COLOR=7b36b0]“But…why did we have to meet here?”[/color] She then asked. The huntress knew full well that a party like this, with so many people, was not something for Hel. The living were so… alive. The dead were easier to care for. Easier to be around. Simpler. Calmer. Right now, despite the classical music play she felt a pressure in the room. Bearing down on her, expending her energy with every step taken and word said. She finally stopped Skadi and turned to face her, still with a bright smile on her face. [COLOR=7b36b0]“And before you try to lie-“[/color] She raised her hand to keep the energetic huntress quiet for a bit longer. [COLOR=7b36b0]“I know you too well to have you pretend like you wouldn’t love the madness that will come soon enough. And when the time comes, it’s not like you really need me.”[/color]

Skadi’s eyes briefly trailed to a certain oblivious honey blonde haired man, eyes narrowing slightly with annoyance before returning to Hel. The history between them all was complicated, but especially between Hel and Baldr, well- Hel and everyone. Skiing along snow-capped mountains and rocketing downhill away from the loneliness that always chased after her was a choice she made as a goddess and something she was thankful to be rid of when she was “born” into this new life. Watching Hel continue her ways of isolation hurt Skadi in a way she couldn’t find the words to rationalize, and so she tried to pull Hel out of it little by little. Her meddling’s current goal was to melt the ice around the goddess’s heart, but her supporting crew provided more burden than they did aid.

Skadi couldn’t reveal her plan to Hel, not now at least, [color=859ECC] “I would never pretend not to be amused by the dealings of men. They’re interesting creatures, but sometimes I crave a more dependable and enjoyable company. Plus, nothing beats the company of the keeper of the dead who likes to pretend to hate you.”[/color] Skadi replied easily and bumped her hip into Hel’s as she nodded her head towards Thanatos [s] and Baldr[/s], [color=859ECC] “Added bonus is you make Than squirm like no one else can, and he’s already annoying me tonight. Don’t you have a little school girl crush on him or something? Or is it the “beloved by all” that reminds you of the heart in your chest?”[/color]

Hel playfully rolled her eyes at the hip bump to make her turn to look at Thanatos. She didn’t understand the problem. He brought clean deaths! Every death he caused went peacefully on its way. None of them ever became draugr. Even recently an elderly woman told her she’s grateful for his final blessing. It took the pain away. She was looking at him as the small smile formed. She’d have to tell him that, he would probably love to hear it.

Then her eyes fell upon Baldr. Skadi’s teasing words suddenly sounded distant. For a second Hel became dangerously aware of her own beating heart, and how it was beating just a little bit more forceful now. He was talking with Thanatos. The sight gave her a pang of yearning. Of wanting to be in the place of Thanatos, with all of Baldr’s attention on her again. Like in the old days down in Helheim. But that same memory conjured up the pleas of Freya and the other Aesir for him to return. [COLOR=7b36b0]“I had to let go.”[/color] She whispered. Even then she knew she had to let him go.

She turned away again when she realized her face was growing hot. [COLOR=7b36b0]“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”[/color] She quickly rebutted Skadi with a smile, but her idle fingers were fidgeting. She needed something to do. Work to distract her. [COLOR=7b36b0]“Baldr and I are just friends.”[/color] A friend to meet up with. But only alone. Never surrounded by other people. She wasn’t good with other people. [COLOR=7b36b0]“Yeah, just friends.”[/color] If she repeated it often enough, would she finally start feeling like it?

[color=859ECC] “Oh? Is that so?”[/color] Skadi held back her smirk as she leaned closer to Hel, studying her expression for a moment before quickly pulling herself away. The faintest tinting of pink of Hel’s cheeks filled Skadi with a feeling of victory,[color=859ECC] “Well then, what are you waiting for, go say hi to your [i]friends[/i]! I’ll catch up after I track down a glass of Sauvignon!”[/color] 

Skadi pushed her palm against her friend’s back in an encouraging way before she was twirling off after her next whim.

The goddess of death didn’t entirely register what just happened. One moment she was talking with Skadi, then the goddess of the hunt shoved her towards Thanatos and Baldr. Hel turned around again, and moved to hide behind one of the columns. Trying to find her rather insistent friend. [COLOR=7b36b0]“You know I can’t talk to him with people around.”[/color] She said even though Skadi was nowhere around. No, no she couldn’t talk to him now. After all, it would be rude. Yes, rude! Rude because Thanatos and him were probably having a riveting conversation. Who was she to interrupt that? No, no she would say ‘hi’ later. When there were less people around. Or maybe tomorrow, over breakfast. Her eyes darted around, trying to find some familiar faces to hide amongst. She spotted no-one but she couldn’t stay here, in the almost-open where she could be found. Swallowing her own unease she stepped off into the same crowd forming around the bar after Skadi. Knowing there was no way to find the huntress. [/color][/indent][/indent][/indent]