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[color=a8f9ff][b]#a8f9ff[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=808080][b]prism[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/O25cfGl][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c]..............[/color] [color=00aeef][b]#00aeef[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019955d1-b513-770e-b929-5ff4a855a5ab.webp][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c]..............[/color] [color=808080][b]imogen's penthouse[/b][/color]
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[indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080][color=796e9c]"...I’ll be back soon and get off that machine before you give yourself a stroke, Imogen."[/color]

[color=a8f9ff]"Yeah, ok. Be careful. Call me if anything changes. If you’re not back in two hours we’re coming to get you."[/color]

[color=796e9c]"Got it,"[/color] Tobias replied before the line went dead.

Imogen extended a shaky hand to quickly shut off Cerebro. The second the connection was severed it felt like an invisible tether that had been connecting her to the machine snapped. She nearly doubled over, catching herself with a weak grip on the edge of the coffee table. It took several ragged breaths to muster enough energy to reach up and pull the helmet from her head a second time. She couldn’t be bothered to properly close up the case when every subtle movement felt like she was wading through water. Her hand slowly reached out to take her phone from Magni’s grasp. Her fingers fumbled with it a couple times before she got a good hold. She made sure the call was properly ended before darkening the screen and discarding it on the table beside her mini Cerebro. 

Her head felt like it was full of TV static, hardly able to focus on her own thoughts let alone anything that might have been crossing Magni’s mind. Warmth dripped onto her bottom lip and the subtle taste of iron touched her tongue. Imogen wiped her nose along her sleeve leaving a crimson trail along the white material. [color=a8f9ff]"[i]Fuck,[/i]"[/color] she muttered under her breath. That was… more blood than she thought. 

She needed to get up. She needed medicine, a shower, and rest… [i]desperately.[/i] But Imogen was at that stage of exhaustion and fatigue where sleep would be impossible, like her mind was wired and fried all at once. [color=a8f9ff]"I need a shower,"[/color] she commented out loud more to herself as motivation. With a deep breath to bolster what strength she had left, Imogen pushed off the table and forced herself to her feet. When she attempted to stand up straight everything started spinning and going dark. Her hands flailed, searching for the side of the couch but instead found Magni’s arm. She held onto him, blinking slowly as her vision slowly returned while using his sturdiness to steady her. [color=a8f9ff]"Or… maybe a bath,"[/color] she corrected weakly, able to admit defeat when she was barely able to stand on her own.

Magni merely nodded, having been an ever-present shadow at Imogen’s side through the process. He lifted one hand to help hold her steady as the other rested itself upon her back. [color=00aeef]"Of course."[/color] With a single effortless motion, he scooped Imogen up in his arms. He moved slowly, making his way back to the bathroom again. When he stepped inside, he set Imogen down on the edge of the spacious tub so she could sit while he fiddled with the knobs to begin running the bath. He was silent and stoic, his brow furrowed as he fussed with getting it ready while keeping an eye on Imogen.

There was a second when she might have argued, insisting she would walk herself, but who was she kidding? Imogen was barely able to stand up without passing out, who knows how much effort it would have taken to cross her penthouse. So she settled into his arms without argument, letting her head lull against his shoulder during the short amount of time he carried her. She was grateful for his strength and support, even though she knew he would have rather been fighting alongside Tobias compared to babysitting her phone while she fried her brain. But without him… she doubted there was anyone else who would have stayed with her. That meant more to her than she could put into words.

When he set her down, she whispered a quiet, [color=a8f9ff]"Thank you,"[/color] as if speaking would be too loud. She watched him work on drawing the bath, noting the heavy silence that filled the room and the deep pensiveness that crossed his face. Imogen slowly reached out, resting her hand against his cheek so that her thumb could gently stroke the tension from his brow. [color=a8f9ff]"Is something troubling you?"[/color]

Magni's expression softened at Imogen's touch, his face relaxing a little as he placed a palm over her hand that cradled his cheekbone. He took a breath as he closed his eyes. [color=00aeef]"I am a man of decisive action. To relegate myself to the role of bystander whilst my ally is in peril is… frustrating."[/color] He let out a deep exhale as his fingers gently pried her hand from his face. He felt restless as his hands continued to fuss over checking the water's temperature.

When he was satisfied the water was warm enough, Magni plugged the drain and let the water start filling the tub. With nothing else to focus his hands on, he gripped the bottom hem of his shirt and peeled it up over his head. His torso was littered with small marks, the lingering welts of the training darts from earlier that seemed to be nearly healed. There were other faint remnants of electrical burns, feeble attempts to stun a god of lightning. He tossed his shirt aside, sifting through thoughts of pain and combat. His thoughts dipped to memories of Tobias in their drills at the Academy, as if trying to convince himself Tobias would be fine. Underlying the worry, though, was a hint of envy that remained unspoken. [color=00aeef]"I do not like waiting,"[/color] he admitted softly.

Imogen lips curved downwards into a subtle frown as he severed her touch. Her dejected hand fell slowly to rest in her lap. She didn’t say anything, remaining silent as she watched him. She tried to sift through the haze that buzzed in her head and hear his thoughts, but she only got fragments like radio static that made her wince as it scratched at her brain. [color=a8f9ff]"I’m sorry,"[/color] she whispered into the space between them. 

[color=a8f9ff]"I didn’t like the thought of Tobias going alone either,"[/color] she confessed, finally looking back up at Magni regardless if he held her gaze or not. [color=a8f9ff]"But his logic was sound, and—"[/color] Imogen shrugged her shoulders. [color=a8f9ff]"—I likely would have been a burden alongside both of you."[/color] She was not disillusioned when it came to her own capabilities. Whether or not her intentions came from a place of wanting to be helpful, how could she compare to someone with their capabilities? [color=a8f9ff]"I have always been someone destined to live on the sidelines. I learned at a young age that sometimes the most helpful thing we can do is be supportive… Not everything can be answered with violence."[/color]

Imogen hesitated for a moment before slowly raising her right hand and resting it against his abdomen. The tip of her finger lightly traced one of the markings that lingered on his skin from training as she exhaled a shallow breath. [color=a8f9ff]"No one questions your strength and power. I certainly do not."[/color] Her voice was quiet but resolute, making sure he not only heard but listened to every word. [color=a8f9ff]"You’re a God, a warrior born to fight. But these… [i]people[/i] have knowledge and means beyond what any of us understand. They’ve taken [i]powerful[/i] heroes… They might have taken your father."[/color] She paused, letting the weight of her words linger in the quiet expanse between them. She recalled Magni mentioning he was looking for his father and given everything going on, it wouldn't be that far of a stretch to assume he was taken similarly to her own father.

[color=a8f9ff]"Just because Tobias isn’t wanted doesn’t mean you aren’t."[/color] She spoke slowly, emphasizing every syllable with a light tap to his stomach to try and drive the point home. Her voice had a subtle strength in her fatigue, but still held onto its warmth and tenderness. [color=a8f9ff]"If you went you could have been taken... and I’m not a hero like you, Magni."[/color] Imogen’s voice fell to little more than a whisper at her admission. [color=a8f9ff]"I don’t know how I’d get you back. I would blame myself to the point of madness…"[/color]

She sighed, raising her other hand to gently grasp his waist. [color=a8f9ff]"You might feel your value hinges on your physical prowess, but there is so much more than what you bring to a fight."[/color] Imogen’s gaze fell, focusing on the faint markings that speckled his skin. [color=a8f9ff]"[i]Cerebro[/i]... scares me. I’ve barely used it, mostly failed, and it hurts more than I can put into words. If you hadn’t been there…"[/color] Her voice trailed off, unable to finish her thought or find the words. [color=a8f9ff]"Your support mattered. Just your hand on my shoulder grounded me… It might not mean much to you, but it does to me."[/color]

Magni listened quietly, his face remaining relatively stoic as he alternated between looking at her and monitoring the rising waters. As she finished speaking, Magni turned one of the faucets to stop the flow of water. When he faced her again, he remained frozen for a moment. Her words rang with a level of truth and sincerity that took him a little time to process. [color=00aeef]"I understand,"[/color] he responded softly. [color=00aeef]"I am grateful that my presence provided some boon to thy efforts. I understand the tactics and concern for my well-being. I just wish I could be doing more."[/color] The admission was simple, and far less clear than the tempest of inadequacy and deep-seated frustration at the mess that was thrust upon him within the past few days. Imogen’s tone did much to smooth his frayed nerves. He was sure she would have more to say, but they were things that could be said when relaxed.

Magni glanced at the filled tub, let out a deep sigh, and slipped his thumbs under the waistband of his shorts. He slowly lowered his lower garments to the ground and stepped out of them, quickly turning his attention back towards Imogen. He stepped towards her, lifting his hands to cup her cheeks as he lowered his lips to the crown of her head. [color=00aeef]"Let us get thee in the bath,"[/color] he whispered, less of a suggestion and more of a gentle order. He let his hands trail down to her shoulders, across her collar bone, and down to the zipper of her cropped jacket. He was delicate as he went about undressing her slowly whilst getting a better look at how drained she appeared. His movements were akin to unwrapping a fragile antiquity, his touch more restrained than he had shown before.

Imogen nodded her head slowly, listening and acknowledging his words in silent understanding. The thumb of her hand that had remained reassuringly on his side gently stroked his skin in a tender and rhythmic pattern. [color=a8f9ff]"I do too,"[/color] she whispered. She wished she had the capability to make Magni feel as needed and useful as he looked in her eyes. She also wished [i]she[/i] was more helpful. It was a sentiment that she had heard reverberated throughout the tower. Everyone was there to help… [i]but how?[/i] They had no information, no leads, nothing. It was an infuriating waiting game that left people who were used to action, like Magni, restless. There were no words she could share that would ease that feeling.

She let her hand fall from his side into her lap as he continued to remove his clothing. [i]I was supposed to be doing that,[/i] Imogen chastised herself as an evening that was supposed to be filled with far more enjoyable ways to get tired was replaced with… [i]this.[/i] When Magni’s hands found her cheeks, she exhaled softly through her nose, sinking into his touch for the brief moment it lingered. Her heart sank when he started undressing her, lips tugging downwards into a frown she couldn’t fight while her gaze fixated on their bare feet against the tile. His gentle tenderness was endearing and only made her fondness for him grow, but being that useless churned like bile in her stomach.

With her jacket unzipped, it was like removing the laces from a corset, she could finally breathe. She held onto Magni’s arms for support as she pulled herself up to her feet. Imogen then slowly turned her back to him, steadying herself against the side of the tub to make it easier for him to help remove her top. She looked down at her shorts as she hooked a thumb in the waistband. After a couple fruitless tugs, she sighed. [color=a8f9ff]"You can tear them off. I don’t intend on keeping them."[/color] This was [i]not[/i] the image that came to mind at the thought of Magni tearing her clothes off. She shook her head at her own uselessness but remained still for him.

There was a slight shift in the air as she spoke. He stood close behind her, his hands gravitating towards her sides. He filled the gap behind her, his chest pressed against her back as he wrapped his arms around his partner. [color=00aeef]"’Tis a shame, they flattered thy form."[/color] The statement lingered for a moment, before he took a step back. His fingers traced from Imogen's stomach to the small of her back. Both hands gripped the back of her shorts, and a single tug ripped open the seam of the garment. With little effort, he was able to slide the shorts past her hips and let it drop around her ankles. He circled around next to her, effortlessly stepping into the filled tub. He turned to face Imogen, holding his hands out towards her to help her in.

[color=a8f9ff]"[i]Hmm[/i],"[/color] she hummed in quiet appreciation for his flattery. Imogen let out a muffled sigh of relief when the seam was ripped open. While she might have been rid of the suffocating clothing, remnants of their vise-like grip remained indented around her thighs and waist. Her finger tip ran along the groves left behind on her stomach as Magni climbed into the bath. When he held out his hands toward her, she reached out, holding tight to them like a life line as she carefully stepped into the tub, one wobbly leg after the other. Once inside, she slowly lowered herself into the warm water until she sat nestled between his legs. Imogen laid back against Magni’s broad chest, letting her head rest against his shoulder, finding comfort in his presence. Her curves slowly molded to the contours of his muscles, his warmth and strength a balm to her aching mind and weary body.

[color=a8f9ff]"You’re far more tender and affectionate than I would have imagined,"[/color] she confessed quietly amidst the soft sloshing of the water from their movements. Imogen took one of his hands, bringing it in front of her like she was studying it for the first time or committing it to memory. Her fingers, petite in comparison to his own, traced the lines of his palm, brushed across his callouses, and outlined the faint remnants of scars. [color=a8f9ff]"In my experience, the stronger the man, the more fragile his masculinity. Like they saw love and affection as weakness."[/color] She rested her hand flat against his, palm to palm. The difference was so stark, almost like an adult to a child. The tips of her fingers just barely reached halfway up his own. He had enough strength and power to break her without an ounce of effort, yet he handled her like she was made of glass… [i]delicate.[/i] [color=a8f9ff]"But not you."[/color] Imogen slowly slipped her fingers between his. [color=a8f9ff]"Did your gentleness come from your mother?"[/color]

Magni let out a resonant sigh, both in relief at the comfort of their two bodies melting together in the warm waters and as an anxious release at the question. While she studied one palm, the other lightly rested against Imogen's stomach. He too gently ran his thumb along the small indented lines in her skin. [color=00aeef]"A bit."[/color] The words came painfully slow, as if each thought took effort to form. He had not ever been called gentle, nor considered his tenderness for long. [color=00aeef]"Our passing in these halls of yore shielded thee from my wanton disregard in my youth."[/color] The confession was delivered with a somber wistfulness as he considered those he had known. His disappearance was the final of a long string of choices that drove a wedge between himself and those he considered his friends. He only prayed that they yet lived for him to reconcile with.

Imogen's question was clearly probing, as even he could surmise the purpose. So, he decided to get at the root of the matter. [color=00aeef]"I have not spoken to my mother since last we met. Her place is in this realm, and I made a habit of choosing my father's domain as readily as my brother chose my mother's."[/color] He leaned back more against the edge of the tub, his hand on her abdomen gently pulling Imogen back with him. His tone shifted slightly, a modicum of guilt trailing his words like shadows he only just noticed. [color=00aeef]"I think she saw too much of my father's shadow over my form, and I was too blinded by his stories to see his faults. ‘Tis no mystery why we hardly found common ground."[/color] He paused, a slight hitch forming in his throat, decades of history choking his words. [color=00aeef]"But what boy would dain choose reality over fantasy?"[/color]

She had no idea her comment would draw something so heavy from him, but she did not interrupt. Imogen listened intently to every word while her hold on his hand tightened gently as his voice grew heavier and more pensive. She pulled his other arm around her as if they could be any closer or the embrace might soothe him. When the room grew silent, she tilted her head back and to the side slightly so she could look up at him. [color=a8f9ff]"So your gentleness is just… [i]you,[/i]"[/color] she mused quietly in an attempt to pull a bit of light out of him that she unintentionally snuffed. 

Imogen placed a tender kiss on the underside of his jaw before sinking back into his embrace. [color=a8f9ff]"I understand. I can't say I wouldn't have made the same choice… Asgard over earth. I always struggled with the transition going from Krakoa to New York when I was a girl."[/color] She doubted Krakoa held a light in comparison to Asgard, but the island did feel like its own world in and of itself. It was never New York that pulled her away, but the need to get away from the Stepford cuckoos. [color=a8f9ff]"Families are complicated. I'm aware of that more than most,"[/color] she confessed while her left hand absentmindedly stroked his forearm beneath the water. 

[color=a8f9ff]"We should visit her when this is all over,"[/color] Imogen added. [color=a8f9ff]"She's your mother. I'm sure she misses you and I'd love to meet her, and your brother."[/color] Her feet rested against the far side of the tub, toes wiggling just above the water’s surface. [color=a8f9ff]"I could bake her a pie, and she can show me pictures of you as a baby."[/color] A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips at the thought of his little baby butt or him playing in a bubble bath. [color=a8f9ff]"It's never too late to try and mend a relationship,"[/color] she added with a reassuring squeeze of his hand. 

Magni tensed at the suggestion, his breath catching in his throat. He knew she was right, and that his mother would wish to see him. Showing back up with a partner out of nowhere would be a powder keg of a situation he was not ready for. [color=00aeef]"It would be more wise that I visit her alone first. I would not wish to taint thy favor of my family with an explosive introduction."[/color] It was a deflection, and a weak one at that. He took a breath, aiming for a better redirection. [color=00aeef]"What is this Krakoa? What is it like?"[/color]

The feeling of Magni's body tensing against her pulled Imogen out of whatever mild daydreams she was having about their future. Her smile slowly faded, slipping into a subtle frown she was thankful he couldn't see. Between his explanation and the hint of the word [i]‘deflection’[/i] cutting through her mental fog, she didn't press the matter further. [color=a8f9ff]"[i]Oh,[/i]"[/color] she replied quietly, trying her best to sound as unbothered as possible. [color=a8f9ff]"Right. That makes sense."[/color]

One of Imogen's hands released its hold on Magni's arm to idly toy with the surface of the water while she tried to focus her thoughts on his questions and Krakoa. [color=a8f9ff]"It's an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that is home to many of Earth’s mutants. It's seen as its own nation and a sanctuary for mutants since they tend to be under a lot of scrutiny… Although people like Magneto don't really help our image."[/color] Her voice trailed off before she tried focusing back on Krakoa rather than the mutant struggle. [color=a8f9ff]"It's ruled by a council of twelve mutants… My mom being one of them."[/color] She lightly flicked a little bit of water as she tried to figure out how better to describe the island, never having to explain it before. 

[color=a8f9ff]"It's very beautiful. The island feels like it is in perpetual spring from its abundance of flowers and plant life that cover everything. There are even these gateways that can be created by planting flowers to connect other places to Krakoa."[/color] She remembered, back when she still attended the academy, going to the Quiet Council and requesting a gateway to connect the tower to Krakoa for people like herself, Tobias, and the Rasputins, but the academy closed before anything came of it. That definitely would have made her travel to the tower significantly easier. [color=a8f9ff]"That's where I was before coming here. Most of the mutants fled to Krakoa when the disappearances started getting worse. Only people with the X-gene are allowed on the island, so it's been a safe haven for us."[/color] Imogen ran her toe along the wall of the tub beneath the faucet as she recalled the argument she had with her mom before coming to the tower. [color=a8f9ff]"My mother wasn't happy when I left."[/color]

Magni could sense a slight shift from Imogen, sensing faintly that his efforts to dodge discussion of family had went poorly. He listened to her describe Krakoa, holding her as she did. When she finished, he nodded softly. [color=00aeef]"It sounds like a good home for thy people,"[/color] he said softly, closing his eyes. [color=00aeef]"I can understand her concern for thy safety."[/color] He paused, taking in a breath as he considered how to broach the next question. He knew well that running from the tension would be unwise. [color=00aeef]"Wouldst thou prefer to be witness and counsel for my conflict with my kin? Dost thou wish the same reciprocation from myself?"[/color]

[color=a8f9ff]"We got into a fight when I left,"[/color] Imogen confessed quietly, her voice half lost beneath the sound of the water shifting from her movements. [color=a8f9ff]"Both of my parents wanted me to go to Krakoa when things got bad. I didn’t like it, but I agreed. The entire time I was there I tried to convince mutants to come here and help, but the most they’d do is plug into a damn Cerebro."[/color] She adjusted how she sat, bringing her knees close to her chest as if closing off her body somehow balanced out the vulnerability of her words. [color=a8f9ff]"When my father went missing I couldn’t hide anymore. I couldn’t leave my brother alone in this, even if he didn’t want me here."[/color] Her voice trailed off, searching for the words while a tightness constricted in her chest. [color=a8f9ff]"I called her a coward for hiding while the world burns around her… She said I was being reckless and that I’d get myself killed…"[/color]

Imogen ran her fingers along the edge of the bathtub, growing silent as the fight replayed in her mind. She could hear the bite in her own voice and see the fear in her mother’s eyes. There were tears clinging to their lashes and venom in their words. The rumble of Magni’s voice in his chest against her back pulled her out of her thoughts. Her body froze at the realization her deflection went as easily missed as his own… not at all. She exhaled as she sat up slightly and ran her wet hands back through her hair. [color=a8f9ff]"I just…"[/color] Her voice got caught in her throat as she tried to make sense of her feelings and put them into words. [color=a8f9ff]"I don’t want to be kept at an arm’s length,"[/color] she whispered the admission as if speaking it too loud would frighten him away. [color=a8f9ff]"I want to be [i]part[/i] of your life. The good and the bad. I want to support you through hardship and lean on you in turn. I’m not the kind of woman who waits behind for her man to return to her. I want to go through life side by side with my partner, through peace and war and family bullshit... All of it."[/color] She shrugged her shoulders slightly and rested her chin against the top of her knee. [color=a8f9ff]"I can’t say I’d be the best warrior but…"[/color]

[color=00aeef]"Thou has the heart of a warrior, and thy skills exceed those of many mortals."[/color] His words were soft and clear. Magni lifted his hands up to gently stroke and smooth Imogen's hair behind her back. [color=00aeef]"I did not mean to keep thee at a distance… My nature is to keep safe and away from danger those who I am fond of."[/color] He scooted himself a little in the tub, his arms wrapping around her knees as he embraced her. [color=00aeef]"I know thou art brave and do not underestimate thy strength. ‘Twas selfishness that made me hesitant, that thou would think less of me or mine."[/color]

The anxiety that rose in her chest from Magni’s hesitation subsided with his reassurances. What remained melted away as his arms found their way around her once again. Imogen’s head lulled against his shoulder as a soft breath of relief fell from her lips. [color=a8f9ff]"We don’t choose our family. They’re complicated and messy… I mean, look at my brother,"[/color] she added with a wry chuckle. She slowly nestled back against his chest as the tips of her fingers lightly ran up and down his forearm. [color=a8f9ff]"I would never judge you because of your family. They might have helped shape you, but you are your own man. The only person who could sway my feelings for you is you, and you alone."[/color]

Magni chuckled softly, his hands slowly and softly rubbed Imogen's legs. [color=00aeef]"’Tis true… alas, Malcolm does not bear the same antagonistic disposition thy brother does."[/color] Her deeper words resonated in his chest, as his mind let the meaning sink in for a moment. [color=00aeef]"That is… reasonable and kind. Where I am from, family is a predisposition and a curse. My father, my father's father, and his father before him have determined how the realms view myself. My actions will cascade, setting the course for my children and my children's children."[/color] He took a breath, letting the statement linger as he parsed his last thought more clearly. His hands slipped up Imogen's thighs and up to her core, where he pulled her into a tighter embrace. [color=00aeef]"Affection and courtship have been either lustful relief or heartless politics. I understand that thou art different."[/color] His tone grew softer and quieter still, his hushed confession barely a whisper. [color=00aeef]"I beseech thee to grant me graceful absolution as we acclimate to this. In recompense, I vow to stand by thy side as thou seeks to stand by mine: as stalwart and equitable companions."[/color]

Imogen’s smile grew at the sound of his soft but deep laugh, relishing in the soothing rhythm of his hands stroking her legs. A quiet, content hum sang from behind her lips as he pulled her closer. While Magni spoke, she slowly shifted within his embrace, turning so she sat perpendicular to him, perched in his lap rather than nestled between his legs. Her left shoulder lightly pressed against his chest as she slipped her feet over the side of the tub, calves resting against the edge, water dripping from her skin onto the tile. [color=a8f9ff]"Then it is lucky for your future children that you are a good man, both strong [i]and[/i] kind."[/color] That was better. She was able to hold his gaze and study his face as she spoke. 

Her hand moved beneath the water to rest upon his chest while her fingers absently traced the contours of his muscles. [color=a8f9ff]"Growth isn’t one sided. We can meet in the middle."[/color] Imogen’s voice matched his gentle tone but firm in her conviction. [color=a8f9ff]"It takes time to find effortless synchronicity in a relationship, but we can learn and grow together. You can show me the ways people court in Asgard and I can show you how we date on Earth… [i]Equity.[/i]"[/color] She mirrored his word back to him with a bright smile, genuine warmth, and a light press against his stomach for emphasis.

She settled more comfortably into his lap, a faint glint in her eye and a subtle playfulness tugging at the corner of her mouth. [color=a8f9ff]"It is also a convenient coincidence—or rather [i]fate[/i], as you put it—that I am a diplomat’s daughter… and that I [i]burn[/i] for you."[/color] Imogen’s last comment hung in the air between them, drawn out slowly so the implication could sink in one word at a time. [color=a8f9ff]"So you can get your politicking and… [i]relief[/i] from me as well."[/color] She tilted her head slightly, smile growing as she held his gaze.

Magni smiled softly at her words. Her words provided some comfort and stability that he had been unaware he needed. His fingers pressed against her flesh, his hands desperately cradling her in his lap. The meaning of her final statements were clear. [color=00aeef]"I pray I may stoke the flames of thy affections further,"[/color] he whispered, leaning his own head close to hers. The space between them felt energized, as if one errant movement would ignite a spark. [color=00aeef]"And ‘tis my hope that I may [i]release[/i] thy tensions with matched vigor."[/color] His words were far gentler than the implication, and he sealed its meaning with a tender kiss. He held it for a precious few moments, breaking it only as a new concern knitted his brow. [color=00aeef]"How dost thou feel? Thy works did sap the life from thy complexion."[/color]

A soft chuckle hummed behind her lips as her smile grew at his closeness. Imogen’s hand gently climbed up his chest and curved around the back of his neck as he closed the remaining distance between them with a kiss. It wasn’t needy or full of lust, but it didn’t lack for affection or warmth either. She could have remained there forever, resting in his lap, held tightly in his embrace, lost in the tender caress of his lips against hers. When Magni pulled away, she let out a soft sigh that was a mix between a pout and whimper, but her smile remained. Her hand fell to rest against the curve of his neck while her thumb lightly tapped his collarbone. 

[color=a8f9ff]"My headache is nearly gone. My strength?"[/color] Imogen pursed her lips and raised her foot just high enough to see it from where it hung over the edge of the tub. The movement was minor, but she could still feel her muscles trembling slightly. [color=a8f9ff]"[i]Well,[/i]"[/color] she laughed softly, looking back up at him. [color=a8f9ff]"You have enough strength for the both of us."[/color]

Imogen’s disappointment at the breaking of their kiss was remarkably obvious, even to Magni. He continued to hold her, noting the clear pain and fatigue in her muscles. He nodded, taking in a breath. [color=00aeef]"We can soak a while longer still."[/color] He smiled, looking into her eyes with a gentle warmth. He went in to kiss her again, sharing that tender softness once more as their mouths spoke with more than words.

Her body curved into his embrace and warmth, sinking into a synchronicity with every gentle caress of their lips. Her hand slid up his neck to cup his jaw, seeking any and every way to feel more of his body with her own. There was still a small part of Imogen's mind, hidden away like a distant whisper that was in disbelief that she was his, she was in Magni's arms… that he pledged himself to her. It was surreal, like any second she could wake up from the dream and crash back down to reality. It felt like she had to hold tight to every touch, every embrace because any moment they could be ripped apart and spirited away like their fathers. 

Imogen clung to those tender kisses longer than she should have. It was cruel for her to take what she wanted when her body was too weak to reciprocate. After several minutes she reluctantly parted her lips from his with a sigh, keeping her eyes closed while her forehead rested against his. [color=a8f9ff]"I'm sorry,"[/color] she whispered in the small space between their lips. [color=a8f9ff]"I shouldn't be greedy."[/color] She slowly lowered her head to his shoulder, letting her hand fall from his cheek to rest against his chest. The tip of her finger traced the line of his collarbone searching for something to fill the silence. [color=a8f9ff]"I've decided my first lesson for you in Midgardian dating will be taking you on an actual date,"[/color] she mused quietly, with a soft smile. [color=a8f9ff]"We can't really leave the tower right now… [i]But,[/i] I'd still like to try and do something nice. So, don't make any plans for tomorrow night."[/color]

Magni hummed a wordless tune, his voice resonating and vibrating through his chest as Imogen spoke. If he were a mortal, if he had a greater sense of danger and urgency, the proposal would seem foolish. The walls were closing in around them all by the day, and an unknown threat lingered beyond the tower's walls. To Magni, though, this was Asgardian custom. Feasts, revelry, passion, laughter… it was all part of the cycle, for to cease living in fear of death was to die early.

[color=00aeef]"Avarice is permitted in my company,"[/color] he remarked steadily, as if issuing an inconsequential decree. He let loose a deep breath, his grip on Imogen tightening slightly as he held her close. [color=00aeef]"Thou may do with my schedule as thou pleases. I am interested to know what is custom for courting in thy realm, Lady Frost."[/color]

While Magni might have welcomed it, there was a part of her that felt selfish in her greed. A quiet, weak chuckle echoed behind Imogen’s lips as she tucked her knees in closer to her chest. [color=a8f9ff]"It’s silly, [i]but[/i]... I feel guilty, indulging in my own desires when I am too weak to fulfill yours."[/color] It was a simple confession of repressed inadequacy, but she was continuing to try and be as forthcoming with her own thoughts as he let her read his. Her smile grew, a bit lopsided and sheepish. [color=a8f9ff]"Don’t give me free rein over your time or you’ll never be rid of me. While I’d be happy to keep you all to myself, I’m sure your friends would enjoy your company too."[/color] She then tilted her head back slightly to look up into his eyes, her voice little more than a whisper. [color=a8f9ff]"You can call me Imogen."[/color]

Magni shook his head softly, averting his gaze only for that action before he met her stare again. [color=00aeef]"Well… Lady Imogen, fret not over thy desires. It is the responsibility of gods to indulge in the wishes of mortals."[/color] As always, his tone was light but certain. He smiled, shrugging his shoulders. [color=00aeef]"I do not desire to be rid of thee… though I do suppose time alone to spar and build bonds with our allies would be in our best interest."[/color] He turned his head away, looking out towards the open bathroom door and into the apartment beyond. He pressed his lips together tightly as he considered their shared night, recalling the comfort in sharing in her bed. [color=00aeef]"I would be grateful if thou would indulge my own desire: to hold thee as we drift into slumber each night."[/color]

[color=a8f9ff]"Perhaps,"[/color] Imogen replied with a quiet conviction behind her words. She wasn’t talking to a God or higher being. She was talking to her lover. There was a difference… an equity, as he put it. [color=a8f9ff]"But as your [i]partner[/i] it is my responsibility to sate your desires. Gods and mortals are irrelevant. All that matters is making each other happy and fulfilled."[/color]

She nodded her head in silent agreement. While Imogen would have been content following him around everywhere to the point of driving him crazy most likely, Magni wasn’t wrong. They have had the advantage of coming into this all knowing some of the others within the tower, they weren’t going to trust each other without getting to know each other. Remaining locked away in her apartment having a lot of sex was fun, even counted as cardio… [i]but[/i] that only strengthened their own relationship, not their connections with the others. 

Imogen’s smile softened with his last words. He didn't ask for the comforts of flesh but simply to share a bed while they slept… To hold her. It was such a small, simple request yet it made something swell in her chest while a subtle flush bloomed across her cheeks. She had never been the type to blush or be bashful, but the admittance of something incredibly innocent but also intimate left her at a loss for words. Her body settled more in his embrace as if the tiniest bit of tension that had laced her muscles was cut free, allowing her to relax that last bit she hadn’t allowed herself to before. She ran the back of her finger lightly along his jaw as she looked up at him. [color=a8f9ff]"Of course,"[/color] she whispered. [color=a8f9ff]"There’s nothing I’d like more."[/color][/color][/justify][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]

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