We’re all scared of trenches. [semi-closed]

[worldsaway]

Who| Thor and [closed] to close CR/people who have arranged to meet him. Mostly Avengers/Vikings but if you have a burning need just message me!
What| Thor returns from the glorious finale and is understandably ruffled by how it went down.
Where| D2, the commons/particularly the bar area/training center
When| After Thor dies.
Warnings/Notes| Talk of a vicious death, drinking to cope

If there's any good Thor can take from this, it's that his legs don't hurt anymore. He awakes and returns to his dwellings in silence, the weight of the past few months sitting heavily on his shoulders. Self care comes first. He eats, he drinks, he showers and he tries to make himself rest in silence for at least a while. He soaks in all that he has gone without in the Arena, but he can't stay idle for long. Being alone makes him repeat everything, every mistake he made and every chance he should have used. It will be much better to be around people, his people. He hadn't expected Bro's words to stick and resound for so long, but it gives him something to strive for. To be, as he put it, selfless or whatever and someone to lean on just as Thor should be.

And so he sets off to find them, and he'll poke his head around many places in the tower. He's dressed casually in a flannel shirt over a white shirt and jeans with his hair pulled back, he definitely looks as unimpressive as he feels, but he won't dwell on that. He'll wander through the training center first in the hopes of approaching his friends, then he'll move to the commons in the hopes of catching them as they pass before moving to treat himself to a drink at the lobby bar. Eventually, he'll find himself back up in District Two and acquaints himself with the couch, knowing people will seek him out there.

Even with his friendly intentions, he can't help the fact that he's glowering for the most part. He tries to look approachable, but the stern annoyance is apparent in his expression.

Comments

[youbarium]

Carlos, post-arena, is not staying shut up in his room. No, sir. Even though Cecil is gone -- to relative safety in 13 or to oblivion, Carlos can't say -- there is still work to do.

Being called to the Speakeasy had been more than enough to shake Carlos out of any lingering predilection to mope. A scientist did not mope, not when there was a job in front of him.

He had information. He had people to give the information to.

That was why he was out in the commons -- he, like Thor, was looking for his friends. So of course they would spot each other.

Thor was easy to spot, anyway. Carlos could see him from a mile away. When he sees Thor, his face lights up; it isn't an answer to all his problems, but it is a relief to see that Thor, at least, has been brought back. He approaches quickly, not quite a run but almost, fast enough to make his lab coat catch the air behind him.

"I told you I'd be fine," he says. "It's really good to see you."

[worldsaway]

Carlos is one of the first people Thor thinks of when he awakens. The memories of his last moments are a haze, spliced with memories of Jane looking down upon him post-destroyer attack, oddly enough. However, in amidst stranger and less relevant thoughts, he remembers Carlos staying with him through his final moments and consoling him. He appreciates a fond feeling amongst the dark anger he feels for Tom, he'd really prefer to focus on things that make him happy rather than waste his time contemplating vengeance.

They spot each other at roughly the same time, but Carlos is already hurried toward him, so Thor remains still until he approaches. A smile grows on his face in place of the glower and he lets out a faint chuckle at what the smaller man says.

"Of that I had no doubts." Liar. "It is good to see you too, Carlos." And he'll smile for a moment before he does the inevitable and puts a hand on Carlos' shoulder, guiding him in for a hug.

[youbarium]

...okay, yes. Yes, this is a hug Carlos can get behind. They have hugged two or three times before this, but this is the first one where Carlos has immediately hugged back After everything that had happened, he -- he can't bring himself to do anything else. He drops his face into Thor's shoulder and lets out a deep breath.

But before Thor lets him go, Carlos whispers something out of the corner of his mouth. The Tribute Center commons is full of people freshly returned from the Arena, talking loudly, so he feels confident enough to do it.

"I have news."

[worldsaway]

There is a small flicker of proud success when Carlos finally hugs him back properly. This brand of affection is one reserved for people who have won him over quickly. Carlos has quickly risen up among the likes of Darcy and Selvig, and for good reason too.

Thor keeps up the hug when Carlos whispers something, just from his tone he imagines it's important. He finds a way to make the elongated hug look organic, winding his arms a little tighter as if he's just missed Carlos this much.

"Can you tell me here or shall we get a drink?" His voice is low, but he keeps the smile fixed on his face so it seems like idle conversation.

[youbarium]

Carlos steps back -- the hug can't go on too long, even if it is, he admits, a very good hug -- and fixes Thor with a bright smile.

"I promised you a drink, didn't I? A scientist should always keep his or her word."

[worldsaway]

"That you did." He smiles right back, the glower he had on earlier all but forgotten for the moment. He is fixated on what this exciting news must be, so he reaches out and gives Carlos's shoulder a companionable shove.

"Shall we?" He cocks his head toward the doors of the lobby, but he's already sort of gravitating eagerly toward them.

[youbarium]

Carlos isn't going to lead Thor all the way to the Speakeasy. He's too good for that shit. He has a whole list of blind spots in the Capitol's surveillance, and there's one not too far away.

He makes an unexpected turn down an alley between two buildings, and opens an old metal door. Carlos gestures for Thor to follow him: he will lead Thor into the run-down back room of a warehouse. It's small, dusty, and the lighting is poor, but it will do.

Once the door is shut, Carlos turns to Thor and says, "This is one of the blind spots in the Capitol's surveillance network. They must have missed it when they were putting cameras in the warehouse. We can talk here."

[worldsaway]

Finally, Thor feels like the spoiled girlfriend of a successful scientist and not the private whore kept on the sidelines. Truly today is a day to feel special and not miserable and irate about his Arena failures.

Of course, even if Carlos is taking him somewhere good it is certainly somewhere far removed from anywhere he's been before. The exuberance of Carlos in his pursuit and the secrecy of it all makes him all the more certain he'll enjoy where he's going.

Good news at a time like this is always welcome, so he can't help lighting up with a smile when they reach their destination, clapping a hand on the other man's back. "Brilliant." He looks around with a pleased smile. "Is this the news you had for me?"

[youbarium]

Well, with Cecil gone, Carlos has to spoil someone, and Thor is kind of his favorite. He flashes Thor a small smile, one that's almost mischievous. "There's more," he says. "I've got several more blind spots -- I'll get a list of them to you somehow -- but there's something more important I need to tell you." He takes a deep breath, and his expression turns serious, intense. "First, if you want to go to District 13, it is very important that you don't win an Arena. I can't give away how they do it, but it's easier for them to smuggle us out from the Arena than from the Capitol directly. That's why I killed myself in the last one. If I won, I'd lose my shot at going to 13."

[worldsaway]

Likewise, Carlos had rapidly become someone Thor felt very strongly about. He was a good friend and ally and more helpful and knowledgeable than many he'd encountered. A real Avenger, this guy. He likes the look of that smile, particularly when it follows with such good news. Thor nods along as he speaks and takes care not to look too delighted. This is as good as Christmas as far as schemes go.

His expression strains some when Carlos explains and he shakes his head, giving his shoulder a comforting squeeze. "I understand now, but I had a feeling you'd not do so without good reason." He considers that for a moment before he speaks up. "And that is where Cecil is?" He might not know him personally, but he knows enough.

[youbarium]

Carlos's face falls.

"I don't know," he admits, quieter. "Scientifically speaking, there are two possibilities, two things that might have happened. One, Cecil is in District 13, with his voice back, and he is as safe as he can possibly be, which all things considered isn't very safe at all but at least it's better than the Capitol. Two, he's...gone."

He doesn't have to elaborate. Carlos's face looks only concerned, with furrowed brows and a serious slant to the mouth, but his voice gives away just how torn between hope and worry he is.

[worldsaway]

Thor watches the fall of Carlos' expression carefully, listening intently as he explains all that he knows about the situation. The uncertainty of it all must be taking a toll on Carlos, he's sure. He's presented himself as a man who needs hard facts and answers. He can't promise him Cecil is safe, so he can't fix the situation entirely, but he can place both hands square on the other man's shoulders and lean in a little closer to make real eye contact.

"Hope is a powerful force, Carlos." His voice is firm, full of conviction. "Uncertainty is dangerous, it's easy to allow yourself to become addled with conflict and lose sight of the goal. You must not. You have done more good for all of us than many of us can boast and it will come to light when all is well once more." He punctuates that with yet another clench of his shoulders. "You have my faith, some would know that as a blessing." He can't help making a joke, hoping it helps even a little.

[youbarium]

When Carlos meets Thor's eyes, his face is full of uncertainty and worry. By the time Thor finishes, a whole lot of it is gone. Carlos doesn't know how Thor does it, and he almost wonders if it has something to do with the alien race Thor belongs to, but talking to Thor has a remarkably calming effect on him.

"Right, right," he says, "because humans used to worship you as a god." Carlos breaks a smile -- a small one -- and on his next breath out, he finds himself feeling more okay than he has in days. It's probably an alien thing. Maybe one day he'll study it. "You're right. I have to focus. It won't do any good worrying things I can't do anything about."

He pulls in a deep breath, and sighs it out.

"I used to be really good at that. Not worrying about things I couldn't help, I mean. It happened a lot in Night Vale. I used to see people pulled into dimensional vortexes, carried off by the sheriff's secret police, vaporized in malfunctioning bloodstone circles, slowly turned inside out starting with their mouths..." He doesn't sound particularly horrified. Just a little sad. "And as I looked at them, while they were screaming or crying or just kind of eerily quiet, I knew there wasn't anything I could do about it. Night Vale was just a place where those things happened. I was sorry to see them go, but it didn't -- bother me. Not like this." He looks down, frowning. He doesn't look worried anymore -- just tired, and sad.

"It's different when you can understand it," Carlos says after a beat, looking up at Thor again. "If you don't know how to stop it, you can accept it. Like pyramids broadcasting telepathic messages, or always losing one sock in the wash but never both."

He looks down again.

"Or maybe it's different because it's him."

[worldsaway]

Thor would certainly allow Carlos to study his strange, soothing aura. God knows the man needs a distraction, perhaps there is a way to harness that magnetism for the greater good.

He chuckles when Carlos gets his joke, glad to see him smile after he'd seemed so dire only moments ago. He remains silent when Carlos starts to get his words out a little more, hoping to get a better understanding now that they're in private.

Of course, he hadn't precisely been ready for Night Vale stories in all their glory, so he can't help the fact that his knows crinkles ever so slightly at part of his descriptions. It takes him a moment, but the clarity comes to him and he starts to understand what Carlos is saying.

"Indeed, a problem you understand is one you can overcome, and we will overcome it." He affirms, giving Carlos' chin a nudge with the back of his hand. "For him. And everyone. I dare not call it fate that brought us here, but we will be a force to be reckoned with. We shall not let this mystery evade us."

[youbarium]

The nudge at his chin pulls another smile out of Carlos -- it appears on his face without his permission, it has that quirk of the lips to it that marks it as irrepressible -- it is as impossible to be truly sad when Thor is trying to cheer you up, Carlos decides, as it is when a puppy is. When Carlos meets Thor's eyes again, it's obvious he's feeling better: whatever Thor did, it worked.

"Thanks," he says; his voice is lighter, easier. "I really appreciate it. I'm sorry -- I didn't bring you out here to talk about my problems." Carlos laughs, a little embarrassed.

[worldsaway]

Thor can take a measured amount of pride from his successes. He is glad to have done well, but he is more glad to know that Carlos will be alright on some level. His smile is an almost constant fixture on his face, but it intensifies some when Carlos smiles as well.

"Of course," He says agreeably, with the smallest shrug of his big shoulders. "What more do we have to discuss?" He quirks a brow, leaning in just a little even if he knows this is a blind spot. They shouldn't squander their time here, after all. Not that helping Carlos is really something he considers to be a waste of time.