I know it's only two chapters but they are pretty long and very informative. Give me your feedback, it always helps.
The room was almost like her classes in the university, it was Frigga's design or from what Frigga had observed. The details of the room were so uncanny, the way it wrapped around, like a room where they did surgery in a theater in the early 1800's. It was a college lecture room, taken from earth! It scared Rowena to know how close this room was with the arrangements of the seats, the angles on which they can see everything, also the shelves in the corner with books.
The lighting was amazing, it was natural light coming in, and the ceiling was made out of glass, like a cathedral. The whole room was made out of wood, a deep dark red color, something she had never seen before. Guessing it was lumber that was only found in Asgard. Her desk was rather grand, a long table with a lighter shade of wood. Slowly running her hands on the desk to feel the smoothness, she was impressed. And to her surprised a white board. Of all things that looked misplaced it was the white board. She would've expected a chalkboard but this was just as good.
Everything she needed was there! All except her computer, she had bought a computer without thinking it through. There would be no power source here. She could accomplish more with her computer so she would have to go without and do it the old fashion way.
Slapping her face a few times to prepare herself, she stretched out to get the blood flowing. "I really need to workout again." She said to herself. It had been a while since she worked out. Rowena tried to remember when was the last time she worked out or when she had personal time for herself when she was on earth. Yet, she couldn't recall. All she could think about was the first time she arrived there and how defiant she was and still was. Now she had to conform but still remained strong and unwilling to give her self up to them and to Loki especially.
As she gazed at the white board in front of her she gave a long sigh. Disappointed in herself for not remembering what happened a two weeks ago before she was taken. The only person that she could remember was her co-worker and friend Ann. She was the only thing she could trace back in her memories. Everyone else didn't mean a damn to her. It was mostly she and the world alone. No family to call her missing. It was depressing thinking about it but she knew it made no sense to linger on it. Every foster home she had been placed in were either abusive or neglected her. Learning to be better than her foster hosts, she made her own way and waited until she turned 18; when she would move away. There were a few people she did rely on but in the end, she knew she had to let them go.
People she would meet would never stay for too long. Rowena would always find ways to detach herself from them, when they would do the same. It was just normal for her.
Relationships were never in her favor. There was no point in getting attached when she knew they would only let her down. Sex? Non-existence. Still a virgin with no regrets, even if she was made fun of. Ann would try to get her to experiment with other guys and tell her to loosen up but she couldn't. It was too nerve racking to know that they can do whatever they wanted to her but she always remained strong. She fought her way through a lot of men at work and in general. As a magnet would attract metal. At time she would survive by just talking and at times, just threats. It surprised her to know how strong she could be when the time came. Especially all the extra Jiu-jitsu class and boxing classes she took. But that was not something she would mention to her gracious hosts that had kidnapped her.
Yet, Loki had seen it already. There was fight in her but she was so afraid to show it her true potential. They were Gods, how could she possibly fight one? She had pushed Loki and punched him but he felt nothing. Even Thor, it was like hitting an iron wall. And yet, she felt like she had fought Loki and won. There was false memory she thought she made up about flipping Loki over. That was not possible and yet, not quite.
There were other factors too, how was he able to delve into her mind and she likewise. How it was possible was not something she could understand. No one else could do it, which made her wonder what her connection was with Loki. There were traces, memories of him holding her, staring into her eyes with confusion and at one time she remembered a smile. Why a smile? What was he smiling about? Snapping out of it she had to get back on track.
Picking up the pen she started writing her first and last name on the board, she took a step back and realized this wasn't kindergarten. These were grown men- Gods. Whatever. Erasing it quickly she wrote just 'Rowena.' Again taking a step back she looked at it and erased it.
"They know me. I am not the subject." She said as she started writing another word, a simple yet, complex word that meant everything to what she was.
It was then that she heard the door open with the chatter of men and a woman, making her jump and her heart beating fast. She barely had time to eat her apple, they were early and she was not done gathering her thoughts.
Thor walked in first with the gang following him, Loki who walked a further ways from them. "What are we to learn today?" Thor said pride as he looked around the room, "This room is unlike anything I've ever seen?"
"I think your mother imitated this room to look like the one we have back on earth," Rowena told him.
"For familiarity." Hogun added on. "A sanctuary of great scholars and students, in which you know how to conduct a room."
Hogun seemed to hit the nail, making Rowena impressed as she nodded and raised her eyebrows. "I take it you've been in here before?"
"No, but I was once when I went to Midgard."
"I see!" she responded, "Well, if you guys would like to take your seats, we can start."
Taking their positions in the room, she realized how big this room was and how far away some of them were. She urged them to come closer and they followed, except Loki, whom remained far as possible. There was no point in asking him, maybe it was better to keep the distance.
As she looked at their faces, she watched their reactions, they weren't eager nor were they bored, they were curious. Taking a deap sigh, she fixed her glasses, she was nervous. Her hands were shaking a bit and her voice was a bit shaky. This was not a normal class, this was powerful beings but it wasn't this that scared her, it was the idea of them walking out.
"Now, to be sure that we are all on the same page, I just want to ask you guys a few questions. But before I do that, I want you to look at the board and think about this word." She managed to say with some confidence, her voice was still shaky.
They looked at the board, "What do you think it is?" she asked again while clearing her throat.
There was silence.
Not what she had expected, straightening her back and exhaled.
"Okay, let me see if I can put it into a better question. What makes us, this." She said while pointing to the word on the board.
"But that is not ,'us'" Volstagg said, "We are Gods."
"Ok, so you call yourselves Gods, I meant it as collectively as, Midgards, what makes me, this?" pointing back to the board.
Again, there were no words being exchanged, which concerned her. "The reason, I ask is I want to know what you think about us. This will help me better understand what your opinions are."
"Weak," Loki said from afar, making her wince a bit.
"Okay." Nodding her head, not in agreement but for understanding.
"They may be weak but they have good intentions," Thor challenged it.
"Good intentions of what?" Loki argued back.
"Now, now, now, hold on, this isn't a debate. This is to share what you think. There is not right or wrong answer because in the end, you will all ultimately make your own decisions." Rowena quickly intervened.
"Thoughtful and generous." Lady Sif said, making everyone turn their attention to her, "At least its how I remember them, the last time I was in Midgard."
"Okay, the good and it's a start." Writing on the board. "Tell me the good, that you remember." She asked them. Some were slow on the answers but she had a response, which was better than nothing.
"Now the bad." Rowena asked them, as they looked rather stunned with her delightful response.
"Greedy." Hogun added.
"Okay, how so?" she pointed to him.
"You fight for land, territory, and destroying each other in the process."
Rowena turned her back to him and to the board and started writing the words they had said and branching it to the main word. Volstagg added in another word, Fandral too started with more words. More and more she continued to write words from what they have said. Eventually she stopped when there wasn't enough room.
Sliding the chalkboard where it was empty, she wrote another word. "Now, I want you to tell me what makes you, into this?"
The silence happened again, but eventually, Thor was quick to start as the rest followed him. After five minutes, she saw that both boards were filled.
This was just what she wanted. Two boards filled. "Okay, thank you for your words and opinions. It is evident that you have a good idea of what you are and what you think we are. But did anyone bother to ask me?" she said asked them.
"Why would your opinions matter?" Loki said.
"Because in this room, everyone's opinions matter. We are in a learning environment and this is the perfect place to learn. Opinions can be made but will they be taken to heart? I don't know, it's up to you."
"There are two aspects here, the one board on this side says 'Human' and the board here says the word 'God.' Now, if I may, I will add on my opinions from the God side."
She started writing words like, selfish, annoying, perverted, gracious, greedy, kind, tricksters, etc. she could hear them shuffling in their seats a bit and talking quietly to each other.
"Is that really what you think of us?" Thor said with a bit of annoyance in his tone.
"I'm not done yet. I haven't even done the Human side. This is what we humans are."
Repeating almost the same words as she use for God, they started to shuffle in their seats more. When she finished, turning around to see their reactions, they were a bit confused.
"If you really look at it, it seems as if we are all in the same boat."
"We are nothing like you!" Thor defended himself.
"And yet, the board and opinions say other wise." She argued back. "Thor, this is not to say who is better and who is weak. This is to show that even though you may be called a God, you are no better than us Humans. You feel, you think, you react, you do, just the same as Humans but you have an advantage."
"And what may that be?" Fandral asked.
"You have natural powers, it's as easy as picking up things with your strength, while we humans have to find a device to lift things. You can do things that no one on earth can do. Like magic. It is an amazing but frightful thing. I have told this to Loki, when we were on earth, we fear what we cannot understand or see. If it can't be explained then we will be afraid and we will find a way to go against it or conquer it. You have a much bigger advantage than us." She paused as she watched their reactions. Yet, they remained silent.
"Now, that you know what we, humans, think of Gods, I ask you to understand us. This is to generalize what we are. Don't take humans for granted, we feel happiness and sadness, we know when we need to fight or flight, we know what it takes to survive. It's just life. Don't ever for one second thing we are not capable of doing something amazing because we can. Even if we can't read into people's mind, or lift heavy things, we have a vast imagination of knowing that anything can be done if we place our minds to it."
"Like I am learning about all of you. You, Asgardians, understand what it takes to protect your people, to survive, and to progress. When you are threatened, you can fight or flight, but you all choose to fight because it's what you know. It's your livelihood to protect what is yours. The architecture of this place is not something someone just sketched on a piece of paper, it was thought out. This whole world is made by pure ambition and determination to let your people live comfortably, just the same as humans do. Though it is not as elaborate as here, we do have our own work of amazing things. We are called, humans, but it's just a label. Just like the word God, it's just a label. The only reason why we want a label is to separate ourselves from one another, when in reality, we are all the one in the same." She paused as they continued to listen.
"Look at the board! Is it not enough proof? There were opinions from Gods about humans and themselves. Also, an opinion from a human about Gods and what I am. Yes, you have an upper hand on many things but I don't see how we are called weakling and pathetic?"
"And yet, you remain weak." Loki didn't seem to be persuaded.
"Yes, we are weak but-"
"No, I meant you." he said as he stood up from his chair and walked towards her, "You cover yourself with a façade that we can see right through you. You call us your equal when you're nothing."
"So obviously, you have personal vendetta against us. Who was it?" Rowena asked.
"Excuse me?"
"Who was it that pissed you off?"
He paused and cocked his head, remaining silent as he looked around the room, while the others shifted forward in their seats. "I am just wondering what human, made you so angry or hurt you to cause you generalize all humans as complete imbeciles?" Rowena asked in a calm tone. She knew she was pushing it but there was no fear in her mind, nor any doubt. As she looked at him and waited, she could hear his thoughts, 'How could she possible jump to such conclusion? Did I give myself away so easily?'
"Guilt," she told him.
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing." She suddenly found herself stopping the conversation, she knew arguing with him was going to be pointless and she knew it would bring more conflict.
"I will just say this, the way that humans and Gods are described, are almost one and the same. And I say, almost. Not completely because, you have the upper hand on so many things but that does not mean we humans, can't better ourselves. We are all flawed in some way."
It left Loki standing in front of her in complete silence, as he gave her a smile as he clenched his hands. Without another word he walked out of the class.
Rowena may have given some word of truth and she knew she was pushing it but she had to be unconventional. They had placed in a world that was unlike her own and she knew it would've caused some arguments. The night before, she had to really think about what her lesson was going to be like but she had no idea what they thought of humans. Also, she wanted to share what she thought of them. They had to see it from her perspective of what people think of them. They were powerful! But flawed. If they couldn't see that or if they choose to ignore it, then they would fail as Gods. They will find their own demise.
Loki was that inspiration. He gave her the leverage to make this lesson and yet, he had no idea. Rowena found how flawed he was when she felt like he wanted her and how it angered him. It will take a toll on him, when she refuses him again and yet, will it grow over time to covet her even more? Or completely ignore her? It was 50/50. Either she would win or loose in this. In the mean time, she was going to do her job the way she saw fit and if they didn't like it, the only answer she had was to have them take her back to Earth.
Is this a mistake on the Gods or was it a design in mind?
The rest of the day seemed to go as planned. They asked their questions and she answered the best she could. Something's she couldn't answer because she wasn't' sure and some she could. They asked a few personal questions but she didn't answer all of them, especially when Fandral asked what her type was. Smiling and responding with "I like Macs over PC's." which left him stunned and confused, that was not the preference he meant. Not that it mattered to her.
At the end of the class, they still had many questions but she told them to wait for tomorrow. Her tummy was growling and she was hungry. Walking out of the room she expected to see guards surrounding her but there were none. Along the corridor she saw the All-father coming towards her with a few soldiers following. Moving to the side she waited for him to pass but he was approaching her.
She nodded her head to greet him, again, not what he was used to but it was a sign of respect enough for now. Nodding back to Rowena, "I heard your first lesson was," he paused to find a word, "etiquette enough."
"If you could call it that?" she said while shrugging her shoulders.
"You're not wearing a look of satisfaction. Are you not satisfied with your first lesson?"
"No, I'm never satisfied. There is always room for improvements."
"Loki did not seem impressed."
"The question is, when is he ever really impressed?"
"Yes." He said while looking at her with his one eye. Even then, it was still intimidating. "I expect you to continue with your lessons."
Rowena nodded as if that was her cue to leave, "Oh, one thing." All-Father said. "We may be one in the same, but we are still far more superior than you humans."
It was evident that he was listening to their lesson and she shouldn't have been surprised. "As I said, sir, it's an opinion and it can either be taken to heart or you can completely ignore it." Rowena responded and yet, she knew something else was coming. A sign of caution.
"Choose your words more wisely." He told her with a hint of warning, finishing his small talk, he walked on with his entourage following closely
Those words should've brought fear in her mind but it just made her more determined to continue her lessons. Nothing would change it.
As All-Father turned the corner, his demeanor and stance had changed. His hair was turning black, with pale smooth skin and his eyes were now green. He had transformed back into Loki, while the soldiers behind him had disappeared. Walking and shaking his head, he smirked. "You've got one thing coming to you." He said.
This is getting pretty fun to write and the best part is, sometimes intimacy doesn't need to be involved.