I come from a land of ice and snow

[throneenvy]

Asgard sat atop the branches of Yggdrasil since time began, and little had changed in their society in the years since. Each Asgardian was long-lived into the millennia, their lands were fertile, their people brave and strong. They had their vassals, their allies, and their enemies. Yet even those who opposed them respected the might of the Golden Dias, and the royalty who sat upon it. Currently that was Odin Borson, though he grew weary more easily now and had begun to consider passing the throne to his eldest son.

He had been blessed with many children, but only two that he considered worthy of his lineage and status. His firstborn, Thor, strong and honourable and everything an Asgardian warrior should be. His second son, Loki, was not natural born, though none knew that but his wife. He was different, a creature of magic and mayhem, of sharp intelligence. Both were worthy, but together they would take Asgard to a new prosperity, he was certain of it.

Midgard, where the mortals dwelt, was a land raided every few centuries for stock. It was seen as a breeding ground, much like a corral for cattle. Mortals were lesser, short-lived and weak, they were fit only as slaves. The last raid had taken place when Loki had been but a baby, nearly a thousand years ago, but the mortals that had been taken had been bred and cared for so that a healthy slave population still thrived. Slaves were given a weakened mixture of Idunn's crop with their food, to extend their natural lives to at least a few centuries in order to make them worth the effort to train. They had no rights, but they were taught well that this was their natural position.

All slave children were raised in a central pen and taught the same when small, those that then displayed talent at cooking, riding, hunting, housework, artisan skills, or singing were then measured off to be specially trained for higher masters. Every five years those who could afford to buy a slave, or those of high enough status to simply demand them, came to the corral and chose. Those who were chosen were special, were envied, and those who were not ended up working the fields out in the far reaches of Asgard, the most menial of work.

Anthony and Steven had been friends since they were little and being raised in the large pens together. Both had excelled, Anthony at crafting and Steven at warrior's skills, but neither were chosen when they were five, nor ten, nor even fifteen. Now, at twenty, it was their final chance to be chosen before they would be assigned to one of the meanest farmers beyond the borders of the great capital. Steven woke Anthony as the dawn rose, mingled excitement and nerves on his face.

"Anthony! Wake up, I've got news! I heard the overseer talking to one of the passing guards, and Princes Thor and Loki are coming to the corral today."

Comments

[starkingenuity]

“Uh… No. Why would the princes come here? That’s ridiculous, Steven. Now shut up. We don’t have morning tasks for another…uh…ten minutes. And I’m going to sleep for those ten minutes.” Anthony never minded his lot in life. His father and mother had both been chosen by Odin All-Father years before they were given to one another and before Anthony had been born, but a mishap on Vanaheim had killed them and Odin, who had no use for a child, sent Anthony back to the city outskirts where the rest of his class lived and were trained. Anthony had been four at the time. He barely remembered his parents. He didn’t need to. The other orphans had become his family very quickly.

And then just as quickly had more or less disowned him. Anthony was too smart, had trouble holding his tongue, and could become obsessive on one topic or task and shirk the rest of his duties. Unclaimed, he was meant to work for the greater good of Asgard as needed. He was supposed to help clean streets or buff armor… All things he didn’t like to do as much as he did fixing vehicles or improving on out of date dwarven indoor plumbing.

Anthony pulled his blanket over himself as Steven lorded over him. He couldn’t get any sleep with the taller man there. “Steven, don’t hold your breath. If they are coming, it’s for the kids. Or the women. You know you’ll be placed with the unclaimed guard in a few weeks. You don’t have anything to worry about.” Anthony though… He wasn’t going to have a good life. So he didn’t want to try too hard now either.

[rogers_that]

Steven had never shunned Anthony, he had been an orphan too, though his parents were far less lofty. His father had been a breeding male, and his mother had been an assistant in the healing halls, nothing so wonderful as having parents that had both belonged to the All-Father himself. He didn't remember them, really, he had been in the city outskirts since he was two years old.

Tall and broad shouldered, with muscles that most mortals might envy, he wore the plain brown tunic of an unclaimed slave well. Blue eyes earnestly looked Anthony over and then pulled the blanket off him in one quick tug.

"When have you ever known me to lie? They're coming here, I swear it on Odin's ravens, so you need to get up. Even if they have come for the kids, if we make a bad impression then we'll be both sold to Muspelheim and not even get to stay on Asgard. So get up."

[starkingenuity]

Anthony frowned up at Steven, shorter arms reaching for the blanket, before he gave up and sat to put on his boots. “What are you going to do? Schedule yourself training time? I mean, that works great for you but I’m not catching anyone’s eye.” Was he just supposed to get covered in grease or bossily tell one of their guardians off about how the irrigation system for the unclaimed gardens could be improved? He was happy for Steven, sort of, the man was pretty much perfect now that he had grown out of his awkward teenaged body. He’d spent the last four and a half years working at his skills day in and day out whenever they didn’t have assigned tasks. He was by far the most muscled here and he had a good shot of being selected for either a camp attendant or even a member of the prince’s personal guard, there to help him prepare for battle of whatever new campaign he was going on.

Anthony didn’t have any showy or flashy skills. He could fight if he had to, he was strong with hand to hand combat thanks to Steven constantly needing a sparring partner, but Prince Thor would never notice him.

Normally that wouldn’t bother him too much, but he didn’t really like the idea of being separated from his only friend. He dragged his feet behind Steven, frowned into his breakfast as Steven gobbled up the dried fish and porridge with nuts and fruit, and followed him out into the yard. “This is pointless.”

[rogers_that]

Of course Steven wanted to be chosen by someone and live the meaningful life of a claimed slave. As unclaimed, he'd never get the mixture of Idunn's crop that would extend his life, he'd die at the normal human lifespan, ashamed of his low station and useless life. But more than that, he wanted Anthony to be chosen too, the man had such potential and he wanted to keep his friend. It was selfish, slaves knew better than to make good friends until they were claimed and could say their friends might stick around, but he never had been sensible when it came to matters of the heart.

He knew what Prince Thor looked like, of course, he had seen the golden-haired and muscled man on the day he had been gifted Mjolnir when all had been permitted to watch the ceremony. But he didn't know what Prince Loki looked like, though he imagined it would be a younger version of his brother.

There were already four people in the yard come to look at the slaves, and all were dressed in beautifully stitched aurochs leather with green hems. Three women who were examining the children, women, men... everyone. Looking at teeth and muscle, asking after physical health and behaviour problems. The last one, a tall and thin man with dark hair, was walking up and down with a little metal puzzle box and asking people to solve it while talking quietly to them.

Steven nudged Anthony in excitement.

"Look! They must be from one of the guilds that build, or they wouldn't have brought an intelligence test. This is your chance--!"

He was cut off as one of the women stepped forwards and roughly pulled his head back to look at his teeth.

[starkingenuity]

Rude. Asgardians always thought that they were better than everyone else, Anthony thought, and sure, they actually were better than everyone else but that didn’t mean that they had to be so rude about it. Anthony left Steven to it as he was told to recite his training and his stats and then commanded to run some laps and slipped his thumbs into the cord around his waist. He had three knots denoting his age group tied to the end of the cord and would receive his fourth before he was herded up to be shopped around in a little less than a month. Anthony shielded his eyes to the sun and glanced over the walls of the training center to gaze at the golden palace. He wondered if he’d get there again before he was sent away.

Wondering was put on the back burner, however, as a few of the teenagers, those in his own age category but several years younger, were heard laughing at one of their peers who had failed to serve the puzzle and was now stuck with it on his finger. Anthony snorted through his nose, but none of their guardians were paying any attention to them since most of them had gathered around to watch Steven at the far end of the field where he was throwing something or catching something. Anthony couldn’t tell.

The training yards were wide and long, huts and longhouses where the unclaimed lived falling around three quarters of it from wheel spoke hallways. He’d been planning on retreating back to his room when the laughter finally subsided and an uncomfortable sound followed. No one was helping that kid with the caught hand? Still? That was just bad practice, maiming property, and though Anthony felt no affinity for any of these people, he trotted towards the group of gathered teens with the Asgardian merchant or builder’s guild representative and just took charge of the situation.

The puzzle was simple. One had to push four places at once to release the cube and Anthony found them without difficulty, releasing a bloody but not too harmed finger that had been caught inside. “You need to be more careful,” he told the girl. “You’re going to make us all look stupid.”

[throneenvy]

The overseer had not been quite correct. Prince Thor would not be coming here today, he had gone on a hunt with his closest friends, it was only Loki in attendance. He planned to buy a slave for Thor as a gift for his birthday the following week. Something strong, able to keep up on the hunt, not too stupid for Thor liked conversations with his slaves, and utterly loyal. He had brought three of his servants with him to assist in looking over the physical aspects of the ones on offer.

The puzzle was for his entertainment only.

He had never taken a personal slave himself, only used the palace ones, for he had never found one that suited him. He was wildfire where the rest of Asgard burned inside the brazier, and no slave had interested him enough yet. To see this one, near too old to be chosen at all, solve his little puzzle box with no issue intrigued him. He was not overly muscled, but he had some obvious strength in his short body.

Loki stepped forwards, further intrigued when none of the slaves took a knee. But then, he supposed they may not know who he was.

"You, three knots with the dark hair, do you have a name? I have some questions for you, answer them with instinct. Your owner has told you never to touch their belongings on pain of losing the offending hand, a fire starts and you are alone in their home, what do you do? You have been gifted five gold coins for good service to spend on your own desires, what do you spend them on? You are offered thirty gold coins to pass along information of your owner to another, you cannot refuse or you will be killed, what do you do?"

He prepared himself for disappointment. Most answered as they thought a prospective owner wanted to hear... that they would lose the limb to protect the property, that they would spend the money on something to help them do their work better, that they would refuse and be killed. Boring answers, one with no thought.

[starkingenuity]

“Even I have a name, sir,” he said, not knowing who he was talking to and perhaps just a bit too cheeky for his own good for even if he didn’t know this was a prince, he ought to have known that he was of importance and watched his tongue. “My father named me Anthony,” he said with pride, as it was the only thing his father could leave him at all, and took a step forward.

The questions were odd ones. He’d heard of some of the guilds coming up with strange tests to determine which of the unclaimed were suitable for places within their halls, but these seemed so strange and without any proper application. He’d read great epics concerning intrigue between Asgardians, but he assumed them all well above the pettiness that existed here in the training zone outside the city.

“The answer to your first question is simple. I would put out the flames or die trying. I do not, however, believe that I would die. My owner’s home and hall would have already been protected from flame as I would have long since devised a way to keep his or her possessions safe. If I was given coin to spend at will, I would request permission to keep a small space for mechanical projects and buy tools or scrap to maintain my hobby. Should I be forced to accept coin and give up secrets of my own to another, I would tell the other a lie that was near enough to be convincing and return the money and the story to my owner. He or she should be informed of someone plotting harm.”

[throneenvy]

Green eyes lit up with interest, more at the attitude than at the answers, though those pleased him as well. This one had a spark of something more than obedience, a hint of chaos and defiance, though only time would tell if that spark could be channelled into the correct course or if it would run too out of control and need to be culled completely.

Someone who created, though, that was good. It didn't necessarily mean that he would be good with magic, many weren't, but innovators were often more willing to open their minds to the possibility of what could be created and done with magic.

"Your leisure time is spent in the creation of mechanical projects? Have you any that you may show me to hand, Anthony?"

In the background, Steve stood panting, sweating, but grinning. He thought he had made a good showing of himself, but it seemed like the builders were interested in Anthony and that would be wonderful! He deserved to be owned by people who would see his worth and give him tasks that encouraged his potential, he would be wasted shovelling manure on a cattle farm.

[starkingenuity]

Though the guardians allowed him to tinker when he wanted to, for the most part, no one had ever wanted to see what he’d done. No one had even praised him for the upgrades to the training center and the unclaimed quarters he had made. Not that he needed praise, but it was just nice to be recognized. He wasn’t like Steven, he wasn’t some crazy embodiment of everything anyone might ever want. His talents were internal. He was handsome, but so were most of the others. Pretty, handsome…they were purposefully bred that way, after all.

“I do, sir,” Anthony said, though his eyes were momentarily averted to see what Steven was up to. No prince was in the group of those watching him…shame. Big shame. He might get scooped up before the one person he wanted to serve ever showed up. Anthony wanted to tell him to hold back, but that wasn’t in Steven’s nature. “It’s not a place for an Asgardian, though. I did piping upgrades to the showers in the bathing chambers last year. It saves water by using wastewater from bathes and showers to water the gardens we keep to feed ourselves and the poorer Asgardians that live outside the city-- Oh. And I’ve made toys. Amusing objects. I have a little bird that chirps.”

He’d made that for a girl a few years back named Pepper, but she was selected by Queen Frigga to be maid to her handmaiden just before her fifteenth birthday. He hadn’t seen her since and kept the little bird.

“That one might be better to show you, but it’s less technical.”

[throneenvy]

Loki did not fear grime or filth, he had walked in far worse places than the bathing chambers in a slave compound. At least the three servants he had brought with him were not guards and so would not insist that he did not go from the yard, he merely looked over his shoulder and pointed at Steven briefly.

"I will take that one for my brother. Have his papers fetched and prepare him a mount to return to the city."

Steven looked a mixture of delighted and nervous. He didn't know what this man's brother was like, what he did, what sort of duties he would be doing. And he would miss Anthony deeply, that was written all over his face, even as he turned to go with the women to collect his papers. At least being claimed by someone, being owned, was better than being unclaimed.

"Now, Anthony, show me both of these things. I value craftsmanship and innovation, I would see if your enthusiasm is matched by talent. If so, I may take you for myself."

[starkingenuity]

That sinking feeling in his stomach made him so ill. His whole being churned and rolled under his ribcage as if the center of the planet was now directly at his navel. Steven had been chosen. He’d not be allowed to say goodbye. Anthony told himself it didn’t matter. Their purpose was simple and that was to do as they were told. Life had to be meaningful in other ways and did not include making long lasting friendships. Luckily, Anthony never had long lasting friendships. Or any friendships.

Save for Steven.

A moment later, it occurred to him that if this man was going to give Steven to his brother and Anthony was able to make himself worthy, he might be chosen too. And then he and Steven would occasionally see one another. Probably. Hopefully. He squared his shoulders with purpose and marched the craftman to the bathing chambers. They were clean inside, not covered in muck as the other man had suspected. The guardians did not allow anyone to make a mess and much of the younger ones had cleaning duties daily.

Each stall was simple. There were currently no unclaimed inside and so there was no one to chase out for Anthony to give this man the most proper of tours. He was keen and clever about his abilities. He explained how the system worked and how the drainage to the garden helped them grow foods with better nutrients. Maybe that was boastful, but he never minded being so.

Anthony had pride. All of his guardians would tell Loki of that if he asked. It was not a trait they tried to cultivate.

As for the bird… That required the man following Anthony back to his tiny alcove sleeping chamber. He had a pallet bed and a chest underneath and that was it. He pulled back the curtain from his space to reveal intricate designs carved into the wall. Fifteen years of work went into those carvings. He fished out the little mechanical chirping bird and handed it easily over. “If you find it enjoyable, please, my gift to you for speaking with me today, sir.”

[throneenvy]

That pride was good too, for Loki was not always well liked and any property of his must be able to hold their head high even when others were trying to cast their eyes to the ground. Though, again, only time would tell if that pride bordered on arrogance and proved him unsuitable as property in formal situations or when Loki needed to be obeyed instantly and without question.

The bird, however, was exceptional. Oh, he had seen far greater and more intricate things on sale in the free markets, but this had been created by a slave with few tools and even few material, yet it was delicate, well made, and worked on design. His lips curled upwards at the presumption of a slave offering him a gift, as though any Asgardian could not simply take this as their right. But instead of chastising him, he dipped his head in thanks and slipped it into his pocket.

"Gather what belongings you wish, I will have them bring out your papers, I am purchasing you for myself. Before I finalise the sale, I shall give you the opportunity now to ask of me anything you may wish to, and to refuse should you desire."

Even though that was highly irregular, his main issue would be with an unwilling slave. Loki loved affection, he got too much hatred, he did not need a possession that resented being owned by him.

[starkingenuity]

It was strange to be given permission to ask something out of turn. Normally Anthony did what he wanted, when he wanted. Or he was forced to do it. Either way, he was never spoken to so directly.

"I accept," he said immediately. He'd get to see Steven. That was almost the only thing he cared about. "I just want to know one thing."

Because his owner would obviously want him for his intelligence and problem solving abilities. There was no need to ask what his roles would be.

"I want to know who you are and what guild you are with, sir." He sort of wanted to throw his arms over Loki right now, he was so happy. He instead just hoped his grin showed how thrilling today was for him.

[starkingenuity]

With all of the setbacks they'd been having, letting Bruce get under his skin was not an option. He smiled, genuine enough, at the hand to his arm and then shrugged. "If you call her a shrimp in public, she might cut you. I don't think I can step in there either. Grab me the insulation?"

At least Bruce seemed all right with the explaination that the kiss had meant nothing. They could carry on without ever bringing it up again. That was his genuine hope. He could not lose Bruce. Even if he made this so much harder on himself than it had to be.

"What do you think about another move? Because if we do it it will have to be right after our rescue mission."

[throneenvy]

"We need to move, a moon this big isn't going to support a population that will probably expand rapidly within three or four generations; especially after we get the people from the training moon back among us again. It's imperative that we take the offer of the Frost Giants and find a new place, safe from this Asgard."

Bruce had only just finished speaking when Loki popped her head around the door with a grin and then inserted the rest of herself, having found who she was looking for.

"There you are, Tony Stark," she said with a smile. "I think that went well, do you not? And you, Bruce Banner, as well."

Though he was more the afterthought, it was Tony who had become her friend.

[starkingenuity]

Though it was in Steve's hands to call a vote, Tony didn't need to be wooed. He wanted to take the Jotnar up on their off and the Jotun King was beyond kind in sending delegates to work out the terms. He had opened his mouth when he heard Loki's voice and a grin broke out in his face.

He wanted Banner in ways he shouldn't and couldn't have him and Loki took that edge off. She was something of a marvel. Clever and chaos but with a good heart and a quick tongue and the fire power behind each threat. He liked that.

It was a good thing that she was young. And promised to Thor. He could keep his dirty thoughts to himself.

"I think it went really well. Jotunheim is pretty cool." He meant that both ways. "Just finishing up a place for you and your brother to hang out. You don't seem to mind the warmth too much but he probably does."

[throneenvy]

"That is because big brothers are inevitably of a weaker constitution, he needs to be looked after or his delicate sensibilities might be offended by the warmth."

Though Loki's words were teasing, they were obviously underpinned by a genuine affection for her older brother. She had been raised not in competition with them, for she was never for the throne, but with her own talents celebrated in kind. It had shaped what could have been a jealous nature into an affectionate one, for she could not doubt the love her family had shown her.

"May we go somewhere more private. I do not wish to offend Bruce Banner, but I have matters I wish to discuss with you of a personal angle."

She had been thinking about this since she had decided that Tony Stark was a pleasant person who she would not mind counting as a friend.

[starkingenuity]

"Uh, yeah. Almost finished, give me ten minutes to get this baby fired up." Evidently all the teenaged girls still loved him. That was a relief. And also a relief that he didn't have legal reminding him every few days to check IDs before he posed for racy photos with underaged visitors to his tower.

He worked on his welding, quickly, which went fairly well with Bruce's help, and then threw the switch, sending puffs of extremely cold air into the building.

He smirked at Bruce and dropped his tools. "Not running away. I've been summoned by our savior," he pointed out. "Get dinner later? Good, I'll come and find you unless Cap wants us wining and dining everyone."

And with that he hurried after Loki, eyebrow arched.

"Gotta warn you. Most people don't like to talk to me. I'm a little judgey."

[throneenvy]

Bruce could at least see that this wasn't an avoidance and so he just waved them both off and went to fetch Helblindi to show him to his new cold quarters and let him be comfortable before the council inevitably convened later to officially talk to the delegates who had been named to treat with them. This was a big deal, the sort of thing that would end up being taught in history class centuries from now if they got it right and saved the human race.

Loki waited until they were alone before she fixed Tony with piercing green eyes and jumped straight into a topic that she didn't realise was more taboo with mortals than it was with most other races.

"I would like you to have sex with me, mortals are much closer in size to my future husband than other Aesir, and I do not want to shame myself with pain on our first night together. He will think me undesirable if I'm untouched but, for obvious reasons, I cannot lie with another Jotnar."

They'd break her apart.

[starkingenuity]

Why him? Where was legal at? Shouldn't they have sent a memo by now? Or like... A reminder that he was entering really dangerous water here? Tony didn't stop the surprise from hitting him and hitting him hard.

"I--". Well what did he say? What would be the excuse here? He pressed a hand to his face. "You're cute. But you're a kid. I can't, legally. And.... I'm going to be very honest with you... I don't know if I physically can. Not after what the Asgardians did to me."

He'd expressed this issue in part to Bruce.

"There are a lot of guys that look around your age that would be willing to."

[throneenvy]

Loki didn't want to sleep with one of the other mortals, she didn't know them or like them, and it would turn this into something more sordid than she wished it to be. She wouldn't force Tony, of course, she was no monster. If he truly couldn't copulate any longer then she would mourn for him, and help him take his revenge on the Aesir when the time was right.

"My age is of no consequence, I am consenting and much older than you. If anything, you are the child to me."

She was, after all, several centuries old.

"Would you be willing to attempt it?"

[starkingenuity]

What did it say about him that he was willing, if only to see if he could. And he felt something for Loki. Maybe it was lust, but mostly it was because they were kindred spirits. And yes. He knew that immediately upon meeting her. The same as Bruce Banner.

"If anyone found out, I'd be killed." He was just throwing it out there. "Maybe... You shape shift right? Can you make yourself look a little older?" You know. With hips. And breasts. And not like a child?

He was damned for even asking but there it was.

[throneenvy]

Loki tilted her head slightly as she assessed whether he was being literal or hyperbolic about being killed, she decided on hyperbolic after he immediately assessed a way they may be able to go about it. Surely he would not risk his life as a favour to her, not for something like this.

"I suppose that I could model an image on how I might look in another thousand years."

She sounded amused, she had never used her ability to alter such minor things as age, it seemed pointless. But after a moment of concentration and a glow of green light, a distinctly more adult Loki sat on the packing crate by Tony, all long legs and a slender waist.

"Is this more to your liking?"

[starkingenuity]

Well well well. Tony smirked, one shoulder rolled and his hip jutting out. He put his hand on the table next to one of Loki's supple, perfectly thick thighs and grinned up at her. "Yeah. Sure. That'll do I guess," he said, moving himself between her legs. If he could get over this mess with Asgard in his head, he'd be all right. He would work out his sexual tension with Banner and then they could be good again.

This was a win-win... And adding to Loki's needs, another win.

Tony pur his hands on the woman's hips and tilted his head back up towards her. "Is your husband to be gonna be pissed off and kill me for this? Not saying it's a deal breaker but I gotta know. And then we have to find someplace private."

He planned to show the girl a good time. And have one himself.

[throneenvy]

Loki had never done this before. Though Jotunheim was more open with casual sex than Midgard seemed to be, they were not quite so open as Asgard and it was not seen as normal to simply jump into the furs of anyone for a good time. But for a friend to ask another of this, especially when she was to become the bride of a man who's culture did indulge in casual sex, would not be inappropriate.

Still, she was inexperienced as to what should happen.

"Aesir believe that sex is an activity to be enjoyed between all who consent, not be bound to the marriage bed. That is why I do not want to go to him untouched, he may think there is something wrong with me if I do."

He may think that anyway, she has no idea how he actually feels about a Jotnar bride.

"Thank you, Tony Stark, you are a true friend."