#hraunwyf

Shaw had come to Asgard to court the goddess Loki. How did he get there? He was granted passage by Odin. He was also granted Loki’s hand already by Odin, so he didn't see why any courting was necessary, let alone such ELABORATE courting. Why could the marriage contract not be made and be done with it? So he and Odin could both get what they wanted from this binding? But Odin knew magic better than Shaw did---hardly an accomplishment, Shaw knew nothing of the sort, despite being the descendent of a Sorcerer Supreme---and had told him that rituals demanded this, that in their culture a marriage required a courtship, or else the old magics would not recognize the union once it happened. And all Shaw’s Midgardian money and power couldn’t rush it. Which bothered him, since Selene could strike any time. That was why he was doing this at all. He had never even met Loki before all this, let alone sought to marry her--- he would rather not marry ANYONE. There was but one woman he had ever wanted to wed, would ever want to wed, and she was long dead. Even with all his affection and commitment to his spitfire Madelyne when they had been lovers, marriage had never been on the table. But this was not a matter of love. It wasn’t even a matter of business. it was a matter of survival. For Selene, sorceress and mutant and Black Queen, had finally decided to stop toying with him. He’d yet again barely escaped with his life but emphasis on BARELY. Shaw had contacted earthly sorcerers, and they’d put up some wards for him, but he had been warned that these were fading fast. Selene was serious, and had likely made a bargain with something greater than herself. So he did the same, and reached out to forces beyond Earth as well.  And who but Odin had a bargain for him? For Odin too had a need---a need to wed one of his children to a monarch on Midgard, to a king. It was apparently a requirement for some sort of prophecy that would bring him some sort of power or object he desired. But all ACTUAL kings on Earth had refused, not wanting to give Asgard any claim on their kingdoms through a half-Asgardian heir, nor did they want a goddess of lies and trickery on their throne. But as was often the case with magic, there was a loophole, a technicality---the spirit of this prophecy need not be followed, just the words. And the words had said: king. Shaw’s title was Black King of the Hellfire Club. So they agreed. He would wed Loki, and Odin would get what he wanted. And by wedding Loki, Shaw would get what he wanted---magical protection from Selene on a scale she couldn’t hope to overcome. She called herself a goddess, but Loki was the real thing, and part of this contract would channel her powers to Shaw’s protection. Whether SHE wanted to or not. Notice that LOKI wasn’t asked in all this. Was that regressive and unfair? Shaw would say so, actually. He just also didn’t care, not when HIS life was on the line.  But whether he gave a damn or not, whether Loki could actually refuse or not, tradition had to be followed to make this work. So here he was to court, carrying a gift “I have brought you a star, my lady,” he said, “One that shines perhaps not as brightly as you, but perhaps a worthy satellite to your own brilliance.” He lifted up the velvet bag, and extracted from it. . . “This 94.8 carat diamond is called The Star of the East. One of the most famed jewels in Midgardian history. Its exact origins are shrouded in mystery, but  first surfaced in the collection of the Sultan Abdul Hamid. It was later acquired by the great French jeweler Pierre C. Cartier, then bought by actress  Evelyn Walsh McLean. It remained in her hands til her death, and then made its way to King Farouk of Egypt, then back to a New York museum. . .and disappeared entirely. I decided that finding a lost star would be a worthy quest to carry out for the wedding of a goddess. And I present the star itself to you now as proof I tracked it down---and as token of my sincerity in asking for your hand.” Sincerity in that he wanted not to die horribly at the hands of Selene, but sincerity nonetheless. @hraunwyf