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Mmm.

[ Metal bats are definitely a thing. The thought of a metal bat made by Thor, though, is alarming at best.

He pauses, a half-second too long, at aphrodisiac plants, before clearing his throat and making a conscious decision not to acknowledge it. At all. Ever. ]

Yeah, I - I think that would be great.

[ It would certainly help Patrick to have some way to blow off steam. Assuming they can put together a baseball field that isn't a death trap, that is. ]

Maybe we could talk to Perseus first? See if there's anywhere we could use, and check if he has any equipment at the same time.

I wouldn't - I wouldn't want you going to all that trouble if you don't have to.

Yes I will talk to Perseus. I doubt he's been asked about making baseball in the spaceship before. We're keeping him on his digital toes.

[ Thor doubts they could have a full game going, but perhaps some catch or little hits of the stick to the balls would be nice. He isn't thinking big here, he's thinking simple. ]

How are you otherwise?

I'm sure he can handle it.

[ That's the point of an AI, right? They're supposed to know everything? ]

But - if he can't help us, I mean - it would be nice, but we don't - we don't need it.

[ Because even if Perseus is an AI incapable of feeling overwhelmed or like there's too much being demanded of him, Patrick still doesn't want to be greedy. Or make the AI think this is somehow a priority in the way things like "life support" and "food supply" are.

He's silent for just a half-second too long at Thor's question. He knows what he and David had talked about, and, well. It's not a great feeling, knowing that your husband has been discussing your intimate marital problems with someone else. Who is now checking up on you after the fact.

It's not something he's eager to discuss either way, though. So. ]

I'm - I'm good. Settling in.

[ Which is true enough, now. ]

There's been a lot to get used to, but...I think we're getting the hang of it.

We have everything that we need, technically, food, drink, shelter, breathable air, but keeping spirits up is also necessary. I will ask him, do not worry.

[ Thor is someone who understands keeping moral support going and that when people have broken or weak spirits, it makes them have a lesser quality of life. Also he's bored. Also he doesn't worry about being greedy; blame it on being a royal.

He really does not want to make Patrick uncomfortable but he does want to check on him, as he would any friend. David was very concerned, but it's been enough time perhaps they talked it out. Either way he wants him to know he still has a neighborly Asgardian. ]

I know it is a great deal to take in. Be kind to yourself if it is overwhelming. My friends are superheroes and they still struggle with the concept of countless planets and societies out there in space.

[ Which he thinks is kind of amusing. Brilliant people, good people, but they still are so solidly planet-bound. They only know Earth. ]

My father took me to several of the Nine Realms we reigned over when I was just a boy.

[ He still feels bad, but Thor has a point. Morale is important, right? And so is bonding. And exercise. Not that he'd ever been able to convince David of that... ]

Well, thank you. Let me know what you find out.

[ As usual, Thor's casual namedropping raises more question than he ever seems to answer. Superheroes? That's...something. But then, so is... ]

Your father? [ He does his best to keep his voice even and not squeak too much. ] You mean...Odin? The Allfather?

Yes, my father Odin.

[ He's amused. His emotions about his father are layered and complex, but he knows what the name of Odin means to others. And it should. Odin was difficult, but he was brilliant and mighty. ]

He wanted me to see all of them young so I would understand the importance of protecting them. And also so that each was more than a name in a book, but a real place.

[ He even snuck them onto the land they were not exactly welcome in, for the same lesson. Thor likes to think he is able to take some of the better lessons and reject the ones that never took. ]

The galaxy is an endless place.

[ Patrick nods thoughtfully. He's impressed. And also...weirded out, again, but that's par for the course with Thor. It's just something to imagine a god leading his son on a tour of the galaxy. ]

The - Nine Realms - [ With which he's less familiar; he knows about Thor and Loki and Oden and Freya, but he's not a scholar of Norse mythology or anything - ] they're all in the same galaxy?

Yes, although it is easier to travel between them with portals that have been established by the Yggdrasil, the Tree of the World. Anyone on the outside has to go by ship, and they are not close to one another.

[ Thor can travel between them quickly because it was designed that way. Otherwise they would be terrible at looking out for the other worlds! ]

My version of your world, Migard, is one of them, but until recently we left them alone. The technology was not advanced enough.

Your version of my world.

[ Is there not just...the one Earth? Poor Patrick was not a sci-fi fan growing up, so the concept of multiple timelines, while not entirely unheard of, isn't one that immediately occurs to him.

Much less anything Prime Directive-ish. ]

Advanced enough for what?

Yes, I do not think we are from the same world, otherwise you would have known me on sight. I am a part of a superhero team on Midgard, the Avengers. We are very famous.

[ Which is why immediately upon meeting, Thor understood that Patrick was from AN Earth, just not likely to be his. His shock was from meeting a mythological name, not one of the Avengers. Thor says this very casually like it's obvious. ]

Advanced enough to comfortably do space travel. It is unspoken that advanced planets tend to leave others alone until they get there on their own. [ Thor sighs. ] That was the plan and we mostly kept it well, until my brother tried to take over Earth and brought an alien army with him.

Oh,

[ Patrick says faintly. He has no idea where to start with Norse god who's part of a superhero team on Earth.

He raises his eyebrows. And then raises them some more. ]

I - well - yeah, I guess that makes sense then.

[ A pause. ]

Didn't you say your brother is here?

Loki? Yes. Don't worry, he isn't likely to try and commandeer this ship. He wouldn't know what to do with it.

[ Thor makes a face. Listen, he can't pretend Loki isn't the type to cause trouble again. It's his brother's way. He wants to believe the best in him these days. ]

He has promised not to do that again.

Oh. Well. That's...good.

[ Forgive his obvious skepticism. ]

You, um. [ How does he ask this diplomatically. ] You...trust his...promise, then? I mean...you think he'll keep it?

[ Probably not like that. ]

[ His skepticism is completely reasonable and therefore Thor holds no grudge against the suggestion at all. Patrick may not even know his version of Loki, but he would not be wrong to be suspicious or concerned. Thor takes that seriously. ]

I trust that he wants to be better and he was much less violent about the last planet he tried to take over.

[ Oh that doesn't help. Sakaar was a trash planet though! Barely an attempt was made, just theorized!]

Loki is trying. You are all safe, I will not let any harm come to the people on this ship.

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