United with Death (Jormungandr)

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Hel sat at her desk quietly looking over papers. Her hair hung in two braids from her head as she sat stiffly in the uncomfortable chair, bent over her work. It was not often that she could be found working in her office, but because she had given an assignment she felt that she must look it over. She was curious what her students had to say.

However, she was becoming weary and tired of the living again. In this realm she had little power over them. Many were opinionated and it was troublesome to try and steer them in the right direction if they would not listen. Even in ink on the page she found it a bit irritating and tiresome.

A noise by the door distracted Hel away from the papers for a moment and she glanced up quickly, recognizing the soul that had appeared in the open doorway, seeming out of nowhere. The body was human, but the soul was that of a snake. She rose from her seat. “Brother,” she said, moving around the desk and beckoning him into the small room. “I am glad to see you.”

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Jormungandr slipped silently down the hallway, keeping to the shadows as he made his way through the building. Every fiber of his being wanted him to simply lay flat and slither along on his belly, but he was in human form now, and such actions would just attract undue attention. This form was quite foreign to him, but he had adapted quickly. Unfortunately, he still tripped over his own abnormally large feet every once in a while, but he was getting better at hiding his clumsiness.

It had taken him a while to locate the particular presence that he was currently tracking, but he had finally gotten a lock on it, letting his sixth sense guide him through the twisting and winding hallways. He had not been on this plane for very long, but he did not want to start exploring without first reuniting with those closest to him. As he drew nearer, he cloaked his presence, pulling it closer to himself so as not to alert his target. Stopping in an open doorway, he glanced inside, checking to see if he was indeed in the right place.

And in fact, he was. The presence of the woman behind the desk practically reeked of death. A small smile quirked the side of his lips, and he leaned casually against the doorframe, letting the shadows hide him as he quietly observed his sister. After a few moments, she noticed him and glanced up, recognition flashing through her eyes. When she addressed him, Jor chucked lightly and stepped out of the shadows, eyes still shaded by his hoodie. He flashed a wry grin at his younger sister, cocking his head to the side as he commented, "Still attentive as ever, eh, sister? I should know better than to try and hide from you."

As she approached, he took a closer look at the form she had taken, frowning as he realized that in her current form, she appeared older than he did. Cocking an eyebrow, he crossed his arms and glanced pointedly at her desk before speaking again. "Or should I be referring to you as 'elder sister' now, since your current form appears older than mine?" Laughing, he allowed a genuine smile to creep across his face as he gazed fondly at his sister. "Either way, I am also glad to see you, sister. It has been far too long."

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“No soul can hide from my eyes,” she replied. It was very like Jormundgandr to begin their reunion by hiding. However, Hel had always been the best at hide and seek, for no living soul could hide from her sight for long. She saw all souls. Indeed, he should have known better. However, she would forgive him, for many long years had passed since they had last seen each other.

Hel did not appreciate the jest, however. She did not appreciate jests in general, but this one in particular. She did not wish to be addressed as such even if he was only teasing. “Do not tease me,” she told him, brushing back one of the long braids, so it hung down her back and not over her shoulder. “Appearances can be deceiving, which you know, for I find you in the body of a man and not a snake.” She was a bit perplexed by this only because Fenrir too wore a man suit. It was odd and she would need time to adjust to the new face attached to the same soul.

Hel tilted her head to one side, taking in the new shape. “Did Father give you this form?” she queried. She wondered if Father had had a hand in the form that Fenrir too wore. “Fenrir, too, wears the form of a man. He does not know how he acquired it. It is perplexing to say the least.”

She straightened and stood stiffly yet again, though she was much more relaxed than she was normally. She trusted Jormundgandr, though he did tease her and try her patience. He was her elder brother and she trusted both brothers with her life. The three of them had to look out for each other, for they were all they had in the world, besides their father of course. “What brings you here, Brother?”

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Jor grinned wryly at his sister, shrugging nonchalantly as he sighed, "Well, I had to try, no? After all, it tests both your skill and my own. But you are flawless as ever, little sister. Clearly, I have some catching up to do." He wasn't quite sure if that last part was a jest or not, since Hel truly did appear to have improved some since the last time they had met. Being trapped on the ocean floor had not been the best environment to improve himself.

Returning his attention to the conversation, Jor pouted as Hel reprimanded him. "But Hel..." he whined, pouting his lips and trying to give his best puppy dog eyes. "Teasing is so enjoyable. You of all people should know how much I enjoy a good laugh." He had been fond of teasing others as a child, but not to the same degree as he did now. He truly had grown up to be quite the trickster.

"But I suppose you are right," he sighed, scratching absentmindedly at the back of his neck as he glanced around the room. "I of all people should know how deceiving appearances can be. After all, that fool Thor once thought I was a great cat." There was an unnecessary hint of venom in his tone when he mentioned the thunder god, and his eyes narrowed ever so slightly. The expression only lasted for a second, though, and he was quickly back to his usual jovial self.

He was a bit taken aback by the mention of their father. "Did Father give me this form?" he repeated, frowning as he thought the question over. Truthfully, he was not sure. He did not recall encountering his slippery devil of a father at all since he had woken up on this plane in the body of a man. "I... am not sure," he conceded, cocking his head to the side as Hel mentioned Fenrir's form change. "Perhaps. He has the power, so what is there to stop him?"

Jor noticed then how much more relaxed Hel seemed than when he had first walked in. A small smile flickered over his lips as he cast a furtive glance at his sister from under the hood of his jacket. Yes, it had been far too long since he had been around his siblings. He had missed them dearly. A wry smirk replaced the tiny smile as Hel questioned his sudden appearance. "What, I am not allowed to visit my siblings?" he asked, faking astonishment. He chuckled at the sour expression on his sister's face before continuing. "Peace, sister. I merely wanted to catch up with you and Fen before things get too hectic. Since I am the last to come to this world, I need to gather knowledge from you all before venturing out, no? So tell me the tales of this land, or... what was it that those humans said? What is... 'hip and happening' around here?"

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Hel had spent the majority of her life around the dead. She only spoke and saw souls. This was her life now. If she had not improved then she would have been doing her job wrong. As it was, it was not difficult and any Viking could accomplish it with ease. Perhaps with Hel’s abilities it made it easier for her than any other. However, she did not wish her brother to feel badly because of it. “We all could use improvement,” she replied diplomatically.

Jormundgandr was lucky that Hel care for him. She would tolerate such whining from very few others. She would appreciate jesting and teasing from even fewer. “You may appreciate laughter, but I am less inclined to laugh. You know I do not appreciate your jests.” Yet, she would tolerate them, for he was her brother.

Hel nodded in approval as Jormundgandr spoke about appearances. She and her brothers knew best how appearances could be deceiving. All three wore the suit of humans, when they were not. Hel was half woman, half corpse normally and towered above the mortals. Jor was a giant serpent and Fenrir a giant wolf. In these forms they could deceive all the mortals.

She listened patiently as Jor thought over the answer, but he did not know. It was odd that neither of her brothers knew how they had attained their forms. Perhaps their father had helped them after all, though he had said nothing of it to Hel. Perhaps that was so if Thor questioned her, she could answer truthfully. Then again, perhaps not. “I know not,” she answered truthfully. She would have to think more on the subject before she broached the subject to her father.

Hel was not one to be up on what was happening among the mortals. She did not care enough to learn and listen. The mortals often did not care for her either. They were not forthcoming. “Then I am afraid we shall disappoint you, Brother,” she told him. “Fenrir, I’m sure, spends much of his time away from the mortals. He does wish to cause them great harm. You remember his temper. As for me, I wander among the mortals, though it is very disconcerting. I am not used to the living and am still adjusting. You would best speak to Father on such matters. He would know. However, do be careful, for Thor also roves among the mortals.” Hel would not wish for a fight to break out when Jormundgandr had just come to the school. Thor had just as well told her that he had no love for either Fenrir or Jormundgandr. The least she could do was warn her brother of his presence.

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"Hm, I suppose," Jor murmured in reply, pondering how exactly he was to improve in this form. "I could use a bit of practice maneuvering and such. This body is... foreign to me." He raised a hand and flexed it, still marveling at how complex the human body was. Being a serpent had been so much easier. He didn't have to think about moving each limb; all he'd had to do was slither about. But grabbing things had been hard in his old form. Perhaps this new body was both a blessing and a burden.

He shrugged off her chiding, knowing that she would tolerate his jokes. He hated how serious his siblings were, but he supposed that he could be less frivolous around them for their sake. They had plenty of patience; perhaps he could have some control. "I suppose that I could refrain from joking around you, sister," he conceded, crossing his arms. But not before muttering under his breath, "But you do need a good laugh every once in a while..."

Jor frowned, wondering how deep his father was involved in all of this. Surely he had something to do with their appearance changes and their sudden appearance on this plane. No one else would even think to bring them here, unless a very well-informed, scheming mortal was up to something. Even then, they would need the power of a god to achieve all this. Shrugging away the heavy thoughts, Jor sighed, "Perhaps I shall ask Father. Although, he probably won't say anything even if he is behind this all."

Jor had suspected that his siblings would not know much of the mortals when he had decided to confront them. But he had figured that it would be worth a shot to ask if they did know anything. He was better off observing and finding things out on his own. But the mention of Thor had him baring his teeth and hissing quietly in annoyance. The stupid god was here? "That figures," he drawled, his tone surprisingly flat for a conversation that involved his destined arch-nemisis. "The fool always liked frolicking among the mortals. Thank you for warning me, sister. I shall keep my guard up." In reality, he had no such intention. Let the god come, he thought with a bitter scowl. He would not hide.

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Hel nodded at her brother. She could understand the foreign feeling that a new form brought on. Her new form had been quite a change as well, however her true form had been similar enough to the current one that she was well adjusted after a few days. “I understand,” she replied. “This body is very small compared to my true form. Some days I feel very small.”

Her brothers were very understanding of Hel and she appreciated that far more than she could ever show them. She would always tolerate from them what she would not tolerate from others and in return they would tolerate the gloom that was never far behind her. Hel knew she was lucky. “For you sake I shall try to be more jovial, but I promise nothing. You are much like Father and can find joy in everything.” Hel was not like them. She had spent far too long amongst the dead, filled with their dread and gloom. Finding enough joy to produce laughter would be difficult, but she could try. She saw no harm in trying, if only to appease her brother. It was worth trying.

Jormungandr’s thoughts ran a similar way that hers had. If Father had had something to do with the form change, then it would be best for all involved to know nothing of it. It was likely that he had done it. Loki was fond of doing things he shouldn’t. “I do not know. I have not spoken to him of it, and I do not believe I shall. Perhaps it is better that we do not know.” If Thor were to question her she would not be afraid to lie to him, but she did not wish for him to be able to force the information out of her.

Hel did not know if Jor meant what he said or not. He would fight with vigor against Thor when the time came during Ragnarok and she feared any encounter between the two would result in a fight. “Do not do anything rash,” she warned her brother. “Please. If only for Fenrir and I. Thor has the power to send us back from where he came.” Hel did not wish to be sent back so soon.

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Jor leaned back, narrowing his eyes slightly as he pondered her words. It was true, she was a bit smaller in this form. "Indeed," he mused, laughing softly. "Mortals are such tiny creatures. And fragile too. It's a wonder that they thrive so well."

He instantly perked up when Hel promised to try to be more happy. "You are too good to me, sister," he grinned, clapping a hand gently on her shoulder. "I do admit that Father and I find joy where others do not, but that is merely our way of coping. We seek laughter where you and Fen seek solitude. Personally, I have had my fair share of solitude. I want no more of it." He'd spent the past forever alone at the bottom of an ocean. It was hard to get more isolated than that.

"Yes..." Jor mused, a frown furrowing his brow as he fell back to more serious thoughts. Despite what he knew about Father, he was curious. He wanted to know what he could about the situation. Shrugging, the frown dropped from his face as he stated, "Well, when I find Father, I shall ask him. If he chooses to answer, so be it."

Jor immediately noticed the warning in his sister's voice when she asked him not to fight against the thunder god. "Hel, I am no fool," he reminded her, grasping her loosely by the shoulders and smiling down at her. "As much as I despise Thor, I will not go picking any fights with gods. I rather like it here, after all. I would hate to cut my stay short over something so frivolous." Unless the god started it. Then he would tear him limb from limb. "So worry not. Now, tell me what exactly it is that you do here. I here that you give the mortals wisdom?"

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Mortals were so fascinating to Hel because they managed to thrive though it seemed that most often things were stacked against them. “Indeed,” Hel agreed. Mortals were such fragile creatures and yet they survived the worst things. “Mortals are curious beings.”

Hel was glad to have pleased Jormungandr, for after all was it not a woman’s duty to made sure the men in her life were happy? Now that they were together she could be aware of all their happiness collectively and make sure that her brothers and most importantly, her father, were all happy. It was her duty to look after all of them and she would. “We have all had more than our fair share of solitude, Brother, but we do not have to be alone anymore.” They were together at last and would stay as such for as long as they could.

Hel nodded. She respected the decisions that Jormungandr made though they were and would continue to be vastly different than her own. If he questioned their father about it then so be it. She preferred not to know, but sometimes Jormungandr needed to know.

Hel did not need the reminder that her brother was no fool, and yet he was still their father’s son. He had a silver tongue and was drawn to chaos and trouble. However, she would have to trust him when he said that he would not fight, though she was not quite convinced. However, the conversation was moving past that. “I teach, as does Father. I would like to think that I am imparting knowledge on my students, however, there are several that fear me. I do not believe that they are as willing to learn when they are afraid.”

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"Curious is an understatement," Jor replied, nodding his agreement all the while. He had always been fascinated by them. They had odd ways of acting, and even odder ways of dealing with certain situations. He hadn't been given a good way of observing them properly, until now.

Jor nodded again to Hel's comment about solitude, glad that she was in agreement with him. He had been remotely worried that she and Fenrir would continue to be solitary and pull away from him, but he was pleased to discover that at least Hel wanted to be around him just as much as he wanted to be around her. He had sorely missed his family, and was glad to be able to spend time in their presence.

"Ho?" Jor grinned, cocking an eyebrow at the prospect of Hel teaching mortals. "So some of them still have enough sense to fear you. That is good to know." He had always been of the opinion that the mortals should fear and respect all godly figures. They were the ones that made the human's meager mortal lives possible, after all, and as such, they deserved some level of respect. He understood how fear could interfere with learning, though. Tilting his head to the side in a quizzical manner, he frowned, inquiring, "But what exactly do you teach? Surely not some trivial mortal subject."

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Hel was inclined to agree with Jormungandr that humans were more than curious. Even she was fascinated with their ways and customs. They could easily become irriating with their ideas and need to constantly create noise, but they were fascinating nonetheless. In general they were noisy beings and appreciated noise where Hel liked quiet. But that had survived thus long on Midgard. They were prosperous beings.

Though Hel often preferred to spend time alone, now that she was reunited with her family she would not wholly resign herself to solitude. She wished to stay beside her brothers and their father. Together they could walk in the sun as it should have always been.

“It is not fear in the manner of which you are thinking,” Hel replied quickly. They were not afraid of her because she was a goddess and therefore an immortal being. “They fear death, so they fear me. I am quite sure even animals can smell the stink of death on me.” Mortals were predictable in that they feared dying. It only made sense that they would fear the being that represented death.

She was a bit amused that Jor would even ask what she taught. Did he know her so little to ask such a question? “I teach what I know best. My class is about death.”