Post by Astrid Hall on Nov 28, 2018 14:13:23 GMT
It wasn't long after the show ended that Pandora returned to the hotel room, exhausted and a bit sore. She was surprised to find that the lights were on - and that the room had been filled with balloons. The word 'congratulations' was spread over one of the windows in bright golden lettering, the curtains opened wide to show the glimmering horizon of Athens by moonlight. Ocean breeze flowed through the cracked window, leaving the room cool - but not nearly as cold given the Mediterranean climate. The moonlight rippled off the waters of the Aegean Sea in the distance. On the bed in the middle of the hotel room was a figure Pandora hadn't expected to see, given that she had left her in Boston.
"Astrid?!" she exclaimed with a mix of shock and delight. "What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be flying!"
A very pregnant Astrid Hall smirked and rose to her feet. "I never agree with doctors," she shrugged. "'Astrid you broke your neck, you shouldn't wrestle for nine months.' Bah. Utter nonsense. I know what I'm capable of."
Pandora shook her head incredulously, striding forward and giving the taller woman a deep hug. "It's not just your health..." she chided.
"I know," Astrid beamed. "That's why I took a boat."
"... From Boston to Athens?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Astrid laughed. "The boat from Boston went to London. Then another from there to Gibraltar. Then Naples. Then Athens."
"... That's four boats. In November."
Astrid shrugged. "My people were born on the seas."
Pandora shook her head once again, but knew better to further question the Valkyrie's particular brand of madness. "But it's good to see you. Though I'm sorry I didn't come home with what you were congratulating me for."
Astrid laughed. "Are you kidding me? I may not have watched it in person, but I did watch that match! You HAD her, Pandora. You had the Svartálfar beaten, yourself. You beat her down in one of the most beautiful displays of acrobatics and athletic skill I've ever seen in my LIFE, Pandora, and she could not escape your pin. Didn't come home with something to congratulate for my ass. Tonight you proved that you're among the finest in the world... and I could not be prouder of you."
The two of them embraced for some time before turning together to the window, smiling together as they gazed out over Athens to the sea. The ocean air filled both of their lungs as they sat in silence, together watching a distant ship slipping through the shining waves.
"It's good to see you this happy," Pandora commented. "I know you've been struggling being cooped up at home."
Astrid waved it off. "Do I wish I could fight alongside you? Of course I do. But I know you can handle the fort. You're a great warrior, Pandora... and I am beyond fortunate to have you as a part of my life."
Pandora turned to smile at her, but Astrid simply continued gazing out to the ocean beyond. If she was surprised by the silence, she didn't show it. She turned away and joined Astrid's gaze into the beyond... but the silence was then broken not by words, but with a whistle. A low, soft tune that Pandora recognized... and all of a sudden she fell very still as Astrid reached into her pocket and pulled out something small and square, toying with it in her hands as she began to gently sing.
"I'll swim and sail on savage seas, with ne'er a fear of drowning,
And gladly ride the waves of life..."
Astrid hesitated for a moment, her usual unflappable nature cracking as she looked away from Pandora with a nervous smile.
"... if you... would marry me..."
Astrid closed her eyes as Pandora simply stared agape before continuing.
"No scorching sun nor freezing cold will stop me on my journey,
If you will promise me your heart..."
Again, the words stopped as Astrid, slowly, carefully, and certainly uncomfortably lowered herself to a kneeling position, flipping the lid of the small box open to reveal something small and gleaming in the moonlight. She would not be the one to break the silence again... for Pandora knew that the song was a duet, and the time had come for another voice to answer... whatever the answer may be.
"Astrid?!" she exclaimed with a mix of shock and delight. "What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be flying!"
A very pregnant Astrid Hall smirked and rose to her feet. "I never agree with doctors," she shrugged. "'Astrid you broke your neck, you shouldn't wrestle for nine months.' Bah. Utter nonsense. I know what I'm capable of."
Pandora shook her head incredulously, striding forward and giving the taller woman a deep hug. "It's not just your health..." she chided.
"I know," Astrid beamed. "That's why I took a boat."
"... From Boston to Athens?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Astrid laughed. "The boat from Boston went to London. Then another from there to Gibraltar. Then Naples. Then Athens."
"... That's four boats. In November."
Astrid shrugged. "My people were born on the seas."
Pandora shook her head once again, but knew better to further question the Valkyrie's particular brand of madness. "But it's good to see you. Though I'm sorry I didn't come home with what you were congratulating me for."
Astrid laughed. "Are you kidding me? I may not have watched it in person, but I did watch that match! You HAD her, Pandora. You had the Svartálfar beaten, yourself. You beat her down in one of the most beautiful displays of acrobatics and athletic skill I've ever seen in my LIFE, Pandora, and she could not escape your pin. Didn't come home with something to congratulate for my ass. Tonight you proved that you're among the finest in the world... and I could not be prouder of you."
The two of them embraced for some time before turning together to the window, smiling together as they gazed out over Athens to the sea. The ocean air filled both of their lungs as they sat in silence, together watching a distant ship slipping through the shining waves.
"It's good to see you this happy," Pandora commented. "I know you've been struggling being cooped up at home."
Astrid waved it off. "Do I wish I could fight alongside you? Of course I do. But I know you can handle the fort. You're a great warrior, Pandora... and I am beyond fortunate to have you as a part of my life."
Pandora turned to smile at her, but Astrid simply continued gazing out to the ocean beyond. If she was surprised by the silence, she didn't show it. She turned away and joined Astrid's gaze into the beyond... but the silence was then broken not by words, but with a whistle. A low, soft tune that Pandora recognized... and all of a sudden she fell very still as Astrid reached into her pocket and pulled out something small and square, toying with it in her hands as she began to gently sing.
"I'll swim and sail on savage seas, with ne'er a fear of drowning,
And gladly ride the waves of life..."
Astrid hesitated for a moment, her usual unflappable nature cracking as she looked away from Pandora with a nervous smile.
"... if you... would marry me..."
Astrid closed her eyes as Pandora simply stared agape before continuing.
"No scorching sun nor freezing cold will stop me on my journey,
If you will promise me your heart..."
Again, the words stopped as Astrid, slowly, carefully, and certainly uncomfortably lowered herself to a kneeling position, flipping the lid of the small box open to reveal something small and gleaming in the moonlight. She would not be the one to break the silence again... for Pandora knew that the song was a duet, and the time had come for another voice to answer... whatever the answer may be.
To Be Continued...
Well howdy there pardner.