Forever & Always

Nowadays

"And now, presenting,' Loki fumbles with his document, reading word for word, 'Not one hulk, but one and a half. You've read about them through Raven mail, now here they are, Midgard's own killers, drillers, those scintillating sinners; Jennifer Walters and Lucile Jameson."

Jennifer clears her throat, hacking as she stands on the small elevated stage of a poorly decorated theater.

"You good, ma?" Lucy checks in with a whisper.

"Yeah, I just swallowed a tuft of goat fur,' she fluffs the item draped over her arms, 'Is that what these boas are made of? I hope you appreciate this."

"Shut up and smile. Sing!"

"—AND that's good, isn't it grand, isn't great. Isn't it swell-!"

"Isn't it fun, isn't it, but nothing staysss."

"The bubbles are in my throat- It's gonna change, ya know."

"But all is heaven...I didn't know Asgard had bubbles."

"Nowadays!"

Jennifer loops around to ditch the boa and adjusts the bang dropping from her hat.

"My hair is coming out of the hat," she laughs.

Lucy flips her hat, "Should've chopped it. Best decision I ever made."

"I thought it was letting me tag along on your adventures?!"

"Shuffle, ma."

Jennifer shows her teeth in a wide sarcastic smile to an audience full of very confused native Asgardians who are waiting for the pre show to end and the traditional storytelling entertainment to start.

Lucy snorts over her mother's facial expression.

Jennifer starts to lose her composure after seeing Lucy laugh, falling out of her time step.

Walters pauses, ready to throw her daughter over. She coaxes, "Cartwheel! Oh sh-."

Lucy flips while Jen's foot accidentally pushes through the stage.

"Booo!" The audience impatiently begins to shout.

Jennifer cringes, pulling her foot back up as the wood splits around her. She dreads her daughter's reaction to their stage show turned mess.

Crouching, she waits impatiently;

"Lucy? I'm sorry."

Jameson rolls over onto her back giggling hysterically, "We stink!"

"Eh, it's better than what's typically performed here. We'll blame the production manager," Jennifer allows herself to laugh, pulling her daughter up, "Come on, we have the big finish."

Lucy manages to collect herself as much as Jen, completing their choreography and awaiting applause.

"Brava!" A booming voice stands above the rest and forces the audience to echo the sentiment of their beloved king; Thor Odinson.

Loki throws his paper, eyes rolling to the back of his head.

"Thor's here. That's embarrassing,"
Lucy takes her mother's hand up and bows.

"Lucy?" Jen whispers.

"Mom?"

"I love you, to the moon and back, I'm never dancing on this stage again."

She snickers, "Okay, ma."

"Lucy?" A blonde child full of sass makes her way over to the stage.

"What's the drama Agatha?" Lucy pivots to address her.

"You really suck."

"Aww,' she lays a hand on her chest, 'thank you."

Jane steps forward to nudge her daughter away, "Oh my god-! I'm sorry. Aggie!"

"What?! She sucks! For all that theater talk you'd think she'd-."

Jane covers Agatha's mouth, "Agmundr?"

Her twin brother reluctantly flings a rose in Lucy's direction, "Here. Mom said I had to."

"Magnificent dancing!" Thor boasts as he steps forward, "Where is my brother? What lovely stage managing."

Loki groans, "Yes... of course. As if I had a choice."

"Hey,' Valkyrie snaps her gum as she joins the group and addresses Jennifer, 'don't quit your day job."

"Lunch at our place? I made waffles," Jane offers.

Jennifer tosses her hat and leaps off the stage, "Let's go!"

Loki points to the show about to start, "I wish to stay and watch real theater."

"Indeed,' Thor lays an arm over his brother's shoulder, 'we shall stay and watch true stage work."

"Right, enjoy that," Lucy waves.

Jane reaches into her pocket and shows a device, "By the way, I fixed it. You can receive messages now."

"Oh yay,' Jennifer takes it sarcastically, 'I can't wait to read the shitty spam from my ex husband asking where our daughter has been for a year- A WEDDING?! Lucy?!"

"What?" Lucy has Agatha on her back and Agmundr running circles around her.

"Riley's getting married."

"Sick."

"Next Friday."

"Poor man. Who's the sucker?"

"Garrett. We're invited."

"Oh,' she slows her steps, shoulders lifted, 'cool."

"You're in the bridal party."

Lucy stops in her tracks, "Why?! Says who?"

"Says Aunt Nat and Uncle B."

"They good? They got something mixed up."

"No no,' Jen lifts her phone, 'no mix up..."

"Oh."

Agatha jumps off Lucy's back.

Jennifer shrugs, "I mean if you don't want to go, I don't blame you. Earth seems dull compared to Olympus and Asgard-."

"I wanna go."

"Oh,' Jen sinks into her hip, 'really? But John's there..."

"Ma,' Lucy rolls her eyes, 'Earth is huge. You don't have to see him. Besides, I think it's time you got out of your daughter's basement, don't you think?!"

Valkyrie laughs louder than she should.

Jen glares, "I pay my rent."