Log:Valhalla

2020/10/28 Lennox Himinglaeva 1

VALHALLA

During the early day (from 8:00 AM until the place closes for an hour at 3:00) you can get a pretty good CrossFit workout, along with scouting around to help find an MMA or boxing instructor to fit your needs. After 3:00, though, the toys are put away, and Valhalla comes fully to life.

More properly 'Valhalla Boxing, Bar, and Brawl,' the place is a standard Virginia restaurant/bar that adds in the mayhem implied by a converted warehouse that's actively using crates as stand-around tables and seats. The alcohol is behind not only heavy steel bars but also plexiglass, to protect both alcohol and bartenders from the inevitable flying body. All alcohol is dispensed in disposable biodegradable cups; all food is served on (relatively sturdy) disposable biodegradable plates; all flatware is equally disposable and biodegradable, but if you know what you're doing, you could probably do someone an injury with them.

The only place a potentially-damaging object from the house can be found is at the pulpit Himinbjorg -- while normally the ring announcer calls the next fight from there, anyone who dares an Artemis Challenge drinks it standing in full view (and with full attention) of the crowd.

While both the food and the drink in this northwestern Upper East Side tavern are hearty and serviceable, the action is usually in the central room, which holds a raised octagonal ring for boxing, MMA, and other such (blood)sports. The fencing there is chain link, in part to keep the fighters inside the ring, but also to keep the fans (and their cups) outside ... usually, anyhow. Almost always. Liquid ... sometimes makes it in.

There are multiple bathrooms, as well as a couple of aid stations on opposite sides of the place; way too often, fights in the audience take place during fights inside the ring, and on occasion the ones in the ring pause to comment on and point out action outside the fencing. On the other hand, people don't come here for the food. Obviously, the place is a favorite of roughhousers, roughnecks, and bikers, but everyone (so far) obeys the basic rule of 'they go down, you let them go.' (People who drag people down and pummel them on the floor usually get the shit kicked out of them -- and that's BEFORE they get tossed in the ring.)

Thirty dollar cover. No refunds, no lawsuits, no nothin'.

Stepping into this tavern, Himinglaeva has her eyes narrowed. She pauses and rests one shoulder against the frame of the door as she studies the room for a long moment. She has a large skin worn like a bandoleer. The skin is filled with liquid of a sort. Her eyes flicker upwards to the sign showing the name of the establishment.

Then she snorts and shakes her head. "I vill -not- be bringing souls here vhen they die in battle. You vould do vell to not let the all Father know that you have usurped the name of his hall." she says to the room in general.

"Oh, I don't know," says a black man coming in from the other, larger area. "The old bastard has a sense of humor. Usurped is a little strong; I'd say 'in honor of'. But that's for him to decide, and this place is for the living, not the dead. If /you/ don't like it, lady," and here he nods towards the entrance, "exit's the same door you came in."

Eyes narrowing now in something of a more dangerous glint, Himinglaeva places hands on her hips as she pushes off of the door frame. "I assure you. I know precisely vhere the door is. You vould do vell to treat Himinglaeva, daughter of AEgir, Valkyrie of Asgard with a touch more respect." she suggests. "And vhen I speak of the All Father, it is because I -do- know him well, likely better than you."

The black man's tone is mild as he answers. "And that is /still/ for One-Eye to decide, not you, Himinglaeva, daughter of AEgir the Sea. That would make you one of the nine waves. Hm." He pauses in thought for a moment, then adds, "If you wish respect, then upon entering another's domain, you ought to give it -- the Norse had manners, their gods ought to as well. Perhaps you would like to go out and come in again."

"I see." states Himinglaeva with a shake of her head, "You are incapable of perceiving truth vhen it is presented to you. The Norse had manners, yet... they also understood that when one of the Aesir entered their homes, they showed deference."

Looking back to the door, she shrugs, "I think I vill take you up on half of your offer. I vill depart. Your sad excuse for a drinking hall vill not know my presence again. Here I had thought to offer Godsmead if the owner showed a -proper- understanding of the vay of things. But enjoy your self-deception." she says as she turns towards the exit, taking long enough to depart that parting comments might be made.

Lennox offers no parting comments, and lifts his hand to stop those who look like they might catcall the departing goddess. Clearly his understanding of the way of things is not what Himinglaeva's 'proper' is -- and he's okay with that.

At the door, Himinglaeva pauses and looks back over her shoulder. "The name. I still suggest changing it." she says on her way out.