"You were in Asgard for so long. Don't tell me His Majesty the king wanted to strengthen ties between our two civilizations by arranging a marriage with you?"
As they stepped into the elevator, Tony cast aside the faint, inexplicable melancholy in his heart and returned to his usual irreverent, joking manner, speculating about why Sean had gone to Asgard.
He winked at Sean. Given Sean's status, he managed one of Earth's largest scientific research institutions and served as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s chief consultant, able to influence the World Security Council's decisions at any time.
If Odin truly wished to deepen cooperation between Asgard and Earth, it would not have been strange for him to propose a marriage alliance. After all, it was a civilization much like those of the Middle Ages and might still have retained such royal customs.
"Tempting as that sounds, the King of Asgard doesn't have any suitable daughters."
Sean was noncommittal. Asgard's eldest princess had a notoriously bad temper—arrogant, unruly, and wildly ambitious. Even Odin at the height of his power a thousand years ago had been unable to subdue her, and in the end, he had no choice but to imprison Hela in Hel.
"What a shame. I thought you might have had a romantic encounter in Asgard. Besides, there's no reproductive barrier between our civilizations..."
"If you want some in-depth exchanges with Asgardian beauties, have Thor introduce you someday."
Seeing Tony steer the conversation further and further off course, Sean coughed twice and cut him off.
Although the two civilizations had begun establishing contact, Earth's understanding of Asgard remained limited to Norse Mythology and a portion of written materials. It was like trying to see flowers through mist—far from clear.
The World Security Council had long considered sending a diplomatic team to Asgard for an