The details of all of this are unfamiliar, but the general feeling (for Thor's part) is not: it's like being the senior warrior in a training session with just the right level of younger warrior. Advanced enough to be allowed to test themselves by letting loose; inexperienced enough to need a referee ready to break them apart, and healing stones at the ready.

Or, in another way, like mediating some touchy bit of diplomacy between third parties. You let them come near the edge, but you stay poised to make sure no one steps over it.

(Both Asgardian diplomacy and Asgardian warrior training can be pretty hands-on.)

He inclines his head slightly to Elle in return -- go on, I'm here and watching -- and waits.