Welcome to Gaia! ::

Björn looked up as the torrent of panic poured out, and he couldn't help the gentle grin that spread on his mouth. " No chair yet, but that box there is sturdy. You can sit on it. I am glad to hear that you have a partner. "

I am...handsome? A happy compliment. I should not get too proud, for as hard as I try.

"I hope that you had experience to ask about. But maybe it is too different- your partner that lives with you, you said they are in the Negaverse. But do you have advice? "

"Maybe you have seen other officers with lovers not in our uniform? " Who else can we turn to, if not our Generals, for the best advice?

The big guy looked up as he got some more of the hard ware for the couch-ish thing he was working on, considering the Generals words and demeanor sadly. I think I'm just making him more uncomfortable. Well, not everyone goes to school at Hillworth. Maybe he went somewhere very polite.

"It doesn't sound very good for partners outside of the organization," he sighed. "Ask?"

Ask what? Ask if Colin already is in the Negaverse? Or wants to join? Well, that may be something to start with anyway. I could ask that without ever saying I was a part. I told him about meeting Obsidian a long while ago. We talked about the weird war going on. I could ask what he thinks about becoming a part. "Well...that is helpful advice. Its a start. A general can make a new Lieutenant? Can it be anyone? "

At the last question, Björn didn't even blink, "Oh, yes. I see to my Obsidian's pleasure after sparring where I've done well, usually. I guess that isn't as often as I should hope...I should be better. But I am slowly getting faster and more accurate in combat. Sex and battle are usual, though. "

It was only then his face fell again, wearing his heart on his sleeve, and he motioned around the place with the hex key in his hand. "Its really why I know just how thin he's gotten. Why I hope so much he can start conserving energy out of uniform and resting here."

He wasn't sure how to take Ladon's utter surprise at the admission. It really was surprising, even to himself, that Obsidian had shown interest or taken him up on that aspect of service. That His lord had allowed him the first kiss at his meet. That he'd worn nail scars for weeks now and again over the last year.
"Well...yes."

"No, not at all, " Björn smiled up at the small General and covered the hand on his shoulder with his own. "I approached him of it,...I kissed him first. It was maybe too bold, but he did not correct it. Obsidian is ...a..."

" sharp lover, but he has not forced anything I would not offer." He hoped it would reassure the smaller General.


"Oh, no, of recruitment I was asking regarding Colin, if he and I hook up again. He knows of the war. He and I talked about it a long while back, after I'd been attacked by a youma. "

"Colin and I both decided that while he was gone at the Royal Academy that we were okay with each other pursuing others. If we did or didn't pick up when he got back...we would see. I don't know if that is breaking up. It didn't feel that way. Maybe more ...just understanding. Things happen. We're young, and we each have a lot of drive. "

"At least for me, I would rather he was happy, even if it was with someone else for a little. Or more than one someone if that happened. It does not threaten me. " Was that too confident? Well, at least with some things, Björn was very confident in his ability to serve and learn. "Colin only came back to the states at the start of this month. We decided we wanted to try to be together again. "

He listened more gravely to the advice on recruitment- it was serious business. He did not want to put his comrades or Colin in danger. The choice of the life, or exposure to the life of being part of the war was something he'd considered himself and had decided he could not go on doing nothing at all. Still, none of it had answered his question of if it could be anyone. He wondered if the reason was that no it couldn't, that Ladon was suggesting Colin was most likely not worthy, if the Negaverse had already looked at Colin and decided no through Obsidian at Hillworth, just advising against involving partners in general, or some other, deeper, unfathomable reason.

"I do not think anything but our own hands can fix our problems, General."

"I'm sorry to have troubled you with it. You are unhappy." He gave a nod of apology.

"Oh...I don't expect I'll ever be a General. General's should be able to think," the qualification was very emphatically, heartfully given.

"There isn't a lot that stresses our normal lives. Unless in Infiltration. They have to be out of uniform a lot. It is no trouble."

Hearing that Wolframite had not any lieutenants of his own brought a confused glance from Björn. "I had not expected that. You are so careful and very kind. One many would follow, I thought. "


Maybe he has very high standards...maybe no one has seemed suitable, "I hope you find someone worthy. Have you ever gone out looking for new recruits? Maybe it takes time. Obsidian had talked with me a few times before ...the marathon and Howlite came to us in the back room. "

He wondered if that had been an instance of not-having-a-choice. "How long have you been in the Negaverse, La-..." He stumbled now, uncertain if he should use sir, or Ladon, or what. It felt again too friendly to call the General by civilian first name. Björn lifted the finished coffee table and set it to rights.

"I can put together the chairs for you next. "

"We all have our strengths and weaknesses. We can only work harder. " Björn gave a reassuring nod. It was odd every time when others seemed offended on his behalf, then tried to rebuke what was simple fact. All the more when they often, as Ladon was, reflected immediately on their own weaknesses just after doing so.

"I like your name. It feels so ....gentle on the mouth though. It doesn't seem to contain all that you are. But I am glad and honored that you share it with me. And that you are willing to talk with me. " The big guy opened the chair box and started pulling out the pieces for them to look over. "I would like to have many friends. "

"Three years is a long time. " He offered Ladon the hex key and direction sheet that was in the bottom of the box before settling to grouping like pieces with like pieces. They all needed unwrapped of plastic and tape. "I do not hope this war lasts that much all over, but I hope I will stand by both you and Andrew, as my commanders if it does. "

"Your partner...are they also in the Special Operations? Did they know Andrew so long ago?"

Björn dutifully retrieved the parts and held them in proper place for Ladon to do the screwing, doing his best not to make any inappropriate jokes that would make the little noble uncomfortable. He wanted to ask about this Billy- when they'd met, if they patrolled together, if they would marry, but it was all both personal and had some tendrils into more carnal conversation. It was normal enough conversation between men, but Ladon already had seemed out of sorts with his own asking for advice regarding Colin or Obsidian.
What could be a comfortable subject...ah!

"You had said you wanted to cook..do you know what things Andrew likes to eat? Or will you just make what you make best?"

Picking cookies of all things out of the list of life amenities was both cute and so strange. Perhaps Ladon or Billy really like sweets? You wouldn't know it to look at him, he's so small.

"A lot of things say that war is very hard for many people. They get disconnect from others. They aren't themselves. It is hard to kill others, or to lose friends. And the starseeds..."

"He treats them like a drug. Many drug addicts do not care of house or food. They only care to be alone and when to have the next fix. I do not think it is that the Rift is so nice...maybe everything else is too painful?"