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 Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 7:30 pm
He finished screwing the leg together and then looked back at the paper. He guessed he could relate to what Obsidian was going through at some level.
"When I was rescued with Tanzanite and Uranphane from the DMC, I wasn't in a good place. I think if I hadn't had someone there to help me cope, I might have thought the Rift was a nice, safe place. I might even decide that going out wasn't worth it aside from killing a senshi for a starseed. I also know a lot of people - seen a lot of people die in horrible ways." By Wiseman, when he was the sole survivor and only living to be a messenger. By the DMC, who killed the rest of the team and left only Uranophane and Tanzanite alive with him. Tanzanite, who was now gone. Uranophane, who no longer came back to the field all this time.
He continued looking at the paper, not really reading it, before he looked over at Bjorn. "Do you...love Obsidian? Not just because he's your superior. Is that why you're helping him or...do you just like helping ease things in any way you can?" He wondered if Bjorn was capable of being the same type of person Billy had been to Ladon when he had been aggressive and depressed. When he had lost faith and couldn't handle the swirling fears and doubts that plagued him at all hours.
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 3:43 pm
It made Björn all the more sad he'd not been a part of it all earlier- he hadn't been there for these great men who could have used the help. It was risky, but what else was there, in trying to help others? To make a connection to someone required putting something out there, taking a risk, and hoping- all things that the big guy didn't mind. I have strong shoulders. A strong back. I can work harder. I can always work harder.
When Ladon's words quieted to just looking at the paper, the big guy reached a hand over across the small shoulders to gently and encouragingly clasp the opposite shoulder while letting the weight of his arm rest across the slender upper shoulders. Maybe the gesture could bring some comfort in the weight of a friend. The question, though, that Ladon posed was surprising. "I..." Björn blinked. That is a question that is very full of thought. How can I try to explain. "I love Obsidian." "There are more than one love. I do not love him like a woman, or ...like movies make love. If that is what you mean?" "He is...or was...everything I could want in a lord. Strength in arm and mind, a will of iron, cunning and willingness to command what he must for the good of his own oaths. But he was also sharp, strict and dangerous in his authority. " "I love him as my lord but not because his is my lord. Maybe that makes sense. I swore on his sword that I would do all I could for his honor, his advancement and his glory and I intend to. I want to be the rock he can lean on when he feels worn. I want to be the whetstone of his blade, or the hammer of his anger. I want to open the curtains to the dawn that brings his smile. " "I want to see him vibrant, alive, and at peace with himself."
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 4:05 pm
He hadn't expected the arm across his shoulders, and nearly jumped when it was given, only to let his shoulders ease back and slack when he realized it was only a sort of half-hug and a way to perk him back up. "Sorry." He apologized, thinking he must look sad enough to warrant the comfort. He didn't want Bjorn to worry about him. He was in a much better place than he had been, had support from Billy, and was doing better. This was meant to be a fun day of cleaning up and fixing things and not one where Ladon moped around and made Bjorn never want to hang out like this ever again.
Bjorn's answer, at first, made him wonder if he had been somewhat like the fanboy Ladon had first been when he saw Obsidian. The man had been handsome, strong, quick, and had the power that made Charonite speak to him regularly. He was up there in rank and for that, Wolframite, still a rookie and green to the Nega world, looked up to him. He felt that maybe, one day, he could be like that.
"I don't think I'll fully get exactly how you feel, but I think I sorta do. It's kinda embarrassing but....when I was just a lieutenant and when Obsidian was one of the highest ranking officers under Charonite, I sorta idolized him. He was really quick and powerful, and his youma was amazing. When I saw him and the others fight the Doom Tree, I thought, 'Man, I want to be like that.' They were all so streamlined and perfect in how they executed their attacks." He hunched his shoulders, embarrassed as he fiddled with the paper. "Dorky, right?"
"But that's why it makes me sad to hear about Obsidian being this way. I saw him and how he worked when he wasn't, and to think he went down this way really is a hard hit to the Negaverse because he was a great officer. I mean is." He just had to get back on his feet.
Looking up, he smiled somewhat bashfully. He normally didn't say this much to strangers, but Bjorn was nice and kindhearted. He went beyond what was normal for an officer and gave his heart into a lot of things. Apparently, into people too.
"I think you can do it. To help Obsidian return to who he is. You're really strong, and I don't mean here either." He said, pointing to the arm on his shoulder.
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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 12:11 pm
Idolized. It was a strange word. It had a lot of extra meanings outside of the dictionary. It was partially fitting, but really only felt like it was a part of the surface of what he was trying to explain. Looking up to one's lord was some of that love- but it wasn't the whole. He didn't want to 'be like' Obsidian. Being worthy was different. "We will manage. Between the both of us. If we are patient and repeat things, he will eat, he will sleep. Maybe he will feel that there is friend and love for him still. He is not alone. " "So many say they want to be alone, and they do in some part. It is easier to be alone. But there is part that wants someone to care. Even if only so that they hurt, too. It may start there." "He may be very hard to both of us. The chance is better with both of us. If you do not give up, I certainly won't." The big guy smiled, not worried at all. Ladon was a General, which meant he didn't give up. Generals didn't give up. They might get lost, like his own lord, but they didn't give up. But it was a good place to try to get the smaller youth to smile, so Björn laughed and nodded, patting his own stomach, "You are right. My other strength is here. It will be hard if you are cooking not to want some. What were you going to make?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 11:22 am
"Oh, but I'll have plenty!" He said, looking from Bjorn's stomach to the blonde's face.
"I mean, you are here and working on building stuff, I just assumed you'd be hungry by the end of it anyways." Part of him wondered when Obsidian would even show up, and if he would be able to sit down and eat. Then again, maybe he would like to eat alone. Or maybe just with Bjorn. He felt a bit out of place considering how dinner arrangements would go.
"Well, I was thinking. He's been in the Rift, so he might have forgotten how great food is. He also needs to eat something hearty to start getting his strength back. Something warm since it's still brisk outside, and warm things make people tired, so maybe he could go to sleep after he ate without realizing it. Then I thought, maybe he wouldn't be used to eating so much that he gets sick. So nothing spicy or too over seasoned. Then again, who just wants to eat a salad. I wouldn't be happy seeing all that the world to offer is just a salad. I don't know if he even likes fish. so.." He was more or less rehearsing his thoughts out loud from the ones he had in the grocery store that morning.
"I thought maybe a good stew, with vegetables and beef. And then some nice hot rolls. That way he could heat the stew up later and have plenty of it. I also made some cookie dough from the night before that's in the fridge now. I'd leave the Rift for that."
But he still worried, and looked up at Bjorn. "You think he would? He's not allergic to chocolate or anything, is he?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 8:23 pm
"I've....never seen him eat food. I don't think he's allergic to anything." Just starseeds. I've only ever seen him eat starseeds.His own stomach turned at the return of that thought- the weight of why they were there. "Stew sound good, very gentle and easy to reheat. It is better sometimes on the second or third day. I had a book called Nail Soup growing up...it was like that." "Maybe someday our community can have a soup dinner to warm everyone's hearts and stomachs." The chairs were coming well along. He needed something lighter of mood, disliking sulking or worry. "I make you a deal, since you say you'll have plenty- but helping me out here isn't getting that soup made any faster." He stood from their task, taking one of the finished chairs to the kitchen for Ladon in case the short prince needed it for the high cupboards (stocking them or cleaning them), "I will finish all the furniture in this living room and the bedroom in however long you say it take, and then we have a lunch break to try the stew?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2014 6:50 pm
Ladon followed Bjorn into the kitchen, glad to have a step now to reach the other shelves. When the stew was cooking, he could finish the kitchen. Then they could eat in a clean kitchen.
“I would love to have a nice dinner with everyone. I just don’t know who would show up.” To be honest, he rarely socialized outside of meetings with other officers. He really needed to get out more, and thinking about it, he wondered if he was sometimes just as much as a hermit was Obsidian was being. That was a scary thought.
“We once had a pizza party once for a nice meet up. We haven’t had one of those in a long time. I think because those people..” He tried not to think about it, and felt bad that his conversation with Bjorn hadn’t been happier. He was being such a downer and didn’t want to be. “We should do something like that. I’m sure everyone would like to just meet everyone and not have to just meet during meetings.”
In the kitchen, he tested out the chair before he looked at Bjorn and his offer. “Oh, I can do that. The stew will take a while actually, so that works out great.” He moved over to Bjorn. “Don’t work too hard though just to get that furniture all done. I don’t want you hurting yourself. Take a break in here if you need it, okay? Let’s both work hard to get this done, okay?” To that, Ladon moved to pick up the bag and then looked in a nearby box for some pots and pans. “I’m sure once this place starts smelling like a meal, it will feel a lot warmer.” And not like stale air from a unlived place.
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Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 11:49 pm
"I only know people from missions, really. " Björn commiserated. "Meeting you like this, more than just the once...it is very helping. I mean..." "Not just what we are doing for Andrew, but ...getting to know you. Drótt* used to eat together, sleep hip to hip and fight shoulder to shoulder. There is no close like that. But we are not on ship, and are not vikings. It is not the whole of life. Everyone wants to keep two lives, and separate. Do you think that is a good choice?" Taking a break on threat of hurting himself seemed more like it was for company than actual threat of getting tired. He didn't mind the idea, but the working hard part was first. The strongman nodded, "We'll have it done in no time." He went out of the kitchen again, listening for Ladon's reply while also double timing the last pieces of furniture for the living room- it was coming together. End tables, seating, throw pillows and a lap blanket, a piece of IKEA art that was interesting but not distracting on the wall, a clock, and bamboo plant to help the place breath. It was enough to be warm and designed, but spares enough to remain easy to clean, organize on a low time budget, and personalize. The time flew as quickly as the room's assembly. Björn made sure to break down the plastic bags and cardboard boxes to recycling-friendly bags, then went bag to the kitchen. "I don't have the bedroom done, but it was a good place to break with the living room finished. The stew smells too very good." MoonKitsune *Old Norse term for a warband We could have them sit down to eat and fade out from there with them going back to work?
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Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 8:47 pm
“Ah, it’s good, sorta. To keep it separate, but I think it’s hard. I don’t think anyone really can do it. I think you just have to take measures and find a balance that works. I mean, in the past, officers use to hold meetings to meet as civilians, and I think it’s good to know people outside of our jobs. To remember that we’re still people. It also helps us to keep tabs on each other – make sure things are going okay. I knew Tanzanite got sick once and I went to help her once. She wasn’t taking care of herself and wasn’t doing very well. Just really poor health. Before….before other things.” He tried not to think about it.
“You also kinda get surprised. The person I am with now, he and I found out we were both in the Negaverse. So even when we tried to have a separate life, we found mixed it without even knowing. So, I think it’s good and sometimes bad. You put those people at risk sometimes and sometimes you forget about one side or the other too much. Like if you work in uniform too much.” He said, as he had a poor habit of doing.
“So….it’s all down to your balance. It’s…sorta gray all around.” He admitted with a sheepish smile. “I guess that’s not a great answer.”
While Bjorn worked on the furniture, Ladon used his new chair to clean out all the cuboards and then set all the dishes in places he felt would be the best place to put them. Luckily there wasn’t a whole lot of dishes for just one person. Enough to get by without doing dishes, and maybe for a person over for company. At least all the dishes matched. There were also pots and pans, enough to cook a meal if Andrew felt so inclined.
Andrew.
Ladon smiled to himself. It was so weird knowing a officers name. It felt too personal, yet he felt he knew a secret. He knew it was stupid, but he still felt a sort of pride in knowing something as simple as an officer’s real name. It was as if he could pretend they were friends. Maybe he was trying hard to make that work. Would Obsidian be offended that some stranger was helping Bjorn with his issues? He hoped not, and suddenly felt nervous again about Andrew’s reaction. He couldn’t call him by his officer name due to security reasons as civilians, but he hadn’t been given permission directly from Andrew to use it.
His mind cycled through a few thoughts, turning them over, from bad situations where Obsidian got anger when he walked to the door, to more hopeful scenarios where he would be touched by the effort and shout how much he fool he had been and would never touch a starseed ever again. While Ladon admitted his own mental scripting would make soap opera scripts look like gripping dramas, it still made him relax to focus on good outcomes than worse ones.
Once everything was clean and sorted, Ladon got out a cutting board he would leave here, cleaned the vegetables, peeled potatoes, cut up some beef, and then started cooking. Stew was meant to take a while, but he didn’t want it to be a meal that took hours. The beef had at least been tenderized the night before, and the pieces weren’t so thick that they had to be cooked forever. Ladon also made sure to bring a few tubo-ware dishes to pack away any leftovers.
When Bjorn showed up, the pot was on low heat, boiling slowly with the lid on, as the shorter man was cutting slices of a thick bread. “Thank you. I hope you two like it. It should be done by now. Doesn’t hurt to keep it going but I think it can be kept on very low heat and stay nice and warm for a while. I already have the bowls and dishes washed.” A set of 3 bowls and spoons were already set on the table, along with a small, plastic container of spreadable butter with a butter knife.
Bring the cut bread slices over, he set them down on a plate. “There is plenty so eat up. With you working on all that furniture and …well, being pretty big.” Not just pretty big. Pretty and Big. He debated how much Bjorn could even eat. Probably a small pony. A small, buff pony.
“You can be my guinea pig.” He said, ladeling some of the stew into a bowl and offering it to him.
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Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 8:48 pm
Exactly all that the big guy had hoped for- willing guinea pig to anything involving food. And it was stew. Stew meant meat, which he never bought or made for himself anymore. He actually hummed unconsciously, offering a dip in thanks over the bowl and digging in. "It has been some hours, are you going to have any yourself? Surely you must eat something. You are so small, if you lost weight you would float away. " Björn heaved a deep sigh of content, even only a few spoons in, "It is excellent. Your Billy is a lucky man." Could never go hungry for want of something tasting good to eat with Ladon cooking, anyway. He smiled, winking to emphasize that it was goodhearted joking, "Maybe I should be jealous after all, that I did not know you long ago to have you for my own." "With stew like this, I'll be able to finish the other rooms in no time. And Andrew must be certain to want to stay at least the week to finish all the food."
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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 9:46 pm
"I eat enough. I just burn it off fast. Not the worst problem to have most of the time." It meant he could stay lean, but it also meant he suffered a lot whenever he got sick. "And I have muscle so I won't be blown away by a strong wind." He corrected.
At the urge to eat though, he did ladle a bit of stew to try some and keep himself going. "I want Andrew to have plenty so I don't want to eat too much. I don't know if he has a big appetite or not once he actually starts eating food. I'd imagine he'd be starving for something with actual taste to it. Starseeds are not delicious." They were like eating some strange acid and glass that left you jittery afterwards.
And then Bjorn complimented him, and he felt his face grow hot as he looked to his bowl. "Um...thanks. I'd have been lucky either way." With Billy or Bjorn. Back then, he had just been thankful for anyone willing to give him the time of day, and Billy have given him that and so much more.
But that was enough of that conversation, and once the dishes were empty, he rose up and went to clear the table. "Alright. Let's get this place up and running. I also brought some markers and a banner to set up too when we are all finished that we can work on too as our final break." He pointed out, and then walked off.
"I'm baking cookies next." He said from off in the kitchen.
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