[closed]...And the spiders from Mars

[horsepowered]

WHO? Chiron and Siegfried
WHAT? Pretty much every intense conversation they've been meaning to have for the past month plus
WHEN? Immediately after bragging party at House Khah
ANYTHING ELSE?

Returning to COST's current residences after an extremely long (far too long) evening at the Khah house wasn't as relieving as it ought to have been for Chiron. There were still prying ears and keen eyes making notes about COST agents, and that meant that there was no true opportunity for rest. No way to know that the front that this place required could be shrugged off and replaced with something more casual, something that could at least let out some of the demands of being constantly on one's toes.

If he thought critically, reflecting on his own words and what he both heard and saw from others, the entire thing had at least been successful from a mission perspective. Those were not laurels to rest on, but they were little indicators that things were on course for the time being.

Still. There had been a few things that Chiron noticed that struck him as out of place - not with any members of the Khah themselves, but in his fellow operatives. Namely Siegfried.

Chiron hadn't overheard much, but he had noticed that Siegfried's demeanor was different. It wasn't just the projected aggression required for the event, there was a deeper change, something that had him worried.

It was for that reason that he lingered in the courtyard of the residences, awaiting his friend's return. Chiron was sure that he hadn't gotten there after Siegfried.

Comments

[gerechtigkeit]

Family has always been difficult to fight or struggle against. Siegfried knows that while his mother and father will never be taken by the Throne, his wife is another story. And if there ever comes a time where they both cross paths, he doesn't know what he'll do. In that sense, he understands Chiron completely.

"I can only imagine he took it as well as we have." Thor, son of Odin and resident of Asgard, watching Ymir be harvested like a thing rather than what the god once was. "I haven't met him as of yet, but I'm sure that will change easily enough." After all, from what he knows of the legends, Thor really isn't hard to locate. Most of the time, the crowd finds him first.

Still, something soft flickers across Siegfried's face before easing into a more relaxed and familiar look. He's tired, and it shows. But the encouragement given to him is appreciated, even though he seems almost redundant in speaking. "My thanks." There is an exhale at that, and even if this time in Chiron's quarters is short, it gives Siegfried enough time to be himself, without the worry of potentially dying.

He nods. He refuses to let it come to that. "And we will. We just need to find an opening."

[horsepowered]

"He'd...he'd get along with Astolfo as if they were well worn battle companions. They share much of the same personality." They'd be a formidable combination in battle as well, but perhaps that goes without saying. For Chiron's money, the companionship that would form would be a far greatert thing.

He did wonder what Rider would make of this entire thing, in truth, but nostaglia for teammates was hardly something he could allow for at the moment. "At any rate, I hope you cross paths soon. For all the somberness of what's going on, he's remarkably easy to talk to. And it's nice having...well. Someone else with age and an understanding of gods."

No one that needed explaining or even just a hint of understanding. He knew, because he was one.

More than that, the tiredness on Siegfried's face, along with the fact he's willing to show it, gives Chiron a feeling of solidarity that he's glad to know exists. Voicing any complaints or just venting in general about his mission has felt wrong on every level but. Ah, well. It's Siegfried. They're friends. They can do this.

"That's what friendship is for, you know. As for openings," Chiron's voice drifts.

"I'd like to find one sooner rather than later."