#t: brick and bone and maimed beliefs

[asgardianhammer]

of brick & bone & maimed beliefs

“Do you understand the violence it took to become this gentle?” “And the gentleness that comes, not from the absence of violence, but despite the abundance of it.”

[ ϟ ]—– The prolonged moments, of sheer intent staring at the markings on the wall, they felt stretched out beyond the point of comfort, time passing more languid yet the weight upon his shoulders growing in size.

Golden-auburn head was a fraction tilted, the words studied for the umpteenth time whilst the rage transformed, from budding embers to flickering flame in his core.

The instructions to leave the graffiti as is - fuck off the planet! - die ! - had only fueled the distain in the god's mind, tainting what once was nigh-unbreakable love for humanity with thick, relentless anger.

It was a pity, and colored with sadness and regret, for it was telling of how the worlds had changed, how they had changed, and the once firm bonds between him and them were being more severed with each passing day...

' My lord..'

Whatever disdain the god carried in his mind Valkyrie's tone bore it proudly when speaking of the mortals, her voice heavily laced with it once she receives his attention.

' They are here.'

Outside the Asgardian compound, carrying the optimistic name of "New Asgard" on a sign at the entrance, the black vehicles stood in waiting, the gate opened after thunderer signals with a nod.

' How many? '

' They did not tell, but Thor...'' a pointed, warning shift in her tone. ' They are not like the others, clearly not like the others.'

' We will see.'

Adjusting composure was a necessity, staving off the worst of the rumbling rage within his being, shoulders rolled and approach to the gate a heavy, quickened stride.

There was no ceremony evolved, no grandeur or expressive gestures to be done as with meeting delegations, no proper decorum. Despite title, despite the essence of a King evident in posture and stern expression, Thor plants himself firmly on the road into the compound without royal attire, or an escort of any kind, awaiting what was to come with rising dread.

@themultiversemercs

[asgardianhammer]

[ ϟ ]—– Placing some distance between the others caused a sliver of ease to come over the Asgardian, the comments that followed somehow even more reassuring, heavy boots coming to a halt shortly after.

Watching the man the god's eyes turn sharp, the thoughts emerging turning even sharper.

Flicker of orange was not missed, nor does he pretend to not recognize the offer in the man's words. A choice laid bare, there for the taking, requiring naught else but a fraction of cooperation on his part.

The PR is the civil path, the sort that was somehow, astonishingly, necessary for the mortals and their moral sensibilities, one that does not hinge on the slow-turning wheels of perception but on the weight of power, and of consequence.

As heir he had suffered under such decisions, as King he had far less qualms about making them.

' Some battles cannot be won with mere words.'

Some wounds could not be healed with balm of good intentions no matter how powerful the ointment.

Exhaling slowly thunderer turns to regard the man, hands curling into fists involuntarily.

' The compound has received some protection, local authorities mostly, somehow quite eager to assist after the first messages appeared. It has prevented some things, but not all.'

Pausing for a moment he reminds himself that Wilson trusted these men, somehow.

' The most... inconvenient issue is that they have managed to reach halls and spaces no one but myself and my closest advisors have access to. The other inconvenience is that they seem to do so despite our own... non-Midgardian precautions.'

Eyes narrow a fraction, lips thinning for a sliver of moment.

' What is your protocol regarding interrogations? Or cooperation with the authorities for that matter?'

Arch knew that tension very well. That tired look of someone who is taking the brunt of the aggression from the wider public, of being hated despite the good you and yours had done. A sympathetic sigh passes his lip and he runs a hand through his hair, his missing ring finger prominent for a brief moment.

Once he showed off the PR plan, he slotted the tablet back into the wrist strap and rolled his sleeve down. "I have the cliff notes, but that's why I wanted to come and see you, to get the full story from the source so I know how best to help. Finding out how deep the hatred goes, who's funding it, how we're going to deal with them. Be it More civil, or otherwise."

There's a flash of orange in his eyes at his last comment.

[asgardianhammer]

[ ϟ ]—– Acknowledgement of the introduced is done with all the courteousness the god could muster at the moment, a brief nod to each individual and a clear, quite obvious once-over.

For a moment there is consideration if this had not been a massive mistake, the sort that would somehow, eventually, come with a new brand of problems in more complicated forms...

Granted, the liaison that had arranged the meeting had appeared trustworthy, came highly recommended by Wilson who by all accounts was as earnest and righteous as anyone could be. And yet there was that distinct prickle beneath the god's skin, the warning signs that instinct always produces when regarding something unnerving.

A sliver of gratitude then, for the effectiveness in which the man proceeds with their conversation, the king's stride now a more measured tempo and the words mulled over carefully.

' I appreciate it, one would think that the standing would have been solidified already, but alas ...'

Voice is coated with annoyance, and finding composure again comes with a rolling of broad shoulders and rise of the god's chin, something of defiance etched out vaguely on thunderer's features.

It was certainly the most sensible of acts to perform firstly, and there is some appreciation rising in the Asgardian for the effort already placed into the cause.

Already present frown deepens then, lines harsher as gaze is turned towards the earthly device.

' As much as I value the.. delicate nature of one's image, I do hope you have been informed about the issues that concern me the most? If not I will be happy to elaborate. My interest, as that of my generals, lies in protecting, and also, apprehending the responsible.'

Arch lets out a cynical laugh aat Thor's comment on the tentative trust at the moment, nodding in agreement. "Hey, whatever makes you confortable right now. Last thing I want is a bad first impression."

Drane and the two other males figured that they would not be invited to talk, but Arch stopped for a moment, turning back to them to at the very least introduce them. "Absolutely. The redhead is Drane, my leftenant. The metal armed man is Junkie, my medic, and the shorter guy is Operator, tech wizard and intel."

As they were introduced, each of them gave a small greeting to Thor, simple but genuine.

As they walked, Arch took off his blazer, laying it over one arm. "So you seem to not exactly be in the mood for small talk, so I'll be brief. I won't lie and say that I came out here entirely out of the goodness of my heart, and I would certainly be interested in something akin to a partnership between our groups. I am more than happy to offer any kind of help you think will be required to put you and yours in better standing in the public's eyes."

After a moment, the mercenary pulled the PDA from his wristband, sliding it to expand the screen, scrolling through some plans to show to the god. "I've got somethings set up here already, PR releases to bring to light the good that you and your community do. This right here is free, I'll be releasing this by the end of the week no matter how this conversation goes."

[asgardianhammer]

[ ϟ ]—– Expectations were impossible to ignore once certain wheels had been set into motion, and the days leading up to this meeting had been filled to the brim with them, vivid imagination always quick to craft possible outcomes.

One of said expectation had been that the delegation before him would be more akin to soldiers, in demeanor and appearance, and eyes narrow a fraction further whilst the whole massive amount of four of them emerges from the vehicles.

All of them are considered intently during the approach, each receiving a careful, intense once-over from head to toe.

It was so very akin to Coulson and his it made the god's hands itch, the sensation only leaving him when the man extended a hand.

Taking it with a tentative, reserved gesture it was almost comforting to find the mortal's hand far from smooth. Evidently, not one to cower behind papers and archives, buried in dossiers.

' Forgive me,' and the smile is a half-hearted, sharp-edged curl, the sort that was utterly feigned and forced in the name of diplomacy.

' We would rather not invite you into one of our buildings just yet, courtesy of ... difficult matters.'

Trust had indeed been broken and utterly diminished, and even now, with confidence that this group would hardly do any damage to him, or his, the god remained vision of apprehension, a curt nod added to the remarks.

' If you will walk with me for a bit, I am sure we can exchange all the necessary information rather quickly.'

A small pointed glare at the trio.

' Alone, if you do not mind?'

"They're going to be on edge about us."

The black unmarked Range Rovers effortlessly worked their way over the terrain leading up to the compound, idle glances outside as they approached.

"That's what we're here for."

The vehicles moved almost in sync as they approached, menacing yet almost polite with their etiquette once allowed passage into the Asgardian compound, coming to a stop while allowing room for people to leave if necessary.

"Let's hope they see that. They've been through a lot of late."

"Like that?" Arch sighed in frustration as he opened the door, dressed in a deep blue three piece suit. He knew that eyes were already on him, choosing to undo his shoulder holsters to take them off and leave them in the vehicle.

"Exactly like that. Fucking disgraceful." Drane was soon out of their vehicle as well, her and the two other males joining Arch as he stepped further in towards the thunderous being.

"Thank you for having us, Thor. I know trusting outsiders can be... difficult right now." Arch said rather simply once they were close enough for him to extend a hand.