F R I E D R I C H
Friedrich braces his swaying companion with his upper arm, brought into contact by the pat, and wondered if everyone he met was going to be quite this… jovial.
But he enjoyed the lightness, if not literal, of his new friend. Though, he did seem somewhat cross-wired at the moment. Perhaps he could make a better go of it this time around. He couldn’t imagine anyone this friendly and unguarded in the war. Maybe this was a different place, less dire. He could certainly hope.
But a Queen, a chill ran down his biologically superior spine. He couldn’t explain why, but something forgotten in the sleep of ages made him uncomfortable in the presence of such official power. Probably the desertion, he supposed. He doesn’t remember getting leave to nap till the whole thing sorted itself out. But then again, he doesn’t remember many things.
He tries to shake such recollections and reaches under Amon’s arm to brace him more thoroughly as the pair continue into the woods. It was instinctive, casting disregard on his coat and the threat of disease. And, a memory finds him:
Bracing up another younger man around the back. He too feels hot and unwieldy, Friedrich looks down and counts three shoes. His own and a boot. But, the man smiles. A smile Friedrich would fail to return.
He clears his throat to interrupt his own reverie. Not this time, he told himself. Queens and monolithic eyesores be damned. This time would be different.
The pair saunters into the woods toward what Friedrich assumes is the location of the Queen. The night was yet young and the older Ascended now smiled broadly, but a critical observer could be forgiven for thinking he may be compensating for something.
-FIN
