Welcome to Gaia! ::

It was a bit odd to be living with someone after so long. Odd that there were so many limitations on what he was allowed to do, when Iriel had lived the last thousand years having no one and nothing and being constrained only by his own physical limitations. It didn’t really occur to him to be sparing with giving out Thaddeus and Elias’ information. Which he didn’t really do- but Alexi knew he lived with Knights. And now he knew where those Knights lived.

Thad and Eli seemed to have some suspicion and mistrust of others, and after Iriel had said Alexi- who was Windsor, a Knight like them- was coming to pick him up at his (their) place of residence, they had impressed on him in a manner bordering unkind that they would strongly prefer if people they’d never met and weren’t familiar with, didn’t know their Knightly affiliation and where they lived and their civilian names.

Later, they’d amended that if it was just them, it wouldn’t be a big deal…

But they had to be extra careful because of Teyla (and because of who Thad was previously). She was too young and too small to be overly involved in this war business, and they were still worried that if certain people got a whiff of Thad- Regal- Nobleite- it would be a lot of danger for their household. Which they could not risk with Teyla present. Having Iriel staying with them was already dangerous, but Thad was a good person, and couldn’t stomach the thought of abandoning someone to be alone and confused on a new planet.

He didn’t regret Iriel staying with them.

But there were risks. Risks they probably shouldn’t have taken if they were trying to protect Teyla.

Still, they’d already done it, and Thad didn’t regret it. But if their civilian names and Knight names and the location of their home was just going to be out in the air, the least he could do was moderate it. And so it was Thaddeus who opened the door, looking comfortable (and very suburban) in a knit vest with a short sleeve tee underneath and baggy yoga pants.

He smiled, gentler and softer than any of Iriel’s expressions, but it was absolutely not a suggestion when he said to the boy at the door, “Come in. Iriel will be ready soon, I think.”

It was… quite a young and excitable guy standing in Thaddeus’ doorway, if the momentum that brought the young man forward (and then promptly made him recoil) was anything to go by. A lot of energy. Very forthright. Thad wasn’t… suuuuure if that was a good thing… Given what they were, he might have felt safer to meet someone with more discretion…

But Thad was nothing if not polite and hospitable. He shook the other’s hand as it was offered to him, giving a gentle tug to help him steady himself back on his feet after his fall. “Alexi. Hi. I’m Thaddeus.” He didn’t think it would ever not be weird to give his current name, when he still felt like he would always be Micah, but it was just a name. He didn’t need to think too hard on it, and definitely didn’t want anything strange to come across his face while he was meeting someone new…

Though his smile did slip as Alexi came right out with- “Dating?” Thad parroted, blinking in surprise.

Hadn’t they met, like, twice? Ever? And Iriel was essentially a trillion years old and an alien seeking to restore his collapsed planet, and this guy didn’t look to be more than… a teenager. A teenager who happened to be a Knight, sure, but… These priorities… Ah, to be young and unencumbered.

“Nnno. I’m married.” But he supposed that barely mattered if polyamory was already being brought up, so he added, “A little too much drama for my tastes.” …Although, admittedly, Iriel was already living here, so the drama was coming from inside the house already. No, no.

He cleared his throat softly and stepped to the side, waving for Alexi to come in as what sounded like a herd descended the stairs. Iriel was not light of foot.

He rounded the corner to come into the entry hall and practically enveloped the entire space with his bulk, forcing Thad to back up a bit so Iriel could sweep forward with a wide grin to grab at Alexi and lift him physically into the house. “You found it! I’m glad. I have found navigating to be somewhat of a struggle. Come.” He set Alexi back to his feet then took him around the arm to lead him deeper inside. “Thaddeus wishes to speak with you. Us.”

From behind him, “Nothing bad, just…” He trailed off.

Thaddeus was fortunate to be a patient man, because this was an awful lot of conclusion-jumping from someone that he was being forced to trust. If he’d been asked how likely he was to give his identity to someone like Alexi, he would’ve admitted to it being… quite a low chance. But no one had asked him. Iriel just did as he pleased, and Thaddeus couldn’t even be offended by it because Iriel didn’t have a complete grasp on how important these secrets were… even amongst their own faction. He didn’t think Alexi did, either.

“No.” As Thad led them into the house, into the dining room, he tapped a finger lightly to a frame hanging on the wall in the hallway. A picture of himself crouching next to a tall, aqua-haired man chasing a small, presumably screaming, pink-haired girl. “My husband and daughter are running errands, at the moment.”

“I’d like to not get involved with Iriel’s relationships. It’s not really my business…”

He knew for a fact that if it was his child ‘dating’ a thousand-year-old alien, he’d definitely have an opinion on the matter, but it wasn’t… And he shouldn’t be minding what any other grown men were doing- Except Iriel had invited this one to his house. Told Alexi about the Knights who’d taken him in. Their relationship wasn’t his business. Unless it became problematic. It was just his business because there were other factors.

“You can go ahead and sit down. I’ll get us something to drink,” before he slipped out of the room into the adjoining kitchen.

Iriel swept a chair out for Alexi to take a seat. “Thad is a good person. Mostly.” Tacked on only as an afterthought because he didn’t really have any idea what sorts of things the other man had done while under Chaos’ influence. “He is just a worrisome, anxious sort, and it’s hard for him to trust the good nature of someone he hasn’t met, I think.”

Once Alexi was seated, Iriel plopped down into the chair immediately next to him, scooting it even closer as he propped an arm up on the table. “What business of yours would it be if I was ‘married?”

Iriel shifted where he sat, lacing his fingers beneath his chin as he eyed the other with a curious gaze, though his smile did not falter. Alexi did indeed look discomforted, though Iriel couldn’t say why with complete certainty.

He had not answered to anyone in centuries. Had not requested permission for his whims and had not “checked in” or informed anyone of his activities. There wasn’t anyone. Any crazy or heinous thing Iriel had thought to do- he just did, if he couldn’t persuade himself not to. Iriel wasn’t going out of his way to keep secrets. He even considered himself to be quite forthright! He’d told Alexi all about where he lived and the people who’d taken him in and all the things he enjoyed (or didn’t enjoy) about this planet.

And their relationship. It was supposed to be fun and easy.

Which was what Iriel had decided that most of his Earth experiences should be: “fun and easy,” for whatever happened when he was out of his Senshi guise. It was what Thad and Eli had encouraged of him. Relax. Recover. A break. It had been so long… For his deteriorating mental wellbeing, and consequently the likelihood of him actually succeeding in ridding his world of Chaos, rest would be best.

Agreeing to ‘rest’ and ‘enjoy’ didn’t change that he had only one desire. One objective. One thing he wasn’t going to let go.

“Ah! Haha!” His laugh was soft and vibrant. “I think I am seeing where the misunderstanding stems from.” That lack of communication Alexi complained about. “I am not committed to a person. Nor do I wish to be.”