#theobservant

            {‽};; Blending in with either Midgardian or Asgardian was                            easy enough, it believed. Their structures nearly the                            same, all it truly took was a change of garments, and                            it was free to roam the kingdom. It was a nice change                            from Midgard-- while the mortals had their... quirks...                            the Asgardians reminded him much more of home, of                            an age long before.

                           That, however, had not been the Aether's intention in                            coming here. It was unsafe here, leaving it on edge.                            While physically, it could blend in, it was sure it could                            be found if it were not careful. So the Infinity Stone                            made its way to the Bifrost to seek out Heimdall--                            if it were to search the Nine Realms on its own for                            its siblings, it would take an eternity.

            {‽};; ❝ Hail, Gatekeeper. ❞

            {‽};; It could only hope for the impossible now, that the                            All-Seeing could not see through its facade.

asgardianhammer: ""Please don't do this. Please...""

             ❝I do what I must in order to protect Asgard,                    and if it  means  that  I  must  sever  all  ties                     between you and here, then so be  it.  I  do                     as the Allfather wills  me     and  I  do  what                     my duty demands.❞                    His voice is cold, hard as a rock as fingers                    wrap around the grip of Hofund. He moves                    slowly, limbs as if they are leaden. Heavy-                    hearted, the Gatekeeper      he reluctantly                    raises his sword, as if to open the gate of                    Asgard,  but a  moment’s  thought  and  he                     pauses, only a brief hesitation.                                   ❝I am sorry, Thor.❞

Frustration flares higher and blossoms into something that could develop into anger; had it been anyone else standing before him - denying him and dismissing him - the tempest would have awoken and burned his insides long before the last word was uttered.

But it was him, Watcher, friend, terms that served as heavy boulders resting against, subduing, the emotions.

' They n e e d me! ' Firm statement barely passes gritted teeth, squared shoulders and rigid spine meant to reinforce his status even though that had never affected the protector before. Desperation seeps through in the tone then, faint but audible to experienced ears. ' His will has been ignored before, you can do it again. For me.'