Re: Halt! Who are you?
When Eva invoked Frigga's name, Thor's eyes searched above his wife's hair and made purposeful contact with his brother's. He knew neither himself or Baldr had any doubt of Frigga's involvement. The moment between brothers shared, the Allfather heard mention of his people's happiness. "Yes," Thor confirmed, smiling. The God of Thunder was elated. He sat beside his wife and across from his now-second oldest friend. His wife was flanked by his youngest brother, and across from her was her most trusted ally and newest lover, a man Thor had begun to respect on an entirely new level. Mostly based on his devotion to Eva and Asgard.
"It's true that our sister's wrath followed so closely by the acts of the mad Titan took a terrible toll on our people," the king began, more somber than he'd appeared thus far. "Lady Sif's return is another stride toward the reclamation of Asgard," his smile returned with a vengeance and his hand squeezed Eva's thigh under the table. "The people can feel it. Our new home, our new Midguardian families, our new Queen, Loki and Baldr being brought back into the fold, and now the return of one of our greatest champions," he gushed and his arm stretched across the table to ensnare Sif's hand. "What is there not to rejoice about?" he asked without requiring an answer. These women, Thor thought, these women were why Thor was truly blessed.
Baldr had been mildly distracted by the mention of his mother, then the pointed look from his brother. Frigga... involved from realms beyond. He wondered what she thought of him, of what he'd become. Thor continued to speak and he returned to the conversation, not by his words, but the amount of positivity the Allfather was emitting. It was impressive. Baldr raised his humble cup to his final words and gave a subdued cheer. Indeed, those were all reasons to rejoice.
His eyes examined (politely) both Eva and Sif. The women were both pleased, and joyful even, but the shortest man in the room noted the unease they held. Baldr understood Eva's and Sif's love for Thor. Sif's more personally, as he'd spent some time with an unrequited crush on the warrior. Thankfully, it had passed because clearly, she'd never shared his affection. He supposed it wasn't too unusual to fall for your older brother's friend. Or in Sif's case, sometimes-lover.
Baldr quietly prepared a tiny sandwich with bread and a few types of cheese, he borrowed Eva's attention and offered her his creation. "It's quite good," he informed her when he placed in it her hand. When their skin made contact Eva felt a rush of joy, straight from the tap, with a vote of confidence from Baldr. She was not to doubt herself based on Thor and Sif's history.
Nate felt only a bit uneasy beside the warrior, but that was only because of his discomfort near people he did not yet understand. But he had little doubt he'd figure her out. In the meantime, his eyes focused on Eva during Thor's words. The wizard wasn't searching for anything, he was simply enchanted by the woman's tasteful feathers.
When Baldr cheered, Nate raised his hand in solidarity but did not speak. Instead, he paused a moment before he popped Thor's balloon. Of course, his connection to both women did not go unnoticed. "Your majesty?" he began politely, to Thor's chagrin.
"Please, Nathaniel," Thor pleasantly barked. "Drop the formalities for a moment, you are with friends and lov... love," he course-corrected. "We are all in love here," Thor added with a chuckle. Nailed it.
"Yes, sir," Nate's eyes had only grown wide for a moment, but Thor had caused the dark-haired man to smirk. "While I agree with your sentiments, may I remind you that not all is so rosy," the adviser shared. "The issue with Helheim still lays unsolved," he reminded, then focused his attention on Eva. "The council meeting after the Jol closing was not productive," Nate explained. "It seems we were missing something." He'd leave that right there. "Also, King Freyr was there and very drunk," Caltrops hands wavered in the air before him, for just a moment.