(Video - Evening)

[castintoflames]

(He doesn't like showing his face, but it feels wrong to hide himself. A voice can be charming; a voice can draw you to do horrible things. Maedhros wants to be genuine in exchange for the kindness he has received. As a result, his scarred features are visible through the transmission - one of his eyes an eerie grey while the other is a fierce blue.)

I have not introduced myself to all. My name is Maedhros Fëanorian and to those of you who have been kind to my brothers - Maglor and Curufin - and to my father - Fëanor - I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

(He is a prince and he was once a king, yet he has been humbled and so he bows to any watching.)

I ask but one request: fine tales. Tell me of your lives. Everyone is so unique and, in my opinion, that makes our fellowship something to celebrate. What say you?

Comments

[runs_on_batteries]

Your family is amusing, I'm glad you all are here.

[He's going to sidestep the request for tales for just now.]

How have you been faring since we got back from the mission?

video;

[happyends]

[ Sure, Maedhros is saying all of this in a much more eloquent way than Madoka ever could, but she does definitely agree. Especially with that final sentiment. So she actually smiles a little. ]

You're right..! It really is almost a little like a miracle that everyone here was brought together, huh..?

[ Sure, it's not as if they're here voluntarily. But if Madoka has to be stuck here with people, then she's glad it's at least people as nice as everyone here. ]

[castintoflames]

I'm glad we can be...entertaining?

(Is that the right word? He looks unsure, his brow furrowing slightly.)

It was...difficult...for me.

video;

[castintoflames]

(It comes with being Elven and the eldest son of Fëanor. He learned how to speak to the masses when he was very young.)

I see it as such. I did not think I would when I first stood on the platform.

(But the sheer kindness others have shown him is unmatched.)

How do you fare, Madoka?

[stealsyourheart]

Yo, Maedhros-san! I can tell you some stuff, sure! Can I ask for stuff from your world in return?

[runs_on_batteries]

[It was as good of a word as any. He enjoyed them all but he didn't think they needed anything added to their collective ego- arrogant man to another. Either way, he was smiling quite fondly at the elf, so whether it was the right word or not doesn't seem to matter too much.

That answer wasn't what he'd expected though.]

What do you mean? You and your brother were owning that battlefield before I left.

[castintoflames]

(Battle is as easy as breathing for them now. He thinks he could be half-asleep and still able to cut down a hoard. The goblins hadn't been the problem.)

It was...the blast. When the field turned to fire, I was reminded of...another time.

(And he had been violently ill, unable to speak, unable to do anything other than flee.)

Fire makes me uneasy, but a blast of that sort... (He shudders.)

[castintoflames]

That seems like a fair exchange. Who shall go first?

[stealsyourheart]

"Eh, you asked first right? So I should go. What sort of story do you want?"

[castintoflames]

Anything that brings you fond memories. (The point of this is to share happiness.)

[happyends]

Ah, um...

[ The slight pause and hesitation probably says a lot, but Madoka has always been a bad liar. ]

I'm alright. [ It's not a full on lie, at least, but there's a lot of worries and insecurities shoved down in order for her to give that answer. ]

Everyone has been helping me train so I'll be able to do better during the next mission, whenever that is.. You didn't get hurt during that mission, did you, sir?

[runs_on_batteries]

[Feanor hadn't gone into details about what had happened to Maedhros, but it didn't take a genius to guess what was haunting him originated. They both knew violent deaths and were plagued by them, so since this was video, it wouldn't be hard to see the empathy of one broken man to one broken elf.

For a moment, though, he didn't know what to say to that.]

I'm glad your brother was there to help even if I couldn't be.

[A brief pause.]

I have a bottle of scotch if you ever need some.

[It was the best he knew to offer.]

[stealsyourheart]

He considers.

"The first time the old man showed me a magic trick I was five. He made doves come out of his hat and made cards fly from his sleeves.

Easy enough now I know how to do it! But I still remember how amazed I was. I want to bring that sort of wonder."

[castintoflames]

(His death is but one part of it. The torture he endured at the hands of Morgoth was perhaps worse. At least it had lasted much longer and those foul creations of his had used fire on him.

Maedhros can't meet Tony's gaze, ashamed and disturbed.)

I don't know what you would do. There was little he could do except direct me.

(He can guess that the offer is for alcohol and he smiles regretfully.)

It would be wasted on me.

[castintoflames]

Are you certain? (Nope, he isn't buying that answer.) Do not concern yourself with me, child: were you hurt during the mission? I will do all in my power to keep you somewhere safe next time. You should not be fighting.

(He will carry all of the children under his arms to safety if need be. They can complain all they like; he won't listen.)

[castintoflames]

(He smiles gently at the innocence. He misses when the world was filled with wonder.)

The first time I saw King Manwë's Eagles, I dreamed of riding on one of them. I think I felt a wonder akin to yours and I was very young.

(Little did he know then that he would ride on one of them eventually, though his memory of the journey isn't clear.)

[stealsyourheart]

Ride one? Are they big?

[happyends]

[ Maedhros: the new local babysitter.

The fact he's totally flipping her question back around to her majorly throws Madoka off though. She was here to talk about him, not herself! She'd rather prefer to not be talking about herself ever! So her eyes grow wide as she stammers for a moment. ]

Ah, um, t.. that's..!

[ It takes a moment before she can even properly find words. ]

It's alright.. Everyone has been helping me train so I'll be able to protect myself and do better next time. I'm sure everyone already has enough to deal with during those missions to have to look after me as well.. I don't want to be a burden.

[castintoflames]

You are not a burden. (Children are precious and that is why they need to be protected.) I did not mean to imply that is so. Among the Elves, children are rare and fiercely guarded.

(Most of the time the world doesn't know about them until they are of age. Which is after a century.)

[castintoflames]

Yes. Thorondor, the largest, has a wingspan of 30 fathoms.

[happyends]

Rare..?

[ The thought of children being rare is a little odd to Madoka, but then again, it's not like she knows anything about the elves' society. So although she sounds a little surprised, she instantly believes him. ]

There are a lot of other boys and girls my age where I come from though.. [ Although some of them have been dying off rather quickly lately, thanks for nothing, Kyuubey!! ] So I guess I'm not really used to it.

[stealsyourheart]

I... am uncertain as to how big a fathom is, but I'm guessing the answer is "huge"... whoa.

[runs_on_batteries]

[He nodded at that.]

I don't know either, just that I would've liked to do something.

[His eyebrows rose in surprise about the alcohol.]

Coffee perhaps then? I have a still your father made for me. If there's a different liquor you would prefer, I can try to make it for you. I'm currently debating between gin and vodka.

[castintoflames]

Elves are not like Men or any other race. We do not have unwanted children. Both husband and wife must desire that life in order for them to be created.

(Plus, in most cases, sex equals marriage for them. So there are no random unions with bad consequences.)

You should know of your worth. (The adults have failed her.)

[castintoflames]

You have a good heart and if you use that to aid others, I am pleased.

(His lips quirk. Of course. Alcohol may not have much of an effect on Elves, but they can still enjoy it.)

I have never had either. Arda has wine, beer, mead and perhaps some home brews, but that is all.

[castintoflames]

Let me see... That would be 180 feet?

[stealsyourheart]

[ Kaito is visibly boggling ]

That's not huge, that's ridiculous. Are you sure it was an eagle and and not a dinosaur?!?

[castintoflames]

I do not know of dinosaurs? I am also certain they are Eagles. They have all the hallmarks of predatory birds and that is the name they were given by King Manwë.

[stealsyourheart]

You have eagles the size of small planes [ He squeaks, forgetting that Maedhros cannot be expected to know what a plane is ]

Ohmigod. Your world is either awesome or terrifying.

[castintoflames]

I would say the former rather than the latter. (Except he hasn't had the best experience on Arda. Yet he can appreciate its wonders nonetheless.) What are planes?

[stealsyourheart]

So cool

[ He blinks ]

Eh? Oh, right... fantasy world, pre-industry. Um. Plances are machines that fly - the really big ones can carry hundreds of people.

[castintoflames]

That...

(He blinks several times.)

Men are crafty, it seems. More so than I ever thought.

[stealsyourheart]

Ehehe. I guess? They worked out flight just about 119 years ago. Nowadays, there's everything from hang-gliders to massive jumbojets. We got into space too.

[castintoflames]

Space -

What is it like to fly among the stars? Are they as bright as they seem?

(He has long imagined them as similar to the Silmarils.)

[stealsyourheart]

I dunno - it's a pretty select few who get to go up. The pictures they bring back are pretty awesome though!

[castintoflames]

I believe you. (There are things even Elven eyes can't see.) This is why I wished to ride one of the Eagles. Without planes, I cannot touch the sky any other way.

[stealsyourheart]

Guess that makes sense. Y'know, I reckon we could probably build a hanglider here though, if you wanted to fly. Well. Glide.

[castintoflames]

On the train? (He smirks at the image of them gliding down the corridor.)

[happyends]

[ There's a noise coming from her out of such sudden surprise that it almost sounds like a yelp. Then she quickly speaks up, as if she can't keep the words from him for even just one more moment-- ]

N-No..! I'm not an unwanted child! [ At least.. there's no way she is. Or her little brother, for that matter. ] Mama and papa have always been really kind to me! I.. I just don't feel special..? But I don't think that's their fault..

[ Her parents are great, she'd never blame them for anything. ]

I think it really just must be a difference between humans and elves..

[stealsyourheart]

Well. [ He grins ] Maybe not in the train. Not enough airflow, unless we also get an engine. But if we get let out like we did last time?

[runs_on_batteries]

[Tony smirked at Maedhros' compliment, trying to take it well but squirming internally. He wanted to point out all the reasons he wasn't who they were saying he was, but his pride prevented him from it.]

I had some ale before you arrived, but unfortunately it has all been consumed- not just me, before you ask. I had a party that a number of passengers attended.- Anyway. If you or someone in your family would be interested, I could try my hand at something more Elf-friendly?