WEEK 4

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 4


[It is late in the afternoon when the Titled finally wake up from their long, vivid sleep. What day is it? Maybe it doesn't matter.

They weren't awake when it happened, but the final set of doors have opened. The Intercessor hasn't emerged from their room. There is no sign of the grumpy old man. And, the Titled may notice that nothing has been cleaned up - including the remains of those who prompted the Investigation - since they went into the Debate Hall. No new food has been supplied in the Kitchen, either.

The only replenishing food supply is in the Conservatex - who knows when those'll get ripped out from the ground out of spite, though. Their captors certainly showed themselves to not be above petty revenge, unfortunately.

So many questions now swirl. Is the old man hiding? Is the Intercessor ok? What the hell happened with the dragon? What about that other group which the Titled have come to realize exist? What did their captors have planned? And...really, what the hell else is going to happen now?

Whatever it is, it's not going to be good.

So get ready, Titled.

There are nine (but perhaps only eight?...) strangers in this place.]

Comments

MEETING

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor looks pale and wan (a light flickers under his skin, in the right light), but he smiles all the same ]

Junior, hm? You have grown very well. I can teach as well, if folk wish it. And I would suggest we consider killing some of the beasts and salting or smoking the meat.

[carries_war]

I've got you guys to thank for some of that. But you alright?

[He hops down from the table and walks closer to Maglor.]

You look like a wreck.

[bythewaves]

Bad memories. [ Maglor sighs softly ]

And hard decisions. They are long and long in the past now but...

[ But to have them returned to him, is... well, he is glad to have them, but he would have been happier not remembering, he supposes ]

I will be well, Junior. I promise. [ He smiles at him fondly ]

[carries_war]

You better.

[He smacks Maglor's arm with an open palm, then pauses and pulls the elf into a hug.]

I'd be pissed if something happened to you.

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor doesn't mind the smack, but the hug makes him visibly startle before he unbends and hugs Jr. back ]

Thank you, Junior. I will try to be careful, eh?

[carries_war]

Good. None of that 'it doesn't matter if I die' crap from before. We need you here.

[He's not letting go of that hug, either.]

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor ruffles his hair, because... well, it's within reach ]

I am still more expendable than all of you. [ He says gently ] But I will not actively seek death. [ Which is the only promise he can make ]

[carries_war]

No, you're not. Nobody here is expendable, you hear me? I'm gonna do my best to make sure we all get out of here alive.

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor smiles at him gently ]

I am. [ He says firmly ] I am old, far older than all of you, with your lives ahead of you. Death here only releases me, Junior. I will not seek death. I swear that to you. But if you or I must chose between me and the others, the others will always come before me.

[carries_war]

It's because you're older that we need you. You...I don't know what I would've done without your advice.

[bythewaves]

You would have been fine. [ Maglor is carefully straightening the hail he ruffled ]

I think you are far stronger than you sometimes consider yourself. You remind me a lot of Maedhros - my older brother, that is. And like him, I think you would have been fine, because you had to be.

[carries_war]

[He shakes his head against Maglor's side.]

It's what you said to me after Yusuke died that got me to talk to Killua about what I remembered last week. Nobody else ever said it was okay for me to lean on other people...even Helmer needed me to be strong, since he needed our help fighting U-TIC while he was still getting used to being Second Miltia's representative.

[bythewaves]

[ He sighs a little softly, hand carding gently through his hair ]

I am sorry that it was so. [ He says sadly ] You should have had more support than that.

[carries_war]

Yeah, well...my dad didn't give a crap, my brothers all counted on me, and Helmer...he had his own problems to deal with. chaos always tries to be there for me, but...I get the feeling he has his own worries, too.

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor hums softly ]

You would have liked Maedhros. [ He murmurs ] Both of you saddled with too much responsibility. I will be here as long as I can be, Junior. But... you can do this. You don't need me, you know. Not me specifically, that is - there are many here who would help you.

[carries_war]

I know, but each of us has something different we can do. We need your experience.

[bythewaves]

And you will have it, as long as I can give it. [ Maglor says gently ]

But promise me, Junior. You need to live. You and Killua and the others. I must not be put above them.