Video/Action; pretend this was posted at a normal hour

[inafadingcrown]

[The video feed flips on, focusing (after a few seconds of jostling around) on Galadriel, sitting on the steps of the Initiative Hold, her sheathed sword beside her. Having just finished training, she’s attired appropriately, wearing a simple dress and with her hair braided and wound about her head- displaying those pointed ears quite prominently for those who might have missed them before.]

I grow weary of the constant grey here. It is overlong since I have heard a running stream or seen the sunlight filtered through the forest canopy.

Tell me, those of you who have journeyed outside this city: does greenery yet remain in this world? It would do my heart well even to hear of it.

Comments

[ima_something]

[Her hand is still on her sword. It would cut, still if she did anything.]

Grievance is one word for it. I've never met one of you before -- but believe me, the reputation is enough. Kidnapping, theft, destroy whatever pleases elves to destroy.

[inafadingcrown]

[It would cut from across a video feed? Galadriel's sword sits beside her still and she makes no move toward it. She's feeling secure enough.]

I beg your pardon?

[This expression is one part offended, one part genuinely shocked.]

[ima_something]

[Not quite that, but between her powers and Death's blade, there would be quick work of it. All of Death's training with blades, since the beginning of time, working by instinct.

But right now, she's... slipped into governess mode, and there is a niggling doubt. Because Elves weren't shocked at what they were. So she says this all with a assessing look, guaging reaction]

Elves -- the Fae. They're parasites that live off the brightness of humanity, like all monsters do. They take children because they're sweet, then leave them to wander the wastes of their fairy realms. They play cruel tricks because they think tears sound beautiful. They would burn it all if they thought it looked pretty. They are cruel, vain, greedy and thoughtless. They take as they want and never stop to care before the disregard it again -- they have no care for the pain of others, in fact they care so little that they enjoy watching others suffer.

[inafadingcrown]

[The reaction is indignant. She raises her head higher, proud as ever, and looks down at the tablet.]

Perhaps that is so in your home. I will thank you not to assume the same of me or of my people. The Quendi have battled the Dark things of the world ere mankind set foot in it; we have no love of cruelty or of bloodshed, though we know those sorrows well.

I am accustomed to the suspicion of mortals and to accusations of arrogance- and neither are fully unwarranted, in truth. I am not, however, accustomed to hearing such monstrosities attributed to me and mine.

[ima_something]

[The effect is lost on Susan, she's cold, flat, nothing impresses her, nothing scares her. Just an even stare that is for the most part, unrelenting.]

It's not something I lightly bestow, either. They're so utterly foul. Some monsters can be reasoned with, elves simply don't... they have neither imagination or empathy. They hide and cloak themselves in glamour too, will say anything and their music is entrancing to those that hear it -- only because of spells, again, they've no real ability of their own. You can't believe them, and who would trust something that is capable of that?

[inafadingcrown]

You presume I lie and so whatever I say may be readily dismissed. I suppose you would also discount any Elven music or poetry I might give you in proof of our abilities. And there is little I may do to prove empathy.

You pose a challenge indeed.

[ima_something]

... It would be harder to entrance me then most. In fact I don't think you could do it. [let the elf think what she will, Susan didn't care. It was seldom any one ever got it right outside of the wizards.]

So try what you think will work. [She wasn't completely unreasonable, after all.]

[inafadingcrown]

You say that the elves of whom you speak are incapable of art without enchantment. If I were to sing without the use of any such devices, would you accept that I am of another nature?

[The singing of elves of her world has its own power, but it's of a different sort. One might say that it reveals truth, rather than deceives.]

[ima_something]

.... Yes, I think I would. I'd still watch your actions for awhile, of course, to be completely honest with you. Though I don't think you'd expect otherwise either.

[inafadingcrown]

I would think less of you if you did not. [Vigilance. It's important.] A pity I do not have my harp, however.

[She'll just have to do the best she can unaccompanied. She sings softly- a very old song, as melancholy as it is beautiful. Can the Starkindler even hear her here? She doesn't know, but she'll sing her praise all the same.

In a way, the song's as much for her own benefit as for Susan's.]

[ima_something]

I could get you one -- [Trying to be helpful all the same, but never mind, she was singing...

... and she'd never truly heard anything so beautiful, at least not so pure. She'd heard Imp, she'd heard Music with Rocks In. Felt that like electricity, but it had been a being alive in music. No, it sounded much more like that last song Imp had sung, the one that was achingly empty for something.

So Susan kept quiet. Let her mind drift further away for a moment. The sound of something passing. How true, much to true. But it left her mind quiet. Her Grandfather would find it fitting, she supposed.]

... You're not an elf of my kind then.

[inafadingcrown]

Not at all. [Her voice is softer, a little more kind. She had been in Susan's place not that long ago, after all, regarding the matter of trolls.]

[ima_something]

Thank you for all that then.

... The explanation helped. Sorry if I offended. [awkward. pause.] I tend to hit first and ask questions later. [it's the best she can offer as an explanation really.]

[inafadingcrown]

Then mayhaps I should warn you of my granddaughter. Neither her father nor I would take kindly to her being hit at all. [She's serious... but also kidding? There's some amusement in her voice, at least.]

[ima_something]

Well. If she's like you, it shouldn't be a problem. But if you've got children then that really settles it. Elves can't breed where I come from, unless it's with humans.

[Actually if she has children of her own --] But you'd understand then. I look after children, one of the things I... deal with -- not an elf mind you, they don't always leave their realm -- directly goes after children, it preys on their fear directly.

permavideo;

[sithiche]

You should be cautious with such words. You never know who will overhear you.

Re: permavideo;

[ima_something]

[her face is still stern, she's not heartless, but this isn't wanton cruelty, not where elves are concerned. It's a real concern to her.]

They may do, it's not my concern. I'll be happy to admit I'm wrong, I'd rather not have to shove you all back through dimensions, if its all the same. I'm not saying this for my own enjoyment you know?

[sithiche]

That is quite the threat. Are you certain you're capable of following through on it?

[ima_something]

Not completely here, dimensions are no longer freely available for me to travel through. But I'll think of something if I ever see anyone get hurt.

[She won't explain herself, doesn't need too.]

[sithiche]

And what makes you the authority on policing fey?

[ima_something]

I'm not a watchman.

[there's a stubborn set to her jaw.]

But someone has to.

[sithiche]

Do you intend to police nature for harming mortals as well, then?

[ima_something]

If it was doing it in a way that it shouldn't? Yes, I would.

[she's doing it right now, actually. Or was. Auditors ran the universe, after all.

She just wished it would leave her alone, but it didn't. She had to, just like grandfather had to. End of story.]

[sithiche]

It is your place to dictate what nature should and shouldn't do?

[ima_something]

[There is a long, stony and especially empty silence of anything but her flat and unwavering stare.]


...


I do what needs doing.