(no subject)

[inafadingcrown]

[Thorin Oakenshield, video]

[Welp, there sure is an elf on your tablet. She gives a respectful nod of her head before speaking.]

If you have a moment, there is something I would discuss with you.

[Celebrían, video]

May I speak with you, pinig?

[Action for...a little plot of land near the apartments]

[Believe it or not, even ethereal elves get stressed. Working in the clinic almost nonstop since the battle has taken a toll on Galadriel and, even worse, Celebrían had been affected. Most seriously affected. It had only reinforced the fact that, however she might try, Galadriel could not protect her daughter as she wished to. Not unless she were to lock her in a tower and- well, Thingol’s example wasn’t something she wanted follow here.

Frustration, anger, and a deep seated feeling of guilt and failure fuel her lately. She’s aware that’s not exactly healthy, though, so she’s taking some time to herself- and what better way to sooth her soul than to do some gardening?

It’s nothing major, just a little empty lot near the holds that she’s taken charge of- and for the moment, it’s nothing more than a few vegetables and herbs here and there. Mostly what she’s been able to scrounge up in the marketplace or useful things that she’s found growing wild in the city. But it feels good to have some connection to nature, to surround herself with growing things again. And, of course, having Nenya with her means that the garden has a little boost. You can feel it, really- it’s a feeling of safety, of comfort, and of life. It’s not obvious magic, at least not to anyone who isn’t familiar to that sort of thing, but it’s there.]

Comments

[inafadingcrown]

Those who make a habit of provoking dragons do not, in my experience, live long. [There's more irritation than hostility in her tone, though.] It is well I bear little resemblance to the fell beasts.

[hobgob]

[ The lack of hostility is a little strange, but not enough to make Mallory think twice. ]

You so sure of that? Metaphors really lack when it comes to literal things like resemblances, y'know.

[inafadingcrown]

Tell me, then. How did I come to be the dragon in this metaphor? Flattered as I am by the implication regarding my power, I do find it somewhat puzzling.

[hobgob]

Uh, because? Of what you are? It sure as hell ain't going to be one of the mortals.

[inafadingcrown]

[Despite everything, that brings a quirk of a smile to her lips.] Not all here are so quick to know me for what I am. One can never be certain what others assume.

[hobgob]

Tch. Your kind are like a God-damned plague upon the land where I'm from. Only makes sense to keep an eye out, so of course I'm quick at it.

[inafadingcrown]

A plague, are we? [We'll that's... not as new as it was when she first arrived in Exsilium. She's heard of less... gentle elves before. But it's still annoying.] I have heard my people called many things but never that. What, pray tell, has earned us such condemnation?

[hobgob]

[ Mallory wrinkles her nose, her lips drawing back in a slight snarl, but then she distracts herself by digging in her pocket for another cigarette and a match. ]

Running about like you own everything, like you've got some right to do whatever you please. You and your Fair Folk are oh ho so above all us poor lesser chumps, we should just be grateful for the attention, right?

[ She steps back off the plot of land and crouches down, but only long enough to strike the match against a bit of cement. As she stands, she lights the new cigarette. ]

Always a pleasure when your lot comes calling to my neck of the woods, though. I'll give 'em that.

[inafadingcrown]

And why should we not do as we please, so long as it harms none? We have that right just as you do, do we not?

[Not even touching that last sentence; she can tell when she's being baited.]

[hobgob]

[ See, that's how Mallory can tell she's an old one. A younger elf would have jumped at the bait. That gives her some pause, wondering if she might want to consider her escape routes sooner than later.

Old ones never came riding out to bother her.

They had better things to do. ]

If it harmed none, there wouldn't be no problem. Very picky about who gets to live where, for one, getting all up in arms over one little goblin wanting to keep to herself too close to their lands.

[ Among other problems, but that one happens the most these days. Or did, since she's no longer there at all! ]

[inafadingcrown]

[And "goblin" is the magic word. Her lips purse and she stands a little straighter, looking down on Mallory, figuratively and literally.]

If goblins were not servants of the Dark Lord, wont to attack an elf sooner than speak to one, there would be little need for us to protect our borders as we do.

[But she's not stupid enough to miss the obvious here. She stares unapologetically for a moment longer before adding.] You look like no goblin I have seen.

[hobgob]

[ That's more like it. That look, much more familiar. ]

Funny thing to say when we're talking just fine right now. [ If... not exactly a friendly way, but still. The comment on her looks gets a sneer, though. ] 'Course I don't. I look human, yeah? That what you thought at first? Pretty good trick, ain't it?

let me know if this isn't okay

[inafadingcrown]

I thought no such thing. [Appearances have never done much to deceive her in the first place. She knew "nonhuman," but she still didn't feel like a goblin should. And there was the fact that, as Mallory had said, she is speaking to her.]

From where do you hail? [Things weren't adding up as they should and, by now, Galadriel has learned that that usually means a differently reality.]

i can't figure out what wouldn't be ok so it must be /sagenod

[hobgob]

[ Huh. She hadn't? So few people have commented on her differences, she'd been wondering if they were simply used to strange people or if she fit in enough to pass. ]

Don't matter, does it? If you don't already got it figured, you won't know the place.

o7

[inafadingcrown]

[A frown.] If you are not a goblin of Arda and do not conduct yourself as one would, I have no quarrel with you.

[hobgob]

Not of Arda, nah. [ 'No quarrel', she says. Mallory laughs at that. ] You say that now, but we'll see.

[inafadingcrown]

So we shall. [Look, she is doing her very best to be reasonable here. Given that her initial reaction to the word "goblin" is "someone please kill it," she thinks she's doing a good job.]

Consider this your warning, then. If you bring harm to any of those I consider under my protection, I will not be so generous as to give another. [And no, she's not giving you names. Lovely little trap, isn't it?]

[hobgob]

Ha. 'Warning'. Oh noooo.

[ She rolls her eyes and puffs on her new cigarette some. She massively dislikes Galadriel's kind, but hunting down specific people to get on her nerves? Too much effort, not enough real reason for it right now. ]

Maybe you should be warning them instead. I ain't magical enough to tell who sucks up to you and who doesn't. [ That said, she begins to turn to go. ] But now that we're all introduced, I'll be off.

[ Not exactly in the sense of exchanging names, of course. ]

[inafadingcrown]

Might I have a name to complete the introduction? [The more information you have, etc, etc.]

[hobgob]

Baines.

[ Like an elf gets Mallory's whole name! That said, she's pauses in going just yet to look back and eye Galadriel. ]

What about you?

[inafadingcrown]

I am the Galadriel, Lady of Lothlórien and the Galadhrim. [And Galadriel is precisely the reverse; the more distrusting or displeased she is, the more likely she is to make a display of her titles.]

[hobgob]

Blah blah blah, fancy titles and some long pretty name, got it.

[ Yet Mallory remains unimpressed (though chances are that Galadriel already expected that of her). With that done, she doesn't see any reason to remain, so she's turning to walk off as she had planned to. ]

Right! Maybe I'll be seeing you around, Gladys, but until then.

[ Preferably she won't, but this world is an awfully small one.

It'll be only a few steps until she finds the shadow of a building to step into. A few more steps and she vanished outright, not around a corner or behind anything, simply gone straight into the shadow, the only traces of her having been there the stomped out cigarette, the plant she wrecked, and the linger stench of smoke. ]