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[kilimanjaro]

[Kili doesn't waste time with formalities. He looks strained and tired, dark shadows lining his eyes. No doubt he hasn't been sleeping well.]

I'm looking for Thorin Oakenshield. He's a dwarf like me, dark hair, blue eyes, probably carrying an elvish sword. I've been told he is here, but so far I've been unable to locate him.

[His hands are trembling slightly as he draws one over his face, rubbing lightly.]

If anyone has information on him, please tell me. [A moment of hesitation.] My name is Kili and the best place to find me would be the training rooms.

Comments

[video]

[ningwofuren]

[ After much plotting and planning as of late, Cao Cao was finally rewarded with some free time to rest. He's been speaking to various people all day for the sake of entertain if nothing else but when he stumbled across this message, he lingered here for awhile. ]

A dwarf...?

[ The very concept of dwarves and elves are lost to this man. He hails from a culture where neither exist. ]

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[kilimanjaro]

[Kili tenses slightly at that. He's heard plenty of the Tall Folk's dislike for dwarves.]

Yes, what of it?

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[ningwofuren]

[ Mengde stared at the young man for a moment before speaking. From what he can tell, Kili looks no different from any other person here. That's because he's not viewing him in person of course. Dwarves definitely do not exist in Asian cultures. ]

What is dwarf? You seem no different than others I've met.

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[skort]

[ kara's face is scrunched up in concentration when she replies. ]

I don't hear him anywhere nearby where I am. Is he still showing up on the network as someone who should be here?

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[kilimanjaro]

Aye, but I've looked everywhere and I can't find him. [His voice is tight with anxiety, his worry only barely concealed.]

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[skort]

He may be on a mission or doing something outside the city. [ which she realizes isn't exactly reassuring. whoops. ] Is he a capable fighter?

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[onblackwings]

Thorin is my roommate. [ carefully aloof, like she totally didn't arrange that on purpose. ] I'm sure he'll turn up sooner or later.

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[kilimanjaro]

[There's a brief flutter of hope in his chest, and Kili can't disguise the way his eyes light up for a moment. At least until her second statement. Then the disappointment is near palpable.]

You've no idea where he might be?

[onblackwings]

Do I look like his keeper? He's been here a long time already, waiting a little while longer for him won't hurt anything.

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[firstroar]

Hello, Kili.

I know of Thorin. If I get sense of him at all, I will alert him to your concern. [a beat.] I had spoken to him a long time before, however; I couldn't tell you his whereabouts or places he preferred to be.

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[kilimanjaro]

[Kili sighs, and there's a moment of silence before he answers.]

...Thank you. It seems no one knows where he is.

[firstroar]

[a slight pause.]

There is something you can try, if you haven't already. It involves using these tablets – this network.

[video]

[ladyofrivendell]

You've not found him yet?

[She feels for you Kili. And wishes she could tell you exactly where he'd gone.]

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[kilimanjaro]

[Kili shakes his head, looking defeated.]

No. ...I'm worried something has happened to him.

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[ladyofrivendell]

[If her expression wasn't soft already, it is now.]

No need to be. I've not known him long but he seems too hearty and stubborn a dwarf to let anything keep him back.

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[justthedriver]

[ A cloud of smoke is wreathed around his face, and Nikolai cocks his head, looking at the screen through it. ]

I know he's here. [ Slow eyebrow raise. ] You think he's gone missing?

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[kilimanjaro]

I couldn't say. [Kili shakes his head, looking tense and frustrated.] I've been looking for him since I arrived last week and I haven't been able to find him.

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[experting]

[ He knows how to work this thing. Yes he does. Kind of. The tutorials have been mildly helpful but y'know, how it goes. Hobbits and technology don't exactly mix. Actually, hobbits and most anything besides sunshine, food and fashionable neck scarves don't mix well. At all, really.

Anyway...

He manages as he always does; with luck. It's chance and good timing and a few fiddles of his fingers that gets him here, peering down at his tablet and blinking wide, surprised eyes down at the image of a blessedly familiar face.

When he finally speaks, it's with a rush of breath and relief. ] I knew I could not be here alone. [ Which isn't exactly a good revelation – especially with the state Kili is in – but he's glad, even if he's equally saddened, that one of his dwarves is here. Or... two? Thorin. Hm. That's a matter that needs to be dealt with, yes, very much so, but even though he'd like to collect his company, well... ] … But ah. Kili. [ And he glances side to side, dropping his voice, uselessly trying to keep this all private; he doesn't know much of adventuring, no, but he does remember something about it being secret. So drawing attention to its key player? ] … Are you certain this is… [ A pause for no particular reason other than for him to formulate his next word. ] … the way to go about finding him?

[ Through this communication thing; who is watching and listening and isn't this a bad idea? Maybe? ]

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[kilimanjaro]

Master Baggins!

[Kili's face splits into an enormous grin, toothy and broad. He's tired, exhausted really, but he isn't as alone as he thought he was, and that helps. Bilbo isn't Fili or Thorin, but he's someone who knows Kili and someone the young dwarf can trust with his life.]

It's the only way I can think of. I've tried asking around, but it's only gotten me so far.

[A beat, and he looks at Bilbo, his expression completely genuine and a little hopeful.] Unless you have a better idea?

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[freewoman]

[Oh, she knows him, but she doesn't know you.]

He's out. He'll be back.

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[kilimanjaro]

[Finally, information he doesn't have to wheedle out of someone.

Even if it's something he already knows now.]

He's on a mission, I heard. When will he be returning?

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[miscreant]

An elvish sword, hm?

[She gives him a searching look with soulless glowing blue eyes -- she's heard Thorin's name before, but had not actually met him.]

You don't look like any dwarf I've ever seen before.

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[kilimanjaro]

[BLESSED MAHAL WHAT IS THAT THING? Kili cringes back from the screen, eyes going wide with terror.]

And you don't look like any....thing I've seen before!

video; SO LATE SORRY

[ladyspitfire]

Messere Oakenshield is probably around here somewhere. I don't believe he's gone missing.

[And she dearly hopes he hasn't been hurt.]

Welcome to Exsilium, Kili. Are you friends with him?

video; IT'S ALL GOOD

[kilimanjaro]

[Kili nods briefly.] He's on a mission, from what I understand. No one seems to know exactly when he will be returning, though.

[He hesitates slightly at the question, but well, he's pretty much told everyone else already and so far no one's threatened to kill him. Quite the opposite, actually.]

Thorin is my mother's brother.