driftfleet | Tl;dr: Screw accurate calendars, let's celebrate anyway

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Tl;dr: Screw accurate calendars, let's celebrate anyway

Who: Finrod Felagund
Broadcast: fleetwide
Action: Bishop
When: backdated a few days, let's say the 26th.

[Congratulations, Drift Fleet. You are being treated to a little tune of Finrod's own composition. Because some days, you just feel like announcing things in verse, apparently.]

When the night is at its longest, we gather ‘round the fire
Drink is shared and tales are told as the flames grow ev’r higher.

The custom comes to naught without a sun to mark the days,
But merry voices hold shadows of many kinds at bay.

Our journey is no garden path; we do not walk with ease.
Any reason for song and drink is one that must be seized.

[Okay, okay. He'll put down the harp and address the camera a bit more serious. Only a bit, though- there's nothing truly serious about any of this.]

In other words, my friends, Turuhalmë, an annual celebration of my people is, I think, here. It’s impossible to truly know, since I have no notion of how my calendar lines up with any other used here. Regardless, I think the occasion worth marking. According to tradition, we should gather around a fire, tell tales, and make merry long into the night.

However, as I am not precisely enthused about the idea of making a return to the planet and our ships are not equipped with hearths, I will settle for the making merry and telling of tales. You are all welcome to join me; I am on the Bishop for the moment, though if the group should grow large, we may have to relocate.

[ooc: With apologies to Tolkien and poets everywhere. It's been a long time since I've done anything that's not freeverse]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

She sounds formidable. Though note I have a question. Twice you've mentioned people who changed their names. Is that common?

Very much so. In fact, I will add a third to your list. Most properly I am Findaráto Ingoldo, son of Arafinwë. The first is my Father name- that which I was given at birth. My sister's Father name is Artanis. The second is my Mother name, which is typically given in childhood and is often prophetic- though mine is not.

'Finrod' is simply the Sindarin translation of 'Findaráto.' It is easier for the Sindar- and most others, I have found.

[He gives a little shrug] Our people have always been excessively fond of names and naming. One of the earliest names for elves is 'quendi,' 'the speakers.'

[Well they have come to a part that is both puzzle and intriguing. Syeira gives him a look that is a little intense, like if she peers hard enough, it will all tumblr out of him and make perfect sense. She does this to books sometimes too.]

So what do the names mean, and which do you go by when? And wouldn't it be jarring just to switch, even to a different translation of the same name? I understand the meaning is the same but it's a different name.

[He tries not to appear too amused at that look. There is not going to be a quiz later, he promises.]

Which name one goes by is a matter of personal preference. There are some who never stray from their Father name, some who prefer their Mother name, and some who have no Mother name at all.

I did not personally find it jarring- the names are close enough in sound as well as meaning that it was simple enough to answer to both. You may have noticed I struggle still with my sister's new name. Hers is not simply a translation, but something new altogether. It is not unheard of and certainly within her rights, but it will take time for those who know and love her to adjust.

As for their meaning, in my case, both 'Finrod' and 'Findaráto' translate roughly to 'mighty descendant of Finwë," and "Ingoldo" means simply "the Noldo." [Yes, he knows. It's not his fault.]

[But why not? Quizzes are great.]

[So she can just...pick a new name? And everyone just goes with it? And gosh they just gave up on Finrod's second name. :| That's rough friend. But why name any one at all at that rate. Just toss out a list of suggestions, and ask what the child likes best!

But this is not her culture. And she is thinking very uncharitable thoughts about a clear way of life that surely they must have thought through, before instituting it. It might be quiet clear that some of this confusion and consternation is going through her mind and then also that she decides that it's not actually her place to judge. It's not like he's asking her opinion on the state of it or anything. So back to things she can actually talk about without getting into potentially circular, and offensive, debate.]

Well at least your first- um father name is obviously accurate. You've got to be pretty powerful to found your own kingdom after all.

Edited 2016-01-31 04:58 (UTC)

[He wouldn't mind if she asked more or voiced some of those opinions, honestly. He likes debate and he's secure enough that he really doesn't care if other people think the way he does things is silly or strange.]

Less so than you would think. In my case, it was more about establishing a safe place for my people to dwell than aught else.

Now I'll admit I've no experience with this, however, I have read an obscene amount of books in my life. And based on that accumulated knowledge, I can easily guess that [She's going to start ticking off points on her fingers now.] finding a location suitable for the foundation of a large settlement, building said large settlement, sustaining it, and then ruling it, are actually rather large, grand feats that not just anyone can actually pull off. In my educated opinion, you're underselling yourself.

[u_u]

[Okay, okay. He laughs and gives a little shrug.]

You have me there. I did not realize I was up against such a scholar.

I was raised in a library. What else did you expect? I'm exceptionally learned.

[She's half teasing. She's not that arrogant.

Also she pronounced it learn-ed. Just to be clear.]

Were you truly raised in a library? This does explain a great deal. [Half teasing.]

[Playfully suspicious!]

And what exactly does it explain?

I can think of few environments more conducive to nurturing a love of stories than a library, for one thing.

Actually it's even odds to make a person hate them as well. There were moments I could have stood not to see a book again. But I got past them, thankfully.

Edited 2016-02-15 21:12 (UTC)

And we are all fortunate that you did!

But I must confess, I thought also of your love of song when I answered, for if I had lived in a place where one was meant to be silent, I, too, would wish to raise my voice.

[That gets a chuckle out of her, a smile as she remembers.]

Oh I raised my voice. I ran in the halls. I made messes. Climbed out windows, and terrified half the scholars the first time I got up on top of the battlements. The look on their faces when I jumped was priceless.

I was fine. I was practicing a spell I'd learned, called Feather Fall. Not even a scratch on me. But that was the first time I felt like I'd really touched the wind. Like I could fly.

[Oh wait, she really ran with that didn't she.]

Sorry. I took us really off topic.

Oh, but what a delightful sidetrack you took us upon. And now I know that we would have been fast friends as children as well.

You would be surprised the trouble you can get into in a palace

Would I? Challenge accepted. Surprise me.

[He looks thoughtful for a moment and then grins.] Well, the Noldor are extremely proud of their metalwork. It is, perhaps, not surprising that there were many displays of armor throughout the palace.

Well, as you can imagine, for four young boys, these were just far too tempting. One day, my brothers and I decided that they would make a fine addition to our mock battles- and we managed to strip several displays clean and don the armor before we were caught.

Picture, if you will, four boys thrusting wooden swords at one another, oversized helms slipping down over their heads. It is a miracle we did not break anything valuable whilst we were at it.

Eventually, some hapless guard happened upon us. I don't think he even attempted to deal with it himself- went straight to my Mother, as I recall.

[It's a terribly cute image in her head. But not surprised!]

You can't have gotten into too much trouble for that. You did have the foresight to use wooden swords instead of taking the real ones along with the armor.

[A laugh] Well, we didn't actually want to kill one another! But you are right, there were times we got in far more trouble. My cousin Celegorm, for instance, was fond of nursing injured animals back to health- even when his mother told him there was no more room in the house. My sister and my other cousin, Írissë, seemed to be in a constant contest to see who could ruin the most gowns at the worst possible moments. And if we were all in one place at once...

That is shockingly self-aware for children though. I was once accosted by a troop of young boys who begged me to bring them not only swords, but ale! And they did intend to use both at the same time.

[This is why she wasn't surprised by the story.]

Your family does seem rather gently chaotic. It must have been a wonderful thing to grow up with.

[She's both charmed and envious.]

If only it was always 'gently' so. But, yes, I have many fond memories of those days. And what of you? Do you have siblings? I do not think you have spoken of any.

[And her face goes serious nearly immediately, as she considers how to answer that. But in the end, she doesn't lie to her friend. So the truth it is.]

I have several. More than several. All half sibling. I've never met most of them, but I was raised with one of my sisters, though I only learned of our relation this past year. Her name is Imoen. And...

I had a brother, Sarevok Anchev. He tried to kill me. It didn't work out for him.

[And Finrod's face immediately becomes more somber in response.]

I am truly sorry. I did not realize.

[He's silent for a moment and then adds-] I have seen one uncle threaten the other at swordpoint. Later... my uncle and his sons led their forces against my mother's kin. My sister was forced to bear arms against them; I was spared the choice only by my late arrival.

I do not mean to compare our pain, only to say that I know something of what it is to find yourself in opposition to a kinsman. It is not a position to be envied.

No, it isn't. And I'm sorry that happened to your family. Real family shouldn't fight like that.

[She is nothing but sympathetic, but there's also an underlying statement, that she's excluding her own situation.]

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