First song

[bythewaves]

Who: Maglor
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: Now until shuffle

Broadcast

He comes awake in a gasp, hands flying immediately to weapons that are not there as he rolls into a wary crouch. The man is slender, almost beautiful, long dark hair and clear grey eyes that seem to glow from within. He is dressed in what are best described as robes - once fine but now faded and worn, if clean due to the efforts of whoever put him there. Almost innocuously compared to the shabby state of him, there is a silver eight pointed star pinned to his clothes that looks impossibly untarnished and is obviously of very high quality.

"Who is there?"

Action

Maglor moves silently through the halls, no sound of his footfalls. He is wary, anxious - this is something totally outside his experience. But then he passes a window looking out and he stops, a cry of wonder breaking from his lips as he falls to his knees. A hand comes up to his mouth, the other gripping the harp that seems to have been the only thing that came with him, as silent tears run down his face.

"A! Elbereth!"

Comments

[neversets]

Yeah. Space. The void between the stars and planets.

[ All right, clearly not from a highly technological advanced world. Doesn't really mean anything. ]

Hear what?

[bythewaves]

A good word for it. [ Maglor says softly and smiles a little ]

The stars. How brightly they sing!

[neversets]

Huh. I can't hear it. Sounds like you're enjoying it, though.

[bythewaves]

Theirs was one of the first songs I learnt, in my youth. I could not see them, only hear their voices, and it was my father who brought me out to the edges of the dark, to see them in all their splendour. I would share that song with all, if I could!

[neversets]

Where did you live, that you couldn't see stars?

[bythewaves]

[ The look in his eyes is wistful, an old homesickness ]

I was born and raised in Tirion-on-Tuna, in Valinor that lay to the furtherest West. In my youth we did not see the stars for the Light of the Two Trees covered the land, and only at the very outermost edges, during the quiet dimming of Telperion could you see the stars, else it was too bright.

[neversets]

[ All right. So he speaks a little like he's from a Shakespearian play, but Apollo can roll with that.

He was raised somewhere that probably wasn't actually on a fish, with giant, glowing trees that would've made it impossible to see the night sky. He nods slightly, that sorted in his head. ]

The first time I remember seeing the night sky, it was my first mission for Bendix. I must have seen in a thousand times before, because it was familiar, but I didn't remember those times.

snortgiggle thank you for that summary

[bythewaves]

A mission? You are a military man then. And I suppose things that we see daily become commonplace, after a time. Was there something of that night that made it special?

you're welcome

[neversets]

Sort of? I'm a post-human, person with super powers. I was made by Bendix and when we failed that first mission, he decided Midnighter and I were loose ends. We were on the run for years.

[ Special? Not exactly. He breathed fresh air and gave commands and his team died around him, in a hail of blood and bone and horror. He should've died, but for Midnighter taking charge and getting them out safely. ]

Yes. It was the first I remembered. I have no memories from before being Apollo. I only knew seven other people in the world and five of them died that night. One of them should've died.

<3 best

[bythewaves]

Maglor listens with an almost eerie stillness, taking in emotion and gesture as well as word, eyes fixed on Apollo as he considers.

"A 'post-human'? 'Made'? Those are dark arts indeed that you speak of. I am sorry that you were made to suffer so, but I am grateful that you survived to speak to me now, as selfish as that is."

[neversets]

Super powered human, made. That doesn't bother me, I don't remember anything before being Apollo. Never much cared about anything before. The only suffering was that bastard sending us in blind and getting my team wiped out for no goddamn reason.

[ He gives Maglor a soft smile. ]

Well, that's awful sweet of you to say. I'm Apollo.

[ He offers out his hand to shake. ]

[bythewaves]

Then he treated you as tools, rather than as people, which only serves to mark him as one of those who serve the Enemy, knowing or not. I am glad that you have escaped him.

[ Maglor tips his head in a bow and hesitates at the hand before taking the hand in a warrior's handclasp ]

Well met, Apollo. Maglor, at your service.

[neversets]

[ Bendix is a jerk, news at eleven. Glad you got out. He thinks he's getting the hang on translating this guy.

He shakes firmly; his hand is warm and his grip is firm. ]

Maglor. Good to meet you.

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor cocks his head curiously as they both let go ] You are not as new to this strangeness, I deem - have you experience of such things before?

[neversets]

Sort of, yes. I live on a space ship. That's what this is, what we're on. It's a space ship. And I've been kidnapped before, but usually I come to having been soaked in liquid nitrogen and being tortured, so in a way, it's a lot better than usual.

[ He rubs a hand over his arm, looking out the window. ]

I'm just worried. I have a little girl, Jenny. She's not here, which means she's home alone.

[bythewaves]

A 'spaceship', eh? [ A wry quirk of a smile ] A nice, practical name.

Ai! But you have had a troubled life, it seems. I agree, this wakening was... probably the kindest one could expect from a kidnapper.

[ His eyes gentle in understanding ] A father parted from his child - I am sorry. Are there others who will care for her in your absence?

[neversets]

If the shoe fits...

[ He doesn't know. Well, yes, she does, but it's not the same, it's not her Dad. ]

Her aunt Angie, Jeroen will be there as soon as she lets him know, I hope her father will came back once he knows I'm gone.

[bythewaves]

Her father? You are not the father then?

[ Maglor tips his head curiously ]

But tis good to hear that she has family.

[neversets]

I'm Dad, he's Daddy. Her birth parents were killed the day she was born, we've raised her ever since we rescued her.

[bythewaves]

Oh, I see. [ That's... weird, but okay ] I did not think that was a thing amongst Men.

Your daughter is fortunate to have family to care for her in place of those who cannot.

[neversets]

Think what was?

... oh, do you come from a place where homosexuality isn't a thing that's okay?

[bythewaves]

In my experience, amongst Men, at least, it is not usual, no.

[ Maglor shrugs ] I do not know that word, but if you mean that two men might lie together, then it is not the normal state of things.

[neversets]

Men who focus their romantic and sexual attentions on other men, yeah. Or women who focus on women.

In my world, once, it was illegal. But frankly, I do plenty of illegal things for a greater good; who I want to share my bed with is between me and them and my daughter if he's going to be part of our life.

[bythewaves]

Illegal? [ Maglor tips his head curiously ] Not the norm, certainly, but that seems... a little harsh. But if you and he are happy then...

[ S H R U G ]

[neversets]

We were.

... I thought we were. Until he left.