{ so have a little mingle }

[falconing]

Who: Visitors aboard the S.S. Huntress.
Action: The Huntress.
When: It's a mingle!

[ create top levels, mingle, say hello to the recently awoken comatose pilot, etc ]

Comments

[bythewaves]

Only two? [ Maglor tips his head at him curiously ]

But they propogate, or they would not have opposed you for as long as they have, surely. Unless they are Powers of the like of Morgoth and Sauron?

[beardstrokes]

They are the inverse of the Jedi. So our powers are often similar.

[bythewaves]

Mortal then. Although I must wonder if there are secretly more than two, for them to persist so. So are there only two of you, as well?

[beardstrokes]

No, there are far more Jedi than there are Sith. The Jedi are stronger as a group, a community. The Sith, however, are vast different and cannot share power.

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor nods thoughtfully ]

Less cannot and more will not, it seems to me. Somehow, I amnot surprised. Evil is often jealous of its power. But to hear that there are many to oppose the Shadow is comforting, even if it is not my world at stake.

[beardstrokes]

There always will be.

So your people fight these Dark Powers?

[bythewaves]

[ The smile has too many teeth to be called pleasant ]

He killed my grandfather. [ Maglor says simply ] I may hate myself, for all my choices, but I never forget whose fault it is, that my father went mad and that I began on this road. Nine thousand years of the sun and more I have walked and grieved my choices, but never that one, that I have killed His servants wheresoe'er I can find them.

[beardstrokes]

[ Obi-Wan isn't taken aback. He's seen this kind of anger before, felt it for himself. He simply doesn't agree with it. ]

A long life indeed. I'm sorry.

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor shrugs, tiredly ]

It is as it is. I thank you for your compassion, but truly, many of my problems are my own fault.

[beardstrokes]

So are many of the ones we make for ourselves. It never hurts to show compassion.

[bythewaves]

Even so - many would not have bothered, so I thank you. Truly, I begin to see why folk might think you an old soul in a young body.

[beardstrokes]

[ Obi-Wan cracks a faint smile. ]

Usually, it's the beard.

[bythewaves]

It is a reasonably impressive one. [ Maglor agrees wryly, the anger and simmering sense of danger gone as if it had never been, buried deep again ]

I have been told that Men often consider it distinguished.

[beardstrokes]

I sit on the Jedi Council. I doubt they'd ever take me seriously without this.

[bythewaves]

Ah now, but surely a beard is not the defining characteristic of one of the Wise?

[beardstrokes]

I wouldn't know what the defining characteristic would be.

[ Obi-Wan's not one to boast and compliment himself. He prefers to bury his strengths. He is of the Force and as such, credits only the Force. ]

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor makes a low amused huff ]

Mm, well - to be wise, I suppose! But a beard is scarce a marker of that!

[beardstrokes]

What would be a marker for wisdom then?

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor shrugs a little, eyes a little distant ]

And what is wisdom? How would one judge it? But to me, I think, that the Wise are those, young or old, who see the world through clear eyes.

[beardstrokes]

[ Obi-Wan mulls over this, folding his arms. ]

A Jedi tend not to have attachments, in order to see the world clearly.

[bythewaves]

I suppose that is one way. [ He hums softly ] But there are some lessons, I think, that can only be learnt from the perils that come hand in hand with the joys of those beloved.

[beardstrokes]

[ Obi-Wan hunches his shoulders. ]

I've already learned all those lessons.

[bythewaves]

There are always more to learn.

[ Maglor says softly and his eyes are gentle ]

But you have been burnt, eh? I am sorry. The hurts from family are always the deepest.

[ And you are so very good at inflicting them, aren't you Makalaure? whisper his ghosts, and they sound like his brothers ]

[beardstrokes]

[ Obi-Wan shakes his head. ]

Everyone has been burned. I'm no more special than anyone else.

[bythewaves]

Perhaps there are those more or less fortunate - it makes you no more or less deserving of the compassion you offer to others.