driftfleet | Video

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Who: Daeron
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Heron
When: Now!

[One of the newest passengers of the fleet jerks out of the bed he'd woken on and slams back against the cold steel. On second glance, ignoring the quiet gasps for breath, one can see delicately pointed ears peeking through silver hair, along with wide grey eyes before the elf- yes, another one- holds his breath, then slowly exhales a shaky breath as he forces some meager semblance of calm. He frowns, gaze falling to the red light blinking at him, and places a hand over the screen, effectively ending the transmission.

Not that it lasts long, as just as Daeron regains some sense of self and begins to absorb some of the new knowledge running through his head, he's transferred to another ship! He shakes his head slightly, hands clenching as he finds himself staring at a room- the bridge- with another screen watching him. Judging him. Pain and grief touch his gaze before flowing away like water.

He steels his nerve after casting a glance over his shoulder towards the stars, and stares back at the screen with feigned calm, brittle enough that even a breath could shatter it.]

A minstrel among the stars has a certain ring to it. Is it a reward or a punishment, to be separated from worlds of green and living water and air?

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Your world had living water? [ Guess who isn't good at metaphors. Unless that wasn't one who knows.

The point is, Daeron is hardly alone aboard his new ship, and this tall girl with pink hair is ALL UP in his personal space. ]

[ A catch of breath - Maglor has not hear that voice since... how long has it been?

The Mereth Aderthad whispers memory. When you and he watched each other from the edges of your encampments, when you found someone who understood

For the sake of lost Doriath, he resorts only to voice - that way, Daeron does not have to look at him and may ignore him, if he chose ]

Both. Neither. I suppose it would depend on... what you thought of some of those who are also on this fleet.

[ Like him and his family ]

[He flinches, stepping ~~stumbling~~ back as his calm shatters.]

...There is life within the sea, the rivers, and the lakes. Is it not so where you are from?

[The room shakes around him- or is that just him? As he hears that voice. Breath seems stolen from his lungs and he seems sightless for a moment. Just a moment. He doesn't answer for a long while. Perhaps an hour. Perhaps half. He can't tell, only that it's only once he's tucked himself away into a room the device in his head tells him is his.

He's had time, barely, that his voice is carefully modulated against the chaos of emotion and thought.]

That depends on who else is here.

[ She ponders that a moment, two moments, and then she's being loud and unreasonable again. ] Yeah, that makes sense.

I'm Nono by the way! Who are you? You're new here???

[ In truth, Maglor was not expecting him to answer at all, so the response surprises him.

But he owes Daeron any answer the other wishes from him, really, so... ]

Myself. My elder brother Maedhros. My cousin, Finde... Fingon. [ He corrects at the last minute ]

[Loud is...fine. Nothing to worry about. He's just been isolated for a ~~few thousand years~~ while.] I suppose not all look beneath the surface...

I am Daeron. [No point in using another name, is there? He'd heard a familiar voice.] I...arrived today. Yes.

[At least he doesn't hiss, hearing Maglor's eldest brother's here?]

So the dead walk among the living once more.

[Daeron falls silent a moment, wary. And tries not to sound too curious or interested when he does ask another question.]

Where?

Dae-ron... Daeron... [ She says it a few times, getting the name some practice on her tongue, before smiling. ] All right, got it!

Well Daeron, I just arrived about a month ago, but I guess I'm your senior. [ You know, in being on a spaceship. This spaceship. It's exciting! She's always been the newbie. ] So feel free to ask me anything!

[The musician in him tries to reassure him she'll get his name, and he forces patience as he softly corrects her until she does get it right, and rewards her with the first small smile he's given in...a while.] Just so.

I thank you. [He means it, too.] I had never dared dreamed to travel between the stars. Is it common where you are from?

[ That's... a surprise, really but Maglor will take it ]

Aye. Time here is fluid. We are on the Huntress, and also there is a forge being built on the Iskaulit... there are gardens there also, and I... can tell them to avoid them, if it be easier?

[They are Exile.

...The lure of gardens tugs at his heart and Maglor can probably hear air drawn quickly in. And it's tempting to accept the offer.]

...I have not the right to deny any elf the joy of walking through a garden. Regardless of what was done in life.

Between stars? Not... really.

[ It's a little complicated. Like humanity DID travel between stars at one point, but then they locked away that technology? Not really something to go into though. ]

We do travel in space though! Between planets in our own system.

[A story is in the air, and he can almost hear it. Almost, but not quite. And he's not rude enough to ask when they've only just met.]

How many planets? If...I may ask.

Thank you. [ Such relief in his voice ]

Is... I have been here a while. Is there ought you would know?

[The relief and gratitude in that voice twists his gut, almost a physical pain. Then he releases it, a bitter old pain that he doesn't have the right to hold. Daeron debates with himself, silently, scarcely breathing. What to ask? Where to start?

What's around him doesn't matter quite enough compared to what comes to mind.]

I listened for news of your death, yet it never came. [Not even on the wind, which carries so much. He doesn't quite ask, does he have the right to?]

[ Maglor laughs softly, a sad, bitter sound ]

I... was too much a coward to follow my brother by water, and he forbade me to follow by fire. [ He admits ]

I tried war, but I... am too good at that.

You are. [They both know it's not praise.]

And so we both walk through life, unwilling, but too pathetic to change it. [A bitter, hard edge inches into Doriath's former minstrel's voice.]

Yes. [ They do.

But at least if he can avenge his family on their common enemy, he feels... a little better ]

You are not! [ A sharp, sudden, snap, before he restrains himself ]

Forgive me. But you are not, Loremaster, do not think yourself so.

[He flinches at the snap before gritting his teeth.]

I can forgive you no more than I forgive myself. I have not the right to think myself a loremaster in these late days.

You are the last Loremaster of Doriath.

[ Maglor points out softly. That is his fault, of course. Him and his brothers ]

You must, or there will be nothing left. And your sin is far less than ours.

[The offered kindness rests uneasily over him, and he shies away, eyes squeezing shut.]

Not to me, Feanorion. In my eyes, what I did and failed to do is equal to your own.

[They are their own worst critics.

...But stubborn will, and the remnants of loyalty to Thingol, and to Luthien, tear quiet words out of him.]

...But I will not let Doriath's memory die.

You never slew them, Daeron. [ Maglor says gently ]

Do not take that on your hands.

[ He nods and offers softly ] I ... always regretted not being able to teach the Earendillion more of Doriath. They were Thingol's heirs too but... we had many Silvan but no Sindar in our number.

It matters not.

[A soft scoff and rustle as he turns a glare to cold, sightless machinery. He doesn't need to see Maglor to see him when he speaks so gently.]

I heard you had them. I even could guess where. I could have gone and taught them myself, and did not do so. [But he hadn't, because that would've meant dealing with Maglor in person. Someone he'd felt should have been a friend- had been a friend.]

I would have been very surprised if you had come.

[ They both know why ]

I only wish... well. We did the best we could. I ... like to think we did not do too badly, all things considered.

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