Jikan IC Inbox

[bythewaves]

Hello? Ah... I don't know how these work but... I suppose you can... leave a message?

Comments

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor shrugs with a smile ]

It is a good place to start! It's a small thing, really. Doesn't take much time. But sharing a drink with friends is always comforting, and tea is a fairly non-controversial choice, in that regard. You could try wine too, but if you are not wishing to overly interupt your work, that might be a problem.

[lordofrebirth]

I drink wine. It doesn't interrupt my work.

[He can drink just fine, thank you.]

I don't have many to share drinks with. It would mean I seek you out a great deal.

[bythewaves]

By yourself? Perhaps! But with friends? You'd be surprised...

[ Maglor smiles at him ]

I would not mind that at all.

[lordofrebirth]

Your determination to see that I have friends is baffling.

[So why isn't he stopping him? He truly has no idea. But here he is saying they should to this more often.

Go figure.]

[bythewaves]

Everyone should.

[ Maglor says gently ]

It isn't right for anyone to be alone.

[ Except Morgoth and Sauron. They can rot. ]

[lordofrebirth]

Perhaps some are destined to be alone.

[He doesn't know if that's true or not. He's not the Immortal of Fate, after all. But it sounds plausible at least.]

[bythewaves]

I do not think so.

[ He shakes his head ]

That would be a cruel life indeed!

[lordofrebirth]

[He sighs heavily and drinks more of his tea before serving them both another cup.]

You care so much for someone you barely know.

[Which Xue Qianxun must actually like since he's allowing it.]

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor hums, enjoying the taste of the fresh tea ]

Everyone needs someone to care for them. [ He says gently ] I am glad to be that person for you. And you are not bad company.

[lordofrebirth]

Not all would agree with you on that fact.

[He honestly can't name any who would claim him to be good company honestly.]

[bythewaves]

Perhaps! But I have no complaints about your company, so far.

[lordofrebirth]

I haven't been what others would describe as friendly.

[bythewaves]

I suspect you're only out of practice, in that.

[ Maglor shrugs ]

I've had tea with far less hospital folk!

[lordofrebirth]

...why?

[He feels that's a fair question to ask. Why bother to have tea with those who were somehow worse than he is at this? That has to be unpleasant to say the least.]

[bythewaves]

You don't say no, to a Hobbit Matron who asks you for tea. Even if you don't particularly like them.

[ Maglor shrugs ]

It's just Not Done.

[lordofrebirth]

[He frowns more clearly not understanding this in the slightest.]

Does this person hold that much power in your world?

[bythewaves]

Mm, that depends on what you mean by power, I suppose.

[ Maglor smiles in fond remembrance ]

Mistress Coltsfoot is no great king or lord to command and expect to be obeyed! But she is indeed mistress of her small domain, and it would be the height of rudeness to refuse an invitation, which in hobbit society is simply Not Done. Also, she serves probably the best peach cobbler under the hill, over the hill or by the water, which certainly sweetens the deal.

[lordofrebirth]

If you do not want to be there then you should simply not go. I don't see the point in attending something you don't want to attend.

[Which seems so cold and rude. Yet it's part of the nature he has now. To be as cold as the Pavilion that he rules over. It's why he struggles to understand matters of this nature as well.]

[bythewaves]

Ah, but then I might receive no further invitations anywhere else! Rudeness is almost currency, to the hobbits. It's all about the social niceties, you see. And the company other that Mistress Coltsfoot was usually fairly fun, at least.

[lordofrebirth]

[He stares at him. Clearly he does not understand this. At all. It makes literally no sense to him that a society should be like this or that Maglor would conform to it.

...Just why.]

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor smiles at him, gently amused ]

When one lives amongst strangers, it behooves one to fit oneself to the local manners. [ He says gently ]

It is both polite, and politic to do so! One's life is made a good deal easier, if one's neighbors regard you as one of them - or at least, not someone to chase out onto the Road in the deeps of Winter! Mistress Coltsfoot is not pleasant company, no, but she is one of the best Midwives of the East Farthing - and she is not stingy with sharing her food in the lean times, either. Most people are nuanced, if one takes the time to know them. And, well. It does me no harm, after all, so why not?

[lordofrebirth]

You put so much effort into something that doesn't please you.

[And yet people keep trying to tell him similar things. It's confusing to say the least. There should be no point to it. If someone displeases you then you shouldn't have to be near them.

Perhaps his time in practical isolation for two thousand years has hardened him into not understanding these nuances...]

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor shrugs ]

Short term discomfort for long term benefit! One person being slightly disagreeable is of little account to long term community-wide benefit. I could avoid her, of course. But then I would miss out on her cobbler, and the gossip that such events evoke. And tis not as if she is a bad person, just disagreeable! I don't always attend - I'm not always invited, being an outsider! - and even when I am there are always reasons not to go. But tis not as if I mind going once in a while.

[lordofrebirth]

[Suddenly he makes a very loud sigh as he confesses something.]

...I don't know that word you keep using. Cobbler.

[bythewaves]

Oh! [ Maglor smiles ]

It's a baked good. Kind of... mm. It's sort of like a pie, but rather than use pastry it's a biscuit batter, and it's not fully enclosed the way a pie would be, just the topping. It's usually sweet - at least, the hobbit ones are usually sweet, with fruit being the traditional filling. But I suppose technically anything with a biscuit batter topping, including a meat dish, would be considered cobbler. I can try and make some for you, if you like - I do have a recipe!