MINGLE LOG: WEEK ONE

[asgardmods]

Who: Everyone!
What: The MINGLE LOG for Week One of the Asgard Eventide Reunion!
When: March 1-7
Where: Anywhere in town!
Rating: PG-13 tops! Anything higher than that should be taken to a private log, please.

[ OOC NOTES: Whether you're making a return to the city or this is your first time setting foot into Asgard, the gods and Natives alike sure are happy to see you. This is a catch-all mingle log for Week One! Please check HERE for a run-down on what's cookin' this week. You can feel free to make your own headers, create your own events, or post your own logs elsewhere as you please. Please put [OPEN/CLOSED] along with the time/location of your character in the title of your comment.

As a note: we were super fortunate to have a few of our old NPC handlers volunteer to pick up their old Gods for the reunion! We currently have Hel, Heimdall, Baldr, Thor, Freyr, Mimir, Honir, Asgard!Loki, and also Frigg available for threading. If you'd like to request an appearance from one of these kids, please say so in the title of your comment. Some of us may make our own top-level as well, so be on the lookout for that! A million thanks to our NPC team for being so fantastic, we love and appreciate you so much.

Don't forget to check out the IC Inbox Mingle and the Network Post Mingle in the network comm! Let us know if you have any questions! ]

Comments

[castintoflames]

"You could throw a stone and find a finer brother; do not lie." Maedhros is flushed despite his arguing. He has never been particularly adept at hiding his emotions - especially from kin.

"Many children learn about the world...aggressively." his lips quirk and he tilts his head, copper strands ghosting over his cheek, "It is a parent's duty to keep such conflicts from becoming detrimental to their child's future. I take it you have become...Papa, again? Or is it Nana this time?"

Oh he has to tease.

[bythewaves]

"Untrue" Maglor denies him fiercly. "What other brother has ever given up so much for his undeserving brothers? I would have followed you into the fire, Nelyo - I love you."

And then he says that.

Maglor blushes red again.

"Nelyo!" he all but wails.

[castintoflames]

"Undeserving?" he looks genuinely confused, "How were any of you ever undeserving?"

They were - and are - his precious little brothers. Each one a joy; each one different. Any older brother who wouldn't give them everything doesn't understand the blessing he has been given.

"You -" so he knows of the fire. He has not been spared.

"I don't want you to." he loves him too much to see him pass from the world like that. And his feelings only increase at that outcry!

"Nana it is! No wonder they come running when you cook."

[bythewaves]

"I am not." Maglor protests sulkily, but he is pleased that Maedhros can find it in him to tease like that - it means he might be able to save his brother yet.

"Are we not?" He turns the question back. "I left you on Thangorodrim, I failed to hold the Gap. Celegorm and Curufin betrayed all honor by holding Doriath's princess for ransom. Caranthir argued against you when you counselled patience before the attack on Doriath. None of us deserve the loyalty you gave us Nelyo, excepting maybe the Ambarussa."

[castintoflames]

"You shouldn't be ashamed, Kano." Maedhros gives a tired smile. Joy - no matter how fleeting - seems just out of his reach. Even so, it does his heart and soul good to see Maglor so animated.

However as the topic shifts, his smile disappears and is replaced with a harder look.

"I prepared myself to die on the Thangorodrim. I did not expect rescue." he begins to frown, "The Gap might well have been impossible for any to hold. I have only asked for you to do your best, Makalaurë; not perform miracles." as for Celegorm and Curufin, "They were young and desperate for victory. The Oath did them no favors and our family was already splitting at the seams. I should have seen the signs before they were close enough to take her." but he was always, always so busy, "Caranthir too was young. I do not blame him for wanting...a conclusion."

When he looks at his brothers, he sees children who need to be protected.

"You are wrong. You all deserve it. Each mistake - each bad decision - was a call for help, Kano."

[bythewaves]

"Then if we did so also did you, for never once did you accuse us or turn us away."

So there. HAH.

[castintoflames]

"There are better ways for a family to spend their time." Maedhros tweaks Maglor's nose, "We were doomed to make the world our enemy. We needed each other."

[bythewaves]

"Nelyooooo" Maglor whines at him playfully for the tweak, but nods.

"Maybe - but we are family. Always. Don't ever think you did not deserve our love."

[castintoflames]

"I only wish I had been born with far more wisdom at my disposal." Maedhros is only partially teasing, which is why his smile doesn't reach his eyes, "I am glad to have you."

[bythewaves]

Maglor shakes his head in denial again.

"You had plenty of wisdom, Nelyo. Whatever sins we accomplished, and I know the burden is heavy indeed, this also I have seen - that things might well have been worse, if not for your will and actions. Tis not your fault we had an unwinnable battle at our feet."

[castintoflames]

Maedhros leans across the table and kisses Maglor's forehead.

"What have you seen? How much time has passed for you?" his stomach sinks and he pales, "The fire finds me, doesn't it."

So be it. He expects it. But what happens after? What of his last brother?

[bythewaves]

Maglor's eyes fall closed and he leans a little into a touch he has deliberately made himself forget here in Asgard.

"Much. It is now the Third Age of the world for me, Nelyo. I saw our cousin Galadriel sail, I saw Celebrimbor reaches such wonderful heights, and fall just as far. And I saw our fosterling's triumph."

He nods at the mention of the fire. "I saw... you burn." He admits. You left me he does not say.

[castintoflames]

He rests their foreheads together, listening intently. Maglor deserves his undivided attention in this - even if he fears what his brother has to say.

"So long...?" his voice is breathless, "Triumph? They fare well? What becomes of Celebrimbor?"

Questions bubble up inside of him, yet each one of them goes silent.

"Kano..." he shudders, "I would have wanted you to turn away." not that it would make the circumstances better, "The fire has tracked my steps since we lost father."

damn I keep forgetting to hit post

[bythewaves]

He hums a little, content to have his brother here. A little selfishly glad to have him all to himself for a while.

"Ssh. I understand, Nelyo. It hurt, yes, but I grew to understand why you did it. I forgave you a while ago now. The other tales... Galadriel does so well, you would be so pleased. Elrond and Elros as well. Celebrimbor... that is a very painful tale, Nelyo, are you sure you want to hear it?"

[castintoflames]

Maglor's heart is great - and he has known this all his life - yet Maedhros has never before been so in awe of it. To be forgiven...

What a precious gift.

"I never meant to hurt you." he appeals, agony written on his features, "I had a feeling she would find a way to survive and thrive."

Galadriel's willpower was enough to set the world to rights if she had been given the power to do so!

"Good." the fosterlings deserved everything good, "I...should. I should know."

[bythewaves]

"I know." Maglor assures him. "I know you could not help it. It's alright, Nelyo. Truly."

He nods slowly. "Alright. He... he founded a city - one built of trade and knowledge and learning. Father and Curufin both would have been so pleased. He traded with dwarves and elves and men alike. But ... one came to him, styled himself Annatar. A maia of Aule, he said. They... studied with him, learnt of him... and he... learnt of them."

Softly, painfully. "He was Sauron in disguise. Under his tutelage Celebrimbor and his folk learnt much and reached such wonderful heights. And eventually they started forging rings of power. And there, at last, Sauron showed his hand, forging a master ring to rule all the others. Realising they were betrayed, Celebrimbor hid the three greatest rings away but could not save the others. He was... tortured. I heard. But... I was too far away. I could not... do anything." Again.

"They say he never broke, and in the end Sauron killed him and razed his city to the ground... but the Three survived, and in the end their wielders had a hand in Sauron's final defeat. Galadriel holds one. Elrond another."

[castintoflames]

Maedhros makes a promise to himself that he will do all he can for Maglor. While he is here and away from the Silmarils, surely he can do some good.

His temper flares at the tale and he grits his teeth, cursing Sauron silently. Why did that Maiar and his Master feel the need to corrupt such bright innocence? Celebrimbor had suffered a fate like his, but no rescue had come.

"Have you seen him here? Celebrimbor, that is." if he sees Annatar or Sauron, he will wring his neck until it separates from his shoulders, "Kano, you could not have faced Sauron on your own. The places he and his cursed Master frequent are riddled with dungeons and corridors. You would have been lost and taken by his wretched servants before you found him."

So stop blaming yourself.

"Heroes should live to see their victory." but the rings are in good hands; that he doesn't doubt, "You saw him defeated? Fully?"

[bythewaves]

"I should have tried." Maglor says miserably. "Fingon rescued you after all."

"Not here." And the Tyelpe I met was not quite the same.

He nods, determinedly turning to happier things. "Yes - he is. Not by any might of ours but yes."

[castintoflames]

"His attempt was blind luck. Without Lord Thorondor, he would have had no choice but to shoot me." out of pity.

Maedhros lays a hand on Maglor's shoulder.

"With Morgoth imprisoned and Sauron vanquished, the world will see the peace we craved. I want you to enjoy it. For all of us."

[bythewaves]

"He still tried." Maglor says softly. "And Celebrimbor was my nephew."

He leans against the hand.

"I... will not be returning home." He admits softly. "I watched them Sail. But my family is here now, Nelyo. Alice and Kevin need me."

There is the marred version of Arda, of course, but he always planned to return here in the end.

[castintoflames]

"Our nephew." Maedhros corrects him, "I will see his fëa in the Halls of Mandos, brother. I will care for him."

His hand moves to cup Maglor's cheek.

"You have found something better..." and he can't blame him, but his throat feels tight, "I will not...see you?"

Ever again?

[bythewaves]

A nod and Maglor leans into the hand, biting his lip.

"I... " It was so easy to make the decision to stay here until he died of old age, but this is now the second... third? Time he has seen Maedhros, and the first that Maedhros has asked this... it will hurt his brother, if he says no.

"I ... just until Alice and Kevin no longer need me. I... I cannot return, you know that, but... I will return to Arda, at least, if that is what you want. I will still be out of reach, but... closer. A little."

[castintoflames]

A sad light radiates from his eyes. No, that won't do. He cannot be selfish; this is another pain he must bear without flinching.

Yet, knowing his brother is safe and loved, well, perhaps pain isn't the right word. He can share his joy.

"Stay." he murmurs soothingly, "Whether you are here or on Arda, I am with you."

[bythewaves]

"I don't want to hurt you, Nelyo... I have already brought so much pain."

[castintoflames]

"Nonsense." his smile is a mixture of pride and love, "You've suffered enough."