AUGUST RIFTER ARRIVAL

[faderifting]

WHO: New rifters, rescuers, and anyone else
WHAT: New arrivals are collected and transported to Kirkwall
WHEN: Mid-August
WHERE: Southern Tevinter, then the Gallows
NOTES: This log contains prompts for the ARRIVAL and RECOVERY of new rifters, which are closed to new rifters and to the characters involved in the catacombs escape/rescue team in the Tevinter plot. It also contains a new QUARANTINE prompt that is open to everyone.

Comments

[tofindthesun]

Legolas straightens up again with a look of mock helplessness. "I would have caught it, of course, I am not a barbarian."

Okay, so maybe the rat dug its little claws in a little tight when he went into the bow, and Legolas wisely is not admonishing it for that. It, however, does think Legolas was rather rude doing that without warning, and does so by squeaky indignantly.

After that, though, it sniffs Thranduil's fingers curiously and settles back under Legolas's hair again. Maybe it likes looking pretty.

"..I would embrace you, father, but I do not know how receptive rats are to their rides lurching forward to collide with another person." He looks pretty serious about this.

But this is Thranduil, so Legolas isn't going to let that get in the way of a reunion. He goes for a somewhat awkwardly slow hug, giving the rodent enough time to crawl to somewhere safer and out of the way, like the back of his collar, which actually tickles a lot.

It does not make the hug any gentler. Though it's only been a few months since he last saw his father, so many things have happened since then. He doesn't know where to start, so......... Hug.

[rowancrowned]

"No, you have always had care for even the smallest of creatures." As befits his Silvan-hearted son.

As does the embrace, which Thranduil receives with gladness, one arm around his son and holding him there for a moment longer than he normally would. This is his son, his son, hale and whole and unchanged (if one does not count the shard, which Thranduil does not). When he lets go, Thranduil cups his cheek, and bends to kiss his forehead. It is a gesture Legolas is grown out of, befitting an elfling, but perhaps Thranduil will be allowed it without too much protest. When he draws away, he gestures to the Gallows.

"There is a beautiful view of the harbour and the sea from my office. Would you like to see it?"

[tofindthesun]

It doesn't seem like Thranduil is 'newly arrived', like Legolas and the others are. In fact, his father looks like he fits in quite well. He would've thought it strange if hadn't been away from home for the past few months. There's every chance in the world that Thranduil has been here/i> instead of home.

He's definitely too old for forehead kisses now, but it's certainly not a moment where Legolas would begrudge his father for it. This does not mean he suffers it happily, as evidenced by the look on his face when they part.

Legolas is quite for a moment at the mention of the sea. He'd seen it when they pulled into the Gallows and had already braced himself for the worst, but all that came was a lingering echo of an ache. Bearable.

So instead, he placates the rat with a scratch behind its ear, and nods, intending to follow. "I have only caught glimpses of the sea thus far. But what is the office for?"

[rowancrowned]

Thranduil leads, and if he glances behind to make sure that Legolas is still there slightly more often than could be considered usual, he cannot be blamed for it. And Legolas is there, each time that he looks.

As they walk, he talks, easily taking the absurd number of stairs that lead to the top floors where the private offices and living quarters are.

"For the leader of the Research Division," he says, "the Provost, which is the position I find myself in."

One could look at him and think him better suited for martial matters, but he has a head for bureaucracy and affection for history (and for remembering history properly) which means he has done well enough for himself. He does not pretend that the position is not, at least in part, to placate the rifter and elven populations, or that it was at the time, but here he is.

And here they are. He pushes open a heavy door to reveal a room decorated carefully to curate the feeling of 'domesticated elf'. There are books stacked neatly on shelves around the room, rugs over the stone floor but for before the fireplace, a large tapestry on one wall with the Inquisition heraldry constructed of vines and leaves. A desk sits next to a window with the promise view of the harbour and sea, and behind it sits a heavy door, presumably to the bedroom.

thanks coding... failed me like a fool....

[tofindthesun]

Every time Thranduil looks back, the smile on Legolas's face grows wider and more teasing. Eventually, he hopes it's a bit reassuring as well, as if to confirm whatever fears his father might have. Not an uncommon thing in Mirkwood, with the number of skirmishes they went through, and more recently the Fellowship had been doing the same thing. It was something of a miracle that Frodo and Sam managed to get out of Mordor alive.

More often, he found himself looking in the direction of Mordor itself, much in the way his father would look south. No longer in fear, but with a held breath.

So Legolas hops closer, as though proximity might ease Thranduil's worries along with the sight of himself. He can still follow side-by-side.

"Research?" It has a scholarly sound to it, and not quite something he expected his father to be doing. But perhaps a king's duties weren't exactly applicable to this place, and for all his martial ability, Legolas can't imagine seeing his father out in the field that often either. "You have been here long enough to be made a leader?"

When they arrive, he takes a few steps into the room to look around, then glance back at his father as if to confirm he has permission to explore. Of course, the first thing he heads for is the window. The view of the sea is about as much as he had imagined upon hearing the gull's cry.

It's big. And wet.

RIP

[rowancrowned]

That he has a particularly indulgent son who restrains himself to a smile and only a smile does not escape him.

"Yes," he admits. "The leadership of our Forces division was otherwise... occupied at the time, and by the time that it was freed, I was quite settled in my position here, and had no inclination to challenge dear Ser Coupe for her post."

An aside: "You will meet her. She is delightful," said in a way that implies that Legolas will find their meeting delightful, and Coupe will tear more of her hair out at the fact that Thranduil apparently spawned.

He waves his hand in easy permission-- what is his is Legolas'-- and makes for the desk, pulling out a bottle of wine and two glasses. "It is no Dorwinion," he says, siding up to his son and offering him one.

"Nearly three years," he answers, finally. "You can swim, if you like. I believe the moment I realized what this place was and was not was when I laid eyes on the sea, and the Longing did not catch at my heart."

Valinor does not lay on the other side of this ocean.

[tofindthesun]

Honestly he'll save the leap-tackle-hug for when they're in better company. Better company being elves he's familiar with, so, probably not for a very long time.

"You would have won," Legolas says, in a very 'my dad is the best' sort of way. "But perhaps it would not have been worth the battle."

He will probably change his mind after meeting Ser Coupe. But that is neither here nor there.

"I have some.. slightly watered down, in the rooms they gave me. I was carrying some when I came here." That's awkward to admit. Dreaming about drinking wine? Hm. He accepts the glass and takes a sip so as to not think about that. "But it has been several days, and not kept in the best of conditions."

....Aaaand he takes another gulp. "I.. I do not recall you having been. Missing for three years." Legolas inspects the wine in the glass. It's decent, for Mannish wine. Human wine. "I... Could. It is good to know there will not be an issue with it, and it has been a while since I had a swim."

Or a bath, honestly, but he feels pretty decent right now. Weird.

[rowancrowned]

"Watered down, stored poorly, it will still taste sweeter than what we have here," he admits, with no small measure of longing. "Store it properly now, and perhaps save it for Corypheus' defeat."

Which they will celebrate, in a year, in two, because the scale must balance soon.

"Take comforts where you can find them," he says, his voice softer, now, but it cheers or he moves past it with his characteristic grace, and into the next thing, though he takes a drink of his wine before he goes on.

"No," he says. "We are apart from ourselves. Credit Eru if you like, but we have been cured of our obligations in Arda for the work we have here. You will see things. The elves here are not-- you will see."

[tofindthesun]

"I think some demon got into it." Spoken blithely. "There were two when I arrived, very large... I have not tried the wine since."

Which is a bleeding shame and waste of good Dorwinion, but he hasn't had the heart to toss it out either.

"That I know well." Legolas's response is uplifting. If there is anything he has learned in the recent months, it is that death may come for them all, be they man or dwarf. As for himself, death..... would not be preferable, but he isn't exactly getting the long end of the stick, either.

"I.. that is some relief, I suppose. I would hate to someday return to our home only to find that much time has passed, strange as it is." He gives a moment's pause, looking out the window down to the harbor, to the streets below. The distance is close enough that he can easily follow those who are more.. visibly elven. "..I have seen a little of it."

And heard a little more.

[rowancrowned]

Thranduil briefly weighs the likelihood of tainted Dorwinion tasting better than what he's been drinking in Thedas, and decides, at least, that he will not be testing that today.

"There is freedom in it," he admits. And another sort of shackling, but Legolas does not need to hear of that. His son is grown, and a hero besides. He will make his own choices, and Thranduil will be proud of them, for Legolas is alive, and well.

"You are the only one who I do not have to say 'be careful' to, when I give this welcome speech. You know how to mind yourself."

[tofindthesun]

Were Legolas any less considerate he might have asked someone to taste it for him already. Unfortunately he is quite considerate, and would rather the name of Dorwinion not be sullied so. Even if it's not the Dorwinion's fault.

"A strange freedom, indeed." The pre-requisite is the idea that they can come and go freely-- but they cannot. It doesn't matter how much time passes back in Middle-Earth if they cannot actually return. "But only if we are, truly, free."

It's an unsettling thought. He tries not to think about it too much.

Legolas smiles, wide. "It would not hurt to have a reminder. I have been jubilant of late, and it does not seem much appropriate for what has occurred recently. Though I know not how I could find myself in trouble for being too happy."