hadriel | Drive truck, pull hose, withstand extreme heat, meet the devil face to face and not be frightened

I have a project in mind. We have a city guard and a city clinic, and I was thinking we need some city firefighters, too. Then we'll have a trio of emergency services.

[ He's had it in mind since the ceiling of Guard HQ fell in on him while the building was burning at the end of the Doubles event. But also, there was talk of other incendiary incidents -- such as the one Sato was involved in? And Curufin himself had, erm, something to do with a few of the Colosseum walls being demolished by explosives while he was under the influence of Rage. And then there was the tragic demise of Delight's Bar. ]

In Hadriel, we are not strangers to the dangers of fire. Moreover, we could potentially see worse events than those that have occurred so far. And yet, here we are with no better ideas for dealing with fire than the traditional bucket brigade, and we have no real organization even for that!

So, I propose that we organize, recruit, build our own equipment, and train ourselves. I would welcome volunteers, ideas, and expertise. We will need people who will be firefighters, and we will also need people who will work in a support capacity (fire engine drivers, mechanics, electricians, and anything else we can think of).

If you would like to ~~take insane risks, and don't mind ending up as toast, or at least dealing with a fair number of ouchies on a regular basis~~ fight fires, or if you would prefer to work in a support role, then you are welcome to join the Hadriel Fire Brigade!

Respond here if you have questions, comments, or want to volunteer. (Or hit me up at my voicemail.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Death would have been kinder. [ Maglor says pratically, but his hand traces Curufin's face gently ]

I know you wanted us to live, but it was no life, Curvo. Only existing.

A different Arda? It... it would have been kinder if they had survived...I am glad at least somewhere they had each other. But... you...you did not... Atarinke Curufinwe what were you thinking! Sauron is a Necromancer! How could you endanger yourself that way!

Yes, I suppose it would have. Our journey would have been over, with no one left behind. We'd all have been together. [ He touches those scarred, caressing fingers with tenderness and affection. ]

[ Soft, rueful but amused laugher. ] What a conference that would have been! Do you suppose we would have agreed on a destination, or would we have argued as usual, with snarling and laughter, the waving of hands and the stomping of a foot, the rhetoric flying fast and furious, and you exasperated and attempting to mediate as always? Trying to herd Fëanorians is worse than herding cats.

Yes, I like my Arda's version of events, with respect to the twins. At least they had each other, up until the very last.

But. . . yes, brother, I did. I refused the summons of Mandos. I know Sauron has the reputation of being able to command the spirits of the dead, but his abilities are vastly overrated. He can only command the ones that come seeking his favor, weak and deluded and hoping to achieve power through him, and literally willing to sell their souls for it. And that is most definitely not me. [ ARROGANT, WHAT? XD ]

CURUFIN!

[ Maglor snarls, very real terror in his eyes ]

Bad enough I couldn't bring you home alive! What if you had strayed too close? He's a Maia, you ... you reckless arrogant fool! Did you even stop to consider how many ways that could have gone wrong? What if he caught you? What if he decided you'd make a nice weapon against the rest of us? What was I supposed to tell amil?!?

I spent the last six hundred years of my life straying from the path under the influence of the Oath. Once I was dead, I was free to make my own decisions. I did nothing but consider. The dead have no time to do anything else. I did not stray anywhere. Everywhere I went, I went with a reason, and I kept my wary spirit-senses engaged at all times. I was never anywhere near Sauron.

[ But all the same, Curufin is affected by the fear in his brother's eyes. How not? ] Oh Maglor, I do not want to make you unhappy. That was never my aim.

[ He still has one of Maglor's hands in his own, and now he folds it between his palms, with tenderness. ]

Edited 2017-07-24 19:08 (UTC)

I could have lost you.

[ He says brokenly, gripping tight ]

Lost you in all the ways that really matter. Dead is dead, but you'd have been safe!

My dear brother! [ And he enfolds him in his arms and rocks him like a child, wishing he could comfort him for all the years of misery that Maglor suffered after all his family were dead. And for all the years of sorrow and strife before that. ]

[ Softly ] I know.

[ Curufin was born to push the limits, and much of the time it pays off. And some of the time, it results in disaster. He's so much his father's son in this respect! But he is not altogether without caution, and nowadays he tries not to take altogether mad risks. ~~RUNNING INTO A BURNING BUILDING IS NOT A MAD RISK? Well, maybe not by Fëanorian standards. XD~~ ]

[ Maglor clings and weeps, and he is so much more fragile here than he was in Arda Marred, for he hasn't had Asgard to help him, this time ]

Promise me. [ He hisses, all the weight of his own power in his voice ]

Promise me, that you will be safe. That you will look after yourself properly.

[ Curufin buries his face in Maglor's hair and holds him all the more tightly. He murmurs soothing, inarticulate words. ]

. . .

[ And fragile though Mags is, his power is still very great. The command of an older brother, when backed up by that power, is not to be refused. Curufin is still enough of a traditionalist to recognize and respond to that. ]

I promise you that I will look after myself as best I can. I will keep myself as safe as is possible.

[ But he will not lie boldfaced and say he will take no risks at all. Maglor might be in bad enough shape right now to be comforted by such a lie, but later it would come back to bite them both. Curufin knows this and fears that situation most of all. He can scarcely bear to worry his brother in this moment -- it makes his heart ache. But he could not bear to inflict a betrayal on him later. That would be a grief to them both that would be insupportable. ]

[ Maglor accepts that - even as fragile as he is, he won't ask for more than Curufin can give him, and he's old enough to accept that Curufin wouldn't be Curufin if all he did was sit at home and never go out ]

See that you do. I can't... I can't lose you again.

My dear brother! [ And he lifts one of the scarred hands, the one that is still clasped in his own. He presses a kiss on those slender, battered fingers. ]

I know. And I cannot lose you, either.

[ Maglor lifts his other to cup his brother's cheek, leaning forward to rest against him, worn and weary ]

It's always me left behind.

[ Curufin curls an arm around him. ]

I know. It's very unfair.

Will you go this time?

I will not leave you by my own will.

I don't know that I can believe that.

[ Maglor tells him frankly ]

But I'll try.

You don't have much in the way of proof that my word means anything more than it did when you last saw me. I understand.

But if you'll try, I won't ask for more than that.

[ Maglor sighs and leans against him again ]

I love you, Curvo. I don't know that you heard me, that day. But I love you. Always.

[ The look in his dark gray eyes -- soft, shiny, something deep and true welling up from the depths of his soul. ]

I heard you.

[ Sometimes, they don't need words, and Maglor hums softly, content with that, resting against his brother ]

Drive truck, pull hose, withstand extreme heat, meet the devil face to face and not be frightened

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