(Video)

[handofsilver]

(Housework is rather boring, but it needs to be done. Celebrimbor is setting the rather chaotic mostly-Fëanorian house to rights, frowning faintly at the odd bits and ends he comes across. There really is no explaining his father and uncles, but he loves them dearly.)

Man cerig?

(Of course the shoe in the bathroom has no answer for him. Tutting, he picks it up and tries to determine which of his family members it belongs to. And, more importantly, why there is only one of them.

Quite the mystery! What? Not every day can be filled with sorrow and wonder and madness! Though Celebrimbor's day is about to become a little more complicated based on the playful chitter that follows.)

Elbereth above! What are you? (No, he has never seen a raccoon and this one is rather...large. And animated! But who can blame her - definitely a her - when Celebrimbor spies two little faces peeking out of a cabinet.)

...ah... I think I might need assistance.

Comments

action

[bythewaves]

[ A silent footfall behind him, an absent minded hum that cuts off ]

What is it, Tyelpe?

action

[handofsilver]

(He is frozen in place, looking completely stunned.)

...I don't know! Have you seen a creature of this sort before?

action

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor shakes his head and then pauses ]

Ah ... not quite this size, but... I believe the Hobbits had similar creatures in the Shire. She is a mother, I see.

action

[handofsilver]

(Well...that is...a little reassuring?)

She must have given birth inside. I do not think she would appreciate us moving her.

(No, no, definitely not. She is beginning to growl.)

I'm sorry, Lady.

action

[bythewaves]

We won't harm you lady. [ Maglor soothes ]

Nor your little ones. But would you not like a more comfortable and quiet place? We will be coming and going often in here.

Video

[utulien_aure]

I finished my guard shift an hour ago and- ah, apologies. [Fingon takes a look at the shoe and shakes his head.] Not one of mine.

Now how did these guests get inside?

Video

[handofsilver]

(Celebrimbor tilts his head, half-listening to Fingon. The raccoon is...very distracting. But he is already fond of her little mask.)

The window was open. She must have slipped in and...

(He motions at the cabinet.)

Her little ones are in there.

Video

[utulien_aure]

[All right, no more shoe talk. Fingon takes another look at the raccoon and nods.]

Now there is a problem. Are they well?

[It must be very difficult to raise cubs in a sunless cave, after all.]

Video

[handofsilver]

(The shoe is less of a concern all things considered.)

They are squirming. (So they have some energy, at least.) What do they eat? Do you know?

Video

[utulien_aure]

I've never seen quite their like before.

[Frowning] Will the mother let you check her teeth? That would give us some idea of what to fetch.

action

[souveraine]

[While Celebrimbor worked on housework Anne had been tidying in the kitchen, pausing when she heard him, heading towards where she had heard his voice.

She paused at the door, not recognizing the animal.] Is it dangerous?

action

[handofsilver]

(Celebrimbor does his best to not look utterly shocked in her presence. He does have some pride.

Somewhere.)

Any mother is dangerous if she feels her babes are being threatened.

action

[souveraine]

There are babies in there?

[She didn't know a lot about wild animals after a lifetime in a palace. She peered at the cabinet, stepping slightly in the room just a little.]

action

[handofsilver]

Two by my count and newly born. (He steps between Anne and the mother just in case there is any misunderstanding. Inside the cabinet, two little pink raccoon pups are snuffling and yawning.)

action

[souveraine]

Is there anything they need? [She wanted to come closer but was a little wary. She didn't want to startle the mother or the babies.]

There is some bread in the kitchen, would that do?

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin is clattering around the house, pulling on his jacket and collecting his weapons and the satchel he always carries. ]

Cel?. . . [ He grins. ] What are you doing with my shoe?

[handofsilver]

(Well that solved that mystery! But there is a more pressing one looking at him. With a rather adorable mask, too. And babies.

Celebrimbor blankly holds out the shoe.) Sorry, Atar, I was a little -

(He motions at the raccoon.) What is that?

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin takes the shoe with a smile. ]

No apologies! I should keep better track of my belongings -- [ He suddenly feels rather than sees the animal. He turns around, stares, spots the two even smaller faces peeking out of the cabinet, and laughs softly. ]

A raccoon. Raccoons! I've seen them in the orchard, but never in a house!

[ He speaks directly to the animal mother. ] Your babies are pretty. How did you get in? Were you trying to escape from the tunnel creatures? ]

[handofsilver]

(Celebrimbor frowns faintly.) We are all guilty of dropping our shoes in odd places. I thought if you needed it, you would realize you were short a shoe eventually.

(What? He can't pass up a tease. Though it is half-hearted considering a mother raccoon is staring at him intently.)

Rac...coons? (He tilts his head and his frown returns.) Poor things! That must be why she hid. Her babes are newly born. They do not have fur.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin loves it when his son teases him. ] We are guilty! And we'd all be a few cards short of a full deck if we didn't eventually realize we were short of a shoe!

[ His gaze follows Cel's, back to the raccoon. ] Yes, our cabinet must have seemed like a dream come true, to her. No tunnel creatures would dare to follow her into this house. And I wouldn't think her babies are much more than a few days old. Maybe less. Maybe she's been sneaking into the kitchen at night to get food for them? Or perhaps they've just been hiding in here. They must be hungry, in that case.

[castintofire]

{Maedhros wastes no time in coming home when he sees this message, and steps up beside his nephew to peer curiously at the strange creature and her babies.}

Whatever you are, my lady, you and your children are beautiful.

{He rests a gentle hand on Celebrimbor's shoulder and squeezes it fondly.} I think we can spare them some food, mm? And some bedding so they are more comfortable until the little ones are more able to defend themselves.

[handofsilver]

(He is holding his breath until Maedhros addresses the mother. Then he cannot help grinning, reaching over to embrace his uncle with one arm.)

I am in agreement. Their little masks are very fetching.

(The mother raccoon begins chittering at them and Celebrimbor softens.) Yes. They don't need to defend themselves here. What do you think? Bread?

[castintofire]

{The hand slips around to drape an arm around Celebrimbor and Maedhros drops a fond kiss to his head.}

And they are cute!

{He chuckles.} Probably the easiest. And water.

[handofsilver]

(Celebrimbor turns his head to nuzzle Maedhros's shoulder, smiling.)

Unfortunately. I do not feel any impulse to push them out.

(He hums, stoppers the sink and fills it with water. The mother raccoon splashes the surface with her paws before wiping her face. He grins.)

Everyone likes to feel fresh.

[castintofire]

{A soft breath of a laugh.}

We have space for little ones, Nephew. And their lovely mother. We can keep them clean, fed, and warm.