002 [ Video ]

[doctoral_bird]

[ It may be an unfamiliar face to many! Malkus is actually appearing on the feed without his signature mask. Even a plague man like him needs fresh air now and then. His sickly facade wasn't far from the norm! That's just... his face. ]

Greetings fellow residents. It has been some time, but with the lull in disturbances I feel now's a better time than any to- ah-... discuss...

[ He scratched his claws against the wood of the bench outside, trying to remember what the hell he was going to say. As the pause grew, he could feel his social anxiety build.

Don't give them dead air, Malkus! The people hated pauses! ]

I am sorry, sleeping outside has left me- e-eh-... melancholic. I'd forgotten what I wanted to bring up. Ah! Yes!

[ He moved the feed to the mask sitting beside himself, placed daintily on a heap of papers and glassware. ]

As it often becomes a point of conversation, I would like to ask my fellow residents if anyone has actually had an epidemic ravage their land. I've come to realize I may be alone in this topic.

Comments

[bythewaves]

Aye, that was my meaning. Who knows? Perhaps they have less control than they make out, perhaps their choices are deliberate. No way to find out, sadly.

[doctoral_bird]

Not for now at least, friend. Mysteries can only be bound up for so long before secrets spill out. These beings may look at themselves as gods, but they have some weakness. They can die just like anything else. Something is bound to unravel eventually.

[ Malkus rubbed his face, reeling back at the feeling of his gloves on his bare skin. He'd forgotten he'd been maskless. ]

Just wish I had as much patience as I'd preach about.

[bythewaves]

I don't think they are.

[ Maglor hums]

They don't seem any more powerful than the Valar, who always insisted they were not gods. And they are certainly not infallible, of that I am sure. I can wait.

[doctoral_bird]

Wise, Mister Maglor. Elven patience must be something to admire. Which, it's actually quite funny now that I mention it!

[ He pulled another smile, trying not to laugh at the thought of Maglor and the Taako twins standing side by side. ]

Beings of supernatural nature must differ throughout realms, as you and your brothers are so very different from another set of siblings I'm acquainted with.

[bythewaves]

I have time, after all. [ he smiles a little wryly ]

And I hardly think of myself as supernatural! If anything, that title belongs to Men, who go out of the world and are not tied to it as we are. One of the words we use for you is "Guests", you know.

[doctoral_bird]

Hah! Through the eyes of another group, I can see why. Humans come and go in a heartbeat. Mucking about sacred nature. It's so strange... "Lifetime" is the longest thing I can experience, yet I fear I won't get much done in that short period.

[ Malkus was jealous. His other friend mentioned she was something like over a hundred years old. Malkus was thirty three and already feeling like he ought to wrap up his life. Even Maglor had experienced so much. Granted a lot of it was frightful to the man, what with wars and enemies and everything. But it still seemed like such a longer story than his. ]

But I've heard that time stands still while we are here. Lord knows I don't know the first thing about any of that.

[bythewaves]

True - bright flames you are, burning hot and fierce. I sometimes think you accomplish more in your lives than most of us do.

[ he nods ]

Nor I. But it would make sense, considering how they can pull folk from different times even within our own worlds implies a good deal of power.

[doctoral_bird]

[ That was nice to hear. Nothing put a man into an existential crisis like having a friend who’d outlive him by miles. But he did get a lot done, didn’t he? Their conversations were always so profound and deep, Malkus felt like he ought to try and push a more jovial conversation. Something more casual. ]

I’m starting to get used to things, at least. Aside from the monsters at the arrival-arena, which I can just opt to avoid. I wonder what sort of folk we can expect this time around?

It’s been pretty consistent. Could almost set a watch by it.

[bythewaves]

It has - I am sure there is a trick to it, but what that trick is, I do not know. I should probably put in more effort into watching the arena, in case more folk I know come through, I suppose. It might also give insight into how our hosts work, if nothing else.

[doctoral_bird]

I don’t know what I can gain from monitoring the arrivals, but I do know they often need our help. Last time it was what, disgusting beetles. Crabs before that. Horrid wasps when I arrived. For all their talk of only wanting our emotions, we sure do shed blood in that arena!

Lol

[bythewaves]

Aye - well, I don't think it could do any harm to help them, as you say! I wonder if the arena beasts have a pattern to them too.

[doctoral_bird]

Goodness, I should hope not. As the months go by, I find myself in less of a position to fight these creatures. At first bees and bugs were just up my road, but I'd taken a good couple of hits from those giant shelled beasts. Still, as long as none of them bring any sort of disease I'm sure the guard can handle it.

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor frowns thoughtfully ]

Well, I could look at arming you, my friend, if that is what you want? My brother and his son are some of the finest smiths I have ever known, and I can teach, if you like?

[doctoral_bird]

[ Malkus had considered it before. Lessons were beyond him, but if he were to gather the right materials? Maybe he’d be able to make a proper request. ]

Can they make ah- I don’t know how to describe it. I don’t up ‘n want an entire regalia of iron, but it would be nice for a small bit of plate I can keep under the robe. As for arms, I’ve actually scrounged about that armory we’ve got here! Quite a lot of stuff!

[bythewaves]

Mm, you should talk to them and find out - but at a guess, I would not think a simple breastplate ought to be difficult!