003; Accidental Video

[utulien_aure]

[The phone is filming at a strange angle, but Fingon's face is visible-and visibly bewildered at what he's hearing. What he's looking at is an offscreen stereo, already partway through a tune with a particular sixties groove....]

Now hobbits are a peace-lovin' folks you know
They don't like to hurry and they take things slow
They don't like to travel away from home
They just want to eat and be left alone
But one day Bilbo was asked to go
On a big adventure to the caves below,
To help some dwarves get back their gold
That was stolen by a dragon in the days of old.

Bilbo! Bilbo! Bilbo Baggins
He's only three feet tall
Bilbo! Bilbo! Bilbo Baggins
The bravest little hobbit of them all

[At that point Fingon blinks, shakes his head, and reaches out to shut off the stereo.]

...What did I just listen to?

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[bythewaves]

I... am unsure.

[ Maglor is staring ]

Also Master Baggins was most definitely more than three feet! He was relatively tall, as hobbits go - a little under four, I believe.

music or hobbits?

[utulien_aure]

[Fingon awkwardly twists a braid.]

Oh, so they really were your hobbits. I was wondering.

...Did you ever meet him?

music XD

[bythewaves]

I would hardly say they were mine! If anyone's, they are Eru's, maybe.

I did not - I know his tale, of course - the ... er... tune? has that much correct, at the least. He did, indeed, go on an adventure and face a dragon, and he was certainly brave.

heh

[utulien_aure]

You're the only one of us to have met them, with the exception of Elrond.

So it isn't just a coincidence...that is strange. But the song isn't one of theirs? Or of Men's?

he is traumatised!!!

[bythewaves]

Well... it... could be one of theirs... [ Maglor says doubtfully ]

But it doesn't sound like most hobbit music I know. Besides, I am given to understand that his er... reputation amongst his own people was... less than stellar. I have half a dozen tales of "Mad Baggins" that I heard while I was in the Shire.

So I suppose it must be one of Men's, but it doesn't sound like anything I know either.

video;

[the_fourteenth]

... I'm not sure. What's a "hobbit"?

video;

[utulien_aure]

[An shaky laugh]

Apparently? A race of small Men-like creatures from home.

I've never met one, though.

video;

[the_fourteenth]

Oh! So this is music from your homeland?

[He knows a lot of people have found music players this month but the technology is all foreign to Raidou, and he hasn't recognized anything he's heard yet either.]

video;

[utulien_aure]

[Shaking his head.]

I've never heard the like. Maybe the styles change, later on, but I can't imagine that much.

text;

[trashmouths]

nerd

text;

[utulien_aure]

Pardon?

text;

[trashmouths]

you're a nerd!

[ not that there's anything wrong with that it ]

do you know any cool songs?

text;

[utulien_aure]

If you're willing to explain what that means,
I could tell you whether I am or not.

[Sorry, Richie. Medieval-esque elf warrior dude doesn't have a clue about your slang.]

I know many songs, yes, and some of them concern chill places indeed. But this isn't one of mine.

[eyeofthetiger]

[ he winces ]

Now that I would call just pure torture for the ears. It's not even pretending to be a song.

[utulien_aure]

[Fingon tilts back his head and laughs.]

Worse- this Bilbo Baggins is apparently a real person. Can you imagine having this written about you?

[eyeofthetiger]

[ Dean automatically shook his head ]

Nope, but if I did, I would insist that it be set to rock music. This just makes me want to gouge my eyes out.

[ and it wasn't a real person; it was a hobbit. There's a difference. Don't just believe everything you see in the pictures. ]

[utulien_aure]

And what is rock music, if I may ask?

[Absolutely you shouldn't believe what you see in pictures, Dean. Baby cousin Galadriel is much prettier than Cate Blanchett. Also much scarier.]

[paragonbrosca]

...good fucking question.

I'm not sure what a hobbit is, and who names their kid 'Bilbo'?

[utulien_aure]

Hobbits are a race, apparently. Like Men and Elves, but much smaller.

[No, Fingon, it's not like that wasn't part of the refrain or anything.]

I'd comment on the naming, but given my own family's record it'd be a tad hypocritical.

[paragonbrosca]

Even smaller than dwarves.

[Maybe a little pleased, she doesn't get to be taller than others very often.]

I like mine, but I suspect that's because my sister probably picked it. I wouldn't credit my mother with good taste.

Did any of that really happen, or is it just a song?

[utulien_aure]

It seems so- though not quite as short as the song suggests, according to the one who's actually seen them.

[Fingon sympathizes with that; he may be six feet three, but in his family that makes him the short one.]

My people pick up more than a few names, over time. So if we don't particularly like one, we simply never use it.

According to my cousin, who would know much better than I, much of the tale is true.

[loveathousandyearsgone]

[...His poor ears. Elrond rubs a hand ruefully over his brow before speaking up, voice so very dry.]

For a quiet folk, my dear old friend was certainly adventurous and brave. But he was taller than the mere three feet spoken!

[utulien_aure]

[Fingon grins back at him, amused by the responses, if not the song.]

Ah-so you did know the hero in question. Tell me, is there a better song we should hear to wipe this one from our ears?

[loveathousandyearsgone]

[He stifles a full grin, though just barely!]

Indeed I have that pleasure. I am sure Maglor could come up with a far better song.

[...Maybe he's missing his brother particularly keenly, or his children.]

Ask him to introduce you to the colorfully named Elf and the Fruit Vendor.

[utulien_aure]

[Groaning.]

The Elf and the Fruit Vendor, Elrond? Really?

There are children on this network.

[Ok, the suggestion was kind of funny.]