[Video]

[swiftlet]

[Swift is, let's be honest, not great with using this thing. It feels clunky and unnecessary, but it's what he's got to work with. Not everyone is a har, so he'll learn to live with it. Maybe eventually he'll even get good at it.

As it is for now, when the video starts he's glaring at the screen and it catches the tail end of a curse before he schools his face into a more neutral, perhaps diplomatic, expression.]

As I understand it, Seel har Parasiel has been here for quite some time...alone, let's say. [Unsupervised. He means unsupervised. He hasn't had a proper babysitter.] I would like to take a moment to apologize personally if he's been incorrigible or stubborn or plain mean. I don't know all of what he said to everyone, but I'm hoping it won't be a problem for much longer. [It will still be a problem for a while until Seel gets used to having Swift around again, and he knows that. He's at least prepared for it. This by itself is going to cause a fight.]

If you are having problems with him, please don't hesitate to contact me and I'll make sure it's taken care of. Once again, I am very sorry and I'll do my best to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Comments

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor grimaces ]

I confess, it horrifies me that so many here had terrible childhoods.

[swiftlet]

Me as well, but...well. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I'm sure there are people who be horrified at mine, and I didn't find it to be entirely dreadful.

[bythewaves]

It shouldn't. [ he says sadly ]

Children really should be protected better.

[swiftlet]

I don't disagree, just... It happens. We can't be everywhere.

[bythewaves]

I know that, objectively but...

[ Maglor shakes his head ]

Amongst my people, children are precious and highly valued. To think of anyone deliberately mistreating a child is grievous indeed.

[ People like you, Makalaure, whispers memory, and it sounds like his brother Celegorm ]

[swiftlet]

I could say the same. We do our best, save the ones we can.

[bythewaves]

In the end, that is all we can do. [ Maglor agrees ] And then we hope it is enough.

[swiftlet]

[He could say that it isn't, but he's politer than that, at least.]

Nohar can ask for more than that.

[bythewaves]

[ A small, wry smile ]

Oh, I'm sure they could. But life is not as kind as that, so we must make do with what we have.

[swiftlet]

I suppose they could, but they can't get more than that.

Eventually things will be alright. I'll believe that. With enough time, it will work out.

[bythewaves]

Even so.

[ Maglor nods ]

Aure entuluva [ He says softly ] Day will come again. Aye, one day, it will.

[swiftlet]

It will. [He hopes] We just have to wait for it, as... unappealing as that may sound.

[bythewaves]

Even so. [ Maglor nods ]

Never pleasant, eh? But the dawn always comes eventually.

[swiftlet]

If nothing else I certainly hope it does.

[bythewaves]

It will. [ Maglor says matter of factly ]

It always does. Of course, one may not live to see it - but that does not mean it will not happen.

[swiftlet]

I'm not sure I really like that answer.

[bythewaves]

It's not an easy one to hear. But it's an honest one, I think.

[swiftlet]

I can appreciate that, I suppose, only...it leaves all sorts of possibilities I'd rather not consider.

[bythewaves]

I suppose it does. [ Maglor sighs softly ]

But there really is no way of knowing - but when you are as old as I am... you learn to trust, some things.

[swiftlet]

I don't know if I could ever be that certain.

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor smiles a little sadly ]

Live long enough...

[swiftlet]

How long does it have to be?

[bythewaves]

That, I cannot tell you. My cousin Finrod never seemed to have trouble believing, even though he died before his sun could rise, but he was like that, a light for the rest of us. For myself, I think I am only learning it here.

[swiftlet]

I like this less and less.

[bythewaves]

I'm sorry, Swift. There are no easy answers, to this sort of thing.