InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "B-A-N-A-N-A-S!"

Briseis | The Iliad (prizeofachilles) wrote in spinningcompass,
@ 2013-05-05 16:11:00

Entry tags:

!open

WHO: Briseis and OPEN
WHAT: Wandering around town
WHERE: In the city
WHEN: Sunday afternoon
WARNINGS: Trigger Warning: Possible allusions to rape
STATUS: Open/Incomplete

Briseis had found herself quite content with the way life was going in the past few weeks. She was happy with her arrangement with Imrahil, happy with the bakery, and happy that she had finally found herself someone to work with. Maedhros was an interesting character, to be sure. She'd never seen someone so tall before - he was nearly twice her height. And his hair was like fire! So bright and copper-colored. But what really caught her about him, and made her want to mother him (despite the difference in their ages) was the sadness in his eyes. She wasn't sure that she had ever seen such despair before, even in men who had spent their lives in war. She wouldn't force him to talk about it - of course not, but she hoped that in time he might open up to her. She would see, anyway.

On this lovely afternoon, after she had closed the bakery, she made her way into town. It was a lovely day, and she didn't feel like spending it cooped up in her apartment, or doing the deep cleaning that would need to be done soon in the shop. It was the sort of day made for wandering, window shopping, and perhaps meeting new people and making new friends. Many people had arrived since she had really been out and about, and she was feeling better about life in general. More confident. Her quiet relationship was helping her to feel better about herself, to take back her life and her autonomy that had so cruelly been taken from her.

She felt free, and had no desire ever to go home. This place was her home, for better and for worse, and whatever it threw at her, it could not be worse than where she had left.

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turukano
2013-05-07 12:05 am UTC (link)

Guilt ate at Turgon frequently and for various reasons at that, but in this particular moment it was because he had no currency to offer whatever being presided over the goods he took from shops. Gondolin didn't operate with a typical currency, or fiat currency either, but exchanged goods for services on a regular basis and he supposed it was like what he was doing in this place. But he felt bad no less and so, had taken up the habit of leaving behind tiny sculptures done in the nighttime hours. A basic payment, and a worthless one, but one he felt better doing no less.

A trade for a trade, after all. He looked at the little figurine with pride for a moment, admiring the tiny detailed armor as he set it upon the counter and placed his shield upon the arm, so the soldier was defending himself. They were made of wood or stone, depending on the need and the desire.

"Eru bless you," he said quietly, "My life to yours, my breath become yours. Fight as if you were me," he ordered, though he knew full well that no amount of elvish will would bring to life stone. But it felt better to provide even a tiny bit of grace into each of the soldiers he left behind. That done, he gathered his things and turned to leave the shop, stepping out into the sunlight where he paused, his ears drooping in embarrassment when his eyes alighted upon the face of a young woman. His eyes drifted back to the shop as if she knew what he was doing in there and might judge him for his thieving.

"Good afternoon, Lady," he said, his voice lyrical and full of joy.

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prizeofachilles
2013-05-07 12:24 am UTC (link)

Briseis, though, had no idea in the world what Turgon was doing, nor would she have disapproved if she had. Most people took whatever they would without any sort of payment whatsoever, even of the symbolic sort. She looked up at the Elf, his ears and height giving him away, and clasping her hands a little, nervously.

She had heard such tales of elves - and the tales frightened her. Maedhros did not scare her, for he was kind and good and protected her, despite the tales. But what if this person was one of the bad ones? But he did not look bad. No, indeed! There was kindness in his eyes.

But why did they have to be so tall?

She gave him a half-smile and bowed deeply.

"Good day, sir. Are you having a good day shopping?"

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turukano
2013-05-07 12:42 am UTC (link)

His ears perked at her good natured response, and his own cheer showed in his face as a result. Turgon bowed in turn, though given his nature as a son of the House of Princes it was only half as deep as hers, but still full of respect. She was small, small even for a human he supposed, but full of an inner brightness--not necessarily a glow--but one that was radiant as ever to eyes that might perceive it.

She was gentle. He could see it.

"Aye," he said, looking back at the shop. He'd gathered art supplies, not only for himself, but for his wife too and for their family as a whole. "It is a pleasant day and I could not resist the need to be in the sun and walk about the city. Though the city is dark and hard in places.. it is not so bad in the daylight hours." He gestured around with a graceful motion, smiling.

"Please, do forgive me, my name is Turgon," he placed his hand upon his chest, over his heart. "Have you found all that you need within the city?"

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prizeofachilles
2013-05-07 12:56 am UTC (link)

Briseis could easily tell the nobility in the man's stature, and curtsied again with deep respect. "I am Briseis, my lord. I run the bakery in town."

He smiled a little at him, looking up at him in awe. How could elves be so beautiful, and so stern and terrifying at the same time? She never knew whether or not to run in fear or to hug them. It was the same with Maedhros.

"It is not a perfect place, perhaps, sir, but it is certainly better than my home. I am truly happy to be here. I have found a place, and friends here. But I am sorry you do not find it as wonderful as I do."

She hesitated a moment, then smiled brightly.

"You are an elf, yes? Do you know Lord Maedhros? He works with me in the bakery."

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turukano
2013-05-07 01:17 am UTC (link)

"It has its merits," he said amicably, "and certainly its charm in ways.." but also its chaos, cruelty and utter misunderstanding when it came to interaction. But that was not her fault, or her problem so he shuffled all that aside and disregarded it for the time being. Indeed, she distracted him.

He furrowed his brows briefly and considered telling her untruths, but there was no point in denying their kinship.

"Aye," he said slowly, shuffling his items into his other arm. "I know him. He is.. my cousin. Son of my uncle," half uncle, he reminded himself so as put separation between their ties. It was a distance well deserved and one he would always maintain. "He works well with you? I am afraid I do not keep up with much of his doings unless they pertain to my immediate family."

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prizeofachilles
2013-05-07 01:22 am UTC (link)

"And you have family here, sir? I think I have seen that on the network. A wife, and a brother, perhaps? It would be very nice to have family here, although it has been a very long time since I have seen any of my family."

She almost blurted out the whole story to him, but stopped. He did not need to hear her sad stories when he certainly had many of his own. Everyone on this island had sad stories, most worse than her own. Or, at least she thought so.

"He is very kind to me. It is...a bit frightening in the bakery so early in the morning. It is nice to have someone there who can protect me."

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turukano
2013-05-07 01:39 am UTC (link)

"Many, yes. Many that I might hope for, and some I have not seen in.. a very long while. All of them cherished though. I am sorry that you are not so fortunate in that regard. " And he was, truly. As an elf that valued family and those relationships he could not stand the idea of existing in any world alone. He would sooner die and return to the Halls of the Slain than be here without them.

Briseis was strong to endure so stoically, and with such .. fortitude. He could not do it. Well no, he had done it, but he would not want to do it here. What a sad life one must lead, indeed, to want to stay here rather than return home. Turgon yearned for Gondolin, and so now did Idril his daughter.

"He is a brave and noble soldier," of sorts. When he wasn't murdering women and children, "and a man strong of heart and with.. morals. I am glad he's proven himself useful, as I feared his idleness above all."

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prizeofachilles
2013-05-07 03:45 am UTC (link)

"My family died...I suppose it is not so very long ago, although it seems it. A few years. But they were years which held decades." A flash of sadness crossed her face, but she pushed it away as soon as she could. "And this place, it has given me a chance for a life that could never have been mine at home. A life of honor and happiness. And I am so very happy here."

She was silent for a moment as she thought of Maedhros.

"I think...I think he has struggled a lot, and has hurt much. Perhaps I can help him find some peace."

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turukano
2013-05-09 07:48 am UTC (link)

"I know that feeling," he said kindly, "where decades are.. centuries. Millenniums. But you get through them, what other choice do you have?" To die? To suffer. Those were options, yes, but never ones to give into if one could help it. As a being who had existed on the verge of despair for a long while, Turgon knew well the desire to give into hopelessness. But one must fight against it with strength.

"As for my cousin? Aye," he said with a subtle nod of his head, "he has suffered much. But he has done many things and so.. be careful with him. He has a chance for peace if only he'd take it. But do not push him hard else he will push back and the result may be disastrous. He is fierce of spirit, mind and cold of heart when he must be."

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prizeofachilles
2013-05-09 08:00 am UTC (link)

"Yes, we live because we must," she said softly. "Maybe because we are afraid to die, maybe because we have hope that if we simply keep living, things will turn better in the end? And they have, you see. For me, at least, coming here was a dream come true. I am free here, I can be my own woman. I belong to no one."

She smiled at him, looking up at him as he spoke of Maedhros.

"Yes, I think he is all of those things you say. But I think he is also...gentle. No, maybe that is not the right word? But...there is a softness beneath the anger. Something that does not want to hurt, or to frighten. Something that wants only to be loved. And perhaps too few people see it?"

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turukano
2013-05-13 04:31 am UTC (link)

"Aye, you belong to no one but yourself," he mirrored, believing it fully. Never in his mind could he dream of owning a person, or posessing them whether it be bodily or spiritually. One could never own another, and so one always had autonomy. And to the Void with those that sought to bereft individuals of their freedoms.

"Regret," he supplied about Maedhros, "pain, and sorrow. But I do not know which is the true mask and so I urge you caution! He may seem a kind and gentle thing, and he may be those things in reality for some time but he is .. Fëanorian and they are quick to anger and quick to strike. Be wary, but not afraid. Cautious and prudent. I do not say it to frighten you, surely, but you must be told of the danger he presents. Not all elves are benevolent and he certainly the least of them."

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prizeofachilles
2013-05-13 05:38 am UTC (link)

"I do not know him well, and perhaps I am a naive person for even thinking it, but I trust him. He has been kind to me, and good. And I have seen lots of terrible people in my life, and he is not like them. I...do not think he will hurt me. And if he does, I would rather be surprised and love him now as I may."

She smiled at Turgon sadly, wondering...

"What has he done? He has alluded to some of it, but he will not tell me all, and I think he judges himself harshly."

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