Maglor July catchall

[bythewaves]

⌛ Who: Maglor & whoever!
⌛ What: Maglor got a music box that broadcasts his thoughts. He doesn't know this. Yet. Also just general July things.
⌛ When: all though July
⌛ Where: all over
⌛ Warnings: depending on who tags him and what they ask, topics may delve dark



Music Box: Thoughts Edition

See, here's the thing about Maglor. His thoughts are noisy. His family could have mentioned how 99% of the time he was composing in his youth - this has not, in fact, gotten any better as he's gotten older - it's just that the 1% not dedicated to music got LOUD.

So it's a toss up if the music box tunes in to his thoughts if one is going to get a sudden jangle of whatever composition he's working on at the moment (it might sound like a cacophony of noise, or something very close to the most perfect symphony you've ever heard, depending) or just random rambling streams of thoughts.

He's surprisingly paternal, if you listen to his thoughts. There's a lot of worrying over... pretty much everyone.

Music Box: Memories Edition

The memories that the box picks vary - you might run into him staring fondly at the image of a large, noisy family doing all sorts of things from playing to crafting to fighting to just existing, to brilliant great light sources that happen to look a bit like trees, to beautiful cities that look like paintings, to much darker memories - lonely shores, fire and war, long tiring nights guarding those behind him, all the way to softly sad memories - dark haired twins in a cold castle.

He'll talk about any of them, if asked, but probably won't notice any watchers to discuss them without being prompted.

Soul Artifact

".............we don't have to do this, if you don't want to."

He's very not sure if he WANTS to know what his soul artifact is. But this is what they've been asked to do so...

(It's a harp. Just a harp. His shoulders will drop in relief when it is revealed - clearly, he was expecting something else. But when the strings are touched... Something like grief will cross his face. )

Trial of Promise

"You cannot leave until you..." He reads out slowly, in the dim cave his glow is striking, especially since there's no other source of light barring the words on the wall.

"...Ah." He sighs, unhappily.

Trial of Devotion

He eyes the mountain and wonders aloud, "Do you think they mind if we cheat? I wonder if I can put them to sleep?"

Alternatively, he could just fight his way up. The odds are better than many times in his past.

"What do you think?"

Trial of Love

He waits only until the rules are announced before stating, very calmly; "That's fine. I'll just break mine."

What is such pain after all, compared to all the pain he has already had in his life?

He'll immediately move to smash the harp on any available surface unless stopped.

Comments

[bythewaves]

"It very much looks like it hurts."

He points out dryly, and squeezes her hand.

"No." He says firmly. "I will not see you come to harm. I would rather forfeit this entirely than that!"

[ancientflower]

"Fine then. Neither of us do it and to hell with their games!" She'd had enough of that in Havenwell. Stupid Gods and their tormenting. No, Aerith was either going to do it or she wasn't, and since this as causing an argument with her friend, it was time to put her foot down.

"I forfeit! I won't do it and I won't allow you to break mine. And if they have a problem with that..." Well, obviously she would kick butt!

[bythewaves]

At her words, the referee claps and bows to both of them.

"As both the lord and lady have forfeited, the challenge is completed, and you have both demonstrated your bonds with each other."

"Wait, are you saying... it was a trick?" Maglor frowns.

[ancientflower]

Aerith scowled at the Oni who spoke. She really wanted to kick him directly in the shins.

"Of course it was a trick. It's always a trick." She sighed and, just like that, dismissed the Oni from her mind to focus on Maglor. Her expression gentling. "Shall we go?"

[bythewaves]

She's not the only one, if the way Maglor's eyes brighten to a vicious, deadly silver-sheen, indictates. His voice is like the drawing of a blade, silk-soft and pointedly sharp.

"A waste of our time, then?"

It's enough that between their combined disapproval the oni flinches, waving his hands as he backs away.

"No! I-it's a proof! Of your devotion! That neither would subject the other to pain! So! Um! Congratulations! Bye!"

"Coward." Maglor watches him go with narrowed eyes, but he turns back to Aerith with a sigh.

"We might as well." He agrees. "It seems there is nothing further for us here.

[ancientflower]

Aerith huffed her own sigh as she watched the Oni leave in a rush.

"Strange customs, these people have. And to think this was supposed to be some kind of marriage rite." She have a shake of her head before she reached out and casually hooked her arm through Maglor's to start them moving. "I can't imagine starting out married life with trickery!"

[bythewaves]

He makes a disgruntled grumbling sound but then sighs.

"I am guessing that it's meant to be a hidden answer - after all, if you're willing to harm your partner, that's no good way to start a marriage either!"

[ancientflower]

"I suppose that is true." She conceded reluctantly. A marriage born from a violent act was not the best either. Either way this didn't seem to be a good end to the trials and Aerith was left feeling unsatisfied and aggravated. But it was over now, so she leaned her head against Maglor's shoulder as they walked. "Thanks for going through this whole mess with me."

[bythewaves]

He hums soothingly.

"You're welcome - thank you for going through it with me! If we had to do something like this... there are few here I would be happier to go through this with than you."

[ancientflower]

Warmth tinted her cheeks a lovely pink at those words and her smile widened into something so much brighter. It was one of the sweetest things anyone could have said to her and, with a laugh, she gave Maglor's arm a little hug. "I could say the same for you!" There was, Aerith thought, just a handful of people she would have been happy to do this with. "But lets hope we don't have to do this again any time soon, hmm?"

[bythewaves]

"Very much so!" He hums. "Although I really wouldn't have minded, Aerith! I'm glad I didn't have to break it, of course. But it's not as if my artifact is... well. It's not a nice one so..."

[ancientflower]

"Why would you say that? It's part of you so it automatically makes it beautiful!" And she would not be convinced otherwise. Aerith could be very stubborn when she wanted to be, and when it came to her friends and them being down on themselves, she could be very stubborn.

[bythewaves]

"Aerith, to even touch the strings produces a weapon!" He protests. "It's hardly what I would consider beautiful."

[ancientflower]

"And you don't think a weapon can't be beautiful in it's own way?" She asked him with a tilt of her head, gazing up at him with honest curiosity.

[bythewaves]

He looks away.

"I've dealt too much death to think so, Aerith."

[ancientflower]

Now this wouldn't do. Aerith sighed and pulled away slightly from Maglor so that she could turn on him, stopping him in his tracks. Then she lifted up her hands, catching the silly elves face between her palms and turned his face gently to look down at her.

"And because of that you don't believe you're allowed to see the beauty in things? I think seeing that much darkness would give you a better appreciation for the light, Maglor. Also... there's a saying, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And being the beholder, who are you to tell me I'm wrong in saying your soul artefact was beautiful?" She smiled then, gentle and kind. "There isn't a thing wrong with looking to the bright side, even when it comes to weapons. A sword can be beautiful as much as a flower can."

[bythewaves]

He blinks down at her.

"Aerith..." He says helplessly.

"I don't know if I can see it like that."

[ancientflower]

"Then I'll see it for you." She answered with ease, smiling as she lowered her hands and lightly tapped Maglor's chest with them both. "We're friends, aren't we? Do you trust me?"

[bythewaves]

He huffs a little, shoulders sagging.

"Aye, Aerith< I do." He murmurs. "But I cannot agree."

[ancientflower]

Aerith frowned unhappily. This wasn't an argument she should be having and she wasn't going to make Maglor see sense in just a few words, so she nodded and moved back and step. "Well, you may not, but you also can't change my mind. I'm sorry, Maglor."

[bythewaves]

He manages a smile for her.

"No," He says gently. "There is nothing for you to apologise. You are far too kind to me, Aerith, but I cannot deny that I am grateful."

[ancientflower]

She sighed... and then moved to link her arm through Maglor's so that they could start walking again. "You better be grateful." Aerith grumbled, then peeked up at him with a small smile playing upon her lips. "Think we should head home now before these guys try and rope us into something else."

[bythewaves]

"Yes ma'am~" He laughs. "Let's head off - perhaps we can visit a tea shop and soothe our nerves? My treat for the lady~"

Good place to end?

[ancientflower]

"Well if it's your treat, how could I possibly say no?" Aerith's smile blossomed into something warmer and brighter then, her steps a little lighter. Yes, tea after a stressful day seemed just about perfect. And maybe something to eat? "I know a cute little tea shop with the best cooling system!" The heat was just too much, she would be so glad once they returned home.

yes~

[bythewaves]

"Then let us be off, and enjoy ourselves so we can forget all of this trouble."