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[faithfulwisdom]

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You have reached Finrod Felagund, son of Finarfin. Leave your missive and I will answer it.
 

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Backdated to 12/25; delivery

[save_the_souls]

[On Christmas day, there's a delivery with a bag full of candies and cookies as well as a nice cards. Written inside is a note:]

Finrod-

Thank you for your donations to the blood drive! I don't know if you know about Christmas, but it's a holiday back where I come from and I thought I'd take the chance to show my appreciation for your generosity. I hope you have a wonderful month.

Merry Christmas!
Allen Walker, Blue Fish Lab Support

likewise backdated, handwritten note

[faithfulwisdom]

[And the response is delivered a day or so later.]

Allen:

You have my most sincere thanks for the confections. I have greatly enjoyed those I have tried already and I am certain the same will be true of the rest. But truly, it is the rest of us who should be thanking you for the efforts you put forth in organizing and running the drive. What I do is simple in comparison.

I hope your Christmas was a joyous one.
-Finrod Felagund

text; gets around to this five hundred years later whoops

[dancingmd]

Finrod,

Would it be possible to arrange a time to talk soon? In private? There is something I ought to discuss with you and I think it would be best if we did it in person - particularly as I don't want to risk us being overheard on the network.

Thank you,

Beverly

text; you are talking to the queen of slow

[faithfulwisdom]

Beverly,

Of course; you always have my ear. You need only name the time and place.

-Finrod

[Not that you have him a little worried with this or anything.]

action

[dancingmd]

[Yeah, it’s kind of a thing she does. Just ask Allen.

She arranges to meet him in the Iskaulit’s garden the next morning. Privacy, of course, is all relative when Atroma’s always watching, but at least she has the keys to the greenhouse, so they won’t be interrupted by anyone from the fleet. Besides, it’s much better than standing out in the cold wilderness somewhere, which is probably not a good idea for either of them, after being sick. When Finrod arrives, she does at least manage a small - if still somewhat apprehensive - smile, as she walks from the other end of the room where she was inspecting the plants.]

Good morning, Finrod. Thank you for meeting me here.

[faithfulwisdom]

[There's something reassuring about meeting in the presence of greenery anyway. Perhaps it's only the sense of familiarity, but Finrod does have a special appreciation for the garden. So he's, at least, a little more relaxed than he might be when she approaches.]

Good morning. It is no trouble at all. I must admit, you have me curious.

[dancingmd]

[Reassuring is good, relaxed is good: anything to help make things go more smoothly. And fortunately, she is much calmer and steadier than she would have been before, though right now there is a certain amount of distance - both emotional and physical - that she is maintaining between the two of them.]

I'm sorry for being cryptic but I believe you'll understand why it was necessary. Something has happened, something that I perhaps ought to have told you earlier, but I wasn't ready yet and I hope you'll understand that as well.

[She takes a deep breath.]

But first: I need you to promise me something. What I'm about to tell you will probably be upsetting to you, and I need you to not make any... rash decisions, especially not on my behalf. I'm not looking for you to take action; this is simply something you deserve to know, and something I want you to know, because you are my friend.

[faithfulwisdom]

[This does not bode well. This does not bode well at all. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that she's worried Finrod is going to go off and deliver justice- which means there is justice which needs to be delivered. But he is nothing if not respectful, and he can certainly understand not wishing violence to break out for ones own sake.

So, a little reluctantly, he gives a curt nod.]

I give you my word; I will do nothing against your wishes.

[dancingmd]

Thank you.

[There's no doubt in her mind that she will keep his promise, so that, at least, is one worry taken care of.]

It's about Tek... I ended up in his calibration.

[She wants to continue, wants to just get it all out there, but she waits, watching Finrod with careful concern in order to gauge his reaction before moving forward.]

[faithfulwisdom]

Go on.

[He's frowning, and he has folded his arms in front of his chest, but he seems more apprehensive than anything else.]

[dancingmd]

[Her words come out steady and practiced, nothing like the frantic emotional retellings Daneel and Allen got, so soon after. Enough time has passed now for her to gather her thoughts.]

I saw him in many forms. I met him as a curious child, I saw him as a lonely young woman, and I saw him as an adult dragon chased down and beaten by his own people. [It's important to her, to acknowledge these memories first, even if they do not excuse or change what came after.] But then... there was a war, and I saw it through his eyes, felt exactly what he felt as he brought death to the people who didn't even understand what they were really fighting for, who they were fighting for. It was a war between the dragons, a war I don't think he even believed in, not really: it was more like... he was resisting or rebelling against something - or someone - by taking lives indiscriminately.

To be honest, I still don't entirely understand it all. The politics and the history and the ... magic is all beyond what I'm used to. He has some sort of power to bring death in his wake, without even touching anyone. And I could feel that power, feel every single one of those deaths, as if I was the one who did it. It was too much for me and when we saw one another after the calibrations, I was upset and angry and scared and so was he. I'm still not sure what he might have done had Robin not stepped in.

[She takes a breath.]

But I'm... well, I'd be lying if I said I was completely fine. I'm not. But I'm better, and I'm safe, and there are others who know, who are familiar with dealing with these sorts of situations.

[She has been holding his gaze all this time, but now she drops it, the confidence with which she told him everything now wavering.]

I'm sorry. I've thought about you every day since, how I was going to tell you...

[faithfulwisdom]

[He had been expecting something, but whatever it was, it was not quite... this. There are layers here- multiple implications he has to sort through. But that will come later. Right now, his focus is on the fact that someone had posed a very serious threat to his friend. A sharp, fierce anger flashes through his eyes, just for an instant, and then it's gone- or at least pushed back beneath the surface- replaced by an expression of concern.]

Pray, do not offer apologies; you have done nothing to merit one. [And what he really wants to ask-] Do you believe him to be an ongoing threat to you?

[dancingmd]

[Though it's quick, she catches that flash of anger. Even if she might fear that it might lead to someone - namely, Finrod - getting hurt, if she's honest with herself, it's a relief that she's not the only one who reacted angrily.]

I don't believe so, no.

[However, there was some hesitation there, tellingly.]

[faithfulwisdom]

[That hesitation makes him nervous...]

Are you armed?

[dancingmd]

[She shakes her head and frowns: stop this train of thought right now Finrod.]

I am not. If Tek wanted to hurt me, no weapon I have the ability to wield would stop him.

But let me reiterate: I do not want to fight him and I do not want anyone else fighting him for me. Nothing that has happened between us changes my stance on violence. I only ever engage in combat as a last resort and we are by no means at that point. To act as if we are will only serve to heighten his fear, which is the last thing I want. Fear is what got us here in the first place.

[faithfulwisdom]

I am not so certain. From what you describe, he could have slain us all on Mor with ease. Why did he not? Was it a choice? Or did something restrain him? [He doesn't know, but it bears thinking about.]

[He sighs] I am not suggesting that you fight him. I am suggesting that you keep, at the very least, a dagger on your person- something I would advise anyone on this fleet, to be quite frank. To carry with you some means of defense is not an act of aggression.

[dancingmd]

[...

A dagger.

The sarcastic remarks running through her head right now - but she'll refrain. Honestly, it's not as if she didn't expect something like this from him, and she knows he says it out of concern for her.]

I'm not so sure that's how he would perceive it. Besides, that's just not ... I don't even carry a weapon on me at all times in Starfleet.

[And let's be real: ten months in Starfleet brought her more near death encounters than ten months has in Drift Fleet.]

[faithfulwisdom]

[He runs his hand through his hair, pushing it back from his face as he thinks.]

There is no point in arguing this with you, is there? Tell me, then. Is there anything I can do to help you or give you comfort?

[dancingmd]

I'm sorry. I know your suggestion comes from a place of concern for me, and I appreciate that, truly I do, but... carrying a weapon wouldn't make me feel safer, it would only put me more on edge.

[She closes the rest of the gap between them and takes his hands in hers.]

I only need your continued friendship. That is comfort enough.

[faithfulwisdom]

[He shakes his head.] As you said, the suggestion was made for your benefit. If it would do you no good, then there is no purpose in it.

[So no apologies necessary.]

You have that- always and without question.

[dancingmd]

[Giving him a soft grateful look, she steps in to wrap her arms around his waist and rests her cheek against his chest.

(You've broken the hug seal now Finrod, expect this much more often in your life. Though this time it's more for her comfort than his.)]

Thank you.

[faithfulwisdom]

[Well, the hug barrier is not a bad thing to have broken, he supposes. He wraps his arms around her in return.]

Of course.

[dancingmd]

[For long moment, she is silent, simply taking comfort in his embrace. There had been a part of her that thought he might have been upset with her for not saying anything earlier, and for getting angry with him after what happened on Mor, when it seems there is something to fear from Tek after all - though still not in the way Finrod thought. In any case, she is relieved. For a moment before letting go, she hugs him just a little tighter.]

And you... are you all right? I know this is a lot to take in.

[faithfulwisdom]

I am. [He breathes out, giving a deep sigh before letting her go.] I would lie if I said that I was not... unnerved. But it is nothing that cannot be managed.

[dancingmd]

[She nods.] Is there anything I can help explain further, or... I want us to be on the same page and not... not have it be like before.

[faithfulwisdom]

[He shakes his head.] I am not angry. [Well, that's not exactly true] Not at you. And I promise you, I have no intention of provoking unnecessary conflict with anyone. [So you don't have to worry about that.]

All is right between us, at least to my eyes.

[dancingmd]

[She ventures as small smile.]In mine as well.

Though if I'm being honest... part of me is a little glad that you're angry because I am too. Not so intensely as before but... it's still there.

[faithfulwisdom]

As it should be. You have reason enough.

[dancingmd]

Good reason or not, it's...tiring. I don't want to be angry.

[faithfulwisdom]

I know. You have a generous heart.

[dancingmd]

[Quietly.]

Too generous, apparently.

[faithfulwisdom]

Oh, pray, do not say that. You should never repent of kindness.

[dancingmd]

[She drops her gaze and takes a deep, shuddering breath, trying to stay as calm as she's been being. It's progress.]

Sometimes it's so hard not to, when someone rejects it like he did.

But to be honest, I don't think he really knows how to deal with kindness when it's given to him, not really.

[faithfulwisdom]

Perhaps. There are some who never learn to understand kindness.

But, pain you though it may on occasion, your noble heart is your great strength.

[dancingmd]

Thank you. [Small smile.] I believe it is yours as well.

[She sighs, feeling as if a weight has been lifted, and takes his hand again.]

Since you are here, would you like to help me in repotting some of these plants? They've grown amazingly well here already.

[faithfulwisdom]

[And that brings a smile to his face.] It would be a pleasure to help.

backdate to 12/10 or thereabouts

[dancingmd]

[Other than the science museum (where she would live, if allowed), Beverly's favorite place by far at the hotel is the beach, artificiality and all. There are very few beaches on Arvada to speak of, so this is a rare and welcome treat, one she intends to take full advantage of. But - she's clever and doesn't tire out any one adult on these beach excursions, so today, it's Finrod's turn.

At the moment, she sits in the sand, industriously constructing a very lopsided castle, one of its towers threatening to topple over at any moment.

No one ever claimed she was much of a builder.]

[faithfulwisdom]

[Beaches are always something of a double-edged sword for Finrod- at once a reminder both of his youth and of the First Kinslaying. But the presence of little one- especially a friend- is enough to tip the balance into the sweet and banish the bitter. And fortunately for Beverly, he happens to be an expert sandcastle builder.

He plops down in the sand next to her and looks over the leaning tower.]

Might I make a suggestion?

[dancingmd]

[Beverly looks up at him, eyes big and wondering.]

What kind of suggestion?

[faithfulwisdom]

A structural one. [He points to one side of the base of the tower.] If we add support here, your castle might not lean so.