for we are living in a material world, and I'm not sure what kind of elf I am

[cuor]

WHO: Legolas and the Big City. And your character.
WHERE: Central Heropa, and near the residences.
WHEN: February 2nd-4th
WHAT: There would be a joke here about not being in Kansas anymore, if Legolas knew what Kansas was and had seen The Wizard of Oz.
WARNINGS: Fabulous hair, ignorance about traffic laws.

IN TOWN

Downtown, near the cinema. The man had said. Well, he was in the town, though the location of the cinema was still unknown to him. Exactly what a cinema was also eluded him, though he'd had no time to ask. The men here had no time for questions, always hurrying to some other location. The street in front of him was evidence of that- a multitude of cars sped past, carrying their occupants speedily to far locations, and isolating them from the rest of the world.

Legolas looked once more at the summons in his hand, location of the job he was to attend written neatly on the line under his name and Hair Commercial Model. More words he wished to have explained.

He lept nimbly to the roof of a nearby car, searching the road for a man who looked as though he might have time to direct him. He knew all the pathways of Mirkwood, both open and secret - it could not be impossible to find one structure in this city of men. There! Across the street walked someone who might help.

With only a moment's pause, Legolas leapt from the car, and across the roofs of the cars that moved swiftly along the road. A great commotion of horns arose, but he had learned that the offensive noise was simply the song of the cars. They were easily startled, so he paid it no heed. Moments later he stood unharmed on the far side, and the cars' song faded away.

Within moments, he stood beside the walker he had seen. "Friend! Greetings! How goes the day?"


OUTSIDE RESIDENCE #32

Evening is quickly coming on, the temperature is dropping, and someone is sitting up on the roof.

... It sounds like he's singing to himself.

Comments

[belegurth]

Melkor has to consider this question because how humans measure time here is different. Time has a strange meaning for a Valar who didn't yet know of the Sun and the Moon. It didn't help that he didn't need to sleep and so days held little meaning to him.

"I believe it's been a month now," he said thoughtfully. "I know a place near which sells something called French toast and bacon which is customary ate in the morning from what I can tell."

[cuor]

A month! That was no time at all.

"I know little of the food of men, I have never heard of this French toast and bacon." Legolas admitted, still smiling. He shook his head. "They are a strange people, are they not, my friend."

[belegurth]

"They are strange indeed and a month has not been a great deal of time to learn all their ways," Melkor agreed. A month to an elf was practically nothing at all. But he had still been able to learn some interesting things here in his brief time.

He lead the way to the restaurant he had found near his place of work. It was small but the smell of food was wonderful, choosing somewhere for them to sit by the window. "Forgive me for asking but I am most curious as to the time you have come from and what is happening where you resided," he asked once they were settled, leaning forward slightly.

[cuor]

Content to follow and see more of this strange world, Legolas gazed around him at the marvels of this human city. The smell inside the building they entered was strange and wonderful.

Legolas thought before answering. He was not sure if the Noldor in Amman were interested in the troubles of the lands on the East of the sea. "The time? Coirë has just begun, and we are nearing the twenty-first yén since the Third Age began. Trouble stirs in the East of our lands, and-" He paused again.

The purpose of the quest he had joined with in Imladris was secret, it was true. If the Enemy were to learn that they intended to destroy the Ring, it might be impossible for that to ever occur. Even if he were in another world, he had sworn to keep that secret safe.

"Sauron the deceiver is trying once more to claim the lands there for his own. The last Age ended as he was cast down from his last attempt. Men are lesser than they were then, but their hearts have courage and strength enough to resist him once again."

[belegurth]

Melkor can't hide his look of surprise at the mention of Sauron's name. But if what Legolas says is true, then they are from different points in time. It only served to make him more curious to learn more but he would take it slow, gain more of Legolas' trust.

"I am afraid that we often do not trouble ourselves with what occurs beyond the sea so even in my own time I am not always aware of what is happening there. The last I recall, the light of the Trees had just been extinguished," he said with what he hoped appeared to be profound sorrow.

"But I am pleased to hear that there are those that would oppose the Enemy even beyond the sea. Even among the Noldor those that would are few in number now."

[cuor]

The news that his friend lived yet in the year of the trees astonished Legolas. He had thought his friend might be like the Lady Galadriel - old beyond the counting of men or even of the Silvan elves with whom Legolas lived. How could it be that they, from opposite ends of history, could be here together?

"It has been a great many years since the Years of the Trees," he said, wondering what ought or ought not be said. "That time is now remembered only in songs, among my people."

Then his eyes widened in realisation- "The enemy you speak of is Morgoth." His voice was low as he spoke that accursed name. However terrible Sauron was, how much worse was the Great Enemy?

[belegurth]

Melkor wasn't familiar with that name, it wasn't one of the titles he had given himself. But it wasn't really difficult to figure out who must have come up with that name.

"Yes but that is not a name to speak lightly even here," he said quickly, more because he wasn't exactly thrilled with it. "But yes, he had walked among us, giving us much wisdom at one time. How he will be defeated, I do not know," he said as he looked back at Legolas, hoping that that would be enough to prompt the elf to share maybe a little of his future. If Sauron had been defeated at one time, was it possible he had been as well?

[cuor]

A smile slowly brightened the shadow that had passed over his face at the mention of the First Enemy. "Take heart, for he shall be cast down, my friend. The Valar will not desert you nor your kin." That was certainly news Manfréa would wish to hear.

It would be ages yet, if Legolas recalled the songs correctly, before the Enemy would be cast down completely, but in time the Noldorin would be at peace. "We too, in our age, will cast down his servant, though I do not expect the Valar to come to our aid."

[belegurth]

"I am pleased to hear as such." This time it was a struggle for Melkor to control his expression. The Valar would be his downfall and he knew who would lead the charge against him. It took every ounce of self control his expression into one of relief.

"If there is any wisdom I may share to your to bring back against your struggle against the Enemy, I would be most happy to share it, so that the suffering of my people will not have been in vain." Always helpful, but Melkor had to do something to ensure that they wouldn't defeat Sauron at least, as small as his influence from another time and place could be.

[cuor]

Ruefully, he shook his head. "I have seen nothing of either the Men who will fight, nor the hosts of the enemy that they will face." He knew so little of the men of Gondor. Their number, the way they fought, the strength of their leaders- nothing worth sharing. "Orcs are the same wherever they are found, at least. Their number must be great, for they are ranging far from their home in the East; even to the borders of my father's lands in the North."

[belegurth]

Melkor fell silent as the waitress to give them their menus and left after telling them she would be by shortly. He considered his next move but as soon as they ordered, his let his expression lighten once more.

"We will speak of this at a later time. I will impart what I know of the Enemy but this is a lovely morning not to be marred by the darkness back home," he said firmly. There would be time to find out more information when Legolas had more trust in him.

[cuor]

Accepting the menu with a smile to the waitress, Legolas studied the brightly colored paper. "That would be well." He aknowledged, "From what I have heard, we must live in this land until the power that brought us here decides to return us. I hope we will have many more opportunities to talk." He smiled up at the Noldor.

More time would give him a chance to think about how much to share with his new friend.

He turned his attention back to the menu. The pictures were stunningly lifelike, and not like any food he had seen before. "Have you any recomendations, my friend? It all looks interesting."

[belegurth]

"I have no doubt as to that. I know it would be most welcome during the hours that most here must sleep," Melkor said sincerely. He was often bored during those times having no one else to entertain him even if he enjoyed the darkness. He had taken using that one to begin testing the limits of his abilities in this world, creating tiny balrog type creatures from flame and darkness.

"I am fond of the French toast but there are truly so many choices."

[cuor]

"Their need for sleep does seem more an inconvinience..." Hunting the Uruks over the plains of Rohan might have gone faster if his companions had required as little rest as he had. But Legolas could not truly begrudge them their rest. Well, not Estel, at least. The dwarf...

No, the dwarf was proving himself a worthy companion.

But that did nothing to solve his present dilemma. "Then I shall trust your judgement and choose the French Toast."

[belegurth]

"Having company during those hours would be most welcome. The stars do not shine as brightly here but it is a quiet time, most peaceful."

It was a small matter but that small amount of trust was progress. He would help that trust along little by little over time. When the waitress came back to get their menus, Melkor gave her their order before turning his attention back to the elf. "I am sure you will not regret it."