animus_network

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[There's Legolas, sitting at a terminal and looking thoughtful. There's a small, leatherbound notebook in front of him and a fountain pen. He wasn't sure if they'd belonged to anyone when he'd gathered what he needed but he could return it all later. In neat script on the first page is a passage written in Sindarin. And below it, a translation of it.]

What is it you miss of home, most of all? What is it, that if ever we return, you will seek out first?

I want to write it all here in this book. I want to make sure that no one forgets what most they miss here. No matter what it is that we endure, we'll need only look into it to remind ourselves of happier times. Times that, with hope, are not forever lost to us.

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I have to. To not have faith in my companions would be the same as giving up. We cannot do anything if we aren't united.

[He'd argue that.]

Nor could I. I would not wish this place upon anyone. I only want to see everyone home and safe again.

Then I'm glad you feel that way.

[He'd have a difficult time of it - but fortunately it's not something she's likely to bring up lightly.]

I do too. [But doesn't that imply--] So you believe the worlds really are still there for us?

I've had a long time to learn these lessons.

I do. Whether they lied to us or now about them being destroyed, they are still there. And if they are, I'm sure there's a way to return.

Look at me. I am an elf, my kind are bound to our world. We cannot leave it, our lives are connected to it. I cannot exist without Arda. And yet, I do.

[Her first assumption is,]

You've been in the tower for a while?

[... Until she reads that and remembers, with a bit of effort, what little she's heard to give that word context. He doesn't look like the sort Santa employs, but... well, the worlds do have their differences.]

I didn't realize there were people here with that sort of connection. [Not that it's overly surprising, although she cannot help but think of those with wanderlust, who would not want to be bound to a single world. That kind of person she's familiar with.] That does sound like evidence. [Come to think of it, though - ] Did you ever wish you could go somewhere else? When you were in your own world I mean.

Just over a year now. A very long year.

[Someone explained Santa to him at Christmas. But not his elves. Eru help him.]

Surprising, isn't it? My kin and I are the Children of Iluvatar, the one that created our world and gave life to us all. And no, I've only ever designed to see the lands of my own world. I never thought of anything beyond it. And as amazing a gift that would be, to go beyond the circles of Arda, I cannot.

I'm sorry to hear that. I know what you mean about it being a long year. It's been about a year and a half now for me.

[That'll be an interesting conversation, should such a thing ever take place.]

[The names mean little to her, even after rereading them.] A little bit. It makes sense though that there would be a situation like that in one of the worlds. There are so many of them. [Huh. Definitely a very different point of view.] Did the people in your world know anything about the existence of the other ones? [That's something different from wanting to go to another world.]

You have my condolences.

[It'll be funny.]

You've been outside your own world, then? Outside of being brought to this tower?

No, we've no knowledge of anything beyond Arda. I doubt very much that even the Valar would know of such things.

Thank you. But I've been lucky. It's been easier on me than it has been for some people.

You could say that. I knew about the other worlds and the ways to travel between them. I got the chance to do it a few times but [Goodness, how does she phrase this?] I'm not sure if I can call any of the places that I went to my world. [Or any of the places she left, anyway.]

That's not unusual. It seems most worlds are unaware of each other.

Easier but that does not mean that it is not still hard. Does it?

[Sounds confusing.]

Not your world? Whyever not?

No. It's still hard. [....] But there are some freedoms I have here that I never had before.

[It's one big mess, that's for sure.]

I never had a world that I could actually call my home. There were places that I travelled to or lived and a place that I was born but I don't think it ever would have been right to use that word for them. [... Well,] There was one that came close once but I had to leave it behind even before I was brought to the tower. [And after that, if everything had worked out, she'd have 'lived' on Destiny Islands... but even that world she doesn't feel she has a right to call hers.]

I'm afraid I don't understand.

[That's actually kind of sad.]

Everyone needs someplace that they can call home. We'll find one for you, too.

It's complicated. [And not something she's willing to give any significant details about to someone who's still more or less a stranger, but...] In my previous life [for lack of a better term] I never had the chance to do a lot of the things that most people do. Here I've been able to make friends and have fun even with the dangers of living here. [Which would imply, of course, that she couldn't do even those basic things before.]

That's very kind of you. I'm not sure if it's possible for me but I appreciate it very much. [... Well,] If I can be with my friends then that's enough for me.

[He's caught that part, not being able to do certain things.]

I'm glad that you have your friends with you. Even with what we all endure here. They make it easier to bear.]

[She never has seen fit to keep everything to herself, even if there are things she doesn't speak about directly.]

They do. I've learned that lesson well. [Not that she didn't already know it... but it's different to experience it oneself.] What about you? Are your friends with you here too?

[It helps when you're several hundred years old and good at reading between lines. Damn those elves.]

I have a few friends, yes. And I thank Iluvatar for them each day.

[Lucky he's not the malicious sort.]

Then I'm happy for you that you can be together. [... Well,] Not so much that it has to be here.

[Lucky indeed.]

As am I but I'll find a way to get them home safely. You as well.

[Hee.]

Thank you. Just don't forget to look after yourself, okay?

I will so long as you look after yourself as well.

[-- Fffff.]

It's a deal. No backing out now.

[He's laughing, over behind his screen.]

No, I don't suppose there is.

[As is she, albeit quietly and behind her hand.]

I'm glad we agree.

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