Magic Box, Sunday, 05/17

[not_every_mage]

Anders gave the brunch in the park a wistful look on his way to work. Maybe he'd nip out and stop by, just for a minute. Just to grab some food and see what his friends besides Cassandra had made of themselves. If the fact he was still his normal age was anything to go by, it didn't seem likely he'd ever get to see for himself; he'd either die young or live out his days locked in some Circle somewhere.

It was not a series of thoughts that put him in the best of moods. He was almost aggressive with the spray and paper towels as he set to cleaning every inch of the store he could reach. If he kept moving, he wouldn't think so blighted much.

[OOC: Open post, no OCD!]

Comments

[dwarvenswagger]

Thorin would like to say he came here on purpose. Because that was a much more kingly story than 'I got lost trying to find the picnic. Yes, I know how small this town is. Shut up.'

But there he was nonetheless. So.

"Anders?"

[not_every_mage]

"That's me," Anders said, with an aggressive kind of cheer in his voice to cover how discombobulated he still was from his conversation with Cassandra. "And I'll take a wild guess that you're Thorin?"

[dwarvenswagger]

"Unless you have met many other dwarves." Which. Rude. Clearly Thorin was the best of all the dwarves.

All of them.

[not_every_mage]

"Not many as handsome as you," Anders said lightly. "Hi there. How's your visit going?"

[dwarvenswagger]

You're just saying that because he finally grew in his beard.

"I believe it would have been better had it been planned." At all. In the slightest.

[not_every_mage]

"What, you didn't portal here on purpose?" Anders frowned. "Sorry about that. Island has a strange sense of humor sometimes."

[dwarvenswagger]

"That it does," Thorin replied with a sigh. "And yet you look unchanged which hardly seems fair."

[not_every_mage]

"I am unchanged," Anders smiled grimly. "And it's not unfair at all if you think about the reasons why someone might not be available for a high school reunion."

Dead, he figured. Dead or locked away, which was next to the same thing.

[dwarvenswagger]

That would indeed be distressing.

"I must wonder if the island even cares for such reasons. When it pulls people in seemingly at random."

[not_every_mage]

"Good question," Anders admitted. "It probably has to skip the dead, but I can't see it caring much if someone is alive and can't come for other reasons." A pause. "Somehow I'm not comforted by that."

[dwarvenswagger]

"You would still be young for your people... wouldn't you?" He wasn't good at this with men, okay? You all aged funny. "Unless it would be in battle."

Which would be a good death at least?

[not_every_mage]

"Quite young," Anders agreed. "Most men can live to be 80, longer if they're lucky. But it's --"

He waved a hand. "It's complicated. Any strong feelings about magic among dwarves in your world?"

He wondered abstractly if now was the time to have this conversation, since he was almost certain to have to have it again with younger Thorin soon enough. Still, it couldn't hurt to try it now. Call it a trial run.

[dwarvenswagger]

"There are wizards," Thorin replied. All, like, three of them. "And the elves have their odd, little enchantments. Dwarves only work magic in stone and steel."

[not_every_mage]

"Dwarves can't do it at home either," Anders informed him. "Anyhow, the point is, I'm a mage -- a wizard. And at home the religious belief is that mages need to be kept apart for everyone's safety. I ... never quite agreed with that."

Understatement. Anders fiddled a bit with some things on the counter, not meeting Thorin's eyes.

"So if I keep running, there's a decent chance somebody will decide to kill me sooner or later. I would prefer much, much, much later. Or never. Never could work just fine."

[dwarvenswagger]

Okay, this religion was just wonky if you asked Thorin. That's why Mahal was a-okay and just wanted his children to craft things.

And not, you know, murder folks. Sounded an awful like the enemy that.

"For what reason would they do such a thing?"

[not_every_mage]

"Because they've been taught from the cradle to see us as less than people,and to hate and fear our powers," Anders said grimly. "Officially they aren't supposed to kill us out of the clear blue, but you hear stories. Soldiers pick fights and then kill mages for defending themselves. Mages trying to support themselves get wrapped up in crime and get killed in all the usual stupid ways that go along with that. Sometimes you get a nice hysterical mob just to mix things up. There are loadsof fun possibilities."

[dwarvenswagger]

Well, it was safe to say that Thorin didn't approve of any of that. His expression grew darker and darker with each addition.

"Then they're fools. Despising what is different from them."

[not_every_mage]

"I would tend to agree, yes," Anders said mildly. "Care to go home with me and try to convince everyone we're right?"

[dwarvenswagger]

"I would if it would not leave my people without a king." Again. Thanks, dad.

[not_every_mage]

Anders raised his eyebrows. "A king. Well. Congratulations. When did that happen?"

[dwarvenswagger]

"After the death of my grandfather and my father... going missing in battle."

He was off hanging out with Sauron in Dol Goldur. nbd.

[not_every_mage]

"Do you like it?" Anders wondered. "Or is that a rude question? Sorry about your kin, by the way."

[dwarvenswagger]

"There's no one else to lead," Thorin replied. Because answering was for wimps.

[not_every_mage]

"So no," Anders replied. "Sorry. Hope it gets better."

[dwarvenswagger]

"That is my hope as well. My people are making for a place that we may settle and grow strong once again."

Thanks, Smaug. Dick

[not_every_mage]

"What happened to the place where you were settled?" Anders asked, rather bluntly.