[ Lance watches her, his own smile fading. Elf were strange folk, he knew it from word alone; though he didn't find Allura nearly as outlandish as he imagined her kin to be. Not observant, not clever, he still finds the smile a bit odd. He rubs his hand together thoughtlessly.
At last, a sigh. ] Her persistence, really. Schmoozed my father, I guess; appealed to him to say I couldn't hold the banks of Anduil alone, if she left, and Gondor would fall. Then held my shoulders and said this task was meant for me–that this weird dream we both had was like... more mine than hers. That whatever I came here for will mean more to Men than anything my father would have me do and I was meant to go. [ He reaches a hand down to fuss at a loose pease of bank beneath him as he speaks, sullen and frustrated before it steams out. ]
I mean it's not like I'm mad I'm here, but I totally could have held our position! I'm like the best marksman in Gondor! I've held positions by myself a whole trope couldn't defend!! Dad just... She's the real star between the two of us. Can't blame him. [ He could. He remembers listening to the squabble; his fathers refusal to leave his prodigy daughter to die at the hands of darkness. But Lance is still young, it shows easily in his complexion and posture. ] Sorry if that makes me sound ungrateful to be here. Guess I'll just know tomorrow just how worthwhile it was to come all this way.
[ Allura listens quietly, thoughtfully. The fair folk did not give much heed to the inner politics of Men, only what influence they might have onto the elves or to Middle Earth as a whole. But they all have the same wants and desires, don't they? To be loved, to have something to protect?
She doesn't react at first, then lightly shakes her head. ]
No one is so far above a desire to prove themselves.
[ That's what this truly comes down to, doesn't it? ]
I cannot say how the council will go, but whatever takes place will change the fate of Middle Earth. That is worthwhile, don't you think?
[ He has little comment to her first remark. You try to be humble around a girl and she just goes and pokes you right in the braggart button!!! ...But she's not wrong. He wants to be great. And so his lips only purse thoughtfully.
The second is harder, but certainly more curious. His lips purse to the other side, more suspicious as he peers at her. ]
Well. Sure. [ He had dreamt of his reason to be here. It was vague, but pointed. ] You... sure you don't know? I mean. It's cool if you don't. Or. No, never mind, I'll just see for myself tomorrow. I'll lay off politics now. You don't waste stars like this on talk of fate and doom and whatever.
[ She has a decent idea...for many good reasons. But Allura is (rightfully) under the assumption that he has no idea who she is. And that is honestly perfectly fine with her, for now. So she is glad to let the topic die as it need be, turning her gaze back to the stars. ]
The stars are very important to the Eldar. They existed before the creation of Arda itself. When the Elves were first awakened, the first thing they saw was a sky full of stars...before any moon or sun. And those same stars watch over us now.
Man, what I'd give to be my first memory of something like this. I bet every single one of those is gonna' be around long after us, too.
How about you? Can't say I can see much of an age difference in any of your kin, so I hope you don't mind me asking. You around before or after the sun and moon? Or even younger than that?
No! No, definitely not, [ he holds his hands up, a little embarrassed. ] You look beautiful– I mean [ he stumbles, nearly falling off the branch. ] I mean you like you're an elf sure, but to me you're like hardly a day over twenty or uh however elves work maybe two hundred is a better number? Not that– Any number is okay by me, really! I was only asking if like maybe you saw the moon appear or something I don know I mean that's pretty cool, not that you look old or anything so–
[ Allura does laugh at that, light and like the chime of small bells. ]
I am afraid I have no such stories to share.
[ Her birth, though, is an interesting point in their shared history...of which she doesn't discuss at liberty. Not unless it's important. Her father would be displeased, either way. ]
In that long, you could have lived my life thrice over! Yeesh, being of the race of Man sucks. We live for like... a blip and then done. I'm already leaving my prime.
Huh? Oh, yeah I guess it has gotten late. [ He'd meant only to go on a brief stroll to clear his mind and wear his body down, but at least a half an hour has been spent on this detour.
He'll move to start making his way down, but half hanging from a branch: ] You know, it's been quite the long and lonely journey from Minas Tirith to here, my Lady Allura. I would not protest.... extended company, if you don't wish to head to bed so soon.
[ To say that his offer is nuanced would be generous. Allura raises her brow. It wouldn't be the first time she's been propositioned, but never in her own home and never so boldly.
Allura stays sitting above him, inclining her head to the side. ]
All the more reason to rest. I take it you can find your room without assistance?
[ He tries not to let the pout show through, but it does anyway, and he brushes it off like it means nothing. ] Suit yourself, Lady Allura. I think I'll be alright navigating these halls, but uh... [ he points another finger gun at her with his free hand. ] Just hit me up if you ever need a hand navigating yours.
[ He'll climb down after that with a rotten feeling in his stomach, thinking perhaps that was the worst pick up line he could have ever mustered up, knotted up with the fact that maybe elves don't really DO the pick up line things like his own people. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
At last, a sigh. ] Her persistence, really. Schmoozed my father, I guess; appealed to him to say I couldn't hold the banks of Anduil alone, if she left, and Gondor would fall. Then held my shoulders and said this task was meant for me–that this weird dream we both had was like... more mine than hers. That whatever I came here for will mean more to Men than anything my father would have me do and I was meant to go. [ He reaches a hand down to fuss at a loose pease of bank beneath him as he speaks, sullen and frustrated before it steams out. ]
I mean it's not like I'm mad I'm here, but I totally could have held our position! I'm like the best marksman in Gondor! I've held positions by myself a whole trope couldn't defend!! Dad just... She's the real star between the two of us. Can't blame him. [ He could. He remembers listening to the squabble; his fathers refusal to leave his prodigy daughter to die at the hands of darkness. But Lance is still young, it shows easily in his complexion and posture. ] Sorry if that makes me sound ungrateful to be here. Guess I'll just know tomorrow just how worthwhile it was to come all this way.
no subject
She doesn't react at first, then lightly shakes her head. ]
No one is so far above a desire to prove themselves.
[ That's what this truly comes down to, doesn't it? ]
I cannot say how the council will go, but whatever takes place will change the fate of Middle Earth. That is worthwhile, don't you think?
no subject
The second is harder, but certainly more curious. His lips purse to the other side, more suspicious as he peers at her. ]
Well. Sure. [ He had dreamt of his reason to be here. It was vague, but pointed. ] You... sure you don't know? I mean. It's cool if you don't. Or. No, never mind, I'll just see for myself tomorrow. I'll lay off politics now. You don't waste stars like this on talk of fate and doom and whatever.
no subject
The stars are very important to the Eldar. They existed before the creation of Arda itself. When the Elves were first awakened, the first thing they saw was a sky full of stars...before any moon or sun. And those same stars watch over us now.
no subject
How about you? Can't say I can see much of an age difference in any of your kin, so I hope you don't mind me asking. You around before or after the sun and moon? Or even younger than that?
no subject
I do hope you're not insinuating something.
[ He isn't, likely. ]
I believe I'm not much older than you.
[ Of course, this is relative--she is much closer in age to Lance in comparison to her father, who is several thousand years old. ]
no subject
no subject
I am afraid I have no such stories to share.
[ Her birth, though, is an interesting point in their shared history...of which she doesn't discuss at liberty. Not unless it's important. Her father would be displeased, either way. ]
I am eighty-seven.
[ Very young for an elf. ]
no subject
In that long, you could have lived my life thrice over! Yeesh, being of the race of Man sucks. We live for like... a blip and then done. I'm already leaving my prime.
no subject
[ Which probably says a bit at what she thinks about some of the actions of the elves. ]
no subject
[ He's surprisingly dense, but not completely out of touch. ]
no subject
[ She is still an elf, so being cryptic is part of the job. ]
With that in mind, I probably should not distract you from your rest much longer.
no subject
He'll move to start making his way down, but half hanging from a branch: ] You know, it's been quite the long and lonely journey from Minas Tirith to here, my Lady Allura. I would not protest.... extended company, if you don't wish to head to bed so soon.
no subject
Allura stays sitting above him, inclining her head to the side. ]
All the more reason to rest. I take it you can find your room without assistance?
no subject
[ He'll climb down after that with a rotten feeling in his stomach, thinking perhaps that was the worst pick up line he could have ever mustered up, knotted up with the fact that maybe elves don't really DO the pick up line things like his own people. ]
no subject
[ Allura just. Narrows her eyes a bit as he descends.
Does that actually work on Menfolk? Perhaps she doesn't understand the other half of her people as well as she thought.
Allura does find her own room just fine. ]