eachdraidh | Video | Memory | Evening July 22nd

Do all in your world fancy such bright colors and strange clothing then?

No, it is considered a symbol, or a target, by those who are super-heroes.

Ah. Would not flag or banner not serve the same purpose? And what makes for a "super-hero" as opposed to a regular one?

It is meant to identify the wearer in the middle of a crowd of people, or in the middle of a fight. Something that draws the attention of friends and foes alike, as well as an easy signifier that the wearer is one to trust.

[ There is a pause, as Kaldur gathers his thoughts. ]

Superheros are those who possess extra skills or abilities and chose to use them to protect innocents. For example, both individuals with the lightning bolt emblem, The Flash and Kid Flash, are capable of achieving supersonic speeds while running or vibrating their bodies.

We work often to assist law enforcement against others with powers who seek evil, manage large-scale disasters and events, or serve as diplomatically neutral parties in settling disputes.

Again, I have seen banners used for a similar purpose, although I grant you that wearing one's colours would eliminate the need for a bannerman - albeit make such fights a tad bright, perhaps. Your world seems a strange and marvelous one - I had not thought that any of the Secondborn would have such abilities.

Bannermen are impractical for individuals who fight. We–superheroes—are not a grand force for wars, though some, like my king, have bannermen of their own. THough monarchies with such power, or battles that would require bannermen and such, are rare on Earth, these days.

Though, I must ask, what or who are Second-born?

Truly? How are folk governed then, if not for a King or Queen or other similar lord?

[ Distraction murmurs Maedhros in his ears, but Maglor ignores him ]

Ah, so you are more... mercenaries then? Free agents, that is to say, your pardon - I did not mean to give offence - without ties to lord or land.

As to that, the Secondborn are what we call Men.

Many countries elect officials, or bodies of people, to represent their voices in government. In some places the court of law helps to run the country, and judicate on laws that have been established.

Many have ties to their country, but we are united and neutral against greater threats that present our world as a whole. For example, I am still a citizen of Atlantis, and I owe my fealty to my king and my country. Many others hold such loyalty to their country or planet also, or to the people within it, but not all.

[ Kaldur takes a moment to ponder that. ]

By men, I assume you must mean humans. It is true, that such abilities are a rare gift, though some are created, and some have no such 'gifts' at all, but rather extensive training and experience.

But not all of us are humans either. I am Atlantean, and me and my people live in the oceans, underwater. Some on my team, and the Justice League–an affiliation group of Superheroes–are not native to our Earth or Terra at all. Some are aliens from a different planet, such as Mars, though there are those that do not even come from our solar system.

Edited 2014-07-25 03:59 (UTC)

It seems a complicated way of ruling, yet I suppose that it might make it fairer, at the least, if rulers were cruel.

[ The double take is almost audible ]

Under the oceans? And yet you may walk on land and breathe air as easily as water? [ are you some sort of maia ] I fear I do not know some of the terms you use, but... if I understand you aright... some of your folk come from the stars? [ soft wonder ]

That was the original purpose of such governments. [ The fight against tyranny. ]

Yes. Many Atlanteans can live as well on land as we do underwater, but we are most comfortable in the ocean's depths.

And, yes, I suppose that is an accurate statement. Stars in the universe are often surrounded by planets, which rotate around them in elliptical orbits. Some of those planets support life, such as my own, Earth, and our nearest neighbor, Mars.

Though there are other aliens from far-away stars and planets, in the realms of outer space. Stars themselves are not habitable, as they are burning gasses that are undergoing a fusion chemical process that make it impossible for life to form as the matter is not stable.

[ That is sort of from the stars. ]

You say 'original' purpose - Am I to take it that things have changed then?

How strange. [ quiet wonder ] I do not think there are any such beings on my world, who may live in such disparate environments. [ except for various assorted ainur ] Ah, to walk amongst the stars and hear them sing. And there are folk who dwell out there that have come to your world? Such distances must be difficult to traverse. What are they like?

And... not all stars are such. [ quiet, sad, amusement at some private joke (except it isn't funny, not really...) ]

Now many form it because it is the most convenient form of government, though I am not an expert on politics, so I could not say. [ He is, after all, technically a citizen of one of the last remaining true monarchies ]

Far distances indeed. They are... both alike and different from those of us who dwell on earth, with their own languages and customs as any country may posses. Some are similar to us in size and form, and others are largely disparate. [ people are people, one would have to guess.

the star comment catches him off-guard, but Kaldur's hand comes to rest on the 'star' in his own pocket, that had caused all of this to begin with (this will be the last time he forgets to put something back where it belonged.) ]

Perhaps not in your world, but in mine they are all composed of superheated, burning gas.

[ There is a lot of explored supergalaxies and other such locations to be able to verify this to be true. ]

Truly? It sounds far more complicated than a simple monarchy, yet I suppose if folk were unsure of the trustworthiness of a ruler it might be more to their liking. [ Men were always ones for complicating things scoffs Caranthir Hush sooth the Ambarrussa ]

And how do they travel? Have they ships that may sail the void?

[ a soft, almost amused sound ] That is what they are made of, perhaps, but I wonder if it is not necessarily who they are.

[ ~~brotha' you may want to get all those voices in your head checked out~~ ]

The world I come from seems often to be much more advanced in technology than others. THough I have not been to the station myself, what I know of it makes it far more concurrent to what is happening in my world at the moment. Such technology allows for much easier communication, and there are many who have seen the benefit of such systems, even monarchs that have chosen to step down in the face of it. [ But, man, Kaldur really couldn't give you details. ]

There are many types of spacecraft, yes, used to transverse space. Some do not need it to withstand the absence of atmosphere, but it is one of the faster modes of travel, and some others, like boom-tubes, have a limited range across which they can transmit.

We have yet to encounter a star that displays any level of sentience, but that does not preclude one from existing. [ You can almost hear the shrug in his voice. Chemistry is chemistry, and there isn't much that could change that at all. ]

Edited 2014-07-25 23:46 (UTC)

[ ~~Dun wanna its the only way I get to talk to them any more~~ ]

True, I suppose ease of communication might simplify things in that regard... [ an almost audible shrug ]

A ship that sails the stars... [ longing and wistful ] And how do these... 'boom tubes' differ? ... Ah, your pardon. I must seem rude indeed, to constantly ask after such things - tis only that your world sounds marvelous strange.

Mm, the wide world is wide, and how much greater must the sea between stars be? I wonder if they sing the same songs in your world as they do in mine. [ I wonder murmurs Maedhros softly If Earendil sails their skies as well ]

[ not healthy, bro, not healthy. I get the feeling, man, but I feel like my loved ones would rather me be healthy and sane than crazy and hearing voices. And I refuse to let them down. Your choice, bruh. ]

Boom tubes and other, similar technology function much like the Fairy Rings, providing instant transport to wherever one is located, activated by voice or some other gesture. [ Molecular transport and all that fun jazz. ] And not at all, I enjoy being able to speak of my home world.

The distance between stars is immense. Indeed the distance from the earth, my home planet, to the nearest star, the Sun, is about 3733 times the circumference of the Earth, a total distance of 92,955,807 miles between both celestial bodies. The next nearest star, Proxima Centauri, is much farther away, at 4.24 light-years, with each light year being 5.87849981 × 10¹² miles, which is the amount of distance that light travels in the span of a year. [ So, basically, hella far. ]

Edited 2014-07-26 01:02 (UTC)

[ ~~but I was crazy before I started hearing voices, so if I don't acknowledge them it's okay right???~~ ]

Your world has magic akin to the fey here then? [ man, that would have saved so much time and effort ~~and possibly a younger brother~~ if they'd had such awesome tech ] Have a care with such kind offers, lest I overwhelm you with my interest!

I do not know those measurements nor most of those words [ what is circumference, Arda is flat ], I fear, but it sounds distant indeed. Your people may measure light, as well? Ah, but it sounds to be full of wonders indeed. Father would have loved to speak to you, I warrant.

[ ~~No, that means you need help even more. Getting worse is a bad sign, not a good one.~~ ]

Not magic. Well, yes, there is also magic similar to that displayed here, but the boom tubes I speak of are purely technology, constructed without magic. [ How about Kaldur's home world is almost as trippy as this one? Does that help? Hard to be fazed by crazy fairies when you fight giant mutant sludge monsters on a regular basis, js. ]

Light is hard to 'measure' per se, for it is made up of tiny particles, often photons, which travel in a wavelike fashion. [ Ugh don't make Kaldur teach you optical physics this is hardddddd ] But it does travel at a set speed in a vacuum, or a space with no other substance in it. The amount of distance which light can travel at that speed over the time of a year is the distance considered a light-year, as speed is measured as the amount of distance travelled divided by the time it takes to travel it. [ Hey Maglor, how does it feel to learn the wonders of SCIENCE? Man, Wally would love this kind of audience. ]

I am... honored, that you think my knwledge of the subject interesting enough. My friends, where they here, could explain far better than I, especially the Flash, in the red bodysuit, and Kid Flash, in the yellow. They are both scientists, and physicists at that, Physics being the branch of science that pertains more to the matter which we are discussing.

[ ~~Oh... but I have good insight into my condition?~~ ]

Technology... like the machines in the Station then? Several have told me that there are things far more elaborate than those. [ despite his weariness, despite the oath, there is a certain underlying glee that Maglor cannot entirely suppress - he is still, after all, his father's son ]

Ah, but you see, all these terms are strange to me, so however small your knowledge it far outstrips mine! To be fair, such things were never truly my area of interest, but ah Father would have loved such things... [ soft and perhaps a little bittersweet ] Have you spoken to one Celebrimbor? He, too, would doubtless find a good deal of interest in such things.

[ ~~NO THAT DOESN'T MATTER. FIND A PSYCHIATRIST.~~ ]

Yes, machines, presumably like what is at the station, though I would not be surprised if my home world's technology surpasses what can be found there. I have not been myself, so I could not tell you for certain.

[ At Celebrimbor's name Kaldur's voice softens, both gladdened and sad both. ] Yes, I have met him. We were friends for a short time, and fought at each other's side when the Seelie Castle was attacked. We had been exploring the Underground, interestingly enough, before we had any news of the battle reaching out gates.

But he has gone. Home, to his, to your world, I would imagine, for no trace of him was left behind. I am sorry to be the one to bring such news to you.

[ Sorry that Celebrimbor has left, sorry that those close to him did not follow. ]

[ ~~...What is a 'psychiatrist'? Is it some sort of medicine?~~ ]

Perhaps one day you shall then.

[ There is an indrawn hiss and then a long pause at the other end, but Maglor's voice remains calm when he answers ]

Ah... then. I am glad that he is released from the burden of this place. [ How is he to tell Celegorm? ]

[ He's safe, he's safe whispers Curufin. For a little while Caranthir points out ]

And I thank you for telling me. And... for being his friend, while he was here.

[ ~~the psychiatrist is the doctor who gives you medicine when you are crazy. So go get help.~~ ]

Perhaps.

[ He's so busy, though, he kind of doubts it. There are far more important places to travel. ]

He is a good man, I was honored to know him. [ There isn't much to be said, really. ] If you could... he had a relative, I believe. And Uncle. Quick to anger, by the name... [ He'd only caught a snatch of the conversation, Kaldur is trying to remember. ] Celegorm. I ask that you let him know. They seemed close, even with the burden that lay between them.

[ ~~...but that means the voices will go away and I'll be so ronery~~ ]

Yes, he is. [ Maglor is proud of how his voice stays steady, even as his heart breaks ]

And yes he does - two of us, in fact, for Celegorm is my younger brother. I will let him know. [ he'll have to find a way to break it gently. Perhaps after? ] But they were always very close, Celegorm and Celebrimbor - Celegorm was close to his father, you see. He was almost as a second father to him. Thank you for letting us know.

[ ~~Kaldur will be a real life person who can actually speak friend. ronery is far better than lost inside your head, trust Kal on that one~~ ]

Then I am glad to have met you, as kin to a friend, and I am sorry to bear ill news.

[ There's a pause, little more than a moment where Kaldur dwells on the words second father. What he would give, to have never known who his father was. Or that he had been someone else. ]

I hope that they may find a way to be reconciled. Family makes for painful enemies. [ He knows that, now. ] And I imagine it hard to be sundered, almost-father and son. [ That sounds far less like speculation than the statement would seem. ]

Edited 2014-07-26 22:29 (UTC)

[ ~~But when you die he'll be all by himself again ;A;~~ ]

No... [ a soft exhale ] Tis better by far to learn of it this way, and I thank you for it.

Alas, it is far too late for that. In my world, Celegorm is already long dead, and even I have not spoken to Tylpe in ... centuries. I fear that bridge will never now be crossed.

[ a hesitant pause - Maglor heard that thread of certainty, and wonders if he should breach it? ]

I... hope that your own circumstances will never be as bleak.

Private voice

voice; private

voice; private

voice; private

voice; private

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice; TMW I wish I played Mags from late enough to make the Atlantis - Atalantie connection

voice; well it aint numenor, but something alike, yes hahahah

voice

voice

private voice 4ever also I am not sorry for this reference

rivate-pay oice-vay

is that how they speak in atlantis how fascinating

actually its more like { ιδιωτική φωνή }

/suints wow that looks interesting can you teach me that so I can show dad?

uh sure I guess? its just my home language

but its a whole new language! How exciting!

he's happy someone is interested for once, man, usually they stare at the gills

well you already said you were part fish, so obviously gills but *LANGUAGE*

not all have gills tho. there are many kinds

but if no gills how does breathe?

magic or something who even knows (osmosis)

what's osmosis precious?

well you already said you were part fish, so obviously gills but LANGUAGE