tintila | well the whole truth (is like the story of a wave unfurled)

Our mortals simply understand they are not allowed our lives. But in death, they will find immortality. A world different than this.

Your men seem very full of it. But our men need to be far less dependent.

I do not think anyone knows what comes to men in the life after this in my own home. It is their gift, but it is a secret thing.

They are quite stubborn. [A beat passes, then she adds:] and also very hairy. They grow these pokey, long beards... my people never grow such bushes on their faces it is very strange. [Woman from race that does not age does not understand body hair: a novel.] And on their arms, actually. And also their legs. Perhaps elsewhere? They are bear like in more than their stubbornness.

Why are you not allowed to know? Why keep anything hidden...? [Though for Set, he is so used to being a god and knowing all. Even if his knowledge is still limited, was for years, and he knows he is still in the dark about many things. But not about what waits for man, for him, after death.]

Our men share this in common. We do not have hair like they do. Usually they must shave so much of it off, usually the hair on their heads. [The struggle of ancient civilization and lice and other bugs.] Seems a waste to have hair like it.

I imagine we would know if we were allowed. It is said that not even the Valar truly know. Only The One. I will not pretend to understand why it is so. We know so much else that it seems petty to withhold the information, especially when it makes men jealous of our long lives.

What is shaving? I do not think I have seen our men do that, though I suppose little would surprise me at this point. But their ears would freeze if they lacked hair entirely.

If your men look to you for answers then your Valar should tell you. It is stupid not to. [Is that offensive? Set has gotten better at being mindful of what he says but little things like that slip through.]

You take a blade to your skin to remove the hair. Our men get bugs in their hair.

They do not know. Only Eru does, at least that is what we are told. I suppose I do not know. It is not as thought I have ever met a Vala, our queen was a Maia. Much lesser than the Valar but much greater than us, the children.

I do not think my hair has ever been cut. Nor has it had a problem with insects. Though I have sheltered many a leaf or flower by accident in my waves.

Your people are too difficult. It should be gods and men. [Says Set with his simple mind.] It would make situations easier to understand. [As if anybody but him is having a hard time understanding.]

Mine grows and stays at the length I want. [It probably had something to do with being a god but he's never put much thought to it. A running theme.] The insects in men's hair live there.

If I ever see another elf I will let them know that the mighty Set thinks we should not exist. [Her tone is perhaps a bit too cheerful as she replies, not bothering to look at him but still admiring the creatures of the nile and everything else new and interesting that caught her eye.

Her nose does wrinkle at the idea of insects living in hair.]

I assume these are not pretty things like butterflies. My hair goes past my backside when it is unbraided. I have never put much thought into why it sometimes grows and does not. Though I suppose if I sang to it it would grow.

[When she says that, he realizes wait. Wait. That is not what he meant for. He was supposed to be getting better about this.] I did not mean that.

[Set is awkwardly silent as he tries to figure out what to follow that up with. Thoth had told him to behave with this guest of theirs and he would try. It was a difficult balancing act. Keep up his act as the cruel tyrant and yet be a nice host. How was he supposed to do both?]

I only meant that miscommunication seems to keep happening because there are so many types where you live.

Even if you did you would not be the first to think so. Nor would you be the worst. [It was hard to be offended when you had spent the long centuries of your life under the shadow of Morgoth and his monsters, some of which he had carved from your own people.]

I am not upset with you. Just so you know.

Though if you think I am troublesome, it is a pity I could not have brought along a dwarf...

Thoth needs no more reason to be so excited. But it is the first time in a long while that he is this happy. To learn something new.

[And that was good for him, Set thought.]

Your kind deserves to exist. I may not know much but I do consider that to be a truth.

I am glad. I think I will enjoy his company.

[For that kindness he gets a smile, a true one, and a fleeting squeeze of his hand.]

I am sure we could be good friends, you and I.

I do not have friends.

[And he never has.]

Well you do now.

[She gently bumps her shoulder into his.]

You will have to get used to it.

How would I have the time? I am a king.

[And kings famously never have friends. Honestly Set doesn't think he could do both. Have a friend and be king and the obvious answer is to choose being a king.]

You are the foreigners God and I am the ultimate foreigner. [She points out, smiling and unconcerned. If anything, Kings could use more friends.] And I have nothing I need from you save for a bed and occasional meal. I do not hunger for power–I quite abhor it–I have no interest in trying to manipulating you into anything more serious than taking a break.

You could use a friend, Set. King or commoner, we all have a heart and we all know it is lonely in the dark.

[Set recalls his father's words about his heart. What he had told Osiris when they were children. "The heart of an animal will never change". Of all the children, he'd been the only one with any animal-like qualities. His behavior, the anger that would rise up in him, was surely animalistic.

He didn't know if he agreed with her assessment.]

Thoth is not a proponent of breaks. Neither am I.

Anyway, my godly titles are just titles. Things nobody else would want. I am also the god of chaos and violence.

Not yet he isn't. [So help her Eru she is going to work out how to get them both to unclench and take the stick out of their rear ends.]

And I was a child who never knew light until I was centuries old. We can change. We can learn new things. And you can't get rid of me besides. I fear you are stuck with me and my elven foolishness. [So nerr.]

Unless Thoth does find a way to get you back to where you belong.

[He did just take her literally. Not meaning this as anything more than just saying she may not be staying here for long than any personal feelings he had on the matter.]

I suppose he might, then we shall both be quite short of friends. Most of mine died. [Thank you, sons of Fëanor.]

Someone like you should be able to make more easily.

[Which is as close to a compliment as he gets.]

Mmn... Lets hope I'm better at it now than I was in my youth. [Most of her friends are... no. Were. Trees, after all.]

You appear stubborn enough.

Mama used to say I was very determined which was a nice way of saying pig-headed.

I am sure that this kingdom will be seeing that for themselves.

(no subject)

tintila - 2025-06-08 11:47 (UTC) - Expand