ataraxion | [ VIDEO. ] never seen one without the other(s).

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[ VIDEO. ] never seen one without the other(s).

[ the feed starts to complete blackness — it resolves itself into a clearer picture of a leather uniform once aramis steps back, though he also just so happens to be upside down. at least aramis has learned enough in his days aboard the tranquility so far that he notices and fixes it a moment later, leaving it lopsided, but the right way around.

he steps back a little further, coming to stand next to porthos. they are both armed, swords strapped to their sides, and not in the ship's jumpsuits but rather in their leather uniforms.

aramis holds a pistol, considering it. his voice is thoughtful. ]

They do say I am quite good with these.

[ porthos, for his part, is still staring suspiciously at the sleek looking square on his end. but he lets up long enough to add - ]

Finest in all of France, I’d wager. The better to serve their Majesties, King Louis XIII and Queen Anne.

[ it’s a spiel they’ve been through before. aramis’ eyes narrow. ] Speaking of their Majesties — if they are here as well, rest assured that we will find them and not look kindly on anyone who has committed treason and harmed them.

[ there’s a gruff hemm of his throat, before porthos adds; ] And if you’ve done likewise with two men who go by Athos and D’Artagnon, it may not be treason, but we’ll be looking just as unkindly.

[ aramis smiles at that, cheerful almost despite the dangerous edge to it. ] To those who are likewise captives, we swear to aid you where we can.

[ and he tips his head. ]

( blue is aramis, black is porthos! musketeers in space, aw yeah!! )

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So long as she is safe.

( her and the child growing inside of her and — he cannot let himself linger on that thought for too long. )

How is it that you have not heard of France?

[ Her smile takes on a hint of mischief. ]

Is it well known? I can only apologise.

How is it that you have not heard of Mirkwood?

Is Mirkland well known, then? ( he touches the brim of his hat, his smile more audible than visible since the video remains lopsided and aramis too far for such details. ) If so, perhaps it is I who should be apologising.

[ Her smile widens just a little. Not quite laughter, but as close to it as she usually gets. ]

It is, in Middle Earth. It is a vast forest, beyond the mountains. Men do not often travel there. It is a realm of the Elves, and sometimes...other things.

You are from a different world, are you not? Weapons such as that which you have, would not be seen in my woods.

( aramis himself is admittedly pleased with her tone, if not necessarily with the information she is conveying. )

I am certainly not from Middle Earth. And there are no Elves — ( is that what she is? )

That is what I thought.

[ She tilts her head at him, watching his expression. He'd betrayed so little when she met him before. He seems freer now, but that may simply be because a smile makes for an easier mask. ]

Many that I have spoken to had not seen an Elf before they came here. Perhaps we have departed from your world -

Or perhaps we are merely hiding. What of Dwarves, Hobbits? Orcs? Do these names mean anything to you?

None of these are named I've heard before.

( aramis grows calmer the more dire the situation is. now he has porthos by his side, he is no longer naked and he has both uniform and weapons that are familiar to him. he may not be as relaxed as he could have allowed himself to be in paris, but he is certainly more open than he was before. )

I did not think so. You come from a world of Men.

It is difficult for me to imagine that. You may find it strange here. There are Elves and Hobbits and Dwarves here, and many others besides. It is a mix unlike anything I have known before.

[ Because although she's aware of all those different races, they generally don't coexist in the same place.The eclectic mix of people here is still something she's not truly used to. ]

Just as a ship sailing among the stars is unlike anything I have ever known.

( it seems there are plenty of things, then, that are unfamiliar to both of them. )

Where I am from it is a thing we speak of, in stories and songs. Then, it was a blessing of a Valar.

[ A hesitation, and she looks down. ] I would not call this a blessing. Some legends are better left to their songs.

That, I can imagine.

( stories are one thing, their reality another entirely. ) How does the story go, in your world?

Musically, in most respects. [ But she offers him a little smile. She’ll summarise. ]

There was a great evil in the world, and to defeat that evil seemed impossible. Then one, named Eärandil, born of Elves and Men, dared to sail into the West, and beg the help of the Valar to save his people. They granted his request, and came to the aid of all of us. They granted also that his ship would always sail as a marker in the sky – a star that holds the hopes of many, when the dark times come. That is a tale of the First Age of Middle Earth, and one I like, because it speaks of hope.

Are the Valar your gods?

( there is only one god, as far as aramis is concerned, but these Valar sound like they are good and kind and just, rather than cruel, and aramis can respect that. )

[ She considers that. It's not the word her people would use, but she understands it well enough. ]

Eru Iluvatar is the father of us all. He created the Ainur, who are the Valar and Maiar. They joined with him to sing the song of creation, from which our world is sprung. Perhaps you would call them gods.

[ If she knew more of Aramis' religion, she'd compare them more quickly to angels than to gods, but she has heard little of Christianity, and cannot make the connection. ]

Eru Iluvatar ( he stumbles a little over the words, but not much. ) does not sound so different from the God I know.

[ She smiles. She's heard worse attempts at Elvish. ]

The God of Christmas? [ ...look, she's trying. ] I know little of what Men believe, in other worlds, but I have heard of that before.

That is the birth of his son. ( he smiles back, a little amused and a little confused and still trying to make the best of it. she looks so close to human, but she is not. )

[ Not human. Very close indeed, in appearance, but not human at all. ]

I have heard it is a festival, and little more than that. Lady Lucrezia speaks of the same God. It is very new to me.

If you should want to learn more, I would be happy to tell you.

( his parents did want him to become a priest — and he does believe. )

[ She smiles in a manner that brightens her face. ]

I would like that. Much can be learned about a person, from what they believe. I should like to know what you believe, Aramis of the Musketeers.

God created the world and He created man and woman. The abridged version is that they disobeyed the rules he set for them and too often lived in sin, but He loved us so much that He sent His son to take our sins upon Himself.

Christ died for us, but what remains is Love.

( that, at least, is aramis' version of the entire thing. the catholic church might tell a slightly different story. )

Then love saves the soul of Man.

[ She looks up at him with clear green eyes. It is a legend worthy of any in the Elves' history, and she believes that history to be true. She does not disbelieve what Aramis says, either. ]

That is a romantic notion. Is this the faith of all your people?

There are variations of it, and sometimes the words are twisted — but it is the one I like best. I do not think that God would be cruel or abandon us.

And that faith remains, even though you are here?

I too believe that the Valar will always watch over us – though I am less certain that they would always intervene.

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[ VIDEO. ] never seen one without the other(s).

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