I very much hope you write more of that modern AU! I love it a lot. But someoneâs death scene would be very nice as well - thereâs a lot of potential for angst there
So I finally got around to finishing the next part of the modern AU!
Daeron would probably still be pissed off if the salad wasnât so damn good.
Seriously. It was so good it was making him question his entire understanding of Noldorin culture.
For a bunch of meat-eating metalsmiths obsessed with the artificial to produce a salad like this was almost unthinkable.
He wasnât going to give them the satisfaction of saying that, though. His mouth was too full.
âThis is delicious,â Maglor said next to him. The stubborn desire not to give his hosts the privilege of his visible gratitude immediately melted away and Daeron nodded enthusiastically in agreement.
FĂ«anor simply inclined his head with pride gleaming hot in his eyes. âThe cooks are very good. We have this charming Avari on staff and she makes the most fascinating cuisine. You ever have Avari food, Daeron?â
Daeron nodded. He wasnât sure âfascinatingâ was a word he would use and if it was even acceptable to do so, but he could be polite for the sake of the salad.
âSindarin and Avari food are very similar. Sometimes we do recipe swaps and things like that.â
Caranthir glowered at him from across the table. Before he could snap some microaggression in reply, though, his mother joined the conversation.
âYou know, my partner is Teleri, so we eat a lot of traditional meals. I never thought Iâd like fish, and I never would have even tried it if it werenât for her. I think that trying food out of oneâs cultural realm is a very unifying thing.âFĂ«anor pulled a face.
âOh, thatâs very cool!â Daeron said as he took another bite of salad. Maglor hadnât been kidding when he said most of the family was gay. It was a welcome change, to be honest. âHow long have you two been together?â
âWeâve dated about, oh, three and a half, four years now. Sheâs a lot of fun, you know. Very attentive. Loyal.â She didnât look at FĂ«anor as she said it, but he still flinched as if scalded by the remark. Clearly he did not take well to even the slightest implication of character flaws.
For a moment, there was utter silence, except the sound of Celebrimborâs soft babbles. Finally, Maedhros cleared his throat and tried to restart some form of cordial conversation.
âHow are things in the lab, Dad?â
âNot good,â FĂ«anor said darkly. âIâm no closer to recreating the formula and campus officials still havenât taken my complaints regarding Bauglir seriously. Itâs unbelievable. The man steals my life work and murders my father and still everyone is too busy groveling in front of the other Valar to care. Disgraceful.â
Daeron nearly choked on his drink trying to process that entire sentence.
âWeâll get him,â Mae said in a voice that conveyed calmness very suspiciously. âDonât worry, Dad. No matter what it takes.â
Daeron, having recovered from his brief coughing fit, managed to creak out a question.
âWhat is it you do, Mr. CurufinwĂ«?â
âIâm a molecular geochemist.â He flicked something off his plate, rather improperly. âAnd sometimes a professor because Iâll lose funding if I donât lecture.â
Daeron looked at Maglor for help, and Mags just shrugged.
âStones, son. Precious stones mostly. Other types of geologic matter, too.â
âYes,â Nerdanel added tiredly. âHe does so love his stones.â
Someone stole his life work as a rock professor and then⊠murdered his dad. What?
When he remembered he should be politely paying attention, he tried to zone in, but the only things he could decipher were that Nerdanel and her ex-husband were now arguing and Maglor looked uncomfortable, so he just put his hand on his boyfriendâs thigh and continued trying to figure out how someone could murder a college rock professorâs dad and get away with it.
Slowly he blinked and turned his head to see one of the twins grinning eagerly at him. He had no idea which was which and, to be honest, heâd forgotten what they were even called in the first place.
âWe need your help, dude. Whatâs the capital of Ligma?â
The other twin smothered a laugh. Daeron stared blankly at the two of them, then glanced at Maglor, then back to them.
He cleared his throat, speaking deliberately so he could think of his salad in between each word and remind himself this was all worth it. âI donât know. What is the capital of-â
âLigma balls!â the other twin bellowed, and both of them erupted into screeching laughter.
Daeron looked down at his plate and counted the chunks of strawberry until the quiet rage died down.
âYou two are so immature,â Caranthir muttered. Celegorm gave his brothers a very un-sneaky thumbs up.
Six⊠Seven⊠Eight⊠Oh, Iâve bitten that one, looks like eight and a halfâŠ
âWhy would I send you something for our anniversary if weâre divorced?â Nerdanel snapped, reminding Daeron that she was still deep in argument with her ex, who he was less fond of by the second.
âBecause you miss me,â FĂ«anor said with such certainty it made Daeronâs stomach churn. Nerdanel laughed coldly.
âFĂ«anor, I spent about ten years missing you until I realized you didnât miss me back.â
âSure. What do you miss more? Me, or your special rocks?â
There was a very long pause. No one else at the table made a sound until finally FĂ«anor creaked an indignant âYou really canât compare-â
âThatâs what I thought.â Nerdanel took a hearty sip of her wine. âWhen youâre done being in love with a couple of lifeless rocks we can talk. Until then, I donât want to hear it.â
Maglor looked like he was trying to melt out of his chair into a puddle on the floor. Next to him, Maedhros looked straight ahead with a glazed expression on his face, clearly not listening.
Curufin shifted Celebrimbor to his hip and began to speak in a lazily arrogant little drawl that mimicked his fatherâs with none of the elegance. âYou know, Dad, my wife was just the same.â
Nerdanel made a horrible whine sort of sound. âCurufin, do not start about your wife, you know Iâm still upset with you.â
âAll Iâm saying is that women are very jealous creatures. They have a hard time understanding the passion for oneâs work and they tend to take it personally.â
Nerdanel stood up, slapping her hands on the table. âI think Iâm going to go.â
Daeron could not blame her.
âSon,â FĂ«anor said gravely as Nerdanel stood and made a brisk walk for the door. He fixed Curufin in a gaze like molten iron. âWe have nothing but respect for women here. Apologize to your mother.â
âI was just agreeing with what you-â
âYou did not have to do it in a way that suggested our companions, mothers, sisters, and wives are any lesser than we are. Apologize now.â
Curufin hesitated, shifted Celebrimbor to his other hip, then quietly and meekly said, âIâm sorry, Mother.â
âIt was lovely to meet you, Daeron,â Nerdanel said without so much as a glance at her son.
Daeron nodded, still too stunned by the whole situation to speak.
Nerdanel left, utterly neglecting to reply to Curufinâs half-assed apology.
For a long time there was silence at the table until Celegorm cleared his throat and leaned over.
âSo, Mae. I hear youâve got a new special someone.â
Maedhrosâs face flushed, and just like that the conversation bounced right back on track, as if the entire sexist outburst hadnât happened and they werenât missing a family member.
Daeron looked helplessly at Maglor, who just looked helplessly back.