#neighbornon

[masteroftheseas]

I've been told it's your birthday, which is something like a begetting day, apparently? I /do/ hope you will celebrate it /quietly/ at least! --Neighbornon

Ossë trumpets in response, holding his head up proudly and strutting about shamelessly.

[masteroftheseas]

Fulfilling the Dare

Ossë strutted proudly through the streets of Mithlond, his head held high. His sister had dared him to wear a funny hat for a week, and aside from protecting his honor by not denying a dare, he actually found the hat quite nice. It was large like fins around his head, and it kept Arien from blinding his eyes.

The bright pink fabric flopped about shamelessly, little pink ribbons trailing along with his dark hair as he prowled the markets. Now it was only a matter of time before this became the latest fashion frenzy.

[masteroftheseas]

Is this some kind of trick? Why are you tied to that chair, hmm? And why aren't you blue? --Neighbornon

Ossë clicked and stared at the neighbor. Well, this was not the worst person to find him like this. None of his Elves would do anything to hurt him, after all. "Trying on a new body; what do you think of it? Rather handsome, I know, but anything in particular you enjoy?"

[masteroftheseas]

Your nature is to /be/ a force of nature. The sea is a contradiction itself. Beautiful & yet deadly. Placid surfaces which hide deadly depths. A pleasure swim becomes a drowning. You are our god & you have kept us safe, but you cannot cease to be who and what you are--and neither can we. We were not meant to mix. Not like this. Not as lovers. Will Cirdan ever be your equal in your brethren's eyes? But no. I have said my piece. You may take it to heart or no. But I have tried. --Neighbornon, out!

His arm tensed at his side, muscles prepared to spring the blade onto his victim quicker than Elven reflexes could dodge. But he did not attack. Not because he took words to heart or he appreciated the verbal abuse, not even because of mercy -- but because he knew such an act would cause a rift in his marriages. Both of them.

No, his vengeance would be a steady and cruel and ongoing adventure. It would be in bath water going from warm to boiling mid-bath, it would be indoor plumbing reversing itself, it would be a constant reminder of who had the power here and how merciful and pleasant he had been. A constant reminder that he had stepped out of line.

"You have tried my patience. It is my strength and will that holds my nature in check against you, but I tire of the effort. Leave, or I will hasten your journey West."

[masteroftheseas]

I can respect your power without much enjoying your company. That is no contradiction. I seek to protect Cirdan in the only way I can--through words. I have no powers, no physical strength which will prevail. I have only my tongue. You claim to be a reasonable being with no desire to hurt your elves or Cirdan. I am trying to make you see that your very nature will eventually cause Cirdan harm, whether you will it or no. I fully expect to die in this attempt. --Neighbornon

"My very nature?" Ossë repeated in a droll monotone. "As though I have no control over my actions. You offer false praise of my wisdom and power, and then you mock me with terms of being a 'fish' and uncontrolled. You call me your god and talk down to me as a pest."

He closed his eyes. Outside, the waters churned dark and cold from the deeps, barely held at bay as they tried to race forward to show their might. It hurt him not because it was vile or cruel, but because it was the same fears he had been harboring. But when he alone feared it, he could call himself paranoid and brush away the concern with chirps and laughter. It was not so easy to brush away the words of another.

"He is not unaware of my nature. He does not need your pestering."

[masteroftheseas]

I respect your greatness as much as any other. I simply speak truth as I see it. And for that you will kill me? You prove my point if so! And you contradict yourself. Because Cirdan knows and respects how great you are, he is not insignificant? I do not think so. My original point remains. Elf and Maia are /not/ alike in majesty. You are /too great/ for such as us. I seek only to protect my Lord in this, Osse of the Seas. --Neighbornon

Ossë seethed, but whatever response he delivered was incomprehensible. Ridiculous Elven words failing him he defaulted to replies in his own tongue which did no good for either party. His words were guttural and low and strange, sounds that seemed to imitate nature and the rush of a howling wind or the roar of water swallowing the land. How could he explain his feelings? And why should he have to? His nature should be revered and respected, not interrogated and doubted!

There was no way to explain how, to the Ainu's mind, Círdan was the superior being among them. There were no words to describe how he admired the Elf's patience and wisdom and understanding and acceptance, how the song within him was soothing and steady and strong. He lowered his fist to his side, though the blade remained solid and ready.

"You do not respect me. Your actions speak far louder than your petty words." He straightened to tower over the Elf, an eerie calm settling over him. With no visual cues to his mood, he was as clouded as his fogs that were settling over the beach. "You contradict yourself as well. After a pretty speech of how you are nothing before me, now you seek to protect others from me? And how is it you intend to be so noble, Child? By provoking my wrath?"

[masteroftheseas]

Yes, you are our God. Or one of them. And my life is yours to take or spare. I can do nothing to stop you. I can do nothing against you, even to save myself. I can do nothing to harm you, and nothing to truly aid you, either. I am small and I am no god, no equal to such as you. I am helpless and weak beside you, entirely subject to your whim and your will, lesser than you in every way. /And so is Cirdan./ --Neighbornon, bringing the conversation full-circle

Ossë swirled around before the Elf once more to bare sharp teeth as he lunged, poised just shy of contact. As his ire rose, so too did the stench he always bore to some degree; it was hard to hide one's dark side when said dark side smelled like fish. The danger of his anger was once the tide of it rose, it was much harder to make sink. This Elf just kept raising it.

"But unlike you, Círdan respects my greatness," he growled. Through his mind flashed a memory of a shoe, of shouted arguments, of stern looks and the word No. A whispered echo of a scream leaked from him, not fully given voice. "I would never hurt him! I could not hurt him. Because he is not so ignorant as you, and he knows that he is not so insignificant. You, however, are a waste." Again he rose his bladed fist and aimed it, and again he seemed unable to thrust.

[masteroftheseas]

Perhaps you have not intentionally sought to hurt us, no. You try to protect us, and you have, and we appreciate it. But are you not even now threatening someone who is entirely defenseless against you, simply because he is saying something you do not like? Every time you are upset by the mere /words/ of another, tempests threaten our shores. So far, we have not been lost to your anger. One day, I fear we will be. You will mourn, certainly. But that won't help us. --Neighbornon

"This is how you show your appreciation," he repeated, frustrated and at his wit's end. How many Ages of the world had he guarded and patrolled and sheltered these shores to please these Elves, and they 'appreciated' him while mocking and belittling and insulting and offending. "You take my presence for granted! I have spoiled you!"

The bladed fist rose and angled in preparation for a clean, quick kill, but it moved no further. Ossë wrestled with himself -- he should punish the impudence of this Child, but if he did so, he would prove the Child's point. He shrieked again and gnashed his teeth, pacing around his target restlessly. "I hold my tempests back from these coasts intentionally. Not once have I let my seas go where I do not wish for them to land, and not once have they landed here too powerfully for you to handle," he hissed. "I am not a beast, though you think me nothing but a fish. I am your god."