“I treat you like an elfling because you happen to act like one” Moryo huffed, still not standing up as he knew that doing so mid-argument could be seen as threatening. No matter how annoyed he actually was, he didn’t want to scare his son.
“You’re a politician, and other than that you still have the mindset of a fucking monk. It’s not that I don’t think you have valuable opinions, I just don’t have patience for flowery language or evasive bullshit. If you have issues, bring them up. I’m not Curvo”
Erestor closed his eyes after the quick-tempered response from his father – it was hardly unsurprising, there had been songs sung about the fury of Moryo the Dark – but that didn’t make it any less frustrating. He breathed in deeply through his nose, then out through his mouth slowly – a subtle attempt to demonstrate to Caranthir just how frustrated he was becoming, and all thanks to the elf opposite him. He then opened his eyes, giving a small smile as he tucked his hair behind his pointed ear.
“Adaneth, would you mind preparing some flower tea? Thank you so much,” Erestor uttered politely to one of the younger, serving elves, deliberately slipping into his non-native Sindarin tongue just to make a point. He neatened himself, giving her a smile as she bowed and made her way out. No sense of fear in her footsteps – part of which made Erestor proud to have helped build the moral foundation of Imladris. He watched, tilting his head as he kept himself perfectly poised, back straight, legs crossed, the perfect picture of polite elven bureaucracy until she was out of earshot, his head now snapping back to his father.
“I want you to listen, and not just wait for me to be finished talking,” he stated firmly, his eyebrows having furrowed into a scowl. “If you wish for me to be harsh, I can be harsh, however diplomacy and supposed ‘flowery words’ have got me far further than waving your fists about like some sort of orc has ever got you. Besides, if you didn’t want a monk for a son perhaps you shouldn’t have sent me to a damned monastery. You can’t blame me for your shortfalls. We have rules and we have regulations for a reason – everyone lives the same way, even me, even you, even my dear friend and colleague Commander Glorfindel – who has the same sword skills that you so greatly admire.”
He then brushed down his knees a little before glancing back up to him.
“I wouldn’t speak this way if I didn’t want you here as long as possible, but this isn’t Thargelion, my Lord. The people here have a certain expectation of me, and I have to fulfil it.”