Practice! With Wellard

[findsthesun]

A young Elf*, dressed in sturdy green and brown cloth and soft leather shoes, walks into the bar.

It can, perhaps, be forgive if his first reaction is wariness and his hand flicks towards the white handled knife at his belt.

Then he laughs.

"A tavern of Men, in the middle of the forest? I have not heard tell of this."

*see (here) for description of Elves, and Legolas in particular.

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[findsthesun]

"My most sincere apologies, Master Rat," Legolas says, apparently sincere. "I did not wish to overburden you." He then glances to Wellard, and smirks. Any sort, do they? "Master Rat," he tells Ivan, "would it be taxing your hospitality to ask for a small wineskin of Dorwinion and a glass? I have not seen the king’s cellars in weeks, and I am not likely to for a few more."

To Wellard: "You are welcome to share with me, if you wish."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

And here Ivan thought Legolas was going to ask for something hard. He turns on his heels and scurries off.

Wellard continues to look on with amusement-

Before looking back at Legolas, and quickly shaking his head.

"I- I mean no offense by it, and I do thank you for your offer. But I rather prefer not to drink."

[findsthesun]

Legolas smiles at him, "Do not worry over it," he glances around the room. "Did you have a place you were sitting, or should we find a table?"

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

He motions over to a table, complete with a couple books, paper, pen, and (we can never forget) a cup of tea.

"I had been working on a few things before you arrived- though usually, the idea of doing any sort of work down here leaves one open to interruptions and distractions."

Meaning, he would have stayed up in his room had he not been open to the idea if interruptions and distractions.

[findsthesun]

"That is a fair point," Legolas agrees, takes off his quiver (an unstrung bow in dark wood is in it, with the arrows) and manages to make it look graceful, and sits at what looks to be the chair across from where Wellard had been sitting, setting his quiver carefully on the floor.

"Does this place so often show up in your path, then?" He asks, curious.

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"I am one of the people who've made a home here. There are quite few, who stay here for one reason or another. There are rooms upstairs for rent, and the food here is better than a lot I've come across." Wellard takes his own seat, and starts stacking up the papers to make more room on the table.

"Usually its due to... some sort of complications in their own world, or if they can return to it or not. Others prefer this place, with both its benefits and dangers."

[findsthesun]

"If their cellar," Legolas says with a smile, "has the wines of Dorwinion, I should expect their larder to be equally well stocked.

"How do you mean that some cannot return?" he asks, carefully. "While I might rest, I do have duties to my king I must carry through."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

Wellard bites his lip, thinking for a moment, before looking back up to Legolas.

"Some people find their way here, and the door locks behind them. Not for always, but for a time. Others, here- Well."

He taps his fingers on the table top.

"For them, the door to this place is found between life and... whatever afterlife they were headed to, be it heaven, hell, or any others that I've heard of from people here. They are just as alive as any can tell, but if and whenever they leave, the way out through the door continues on to where every they were headed, after they died."

[findsthesun]

The latter gets a look of sudden interest, but what he replies to is the first.

"Then what is to happen in the home they have left, while they are held captive by this most unexpected of taverns?"

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"Time moves differently between here and there." 'There' being Legolas' home, Wellard's home, and any other world to speak of.

He gestures at the front door. "Either time freezes out there while you're in here, so you return exactly when you left, or it moves so slowly as to make nearly no difference." A quiet chuckle, and Wellard flashes a grin.

"There are some people who come here to take advantage of it, even. To finish work or research when they wouldn't have time at home otherwise."

[findsthesun]

Legolas laughs, quietly. "'Tis a pity I find myself lacking in paper work, then, and that is something I never thought I would say.

"What is it that you do here--Wellard?"

He is guessing, here. He thinks Wellard's name basically boils down to 'Wellard son of Henry son of Wellard,' as is a rare but existent naming convention among traders.

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"Thankfully I've always loved reading and learning, or else I do believe I would have found myself bored to tears many times, here." He chuckles quietly, then motions to the papers.

"I am planning out provisioning for a ship, though this is new. Before, I was learning on how to design and build a ship, which I then did, when it was summer outside and the weather cooperated."

[findsthesun]

The look now is curious, Legolas knows only about river rafts and small boats.

"Where is it that you plan to sail?"

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

As if Ivan had a hand in timing, this is now when the wait rat shows up, with the Dorwinion for Legolas and a refill of Wellard's tea. And because the rat at least does know the appetites of young human men, there is a plate of bread, cheese and fruit as well- And Wellard is more than happy to share it with Legolas.

Of course, this all serves nicely to postpone his reply for a few moments.

"The sky."

[findsthesun]

"You are the most gracious of rats," Legolas tells Ivan when he brings the wineskin and full glass, as well as the cheese and crackers. "It is a welcome change from old water and cram."

Ew, cram, says his face eloquently.

Then, after Wellard speaks and he's swallowed the sip of wine that he'd taken, he laughs delightedly.

"Is the sea not big enough?"

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"The sea is only part of the world- and a flying ship isn't limited to just the ocean. Or limited to... anywhere." He waves a hand in the air, grinning.

"Even if we do have to be careful as to what people see her- but there are plenty of places in the world for us to go to."

[findsthesun]

"Just try not to make enemies with the Eagles," he tells Wellard, gravely. (Well, gravely if it weren't for the spark of mischief in his eyes alongside the starlight.) "They might be jealous."

He eats a slice of cheese and apple.

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"... How do you mean, Mister Legolas?" Wellard looks at him, puzzled.

"I wouldn't think they'd be much more of a worry than the gulls and seahawks and other birds were, with a regular sailing ship."

[findsthesun]

Legolas tilts his head at Wellard.

"The Eagles? Do you not have them...in your world?" he uses the term awkwardly. "They have wingspans of a hundred feet or more, in these after-days."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

Wellard blinks, staring at Legolas, and slowly shakes his head.

"... Albatrosses have... maybe a ten or fifteen foot wingspan, and they're the largest birds I've ever heard of. Even the seahawks don't get that big."

[findsthesun]

"Do not worry," he tells him, kindly, "they do not carry off people."

He might be laughing at Wellard's face, a little.

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"... I would hope not. That would be something more like what a dragon would do, if such things exist in your world. They... They officially do not, in mine." He shakes his head, and finally takes a sip of his tea.

"There are stories, occasionally. Myths and fairy tales. But nothing that I can recall about giant eagles."

[findsthesun]

"Dragons are less likely to carry people off, and more likely to burn them where they stand," Legolas replies, thoughtfully. "The one I know of prefers to take away cattle and horses. Men and Elves are, perhaps, both too small and too likely to cause hurt."

Then, cheerfully, "You shall have to start some myths about Eagles. They are not fond of dragons, if that helps."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"The few I've heard about on my own world- and a world rather close to mine, they weren't that bad. Some were even helping to fight in a war we're in, in the time I'm from." He smiles, a bit wryly.

"Though I'll still keep my eyes out for giant eagles. Afterall, isn't there a Roc to match up with the Kraken? And there is a Kraken." Wellard pauses, then takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.

"Or there was. But it did still exist."

[findsthesun]

"I do not know Rocs or Krakens," Legolas replies, cheerfully, drinking more Dorwinion and eating more cheese and apple. "What are they? Or were they."