feanaro_curufinwe | (no subject)

Current Location: middle of nowhere

(no subject)

Fëanáro stands alone at the side of a black road, stretching in a straight line from horizon to horizon, sere grasses waving on either side, stretching just as far. The breeze ruffles his hair as well, carrying the smell of sun-warmed earth and those same grasses, as well as smells unfamiliar to him, but welcome nonetheless.

Because he never thought he would stand here, never thought he would see the line where earth meets sky again until the end of all things, and so even though this place is nothing like what he would ever have chosen to be in himself... He can enjoy it and appreciate it, for at least as long as it takes to find his way to some kind of civilisation.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Certainly. Though not very good for being subtle while you learn the ways of this land and its language. However inferior it might be."

He settled on the bed a little more.

"Though there is a reason for the decision to meld different languages and absorb words and grammatical mechanics. I can explain if you'd like me to go over the history."

"By all means. I would like to hear this history. You may relay it to me whilst I give some practice to the writing of these letters. I do like the design of this pen," he adds, as he takes it up, along with Clark's notebook.

"A simple design, and yet so practical..." He twirls it in his fingers, considering it for a moment. "Ink at your fingertips, as much as you may desire, quick to dry, hard to smear..."

Which was when Clark launched into a brief history of the English people and their strange, jumbled up language, including the importation of the language to the country they currently occupied. For all that it was a brief overview, it was extremely on point, clearly told by someone who had done a great deal of research on the subject, and was frank in his evaluation of the people, societies, and decisions of the past while softening things somewhat in the hopes of keeping his guest from launching himself from the room in a fervor.

Edited 2014-12-21 04:58 (UTC)

He shows wisdom then, because there are any number of things in that narrative that may very well have sent Fëanáro storming off on the warpath. Still, it's a fascinating story, even as abbreviated as it clearly is. He finds himself writing out some of the words as Clark speaks them, getting a feel of the shapes and sounds of the language, and the strange people that it belongs to.

He also takes some time, as he listens, to begin working out a Tengwar orthography for English, because really.

When Clark's finished, some of their daylight is gone but they still have some time before they have to go in for dinner. He puts his hands down on his legs and pushes himself up to stand.

"Would you like some time on your own to read and get yourself settled here? I figure a tour of the farm can happen tomorrow, nice and early."

"I would," he says with a nod. "Are there any that books that you would recommend?"

He considered the question for a moment before pulling out a copy of Whispers in the Dark by Dian Belmont. He held it out to the man.

"This was one of my favorites as a kid. The language... it's genuinely beautiful. At least, as beautiful as English can be."

"An intriguing title," he observes. "I will acquaint myself somewhat further with the writing, and then read it with due consideration."

"If you need anything explained, feel free to ask. I'm happy to help." He looked around the room, for all appearances trying to figure out if his guest needed anything, and he was, that was true. But he was also trying to remember if there was anything that he'd left in this room or this area or the barn in general which might alert the gentleman in question that his host (at least one of them) might be from another world.

...thankfully, he knew that his Kryptonian e-book (as his mother called it) was in his duffle bag with the rest of his usual kit.

"I should probably check and see if Ma needs any help with dinner. Will you be all right here?"

"I will. Should anything trouble me, I will ask, but otherwise, I shall stay out of your way, and let you to your tasks. Though I am skilled in many areas, cooking has never really been one of them."

"Just don't hesitate to call. I'll be doing some work around the farm, but I've got pretty good ears."

Good enough that he could hear if his guest was in Japan, but he wasn't mentioning that.

He threw off a wave and trotted down the steps, heading out towards the fields.

...and he was just a little bit more careful with how quickly he did all of the necessary farm tasks, but he was well used to doing them using his abilities, and there wasn't much point to doing it the normal way. At least, not unless he wanted to miss dinner.

Luckily for Clark, Fëanáro isn't really terribly interested in the workings of the farm. The books are far more interesting, and once he sets to it, hideous orthography aside, it absorbs all of his attention. The book he takes slowly, with plenty of reference to a volume called 'Dictionary', a marvellous thing, being a compilation of every known word in the English language, with a definition, spelling, pronounciation...

He wishes he had thought of it himself, frankly, and makes a note to do the same for Quenya at least, at some point.

But there are plenty that he will need to ask about, for they are clearly common cultural or literary allusions, knowledge of which is assumed held in common by all people who might happen upon the tale.

A couple of hours later, there is a light knock on the stairs below him.

"Fëanáro? Can I pull you away from the book for dinner?"

He is about to answer in the negative - this is very interesting - but his stomach growls, and he recalls how long it has been since he last ate, and so he puts aside his studies for the moment, and stands.

"I will come."

"That's good. I think Ma's made us a veritable feast in there and it smells really good," not that he could enjoy the meat, but that didn't mean it made the smell any less appetizing.

"If you wanted to change clothes, I'm sure some of my father's old things would probably fit you. We don't have much, but this house's always been happy to help."

"The offer is appreciated, but I will be all right for now," he replies. His English comes more easily, and look at him, employing colloquialisms and everything! Fëanáro marks his place - though it is convenient that each page is marked with a numeral, and he does not think that he will forget - and joins Clark in the barn below.

"I hope you are prepared for questions, Clark. There are many cultural references and literary allusions in the book that I lack the context for."

"Part of the reason I gave it to you," Clark admitted as they started walking towards the main farmhouse.

"The best learning comes with questions, after all. And you couldn't have questions unless you had some idea of what to ask."

He laughs, a bright, rich sound that has not been heard for thousands upon thousands of years.

"Well said, young Man," the High King says. "Now, let us begin with what I suspect is a quotation: 'Lead on, MacDuff.' Who is MacDuff, and why should his leadership carry such portentious weight?"

Clark grinned just a bit playfully and nodded that yes, it certainly held a certain weight.

"Funnily enough, that particular line is actually a misquote of a line from a rather famous play by the name of 'Macbeth' which tells the story of a lord's ruinous rise and fall from the crown. The line from the play is actually 'Lay on, Macduff'."

...which started Clark's explanation concerning one of the pillars of the English literary canon, as written by a bisexual glovemaker's son.

It's absolutely fascinating, and Fëanáro is full of questions.

"I feel as though I must watch this Man's work, or at least read it, though a play is better performed than read."

Clark spread his hand as he held the door for his guest.

"There's plenty of theaters performing his works around the world, as well as recordings of performances that I'm sure I could find. Like I said, most people have heard of Shakespeare."

Edited 2014-12-21 19:35 (UTC)

"Recordings?" From the context it is clear that Clark means something other than a written record, and for a moment, Fëanáro's mind spins with the possibilities.

Clark paused for a moment, considering how he might explain that concept before deciding that it might just be best to show him.

"I'll show you what I mean after dinner. Suffice to say, while it doesn't replicate the experience of a performance, but it's pretty close."

He peered inside to see his mother setting out the second of two perfectly cooked roasts. The vegetable dishes, all of them bright and enticing looking, were clustered around the two meat dishes and wafting delicious scents. Clark looked towards the table with obvious enjoyment at just the smell.

Fëanáro inhales deeply, and lets out an appreciative sigh for the smells as he follows Clark in. His stomach takes the liberty of announcing its approval as well, but it can be forgiven for the indignity; it's a very new stomach after all.

"It appears a kingly feast, madam," he says to Martha. "And smells so as well."

Martha smiled and bowed her head before taking her own seat near the head of the table, though leaving the actual head empty. Clark comes up behind her to tuck in her chair for her and the two exchange warm glances before he kisses her hair and walks around to the opposite side.

"Sit, eat, and I can explain more once you've eaten."