Dinner Party (Closed to Meg Giry, Faramir, Steerpike) [Forward Dated To Tomorrow]

[seeherwheniwake]

((OOC: Posting this now, since I'll be at work at six tomorrow. ;)))Fantine had been up since very early, cleaning the apartment ten times over, making sure everything was exactly as she wanted it to be. She and Meg had been working on the menu and the food for days, and the apartment smelled of cooking pies, and the rest of the dinner that they

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[faramir_hurin]

I cannot help but smile. There are understatements...

"Slight friction with Draco. Yes, I can see that quite easily." Eru, I don't even know how this could work out. "I've never sought disagreement with any servant I have had. Their families have worked for mine for generations and are themselves family, of a sort. But this village blurs the line between lord and servant."

He has not been here long.

"I met a young man named Shasta when he first arrived, an escaped slave. I told him then as I tell you now we are equals here. Even if you work for Draco you can leave and go elsewhere if it doesn't suit you. It is not the binding of apprenticeship--how could it be when we come and go as we do?" This could be worrisome, from what I know of Draco. "Shasta found it difficult at first but he learned. I'd be most irritated at Draco if he tried to take advantage of you."

I'm not certain what I could do about it.

"I consider the village as a home. It is not Gondor and I do not have the connection I do with the land at home, but this is where I live now and I consider it a good thing. That is better, to me, than complaining and longing for home when the village isn't moved by it. Better to live here than do nothing but pine." I have little respect for people that do that. "There is so much to be gained here, so many people and so much knowledge."

[not_queertype]

"I have been used poorly by masters who abused their place: I assure you, should that befall me here, I shall be quick to find another master," he replies. Then with a bit of smirk, he adds, "Perhaps someone took pity on my past and lead me here to better prospects among more kindly folk. And to find our gracious hostess and her companion." There is a teeny bit of a lilt on the last bit, as if he already has taken a shine to one of their hostesses.

[faramir_hurin]

"I had the impression when you arrived that such might be the case. It should not be so here and many of us would be interested in hearing about it if anyone abused their place." He is working for Draco.

"Draco Malfoy is the one who introduced Meg and I, so I am grateful to him for that. He's got a temper and you already must know he's a wizard. Still, he knows better than to take advantage." Not that he might not try it: it is Draco. "Well, please do tell me if he tries. We truly are a village of equals, socially if not in actual power."

No oppressive lords here, please.

"Lady Fantine is very gracious. She puts me in mind of my sister-by-law." Subtly I try to say that I will watch over her. "It is good to have someone here to spend time with, is it not?"

[not_queertype]

He raises an eyebrow. "A wizard, do you say? I knew that he is a highly gifted man, but I did not know that he was a wizard. So that means that magic exists in the world from which he came?"

[faramir_hurin]

"He did not tell you the nature of his apothecary?" I am very surprised. "He is a wizard, from a long magical line. In his world there are quite a few with such power, though they generally keep themselves hidden from those of no magic."

I hope I did not just... Why did Draco not tell his own assistant?

"Magic exists in his world and mine, though in all of Middle-earth there are but five wizards. They do not use magic anything like that which Draco uses. I've known Mithrandir for many years and I'm actually unsure if I've ever seen him use magic." But Istari are different. "I'm sorry, I did not realise you didn't know."

[not_queertype]

"He may have had his reasons for keeping mum about this: I am a stranger to the concept of magic, much as I am a stranger to this world at its wonders, and he may well have wished to reveal it in due time," he says. "There is no magic in Gormenghast, save in tales of wonder in some of the Lady Fuschia's storybooks and romances." But there's a lilt in his voice that suggests that he is curious about this matter.

[faramir_hurin]

"I certainly wouldn't know his reasons." I know that potions can be dangerous. I hope that Draco wasn't playing with Steerpike. I don't know much about him but I can tell he doesn't need extra grief of that sort. "Since I thought you knew, I imagine he won't be too irritated with me."

Mistakes do happen.

"But it is his place and not mine to explain further. Certainly he knows far more about that sort of magic than I ever will." I shrug. "I'm not entirely what they'd call 'Muggle', but I'm no wizard."

Being part Elven and having Sight and True Dreams isn't enough for that.

"There are plenty of those sorts of books here, for children and adults also. Though I admit that reading books from Earth can be difficult because I do not know the history behind them."

[not_queertype]

"Muggle? That is a peculiar word. It sounds like a kind of frog or a peculiar knit-cap for a teapot," he says, smirking. "Is that what wizards call the rest of mankind?

"But if there are books of magic from his world, I would be curious to read them the better to be informed about such things."

[faramir_hurin]

"It's something that sounds like a child made it up to me, but it is what wizards call those with no magic. Though those with no magic born to parents with it are called 'squibs'." I shrug. "Odd words from an unusual society, I suppose."

I have to think for a moment.

"The library has a special section for books of magic, but I do not know what worlds they are from. Draco would be the one to know what would be best for you to read." I do not. "That section is locked and the books remain in the library. Draco may well have others. He would have an idea what books might be of interest to those who cannot do magic."

I would not want Steerpike randomly looking through dangerous material, as he admits he has no experience.

[not_queertype]

"Ahh, then perhaps I should rather consult Master Draco on what would be the best books for me to pursue if I am to come at the least to an understanding of magic," he says, bowing his head.

[faramir_hurin]

"You should indeed."

Perhaps we should not spend our time talking to each other--our hostesses may find it rude.

[not_queertype]

"And perhaps we should rejoin the ladies who have opened their door and warmed their hearth for us," he adds.

[faramir_hurin]

"Truly. Though I would say so even if I did not fear my stomach might begin to make its hunger known." The food smells very good.

[not_queertype]

"Then let us join our lovely hostesses without further tarrying," he says, with a small smile.