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]

It feels a bit odd to come to a party dressed in modern clothing. I've not even brought a knife as I'm wearing modern shoes instead of any sort of boot. A bottle of wine from Eryn Lasgalen. I know the meaning, Wood of the Greenleaves, but not the actual location.* The village has provided me with such before, and I have to imagine that I'll learn of the place some time in my future. Like the prince of Ithilien, it might not yet be named.

I've chosen ranger green and tan even for my modern attire. Meg has seen me in much finer and I hope it is adequate. All this just for showing Fantine where apples grew wild.**

What strange luck I have with ladies who come from France.

*The undocumented name of what Mirkwood becomes in the Fourth Age.
**So he has to have met Fantine before. She'll know he comes from Gondor, is a ranger, and very little detail. He was business-oriented on the gathering trip, if that's okay.

[not_queertype]

The young man whom he met some weeks ago has changed his sober, scholarly black for a more flamboyantly cut grey suit, and he's carrying himself a bit more at ease, now that he's settled into his surroundings. And he's also brought along a box from the bakery.

[faramir_hurin]

I suppose I should have realised that I might not be the only guest. Still, to see who the other is...

"Master Steerpike, it is good to see you again. I see it did not take you long to make new acquaintances." And lovely ones, too. But he is young, and that happens. "You are looking very well."

I do not wish to ask if his master is here and perhaps make him uncomfortable.

[not_queertype]

"Master Faramir, well met," he says, bowing, a small smile crossing his lean young face. "I have been finding my way about the village and I may soon have some employment at the apothecary shop."

[faramir_hurin]

"Please, just Faramir. Or if that is too informal for you, then Captain Faramir." The word master is not used in Gondor and does not ring well with me.

"You'll be working with Draco?" I'm not sure why that surprises me. "He must be even busier than he lets on."

He had someone to help at the shop, Kurt. Did Kurt leave or... I cannot ask if there was a problem with certain things and Steerpike is not likely to know at any rare.

"I also found employment soon after my arrival, but not such fine company as Meg and Fantine." I nod with a bit of a smile. "The village seems to suit you so far."

[not_queertype]

"There was some slight friction between our personalities at first, but I made myself agreeable to him and I think that we shall work well together: is it not common for master and servant to harbor some slight disagreement, so that they do not become too familiar with each other?" he asks, rhetorically. "But yes, the village has become less of a strange place and more as a home to me. Since we know not how long that each of us may dwell here, it is wise for a man to embrace this town as a home away from ones home?"

[faramir_hurin]

I cannot help but smile. There are understatements

[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.