WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

[deadgirlslikeme]

A door opens, and suddenly the sound of a baby wailing echoes across the nearby chunk of the Nexus. A bleary-eyed Victor Van Dort steps through, bouncing said wailing baby in his arms. "It's okay, it's okay. . .look, we're -- um." He blinks a few times as he registers where he is. "This isn't. . .oh, dear, how did I manage to choose the wrong door?" He goes to step back through --

Then stops, shakes his head, and proceeds to the nearest safe-looking bit of furniture, still cradling his son. "No. Perhaps someone can help here. At least, Alice and the others will get some decent sleep for a change. . ." He looks up, an exhausted man at the end of his rope. "Is there anyone around who's had at least one child and might know why they sometimes just start crying in the middle of the night and won't stop no matter what you do?"

Comments

[lastest_ringbearer]

All ours! All our own! Ssso nice to have no hand at Smeagol's back, yes.

[deadgirlslikeme]

Oh yes -- nothing like being able to forge your own path in life. No matter where it might take you.

[lastest_ringbearer]

At least one finds out where it goes on their own. We is thinking that everyone feelses that way now, everyone involved with the One.

[deadgirlslikeme]

Probably. I imagine they're all relieved at the chance to pursue their own fate as well, without that hanging over their heads.

[lastest_ringbearer]

*He nods. He's happily oblivious to Frodo's seaward yearnings and wouldn't count them as the same thing if he was. Even the burn of a scar from a morgul blade is light compared to the days in Mordor when there was a ten-ton wheel of fire at Frodo's breastbone.* Men and dwarfs and hobbitses and even nasssty elfses are free. Praps even orcses are free now. Most of all, though, Smeagol is free.

[deadgirlslikeme]

Yes indeed. Free to live a life that isn't yoked by fear and duty. [he grins, nodding at the bowl] And full of nice new things.

[lastest_ringbearer]

We are happy. It is good. *He doesn't really know what else there is to say. Centuries in a cave doesn't give you a lot of potential topics of conversation.*

[deadgirlslikeme]

And that's the important thing. [he bounces Chester lightly] Thanks for -- being here. Putting up with me like this. It really has been nice to talk to someone else.

[lastest_ringbearer]

The Man is welcome. It is nice for Smeagol as well. Hard sometimeses, but nice.

[deadgirlslikeme]

I'm glad. And I'm sure it'll get easier the longer you're here.

[lastest_ringbearer]

Smeagol hopes so.

[deadgirlslikeme]

Well, it was pretty hard for me to talk to others when I first arrived. I feel like I'm a lot better at it these days.

[lastest_ringbearer]

Smeagol will learn in time, then.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[with a little nod] Exactly. And you've got plenty of time to learn.

[lastest_ringbearer]

Nice Man will help? *Not like Smeagol has anything better to do than start, really.*

[deadgirlslikeme]

[with another nod and a smile] Sure! I'll do my best, anyway. And I'm sure the rest of my family will do the same too. We're all popping in and out fairly regularly.

[lastest_ringbearer]

I'd like to meet them all, I would.

[deadgirlslikeme]

Heh -- well, if you give me a minute, I can go back and see who's awake back at my home. [nodding to the snoozing Chester] I really should put him back in his crib anyway.

[lastest_ringbearer]

Yesss, yesss, little one should be going to bed. Goodbye, little one.

[deadgirlslikeme]

Little one should have been in bed ages ago, but I think we covered why that didn't happen earlier. . . I'll be back in just a bit. [off he goes to return Chester to his crib, hopefully without a repeat of the screaming that led him to the Nexus in the first place]

[lastest_ringbearer]

*We can but hope.*

[deadgirlslikeme]

[He's gone for a little while, but, as promised, comes back, with a rather tousled-looking woman in tow] Hello again! This is my wife, Alice.

[Alice nods to Smeagol, hiding a yawn behind her hand] How do you do?

[lastest_ringbearer]

How does Smeagol do what? *Yeah, it's been a while since anyone was that formal towards him. A long, long while.*

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Alice blinks] Er -- live? You know, I never thought about what that was actually asking before. . .

[Victor chuckles] She means how are you feeling. It's what we say to greet each other where we're from.

[lastest_ringbearer]

*He laughs a bit too. It's kinda creepy, really.* I am doing well, then. It is nice to be here.