Elvish Linguistics

[seawanderer]

Who: Maglor + OPEN
What: Singing (per usual) but not quite the same as always
Where: Anywhere people want to run into him
When: Catfish Day 22
Notes: Inspired by this and I am sorry in advance!

It would be easy to continue as he has been. But even elves get tired sometimes, and Maglor has been...existing, as he has, for longer than most can bear. And the people of the train have inspired him to take a trick out of the book of some Hobbits he's met along the way, for the merriment they bring to life, as well as the natural evolution of language. He's travelled far, on Middle-Earth, and heard many dialects.

And so, with a strangely lighter heart than usual (perhaps it's this season of joy Tony has spoken of? or the atmosphere of the train itself, he can't say for sure) that he takes up his new guitar (courtesy of his beloved father! it really hadn't taken him long to learn to play) and strikes up a brighter tune than most have heard from him since his arrival, joining voice to the sweet sound.

Except the words he uses don't sound quite right. Squished together in a way that those from Earth on the train might consider from the deep South. An odd lilt here, and there, yet still (oddly) suitable to the song itself.

The elf might linger a bit longer than normal outside certain doors, tune changing just enough to be specific for the ears of those within whatever room he's stopped outside of...to tease, before he's off again.

Comments

[marriedanidiot]

"What on earth are you saying, Makalaure?"

Mom is confused.

[seawanderer]

MEEP

Maglor turns wide eyes at his mother as if he's speaking perfectly fine (technically not...wrong...)...then turns the song to one teasing her for not understanding perfectly understandable words.

And yet there is shy mischief shining in sea-pale eyes.

[marriedanidiot]

Nerdanel's eyes narrow and her arms cross.

CARE TO REPEAT THAT SON

[seawanderer]

Despite all the signs of disapproval, Maglor can't help the laugh as he stills the strings of the new instrument. He swings it around to settle at his back so he can reach for his mom to give her a proper hug of hello.

...And obediently swaps back to 'normal' words, but only because she is Mom and can be Scary.

"'Tis how some of the younger elves speak, amme!"

[marriedanidiot]

Good son.

"Tis not proper." She scolds and hugs him.

"You were taught better than to mix registers that way."

[seawanderer]

He tries to be!

Maglor hums, leaning into warm arms. Then chuckles, body shaking just a little in rare mirth.

"No, but it is fun!" He gives her one last gentle squeeze before pulling back to swing the guitar back over to show her. "Atto made this for me. It only seems to make sense to sing a new way!"

[marriedanidiot]

She examines it curiously, pleased that Feanor is taking the time to make things for their sons.

"Has it a name? And you can sing differently without changing tongues halfway! "

[seawanderer]

It's so clearly a work of Feanor, with their family star etched into wood here and there. Elegantly simple, otherwise, due to lack of materials. Maglor likes the sound though. But even more than that, he loves it because his father made it for him.

"He called it a guitar? It's from a later Age on Earth." Maglor grins, not entirely repentant. "I spent a great deal of time among Men, amme. And Hobbits. They do not all speak as we do."

[marriedanidiot]

She crooks an eyebrow at him.

"I am sure they do not. But pick one and stick to it."

[seawanderer]

He blinks shyly at her through loose hair. "Per instrument?" He only has the two...here...so far...

[marriedanidiot]

She sighs and kisses his forehead.

"Per instrument." She agrees, fondly. "Cheeky!"

[seawanderer]

Maglor hums happily, a shyly pleased smile tugging at his lips.

"Bored!" He chirps back. "How are you faring?"

[marriedanidiot]

That earns him a laugh and a hair ruffle.

"I can tell." She says fondly and purses her lips.

"Well enough. Your father and I are... talking" yelling "through things at the moment."

[seawanderer]

Success! Just a hint of smugness at her laugh, and some delight at the hair ruffle (which he doesn't even attempt to dodge).

He reaches for a hand to squeeze. "I'm here. Nelyo's here. Curvo's here. If you need, or just want, a song, let me know? It doesn't matter the time, amme, I will play for you." He loves his mama.

[marriedanidiot]

She kisses his cheek fondly,smoothing down the hair she ruffled and fussing with his collar.

"So you are. My little songbird. You used to offer me such distractions in your youth! I would be glad to hear you, my son, whenever and whatever you choose to share."

[seawanderer]

Maglor smiles softly at her and kisses her cheek too.

...But he can't help still teasing, just a little when she says that. "Even if the registers are mixed up?"

[marriedanidiot]

She rolls her eyes at him and flicks his ear.

"Even if. Terrible child!"

[seawanderer]

He grins and reaches to embrace her again, mostly because he can. He's missed her.

"I am who I am," he quips innocently.

[marriedanidiot]

She is quite happy to hug him back~

"So you are, my songbird." She says affectionately. "I am so glad you are here and singing so happily."

[seawanderer]

"It's a good day," he answers shyly, holding on still. She hasn't pushed him away yet, so...why not? "I am glad you are here too, despite the dangers. We will keep you safe." As much as anyone can be kept safe.

[marriedanidiot]

Aw baby, mama's never going to push you away.

"I trust you, Makalaure." She smiles at him. "You've always done your best."

[seawanderer]

Best mama ;;

"Sometimes I have to wonder why," he admits. "But I am still grateful." Always.

[marriedanidiot]

Best son!

She kisses his forehead fondly.

"Because you are my son, and I love you."

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony had been figuratively banging his head against a wall with this filtration system when he picked up on some rather strange lyrics and melody outside his closed workroom door. He'd noticed the playing but had assumed whoever it was- there were only a couple who it could've been- would continue on to the standard car or somewhere else to play. Instead, the musician stayed at his door. Wait, were those lyrics.. at him?

He got up and opened the door, eyebrows rising sharply when he saw the musical menace was none other than Maglor. He laughed and shook his head. "Since when do you have a guitar, Kano?" He asked, admiring it.

[seawanderer]

At him...About him...Daring him to come out and play...Slowly inching more and more ridiculous the longer Tony makes him wait...

Maglor grins and stills the strings to let the man take a good look at it. "A few days. Father made it for me." Perfectly normal, as if he hadn't just been singing in the most absurd accent he's sung in...ever.

[runs_on_batteries]

If he'd known it would continue toward more ridiculous, he might have taken longer. As it is, he doesn't make his friend wait long. "Since when is he familiar with guitars?" He asked. "As much as I love your harp playing, it's really nice to hear a guitar sound."

Stepping back a little, he gestures for Maglor to join him inside his workroom before thinking better of it. "Actually, let me grab something and I'll join you over there. If I spend any more time today around this ventilation system, I might hurt someone."

He grabbed a soft covered book and followed his friend to whichever quiet room or in the standard room. He hands over the book as he sits down. "This is for you."

[seawanderer]

Tony is a precious friend and Maglor is very glad to know him. He'll just have to be utterly ridiculous at Tony later. A shy delight shines in pale eyes. "He's always looking for new things to make. He came upon this and thought I would enjoy it." And obviously, Feanor was right!

He starts to step in as invited before his friend changes his mind and steps back to give him room, head tilting curiously. "We can't have that," he murmurs with some concern. "We can spar if you wish." The elf is clearly having a very good day. One of the very few, really. And the best since...well. In centuries.

He draws in a quick breath as the book is handed over once they reach the standard coach and immediately opens it to look through some of the songs. He starts humming a few of the tunes after a brief pause of thought, manners forgotten in favor of new music!

[runs_on_batteries]

It would highly amuse him later. It was refreshing to see- and hear, thanks to the guitar- that Kano was in such a better mood.

He shook his head and grinned. "It's just a saying.. mostly." If only they could ban smoking from the train then he wouldn't have to do any of this! As it was, he couldn't risk Peter losing his abilities with that poison in the air.

Any negative thoughts fall away though when he sees Kano's reaction to the book. It was incredibly sweet and made the purchase very worthwhile. Did the elf have any idea how charming he was? After a few minutes, he pointed to one of the songs as Kano turned the pages. "There! Try that one." God, he'd missed classic rock. This was definitely going to earn the man some lemon bar cookies later. If he could find any lemons, that was. It might have to be lime. He knew they had that flavor at least.

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin is in his room sorting his backpack when he suddenly hears a sound outside the door. And then the voice accompanied by guitar. It is definitely Maglor's voice, and the song is Elvish, though the dialect is a little odd. And then it fades as the musician moves on down the hall.

Curufin throws open the door and runs down the passageway. He is grinning. "Maglor, wait!"

<3

[seawanderer]

He's only a little way down the hall when he hears the door slide open behind him and his brother call out. Maglor obediently turns, eyes still happily bright and clear as he turns the song to a greeting to this younger brother of his...not changing back to his normal manner of speech, of course.

<3<3<3

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufn listens incredulously but admiringly. The song and the singing are beautiful, as always. He can't help smiling at the accent, though.

"Who the hell speaks like that??" he asks, laughing.

[deductiongeek]

And in front of one of those doors Conan wanders over.

"Why are you singing?"

/twitch twitch twitch/

[tinkerheart]

Fëanor's ability to survive language cringe has already been thoroughly tested by some residents of the train. There is Buttercup with her weird grammatical constructions, took him some time to get used to those. There are spider kids throwing their odd millenials' slang around; he's got to admit at least it is pretty inventive and interesting on its own. One dying planet has prevented him from investigating the matter further but now that they're done with it, he may as well continue. Though the teenagers make for terrible subjects of proper linguistical studies.

But the direction he least expected a blow to his sense of linguistical propriety from is his own son! Eternal Darkness! Hadn't he taught him better?!

The chisel slices through the piece of obsidian at a completely wrong angle thoroughly ruining the cut he was planning. Fëanor groans and drops the tool on the table. This is pointless! Can't he even work in peace for a minute?! Apparently not with all this ridiculous singing! He can help but flinch at every dropped vowel or squashed syllable. There is not even a method to this madness! He throws the door open and yells after Maglor who's already gone to torment other people.

"If you truly insist on butchering the words, Kanafinwë, at least be consistent how you do it!"

He is happy his son is in a good mood but this barbarity is not what he had in mind when he made him the instrument.

[utulien_aure]

"Kano,"

Fingon pokes his head out of his room, voice half amused and half resigned.

"The last time I heard you switch voices so quickly, there was Avarin pine wine involved. You didn't smuggle any abroad recently, did you?"

Grumpy Mae, beware~

[castintoflames]

He isn't sure what he is hearing. It sounds like Maglor, but...

Wrong, somehow. Maedhros sticks his head out of his compartment, his brow furrowing. The instrument, the accent...all of it...

"Desist, Kano."

Forgive him, brother. He is older than dirt and that isn't the music he has known for centuries. You are indeed very talented, but new rarely means anything good to their family.