OPEN RP POST

[elfoflight]

Pretty straight forward. You have an idea you want to play out with Finarfin, throw up a starter or plotting comment and we'll go from there. Haven't threaded with me before but want to try something different than how you found this journal? That's fine too! I'm always open to new RP partners. If you have questions, feel free to shoot me a PM if you're more comfortable that way.

Comments

[swanmaid]

That much would be a comfort to her. More than she'd admit at first but a comfort all the same and it would help them get back to where they should be. And she wouldn't be able to abandon him when that time came, it hurt to much and things felt right being with him again.

"We both will." Together they would be able to do anything. They'd raised their children well together and their nephews mostly always listened to them as they'd been growing up. Surely he would listen now if they both insisted he stay. At least until a time that they were sure he'd be alright, however long it took.

Even though he didn't laugh, she couldn't help but laugh a little herself at his promise.

"Good. It feels... wrong." Too scratchy, itchy, foreign. She did reach lightly to brush the back of her fingers across his cheek though, properly feeling the hair there and making another face.

[elfoflight]

If he could make her comfortable in any way, he would. It felt far too good to have her back with him again for him to want to chase her away. France smiled brightly at her laugh, leaning into her hand once more.

She made the best faces. Reality could be better than fantasy and memory. Maglor would recover. However stubborn the elf tried to be. He'd even go to England if it would help.

"I can remove it right now, if you wish it?" He had the needed supplies for a clean shave, even if he hadn't often chosen to use them.

[swanmaid]

"So long as it is no bother to you." It was something she would appreciate. The only time she'd seen hair on anyone's face was Cirdan and even that had seemed strange. No other elf before him had hair on their face. Artanis had told her of how Men grew hair on their face, though it had done nothing to really prepare her.

"I can help." She offered lightly, not really willing to let him out of her sight just yet. Eärwen had just gotten him back, she couldn't bear to step away now. She needed him close.

[elfoflight]

"It is no trouble," he murmured softly, mirth clear and bright. France could only imagine the other nations' reaction to realizing he wouldn't be regrowing his beard this time.

He smiled and pulled away to stand, gently tugging her to her feet. "You are always welcome to." At least to watch.

[swanmaid]

It was easy to draw her to her feet and she instinctively moved to his side, settling against him without placing her weight on him. A part of her was still tired, so tired, but being near him gave her life and energy again. It felt good. He was all she needed.

"Lead the way, beloved." Softly and in Quenya. It was easier to slip into Quenya for the moment, the languages of this world still feeling heavy and unwieldy on her tongue.

[elfoflight]

He slipped an arm loosely around her waist, holding her close as he guides her down the hall to the spacious master bedroom with the en-suite bathroom. He kept to Quenya as well, though was already planning just how to teach her French then other languages she would need to know.

It was with reluctance that France released her then and turned to get started. Pulling out the shaving kit, which likely looked quite strange to her. The shaving cream was applied first before he set to scraping the hairs off.

[swanmaid]

It was hard for her not to look around in interest, leaning against him as he led them to the bathroom. It was so different, everything was. It would take her so long to adjust but she knew he would help. Once he let go, she settled close by and watched him quietly.

The shaving kit was strange to her which made it better that he did it. After she just slipped back to his side and reached to run her hand across his cheek.

[elfoflight]

She was welcome to look around anywhere. Now that she was there, back with him, he would let her do anything. He sorely doubted he'd regret it. France was more than happy to introduce her to everything.

Teach her about who he'd become, along with what. It only took him a couple minutes to shave the beard off before he turned back to her and leaned into the hand she brushed across his cheek. He smiled warmly, reaching out to hold her again. Gentle and full of hope and love.

[swanmaid]

"Much better." She said softly, fingers still brushing across his cheeks. "Perfect but you always were. The only person who the Swan Maidens temper would cool for."

And then a kiss to his cheek, a smile, she needed those physical reminders that he was there. Eärwen wrapped her arm around his, leaning against him and glancing at their reflection. It was strange to see the change in his height still, she almost laughed. A very short, stifled, giggle bubbled up though.

"Show me your France. Show me what has kept you away so long."

[elfoflight]

His smile brightened, filling with fond laughter though it did not escape to be verbalized. France wrapped his arms around her in return, leaning against and around her as best he could. "I knew I could only love you the moment I saw you. And that has stayed true, even as changed as I am."

And he couldn't help but laugh as well, even if he knew her giggle was at his expense. He tightened his hold on her, lifting to spin her around. He was still strong - stronger than he'd been as an elf, in fact. "Yes, I will show you all that there is to see. Not all at once, but you will see it."

[swanmaid]

"And I could only ever love you. My dearest Arafinwë. King of my heart." She said softly, closing her eyes to just savor this moment. That was all that was truly important to her. It was still him, more or less.

The twirl made her squeal and laugh and reach to tangle her fingers in his hair. She needed this, more than she realized. This simple gesture. So she leaned her head down while still in his arms and kissed him again.

"We have time. More than enough time."

[elfoflight]

He knew. Oh, how he knew. There'd never been any doubt before she'd come after him, but even now... No. There simply was no one else for him. France felt himself fall in love with her all over again.

The laugh was precisely what he'd hoped to hear, finding he'd missed it in the core of his being when he heard it again. Felt it melt his heart as she leaned in to kiss him. He pulled her closer and returned the kiss without hesitation, and even when it ended he pressed their foreheads together.

A playful smile grew, touching his eyes. "Yes." And impulse had him tilt his head to capture another kiss before pulling away.

"Now come, beloved. There are a few things I would get for you before we really get started." Clothes befitting his love, his dearest friend, so that she would meld in with the crowd and they could slip unseen. Even her silver hair wouldn't attract too much notice.

[swanmaid]

Being held by him, the touch of their foreheads and the extra kiss he stole, everything felt warm and right. It felt like when they had first been courting, so many stolen kisses, visits at midday just so they could hold onto each other. Simple gestures in an easier time, a much easier time. Perhaps it wouldn't be as simple this time but they would manage it. As they had managed everything else.

"Get for me?" She questioned, a silver brow rising briefly. "You do not have to get me anything."

Although, Eärwen would admit that her clothes most definitely stood out. And between the clothes and her general appearance, a change might do her, and him, at least some good while out and about.

[elfoflight]

And he would - he'd court her all over again. Because he knew he was different than he had once been. He wasn't the elf she remembered, for all that he was all at once. She deserved nothing less than the best of him, for all that she'd always managed to see all of him as well. He knew there were still blocks ahead of them, but he trusted they would get through them.

France grinned at her and gave her slim waist an affectionate squeeze. "I want to." He would focus on a wardrobe for her at first. Little gifts later would start showing up, when she wasn't watching.

[swanmaid]

She leaned against him, content to let him squeeze her and she still felt as if they shaped comfortably together. Eärwen of course shared his confidence that they would get through any trouble.

"You are too sweet. Too good to me, even after all these years." And the lady didn't want to inconvenience him so soon after their reunion. Didn't want him to spend money she wasn't sure whether he had or not. Eärwen had always had trouble refusing him anything though, one way or another, whether she was on the receiving end or he was.

[elfoflight]

He released one arm from around her to reach up and gently brush silver hair from her face, then cupped her cheek and let his thumb brush tenderly over her soft skin. "You deserve the best I can give. Always have." And always will.

It was hardly an inconvenience. It could even be good for him! Cut down on things he didn't really need, because the one thing he'd been missing was with him again.

Yet he found he was eager to show her around, and finally stepped back only to reach for one of her hands. It was hard to not hold onto her, not for a while, and he saw no immediate reason not to. "The time to walk the streets is best about now."

[swanmaid]

It would be hard for her to imagine him filling the empty space in his heart with things but he was different now. And she was still trying to come to terms with that fact. At least he was still charming, that helped. And kind and full of love.

"If you say it is, I believe you." His hand received a light squeeze in return, fingers slipping between his comfortably before she leaned back against him again, head resting on his shoulder. She would have endured crowds to explore and learn about France with him, exhausting as crowds tended to be for her these days. At least she would have him with her to keep her from falling asleep if it had been too much.

[elfoflight]

Nothing could replace her for him. France, the Nation, tried - hard. But even the heart of the nation was showing signs of the ache in his heart. Now, though, perhaps that would change and Paris would heal and regain it's former beauty and glory.

Her leaning against him like that had him pause and he slipped an arm back around her. "Perhaps tomorrow would be better," he murmured. "Tonight we can stay here. Rest. And in the morning before too many are out, I can show you other things."

[swanmaid]

"No, it is alright. I want to go tonight." She said as she shook her head. Tired as she was from her long search, being with him gave her energy. Enough that she was willing to go out and about rather than rest. Besides, she figured there would be plenty of time for rest. Especially after they'd been about awhile, long enough to get hungry and tired.

"We have missed so much time together, I want to do everything I can with you. I do not want to waste even a moment." Every moment was precious and would be treated preciously.

[elfoflight]

Understanding lit his eyes and twitched his lips and he needed no other reassurance than that to start leading her outside. "No moment can be waisted when you are with me." It just wasn't possible. Every second he could see her smile, or even glare and pout, was worth it.

But if she fell asleep on him, he'd laugh (to himself) and take her home. He'd take care of her, as she deserved.

Once outside, he held onto her just by holding her hand, fingers entwined just as their hearts were, though kept close to her side. He started for the Seine, for the water that ran through Paris. "There is water everywhere, even in modern cities."

[swanmaid]

She couldn't imagine a moment wasted when she was with him either and smiled, moving with him out the door. And there was still sunlight which would have been a shame to waste, a shame to miss looking at her husband in its light. Eärwen had always loved seeing Arafinwë in the sunlight, how it would catch the gold of his hair. More handsome than any of the Valar, she'd always said. Kinder as well, in her opinion.

"Everywhere?" She questioned, giving his hand a little squeeze. The occasional reminder than he was really there was still needed and reassuring.

Once, she might have considered Tirion the height of modern culture but that was before she'd left. And she realized that elves were much slower to change than she'd originally believed her people to be, now that she saw the advancements of Men.