1,000 years later...

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

Characters: Legolas (bow_of_the_galadhrim), OPEN
Setting: All over, any time of the week
Format: action brackets
Summary: The Tower is Forever event and Legolas thinks it’s been a thousand years
Warnings: None yet

FDorm floor
[That short pause that none truly notice went equally unnoticed by the elf, as he comes out of the showers freshly cleaned, but the change is great. The short hair he‘d been sporting for a couple weeks was gone, replaced by long hair just past his waist with braids through it. One ear, his left one, is pierced with a gold leaf shaped earring with silver veins through it and there‘s a gold band wrapped around one of his fingers. His eyes seem darker and more tired, clothes aren‘t as nice as they once were, exchanged for something comfortable but still styled after the clothes his people wear. He‘s not armed but he disappears into his room for just a moment and comes out heavily armed. The elf does not want to be unnarmed long.]

Graveyard
[For more than a thousand years, Legolas has come to this floor twice a week to pay his respects to those he knew who have disappeared. Gimli, Aragorn, Faramir, Boromir and his twins graves are all kept tidy and his quietly speaks a prayer for them in elvish. He no longer sheds a tear at the sight of these markers. They serve to remind him that they are not suffering this hell with him, that they managed to escape even if Aragorn had been returned.]

Forest, evening
[Swords in hand, the elf is going through what might seem like normal training exercises. Until one of the monsters comes out and then a streak of ruthlessness, one that is definitely not normal for the elf, comes out and he attacks. He manages to avoid becoming as bloody as his foe but when he‘s done, it‘s obvious that the monster never stood a chance.

And Legolas isn‘t even out of breath. Instead, he seeks out another monster and the pattern continues as he trains.]

Library
[He‘s in a far corner, far away from anyone else, with a book in his lap and a cloak covering his face. It‘s clear that Legolas is making an effort to avoid contact with other people. A small journal is beside him with a pen. Occasionally he stops reading and makes a note before going back to the book. Everything is written in elvish and it‘s mostly just a journal of things he wants to remember. He has quite a few more stashed in his trunk, enough journals to cover his many years.]

Anywhere else
[Perhaps Legolas is passing through another flood and you‘re there too. Feel free to stop him.]

Comments

[tohko_amano]

[Tohko's knows that she might not be able to lift away everyone's pain, but if she can even get rid of some of it, than might be enough for then.]

I'm feeling alright..but you haven't been here for that long. I would be nothing but dust and bone if that much time had passed. What makes you think a thousand years have passed? And why has your appearance been altered?

[Tohko sighed and scratched her head, thinking.]

..Maybe this is another one of the Administrators tricks.

[After all, if they could take away her senses and give her schizophrenia, then they might be able to do something like this as well.]

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

I have been. If the administrators can revive the dead, then they are more than capable of keeping you healthy. Perhaps a trip to the infirmary is in order...

[He stands up, cloak slipping from his shoulders now to reveal just how much his hair has grown, the difference in his clothing and how he holds himself. And he tucks his pen into the journal before tucking it under his arm.]

A thousand years of memory are a hard thing to manipulate for a elf. Even Sauron or Morgoth lacked such a capability.

[tohko_amano]

[As Legolas stood up and readied himself, Tohko sighed, her smile actually falling for once. She was getting a bit tired, and it was getting harder to keep it up these days sometimes..especially with that comment.]

I don't think I'm sick, Legolas..thank you for the offer though. And if the Administrators had made me immortal for a thousand years, I would remember the time passing..and I would face the consequences of such a 'blessing'.

[Tohko then sighed again, noticing how different Legolas actually looked.]

..But these people seem to be able to manipulate the senses and give people schizophrenia, which also means that they can mess with the brain. Therefore..they may have been able to mess with yours as well and altered your appearance accordingly.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

They could do that same thing to you as well, instead making you forget all of these years. And I am not alone in recalling so many years, Haldir clearly remembers them as well. If they wished to torment us, they would keep him from remembering the many years we've been together.

[If only his appearance had been the only thing that changed. He looked so tired now, accepting of what the tower and the admins did.]

[tohko_amano]

[At that, Tohko sighed.]

That's true..but, as far as I know, the aging process still works normally here. I could be wrong, since I don't know everything the Administrators have..but even if they could alter my memories, it wouldn't change the fact that I would be dead in that amount of time.

And..maybe they're altering Haldir to keep you both together..but apart from anyone else who might try to be friends with you guys. Or maybe they would enjoy watching you both suffer from time that didn't actually fly by. The fact that Haldir is with you may be a small act of kindness from Dax when Riki isn't looking.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

I cannot explain it, many things are still little more than magic to me. All that is clear that I clearly recall the many years I've spent here, the times I was sent to walk the remains of my world, the deaths I've suffered and seen others suffer.

[He doesn't like thinking that so many years are little more than a lie. It irritates him a bit.]

I doubt highly that Riki would allow Dax to interfere as he does when Jason is in charge.

[tohko_amano]

[At those words, Tohko sighed and bit her lip. Walking the remains of the world and seeing all that and experiencing all that..she hadn't done it, but she had seen the effect it had on Enoch, and she had read of similar situations in stories. She was just..tired of the Administrators possibly casing illusions all over the place and laughing in the shadows when people tried to figure out the truth. She was sick of it. The effects were horrible.]

And while those things are sad and horrible..it is still possible that it could all be an illusion, a lie cast by the Administrators. I know it's not easy to think about that..but it is a definite possibility.
And I don't think Riki would allow Dax to interfere..but that doesn't mean Dax can't secretly intervene without Riki noticing.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

[He gently placing a hand on the top of her head, ruffling her hair a bit before kneeling down. There was a sad sort of smile on his face, empathetic to her feelings about this.]

You are right, it's a possibility. There is no reason though for Dax to take mercy on my husband and I when there are others who suffer worse.

[tohko_amano]

[For all the headpats that she has gave, Tohko hasn't received one back until now. While it was a bit comforting it was a bit strange..but it managed to bring out a very, very small smile. To anyone who wasn't Tohko, the smile would look genuine.]

..While there may be people who have suffered worse, that doesn't mean that Dax couldn't have helped you out simply because he wanted to. And he may have helped out other people and we're just not aware of it yet.

[Tohko then scratched her head, trying to figure how to best phrase this without stepping on his toes.]

Legolas, you don't have to kneel for me. I can see you just fine, even if you don't.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

Perhaps he has.

[He won't dash her hopes, he hasn't the heart to do that to Tohko.

And any smile is a good one to see, it made everything worth having endured. Worth living though and fighting against. Knowing her as long as he had though, he could pick up something off about the smile she showed him.]

Kneeling makes it easier for me to do this.

[And he pulled her into a hug. Tohko is still short in comparison to how tall elves tended to be.]

[tohko_amano]

Hopefully he has..

[Hopefully he won't touch her right arm while he's hugging her. While it was in a sling, it did still hurt when even small pressure was applied. However, if he did, she would just bite her lip and suppress any cries of pain she might have. She did hug him back with her left arm though.]

Ah..I see. Thank you, Legolas. It seems that you're always pulling me into hugs, even though you probably need them more than me.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

[He was careful to avoid her arm, thankfully. Although, if he had and noticed the pain, he'd have drawn her to Gandalf for help in healing. If anything, the wizard would at least be able to ease the pain she suffered.]

I've another who would comfort me in times of need now. As I'm sure that you know.

[tohko_amano]

Based upon what you've said, I suppose Haldir would..but you're forgetting that, in my mind, I haven't been here a thousand years. I haven't seen what you've seen or known exactly what you've been though.

[Tohko sighed at that.]

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

If you have not then be glad for it. For nothing we have seen should have been. Nothing we have endured was fair. None of it would I have wished upon you.

[tohko_amano]

Legolas..

[Another sigh.]

This is going to sound strange, but even though I know it's an illusion..I wouldn't mind seeing what you saw or facing what you faced. Even if it was cruel and horrible, there had to be some good parts in it. After all, your relationship with Haldir grew. That's something. And it would help me understand what you and what others who have faced similar hardships went through.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

Unfortunately, it is beyond my ability to show what has been done to us. My memories of each even are clear but I would not speak of them if I did not have to. I have no desire to recall them with the clarity that I could.

[He does smile, briefly, as he glances at the gold ring on his finger.]

[tohko_amano]

[Tohko's smile did grow a little at that. Not much, but just a little.]

I know you can't transfer your memories to me, and I'm not going to force you to tell me what happened if you don't want to. Those times must have been rather painful. I'm simply saying that if I were to experience everything you went though, I wouldn't mind, even though it would be an illusion. It would help me understand.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

Of course. I am glad that you haven't though.

[His physical scars aren't as numerous as they could but but emotionally, mentally... He's suffered and he's taken all the suffering he can from Haldir.]

[tohko_amano]

[Have a headpat, Legolas.]

And I'm sorry to hear that you had to suffer though all that, despite what small joys you might have found.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

[He chuckles, softly, and brushes a hand through his hair to smooth it out.]

There's no reason for you to be sorry. It's normal, isn't it? They saved us so we owe them.

[The way he says that now, it's as if he genuinely believes that. And he does. He believes that Middle Earth is dead and gone.]

[tohko_amano]

[At that, Tohko sighed and looked..a little annoyed. But she did pat Legolas on the head again. So much for that smoothed-out hair.]

That's not true at all! Things like this shouldn't be considered normal anywhere. And they didn't save us. Our universes are still intact. After all, there are people here from other universes who wouldn't even be able to exist if their universe was destroyed! So..they didn't save us. We don't owe them a single thing for that, or for the constant tortures.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

[Gosh, he tries to at least keep himself looking presentable after all these years. You're making it hard, Tohko.]

I've been to the corpse of my world enough times and spent many years here without seeing any success. I am glad that you still have hope Tohko, but I've none.

[tohko_amano]

[Better to provide comfort and look a bit messy than not and have the person suffer, according to Tohko.]

I know that just seeing your universe like that once must have been rather painful..but if you've lost your hope, then you should try to find it again, in books, in friends, in any way you can.

[Tohko then sighed. This was going to sound foolish, but she wasn't going to give up just yet. As long as Wilhelm and his Testaments still existed here, then she was going to keep hoping that the other universes were fine as well.]

And..if you find that doesn't work, then borrow half of my hope.

[Yeah..that sounded foolish..]

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

I don't think that I can. So many years, so many deaths and sadnesses, the atrocities witnessed. Hope fades. That I haven't died, or faded, is a sign of how determined I am but that is all.

[Sorry Tohko, there are few people who would be able to crack through this shell that Legolas has built up around him. By losing hope, he no longer hurts when people from home do not appear, when they disappear or when they die. He no longer wishes to see things he once ached for.]

I would not take your hope from you. You are still young and need it.

[There's a small, fond sort of smile on his lips and he softly kisses the top of her head. As Galadriel had once done for Frodo.]

[tohko_amano]

[As Legolas kissed the top of her head, Tohko sighed. The young needed hope, that was true..but the old, the ones who were immortal, the ones who had seen destruction over and over again needed it too. Perhaps even moreso than the ones who were just young.

After all, Chia still hoped, even though her situation was near hopeless, even by Tohko's standards.]

Legolas..being young has nothing to do with it. The young are able to generate more hope when it's taken because we're foolish and keep thinking of the illusion of The Prince being alive. The ones who are immortal or have faced such things as you have probably need it more..because you have a hard time generating it after everything you've been through. You see the reality of The Prince's death.

[More book comparisons. Hopefully Legolas has read The Little Prince, or those would make no sense to him at all.]

However..I believe that you can find hope. Hope fades and gemstones dirty, but you can always polish up the gemstone if you work at it hard enough with the right polish. Hope springs eternal.