dear_mun | what am I even doing//forever homeless because WITCH-KING

[ It's not like you'll actually manage it, fool. Merry's not scared of you any more. ]

Better than your leg, I imagine.

[ Have a smoke ring blown into your face by a~~n over~~confident hobbit. ]

You might want to have that take care of. Aragorn is very knowledgeable in the healing arts.

[ Sercretly, Merry is hoping he can hold on to his sassy attitude and not succumb to minor fear-born paralization. His hand still strays towards his barrow-blade (borrowed from Pippin, since the last stabbing had rather destroyed the previous one), just in case. ]

[How about the armies at his disposal? They're pretty vast, after all. He just has to get another Fell Beast. Or another horse. Everyone keeps murdering his mounts and it's starting to get on his non-existent nerves.]

Your over-confidence betrays you. Would you dare attempt such again, with your woman absent?

[Especially since the Witch-King had just enough time to realize his mistake before being dragged here. He'd let himself get too confident in battle and now he's paying for it. That's the last time he puts faith in prophecies... and forgets to watch his own back.]

I would attempt.

[ He has a more thoughtful look on his face, though there is a hint of steel behind it.

He is, after all, not quite a man. ]

I will not let you harm those for which I care.

[ However, he's in a rather mellow mod, at the moment, and the more he learns of the Nazgul, the more he pities them, in a vague way, now that they no longer have the power to hurt. To be so consumed by one's greed and powerlust.... ]

Would you like a smoke?

[ Perhaps a bit of a non-sequitor, but every moment the Nazgul is here, he is not wreaking havoc elswhere. Besides, one need not win a war with battles.

~~He will later blame this on drunkeness, never mind he hasn't touched ale of any sort in a while~~ ]

Their ends are inevitable; keep them from my sight and they may yet be spared having them hastened.

[He can admire Merry's gumption, at least. Not many would dare stand against him directly... and certainly not threaten to do so more than once.

This is a far cry from the Halfling that fled before his fellows' horses. It warrants a pass, however brief it is.

... though the inquiry makes him cock his head slightly ~~in an extremely unkingly manner because what even~~.]

You have, perhaps, partaken too much yourself.

[He hasn't had physical form in so long he can't even remember smoking pipeweed.]

Well, all ends are inevitable, if you think about it. Everyone's got to die, or fade, or leave sometime.

[ That's just simple hobbit logic. Nothing lasts forever, but life is no less worth living.

He's a tad indignant at the question of his ability to hold his pipeweed. It's not that potent, nor os he unused to the effects.

No, it's just Merry being a fool. ]

I have not! And anyways, it might do you some good. Very relaxing and peaceful. A simple pleasure.

[ Actually... Merry is rather curious... ]

Do you have any? Simple pleasures, I mean...

That is hardly a sentiment I expect from one such as you.

[Though he can't fault him over it, really. He just happens to see it from the opposite end of the equation, as it were.

And all things considered, it's going to count that reaction as a minor win. Considering how sideways everything was going when he landed here, he'll take the victories he gets.

... Though the question is cause for pause. He hisses quietly. No one has ever made that inquiry of him.]

Not since the Second Age. I've had little need of them.

[The dead don't really need to eat, drink, or smoke. Then again... it's been a couple thousand years, but...]

I had some skill at skittles and darts, once.

That sounds dreadful, and is woefully untrue.

[ That's a shame, really, and Merry's face dips for a moment. Little need of simple pleasures? Sounds miserable, really. Not a way to live at all. Or, well, exist as it were...

He perks up at skittles. ]

Oh! I had some skill at skittles. My da was the best, though. He had a knack for getting the hard ones.

[ Turn up all that hobbit-y charm. ]

Perhaps we could give it a go? I mean, in your armour at least, you're solid enough. I imagine your aim can only have improved.

[ It's really sad, the more Merry thinks of it, that this king of men-fallen has nothing. No one to cherish or be cherished by, no one to enjoy the company of. Even if he is but a shade, there is Mannishness in there, somewhere.

And since this is unlikely to contradict any standing orders... (Honestly, it's not like Sauron expects a hobbit to offer one of his generals a break or anything) It might be worth a shot. ]

It'd do you good.

I have been occupied with other matters for a time, now.

[His duties to Sauron had kept him busy for the most part, and he'd hardly call the art of war and sorcery 'simple' pleasures. And what enjoyment he received from grooming and pampering his mounts is moot now; both were lost to him and it takes a certain courage for animals to not balk in his presence.

... Hobbit you are confounding. ~~It's almost refreshing even if you did stab him.~~

The Witch-King is fairly certain he's being distracted - and flattered on top of that - but... it's not as though he's exactly busy now. Until he finds Sauron or he's recalled, he's free to do as he pleases. And without a country to take over and a way back to Gondor from here (he doesn't fancy walking back on his injury)...]

You would challenge the Witch-King of Angmar himself to skittles? You have more courage than I anticipated.

[He's been around too long to really be baffled by it, but it's certainly curious.]

Nothing that scary about a skittles, is there? Unless you don't think you can beat a Hobbit.

[ It's not so much courage as selective thought process. Also, bragging rights. Yeah, so I beat the head Nazgul at skittles, since stabbing him just wasn't enough.

Of course, Merry doesn't have a proper skittle set in his pack, but he has enough odds and ends to make do: A helmet, a few bottles, an ale mug, two bowls, and a block of wood for fire-making. The ball of string would work well enough, and if not there are plenty of round-ish stones around. ]

So, front-pin first?

There are few that would face me in combat still, let alone friendly competition.

[Outside of Khamul his fellows were lacking, the humans that marched under the Red Eye's banner were easily frightened by his mere presence (which he didn't particularly mind; he'd gotten fond of the cowering two thousand years ago), and Orcs... well. Orcs.

He'll hardly make this easy on Merry, though. He might be rusty but he can't just let the Hobbit have more bragging rights over him.

He watches the setting up with his typical keen, vulture's gaze, calculating.. or trying to recall all the rules. One of those things. It at least doesn't take too long for him to remember. It has just been several centuries.]

Of course.

[ Merry smiles Well, it's more of an aborted half-smile, but it counts and turns back to the "pins", picking up a suitable round-ish rock and rolling it carefully towards the pins set up.

It glances off the front-pin (a bottle, luckily,) which then falls over and hits the front-right quarter. The rock spins to the left, taking out the left winer and left-back quarter, which then falls over and hits the back pin. Five out of nine on the first bowl; Merry goes about selecting a second stone for his next shot.

The helmet–right winger–will be a hard shot, and Merry doesn't exactly want to dent it... ]

Not so bad, for warm-ups.

[ He says it in a rather cocky way, hefting the stone in his hand with a few tosses in the air, taking his time to "critically examine" his next shot before letting the stone fly... ]

Edited 2013-02-13 19:10 (UTC)

A fair shot. Take care, however.

[Getting cocky straight off doesn't always end so well. Which he, admittedly, could aid along the way - sorcery and all - but cheating isn't actually his style. Outside of battle, but is that really cheating?

The Witch-King keeps his attention on the stone and the 'pins' both.]

[ The second stone takes out the right-winger and the right-back corner. Merry is rather pleased with himself, tucking his thumbs into his lapels, looking quite chuffed as he goes to set the pins back up. ]

Your turn, now.

[ This will actually be fun! ]

[It's a good play, and the Witch-King picks a stone while Merry sets the pins back up, testing its weight. Funny that he can at all, really.]

We shall see how my skills stack up.

[After these several thousand years.

He lets it roll, and the stone takes out the front pin... and then the center and back, which would be more of a problem for him if the front hadn't knocked into the front-left quarter, which in turn tipped into the left winger. The Lord of the Nazgul straightens up slightly.]

An acceptable start.

[ Darn it, the Nazgul seems to be keeping up just fine. Still, it's just a game, so Merry needn't stress so much.

Or so he tells himself. ~~Actually, this is sort of fun. Couldn't that battles have gone like this, instead?~~ ]

Well done! Can you do so well next, I wonder?

[It's not like they're playing for the fate of Middle-Earth, after all. As far as they know.

Besides, he has to play well, his Master is right there. ~~That would have been lovely... but not nearly as epic.~~]

We shall see.

[Another rock and some decision-making later, and the stone rolls smoothly into the front-right quarter - which bounces back into the back-right quarter - and right winger. The Witch-King squares his shoulders in the closest to a pleased gesture he can make as he moves to set the pins back up.]

It would seem we are a rather even match.

[are you taunting his nazgul

are you challenging his minion to a game

are you convincing the witch king of angmar to put off his ghastly evil duties to--

is that skittles.]

[ Merry is not entirely sure of you.

Very much that seem fairer, feel fouler sort of thing. Only with massive amount of foulness. And lets face it, Merry isn't expecting Sauron to look pretty.

Still, he was a hobbit raised with manners. And it's not like he could be any worse than the lead Nazgul, right?

...right? ]

Would you, er, like to join in, sir?

[so this is a halfling. certainly is half-- or less than half. of a man, anyway.

how very polite. and.. quaint. but no! he will not be swayed! the dark lord is meant for taking over middle-earth, not for... skittles!]

..I have not played in some time. [like. since numenor. a proper game, anyway. life's been too busy lately for game nights with the nazgul.]

No reason you can't play now.

[ Skittles is for everyone. Look, the halfling is even offering out the first throw. ]

[lifts a hand to politely decline.]

I believe I will settle for.. watching.

[who knows if there's been some new rules in the past.. 3000+ years. well, this is a good way to relearn them.

plus he wants to see if his witch king will be beaten by a halfling. ~~again.~~]

Edited 2013-02-15 05:02 (UTC)

Suit yeself.

[ Merry offers a sandwich and his pipe. ]

Might as well enjoy the watching.

[ Merry will always beat nazgul. Destiny says so. Like rock paper scissors. Merry beats Nazgul beats food beats Merry. ]

what am I even doing//forever homeless because WITCH-KING

(this is going to be so beautiful)

(and terrible as the dawn?)

(perhaps...) XD

alsdfjlsfj oh lord Merry, haha

I don't know what to do with him, sometimes >>

He's marvelous <3

ty <3 I'm loving your Witch-King

aww ty! <3 I was worried about playing him

He's so fantastic

akdhsk thank you!

Sorry this took a bit

No worries! Sorry about waiting to reply

No problem!

no subject

no subject

also is it terrible I made an Excel document to keep up with the

butts in

Oh dear lord (Perhaps we should consolidate?)

oh dark lord you mean... (bahaha no separate threads is cool. coordinating is tough, sobs.)

OFINE. Dark lord, dark worm, glowy-eye thing, whatever

...what WHERE DID THE WORM COME FROM...

Well, you are a worm. ITSAFACT