tallshipsandtallkings

[tallshipsandtallkings]

🎈 BALLOON — what is something you've created and/or accomplished recently that you're proud of?

For whoever

"I would say that founding a realm has been no small task," Isildur says, beaming. Thinking of all the work that has gone into building Gondor fills him with pride; two tower fortresses, and in their midst, upon the mighty Anduin, beautiful Osgiliath, the capital to their shared kingdom.

"In a more personal sense, the birth of my daughter has filled me with joy," he adds, now smiling tenderly. "As with my sons, my heart appears to have expanded to make room for her."

[tallshipsandtallkings]

In the letter Gil-galad sent to Tar-Meneldur he says that “at this time I ask your pardon, if I have detained him [Aldarion] overlong in my service; for I had great need of the knowledge of Men and their tongues which he alone possesses”.

Imagine Gil-galad learning Adûnaic. Imagine Aldarion trying to teach something to him like “Where do we start? Colours? Numbers?” and Ereinion like “Insults. Swearwords. I want to know what your father calls me when it takes ages for you to go back home”.

[tallshipsandtallkings]

The Fallen Kings

Elendil and Gil-galad

[tallshipsandtallkings]

Elenna chuckled at his confession, the feeling quite familiar. “Nobody I know truly enjoys small talk. It is merely a social convention, a way to fill the silence.” She looked pointedly at him as she passed him in a step that took her and the other women in line around their partners. From the very beginning, there had been little need for small talk between them, first occupied by the urgent mission that had brought her to Middle Earth, then with other matters, as they got to know each other better. There was always some fact about their cultures that needed extensive analysis, some historical event he could recount for having lived through it, some detail that had led them to keep an abundant correspondence.

“Ah, yes, your esteemed reputation,” Elenna grinned and stepped to the front. She turned to face him and tried her best to supress the shiver that ran up her arm when he took her hand. Then the tune changed, and so did tone of their conversation, as it turned to her lost homeland, and the many homes he had left, all now below the Great Sea.

“I might, in time,” Elenna conceded, and matched Gil-Galad’s sad smile with one of her own. “I do already feel a certain sense of kinship, for this city is the work of our hands and our minds. We also put our hearts in everything we do, from our ships to our songs, and therefore Annúminas is already dear to my heart, though young and unfinished.”

“Perhaps we could fetch a drink?” Elenna offered. She paused mid-step and pulled her dancing partner to the side, so as not to stop the flow of the group. If the High King desired a private tour of tje palace, a private tour he would have. Elenna paid little mind to the numerous suspicious glances towards them, and made her way nonchalantly towards the rum barrel. It had been fitted with a tap and she filled two cups with the aromatic liquor, topping them up with a bit of lemon juice.

“And I could show you my favourite part of the palace. The view is simply astounding.”

❝ the ball is quite nice. i haven’t danced in so long. ❞ for Elenna <3

"Because you happen to possess two left feet, Your Majesty," Elenna teased, a half smile dancing on her lips. She swayed gently at the tune, one hand on Gil-Galad's, another on his shoulder, nice and proper. She was not unaware of the many eyes that were on them, and kept the polite distance from their most honored guest.

Annúminas was only barely beginning to tale shape when Elendil decided a few days of celebrations were in order. The main palace was not yet entirely furnished; guest quarters were hastily put together for the High King and his entourage, but the main celebration of the summer solstice took place outside, in the main square. Tables were placed under canopies, heavy with finger foods, wine and rhum. There would be no ritual atop the Meneltarma, no prayer offered to Eru in a hallowed place. But there would be plenty of song to honor their lost homeland, and even more dancing. The party would last until dawn, and all the citizens would be exempt from their duties until the following day.

Elenna missed her brothers dearly. They had scarcely spent any solstice -Erulaitalë, as it was known in Númenor- apart. It was less familiar than the Eruhantalë or the harvest festival, but she could always count on them for some mischief. Now Isildur and Anárion were preoccupied with their own realm, aside from their own families, and they could not spare time to travel north for a party.

She turned to her companion, his proximity already easing some of her longing for her brothers from her heart. He filled it with an entirely different type of yearning, but Elenna was not ready to face that new reality just yet.

"I trust you are having a good time, then?"

[tallshipsandtallkings]

Elenna watched, as if time had slowed down, the moment Gil-Galad turned to her, and his eyes went wide. She even caught a glimpse of Aranel's retreating back as her husband shut the door behind him, and the exact moment his expression turned from warm to distant, his fears clouding his face like stormclouds covering the moon in an otherwise clear night.

"It is not too early, I feel fine," she protested, but she knew before the words left her mouth that it would be of no use. As it had been the last five, ten times she had tried to entice him.

A small part of her understood his reluctance and his fears. Miscarriages like the one she had suffered had been unheard of in Númenor. A dúnadaneth like her either carried her child to full term, or discreetely ended the pregnancy before it could show. The childbirth deaths that plagued mothers all over Middle Earth had not touched them in their hallowed island. But when her sister in law had gone through a strenuous labor to bring her daughter into the world, they all knew something had changed.

Not to mention their differing natures. Perhaps, as the old text said, the gulf between Elves and Men was too wide to be fully conquered, not even in marriage, regardless of the few exceptions. No records existed of any mortal woman who had given birth to a half elven child. The only one besides herself who had ever loved an Elf had never born any children. It may be that this was their Doom, that no child would ever be born of their union.

Elenna resisted this thought as she shook her head, away from her husband's tender hand. Was she not a descendant of those few exceptions? Did the blood of Lúthien, of Elwing, not run through her veins? She would not be deterred by a minor inconvenience. The real required an heir, as Gil-Galad's advisors had been fond of repeating incessantly since the early days of their courtship. This was her main task now, and she would give them one, or die trying.

"You made a vow to me," she said, sitting up and reaching for her cloak, feeling vulnerable and exposed in this ridiculous outfit. "To stand by me in joy and in sorrow. In illness and health. Did you forget that?"

🎁 Obviously not for Isildur

Send me 🎁 to catch my muse in lingerie.

It was an odd concept, what Elves considered to be lingerie. Although knowing what she knew about them, it was certainly not unexpected. Elenna had asked Bairdan for advice on the matter, and she had recommended a tailor in the lower town. Elenna had had to dress as a commoner, and covered her face in a hood in order to avoid recognition; the tailor had guaranteed ‘maximun discretion’ to the Queen.

It was a beautiful set, there was no doubt about it, although Elenna was unsure whether it could be classified as lingerie or jewelry. Strings of pearls and glass beads formed most of it, and seemed to serve merely as decoration rather than cover anything. The pieces that were in contact with the most sensitive parts of her body were made of soft linen, and for that she was grateful. She did have a similar garment to be worn under her light summer dresses; but that one offered considerably more coverage.

Once Elenna had figured out how to put it on, following a very specific set of instructions from the tailor, she noticed a few extra strands of pearls, hanging from her shoulders and waist, with small hooks at the end. The instructions included a helpful diagram, and finally she understood she was supposed to attach her own hair to the… lingerie. She snorted, but followed the instructions.

It was a good thing she had decided to grow out her hair, Elenna though as she climbed to Gil-galad’s desk. He had been away from his office all afternoon, in some meeting or another she had declined to attend. Whatever matters of state he was discussing, she was sure they were less important for the realm than producing an heir. Instead she had commissioned and purchased this… Whatever it was, in the hopes of enticing her husband. It had already been five months since she had fully recovered from the miscarriage, and he still refused to have any sort of intimate contact. Elenna hoped this would help change his mind.

The door creaked open. Elenna leaned hastily on the desk, a coy smile on her lips.

[tallshipsandtallkings]

"So you have no expectation that any relationship you enter into will last?" For Erin

Erin shook her head, and retreated back into the safety of her blanket, tucking her feet under her. Watching a romcom together had seemed a good idea for their fourth date, a low-key way of spending an evening after she had exhausted herself in the library cramming for finals.

"Yeah, I'm not a relationship person," she said, and grimaced as she reached for the popcorn bowl Al held in his lap. "That's something you should know about me. You're sweet, and what we have is... great," she hesitated. It was an understatement to how good the past few weeks had been, and yet she was not ready to name or describe the fragile, beautiful feeling that was growing inside her. "But sooner or later I will do something and mess it up."

The alternative, of course, was that Al would reveal himself to be a horrible, jealous, controling, or even downright abusive boyfriend. Which he did not so far seem to be, but some of the worst people she had dated in the past only showed their hand once she was deep in love with them, and could use that to their advantage. Opening up to her brother's best friend felt surprisingly natural, but Erin knew well how manipulative and sweet talking lawyers could be, having been raised by one. Her father was a decent man, of course, but a man also capable of talking his way out of a speeding ticket, or bringing a corporation down to its knees. Her brother could already talk circles around most of the competition. And Al was her father's best student in an entire generation. She knew how fast the tide could turn.

And yet... this felt easy. When they first kissed, she remembered not getting the butterflies, but an imperious feeling that this was right, that this was it. She had known him for so long, but he had been ony Al, loud and boisterous when he was with Patrick, serious and hardworking whenever her father brought him along, and sweet and funny whenever she talked to him. It was as if a veil had been lifted from her eyes, and now she could see him fully.

[tallshipsandtallkings]

IN CHARACTER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS .

send an emoji/series of emojis for my muse to answer any of the following questions in character! for some questions, there are fields italicized and bolded for you to fill in with the name of a person/place/event/etc in the muse's life. please remember to fill in these spaces in order for the question to make sense! each emoji is described in case you can't see them, and they are listed alphabetically. ♡

✈️ AIRPLANE — have you traveled anywhere that helped you discover something about yourself and/or about the world?

😠 ANGRY FACE — how easy or difficult is it for you to express your emotions? if you find it difficult, what do you think is holding you back?

🎨 ARTIST PALETTE — what are some hobbies that you like to partake in? do you think they're just to pass time or to distract yourself, or do you believe some of them potentially have therapeutic outcomes for you?

🎈 BALLOON — what is something you've created and/or accomplished recently that you're proud of?

🖤 BLACK HEART — what would you say is the darkest thought you've ever experienced? what do you think caused you to have that thought? have you ever planned on or fantasized about acting on it?

🏹 BOW AND ARROW — if there's something from your past that you'd give anything to go back in time and redo, what is it?

💔 BROKEN HEART — is there anyone in your life you wish you had a better relationship with? if so, how come? what makes this person important to you?

🎄 CHRISTMAS TREE — what is your favorite holiday and why?

🌙 CRESCENT MOON — what would you say is your current biggest dream and/or career aspiration and why?

❌ CROSS MARK — how would your life be different if [name of person] had never been in it? would it be better or worse?

⚔️ CROSSED SWORDS — do you have any skills that you are absolutely grateful you have and that mean a lot to you? how do you usually use these skills? would they come in handy if someone you cared about was in trouble?

🔮 CRYSTAL BALL — what is a core memory from your childhood that you think defines you today?

🗡️ DAGGER — what is something or someone you know you can't afford to lose? how far are you willing to go to make sure you don't lose it/them?

💧 DROPLET — are you grieving something or someone? do you feel like you lost something or a part of yourself with it/them?

😶‍🌫️ FACE IN CLOUDS — is there something you're hiding from the people you love? if so, how urgent is it for them to hear it? what's holding you back from sharing it?

🍂 FALLEN LEAVES — how would you metaphorically describe your life and the journey(s) you've been on?

👻 GHOST — is there someone or something that you feel is missing from your life? do you know if there's any way to find it/them?

🩶 GRAY HEART — what kind of friend do your friends consider you to be (mom friend, uncle friend, funny friend, etc) and why? what do you think this says about your personality?

🤝 HANDSHAKE — do family or platonic relationships mean more to you? or do they mean different things to you?

❤️‍🔥 HEART ON FIRE — what angers you the most? what triggers this anger, and how do you cope with it? what does this anger feel like, if you had to describe it?

💋 KISS MARK — if you had to share a romantic kiss with a loved one, where would you share that kiss and why? are you thinking about giving this romantic kiss somewhere other than the other person's lips?

✝️ LATIN CROSS — are you a religious person? did you grow up religious? does your faith mean anything to you today?

🩵 LIGHT BLUE HEART — what do you fantasize about the most often (generally/sexually/etc)? are there any people that are significant to or that you can see in this fantasy and why?

⚡️ LIGHTNING BOLT — how has [significant event in muse's life] impacted you? what has it made you realize about yourself? about others? about the world?

💄 LIPSTICK — have you had any romantic or sexual experiences that made you realize something about yourself?

🪄 MAGIC WAND — would you describe yourself as a superstitious person (someone who believes in superstitions)? do you believe in luck?

❤️‍🩹 MENDING HEART — how strongly do you experience your emotions? does it depend on who you're interacting with and/or the context of the situation?

🎶 MUSICAL NOTES — what song lyrics do you think most accurately describe you? your journey through life? who you are as a person?

🫂 PEOPLE HUGGING — generally speaking, do you feel very supported by the people in your life? how strong and cohesive is your support system, if you have one? do you often feel like you're at the front of the line or pushed to the side by the people in your life?

❤️ RED HEART — what is/are your love language(s)? how do you use it/them to communicate your feelings about others?

💞 REVOLVING HEARTS — who and/or what are you most grateful for in your life?

🎀 RIBBON BOW — how confident are you with your physical appearance? is there anything about it that you are insecure about? is there anything about it that you are happy about or gives you confidence? how do you think people perceive you based on your physical appearance?

🧪 TEST TUBE — if you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what is one thing you absolutely have to resolve and/or do before then?

🤔 THINKING FACE — what three emotions tend to dominate your mindset? do you know why they do?

💭 THOUGHT BALLOON — is there something or someone you find yourself thinking about more often than other things? if so, why do you think you do this?

💀 SKULL — how has [name of person] 's death influenced your outlook on life, if anything?

☀️ SUN — would you describe yourself as more of an introvert or extrovert, or are you somewhere in between? how come?

🪽 WING — if you could choose to have one superpower for a day, what would it be and why? what would you do with it?

✍️ WRITING HAND — what is one thing you wish you were better at? this can be a tactical skill, social skill, hobby, etc.

[tallshipsandtallkings]

Discussing Relationships Sentences, Vol. 3

(Sentences for friends discussing their love lives. Adjust phrasing where needed)

"I'm beginning to think that I don't understand women at all."

"You should be nice to him - he likes you!"

"Don't all husbands lie to their wives?"

"A smart guy who's steady is hard to find."

"Do you want to talk about it, or should we just pretend like we already did?"

"I think he's handsome, and I like his dog!"

"I admit I have an attraction to a certain type of older man."

"It's better to feel something than nothing."

"I've always liked the bad boys. Got a weakness, I suppose."

"When you finally meet a nice girl, I would avoid bringing her home for as long as possible."

"You're more like him than you want to admit."

"Tonight I met the most beautiful girl I have ever seen in my entire life."

"Love makes us vulnerable, but it also makes us human, I suppose."

"So, you two are friends now?"

"When did you turn into an old married couple?"

"Do you think two people can be perfect for each other?"

"Love is not finite. It's not confined to marriage. There are so many ways to love."

"I wasn't in love with him. I know everyone thought I was, but I wasn't."

"What's the possible upside to asking a question like that?"

"I only met her once, and already she's thinking about me."

"Do you think he'll be jealous?"

"When have you ever had a lasting relationship?"

"I thought you had a way with women?"

"I don't have a relationship with him, okay?"

"I loved him, but was I 'in love' with him?"

"So you have no expectation that any relationship you enter into will last?"

"Is there not going to be a wedding?"

"Are you in love with him?"

"I knew it was a great mistake for a man like me to fall in love."

"Still alone, are we?"

"Do you know what I'd like? Really like?"

"Dating was simpler when I was younger."

[tallshipsandtallkings]

You know what I think its grossly under-rated in fandom? Second loves.

What it's like to love and lose and then love again. To suffer through either the death of a loved one or the death of a love you used to share. To know that loss, to know that hurt, and to still make yourself vulnerable to someone again. To love scared, to love wounded, to love anyway.

[tallshipsandtallkings]

"No," Isildur let out a shaky sigh, and glanced at her sister's tent. It bore both the Númenórean tree and stars, and Gil-Galad's emblem. He wondered who was actually stronger, him for staying to watch, or her for choosing not to. Elenna may well lose two of her most beloved in one swift stroke of doom.

"I cannot blame her," he muttered. "You should not be here either."

@ccelebrian

🫂

(@silvercrowned - for whoever lol)

Isildur wrapped an arm around Celebrían's slender shoulders, to try and stop her shivering. Not that he wasn't shaking himself.

"Do not fear," he muttered. "He is a skilled fighter. Sauron should fear them." But he hardly believed his words himself.

@silvercrowned

[tallshipsandtallkings]

"You shall not want for dancing partners," Elenna assured him, gesturing around her with her head. She had no doubt there would be many Dúnedain, men and women, who would be eager for a dance with the High King of the Noldor. Such an opportunity did not present itself every day, and she wondered whether she ought to let the King acquaint himself with a few more of her people.

She blushed at his words, and went through the final steps without replying. Elenna guarded her heart closely; she would not let herself be betrayed, not after the Downfall. Not after what had happened to her mother.

"I am glad," she began, as the song died down and the crowd closed in on them again. Elendil was off to the side, deep in conversation with Círdan, who seemed to be demonstrating how elven sails were constructed, with the aid of several napkins. "We still have plenty of work to do, before Annúminas can be called a proper city. In time, however, she will be splendid. Nothing like our homeland," she paused, the loss still too recent and raw.

In truth, Annúminas was a decent aproximation to what Armenelos had been like, accounting, of course, for the weather and the terrain. After all, the Númenórean capital had been built over the course of several centuries; Annúminas was only a few years young, and would need much work done before it would be fully settled.

"I am," she answered sincerely. It was not often she had a reprieve from her duties, with the patrols and the new city and all the paperwork it entailed. "I have not had a day off for the past two years."

"My folk would not object," Elenna chuckled. "Not loudly at least. If your... friends have nothing to say, then I dare say we are good to go. This one is a little faster, watch me."

❝ the ball is quite nice. i haven’t danced in so long. ❞ for Elenna <3

"Because you happen to possess two left feet, Your Majesty," Elenna teased, a half smile dancing on her lips. She swayed gently at the tune, one hand on Gil-Galad's, another on his shoulder, nice and proper. She was not unaware of the many eyes that were on them, and kept the polite distance from their most honored guest.

Annúminas was only barely beginning to tale shape when Elendil decided a few days of celebrations were in order. The main palace was not yet entirely furnished; guest quarters were hastily put together for the High King and his entourage, but the main celebration of the summer solstice took place outside, in the main square. Tables were placed under canopies, heavy with finger foods, wine and rhum. There would be no ritual atop the Meneltarma, no prayer offered to Eru in a hallowed place. But there would be plenty of song to honor their lost homeland, and even more dancing. The party would last until dawn, and all the citizens would be exempt from their duties until the following day.

Elenna missed her brothers dearly. They had scarcely spent any solstice -Erulaitalë, as it was known in Númenor- apart. It was less familiar than the Eruhantalë or the harvest festival, but she could always count on them for some mischief. Now Isildur and Anárion were preoccupied with their own realm, aside from their own families, and they could not spare time to travel north for a party.

She turned to her companion, his proximity already easing some of her longing for her brothers from her heart. He filled it with an entirely different type of yearning, but Elenna was not ready to face that new reality just yet.

"I trust you are having a good time, then?"

[tallshipsandtallkings]

[ TEARS ] from Azrûbel for Uncle Anárion

sender shows up at the receiver's door in tears and in need of comfort after a long day (or week, or month…)

Anárion looked up from his desk when one of his guards let himself in, looking a little circunspect.

"You have a visitor, Your Majesty," he announced, and before he could finish his sentence a young woman stormed in past him towards Anárion's desk, head bowed.

"Azrûbel?" Anárion exclaimed, surprised, when his niece plopped down on a chair before his desk. "What are you doing here?"

He paused, and took note of the tears streaming down her face, the shoulders shaking. What could have possibly brought her down from Arnor, and into his side of Gondor? He had half a mind to go pick up the seeing stone and contact his brother to come collect his daughter.

"What's wrong, child? Has something happened?"

@imbeorontiareare

[tallshipsandtallkings]

First of all, I would not kiss your mother be because she would punch the living daylights out of me. I don't believe your father would react with such violence.

How hot is celeborn

Not My Type | Alright | Cute | Adorable | Pretty | Gorgeous | LORD MERCY

I guess all Elves are good looking?

[tallshipsandtallkings]

KNOCK - KNOCK PROMPTS.

listen i recently became obsessed with the amount of television shows that have a mystery person knocking on the protagonist's door as a major finale cliffhanger, and it got me thinking, and now we have this list that a few immensely talented people helped me with! that said, we know the drill by now. DO NOT ADD TO THIS LIST OR CLAIM IT AS YOUR OWN! IF YOU HAVE IDEAS FOR MORE PROMPTS SEND THEM TO ME AND I WILL ADD THEM!

[ KISS ]: sender shows up at the receiver's door and impulsively pulls them in for a passionate kiss that punctuates a lengthy slow-burn between the two.

[ WOUNDED ]: sender arrives at the receiver's door with considerable injuries, in dire need of help and emergency care that only the receiver is either trusted enough or convenient enough to provide.

[ TEARS ]: sender shows up at the receiver's door in tears and in need of comfort after a long day (or week, or month…)

[ DEFEATED ]: sender arrives at the receiver's door after having lost a considerably important battle (metaphorical or literal) and needing a place to recuperate from the loss.

[ FUGITIVE ]: sender, having just become a fugitive from the law, runs to the receiver's home in the hopes of finding shelter and safety with them.

[ GIFTS ]: sender arrives at the receiver's house with gifts for the homeowner themselves.

[ APOLOGY ]: sender goes to the receiver's house to apologize to them for a past wrong-doing (specify if you wish!)

[ DATE ]: sender arrives at the receiver's house to take them on a romantic date.

[ HANG OUT ]: sender arrives at the receiver's house to hang out with them for the day.

[ GO OUT ]: sender heads to the receiver's house to take them out for a day of fun/relaxation.

[ COLLECT ]: sender shows up at the receiver's house to collect something that the receiver has either purchased for them or borrowed from them.

[ DELIVER ]: sender shows up at the receiver's house to deliver something to them that either the sender borrowed or the receiver requested from them.

[ CONFRONT ]: sender goes to the receiver's house to confront them about an on-going problem between the two of them.

[ FAVOR ]: sender goes to the receiver's house to ask them for a favour.

[ RECRUIT ]: sender goes to the receiver's house to recruit them for an upcoming task that the sender is unable to do alone.

[ ROOMIE ]: sender goes to the receiver's house to move in with them.

[ COMFORT ]: sender goes to the receiver's house to comfort them after the receiver has a difficult time or experiences a significantly difficult event.

[ HELP ]: sender goes to the receiver's house to help them with something that the receiver is either procrastinating or unable to accomplish on their own.

[ LEISURE ]: sender goes to the receiver's house for a movie night or a game night.

[ WARN ]: sender goes to the receiver's house to warn them against doing something that they suspect the receiver is preparing to do.

[ THREATEN ]: sender goes to the receiver's house in order to threaten them.

[ REUNITE ]: sender returns to the receiver's house after having been away for a while, intending to reunite with them.

[ GOODBYE ]: sender goes to the receiver's house to say a final farewell after learning they're due to leave town, possibly for good.

[ SECRET ]: sender sneaks out to the receiver's house to meet with them in secret.

[ BAD NEWS ]: sender arrives at the receiver's doorstep to deliver some bad news to them (SPECIFY THE NEWS).

[ PARTY ]: sender arrives at the receiver's house to attend a party that the receiver is hosting.

[ NEIGHBOUR ]: sender, having just moved in next door, arrives at the receiver's house to introduce themselves.

[ ENGINE ]: sender's car breaks down in the same street that the receiver lives on, leading the sender to knock on their door to ask for help.

[ PRETEND ]: sender knocks on the receiver's door to ask them to pretend to know them for the sake of a cover story.

[ VISIT ]: sender goes to the receiver's house for a casual visit.

[tallshipsandtallkings]

You take after your mother, my lady.

How hot is celeborn

Not My Type | Alright | Cute | Adorable | Pretty | Gorgeous | LORD MERCY

I guess all Elves are good looking?

[tallshipsandtallkings]

Elendil, how many shots to sleep with Miriel?

None

She is my queen. I will not offend her by presuming any kind of interest on her part.

[tallshipsandtallkings]

Elendil, how many shots to sleep with Gil-galad?

None

Uh, he's my son in law. This is an inappropriate question.