Video; Where's The Laughter in Slaughter?

[ragnarsson]

[When the camera gets turned on, the first thing to note is that Ivar's face is streaked in blood that has only just started to dry in places. Someone's been out worshiping with the natives in a fashion very familiar to a Viking. If y'all hadn't gotten the impression Ivar was a bloodthirsty barbarian from a bygone era, the imagery is definitely reinforced with the dripping red streaks on his face. Also is that some around his lips as well? Has he been drinking the stuff too? Honestly, though, he seems quite pleased by what's been going on even if everyone else might be disturbed by the casual slaughter of the cows. His tone starts off very serious, since worship is important where he's from.]

About time this place started getting some proper worship going. I know most of you all are from soft places-- [The scorn in his tone is obvious.] --but blood sacrifices are always the best when giving due diligence to these gods where I am from. Blood demands blood, especially if you want them to be on your side in battle, or to favor you at all. It's really not all that different then slaughtering animals for food, just with more rituals and rites to it.

[Then he switches back to his usual tone that ranges somewhere between insanity and half-truths end tends to indulge in.]

It's a good thing we finally got the right sort of animals around here. Otherwise, I might have had to resort to sacrificing one of you. [He muses for a moment before laughing.] I'm joking of course! [Beat.] Human sacrifices only work if they're willing participants.

[OOC: This post is for a general discussion, so feel free to have threads amongst all the characters and thread-jacking rather then just talking with Ivar. Do let me know if you do want a specific thread with him! He has rather...strong opinions about this.]

Comments

[ragnarsson]

Indeed. I do not plan to live long enough to grow weary of my time in this world. Precisely how old are you? You've never told me the exact number.

[That is a somber thought and some of the light dims from Ivar's eyes.]

My father was like that at the end. He had grown weary of life after too many hardships. There was a great sadness that ran through him and he wished for death.

[hikikomori_king]

I don't know that I know the exact number...time is different now we have moon and sun to count by. But I suppose I must be perhaps around 2300 by now.

[ragnarsson]

Gods almighty. I knew you were old, but not that old.

[hikikomori_king]

He smiles wryly at that .

"I was one of the younger of my generation. Now, I am one of the oldest. We die very fast in Beleriand."

[ragnarsson]

I don't think I'd like to live that long. It'd be a long time to be fighting all the time.

[He does get tired of fighting against the world and being angry all the time on occasion.]

[hikikomori_king]

And you begin to grasp our problem. [ He smiles tiredly ]

It was said that we would learn to envy Men, for you come and go, visitors in the world, where we are bound to it, unceasing. And behold, it is so, for war does things to the soul, Ivar. Especially when one has been fighting for as long as I have.

[ragnarsson]

I don't think I shall ever grow weary of battle. But my people are born to fight and live for it. Yours, I think, are a gentler kind.

[Normally, Ivar equates gentleness with weakness, but he's seen those who have it and can still remain strong. Turgon is one of those.]

[hikikomori_king]

Perhaps. But you are still so very young, Ivar! Even for humans, I think, although I confess I am not good at telling ages.

[ragnarsson]

This is true. I am nineteen, which I suppose is not a great age, even among the Norse.

[hikikomori_king]

To me, you are barely a stripling! Although obviously Men age faster than elves.

[ragnarsson]

Bah! [He snorts at the stripling comment. From anyone else, he'd be offended, but considering Turgon is in the quadruple digits, he'll take it on the nose.] I am old enough to be considered a man and taken seriously as one, so that is all that matters to me.

[hikikomori_king]

How fast you grow. [ he murmurs ]

But as you say Ivar - you have much of your life yet ahead of you.

[ragnarsson]

Perhaps.

[He says the one word evasively. Ivar has much yet he'd like to achieve, this is true, but he also isn't sure he wants to live to a great age. Anyone he'd ever seen live to turn old had become a broken-down shell of their former selves. He didn't want that to happen for himself.]

[hikikomori_king]

Oh Ivar. [ Turgon says gently ]

You are still so young. Don't give up on living yet!

[ragnarsson]

[Ivar merely shrugs in a noncommittal manner, giving the same answer he usually does when faced with someone promising something he doesn't think they'll be able to keep.]

We shall see.

[hikikomori_king]

I will do my best to make it so, while you are here.