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Today's word isn't very Silmarillion sounding to me. It calls to mind newcasts and the things that you can now rent on the off-hours on the Ocean City Boardwalk...but I'll do my best!
segue \SEG-way; SAYG-way\, intransitive verb:
To proceed without interruption; to make a smooth transition.
noun:
An instance or act of segueing; a smooth transition.
Examples
"The gratifying thing about McCourt is that he can drop his professional character act and segue into a smart, emotionally direct conversation faster than you can say 'Top o' the morning.'"
-"Malachy Mccourt: How a Rogue Becomes a Saint," New York Times, July 29, 1998
"A melody will start innocuously enough, then segue into the inevitable buildup, with swelling strings and bursting brass."
-"Woe to Shows That Put On Operatic Airs," New York Times, July 20, 1997
"Addie later recalled her host's charming segue to topics more pleasant."
-Gary Kinder, Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea
Etymology
Segue is from the Italian, meaning "there follows," from seguire, "to follow," from Latin sequi.
Darkfic seems to be going around the Fëanatics these days. So be forewarned of disturbing themes. Oh, and it's three drabbles because I couldn't confine the topic to one hundred words.
The speaker is, of course, a Son of Fëanor. As to which one, I'll let you decide. (It is obvious, for reasons of PoV, that it is not one of them, but I am interested to hear hypotheses as to which of the six remaining sons it might be.)
Segue to Madness
I.
People think that my father became mad gracefully.
They think it was like falling in love. You meet; you talk and you laugh; you find your thoughts bent in a single direction. You are in love. But you cannot discern the moment when an apex was exceeded and the downhill slide began.
They think it was like the Trees, easing from night to morning, from silver to gold: the world was crystal beneath Telperion, and then your breath tightened in your chest at the Mingling, and then you danced in the golden morning.
There was nothing graceful about his madness.
II.
People whisper of the person they imagined my father to be, in the days leading to his madness.
They whisper of locks on doors and creations born of somnambulist genius and fire. Always the fire.
But on the day he left for Tirion, for the Festival, my brothers and I worried and we went to him and stood in a line while he came to us--one by one--and kissed our faces and whispered secret words in each of our ears.
You are most special of your brothers.
I do not wish to believe his words born of madness.
III.
Can madness occur in an instant, like snuffing a candle? One moment light, then dark? One moment sane--then not?
I heard Maitimo’s words--He is dead--and I watched madness take our father. In the phantasmagoric blackness, absent of Treelight, madness howled and seized (bruising) my wrists and laughed as tears scalded its face.
Madness. Not my father.
Madness would wield me like a hammer--to crush, break, and destroy.
Madness had eyes like the silver base of a flame, as beautiful as the Stones and as painful to look upon.
But, wincing, I was unable to look away.
segue \SEG-way; SAYG-way\, intransitive verb:
To proceed without interruption; to make a smooth transition.
noun:
An instance or act of segueing; a smooth transition.
Examples
"The gratifying thing about McCourt is that he can drop his professional character act and segue into a smart, emotionally direct conversation faster than you can say 'Top o' the morning.'"
-"Malachy Mccourt: How a Rogue Becomes a Saint," New York Times, July 29, 1998
"A melody will start innocuously enough, then segue into the inevitable buildup, with swelling strings and bursting brass."
-"Woe to Shows That Put On Operatic Airs," New York Times, July 20, 1997
"Addie later recalled her host's charming segue to topics more pleasant."
-Gary Kinder, Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea
Etymology
Segue is from the Italian, meaning "there follows," from seguire, "to follow," from Latin sequi.
Darkfic seems to be going around the Fëanatics these days. So be forewarned of disturbing themes. Oh, and it's three drabbles because I couldn't confine the topic to one hundred words.
The speaker is, of course, a Son of Fëanor. As to which one, I'll let you decide. (It is obvious, for reasons of PoV, that it is not one of them, but I am interested to hear hypotheses as to which of the six remaining sons it might be.)
Segue to Madness
I.
People think that my father became mad gracefully.
They think it was like falling in love. You meet; you talk and you laugh; you find your thoughts bent in a single direction. You are in love. But you cannot discern the moment when an apex was exceeded and the downhill slide began.
They think it was like the Trees, easing from night to morning, from silver to gold: the world was crystal beneath Telperion, and then your breath tightened in your chest at the Mingling, and then you danced in the golden morning.
There was nothing graceful about his madness.
II.
People whisper of the person they imagined my father to be, in the days leading to his madness.
They whisper of locks on doors and creations born of somnambulist genius and fire. Always the fire.
But on the day he left for Tirion, for the Festival, my brothers and I worried and we went to him and stood in a line while he came to us--one by one--and kissed our faces and whispered secret words in each of our ears.
You are most special of your brothers.
I do not wish to believe his words born of madness.
III.
Can madness occur in an instant, like snuffing a candle? One moment light, then dark? One moment sane--then not?
I heard Maitimo’s words--He is dead--and I watched madness take our father. In the phantasmagoric blackness, absent of Treelight, madness howled and seized (bruising) my wrists and laughed as tears scalded its face.
Madness. Not my father.
Madness would wield me like a hammer--to crush, break, and destroy.
Madness had eyes like the silver base of a flame, as beautiful as the Stones and as painful to look upon.
But, wincing, I was unable to look away.
Tags:
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(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-01 05:52 am (UTC)But I very much liked the trio!! I think I have a soft spot for darkfic. *evil face*
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-01 02:19 pm (UTC)Next thought: Tyelkormo.
Final thought (before falling into bed in a dead stupor because some idiot playing with the keyless entry on their car interrupted my Friday afternoon nap): Macalaure. Because Macalaure, I think, would be most likely to wince as he looked away.
I thought Curufinwe, but then thought it to easy, as everyone portrays him as Feanaro's favorite. (Including Tolkien, in HoMe.) But as far as special....
So the answer is that I don't even really know, but I'm just curious about what other people think! >:-D
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-01 05:36 pm (UTC)It was actually not the "most special" part that made me think Curufinwe. For some reason - and I have no idea whether it was due to the late hour or not - I was thinking that Feanor said the same thing to all seven of his sons. "You are the most special of your brothers." Just my thought.
And hey! you might be at my level of PoV evilness with this one! >;D
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-01 09:49 pm (UTC)I thought that too! Why can't I know these things? It doesn't seem fair; I am the author....
*grumblegrumble*
Okay, I'll suffice to huggle fluffy!Feanor and accept my limited omniscience :)
And hey! you might be at my level of PoV evilness with this one! >;D
Hey now, I had it narrowed to six characters, not "any one of the Noldor!" ;D
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-01 10:01 pm (UTC)Haha! GMTA! And great minds also have unfair muses...;)
Hey now, I had it narrowed to six characters, not "any one of the Noldor!" ;D
Oops *shrug*. Guess you'll have to keep working at it then!! ;D
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-01 10:20 pm (UTC)Noooooo!!!
Not another nuzgul!
Back, fangy bastard! Will not succumb to...need......to........write......
*thunk*
Nuzgul: Blood loss gets her every time.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-01 10:22 pm (UTC)*evil voice* Good...Good...
>:]
*High fives Nuzgul*
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-01 10:25 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-01 10:26 pm (UTC)>:-D
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-01 10:28 pm (UTC)As if you didn't already know that! ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-01 07:18 am (UTC)I liked this line:Madness had eyes like the silver base of a flame.
And I liked the whole thing as well. Cya!
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-01 03:27 pm (UTC)I hated the Sil the first time I read it. But, being stubborn, I forced myself to read it again and....
Well, I'm writing a Silmarillion-based novel, so I'll leave you to figure that one out! :D