From: luthiekins	Date: 03/19/2007 08:54:37

*wanders in as quietly as possible, all smiley and dazed and in love*

*starts towards the stairs and stops short when she sees you*

Oh.

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 08:59:35

*rests her head on her hands and looks up at you*

*raises an eyebrow*

Indeed.

	From: luthiekins	Date: 03/19/2007 09:04:27

*gives you a hopeful smile*

I can explain?

*fidgets uncomfortably*

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 09:08:47

*gives you a disconcerting smile*

Oh really? I'm all ears.

	From: luthiekins	Date: 03/19/2007 09:12:43

*shifts her weight from one foot to the next*

I couldn't sleep, see, and I tried really hard but it was just... stifling, you know, so I went out for a little walk. I didn't go far, I swear, but I just ended up sitting by the river and I lost track of time!!

*averts her eyes*

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 09:21:05

*sighs and shakes her head* You are a terrible liar, Lúthien.

*stands up and rests her hands on her hips* You're going to have to do better than that if you want to fool your father. Do you have any idea what he would do if he found out what you've been up to?

	From: luthiekins	Date: 03/19/2007 09:26:05

*bites her lip* I was that bad?

....Wait! You know? What do you know?

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 09:28:25

Mmmhmm. You were that bad. *waves her hand* Of course I know, who do you think I am? Besides, a person would have to be blind to miss it, you've not been very subtle at all. Cavorting in and out at all hours of the night, doing Eru knows what. I swear, if I didn't know Beren better than that I would really wonder what you were up to, little girl.

	From: luthiekins	Date: 03/19/2007 09:29:48

*winces* What we do is nobody's business but our own! Besides, what am I supposed to do, invite him over for dinner?

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 09:31:05

*quietly* Lúthien, I'm not your enemy. Don't raise your voice at me you'll wake your father. I want to help you. I don't like this situation any more than you do. *sighs and takes a few steps away from you* I do wish you would have come to me sooner, though.

	From: luthiekins	Date: 03/19/2007 09:32:10

*frowns and walks over to you* I'm sorry, Mom, I was afraid of Daddy finding out and I didn't know what to do. Can you really help us?

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 09:34:25

*shakes her head* Not this time, I'm afraid. This is already a sore subject for him; he won't listen to me no matter what. If I can think of something that will help -- I just don't know right now. *weak smile* There's only so much I do know.

Lúthien, you do realize that this will not end happily, correct? No matter how much you may wish it to be otherwise.

	From: luthiekins	Date: 03/19/2007 09:35:20

*nods slowly* What am I supposed to do, Mom? I just -- I feel so lost. Beren says we'll figure it out but so far I don't see a way.

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 09:36:52

*puts her hands on your shoulders and gives you a comforting? kiss on the forehead* We'll figure it out. The three of us together. Surely we'll find a way. It might just take some time. You'd think I'd have come up with something considering how long I've been planning this. For now you just have to be patient and careful. Careful, Lúthien.

	From: luthiekins	Date: 03/19/2007 09:37:55

*looks down* I know. It's just so hard to stay away. And every night it gets harder and harder to leave. It's almost morning, isn't it?

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 09:39:32

*smoothes your hair* I know, I know. It hurts to be away from him. That hurt will have to endure for a bit longer. You're a strong girl. I know you can do what is right. In the meantime I will talk to your father. See if I can figure out where he stands on the subject at the moment. Maybe he'll give a little ground? If not... well, we'll see about that when we come to it, yes?

	From: luthiekins	Date: 03/19/2007 09:40:36

Okay. I'll be more careful. Maybe I'll talk to Daddy too? I won't mention Beren, but, you know. Maybe I can put ideas in his head?

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 09:42:04

That might be a good idea. Just watch what you say, Lúthien. Your father is very wise despite all appearances otherwise. Saying the wrong thing might give him the absolute right idea. The very last thing you want right now is for him to suspect you.

	From: luthiekins	Date: 03/19/2007 09:42:51

*smiles a little bit* I've got it. Be careful what I say. Be careful where I go and when. *deep breath* I can do that. And you'll talk to Daddy too?

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 09:43:50

*mirrors your smile* I will. Now, run along to bed and get a little rest. You sleeping so late into the day is starting to look suspicious. *raises an eyebrow and looks at you closely* No raising suspicion, right?

	From: luthiekins	Date: 03/19/2007 09:44:31

*nods* Right! *beams* Thank you so much, Mom! *kisses your cheek and runs quietly upstairs.

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 09:46:10

*watches you go with a small smile*

*sighs*

This is not going to be easy. Why did I want this again?

*wanders into the kitchen to make herself a Bloody Mary 'breakfast'*

	From: sindacollo	Date: 03/19/2007 10:13:14

*trudges down to the kitchen, looking poorly rested*

*mumbles something by way of greeting*

*distractedly cracks an egg into a bowl and adds milk* *pours cereal into a frying pan and places the pan on the stove*

*comes to the realization that something's wrong with this picture when the pan starts smoking*

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 14:20:58

*comes over and takes the pan off the stove*

*dumps the bowl into the sink*

Long night?

*fixes you a fresh bowl of cereal*

	From: sindacollo	Date: 03/19/2007 14:24:44

*blinks as his breakfast disappears and reappears composed of the proper components* Thank you.

*scratches his head* Something like that. I'm hardly getting any sleep these days.

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 14:26:55

*gives you a curious look*

Has something been bothering you?

*sets about making a cup of coffee for you as well* *you look like you could use about ten of them it*

	From: sindacollo	Date: 03/19/2007 14:31:46

*sits at the table with his cereal bowl and peers solemnly into the milky depths* *well, shallows* Lúthien, of course.

It's driving me mad, not keeping tabs on her twenty-four hours a day. Why did I ever agree to such a revolting plan?

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 14:35:49

*does her very best not to laugh*

*actually has to turn and face the other direction so you can't see her smile*

Because you love her and you realize that an important part of her development is having the freedom to live and make choices and mistakes and learn from them? She can't do that if you have someone peering over her shoulder every second of the day. I've only told you this six thousand times, thanks for listening.

Besides, what on earth could possibly worry you to the point of sleeplessness? She's practically a prisoner completely safe here, even when you're not watching her.

	From: sindacollo	Date: 03/19/2007 14:40:34

Because you realize that an important part of her development is having the freedom to live and make choices and mistakes and learn from them?

*thinks this over carefully* No, no. That wasn't it. *gives up trying to work it out*

Yes, why worry when there are diseases and world peace and men and...and? I'm starting to think it'll be a relief to marry her off. Maybe then I can tend the ulcers I have without worrying about getting new ones. And therefore getting new ones.

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 14:44:30

marry her off

*practically beams* That's the spirit! She is growing up fast. Time to start thinking about those sorts of things.

...*thinks that was way too easy and there must be a catch*

What do you mean marry her off?

	From: sindacollo	Date: 03/19/2007 14:51:27

What do you mean marry her off?

*around a mouthful of toast* Figger da' Fnrfn fella be perfk forrer. Nice chap, 'im. Virshlly castrtd.

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 14:54:12

OH OF COURSE.

*raises her hand in protest*

You can't just do that! You can't just pick someone for her to marry! That's my job! Finarfin already has a family. Besides, Lúthien won't agree to it. She is going to pick who she wants to marry when she wants to marry them which should be fairly soon all things considered.

	From: sindacollo	Date: 03/19/2007 15:00:34

*holds up his own hand* Ohhhh, no. I'm fairly fucking positive he doesn't already have a family. He's way too godly to have a family.

*looks at you like you've grown another head* Why on Órë shouldn't she agree?? He'd make a perfectly adequate husband.

*narrows his eyes* Don't think I don't know what you're trying to do here!

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 15:06:23

*takes a deep breath and reminds herself not to be counter-productive not that she could be any other thing with you*

I was referring to his children and Eärwen, actually. Do tell me, though, what am I trying to do besides look after our daughter's best interest with Beren?

	From: sindacollo	Date: 03/19/2007 15:12:28

Pfft. Don't be absurd. The boy's already half in love with Lúthie. Who knows if he even remembers the other girl?

What am I trying to do?

*angrily* You've only ever championed one match, Melian. I dare say it's not necessary for me to regurgitate his name here.

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 15:17:11

It seems a poor foundation for a marriage if he can't remember his first life well enough to decide which he'd rather have.

*remains cool, calm, and, perhaps, collected* I can't imagine what you are talking about. I was under the impression that that little problem was taken care of. The papers said you had him run out of the country. How can I be his champion if he's not even around? Perhaps you're being just a tad paranoid?

	From: sindacollo	Date: 03/19/2007 15:21:38

What is 'rather'? Where does 'rather' come into it? Things would run a lot more smoothly around here if a few more parents arranged a few more marriages. You don't hear the other kid complaining much, mainly because he doesn't often agree to occupy the same room as me.

a tad paranoid

*dryly* I don't believe I'm half as paranoid as you are determined, my darling wife.

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 15:26:04

I maintain that I can't imagine what you are referring to. *waves her hand* Go on, then. If you think it's a good idea to attempt to force Lúthien to do yet another thing she doesn't want to, I won't stop you. I'll even start looking at floral arrangements.

the other kid

*claps her hands together* Maybe we can even have a double ceremony. Because both weddings are equally unlikely!

	From: sindacollo	Date: 03/19/2007 15:31:47

*sighs* I will take any objections she may have into consideration. How's that?

Maybe we can even have a double ceremony.

They could do worse. LIKE BASTARD CHILDREN OR FUCKING BEREN. Don't mock me, Melian.

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 15:36:39

How's that?

It's a nice start. One small step for man, one giant leap for Thingol-kind. A great follow-up might be to let her make her own decisions. Staying out of her life would probably be even better.

Don't mock me, Melian.

*under her breath maybe* But it comes so easily.

	From: sindacollo	Date: 03/19/2007 16:42:17

Staying out of her life would be probably be even better.
But it comes so easily.

*has suddenly lost his appetite*

Fuck you, too, honey. Fuck you, too.

*gets up from the table and tosses his breakfast dishes carelessly into the sink*

*walks out of the room, paying no attention to the resulting sounds of shattering glass and china*

	From: queenmelly	Date: 03/19/2007 17:25:40

*throws your freshly made coffee in there as hard as she can for effect*

*slumps against the counter and frowns*

That didn't go exactly as planned.



...When does it ever?

*sighs and goes to her office to start planning damage control* *hopes Lúthien has better luck at controlling her temper*