From: itaril	Date: 03/31/2007 15:50:02

*sits up ramrod-straight in her garden seat when she hears someone coming*

*smiles and relaxes slightly when she sees who it is*

*sets aside the little wreath of flowers she's weaving* Good morning, Daddy.

	From: thewise	Date: 03/31/2007 15:52:26

*observes your actions with a concerned frown*

Morning, kiddo. *comes over a drops a kiss on your head*

*smiles softly* How are you doing, little girl?

	From: itaril	Date: 03/31/2007 15:57:38

*folds her hands in her lap*

*brightly enough maybe* Oh, I'm just fine, Daddy. I can't wait for my music lesson this afternoon. I've been practicing ever so hard and the piece sounds just lovely by now. I hope.

	From: thewise	Date: 03/31/2007 16:03:37

*takes a seat next to you*

That's good, honey. I'm sure it sounds really good. Even if it's not perfect, at least you tried hard. *carefully* Things don't always have to be perfect. It matters more that you care about them.

	From: itaril	Date: 03/31/2007 16:09:32

*is quick to reassure you (or perhaps herself)* Ecthelion says I play very nicely, not like I do other things, and he's the best teacher anyone could have, don't you think? I'm sure I won't disappoint you.

*links arms with you* *motherishly* Did you remember to take your vitamins today? *nods sagely* You know we have to think of these things.

	From: thewise	Date: 03/31/2007 16:14:58

Well, if Ecthelion says it, it must be true. Besides, I say you play nicely and I'm the one in charge around here supposedly.

I'm sure I won't disappoint you.

*gives you a firm look* Don't you ever, ever, ever worry about disappointing me. You couldn't ever, even if you tried. Unless you married Maeglin.

Did you remember to take your vitamins today?

*laughs and smiles* I didn't, but I promise I will as soon as I go back inside. I'm glad I've got you looking after me, little girl.

	From: itaril	Date: 03/31/2007 16:21:35

You couldn't ever

*tiny smile*

I'm glad I've got you looking after me

You better. I'm the one in charge when it comes to looking after you. *teasingly* It's a hard job but somebody (me!) has to do it.

*tentatively* Do you think King Thingol would mind now if we went to Delving to visit sometimes? It was scary at first but now that I've been home awhile and safe in my own bed I've been thinking it might be very exciting to explore an underground city.

	From: thewise	Date: 03/31/2007 16:25:49

I'll be sure to then! I wouldn't want to upset the fine job you're doing. *grins*

Well, I think that's pretty doable. I go to Delving all the time and Thingol hasn't had a coronary yet. Hmm. I'm going there in a few days for a business trip, and I just can't take you with me then. It would be terribly boring for you. But when I get back, we could start planning a trip of our very own. Without your mother. What do you say?

	From: itaril	Date: 03/31/2007 16:31:51

I just can't take you with me then

*tries not to show her disappointment* *everyone needs to face challenges sometimes, right?*

What do you say?

Oh! Yes, please! *hurriedly* But maybe we should ask Mama first? I'm not sure she would like it much. I think she likes-- *searches frantically for something her mother actually likes* --I think maybe she prefers the sunshine? *sympathetically* You know what a terror I am when the weather's bad, Daddy.

	From: thewise	Date: 03/31/2007 16:36:18

I'll talk to your mom, but maybe this could just be a you-and-me trip? You're right about her. I don't think she'd like anything the caves much. Though I don't see how she doesn't melt in the sun. We'd have just as much fun with just the two of us. Unless I'm boring. Then I give you free reign to run off and leave me to my boringnessiocity.

	From: itaril	Date: 03/31/2007 16:41:17

*laughs* There's nobody I'd rather spend time with than you, Daddy, as you well know. Also, boringnessiocity is not a word?. *sticks her tongue out at you*

*doesn't want to be so uncharitable as to uninvite her own mother, though, even if the lure of wearing trousers from time to time is so very great*

*thoughtfully* Or we can skip Delving this time and go to Hithlum. I still haven't met my aunt and uncle, you know.

	From: thewise	Date: 03/31/2007 16:47:16

Hmph. Boringnessiocity is so a word. I'll have it added to the dictionaries tomorrow. Then what will you do? *sticks his tongue out right back at you*

If you want to go to Hithlum instead, we can. *slowly* Your mother would like that most certainly. She gets along well with Uncle Fingon. And not so well with Aunt Ardhel!! But I think we should still keep Delving in mind, hmm? Who says one trip is all we can take? Mama would probably be glad to get rid of us for a few days to completely redecorate my damn palace anyway.

	From: itaril	Date: 03/31/2007 17:04:56

No fair! That's cheating. *thinks it's about the cleverest non-word in the world*

Mama would probably be glad to get rid of us

*nods* I think she might. She mentioned going to buy me some proper clothes but she said it wasn't necessary for me to come along. *shrugs* I guess she would know all my sizes by now. She measures me with the tape measure every day. *has a moment of panic when she recalls eating jam with her toast that morning for breakfast*

	From: thewise	Date: 03/31/2007 17:09:06

*smiles*

*loses his smile rapidly listening to you talk about your mother*

Idril. *sighs* You don't have to do everything your mother says. If you can make her happy it's a miracle, then, yes, try. But not if you're not making yourself happy too.

*brushes a stray hair out of your face* I don't want to see my little girl unhappy ever.

	From: itaril	Date: 03/31/2007 17:23:52

*looks confused* What do you mean? She's only looking after me. Mama knows so much about being a proper lady and all. *obviously quoting* "Being a princess carries great responsibility." I don't mind if I have to work harder than most people would to learn what I need to know.

*decisively* It's for my own good. Which means happiness. *leans against you* Don't worry so much, Daddy.

	From: thewise	Date: 03/31/2007 17:28:24

*wonders how to say 'your mother is an overbearing bitch' in such a way that will not offend you or get his balls chopped off by her*

*gently* Of course she's just looking out for you. Just remember to look out for yourself too. Life isn't all work. Sometimes it's pie.

*puts an arm around your shoulder* Hey, I'm your Dad. Last I checked that makes it my job to worry. You do your job, I'll do mine.

	From: itaril	Date: 03/31/2007 17:39:33

*looks left and right* *very, very naughtily* Strawberry pie. In the conservatory. With the dessert fork. Eleven-oh-four. After Mama's had her tea and gone to bed. *feels so mutinous, OME!!*

*cuddles!* Deal. But worrying comes after vitamins. I'll write it in on your schedule.

	From: thewise	Date: 03/31/2007 17:43:51

It's official. Secret handshake?

*long-suffering sigh* Fine, fine. Vitamins, worrying, paperwork. Just make sure the vitamins are on my schedule. I can't do anything that's not on the schedule. We'll leave the pie off in case Mama checks, though.

	From: itaril	Date: 03/31/2007 17:55:31

*smiles suddenly with the return of that memory* *perhaps does not deliver the secret handshake with all the solemnity such a pact demands*

*hugs you tightly and laughs* You see why I have my work cut out for me?

*fully plans on slipping things like "wade in the courtyard fountain" and "hop on one foot everywhere you go for thirty minutes" and "break for Idril's smiley pancakes" into your schedule when you're away from your office*

	From: thewise	Date: 03/31/2007 17:58:45

*laughs too* I'm impossible. Absolutely impossible.

*fully plans on following all the adorable little things you put on his schedule to the letter ♥*

	From: itaril	Date: 03/31/2007 18:11:31

You certainly are. *pokes you in the chest* And if you don't listen, I'll know, buster.

*closes her eyes against a wave of dizziness* *softly* I had the occasional foresight. I'd know. I knew there'd be danger.

*blinking* I'd better go in and practice. Just once more, honest to goodness. *kisses your cheek before flitting inside, her heart lightened*

	From: thewise	Date: 03/31/2007 18:25:22

*stares at you with some confusion as you retreat*

*resolves to talk to your mother about how little you've been eating once he gets the courage*