*leaves Maeglin in the capable hands of her eldest brother* *also leaves three pages of instructions on how to look after him, as well as dire warnings about what will happen if Maeglin is arrested in her absence*
*appropriates the private jet and travels to visit her favourite cousin* *arrives at his house and sweeps into the front hall*
*looks around approvingly as she allows a servant to take her belongings*
*is wearing a floor-length, fitted black dress and looks remarkably unrumpled, post-journey*
*airily* Well, I didn't want to embarrass you with my country ways, cousin.
*smiles up at you and inhales deeply* Indeed, you are the one who smells of the outdoors. *closes her eyes briefly* In the most pleasing way possible, of course.
*thinks it over* Hmm. Good point. But I'm worth every minute. *smugly* If you miss me that much you can shout to me from the bedroom. The staff will think you ever so dignified.
*trails her finger along the bannister on the way upstairs*
*warmly* I like it, Turco. I like it because you're actually here for once. *has lightly tucked her hand around your arm* What will the staff make of me? This strange woman, come to order you about?
*simply* I imagine they will make you out to be my dear cousin Írissë, at least if they know anything about me and my...impatience...with most of my visitors.
Feel free to look around, if you like. *enters the master bedroom* I'd give you the tour but if it's at all what I think I've accomplished, my house will speak for itself. Unlike that ghastly dwelling of your brother's.
*walks over to the window and looks down over the grounds* Come now, 'káno's house is very functional. He does not have the mind for beauty that you or I have.
One mustn't be unkind. I'll have you know that Turukáno is my very best friend and he has had his own troubles with which to deal. He had to bring up our darling Itarillë all alone with my help, you know?
*loftily* Yes, he is my very best friend. You, on the other hand, are an extension of myself, only clearly not as witty as I.
*calls towards you* Don't be unkind. She is a darling girl. I do hope you were not cruel to her, my love. She does not understand cruelty and she doesn't deserve it, either.
*spends a lot more than ten minutes in the shower*
clearly not as witty as I
*laughing* It's generous of you to remind me of it, else I'd surely forget. Constantly.
To listen to you, a person would think me a rogue. As if you're any better. You're right about one thing, at least—she doesn't understand cruelty. Not in the slightest.
*settles down on your bed, leaning back against your pillows*
You are a rogue, darling, more than anyone else I have ever met. *frowns a little* Be honest, though. How cruel were you to my dear niece? Am I going to have to abandon you for Ondolindë to comfort her?
*eventually emerges from the bathroom, toweling off his hair and completely unselfconscious in his nakedness*
*glances at you incredulously* Did I not just tell you she doesn't comprehend a thing? *walks into his closet and considers his options* She fancies herself quite in love with me, I think.
Then it wouldn't amuse you if I were to marry her and slaughter Turukáno? Because really, 'Rissë, you should see the crown molding in that place.
*comes out fully dressed and straightening his tie*
*sits delicately on the edge of the bed and looks down at you* Perhaps? My hair might take awhile and— *cheekily* —I don't think I can be seen with you while you're wearing a day-old dress.
It would not amuse me in the slightest. I do not wish to share you, even with someone so dear to me as Itarillë is. *touches her big toe to your elbow* And I would be most displeased if you murdered my dearest friend and brother.
I don't think I can be seen with you while you're wearing a day-old dress.
*sits up and brushes herself down* Then I shall change because I would so hate to eat in the kitchen while you entertain your sole self in the dining room. Now, where have your servants delivered my wardrobe?
*shakes his head* As if I would share some part of myself with the foolish woman who married me. *shrugs and smiles* But perhaps I'll save the conquering of Gondolin until you're farther away.
Down the hall, third door on the right. We'll have drinks before dinner. Do think about what you'd like to do afterward. *tilts his head to the side* Just as long as it isn't riding.
Perhaps that would be wiser. *gets up and stands in front of you*
*very lightly touches the fingertips of one hand to your cheek* I shall think of something entertaining, I daresay. Something that won't disturb a single beautiful hair on your head.
*turns to go to her room* I will see you in precisely ninety minutes, cousin.
*brings you your drink* You are a vision and you know it. *smirks* In fact, you so well match the beauty of my house that I am tempted to lock you up in a display case.
*looks over at you* Have you decided what sort of diversion you'd like? Shall we have a game, or a film, or perhaps a walk? *pointedly* Everything is open to you here.
*brushes a soft kiss over your cheek, so light that she cannot feel your skin* I apologise, cousin. I know you have only my best interests in mind.
*throws her head back* I should like to dance, Turco, and run. I should like to do what you like to do. Let us eat and squabble and do all that we do best.
*watches your expressions and movements change and is glad of your restlessness* *sharply* You need never apologize to me, my dear. I should like to have all your thoughts as you'd speak them to yourself.
*laughs* Yes, let's. I daresay you won't tire of my company sooner than that of the Gondolindrim. I do save all my best arguments for you, you know.
*laughs* You do have all of my thoughts. I think you hear them before I say them aloud. You are most disconcerting in that way, my love, although I shall endeavour to be your match in wit.
*steps away from you and walks around the room* You have done well here, Turco. I am officially impressed.
*mischievously* I'm glad to hear it. Life would become quite dull if we made things too easy on each other.
*holds the back of one hand to his forehead and closes his eyes, sighing in mock relief* Oh, happy day. Now I can sleep at night. *winks* But yes. I am pleased I'm actually here to receive your judgment.
*chuckles* I am not here to help you sleep at night. I am here to irritate and excite. Your staff will be talking about me for weeks, I can promise you.
*archly* As do I. You will not rest easy, Turcafinwë. I shall see to it. *walks over to your sound system and scrutinises it* What dinner music shall we have?
*laughs coquettishly* So unkind about your own dear brother? *runs her fingers along the CD cases* How about something from the Blessed Realm? Allow me to be nostalgic tonight, darling?
*takes your arm, expecting you to escort her to the dinner table*
These are like the oldest days but with some omissions, I think. We do not have our parents' disapproving expressions to deal with. Mother is not here to give out to me for running in my best dress and Father cannot sigh when I go barefoot out of doors.
*sits down gracefully and allows a servant to pour her wine*
*rests her chin on her hand* I am surprised that anything is plush enough for your taste. I have never met someone with a keener sense of luxury than you. Not, of course, that I do not appreciate it.
*sips her soup delicately* I do rather like having this haven where I might be tried and tested in comfort.
*tries his own soup before pushing it away in irritation after a few spoonfuls*
tried and tested in comfort
*cannot help but be amused by the contradiction* I do believe the rest of the world must think us quite mad, Írissë. They speak of things like relaxation. Disarmament. *knowing the answer full well* Would you not prefer that sort of comfort?
*pushes her own soup away and laughs softly* Comfort? *almost scornfully* Where is the comfort in awaiting old age? I do not want my mind to turn soft in the name of relaxation. I cannot sleep at night unless I know that I have earned my rest in some small way.
*smiles faintly as he turns his attention to the next course* *with almost grim severity* I wonder how well you earn it in the constant presence—nay, tolerance—of such inferiors.
*raises his eyes to look at you* Better to hoard your pearls, my dear. But clearly you disagree.
My brothers are not my inferiors, dearest, they are my elders and, as such, have much to teach me. My son is not my inferior. Indeed, he challenges me almost as much as you. I do hope you are not belittling my life? Or would you truly prefer to keep me to yourself?
Family loyalty is only justified when its members are beyond reproach. I do not think the cowardice and lustful fancies of Eöl's traitorous son qualify.
This is not childish. *lifts your plate slightly before dropping it back on the table* This is inedible. *clearly revolted by some small imperfection, a failure* I will cook for you myself before I will allow you to finish this...this.
*strides to the doorway and looks back at you* *commandingly* Come.
I do not think the cowardice and lustful fancies of Eöl's traitorous son qualify.
You tread on dangerous ground, my love. My boy lacked his mother's guidance, that is all. It will not happen in this world.
*sighs and dabs at her mouth with her napkin* *picks up her wine glass and yours and walks towards you* *hands you your drink* The wine, at least, is beyond fault. I assume you selected it yourself?
*lets a delicate sigh pass her lips* *perches on a kitchen counter and watches you*
*makes no move to stop you, knowing it's better not to attempt to impede you* *in a bored tone* Do tell me when you have quite finished, my proud, petulant cousin.
*drops down to her feet* Indeed, I might as well. I am disappointed, Turco, for it promised to be a lovely evening. *walks over to you and places her hand on your shoulder, knowing it can only annoy you further*
I am not being inelegant, cousin-mine, I am trying to divert your attention from the utter ruin of your own home. Can you not even look at me, now? Am I as displeasing as dinner? Because if so, I shall walk out.
Then let us rectify the flaws, dearest, because I cannot abide having you unhappy. *archly* Unless, of course, your unhappiness is of my making.
*walks over to your wine rack and selects a very fine red from Ossiriand* *hands it to you* Open it, and let it breathe, and while it becomes drinkable, you and I shall take a turn outside.
*finds a corkscrew and opens the wine* *not entirely jestingly* In this I fear I must let you have your way. Do not rest on your laurels just because I'm partial to that particular vineyard.
*leads you outside into the fresh, cold air* It's a fine night, is it not?
*looks over at you and laughs* I won't, my darling. *sways back towards you, in time with the memory of earlier music* I can dance alone, without music, without anything. *lightly tucks her hand in the crook of your elbow* Or I can be lead, perhaps, at times?
*walks with you along a garden path before turning back toward the house, calmed*
*looks at you approvingly* You can't fool me, Írissë. You'd lead all the time, if you could. *actually grips your hand momentarily* But I insist you dance when you dance with me. *smiling* I'm very uncompromising that way.
*delightedly* You know me, Turco, and you would not indulge me for a moment, would you?
But I insist you dance when you dance with me.
Oh, I shall. We shall shock everyone because no one is so accomplished or invigorating or alive as you or I. But now, cousin, you and I shall drink wine until we are quite silly and there will be no one to see but we ourselves.
*clearly very pleased* When you talk like this, Turco, I wonder how I ever did without you.
*picks up the bottle of wine from the kitchen counter, as well as a clean pair of cut crystal glasses* Lead on, my love. Let us be merry and mock anyone who dares to hinder us, whether they're here or not!
*teasingly, although she knows it's a blatant lie* Oh, there are times I do quite well without your guiding hand, darling.
*holds herself upright* I resent the implication of that remark. Do not let us descend into drinking games, not when we have no sorrows to drown. *walks into the library* *looks around with obvious approval* Of the rooms I have seen so far -- *trails off and walks around the room, examining every piece of furniture and shelf and painting*
*relaxes on a comfortable couch and enjoys his wine while he watches you, pleased* *leans his head back and looks up at the high ceilings* I'm quite proud of this room.
*listens to the music still being piped in from the other room* I don't know, though. Is this proper drinking music?
*laughs up at you* But what should you and I care? We are audience enough. *places her palm over your chest* I know that there is one person's opinion I value as highly as my own. Who cares about the rest? *spins away from you, laughing as she sits down lightly on the couch*
*brightly* I'm glad I came. I'm even more glad that you were her to receive me. *leans back against the plush cushions* I do believe this drab world looks a little brighter than it did up until now.
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