From: azie	Date: 07/12/2007 13:30:40

*opens the door with her phone pressed against her ear and a large mug of coffee in one hand* Yes, yes, no, I understand, Varda, but --

*looks at you and rolls her eyes* *strides back into the living room, leaving the door open for you to follow*

-- if Oromë doesn't want to account for those numbers, we can't legally make him. Yes. Yes. No.

	From: ilinsor	Date: 07/12/2007 13:37:29

*perceives very quickly that you're in one of Those Moods*

*takes exactly three uncertain steps inside your apartment and watches you pace with your back to him* *waits for you to finish your phone conversation*

*makes three or four attempts at an Oh So Cool and Casual Pose in Doorway before settling for crossing his arms and leaning against it* *awkwardly*

	From: azie	Date: 07/12/2007 13:40:09

*after an interminible length of time, snaps her phone shut* *takes a gulp of her coffee, grimacing at how cold it is*

*jots a couple of things down on her P.D.A before she looks up at you* What do you want?

	From: ilinsor	Date: 07/12/2007 13:47:42

*eyes your coffee enviously* *glancing back at you* What? I—oh. So.

*in a rush* I...um...just thought I'd tell you I was going out of town for a few days? So...if you wanted to borrow a cup of sugar or something? *laughs a litle* It'll have to wait. Not that I'm advocating increasing your sugar consumption or anything? I mean, well, you know, these bodies are pretty fragile and people don't think of diabetes as a killer but really, you should. Um? Not that it's, like, heart disease or something. Obviously? And did you see that thing on HealthTV the other day, where they're growing organs? I guess maybe they can grow you a whole new heart now and you wouldn't have to worry about it. Man, that was cool.

*clears his throat* So. Anyway? Smooth, Tilion. Real smooth.

	From: azie	Date: 07/12/2007 14:11:44

*looks at you as though she thinks you're an idiot. (she does)*

OK. Uhm. You're gonna have to get someone else to water your flowers, there. I'm not gonna be around for the weekend either. You do know there's a Grand Prix this weekend, don't you? *doesn't look as though she expects you to have even heard of a Grand Prix*

	From: ilinsor	Date: 07/12/2007 14:26:09

*inwardly grimaces* Yeah, okay, no problem. I think they're mostly dead anyway. *rubs his eyes briefly* Is there anything wrong, Arien? You seem more pissed off than usual about somethinng.

You do know there's a Grand Prix this weekend, don't you?

*vaguely* Oh, is that one of the big ones? Guess you'll be pretty busy. *innocently* Where are you headed? Isn't there a track out in Brethil somewhere?

	From: azie	Date: 07/12/2007 17:54:50

*crisply* Oh, it's nothing. Just your regular Máhanaxar AGM and the Bosses range from the woefully ill-prepared to the terrifyingly over-prepared and Aulendil won't give me any idea about Aulë's figures and Varda's worrying about the sitting plan and I don't know why because it'll be the same as the last 800 or so meetings.

Anyway, you can't possibly want to hear about all of that.

Isn't there a track out in Brethil somewhere?

*looks at you pityingly* Hithlum, have you heard of it? Big place, lots of Noldor, one of the fastest tracks around.

	From: ilinsor	Date: 07/12/2007 20:01:08

*quickly* No! That is...yes. That is, if it makes you feel better to vent... I'm sure you're perfectly prepared, at least, not over or under anyway...right? *shrugs and almost makes a move to sit in a chair before he remembers you haven't actually invited him to sit down, per se, and...oh*

Hithlum? Mistland Motor Speedway: Two-point-five miles, nine degree twelve minutes banks, two hundred fifty-nine thousand, four hundred thirty-three permanent seating capacity. *affects to look slightly put out* Right. That's where I'm headed, oddly enough. I guess the place will be swarming with tourists, huh?

	From: azie	Date: 07/12/2007 20:08:17

Oh, I'm prepared. I'm always prepared. It's just trying to cover up for all the rest that's giving me such a bloody headache. I need more coffee. Are you having coffee? I've got no sugar 'cause my neighbour's going away and won't let me borrow any but there's a fresh pot brewing.

*walks into the kitchen, evidently expecting you to follow* You're headed to Hithlum? *snorts* Good work, Tilion. Try not to get run over. The damn fans'll be crawling everywhere. *shudders* You've no idea how difficult it was to arrange my usual penthouse suite.

	From: ilinsor	Date: 07/12/2007 20:15:52

...Sure, I wouldn't mind some coffee. *can't tell whether or not you're joking* *smiles hopefully anyway* You need to get yourself some new neighbors. If that one's such an inconvenience I've got sugar at mine. For a limited time only.

*follows you in after another moment of indecision* *not entirely dishonestly* I don't get what the appeal is. It's just a bunch of guys driving fast cars around a track. And your line of work seems to give you more headaches than it could really be worth. Am I wrong?

	From: azie	Date: 07/13/2007 11:52:34

*snorts* You're full of crap, Tilion. Anyone ever tell you that?

*pours two mugs of coffee* Milk's in the fridge.

Am I wrong?

*stares at you* Yeah, you're fucking wrong. Eru, I'd go mad if I wasn't kept busy. *shrugs* Anyway, it's worth it when your guy is the fastest guy.

	From: ilinsor	Date: 07/13/2007 12:07:33

*sighs* *laughs* You do, Arien. All the time.

*finds the milk and pours some into his cup before handing it to you* *would pour some for you but quite likes his head where it is at the moment*

Anyway, it's worth it when your guy is the fastest guy.

*noncommittally* If you say so? I suppose it's all very glamorous and whatnot. You probably like the parties and the cameras and the champagne and all...? One glass is all I can take before I get a stomachache. *unaware he's babbling again* Or drunk. Speaking of which, 27A threw up in the hedges outside the gate again. Shouldn't we mention it to the super or get the guy into AA or something? I never knew one person could hold that much puke.

	From: azie	Date: 07/13/2007 12:12:37

Thanks. *tops up her coffee with milk and wraps her hands around the mug*

You probably like the parties and the cameras and the champagne and all...?

They're over-rated? *wrinkles her nose* Anyway, my guy never goes to them so I end up having to field all the questions and it's just not that enjoyable. I keep telling him he should show his face but we know that's a non-runner at this stage.

27A threw up in the hedges outside the gate again.

Eugh, that's just nasty. Honestly, he should be, like, committed or something. He seriously has a problem with alcohol.

	From: ilinsor	Date: 07/13/2007 12:31:43

*sips his coffee* Well...if all work and no play starts to drive you crazy and you wanted to hang out or something... "Hang out"?? I mean it seems I'll be in the area and all. And I'll have about four free minutes. We might run into each other up there. You know. If you wanted to. *apologetically* I know how hard you work.

*lightly* Oh, I dunno. He's not such a bad guy most of the time. When he's not hammering on random people's doors in the middle of the night. Or streaking.

	From: azie	Date: 07/13/2007 12:36:54

...and you wanted to hang out or something.

*looks singularly unmoved by that offer*

I know how hard you work.

Yeah, well. *softens a little* Hey, maybe we can get coffee. Although it'd have to be to go? Because I don't get to sit down during these weekends, you know? And I doubt we'll actually see each other because I end up near the pitlane for a lot of the actual race and there are all those damn press meetings that he doesn't do and, oh my Eru, I need to get my hair done. *clicks her fingers* Thanks for reminding me.

*dials a number on her cellphone* Yeah, Sandy. Arien. Oh, you did? You're an utter star. Six-thirty tomorrow morning? Brilliant. *snaps her phone shut again* So.

	From: ilinsor	Date: 07/13/2007 12:44:00

Hey, maybe we can get coffee.

*shrugs so that you can see it doesn't make much of a difference either way if they don't happen to meet up. because it doesn't. at all. c'est la vie or something.* Yeah, that'd be cool.

all those damn press meetings that he doesn't do

*guiltily* Do you really have to do all that stuff? I mean, if the guy doesn't even care about doing it himself he can't be all that interested in the press, you know? Like, maybe he just wanted a hobby or felt like blowing off steam or something. That's what I'd do anyway.

Thanks for reminding me.

*bewildered* Sure? No problem? *is still trying to relate this to raceday somehow and thus panics a little when he sees you reach for your phone until it's obvious you're not calling him* *stealthily reaches into his pocket and turns off his phone anyway*

	From: azie	Date: 07/13/2007 12:49:47

Like, maybe he just wanted a hobby or felt like blowing off steam or something.

Yeah, well, he's the best around and whatever fucking foibles and quirks he has, I'll gladly accomodate. Pretty dangerous hobby though. You've got to be committed if you're gonna take part. Anyway, I don't want him getting distracted by press conferences and stuff. And when you talk to him? Man, he's fucking amazing. Nothing rattles him. I've spoken to him on the phone right after a high-speed crash and he's smooth as all hell. If he'd only do a fucking press conference, he'd charm the birds off the trees but he's above that, you know? *doesn't babble, isn't babbling, what?*

	From: ilinsor	Date: 07/13/2007 13:00:30

*can't help but find it slightly ego-crushing how you're talking about this guy* *or flattering?* *can't decide, ome*

*evasively* Yeah, well, at least he's got the best of the best on his side, right? *taps the side of his coffee cup compulsively* You're amazing not so bad at handling an audience yourself. When you want to be.

	From: azie	Date: 07/13/2007 13:04:01

*is in a good mood now that the topic of conversation is her favourite one!*

Aw, Tilion, that's so sweet. *walks past you and pats your cheek before she puts her mug into the sink* Right, I gotta pack my bags and all of that. Better give my guy a call and make sure he's all settled too, y'know. First practice is tomorrow. He better be getting in the zone.

	From: ilinsor	Date: 07/13/2007 13:09:32

*gulps the rest of his coffee before he can stammer out some inane reply* *may never wash that cheek again, though*

*taking his cue* Yeah, I should probably...well. See you there then. Maybe. Thanksforthecoffee. *relinquishes his coffee cup and walks back over to his apartment*

The zone? WTF is the zone?? Do I know about the zone???