From: mahtaniel	Date: 08/19/2007 10:31:49

*is longing for a bit of quiet after several disastrous family interviews* *worries*

*hears you playing and follows the sound of the piano*

*sits beside you on the bench and touches a few keys lightly* I only know Chopsticks, I'm afraid.

	From: kanofinwe	Date: 08/19/2007 10:39:10

*observes your downcast expression*

*figures it suits*

*blankly* Two hands are better than one.

	From: mahtaniel	Date: 08/19/2007 10:43:09

*sighs a little* Better to increase the suspense waiting for yours to heal. At least we know it will be worth the wait.

*puts her free arm around your waist* Is it entirely selfish that I'm just glad you're here?

	From: kanofinwe	Date: 08/19/2007 10:51:14

*gives you a tiny smile that doesn't really reach the rest of his face* Of course it will. I have an image to keep up, you know.

*slouches but leaves his hand on the keys* Of course not *selectively honestly* I am too.

	From: mahtaniel	Date: 08/19/2007 10:55:54

*gently* Don't carry your brothers' mistakes, Macalaurë. It won't do.

*tries to project confidence* At any rate, Findekáno will keep things under control. *jokingly sort of* Even if we're never welcome here again.

	From: kanofinwe	Date: 08/19/2007 11:09:48

*without irony* ...Old habits die hard, what can I say?

Even if we're never welcome here again

*idly picks out a scale with his first two fingers* I doubt we'll be welcome in many places at all again. Delving and I are SO DONE.

	From: mahtaniel	Date: 08/19/2007 11:16:44

*tightly* I would not really have expected anything but unswerving fraternity but they are completely unrepentant. I despair of ever getting through to them.

I doubt we'll be welcome in many places at all again.

*can't think of anything to say to contradict this*

*fingers some basic harmonies* Have you spoken to your father yet?

	From: kanofinwe	Date: 08/19/2007 11:30:04

*purses his lips* Loyalty is loyalty. It's what they we do best, right?

*lets you play and listens*

*shakes his head* After we arrived I heard he was here. That was when I was resting. *almost shrugs, then winces and remembers not to move very much* *isn't looking forward to the conversation anyway* I don't feel like sugar-coating any of this. I suppose I haven't been in a rush.

	From: mahtaniel	Date: 08/19/2007 13:16:25

*nods in understanding* I'd say you might as well just leave. I wouldn't mind going with you, truly. But it might be risky? I don't know how far-reaching Thingol's grasp is. *frowns, thinking* Although Tyelco's already gone.

	From: kanofinwe	Date: 08/19/2007 13:45:41

I'd say you might as well just leave

*has enough ego left to be troubled about that* What would the twins do? *a little hurriedly* Nelyo's in a tough position already, and Curvo's still...

Although Tyelco's already gone.

*frowns back* What? When?

	From: mahtaniel	Date: 08/19/2007 13:53:34

I can look after the twins. Maitimo... *shakes her head sadly* I'm afraid I'm still too upset with Maitimo to think very clearly. *hollowly* Atarincë and Carnistir have their father. In truth, though, I think I'd be less calm without your presence here, darling.

When?

*can't meet your eyes* *in a small voice* Just a little while ago? It was entirely my fault but perhaps having some time alone will do him good? *doesn't look especially hopeful*

	From: kanofinwe	Date: 08/19/2007 14:04:43

*with equal parts of the frustration and gratitude he's been experiencing* She was trying to help. *takes your hand off the keys* *in all seriousness* Well, I'd spend all my time over there worrying about you over here, so that's that.

*sighs, irritated* He hasn't grown out of tantrums. *almost rolls his eyes* He'll come back.

	From: mahtaniel	Date: 08/19/2007 14:10:40

*rests her hands in her lap and looks at them, unblinking* She ought to know better by now. *lovingly/soberly* So very willful.

He'll come back.

*hesitates, not knowing how much she ought to tell you* This is different. I'm not convinced he'll ever speak to me again. And OME I'm the worst mother ever.

	From: kanofinwe	Date: 08/19/2007 14:18:59

I'm not convinced he'll ever speak to me again.

*looks at you rather worriedly* *knows you're just worked up from such a stressful few days*

*reassuringly* Naneth, it's alright, even if you fought :?, it'll work itself out.

	From: mahtaniel	Date: 08/19/2007 14:24:21

*takes your hand in hers and pats it*

*a bit distractedly* Well, see, it's just that there's this little detail where there's a slight fifty percent chance he may not actually be my baby? And it seems that neither your father nor I ever managed to tell him about it? I sort of thought that was why he's the way he is one of us had done it Ages ago. *clings to squeezes your hand again* But I'm sure you're right, darling. Things tend to work themselves out. Worst. EVER.

	From: kanofinwe	Date: 08/19/2007 14:27:48

may not actually be my baby

...

...

*manages to only sit there and gawp at you*

	From: mahtaniel	Date: 08/19/2007 14:36:19

*looks very close to tears* *in a rush* Oh don't look at me like that dearest I feel terrible enough as it is. And it's really only the tiniest of fifty-percent possibilities. *nod, nod* *nod* Mothers know?.

	From: kanofinwe	Date: 08/19/2007 14:51:45

*starts to get angry*

*deflates rather quickly when he sees your emotion, and the pointlessness of it*

Why would you make that mistake in the first place tell him that?

	From: mahtaniel	Date: 08/19/2007 14:59:29

Tell him the truth? It just slipped out. And when it was clear he had no idea what I was talking about, it dawned on me that... *trails off* I thought your father had discussed it with him, I honestly did.

*quietly* Macalaurë, the details are very muddled and confusing and anyway, what really matters is that he is my son, and your brother. Regardless of blood. *finally looks at you* I never told the rest of you because it wouldn't have changed anything and this family places far, far too much emphasis on blood ties.

	From: kanofinwe	Date: 08/19/2007 21:30:15

I thought your father had discussed it with him, I honestly did.

*is not surprised, for some reason like "why would he alienate an ally?"* :\

*leans his good elbow on the piano* *puts his head on his hand* *ow*

I think it'll change a lot to Turco. He's unhinged at the best of times.

	From: mahtaniel	Date: 08/19/2007 21:43:20

*lays a hand on your good shoulder* *because she wants to say something that sounds easy* Come and sit on the sofa.

I think it'll change a lot to Turco.

*tremulously* I know it will, darling. *a bit dazed* I'm not this calm. I've just had a lot of practice. Part of me just can't believe I could have messed things up so badly.

	From: kanofinwe	Date: 08/19/2007 21:53:14

*gets up and follows you over*

*feels again like he's lost any way with tact he used to have*

*sits down carefully* *decides to just listen to you while he works it through* *knows you at least need that*

Part of me just can't believe I could have messed things up so badly.

None of the others know?

	From: mahtaniel	Date: 08/19/2007 21:59:33

*shakes her head dismally* I mean, look at Maitimo and the twins. They look just like my father but I certainly don't. *sighs* My grandmother was a Vanya, you know. Possibly the peroxide version, but still.

*takes your hand in hers and looks at the palm as though searching for answers* *really doesn't think she can continue down this road*

*abruptly switching gears* Have you heard from Finduilas? She ought to have arrived by now.

	From: kanofinwe	Date: 08/19/2007 22:05:48

Have you heard from Finduilas? She ought to have arrived by now.

*shakes his head* Or Elrond. I don't know how likely that part is. *frowns* *detachedly* She'll want to see Curvo. You don't think she had trouble?

*sadly watches you toy with his hand* *knows if you're not right, then they're definitely in trouble* :s

C'mere. *offers half a hug*

	From: mahtaniel	Date: 08/19/2007 22:14:39

You don't think she had trouble?

*very quietly* I don't know. She may have. I don't know.

*imagines Finduilas and Elrond in prison* *thinks about having torn your brother's reality asunder with a few careless words* *recalls talking to your brothers and getting the distinct feeling she was slamming her head against a brick wall all the while* *thinks about Fingon sitting in his office, trying to defuse the threat of war with a half-mad Thingol*

*thinks she may have managed all of it if your father hadn't decided to show his face*

*goes perfectly silent for a horribly long moment*

*clings*

	From: kanofinwe	Date: 08/19/2007 22:31:00

I'll see if I can send word. Or at least something.

*pats your back*

*falling on well-practiced calm* It's okay, mum. We'll work it out. The last couple weeks have been hard.

	From: mahtaniel	Date: 08/19/2007 22:40:19

*in a surprisingly steady voice* I think I'm meant to be the one saying it, sweetheart. *manages a tiny smile*

*takes the opportunity to really look at you and make sure you're still in one piece* All this and your arm, too. Who shot you, anyway? So I can find them and GLARE.

	From: kanofinwe	Date: 08/19/2007 22:48:34

*relaxes hearing you calm down* Doesn't mean you don't need to hear it, Naneth.

*frustrated sigh* The scrawny one. Mablung. He and Moryo were fighting. And I imagine Telperinquar's run even further from us after this has settled.

	From: mahtaniel	Date: 08/19/2007 22:58:58

*feels at least a little of the tension drain from her shoulders* You're quite right, of course, love.

He and Moryo were fighting.

*chooses not to think too closely on the rotten dumb luck and unfairness of that*

Telperinquar

*mildly* Oh, I'll round him up eventually, mark my words. He and I have things to Discuss. Like the aftermath of cutting ties with family.

	From: kanofinwe	Date: 08/19/2007 23:06:00

*brushing it off for now* It'll heal, it's a setback, it's fine. Spend your worrying on Curvo, alright?

*with considerable some bitterness* I don't think it could have worked out better for him. There's no chance of us in a five hundred mile radius.

	From: mahtaniel	Date: 08/19/2007 23:13:30

Spend your worrying on Curvo, alright?

*rather suspects Curufin's forgotten she or anyone else exists by now* *firmly* He's out of danger now. I'm just grateful I don't need to worry about any of your physical injuries at the moment. Eru be praised.

*so completely unimpressed* Well, if the boy has a shred of decency in him, he can't possibly feel good about things coming to a head the way they did.

	From: kanofinwe	Date: 08/20/2007 08:40:26

*ghost of an irritated headshake* Given who his role model was? Given the nature of our last meeting? I believe I'll keep myself from trying to pass judgement on his character. :\

*begins to show his tiredness*

*pats your hand* The morning will be better.

	From: mahtaniel	Date: 08/20/2007 08:44:11

I believe I'll keep myself from trying to pass judgement on his character.

*thinks that's probably a wise decision, if not necessarily for the same reasons*

*kisses your forehead as she stands* I suppose I'd better check on your brother. Get some rest, dear. One of us ought to.