From:	Date: 08/25/2007 14:11:16

*is bicycling leisurely back home when she sees you appear in front of her house* (*still hasn't gotten used to that idea*)

*:)!*

*rings the bell on the handlebars when she approaches the porch* You're back!

	From: gorthol	Date: 08/25/2007 14:15:37

*looks round* *echoing you* Back. It would seem so, yeah.

*rests his hand on the porch rail and leans* *smiles warmly at you* But then it wasn't likely I could stay away long, was it?

	From:	Date: 08/25/2007 14:23:38

*props her bike up against the porch*

*grins* Aw. X) But I told you I'd write and keep up and everything. Even though it's not like much happened this week. *absentmindedly* Oh I think I left the Scrabble board at Mablung's station...

*tromps up the steps and gets her keys out* Do you want some iced tea? *stops to give you a friendly hug first*

	From: gorthol	Date: 08/25/2007 14:32:38

*very carefully examines your surface thoughts and emotions without actually probing very far into your mind* *hugs you back perhaps a split second longer than is strictly necessary for a 'friendly' hug*

I told you I'd write

*nods* I got your letter, actually? You have such a way with words I imagine even your grocery list sounds fascinating. Scrabble? Seriously??

Iced tea'd be great, yeah. *teasingly* But if you'd rather write, I can always go home...

	From:	Date: 08/25/2007 14:39:28

*pulls away good-naturedly* *thinks you really must be stressed with the city again*

imagine even your grocery list sounds fascinating

*sheepish smile* Okay you can stop teasing me already, you can stay. X) And I still have to write my list this week. The fridge is empty and I used the last of the oatmeal on the date squares for Mablung. :p

*pulls open the screen door and unlocks the main* *dumps her bag on the table and goes to pull out a pitcher from the fridge* Is it bad in the city again? You must be real busy. *suddenly lights up* Mablung said there was a jailbreak and he got attacked by Fëanorians. It sounded awful. :s

	From: gorthol	Date: 08/25/2007 14:47:24

*follows you in and hoists himself up on the counter*

*gives you a wide-eyed, innocent look* Who's teasing? I wouldn't tease you about something like that, Nellas. I loved your letter.

It sounded awful.

*very seriously, watching you* Oh, it was. There's been all this boring political drama and I've been trying to talk Th- Dad into out of declaring war flat-out. *runs a hand through his hair* I've been so stressed lately.

	From:	Date: 08/25/2007 14:55:17

Really? :) *g* Next time I'm going to stick leaves in. *lifts a finger* Because you always forgot when it came to trees and now that you're grown that's no excuse. :p

declaring war flat-out

*turns back, just holding the pitcher* *looks undeniably terrified startled* War? He's going to start a war? :s

	From: gorthol	Date: 08/25/2007 15:08:31

He's going to start a war?

*imagines what the annoying stock heroic response to this might be*

Not on my watch, sweetheart.
Never fear! Túrin is here!
I'll protect you, sweet maiden!

*reassuringly* Don't you worry your pretty little head about it. I've got the whole situation under control. *falteringly, yeah right* It's just...it's a lot to handle sometimes, you know? It's nice when there are people around to talk to. Take my mind off things. *offers you a faint, hopeful smile*

	From:	Date: 08/25/2007 15:15:58

*looks at you sympathetically* *feels jittery at the thought of war and realizing you'd be involved in it*

Of course you can come here to take your mind off things. You always liked it here. :)

*pours a glass for you* *hands it over and touches your arm with her other hand* Let's sit outside and we can talk about whatever you want?

	From: gorthol	Date: 08/25/2007 15:19:42

*take his glass from you and sets it down next to him for the moment* *reaches out to touch your cheek lightly with his other hand*

*looking slightly relieved* You're sweet. A real doll.

let's sit outside

*lightly* Oh, but you haven't even shown me the rest of your house yet. Will you?

	From:	Date: 08/25/2007 15:28:43

*small smile* :)

The house? It's not much. *laughs a little* You could stand in the hall and see everything. Okayyy. *goes through the kitchen door to show you the rest of the floor cottage. It's just four rooms and a basement which I don't even go into.

*shows you the living room, which is neat as a pin and also full of stuff like crocheted afghans on the back of the sofa and chairs, and shelves of books*

	From: gorthol	Date: 08/25/2007 15:35:49

*hops off the counter to follow you through*

*grins* Very cosy though. *looks over your titles* Ooh. There's a lot here I haven't read. *laughs* Mind if I just camp out here for a few years?

*turns back to you and sticks his hands in his pockets* *vaguely* What else?

	From:	Date: 08/25/2007 15:43:37

Mind if I just camp out here for a few years?

No not at all? *laughs again* Ha-ha. Like the palace wouldn't have everything ever written ever. X)

Umm? *looks at you weirdly* You really want to see my bedroom? The spare room's more interesting. It has boxes and all the Erumas decorations. *turns to the other living room entrance*

	From: gorthol	Date: 08/25/2007 15:50:06

Like the palace wouldn't have everything ever written ever.

*amusedly* I try to meet Mom away from the palace when I want to see her. *shrugs* *as if it explains everything* Thingol and all.

The spare room's more interesting.

*eyeroll* Oh, I don't know... *lightly catches hold of your hand to stop you* *steps close to you and slips his other arm around you*

*softly* I can imagine how your bedroom might be interesting. Can't you?

	From:	Date: 08/25/2007 15:56:02

*stops short and looks up at you* *doesn't think you've ever done that quite like that before*

*confusedly* *shyly* *quietly* It's just a bedroom really.

	From: gorthol	Date: 08/25/2007 16:04:02

*senses your uncertainty and radiates calm and, far beneath it, desire*

I think it's mostly the company that matters.

*cradles your face in his hand and lowers his head to kiss your lips, gently but surely*

	From:	Date: 08/25/2007 16:11:14

*is momentarily startled, and stymied by that nice feeling you seem to be giving off*

:o ♥? *blinks and separates from you* What...? But...? Túrin...?

	From: gorthol	Date: 08/25/2007 16:16:04

*closes the distance between them again*

*coaxingly* What's the matter, hmm? Don't be afraid. *kisses along your jawline and up near your ear*

	From:	Date: 08/25/2007 16:22:53

*flushes completely warm and blushes*

But you... you're not supposed to... *can't believe you're this close to her and touching her and... and... ohmygosh* *wriggles a little* But you... have a girlfriend?

	From: gorthol	Date: 08/25/2007 16:30:32

you're not supposed to

you have a girlfriend?

*rapidly loses what little patience he has (ever had (now))*

*drops his arms to his sides and moves away from you*

*more to himself than to you* I was right the first time. What a fucking waste of time. *stops restlessly moving to look back at you* Are you all this timid and whiny and worthless, or is it just his pathetic social circle?!

	From:	Date: 08/25/2007 16:38:53

*wobbles a little, just as surprised when you're suddenly not touching her anymore* What...?

What a fucking waste of time.

*just stands there and looks at you, horribly confused* What? Túrin? What are you talking about?

*starts to stutter and tremble with awful discomfort* I di-- didn't mean... What's wr-- wr-- ong?

	From: gorthol	Date: 08/25/2007 16:45:32

*mockingly* Wh- wh- what's wrong? Always with the crying and the whimpering and the "please don't hurt me any more, I don't know anything." *coldly* Of course you don't, not about the big picture anyway. You people think I don't know that?

Now would you mind shutting up for a second? I'm thinking. *walks over to a window and looks out* *thinks across the ether until he comes upon what he's looking for* Good. See what they're up to, start getting a few things done around here.

	From:	Date: 08/25/2007 16:55:16

*goes helplessly stock-still* I don't know what you--- what-- what you're--- do-- doing-- *starts to hyperventilate*

*doesn't know why you're acting like this* :(

*can't ever have thought she would want to say this* I don't thin-- think you-- should--- youshouldbe-- here---

	From: gorthol	Date: 08/25/2007 17:00:59

I don't thin-- think you-- should--- youshouldbe-- here---

*appears to remember you're still in the room*

*glares at you with what can only be called sheer loathing* That's the first intelligent thing you've said since I got here.

*vanishes into thin air*

	From:	Date: 08/25/2007 17:05:29

*stares stunned while you disappear*

*has absolutely no idea what just happened*

*curls up on her couch and breaks into gasping sobs* ;_;