From: gorthol	Date: 10/02/2007 16:35:22

*carefully times today's afternoon visit to the palace to an hour he knows you'll be in your office*

*knocks on your open door* Dad? Everything okay?

	From: sindacollo	Date: 10/02/2007 16:58:24

*impatiently waves you in* Come in, come in. Close the door. I've got a couple of bite-sized royals on the loose so things are a little hectic just now.

*frowns* Where've you been, anyway? Your mother wants you to come by for dinner and your fake mother's been asking about you, too. *without much humor* Are you too holy for family now? Or incubators, as the case may be?

	From: gorthol	Date: 10/02/2007 17:02:16

*confusedly* I've been in and out all week. I do seem to keep missing you intentionally but I've also got an army to run, remember? Which is getting to be quite impressive, if I do say so myself.

*takes the seat on the other side of your desk*

	From: sindacollo	Date: 10/02/2007 17:11:57

*darkly* Well, tomorrow's tuna casserole. You miss too many more casserole nights and Melly's liable to show you real Ainu ass-kickery. In the form of concern and sympathetic disappointment. You'll fold so hard.

I've also got an army to run

Ah. Good. Then you must have heard about these rumors? *waves a newspaper before dropping it on the desk in front of you* Noldorin secret ops? The "Free Finwë Front"? What is this garbage?? I've publicized the details of his case about as well as anyone could. The press is running out of synonyms for "voluntary".

	From: gorthol	Date: 10/02/2007 17:18:12

Heard them? Planted them, more like. Of course I have. I've been shouting down the phone to your intel guys to sort out the details. They're having a tough time sifting the legitimate threats from the kooks. Or are those the same thing?

*some unreadable expression flitting across his features* Morwen was asking about me?

	From: sindacollo	Date: 10/02/2007 17:27:28

*steeples his fingers* Keep me apprised. Bloody radicals.

*sees your momentary disquiet and shoots you an odd look* *nods* Mels said something about an article in the Living section. Your mother's doing well peddling the formalwear or some nonsense. *in a severely bored tone, as if reciting* Serindë stock's spiked since your mother caved and started selling sleeveless designs.

*thinking* The girls are around here quite a bit, too. Mels dotes on them. I'm surprised you kids haven't run into each other lately.

	From: gorthol	Date: 10/02/2007 17:35:54

*doesn't actually listen to any of the news about Morwen, having recovered his mental footing*

Hmm? Oh, the girls. *rueful smile* I miss them, too?!. *puts on his "finding humor in a bad situation" face* At least with Mablung in the hospital I don't have to worry about him marrying Niënor.

	From: sindacollo	Date: 10/02/2007 17:42:05

with Mablung in the hospital

*snaps his fingers* That reminds me. Do you have any idea what happened? When I stopped down to see him he was awfully evasive. Wouldn't say a word. Took a bigger blow to the head than they realize, I'd wager.

*snorts* The day that boy marries anyone is the day I'll...well, between you and me, I'd probably acknowledge Lúthie's marriage that day because my whole fucking reality would be crumbling down on me. *sighs* Eru, do I miss my baby girl.

	From: gorthol	Date: 10/02/2007 17:47:52

*shrugs* *vaguely* I wouldn't want to pry. Maybe the whole thing was just too traumatic for him? Or it will be if he runs his mouth too much.

*doesn't have to read your mind to know you're moping about Lúthien* Touching. *resists rolling his eyes and instead gives you a lopsided smile* I'm putting that on the record, just so you know.

my whole fucking reality would be crumbling down on me

*only just bites back hysterical laughter* So melodramatic, Dad.

	From: sindacollo	Date: 10/02/2007 17:50:19

*scowls halfheartedly* Don't you have work to do or something, kid?

	From: gorthol	Date: 10/02/2007 17:55:00

*pushes his chair back from the desk and stands*

*grins* Sure. The King of Doriath thinks he commands an army. As long as I keep him knee-deep in red tape he's both happy and completely duped. I should probably get back to that.

	From: sindacollo	Date: 10/02/2007 17:57:38

*wags a finger at you* *sternly* Dinner tomorrow. You're still my kid and you still have to eat your vegetables.

	From: gorthol	Date: 10/02/2007 17:59:11

*obliquely agreeably* I hope you're not too attached to the idea of tuna casserole, by the way.

	From: sindacollo	Date: 10/02/2007 18:02:19

And how long have you been trying to abolish casserole night? *smirks* Face facts, Túrin. It's no use. It'll take an act of Eru.

*makes a shooing motion* Begone. I've got journalists to threaten.

	From: gorthol	Date: 10/02/2007 18:04:38

*laughing softly* I'm going, I'm going.

*leaves your office, already thinking about the next task on his to-do list*