From:	Date: 12/04/2007 17:48:47

*pokes his chicken with a fork suspiciously*

*picking up mid-conversation* It was awful brave of you to venture into a war zone just to check up on little old me, honey. *grins* Scared you'd miss somethin' especially heroic?

	From: aerwen	Date: 12/04/2007 17:56:01

*gives a very really very very patient smile to the couple at the next table over who have probably been hearing you the whole conversation heh sorry really*

*mildly* Well you know I always come up before the holidays, it was just a little sooner this time I guess, and I was worried for the kids you know...?

*watches you prodding that poor poultry* *sigh* *reaches over and cuts the piece and half with her knife and fork* It tastes nice. Basil and lemon.

	From:	Date: 12/04/2007 18:04:10

*gives almost no visible indication he's aware he didn't factor into that sentence at all* They're smart kids. Don't go getting all mother-y with 'em, now. Though 'káno'd probably be okay with that. Always was a bit girly.

Basil and lemon.

*scowls* When life gives you lemons, you're supposed to make...not chicken. *takes a tentative bite anyway, for your sake* *shrugs at the results of this experiment and shovels in a few more forkfuls*

	From: aerwen	Date: 12/04/2007 18:10:46

Well I'm their mom, I'm supposed to get mothery on them right? That's what all the books said when they were little. I'm sure you like acting like a father too someti--- *cuts herself off NO NO must not invite you to intervene* *clears her throat* I mean I'm sure you got a chance to be a real hero with everything going on huh?

*figures you'd probably just be happy with fries and a steak* (*wouldn't say no to fries herself actually*)

	From:	Date: 12/04/2007 18:22:32

*wistfully* You'd think so, eh? It's been a pretty excrementy excuse for a war, Eru's honest truth. No swording or dark lords or anything. *ponders* Suppose I can give that Maia bloke of 'rissë's what-for if he doesn't introduce himself proper, soon enough.

*pats your hand and takes a long swig of his beer* *gallantly, sort of* Seein' you makes it all worth it, though, honey. That rack's every bit as nice as it was the day we met.

	From: aerwen	Date: 12/04/2007 18:35:11

*nods routinely* *mm-hmm* *...* Wait, Maia? *tiny, impressed jaw-drop* Aredhel's seeing a Maia?

*wilts* Well, thank you, sweetie, you were always good about noticing. *and she didn't even bring out the push-up bra* :p

*lets herself lapse into happy place a bit of a daydream while you talk*

INTERIOR, NIGHT:

Rain pounds on the windows as the HEROINE waits out the storm, hoping for the HERO's safe return. Finally the DOOR swings open, he appears, wet hair whipped to his face, her letter clutched in his hand.

HEROINE: *crying, rushes to him, her heaving bosom---*

	From:	Date: 12/04/2007 18:42:46

*nods* Mm-hmm. Moon guy, or so I hear. Guess some good came from all those jaunts in Oromë's woods back in the day. I was afraid she was a regular muff-diver for a while there.

*actually notices your inattention after some time (as he does) and drums his fingers on the table, wondering what it is you'd like to talk about (as he does)*

*gives up for the moment (as he does) and chokes down another bite of chicken*

*really does choke, though. cue fruitless gasping, turning red in the face, and clutching the tablecloth* *little help here?*

	From: aerwen	Date: 12/04/2007 18:50:58

*absently runs her finger against her lips*

:)

'golfin?

*jumps up out of her seat*

Honey! Are you ok-- Omigosh honey? *calls to the nearest waiter* HELP oh please help me! *flustered, tries to get her arms around your chest and tugs* *knows there's a heimlich thing somewhere oh help oh help*

	From:	Date: 12/04/2007 18:58:15

*is completely helpless as a waiter dashes over and administers the requisite punch to the gut* *(only the most skilled waitstaff work at quality stuffed-chicken establishments such as this one, after all)*

*watches as the offending bite is propelled clear across to the next table and into another horrified diner's bowl of soup*

*gasps for breath* *to the waiter, irritably* All right, already, geroff.

	From: aerwen	Date: 12/04/2007 19:05:06

*still holding her napkin, profusely thanks the waiter with a great amount of embarrassed gushing* Thank you, oh you have no idea, thank you...

*watches as he gets himself away from the scene* *is already adding a huge guilty tip to the bill*

*as though she would have talked to one of the kids when they were small* *holds out a glass of water* Are you okay honey just take a sip make sure it's all clear wow I guess that chicken was pretty dry you sure you're okay?

	From:	Date: 12/04/2007 19:10:55

*coughs a few times and makes several horrid throat-clearing noises before gulping some water*

Fine. 'm fine. *ponders in solemn silence for a moment* My life flashed before my eyes.

*brightening considerably* But it did show me this great burger joint I found last time I was up this way. Fancy a double bacon cheese, hon?

	From: aerwen	Date: 12/04/2007 19:17:01

*pats you on the back ineffectually for good measure*

double bacon cheese

...

Yeah, okay. *considering their track record in these places today actually could have gone worse THAT WASN'T AN INVITATION ERU* I'll just take 'káno's card to the maitre'd... *picks into your jacket pockets*

	From:	Date: 12/04/2007 19:23:44

*experiences a rare moment of mild embarrassment at the thought of his own son picking up another tab*

*gets over it quickly enough!* *fishes around along with you until he comes up with the credit card*

*glances at the other diners, whose attention seems to be more or less fixed on them...?* *by way of explanation* Foreign food. *generously* Decent atmosphere, anyway.

	From: aerwen	Date: 12/04/2007 19:31:17

*takes it from you hoping to make a bait and switch with hers before you notice*

*half-stands up before noticing the same thing* ... The satay is really very nice! Ihopeyouenjoyyourdessertsosorrysoverysorry.

*takes her purse and your hand and her napkin until she realizes she's still got it so has to just leave it on the hostess table*

	From:	Date: 12/04/2007 19:36:10

*leads you outside and hails a taxi*

*mentions the name of the burger stand and hears the train carrying his big plans for the evening come to a screeching halt when the cabbie tells him that particular business was destroyed in the attacks*

*doesn't quite know what to do next* *and this date was going so well, too*

	From: aerwen	Date: 12/04/2007 19:41:16

*is actually a little disappointed herself* *kind of wanted a fruit pie*

*has a thought* *asks the cabbie if there's a shopping mall that's still okay?*

*brightens when the answer is yes and has him take them to the Galleria*

	From:	Date: 12/04/2007 19:46:35

*drapes his arm over your shoulders* Whatcha got up your sleeve now, 'nairë?

*knows quite well what black holes of retail tend to form when the word "shopping" is combined with you or the girl child(ren)*

	From: aerwen	Date: 12/04/2007 19:51:13

*actually powders her nose a little, cheering up* :)

You need clothes, honey, you lost them in the fire remember? And we'll blend in with the hoi polloi.

	From:	Date: 12/04/2007 20:01:53

Aw...don't need to go all the way to the mall for that stuff, honey. *good-naturedly (and more than a little adoringly)* But if it'll make ya happy.

*is totally sneaking next door to check out the newest video games while you're busy talking to the salespeople*

	From: aerwen	Date: 12/04/2007 20:09:03

They have the newest styles after they've trickled down from fashion to off-rack, and it's faster the way you like it. *wants a cinnamon roll too* :D

*pays the cabbie and gets out near the department store entrance*

*looks around for the menswear hoping you don't get lost*

	From:	Date: 12/04/2007 20:21:02

*has by now noticed that the menswear section just happens to be located next to hardware* *the store planners couldn't have arranged it better themselves!*

*hovers near the border* *hesitantly* You know my sizes, right, hon? *ooh, that's definitely a chainsaw down that way*

	From: aerwen	Date: 12/04/2007 20:25:15

*only half hears you because she sees ties* Ohhh, paisley is back! :D

...

*after a few minutes, re-locates you, tape measure in hand, ties over one shoulder, just to verify your waist size*

	From:	Date: 12/04/2007 20:37:15

*equally distractedly* Uh-huh. Sounds great. *lovingly acquaints himself with a set of socket wrenches while you're in your element out there*

*has a brilliant idea!* *the type of idea that says "if this won't make her want to fuck me, nothing will"*

*wanders further, into housewares*

	From: aerwen	Date: 12/04/2007 20:44:46

*busies herself picking out your new closet: two weeks' worth of new shirts, five new suits, a few pairs of casual slacks, and some new undershirts and boxers (what the hell)*

*really is pretty pleased with the colour combinations (since they're really for the benefit of her and anyone who encounters you in public)*

	From:	Date: 12/05/2007 06:49:11

*tracks you down again*

*promptly presents you with an ice cream maker* Happy birthday a little early, honey.

*will just leave out the part where he pawned a vase from Fingon's office in order to get the cash he's using to buy you kitchen appliances*

	From: aerwen	Date: 12/05/2007 08:40:07

*has the clerk ring it all in* *watches, pleased with a shopping trip well done* :)

*until she's presented with an ice cream maker*

:?

*looks at you*

*looks at the ice cream maker*

*looks at the clerk*

*is thinking!!!*

*mystified what brought this on* Thank you? Honey. :)

	From:	Date: 12/05/2007 08:46:11

*knows how you ladies like your kitchen things!*

*nudges you with his elbow* What do you say we go back to Findekáno's my place...make some sweet, sweet ice cream? *waggles his eyebrows*

*holds up a tie between two fingers and inspects it with vague confusion dislike as the clerk adds everything up*

	From: aerwen	Date: 12/05/2007 10:36:09

*holds the box, looking at it with rather similar confusion* ...Well I guess if you wanted, there's just the ingredients listed here and---

*wait*

*realizes you are actually coming onto her in the middle of a department store (in your way)* *after "treating" her to dinner with your son's credit card (in your way)*

*is so out of practice at this that she actually guffaws giggles at the idea*

	From:	Date: 12/05/2007 10:41:59

*grins*

*wait—*

*frowns?*

*coughs subtly* Is that a "yes"?

	From: aerwen	Date: 12/05/2007 10:45:17

*smiles and shakes her head*

You can take me home, honey, how 'bout that?

*purely in the interests of providing positive reinforcement* *pecks you on the cheek* Thank you for the lovely thought.

	From:	Date: 12/05/2007 10:50:01

*looks sort of like someone's run over his puppy*

*finally just shrugs* *figures you must be on the rag or something*

*kisses your forehead* Anything for you, hon. ...Do I have to wear the ties?

	From: aerwen	Date: 12/05/2007 10:56:54

*pats your cheek there's a good boy*

*genuinely* But you look nicer in the ties than the t-shirts with holes in them. ... *helpfully* They go with the shirts! You might save a few of Fingon's pencils along the way.

	From:	Date: 12/05/2007 11:05:11

*considers the ties and comes to the conclusion that they do, in fact, appear to go with the shirts* *in that the shirts have collars and he's aware of the custom of looping colored strips of fabric around the neck under said collars*

I'll wear the cursed ties. But. *lifts a finger* You have to go to monster trucks with me on Sunday. *wasn't king for nothing, you know*

	From: aerwen	Date: 12/05/2007 11:09:38

*opens her mouth then closes it* *actually that's pretty reasonable for you* Yeah okay.

*was going to try to carry them all out to a cab until she sees that there's actually really a lot of stuff here* *asks if they could maybe have it delivered somehow...? (she's heard stores do that)* *they will!* *prints Fingon's delivery information on the form*

	From:	Date: 12/05/2007 11:15:40

*is highly proud of himself* *also, thoroughly flabbergasted* Nifty. It's a date.

*knows you'll be putty in his hands once you try one of the corn dogs they sell at the arena*

	From: aerwen	Date: 12/05/2007 11:21:38

Sure thing sweetie. X) *sigh*

*obligingly, indicating the box* Gosh I think I need a big strong hero to carry this out to the cab for me.

	From:	Date: 12/05/2007 11:27:37

*enjoying this enormously* Call Findekáno. Bet he's got a few in his Rolodex.

*scoops up the box and sticks it under one arm* *offers you the other arm* M'lady?

	From: aerwen	Date: 12/05/2007 11:32:04

*eyerolls* *knew you'd take that bait* Ha ha ha ha. :]

*takes your arm anyway and lets you take over*