This one time, at bard camp...

RP blog for Ecthelion of the Fountain. I am open to new RP threads—see my Guidelines page for what I'm willing to play!

[arradil]

Cousin! How are you! It's been absolutely ages and you're always busy and...wait, are you avoiding me?

No! No. Um, no. Why would I do that? I don’t have any reason to do that, do I? I don’t think so... Um, unless you mean about - but no. No?

[fountainmisuse]

arradil

“That’s very reassuring! I will sit without fear. But. You didn’t say anything about the tables...” Arradil squints at him suspiciously. No, she does not trust him regarding places he may or may not have done sordid things. The archives are nice and quiet and not well-populated: a prime Ecthelion sordidness possibility. Well. Actually Ecthelion sordidness possibilities need not be nice, quiet, or unpopulated, but still!

He raises his eyebrows innocently. “Why, did you want to know how comfortable the tables are? It’s not usually an assessment I bother with, but I could try and rank them comparatively if you like.”

[arradil]

“I don’t know if you know this, but usually people put things like maps on tables, not themselves,” Arradil tells him, very seriously, until she ruins it with a giggle.

[fountainmisuse]

Ecthelion laughs delightedly, happy to play along. “Oh, is that why they’re always so hard and unforgiving? Well, no wonder. Then again, I suppose if they were padded, we’d call them beds, wouldn’t we.”

[arradil]

Cousin! How are you! It's been absolutely ages and you're always busy and...wait, are you avoiding me?

No! No. Um, no. Why would I do that? I don’t have any reason to do that, do I? I don’t think so... Um, unless you mean about - but no. No?

[fountainmisuse]

arradil

“That’s very reassuring! I will sit without fear. But. You didn’t say anything about the tables...” Arradil squints at him suspiciously. No, she does not trust him regarding places he may or may not have done sordid things. The archives are nice and quiet and not well-populated: a prime Ecthelion sordidness possibility. Well. Actually Ecthelion sordidness possibilities need not be nice, quiet, or unpopulated, but still!

He raises his eyebrows innocently. “Why, did you want to know how comfortable the tables are? It’s not usually an assessment I bother with, but I could try and rank them comparatively if you like.”

[fountainmisuse]

I happened to hear your latest composition the other day. I wanted to let you know how - perfectly adequate it was. Hardly anything that could be improved, really. || @salmaganto

Oh, that little ditty I threw together while Glorfindel and I were out drinking the other night? I’m glad it meets your standards! I sometimes worry that coming up with pieces on the fly is ill-advised when wine is involved, but clearly I have nothing to worry about.

Funny, it’s been a terribly long time since I’ve heard something of yours, @salmaganto - I suppose whatever you’re working on is going to be a doozy. Or is it that your last composition hasn’t made it around the city yet? Don’t worry, I know the Gondolindhrim can be a little slow to warm to your style, but they’ll come around and I’m sure I’ll be hearing it presently.

[salmaganto]

Oh, was it written while you were drunk? It’s so hard to tell the difference between your compositions that are, well, supposed to sound like that and those that aren’t. 

Yes, my newest will be quite a ‘doozy’ when it’s done, thank you. It may be too difficult for you to play on the flute, though I’m sure you’ll do your best.

[fountainmisuse]

Well, it does require a practiced ear to truly understand my music, that is true—though happily it doesn’t require any special talent just to enjoy.

Yours must be a doozy indeed if it can’t even be translated to another instrument. Happily, I’m unlikely to try, since my repertoire doesn’t typically include pieces of yours. I wouldn’t want to diminish your audience any further.

[salmaganto]

Are you sure that it doesn’t take a special talent to enjoy your music?

Oh, I didn’t say that it couldn’t be translated to another instrument. But it’s probably for the best that you couldn’t play it, because I’m afraid that hearing your attempts to play my music would rather diminish the audience for my work. I had much rather they hear it the way it’s meant to be heard.

[fountainmisuse]

The way it’s meant to be heard—so from very, very far away then. That’s certainly the way I like to hear your music.

[salmaganto]

A happy coincidence: that is also the distance I would like you to be when playing your own work.

[fountainmisuse]

It’s so nice that we can find common ground when we have such wildly different musical approaches and talent levels. Happily my many favorite performance venues are well away from your sitting room, so neither of us should have to alter our routines one whit.

[salmaganto]

Truly, I have never been more grateful that I prefer to patronize more... upscale establishments than those you can be dredged out of found in.

[fountainmisuse]

It only makes sense. I wouldn’t say your compositions necessarily inspire anyone to high emotions and raucous singalongs, but they’re perfect for the sort of fancy environment where people want a nice quiet background they can hear their conversations over.

[salmaganto]

Yes, bars are known for their appreciation of music, that’s why the best musicians can always be found in them. After their performances at real music halls, that is.

[fountainmisuse]

Right, precisely. I’m glad you recognize the city’s best musicians come to listen to me once they’re done with their sets. It’s one thing that the laymen enjoy me, but frankly, there’s a real pride in being the musician’s musician. Don’t you think?

[arradil]

Cousin! How are you! It's been absolutely ages and you're always busy and...wait, are you avoiding me?

No! No. Um, no. Why would I do that? I don’t have any reason to do that, do I? I don’t think so... Um, unless you mean about - but no. No?

[arradil]

fountainmisuse

Arradil.

Arradil.

That would be hilarious if it wasn’t so sad. You took sewer diagrams home to play with? I know it’s kind of your thing, but truly, you need more hobbies.

Anyway, think of it this way: you’ve just saved some poor soul the trouble of recopying those once the paper gets fragile for many more years. Tell Celegien she’s done her part to uphold the longevity of our archives.

I had an idea and I wanted to see if it would work! Also I have hobbies, I do, just ask Celegien! She’s a hobby! I take her out ratting all the time!

...I’m so glad we’re not in trouble. I, um, I’ll be sure to let her know. 

[fountainmisuse]

Honestly, having adventures with your dog is surprisingly close to normal for you. I’m almost proud. I mean, normal people would throw a stick or play tug-of-war with a bit of rope, but I suppose ratting isn’t the worst choice when you have a terrier.

...Okay, I’ll bite. What was the idea, and did it work?

[arradil]

“Honestly, it’s not like we don’t play tug-of-war and throw sticks!” She sticks her tongue out in a dazzling display of maturity. “And, well... well no, it didn’t work. But it could have, if not for the crosswise pipe from the Alley of Roses to the next street over!” Arradil launches into a deeply technical idea that she had while trying to go to sleep one night.

[fountainmisuse]

Ecthelion’s expression might go a little glazed-over, but he’s listening! He is! After all, he understands the feeling of having a highly technical idea when trying to fall asleep (and then jumping up to get an instrument because it must be tested immediately), even if he doesn’t understand nine-tenths of what she’s just said.

“Well,” he says brightly, once she’s finished her rundown of a solution he doesn’t even comprehend the problem to, “maybe you can apply it in another part of the city? But possibly this time you should review the plans without taking them out of the archive. There are plenty of comfortable chairs there, I know for a fact.”

[arradil]

Arradil is well-accustomed to the glazed-over look that most people got when she goes really in-depth into a civil engineering question, but she also has perhaps more confidence in Ecthelion’s ability to comprehend what she was saying than he really deserves. She’s perfectly content that she got her point across.

Even this mild criticism makes her wilt a little. “I will. And I won’t take Celegien either.” Then she rallies herself. “...but, but you know you only know that because you’ve taken naps on those very chairs!”

[fountainmisuse]

“Guilty,” he agrees, with an unapologetic grin. “If it makes you feel better, I haven’t done anything sordid in them, which is honestly unusual for me. You can safely avail yourself of any chair you take a liking to.”

[fountainmisuse]

I happened to hear your latest composition the other day. I wanted to let you know how - perfectly adequate it was. Hardly anything that could be improved, really. || @salmaganto

Oh, that little ditty I threw together while Glorfindel and I were out drinking the other night? I’m glad it meets your standards! I sometimes worry that coming up with pieces on the fly is ill-advised when wine is involved, but clearly I have nothing to worry about.

Funny, it’s been a terribly long time since I’ve heard something of yours, @salmaganto - I suppose whatever you’re working on is going to be a doozy. Or is it that your last composition hasn’t made it around the city yet? Don’t worry, I know the Gondolindhrim can be a little slow to warm to your style, but they’ll come around and I’m sure I’ll be hearing it presently.

[salmaganto]

Oh, was it written while you were drunk? It’s so hard to tell the difference between your compositions that are, well, supposed to sound like that and those that aren’t. 

Yes, my newest will be quite a ‘doozy’ when it’s done, thank you. It may be too difficult for you to play on the flute, though I’m sure you’ll do your best.

[fountainmisuse]

Well, it does require a practiced ear to truly understand my music, that is true—though happily it doesn’t require any special talent just to enjoy.

Yours must be a doozy indeed if it can’t even be translated to another instrument. Happily, I’m unlikely to try, since my repertoire doesn’t typically include pieces of yours. I wouldn’t want to diminish your audience any further.

[salmaganto]

Are you sure that it doesn’t take a special talent to enjoy your music?

Oh, I didn’t say that it couldn’t be translated to another instrument. But it’s probably for the best that you couldn’t play it, because I’m afraid that hearing your attempts to play my music would rather diminish the audience for my work. I had much rather they hear it the way it’s meant to be heard.

[fountainmisuse]

The way it’s meant to be heard—so from very, very far away then. That’s certainly the way I like to hear your music.

[salmaganto]

A happy coincidence: that is also the distance I would like you to be when playing your own work.

[fountainmisuse]

It’s so nice that we can find common ground when we have such wildly different musical approaches and talent levels. Happily my many favorite performance venues are well away from your sitting room, so neither of us should have to alter our routines one whit.

[salmaganto]

Truly, I have never been more grateful that I prefer to patronize more... upscale establishments than those you can be dredged out of found in.

[fountainmisuse]

It only makes sense. I wouldn’t say your compositions necessarily inspire anyone to high emotions and raucous singalongs, but they’re perfect for the sort of fancy environment where people want a nice quiet background they can hear their conversations over.

[arradil]

Cousin! How are you! It's been absolutely ages and you're always busy and...wait, are you avoiding me?

No! No. Um, no. Why would I do that? I don’t have any reason to do that, do I? I don’t think so... Um, unless you mean about - but no. No?

[arradil]

fountainmisuse

Arradil.

Arradil.

That would be hilarious if it wasn’t so sad. You took sewer diagrams home to play with? I know it’s kind of your thing, but truly, you need more hobbies.

Anyway, think of it this way: you’ve just saved some poor soul the trouble of recopying those once the paper gets fragile for many more years. Tell Celegien she’s done her part to uphold the longevity of our archives.

I had an idea and I wanted to see if it would work! Also I have hobbies, I do, just ask Celegien! She’s a hobby! I take her out ratting all the time!

...I’m so glad we’re not in trouble. I, um, I’ll be sure to let her know. 

[fountainmisuse]

Honestly, having adventures with your dog is surprisingly close to normal for you. I’m almost proud. I mean, normal people would throw a stick or play tug-of-war with a bit of rope, but I suppose ratting isn’t the worst choice when you have a terrier.

...Okay, I’ll bite. What was the idea, and did it work?

[arradil]

“Honestly, it’s not like we don’t play tug-of-war and throw sticks!” She sticks her tongue out in a dazzling display of maturity. “And, well... well no, it didn’t work. But it could have, if not for the crosswise pipe from the Alley of Roses to the next street over!” Arradil launches into a deeply technical idea that she had while trying to go to sleep one night.

[fountainmisuse]

Ecthelion’s expression might go a little glazed-over, but he’s listening! He is! After all, he understands the feeling of having a highly technical idea when trying to fall asleep (and then jumping up to get an instrument because it must be tested immediately), even if he doesn’t understand nine-tenths of what she’s just said.

“Well,” he says brightly, once she’s finished her rundown of a solution he doesn’t even comprehend the problem to, “maybe you can apply it in another part of the city? But possibly this time you should review the plans without taking them out of the archive. There are plenty of comfortable chairs there, I know for a fact.”

[arradil]

Cousin! How are you! It's been absolutely ages and you're always busy and...wait, are you avoiding me?

No! No. Um, no. Why would I do that? I don’t have any reason to do that, do I? I don’t think so... Um, unless you mean about - but no. No?

[arradil]

fountainmisuse

Arradil.

Arradil.

That would be hilarious if it wasn’t so sad. You took sewer diagrams home to play with? I know it’s kind of your thing, but truly, you need more hobbies.

Anyway, think of it this way: you’ve just saved some poor soul the trouble of recopying those once the paper gets fragile for many more years. Tell Celegien she’s done her part to uphold the longevity of our archives.

I had an idea and I wanted to see if it would work! Also I have hobbies, I do, just ask Celegien! She’s a hobby! I take her out ratting all the time!

...I’m so glad we’re not in trouble. I, um, I’ll be sure to let her know. 

[fountainmisuse]

Honestly, having adventures with your dog is surprisingly close to normal for you. I’m almost proud. I mean, normal people would throw a stick or play tug-of-war with a bit of rope, but I suppose ratting isn’t the worst choice when you have a terrier.

...Okay, I’ll bite. What was the idea, and did it work?

[fountainmisuse]

I happened to hear your latest composition the other day. I wanted to let you know how - perfectly adequate it was. Hardly anything that could be improved, really. || @salmaganto

Oh, that little ditty I threw together while Glorfindel and I were out drinking the other night? I’m glad it meets your standards! I sometimes worry that coming up with pieces on the fly is ill-advised when wine is involved, but clearly I have nothing to worry about.

Funny, it’s been a terribly long time since I’ve heard something of yours, @salmaganto - I suppose whatever you’re working on is going to be a doozy. Or is it that your last composition hasn’t made it around the city yet? Don’t worry, I know the Gondolindhrim can be a little slow to warm to your style, but they’ll come around and I’m sure I’ll be hearing it presently.

[salmaganto]

Oh, was it written while you were drunk? It’s so hard to tell the difference between your compositions that are, well, supposed to sound like that and those that aren’t. 

Yes, my newest will be quite a ‘doozy’ when it’s done, thank you. It may be too difficult for you to play on the flute, though I’m sure you’ll do your best.

[fountainmisuse]

Well, it does require a practiced ear to truly understand my music, that is true—though happily it doesn’t require any special talent just to enjoy.

Yours must be a doozy indeed if it can’t even be translated to another instrument. Happily, I’m unlikely to try, since my repertoire doesn’t typically include pieces of yours. I wouldn’t want to diminish your audience any further.

[salmaganto]

Are you sure that it doesn’t take a special talent to enjoy your music?

Oh, I didn’t say that it couldn’t be translated to another instrument. But it’s probably for the best that you couldn’t play it, because I’m afraid that hearing your attempts to play my music would rather diminish the audience for my work. I had much rather they hear it the way it’s meant to be heard.

[fountainmisuse]

The way it’s meant to be heard—so from very, very far away then. That’s certainly the way I like to hear your music.

[salmaganto]

A happy coincidence: that is also the distance I would like you to be when playing your own work.

[fountainmisuse]

It’s so nice that we can find common ground when we have such wildly different musical approaches and talent levels. Happily my many favorite performance venues are well away from your sitting room, so neither of us should have to alter our routines one whit.

[fountainmisuse]

I happened to hear your latest composition the other day. I wanted to let you know how - perfectly adequate it was. Hardly anything that could be improved, really. || @salmaganto

Oh, that little ditty I threw together while Glorfindel and I were out drinking the other night? I’m glad it meets your standards! I sometimes worry that coming up with pieces on the fly is ill-advised when wine is involved, but clearly I have nothing to worry about.

Funny, it’s been a terribly long time since I’ve heard something of yours, @salmaganto - I suppose whatever you’re working on is going to be a doozy. Or is it that your last composition hasn’t made it around the city yet? Don’t worry, I know the Gondolindhrim can be a little slow to warm to your style, but they’ll come around and I’m sure I’ll be hearing it presently.

[salmaganto]

Oh, was it written while you were drunk? It’s so hard to tell the difference between your compositions that are, well, supposed to sound like that and those that aren’t. 

Yes, my newest will be quite a ‘doozy’ when it’s done, thank you. It may be too difficult for you to play on the flute, though I’m sure you’ll do your best.

[fountainmisuse]

Well, it does require a practiced ear to truly understand my music, that is true—though happily it doesn’t require any special talent just to enjoy.

Yours must be a doozy indeed if it can’t even be translated to another instrument. Happily, I’m unlikely to try, since my repertoire doesn’t typically include pieces of yours. I wouldn’t want to diminish your audience any further.

[salmaganto]

Are you sure that it doesn’t take a special talent to enjoy your music?

Oh, I didn’t say that it couldn’t be translated to another instrument. But it’s probably for the best that you couldn’t play it, because I’m afraid that hearing your attempts to play my music would rather diminish the audience for my work. I had much rather they hear it the way it’s meant to be heard.

[fountainmisuse]

The way it’s meant to be heard—so from very, very far away then. That’s certainly the way I like to hear your music.

[arradil]

Cousin! How are you! It's been absolutely ages and you're always busy and...wait, are you avoiding me?

No! No. Um, no. Why would I do that? I don’t have any reason to do that, do I? I don’t think so... Um, unless you mean about - but no. No?

[fountainmisuse]

arradil​:

You’re the one it would be blabbed to, silly! That - that defeats the whole idea! You can’t keep a secret from yourself! Anyway, it’s fixed now. So no harm done!

Wait...you’re worried about getting someone in trouble with me?

Have you MET me? 

If I trade you guaranteed amnesty for whoever did whatever, will you tell me? Short of Kinslaying I can’t imagine what I’d be mad at anyone about, especially if it all turned out fine in the end.

[arradil]

...Well. I suppose. If you’re offering amnesty for both of us, since it’s really my fault... I mean, she did it, I didn’t do it! But it’s my fault, really.

[fountainmisuse]

I’m dying of suspense and obviously whatever it was, I didn’t notice, so I’m sure it’s fine.  Amnesty granted, now spill. 

[arradil]

Well, if you’re going to be like that, maybe I shouldn’t!

But I will and it’s probably not that bad because even the archivist didn’t say anything, right? Right. And I have amnesty now. So that’s good.

So I brought home some sewer diagrams from the archives just to play with you know but then I had to go to work because of course and I left them out and it turns out that Celegien, you know, my dog, the black one, went to the bathroom on them and stained them very badly so I redrew them and then gave new copies to the archivist instead but she didn’t say anything about it and anyway they were the same I was very careful about that and you know I know how to diagram properly but I just couldn’t stand to return them with stains all over them and anyway that’s what happened.

[fountainmisuse]

Arradil.

Arradil.

That would be hilarious if it wasn’t so sad. You took sewer diagrams home to play with? I know it’s kind of your thing, but truly, you need more hobbies.

Anyway, think of it this way: you’ve just saved some poor soul the trouble of recopying those once the paper gets fragile for many more years. Tell Celegien she’s done her part to uphold the longevity of our archives.

[arradil]

Cousin! How are you! It's been absolutely ages and you're always busy and...wait, are you avoiding me?

No! No. Um, no. Why would I do that? I don’t have any reason to do that, do I? I don’t think so... Um, unless you mean about - but no. No?

[fountainmisuse]

arradil​:

You’re the one it would be blabbed to, silly! That - that defeats the whole idea! You can’t keep a secret from yourself! Anyway, it’s fixed now. So no harm done!

Wait...you’re worried about getting someone in trouble with me?

Have you MET me? 

If I trade you guaranteed amnesty for whoever did whatever, will you tell me? Short of Kinslaying I can’t imagine what I’d be mad at anyone about, especially if it all turned out fine in the end.

[arradil]

...Well. I suppose. If you’re offering amnesty for both of us, since it’s really my fault... I mean, she did it, I didn’t do it! But it’s my fault, really.

[fountainmisuse]

I’m dying of suspense and obviously whatever it was, I didn’t notice, so I’m sure it’s fine.  Amnesty granted, now spill. 

[fountainmisuse]

I happened to hear your latest composition the other day. I wanted to let you know how - perfectly adequate it was. Hardly anything that could be improved, really. || @salmaganto

Oh, that little ditty I threw together while Glorfindel and I were out drinking the other night? I’m glad it meets your standards! I sometimes worry that coming up with pieces on the fly is ill-advised when wine is involved, but clearly I have nothing to worry about.

Funny, it’s been a terribly long time since I’ve heard something of yours, @salmaganto - I suppose whatever you’re working on is going to be a doozy. Or is it that your last composition hasn’t made it around the city yet? Don’t worry, I know the Gondolindhrim can be a little slow to warm to your style, but they’ll come around and I’m sure I’ll be hearing it presently.

[salmaganto]

Oh, was it written while you were drunk? It’s so hard to tell the difference between your compositions that are, well, supposed to sound like that and those that aren’t. 

Yes, my newest will be quite a ‘doozy’ when it’s done, thank you. It may be too difficult for you to play on the flute, though I’m sure you’ll do your best.

[fountainmisuse]

Well, it does require a practiced ear to truly understand my music, that is true—though happily it doesn’t require any special talent just to enjoy.

Yours must be a doozy indeed if it can’t even be translated to another instrument. Happily, I’m unlikely to try, since my repertoire doesn’t typically include pieces of yours. I wouldn’t want to diminish your audience any further.

[arradil]

Cousin! How are you! It's been absolutely ages and you're always busy and...wait, are you avoiding me?

No! No. Um, no. Why would I do that? I don’t have any reason to do that, do I? I don’t think so... Um, unless you mean about - but no. No?

[fountainmisuse]

arradil​:

You’re the one it would be blabbed to, silly! That - that defeats the whole idea! You can’t keep a secret from yourself! Anyway, it’s fixed now. So no harm done!

Wait...you’re worried about getting someone in trouble with me?

Have you MET me? 

If I trade you guaranteed amnesty for whoever did whatever, will you tell me? Short of Kinslaying I can’t imagine what I’d be mad at anyone about, especially if it all turned out fine in the end.

[arradil]

Cousin! How are you! It's been absolutely ages and you're always busy and...wait, are you avoiding me?

No! No. Um, no. Why would I do that? I don’t have any reason to do that, do I? I don’t think so... Um, unless you mean about - but no. No?

[arradil]

fountainmisuse

Your mother knows a lot of things. And besides, if she doesn’t know, just consider—if I go to her and say “Aunty, I’m worried about Arradil, she’s been even more jumpy than usual and it seems like something’s going on,” how quickly she’ll get it out of you. You could just tell me, and save yourself the trouble.

Oh! Oh, you’re terrible! I’ll - I’ll tell her everything’s fine. She’ll believe me. Everything is fine now, after all, so that’s perfectly true. I’ll tell her you’re making things up. That’s very plausible, you know!

[fountainmisuse]

I have been known to make things up, but you know Aunt Aithes can see through both of us.

But as I said, you could save us all time and just tell me....

So everything is fine now, but it wasn’t...how long ago? Come on, you know I’m the last person who can judge you for whatever mistake was made. Glass houses, and so forth. Arradilllll, telllllll meeeee.

[arradil]

Yes, um, well, the thing is... that... ...I don't want you to know! Because if you know, then you know, and then that's bad. What if she gets in trouble? I fixed everything, so nobody needs to know anything happened.

[fountainmisuse]

Well, I’m certainly not going to get anyone into trouble. I mean, well—I get lots of people into trouble, but only by convincing them to get into trouble with me. 

Look, I’m very good at keeping secrets. Don’t scoff, I am! I may not have secrets of my own but I’m good at other people’s. Whoever she is, I certainly won’t be blabbing about it.

[arradil]

Cousin! How are you! It's been absolutely ages and you're always busy and...wait, are you avoiding me?

No! No. Um, no. Why would I do that? I don’t have any reason to do that, do I? I don’t think so... Um, unless you mean about - but no. No?

[arradil]

fountainmisuse

Your mother knows a lot of things. And besides, if she doesn’t know, just consider—if I go to her and say “Aunty, I’m worried about Arradil, she’s been even more jumpy than usual and it seems like something’s going on,” how quickly she’ll get it out of you. You could just tell me, and save yourself the trouble.

Oh! Oh, you’re terrible! I’ll - I’ll tell her everything’s fine. She’ll believe me. Everything is fine now, after all, so that’s perfectly true. I’ll tell her you’re making things up. That’s very plausible, you know!

[fountainmisuse]

I have been known to make things up, but you know Aunt Aithes can see through both of us.

But as I said, you could save us all time and just tell me....

So everything is fine now, but it wasn’t...how long ago? Come on, you know I’m the last person who can judge you for whatever mistake was made. Glass houses, and so forth. Arradilllll, telllllll meeeee.

[fountainmisuse]

I happened to hear your latest composition the other day. I wanted to let you know how - perfectly adequate it was. Hardly anything that could be improved, really. || @salmaganto

Oh, that little ditty I threw together while Glorfindel and I were out drinking the other night? I’m glad it meets your standards! I sometimes worry that coming up with pieces on the fly is ill-advised when wine is involved, but clearly I have nothing to worry about.

Funny, it’s been a terribly long time since I’ve heard something of yours, @salmaganto - I suppose whatever you’re working on is going to be a doozy. Or is it that your last composition hasn’t made it around the city yet? Don’t worry, I know the Gondolindhrim can be a little slow to warm to your style, but they’ll come around and I’m sure I’ll be hearing it presently.

[arradil]

Cousin! How are you! It's been absolutely ages and you're always busy and...wait, are you avoiding me?

No! No. Um, no. Why would I do that? I don’t have any reason to do that, do I? I don’t think so... Um, unless you mean about - but no. No?

[fountainmisuse]

Aha! So you have been avoiding me about something. You know I can’t rest until I know why. Unless I mean about....what, exactly?

...You’re not still mad about that thing with the valve, are you? 

[arradil]

YES I am! There was just no call for that, not at all! .....That is definitely why I've been - um - busy. Yes. No other reason at all. Not that I've been avoiding you, because I haven't been! But if I were, which I'm not, that would be why. There.

[fountainmisuse]

Arradil, you know I say this with all the love in my heart but you are a terrible liar. I should give you lessons sometime. But also, that valve was fixed months ago and we both know it. What do you even have to be furtive about?

Ooh, did you meet someone?! 

[arradil]

I can still be mad if I want to and NO, I haven't met anyone! You always think somebody has met somebody! It's probably because you're always meeting people, it's projection and you're projecting.

[fountainmisuse]

Well, SOMETHING clearly happened, otherwise you wouldn’t be so squirrely. Come on, Dil, you know I’ll get it out of you. Unless you want me to ask your mother? I’m sure she’ll be more forthcoming, I’m her favorite nephew.

[arradil]

You wouldn't ask Amme! She doesn't know, anyway! Probably. Maybe. I don't think so? Not that there's anything to know!

[fountainmisuse]

Your mother knows a lot of things. And besides, if she doesn’t know, just consider—if I go to her and say “Aunty, I’m worried about Arradil, she’s been even more jumpy than usual and it seems like something’s going on,” how quickly she’ll get it out of you. You could just tell me, and save yourself the trouble.