Audio; late day 16

[popotostudies]

[That sure is a tired sounding voice.]

Should anyone be hungry, there is a pot of bacon and vegetable stew in the kitchen courtesy of red team's assignment, have at it. Be advised it contains things, so if you are allergic to things, don't eat it.

[investigating the kitchen will indeed find a stew. Hearty, tasty enough and far more veg than bacon.]

Comments

[marriedanidiot]

Fandaniel? You sound terribly weary, my dear. What's wrong?

[popotostudies]

It's..

[There's a pause. A lengthy one. When he speaks again, he sounds wearier yet.]

Have you ever realized only long after there's an opportunity to do anything about it, that something you had made would have gone gloriously with cheddar?

[marriedanidiot]

[ Must. Not. Laugh. ]

No? I am not the main cook in the family though, that would be Feanaro.

[popotostudies]

I am not much of a cook ordinarily but I dabble a bit.

[Glumly:]

And now I have regrets. And an inability to actually sleep. I don't much like sleeping, losing eight hours just to hallucinate vividly and be unable to move the entire time really isn't my idea of a good time, but it is required for healthiness. And now my dreams will be plagued with the certainty I should have added cheese.

[marriedanidiot]

[ Oh no, oh no, Fandaniel is suddenly acting like one of her sons after one of their projects went wrong, and Nerdanel has to suppress the urge to giggle ]

Ah, I see. I suppose it would not help if I offered to see if I cold ease your sleep?

[popotostudies]

[It's only one small part of a mountain of endless problems, but it's the one that most occupies him at the moment because it's the most recent. And therefore, the most horrible.]

So far chamomile and spellcraft have done nothing. What do you intend?

[marriedanidiot]

I am a mother. [ She smiles ] I know plenty of Songs for sweet dreams. I don't know it would work, but I could try.

[popotostudies]

[There's a small cough of amusement, not quite a laugh.]

We'll have to trade notes sometime on dealing with children. Until then, it can't hurt to try.

[marriedanidiot]

Did you have any of your own?

[ She smiles ] Shall I come over then?

[popotostudies]

Yes. It's ... been a long time, though. They were mortal.

[There's a sigh. Sooner or later, he's going to remedy that situation too, but not tonight!]

I suppose in that case I should head for my bunk. The stew can tend to itself.

[marriedanidiot]

I am sorry. [ She says sympathetically ]

I cannot imagine how painful it would be to loose kin to mortality.

[ She smiles ]

Alright. We could try it over these, or would you prefer me to come over?

[popotostudies]

There is hope of one day remedying the situation. What else can I ask for at this juncture but that?

[At least to another immortal - or semi-immortal, did elves EVER age and die? - he didn't have to explain how painful it is to lose a child at 80. One thing he was grateful for.]

I think not over open communications. Who knows who else might listen and doze off.

[marriedanidiot]

[ She chuckles ]

True. Alright, I shall come over - which is your carriage?

[popotostudies]

Five A. As it's early yet for most reasonable adults I can't imagine my roommates will be present, but if they are, perhaps they too could use some help getting to sleep..

[marriedanidiot]

I will be right over then! [ And shortly... taptaptap ]

[popotostudies]

[The door is opened promptly. And it's!!!!

..Another generic bed car, frankly they're all fairly identical. There just isn't enough space for him to bother trying to personalize anything at all.

Unfortunately he looks as tired as he sounds.]

Hello. I'd say 'pardon the mess' but we don't have enough things to have a mess with so ... I suppose everything is as presentable as can be hoped.

[marriedanidiot]

[ She shakes her head with a smile ]

We are all of us in much the same boat, I think. So, let us see if I can help, at least a little!

[popotostudies]

I admit instead of cinema trains or more gardens, I might perhaps suggest double-decker rooms instead.. and break four into two for a bit more personalization. But what can you do for the time being?

[Pardon him if he finds a bed to sprawl on, in a fashion almost catlike in his amazing powers of finding any position at all comfortable enough to sleep in.]

But one can hope that with your help, Lord Zodiark might finally bless me with more than three or four hours of sleep.

[marriedanidiot]

A good thought! You could always suggest it.

[ She sits down next to him with her son's silver harp in her hands, and begins to play ]

Hopefully!

[ Softly, she coaxes music from the strings, her voice low and sweet as she summons memories of lullabies and sleepy children, evoking rest and peace, all covered in silver light ]

[popotostudies]

[Fandaniel's impulse to peace isn't in the direction of any form of radiance, preferring the gentle quiet of the night, but this isn't an evocation of strong daylight, more akin to moonlight, starlight, all cousins to the evening's dark shroud--

It's not Hydaelyn. It's not memories that hurt in the only-painful way, and the ascian does his best to relax and let the music do what it will. They had singers too, once upon a time. Voices raised in perfect harmonies, echoes of a time when things had gone unerringly right.

Maybe a nudge towards things less bitter and unpleasant is all it takes to let him let go enough to sleep, for it's almost laughably quick, how little time it takes for the Bringer of Chaos to actually doze off. Perhaps not even the full length of a single song..]

[marriedanidiot]

[ Nerdanel smiles to see him drift off, humming softly until she is sure his dreams are deep and peaceful, and then she ends the tune, tucking him in before she leaves ]