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[gentleprince.livejournal.com]

The Steward of Gondor is in the bar tonight, doing what one generally does in a bar:

Drink.

He seems... curiously blank tonight. Neither in a good mood or a bad. Simply... somewhat detatched. Deep in thought. Daydreamy.

Security badge is, as usual, clipped to his belt and in plain view.

Lost in thought he may be, but he always welcomes company.

Comments

[nerdanel_the_wise]

She comes up behind him, trading out his alcohol for a sparkling glass of cranberry juice, lime, and bubbly water.

"Far better for you, Prince," she says with a motherly chuckle before sitting beside him.

[gentleprince.livejournal.com]

He blinks out of his daze with a baffled expression at her puttering.

"Excuse me, lady Nerdanel?"

[nerdanel_the_wise]

"The cranberry juice is good for your body," she says with a smile. "Better than ale, or whatever else you were drinking. And the lime makes it fresh-tasting."

She doesn't mention the bubbles.

But they were the best part.

[gentleprince.livejournal.com]

Faramir... continues to look at her oddly. He barely remembers the time had had someone to mother him so. But he finds himself obeying, sliding away the ale and taking the glass she has offered.

"Thank you," he says vaguely, thinking that's probably the correct response (isn't it?). He takes a sip, and his eyes widen. "What did you say this was?"

[nerdanel_the_wise]

She laughs.

"The menu by the bar calls it a 'cranberry spritzer'. Cranberry juice, lime juice, and bubbly water. Very nice."

She has one herself that she sips at.

And Nerdanel can't help mothering him. He looks like he needs someone to watch after him, make sure he eats properly and sleeps enough and smiles plenty.

[gentleprince.livejournal.com]

"Pleasant it is. Thank you," he says, sounding a little bemused. "How do you fare, my lady?" he asks, grasping at conversational straws.

[nerdanel_the_wise]

"I am well, and it is kind of you to ask."

She crosses her legs under the long cream skirt of her simple dress.

"And you?"

[gentleprince.livejournal.com]

He nods. "The same, I do thank you." He even smiles for her. "And your son, I trust, is the same? Staying with his father tonight?" Fathers?

[nerdanel_the_wise]

"I do not know if Gorlim is with Lord Mandos, but yes, Feaho is with him tonight. I kept him in Aman for a few days longer than Lord Mandos remained, so I felt it only right to allow him time with him." She continues to smile at him pleasantly. "He is almost two months now, has cut his first tooth. Eating finally. He will begin speaking very soon."

[the_seafarer]

"My lord Faramir!"

Caspian's voice is cheerful, and he raises his hand in greeting from where he stands nearby--come in from the stables, it seems, for his sword is missing and there are rather a number of pieces of hay in his hair.

"A good even to you, my lord. Might I join you for a spell?"

[gentleprince.livejournal.com]

He breaks from his dream-world with easy grace and grins at a friend he's not seen in far too long.

"Lord Caspian! Of course, of course! It's been quite some time. Please, join me."

[the_seafarer]

"Aye, it has, far too long." Caspian smiles, easily, when he seats himself with some ale of his own in his hand. "I have not spent much time in the Bar proper for a while now, though I've hardly realized it. Time moves so quickly here, does it not? And have you been well, my lord?"

[gentleprince.livejournal.com]

Faramir nods. "As well as anyone could ask for. My brother's gotten a new job, working for someone named Lilly. Some manner of guard work, I understand. And some while back I spoke to Lucy. She made me feel a proper fool indeed -- not realizing you two were together!" He laughs and winks to Caspian. "She's a lovely girl. I'm happy for you two."

[the_seafarer]

Caspian's smile is brilliant, and fond.

"Thank you, my friend. It was a long life without her. She is lovely--and kind, and brave. I hadn't realized you were friends, but it seems impossible that it should be otherwise. And your brother is employed by--Lilly, did you say?"

His smile turns slightly wry, and he laughs.

"Keep an eye on that, perchance. Lilly is a fine girl, though prone to some wild ideas."

[gentleprince.livejournal.com]

"Lady Lucy is among the first of friends I made upon arrival here. She has been quite dear to me. As for Boromir..." Faramir smirks and sips his ale. "I have guessed at the manner of Lilly's business. He can handle himself with her, I've no doubt. And oh! The Valar forgive my thoughtlessness. Can I buy you a drink? It looks like at least one of us as earned his pay today."

[the_seafarer]

Gesturing with his ale, Caspian shakes his head and laughs.

"Thank you, friend, but nay. This will keep me for the night, I believe. And aye, the work these few days has been rather busier--two of my workers left last week and I've no idea when they will return. It is, of course, not their fault, but the door, I believe, pulled to them."

[gentleprince.livejournal.com]

"Oh? Which ones? I have met precious few of the staff of the stables, having little reason to venture there myself."

[lvpd_sidle]

A CSI is sitting nearby, once again making use of her microscope.

Sara must be distracted about something, because she keeps dropping her slides. Curious.

[gentleprince.livejournal.com]

Another old acquaintence Faramir's been meaning to look up.

He hears the clatter, blinks off his distraction, and reaches to pick up her slide for her.

"Sara," he says with customary gentility and a smile. "Good evening."

[lvpd_sidle]

"Hmmm? Oh, hello Faramir. Thank you," she says when he hands the slide to her.

[gentleprince.livejournal.com]

He watches a moment, hands that seem somehow more... fidgety... than he knew them to be.

"Are you well, Sara?" he asks.

[lvpd_sidle]

"Not really, no," she admits in a somewhat wry tone, peering through the eyepiece once again. "I thought I would distract myself by recataloguing my slides, but that doesn't seem to be working very well. And yourself?"

[gentleprince.livejournal.com]

"I am as well as could be hoped for," Faramir says, slow and soft as he eases himself into a stool near her. "What is wrong, Sara? Anything I might help with?"

[lvpd_sidle]

She shakes her head. "It's nothing that can really be helped. A friend of mine was badly injured in the course of our work. It's uncertain whether or not he will survive." A slight, humorless laugh. "Bar saw fit to keep me Bound at this time. It's...frustrating, under the circumstances."

[gentleprince.livejournal.com]

Faramir nods in sympathy. "I can see how that would be." He rests a hand lightly upon hers. "Let me buy you a drink, Sara. Sit, talk with me a while. Then you can get back to your work. But I do not like to see a friend of mine exhaust herself for the sake of forgetfulness."