gondolindrim | At the festival with Boromir

Alvegil: *steps out of his apartment building, repeating the directions to the festival grounds to himself* And he said he'd be waiting outside. All right. Let's try not to end up on the wrong side of the city.

Boromir: *has changed out of his uniform into normal clothes and heads to the festival*

Alvegil: *inspecting his reflection in a shop window while he waits for Boromir*

Boromir: *walks up behind Alvegil and pats his shoulder* You look fine. *grins*

Alvegil: Vanity will be my undoing. Thank you. *smiles back at Boromir* You said you'd show me a good time at the festival?

Boromir: Did I say that? *chuckles* Then I need to be a man of my word. There is a booth near the lake that sells spiced cider. Let's try that first.

Alvegil: you know, it was summer for me just a few weeks ago. *trips a sip of the cider* Ah, that's warming. Thank you, Boromir. That bird's been avoiding me since it tried to pretend to be you. Do birds get embarrassed? Swans mostly just wait for their next chance.

Boromir: *sips his cider* I don't think those birds are capable of feeling embarrassment, only smug self-importance. I'm not a fan of them, not since they have caused trouble for some of my friends. So, the swans were more than pretty birds I take it.

Alvegil: the tyrants of the city! *laughs* You had to be careful to never go too near to a nest or the next thing you saw was a huge ball of hissing feathers coming at you.

Boromir: I wish I had seen the city when Mother was still alive. I know she would have enjoyed a trip back to visit, but Father did not want her to leave, even for a short while. *small smile* What was she like when you knew her?

Alvegil: poor Finduilas... She was lovely. Full of grace. Loved to dance, I'd sometimes see her dancing with invisible partners when she was waiting for people.

Boromir: *wistful* I wish I had seen her dance. I remember a few happy moments when I was a small boy, but they grew fewer and farther between as time passed.

Alvegil: she liked to lead the waltzes she'd dance with herself. *smiles* Light feet too.

Boromir: *glances down at his boots* Apparently that trait skipped a generation. I do manage to avoid stepping on toes, but nobody has ever proclaimed me light-footed.

Alvegil: It's a bit like sword work. *does a few steps for Boromir* see?

Boromir: *watches, impressed* You're quite good. *tries and doesn't do nearly as well* I think I need some practice.

Alvegil: *takes Boromir's free hand* step forward, then back, like this.

Boromir: *startled, nearly sloshes his cider* Oh! *grins* Okay...*tries it again* Was that a little better?

Alvegil: yes! It helps to have a partner, doesn't it?

Boromir: *nods* Yes, it does. Most things are better with two, I think.

Alvegil: Quite a few things, yes. *sips his cider* Mind if we look at the booths? I need winter things.

Boromir: Of course. *points out a booth with warm fleece jackets and hats* This one is nice. And there is a booth on down that sells custom wool blankets.

Alvegil: *trying on a hat with a large bobble*

Boromir: *grins and points out another hat* That one is nice but...*flips the bobble a couple of times* It's too floppy.

Alvegil: charming style. *tries out the other hat* hm. Warm.

Boromir: *decisive* That one. Definitely. And get this scarf to match. *holds it up*

Alvegil: *puts on the scarf and swings it over his shoulder* how dashing do I look?

Boromir: *grins* Very. If you looked any more dashing, you'd be fighting the ladies off with a sword.

Alvegil: just the ladies? Let's see if there's a broader appeal scarf

Boromir: *grins and shakes his head* I think the one you have one is nice.

Alvegil: then I suppose this will be the one I get. *pays the booth owner* Now for something warm to lay under.

Boromir: You need a soft woolen blanket. There was a lady who wove custom blankets, but I have not seen her in a while. Maybe we can find another vendor. *points down the row of booths* What colors do you like? I see a wide variety.

Alvegil: soft grey'll do me. I like something relaxing to look at after a long day

Boromir: *wanders ahead until he finds a gray one* What do you think of this one?

Alvegil: I think that would do nicel--

Walrus: *lets out a loud trumpet*

Alvegil: augh!

Boromir: *jumps, startled, and sloshes out the rest of his cider onto the ground* What was that???

Alvegil: there's some kind of monster here!

Boromir: *isn't completely surprised because WARGS. Puts a hand on the hilt of his dagger* I think it was from behind the last row of booths. *starts heading that way*

Eressil: *getting the walrus to dance for a bucket of fish*

Alvegil: gods, that thing is huge!

Boromir: *stares at the dancing walrus, amused* It's...cute in an odd sort of way. That bellowing, though, could wake the dead.

Alvegil: it's as big as a horse. *fascinated and steps closer*

Walrus: *claps its huge flippers*

Boromir: *is content to keep his distance* At least.

Alvegil: are these things in the lake? *to Boromir* I saw dark shapes when I was watching from the walls...

Boromir: I'm not sure...maybe? I have never seen one before, but I don't venture outside of the walls very often.

Alvegil: they tell me there's pools in the summer, besides the bathhouses. That should keep me from diving into the lake

Boromir: Sometime when you're in the mood for a tale, I'll tell you about what Theo and I saw near the lake. That'll definitely keep you from diving in.

Alvegil: Who's Theo?

Boromir: *grins* He's my roommate and probably my best friend here in Gondolin. You may have seen him...the red hair is hard to miss.

Alvegil: I've certainly seem a redhaired elf. He was carrying along two little elves.

Boromir: That was a different redhead. And Theo is human. But same concept.

Alvegil: Introduce us sometime.

Walrus: *another loud trumpet*

Alvegil: *wince* Let's go

Boromir: Sure. He's home with a warg bite right now, so when he's feeling better, you should come hang out with us.

Alvegil: it'd make being a stranger in a strange land much less lonely

Boromir: *nods and pats Alvegil's shoulder* I know what that's like. I'll check on Theo and see if he's feeling better. Maybe this weekend you can swing by and hang out. Nothing special. A pot of soup and a game of cards is as exciting as we get.

Alvegil: and maybe I can answer some questions about your mother.

Boromir: *smile* I'd like that very much. For what it's worth, I'm happy that you're here.

Alvegil: *grins* things are looking up.

Still not enjoying this sudden winter, but it is better than the cold winds that would blow off the sea in Dol Amroth around this time. My new warm things will help.