A lunch out with Luthien.

[finrod]

I can't decide if councils are a distraction from the murder investigation or if the murder investigation is a welcome distraction from council. Both important, both apparently going in circles...

---

Council meetings are important, and it's satisfying to accomplish things and reach decisions for the betterment of the city, but even Luthien, who is patient by nature, gets tired of hearing Salgant drone on and on about the most insignificant points. After the meeting has finally adjourned, she wraps her shawl around her shoulders and heads to the door, Melui at her heels.

Luthien: *spotting Finrod, she waves to him* Finrod!

Melui: *trots over to him and bumps his leg with her nose*

Finrod: Luthien! *strokes Melui's head* Glad that's over?

Luthien: More than you can imagine. I'm not sure how it's possible, but I find Salgant has more and more to say with each meeting, or so it seems.

Finrod: *grins* It's his especial talent.

Luthien: A talent, indeed: boring everyone to tears with his endless bloviation. *grinning as well*

Finrod: He just comes for the food, I suspect.

Luthien: Speaking of food, are you hungry?

Finrod: Quite! Shall we get lunch?

Luthien: Let's. Have you heard of anything new or interesting this week?

Finrod: No, not really. Which I'm admittedly thankful for!

Luthien: I heard a good report on a new restaurant which serves food from a future nation called "Mexico." Perhaps we could sample their fare.

Finrod: Sure! That's a tame report.

Luthien: Actually, I was told some of the food is quite spicy. We shall see. *they leave the tower and begin working their way towards the restaurant*

Finrod: Telerin food is sometimes spicy!

Luthien: Sindarin food rarely is, so I'm looking forward to trying something a bit picant.

Finrod: Is this the place?

Luthien: *reads the sign* "Los Abrigados." I believe so.

Finrod: Excellent! *holds the door for her*

Luthien: *curtsies and goes in ahead of him, Melui following along. A waiter shows them to a table, and Melui sits beneath it at Luthien's feet.* The decore is certainly colorful.

Finrod: Extremely! *low voice* A bit gaudy...

Luthien: *chuckles* Perhaps, but it's festive, all the same. *menus are set in front of them, and the covers are painted with Mexican dancers in frilly dresses. She begins to peruse.* I must admit, the names of these dishes are baffling.

Finrod: *opens his* I've never heard of any of this. At least there are descriptions...

Luthien: *attempts to pronounce some of the names* "Chimichanga." "Gordita." "Chile relleno." At least we don't lack for options, here.

Finrod: We might just have to point at random!

Luthien: That sounds agreeable. *selects something randomly* "Fajitas." This sounds rather good, actually.

Finrod: *picks quesadillas* Now we put faith in your sources!

Luthien: We shall see. *orders the fajitas and the quesadillas when the waiter returns, as well as a water for herself* So, I have a few errands to run this afternoon. Perhaps you'd accompany me? There is a dress shop I've been longing to visit, but have not yet had the opportunity.

Finrod: *thinks a moment* Alright. I could use a break, what with council and the murders....

Luthien: Have there been any new developments?

Finrod: *shakes his head* Nothing much. A vague account of elvish sounding voices.

Luthien: The whole thing is troubling. *frowns* I must admit, my dreams of late have been... foreboding.

Finrod: *frowns* How so?

Luthien: Something dark and hungry that dwells beneath the foundations of the city. Its hunger is so great, and it grasps with long, waving arms. *shudders slightly* I'm sorry, I'm not sure why I mentioned it. It's unrelated to the murders, but... troubling, as I said.

Finrod: *admits* We're kind of desperate for anything. Any dream or prickle on the back of the neck... *sheepish grin* Not evidence, of course, but...

Luthien: And you suppose this is worth mentioning to Captain Ecthelion?

Finrod: *not so dignified shrug* It might be. Even though it's probably not related.

Luthien: I hope it isn't a cause for alarm. I've had the same dream several times, though.

Finrod: It's tricky. I'm probably just...fishing for some kind of lead.

Luthien: Well, if there's a chance it might be useful to the guard, I'll report it as soon as I can.

Finrod: *nods* Anyway! Nicer topics... *grins*

Luthien: One of the hounds at the animal sanctuary just had pups yesterday. They're adorable!

Finrod: Oh, that must be sweet! *looks up as their food arrives*

Luthien: *thanks the waiter when a plate of sizzling chicken and assorted veggies is set in front of her* It is, they're tiny things, though judging by their mother's size, they'll be quite large when they're grown. *carefully not touching the hot skillet* This looks delicious.

Finrod: *agrees* And smells wonderful.

Luthien: *speaks a quick Sindarin blessing before poking at the dish with a fork. She lifts the lid on the container with the tortillas.* Ahh, bread is included as well. Though I've never seen a flatbread quite like this.

Finrod: It's all very strange! *cuts off a bit off his quesadilla*

The meal is something of a misadventure. Luthien spots another guest eating the same dish by filling the tortillas with the fajita meat and attemts to emulate them, with a few failed attempts (Melui happily snatches up any bit of chicken that falls to the floor) preceding something that actually resembles a successful fajita. Finrod seems to have less trouble with his quesadilla, eating with a knife and fork, and Luthien eventually gets the hang of folding up the little tortillas.

Luthien: *after the waiter has taken their empty plates* Well, I'd say that was a success.

Finrod: It was very good! Excellent suggestion.

Luthien: I'm glad you enjoyed it. The food certainly had an interesting blend of flavors. *she leaves money for the bill and a tip on the table before heading out again* And now to the dress shop. *obviously quite pleased*

Finrod: You know what I like best about these new clothes? Robes.

Luthien: Robes are wonderful. I've become quite intrigued with some of the humans' fashion. I have seen some dresses that are incredibly beautiful.

Finrod: I got one of those fluffy ones. I practically live in it at home.

Luthien: *dubiously* Not the kind that you pull over your head, right?

Finrod: No, it wraps around. There are other ones?

Luthien: They call them "snuggies," I believe. They look quite hilarious.

Finrod: *grins* They sound rather ridiculous.

Luthien: *laughs* They are! We might see one in the market.
Luthien: *leads them to the dress shop* Here we are.

Finrod: Are you looking for anything in particular?

Luthien: *shakes her head* Not really. Blue is my favorite color, though. *inside the shop, they're greeted by the clerk, who is a young human girl. Luthien begins combing through the racks.* These are lovely.

Finrod: Quite different.

Luthien: *picks up a dress and holds it up* What do you think of this one? It's too short, but I like the style.



Finrod: That's quite pretty.

Luthien: *holds it in front of her body* I should have them make one for me. This seems to be sized for a human woman.

Finrod: Oh, you're right. I am sure they would!

Luthien: *smiles and takes the dress to the clerk, placing an order. She comes to hang the dress on the rack.* I'll be back in just a moment; they need to take my measurements.

Finrod: *idly looks at the other items in the shop*

Luthien: *returns a few minutes later* That takes care of that.

Finrod: Good. This seamstress does nice work, if these clothes are anything to go by.

Luthien: *already scoping out several other dresses* I'm going to have to come back, it seems. I only really need one new dress at a time, but there are several styles I like.

Finrod: A woman who only buys one dress at a time?

Luthien: One dress at this store. *grin*

Finrod: *chuckles* Oh, my mistake!

Luthien: *laughs* You'll know better next time. Come, I saw a jewelry store on the way here that I've never noticed before.

---

Note to self: Telerin food is not nearly as spicy as 'Mexican' food.