Part 1!

[idril]

Yaban: *collecting cherry blossoms from a tree to put by his desk in the house of history*

Idril: *smiles when she sees him, was just on her way to see if he was at work* hello, Yaban!

Yaban: *turns and grins* hey!

Idril: *kisses his cheek* Picking flowers?

Yaban: just getting some branches. *shows his little cuttings*

Idril: They're very pretty. Where will you put them?

Yaban: in a jar at my desk. Something to brighten things up in my cell

Idril: oh, it'll be lovely there. *smiles* Can I help?

Yaban: that high one looks nice?

Idril: *grins and plucks it and a few others carefully for him*

Yaban: *sniffs them happily* reminds me of home

Idril: oh? Were there many cherry blossom trees?

Yaban: mhm. Come in with me? I've got a book of stories you might like

Idril: ooh, certainly! *happy to join him*

Yaban: *sets up his branches in the glass jar he'd set aside and goes to select the volume of fairy stories for Idril*

Idril: *sits on the edge of his desk and watches him* how's work lately?

Yaban: decent. Boring.
Grima: seems to have vanished

Grima:: *has not, is just in the backroom organizing things*

Idril: oh? So he isn't troubling you any more?

Yaban: I think he's afraid you'll beat him senseless

Idril: *laughs* well, good. You have some protection, then!

Yaban: my heroine.

Idril: *smiles* so what is this book?

Yaban: it's full of stories. Human princesses and princes and peasants and magic

Idril: Are they from your time? *flips through the book slowly, reading bits here and there*

Yaban: no. I'm not even sure what a 'germany' is

Idril: hm. That sounds familiar... maybe Gel would know.

Yaban: the big scary guy?

Idril: *laughs* yes. He's from farther in the future than you.

Yaban: well, leave my name out of it

Idril: why?

Yaban: the look he gave me!

Idril: don't be afraid of him. We're not together any more

Yaban: why?

Idril: he didn't have time for me.

Yaban: terrible. *pats her hand*

Idril: mmhm. *scoots over and pats his desk* read some to me?

Yaban: *little nod and chooses a story and begins reciting*

Idril: *listens happily, leaning close to look at the pictures as he goes*

Yaban: *pleased with the printing technology of the elves as he points out details*

Idril: *smiles fondly* you really love this, don't you

Yaban: I do like stories. It's part of how I came to be a historian

Idril: oh? So then you can tell the difference between truth and story?

Yaban: well, this isn't written like a history

Idril: ahh. I'm afraid I haven't read much past elvish history, which sometimes does seem fantastical

Yaban: well, let me explain the difference between a factual and a fanciful account. *starts in on it, with things like names, locations, and other important details*

Idril: hmm. *actually paying attention*

Yaban: sometimes that doesn't quite work, like with religious accounts, which elf history does seem to be a mixture of, but generally that's your hints it's a factual account

Idril: *grins* fascinating, Yaban

Yaban: *little bow*

Idril: may I keep the book for a while?

Yaban: it's a gift for you. I had them make a copy to set aside

Yaban: when we finished the Sindarin translation

Idril: oh! Thank you! *kisses his cheek again, touched*

Yaban: *happy grin at her* I hope you enjoy the stories

Idril: *smiles* I'm sure I will! Do you have a favorite?

Yaban: mhm. The one about the snake that becomes the king's son in law

Idril: I'll read that one first. *grins*

Yaban: great. ... *squeezes her hand*

Idril: *squeezes back, smiling* let's take a snack break, hm?

Yaban: what do you have in mind?

Idril: that restaurant you took me to, the easterling one.

Yaban: well, as my princess wishes. *rises*

Idril: *smiles and takes his hand as they head off*

Yaban: *beaming!*

Idril: *enjoys a light lunch with him, chatting more about stories*

Yaban: *describes ones from his childhood*

Idril: *fascinated, leaning close as he speaks*

Yaban: ...so we thought quite highly of the moon. It was a surprise to find out that it's a maiar and a flower...

Idril: I'm sure she enjoyed your worship. *grins*

Yaban: isn't Tilion a man?

Idril: ((OOPS)) well, yes. He is

Yaban: oh good. I thought I'd gotten totally mixed up

Idril: *smiles* you do know your history, after all

Yaban: I like to learn. *smiles back at her, a bit closer*

Idril: *laughs* I've noticed that. ...*leans in to kiss him*

Yaban: *pleased surprise and kisses back*

Idril: *keeps it short and sweet and smiles at him*

Yaban: thanks, princess *smiles at her*

Idril: *laughs* surely now you'll call me by my name?

Yaban: Idril. Thank you, Idril

Idril: *warm smile and kisses him again* my pleasure, Yaban

Yaban: *happily holding her hands*

Idril: *squeezes his hand, enjoying flirting and talking with him*

Dagnir: *walks by the restaurant with Idril's kittens*

Idril: *sees them and wrinkles her nose* now where is he taking them?

Yaban: where do mother cats usually take their babies?

Yaban: *no idea who Dagnir is*

Idril: that's the father. *nods to Dagnir* he's a mangy, creepy thing, that somehow my cat took a liking to.

Yaban: ahh. Well, you know how cats are. The strongest hunter

Idril: so gross. He tends to take the kittens for a walk like this every day, but I haven't been able to figure out where. ..

Yaban: *interested* I had no idea cats did that

Yaban: want to follow?

Idril: sure. *gets up, taking his hand*

Yaban: *gets up and goes outside with her quickly to spot the cats*

Dagnir and kittens: *at the end of the lane*

Idril: *pursue!*

Dagnir: *low cat grumbles to give them a guide to what to watch*

Kittens: *practicing spying*

Idril: *whispering* what are they doing?

Yaban: stopping and staring at thi--

Kitten: *turns around and stares right at them* MEER

Dagnir: *turns* FSST! *runs up the wal*

Kittens: *follow*

Idril: hey! Wait! *runs up to the wall* oh, not again!

Dagnir: *down in a yard and streaking away, followed by little fluffballs*

Yaban: well, that was... unexpected

Idril: I tell you, he's up to no good!

Yaban: he's just a cat, though

Idril: still!

Yaban: tiiiny little brain

Idril: I know he's up to something, though

Yaban: like what?

Idril: I don't know. But I can see it in his eyes

Yaban: *doubtful look*

I just know that cat is up to no good!