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[inafadingcrown]

[Thorin Oakenshield, video]

[Welp, there sure is an elf on your tablet. She gives a respectful nod of her head before speaking.]

If you have a moment, there is something I would discuss with you.

[Celebrían, video]

May I speak with you, pinig?

[Action for...a little plot of land near the apartments]

[Believe it or not, even ethereal elves get stressed. Working in the clinic almost nonstop since the battle has taken a toll on Galadriel and, even worse, Celebrían had been affected. Most seriously affected. It had only reinforced the fact that, however she might try, Galadriel could not protect her daughter as she wished to. Not unless she were to lock her in a tower and- well, Thingol’s example wasn’t something she wanted follow here.

Frustration, anger, and a deep seated feeling of guilt and failure fuel her lately. She’s aware that’s not exactly healthy, though, so she’s taking some time to herself- and what better way to sooth her soul than to do some gardening?

It’s nothing major, just a little empty lot near the holds that she’s taken charge of- and for the moment, it’s nothing more than a few vegetables and herbs here and there. Mostly what she’s been able to scrounge up in the marketplace or useful things that she’s found growing wild in the city. But it feels good to have some connection to nature, to surround herself with growing things again. And, of course, having Nenya with her means that the garden has a little boost. You can feel it, really- it’s a feeling of safety, of comfort, and of life. It’s not obvious magic, at least not to anyone who isn’t familiar to that sort of thing, but it’s there.]

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[justthedriver]

[ There's nothing Nikolai is more aware of than strange changes to his own emotions. He circles around Galadriel - he knows who she is from the network, listened to her conversation with Boromir and many others - but there's a strange warmth within himself. Like drinking warm stew in winter, made especially obvious that Nikolai's heart has been wintry since the mission, all warmth drawn out for the sake of his own protection.

Sometimes knives are cold. Sometimes wounds are red. But sometimes blades might be warm and green and Nikolai feels his breath rattles in his chest. (Like a corpse's; he has been a dead man for days.) Inside him something splits apart, but he's used to bleeding by now. His feet takes him towards her, but he still skirts around her without getting too close. He watches her from a slight distance away - definitely near enough to be seen even by mortal eyes - even as he lights up a cigarette.

When he speaks, his lips and eyes are covered by smoke. ]

Would have thought the rain to kill the plants. It's not good rain. [ Slowly, he tips his head, his eyes never leaving her figure. ]

What are you doing?

[inafadingcrown]

[She's keenly aware of his presence even before he speaks; even were she not... who she is, she would have been- a by-product of being so on edge from recent events, perhaps. When she finally glances his way, there's that moment of surprise, a flicker of recognition, before she's able to hide it.]

I would have thought my actions obvious; I am gardening- as best one can here, leastwise. As you say, it is not easy.

[Likely not what he meant and she knows it.]

[justthedriver]

[ He barely takes notice of that flicker. He expects it from her, from people who comes from this strange place called 'Middle Earth'.

Instead, he lets the silence stretch between them, a heavy thing broken periodically by the sounds of the rain hitting the ground. Nikolai does not move; he watches her as how a statue would watch another of its like, and only breaks the stillness to take another drag of the cigarette. ]

I would say impossible. [ He skirts the issue. He understands that she knows what he means, but Nikolai is not going to show his hand so easily by revealing that, or even overtly asking his questions. ]

This is nice place. Just around here, small circle. [ He lets out the smoke a little harder, the cloud curling towards her. ]

You are doing something, da?

[inafadingcrown]

And yet here the garden grows. [She likes that- more being thought than said. It was the mark of a keen mind, she has found.

She frowns slightly at the smoke, raising a hand to wave it away from her face. She will never understand the appeal, no matter how many she has known with the habit.]

It is my doing, yes. [But she's not about to say how.]

[justthedriver]

Your doing. [ There's an edge to those words, almost dangerous if not for how idly he says them. Nikolai isn't stupid; he knows she is dangerous, and it is precisely that danger that has him approach here.

He taps his cigarette, sending ash onto the ground. Keeping his eyes on her, he takes another drag, and as he speaks, the smoke wreathes his face, hiding his eyes. ]

Like that strange feeling in my head when I walk over here. [ He tips his head slightly. ] Da?

[inafadingcrown]

Precisely so. [She remains where she is, her only movement to cant her head to the side]

Does it discomfort you?

[justthedriver]

I don't like it. [ He shrugs, almost casual except for the fact that he even mentions it. Nikolai almost scowls, because he hasn't exactly meant to say it that obviously, but that would be an even bigger giveaway. So he only tempers down his reaction, merely diverting his eyes towards his cigarette. ]

Why do it?

[inafadingcrown]

I thought to give my little garden all the advantages I might. [A little smile] It is as simple as that, truly.

[justthedriver]

[ He looks at her for a long moment from the corner of his eyes. Not directly meeting her gaze, just trying to look into her eyes while not letting her meet his. Because an instinct tells him that he shouldn't, that it will be dangerous to, and Nikolai has gone too long listening to his instincts.

He doesn't say anything for a long time, just finishing his cigarette. Then he lifts his foot, scrapes the burning butt against the sole. ]

Do you think of him when you look at me? That man I look like from your world?

[ He remembers Aragorn, in that dark city. They are not good memories. Not because Aragorn is a bad person; because he isn't. ]

[inafadingcrown]

[She regards him a little more seriously now, not seeking to meet his eyes- if he wishes to avoid her gaze, she will not press the issue.]

In part- you bear him such a strong resemblance that I cannot help but think of him. But you have not his manner in the least. Such thoughts never last long. [It would be harder for Arwen. Or even for Elrond. But, fond as she is of him, her interactions with Aragorn have been far more limited. It's not as painful.]

[justthedriver]

[ His eyes flicker towards her for a moment before he stares up at the perpetually grey skies. He doesn't know if he's happy about that. He's not that man, and he will never be like him. But there will always be a part of Nikolai that will want to be a hero, who wants to be at least decent without having to hide it with atrocities and harshness. It's the same part of him that has him becoming a spy, really, and even though he knows that it's a part of him, he can't help but think of himself as being ridiculously stupid.

It's not ever possible. He has chosen his path in life, he cannot turn back on it now. So now he look at her again, and gives a crooked smile. ]

Good. [ Pushing off the pillar he has been leaning against, he makes to walk again. ] Dosvidanya, Galadriel.

[ There's just the slightest bit of potential mockery in the way he says her name. ]