About holes in people and stuff like that
Nieliqui: *sneak*sneak*sneak*
Gorlim: *sits upside-down on the couch*
Nieliqui: *tilts to stare at him* What are you doing?
Gorlim: Zenning. *sticks his feet up in the air and makes funny faces at her*
Nieliqui: *tips over further, ponytails hanging* Whatting?
Gorlim: I'm not sure, really. It's something my mun does. *flips over abruptly, grabs her, flips her upside-down and carries her calmly around the halls*
Nieliqui: *squeals and kicks* Stop iiiiiiitttttttttttt!!!
Gorlim: *looks down at her* Something wrong, lass?
Nieliqui: I'm gonna throw up this time, I mean it!
Gorlim: Are you ill? Perhaps I should make you some ginger tea...
Nieliqui: *practically* I can't drink tea upside down.
Gorlim: Oh you're UPSIDE-DOWN! Is THAT the problem! You know, I THOUGHT you looked different! *tosses her up, catches her, and sets her on her feet*
Nieliqui: *giggling dizzily* Do that again!
Gorlim: What?
Nieliqui: Flip me! *reaching up*
Gorlim: Why, I'd never do such a thing! *grabs her around her waist with one arm and scoops her up upside-down* The very IDEA! Why, it's positively unseemly!
Nieliqui: *shrieks happily* Come oooooon!
Gorlim: I can hardly come anywhere if you're not leading me, young miss. *flips her again, holds her out in front of him right side up* You're just being silly. *flips her upside down again and slings her over his shoulder*
Nieliqui: Ooof. *grabbing the back of his tunic in both hands* Gorlim, is Halbarad mad at me?
Gorlim: Is he mad at you? I should say NOT. He's usually mad at me, however, so it would be wise if you weren't seen with me too much.
Nieliqui: I think he's mad about the maia thing, and Grandpa. *picking at a loose thread*
Gorlim: No. He's not a bit mad. And trust me, I'd know. He was scared that your grampa would do something bad to him.
Nieliqui: I know. *pickpickpick* I don't like Grandpa. All he does it watch TV and smite people.
Gorlim: I don't believe I've met him. I don't think he ever liked me much.
Nieliqui: *I* like you.
Gorlim: *smiles* That's a grand thing, little Vala. You know who I am?
Nieliqui: Sure. You're Gorlim. You were dead for a long time but now you're not. And I'm glad you're not, because wraiths are boring.
Gorlim: *laughs* Boring! Well. I'm glad you approve of my current state.
Nieliqui: Mmm hmm. You're warmer.
Gorlim: *smiles thoughtfully* You're not the first to tell me that today. *flips her back to her right way and sets her up on his shoulders*
Nieliqui: *clutches his hair, but not too tight* Who else said it?
Gorlim: Faramir. I don't think you know him. He went away. Maybe out of Arda, I'm not sure.
Nieliqui: *shaking my head* No...but you think about him a lot.
Gorlim: You can tell that?
Nieliqui: *leaning on his head* Yeah, sometimes. It's looking at someone and seeing pictures around them, just with your heart an' not your eyes.
Gorlim: *smiles at that idea* You're right, of course. What else can you see?
Nieliqui: Well...um... *peering down at him* There's like a big hole, and you put things into it to fill it up, but they don't stay there very long. And you smile when you don't really want to.
Gorlim: A big hole? *looks up at her, smirking*
Nieliqui: *suspiciously* What?
Gorlim: I'm just curious what you mean, that's all. Anything else?
Nieliqui: *shaking my head* Not right now.
Gorlim: *grins and wanders along the hall with her* A big hole. I suppose that's true.
Nieliqui: *solemn nod* Like not all of you came back
Gorlim: You mean, bits of me are still floating around in that swamp? *but he sounds like mention of the place makes him jumpy*
Nieliqui: Nooooo, not like that. Bodies don't mean nothin'. Part of YOU. *patting his hair* It's okay, it's the kind of thing you can grow back.
Gorlim: It is? *plucks her down and looks at her* Are you sure?
Nieliqui: *giving him a funny look* Of course. You can't tell?
Gorlim: *shakes his head* No. I'm not even sure what it is that's missing. *crouches in front of her* Can you fix it, little one?
Nieliqui: *giving him an even funnier look* Of course not. You gotta fix it yourself, or it won't BE "you." Though people can help if you let 'em.
Gorlim: How?
Nieliqui: ... You really don't know? It's YOUR fea. *looks about as baffled as if he'd just said something similar about his own hands*
Gorlim: People can't see and know things about it like you can, little one.
Nieliqui: Oh. It's a mortal thing, huh?
Gorlim: *nods* Uh-huh. So tell me. How can they help?
Nieliqui: Easy. When they love you, you gotta believe it.
Gorlim: *stares at her* I... I do believe it...
Nieliqui: Nuh-uh. Not where that hole is. Or it'd be gone by now. *shrugs* I dunno, I figured maybe you like it like that.
Gorlim: What, empty?
Nieliqui: Yeah. I guess if you're used to it. *doubtfully, reaching out to touch his chest* I wouldn't like it.
Gorlim: *looks down and doesn't say anything*
Nieliqui: Do you?
Gorlim: *shakes his head* No.
Nieliqui: Oh. *chewing her lip, petting his chest now with small curious fingers* Does it hurt?
Gorlim: Uh-huh. A little. Sometimes more, sometimes less.
Nieliqui: Then why do you still have it?
Gorlim: Because. Because...I've never been able to get rid of it.
Nieliqui: Never?
Gorlim: Well...it didn't used to be there until...I don't remember if it was there before I died. I don't think it was.
Nieliqui: So you remember...before, huh?
Gorlim: *nods* Before the war, I was very happy. I had a farm and a wife, big fields that all got burned...we were going to have kids. Lots of kids. *smiles, thinking of her* That didn't last long.
Nieliqui: Oh. *looks sad and fidgetty at the same time* She died?
Gorlim: *quietly* Yes.
Nieliqui: And then you died too?
Gorlim: Not right after, no.
Nieliqui: *looking uncomfortable and very young* But it was a long time ago, right?
Gorlim: It was a very long time ago. Thousands and thousands of years ago.
Nieliqui: But you're still broken.
Gorlim: I had no way to unbreak before now.
Nieliqui: So you DO now! *bounces a little*
Gorlim: *smiles* If what you say is true, then yes. I have people to love me now.
Nieliqui: Well, good. *pouting* Can I be back up now?
Gorlim: *smiles* Of course! *scoops her up and returns her to his shoulders* I'll take you on my guard rounds. You'll be good company. Would you like that?
Nieliqui: Can I have a sword?
Gorlim: Hmmm...you know, I think you can! As long as you don't poke me with it. *marches off to his room and finds her a wooden sword he had carved for his own children* Here. How's that?
Nieliqui: That's not a REAL sword.
Gorlim: No, but it still hurts pretty bad.
Nieliqui: ... Oh all right. *accepts it dubiously* I guess it'll be okay for now.
Gorlim: *smiles* Good lass. Maybe I'll find you a real one once I'm sure you can stay up there with that thing and not kill me.
Nieliqui: *makes a snorting "ffffftttt!* noise* I wouldn't.
Gorlim: Well, we shall see. *marches out into the hall* Ready for guard duty, little one?
Nieliqui: *waving the wooden sword as if he's a warhorse* Tally-ho!
Gorlim: Aaaaand MARCH! *marches down the hall with her whistling to the beat of his footsteps*
Gorlim: *sits upside-down on the couch*
Nieliqui: *tilts to stare at him* What are you doing?
Gorlim: Zenning. *sticks his feet up in the air and makes funny faces at her*
Nieliqui: *tips over further, ponytails hanging* Whatting?
Gorlim: I'm not sure, really. It's something my mun does. *flips over abruptly, grabs her, flips her upside-down and carries her calmly around the halls*
Nieliqui: *squeals and kicks* Stop iiiiiiitttttttttttt!!!
Gorlim: *looks down at her* Something wrong, lass?
Nieliqui: I'm gonna throw up this time, I mean it!
Gorlim: Are you ill? Perhaps I should make you some ginger tea...
Nieliqui: *practically* I can't drink tea upside down.
Gorlim: Oh you're UPSIDE-DOWN! Is THAT the problem! You know, I THOUGHT you looked different! *tosses her up, catches her, and sets her on her feet*
Nieliqui: *giggling dizzily* Do that again!
Gorlim: What?
Nieliqui: Flip me! *reaching up*
Gorlim: Why, I'd never do such a thing! *grabs her around her waist with one arm and scoops her up upside-down* The very IDEA! Why, it's positively unseemly!
Nieliqui: *shrieks happily* Come oooooon!
Gorlim: I can hardly come anywhere if you're not leading me, young miss. *flips her again, holds her out in front of him right side up* You're just being silly. *flips her upside down again and slings her over his shoulder*
Nieliqui: Ooof. *grabbing the back of his tunic in both hands* Gorlim, is Halbarad mad at me?
Gorlim: Is he mad at you? I should say NOT. He's usually mad at me, however, so it would be wise if you weren't seen with me too much.
Nieliqui: I think he's mad about the maia thing, and Grandpa. *picking at a loose thread*
Gorlim: No. He's not a bit mad. And trust me, I'd know. He was scared that your grampa would do something bad to him.
Nieliqui: I know. *pickpickpick* I don't like Grandpa. All he does it watch TV and smite people.
Gorlim: I don't believe I've met him. I don't think he ever liked me much.
Nieliqui: *I* like you.
Gorlim: *smiles* That's a grand thing, little Vala. You know who I am?
Nieliqui: Sure. You're Gorlim. You were dead for a long time but now you're not. And I'm glad you're not, because wraiths are boring.
Gorlim: *laughs* Boring! Well. I'm glad you approve of my current state.
Nieliqui: Mmm hmm. You're warmer.
Gorlim: *smiles thoughtfully* You're not the first to tell me that today. *flips her back to her right way and sets her up on his shoulders*
Nieliqui: *clutches his hair, but not too tight* Who else said it?
Gorlim: Faramir. I don't think you know him. He went away. Maybe out of Arda, I'm not sure.
Nieliqui: *shaking my head* No...but you think about him a lot.
Gorlim: You can tell that?
Nieliqui: *leaning on his head* Yeah, sometimes. It's looking at someone and seeing pictures around them, just with your heart an' not your eyes.
Gorlim: *smiles at that idea* You're right, of course. What else can you see?
Nieliqui: Well...um... *peering down at him* There's like a big hole, and you put things into it to fill it up, but they don't stay there very long. And you smile when you don't really want to.
Gorlim: A big hole? *looks up at her, smirking*
Nieliqui: *suspiciously* What?
Gorlim: I'm just curious what you mean, that's all. Anything else?
Nieliqui: *shaking my head* Not right now.
Gorlim: *grins and wanders along the hall with her* A big hole. I suppose that's true.
Nieliqui: *solemn nod* Like not all of you came back
Gorlim: You mean, bits of me are still floating around in that swamp? *but he sounds like mention of the place makes him jumpy*
Nieliqui: Nooooo, not like that. Bodies don't mean nothin'. Part of YOU. *patting his hair* It's okay, it's the kind of thing you can grow back.
Gorlim: It is? *plucks her down and looks at her* Are you sure?
Nieliqui: *giving him a funny look* Of course. You can't tell?
Gorlim: *shakes his head* No. I'm not even sure what it is that's missing. *crouches in front of her* Can you fix it, little one?
Nieliqui: *giving him an even funnier look* Of course not. You gotta fix it yourself, or it won't BE "you." Though people can help if you let 'em.
Gorlim: How?
Nieliqui: ... You really don't know? It's YOUR fea. *looks about as baffled as if he'd just said something similar about his own hands*
Gorlim: People can't see and know things about it like you can, little one.
Nieliqui: Oh. It's a mortal thing, huh?
Gorlim: *nods* Uh-huh. So tell me. How can they help?
Nieliqui: Easy. When they love you, you gotta believe it.
Gorlim: *stares at her* I... I do believe it...
Nieliqui: Nuh-uh. Not where that hole is. Or it'd be gone by now. *shrugs* I dunno, I figured maybe you like it like that.
Gorlim: What, empty?
Nieliqui: Yeah. I guess if you're used to it. *doubtfully, reaching out to touch his chest* I wouldn't like it.
Gorlim: *looks down and doesn't say anything*
Nieliqui: Do you?
Gorlim: *shakes his head* No.
Nieliqui: Oh. *chewing her lip, petting his chest now with small curious fingers* Does it hurt?
Gorlim: Uh-huh. A little. Sometimes more, sometimes less.
Nieliqui: Then why do you still have it?
Gorlim: Because. Because...I've never been able to get rid of it.
Nieliqui: Never?
Gorlim: Well...it didn't used to be there until...I don't remember if it was there before I died. I don't think it was.
Nieliqui: So you remember...before, huh?
Gorlim: *nods* Before the war, I was very happy. I had a farm and a wife, big fields that all got burned...we were going to have kids. Lots of kids. *smiles, thinking of her* That didn't last long.
Nieliqui: Oh. *looks sad and fidgetty at the same time* She died?
Gorlim: *quietly* Yes.
Nieliqui: And then you died too?
Gorlim: Not right after, no.
Nieliqui: *looking uncomfortable and very young* But it was a long time ago, right?
Gorlim: It was a very long time ago. Thousands and thousands of years ago.
Nieliqui: But you're still broken.
Gorlim: I had no way to unbreak before now.
Nieliqui: So you DO now! *bounces a little*
Gorlim: *smiles* If what you say is true, then yes. I have people to love me now.
Nieliqui: Well, good. *pouting* Can I be back up now?
Gorlim: *smiles* Of course! *scoops her up and returns her to his shoulders* I'll take you on my guard rounds. You'll be good company. Would you like that?
Nieliqui: Can I have a sword?
Gorlim: Hmmm...you know, I think you can! As long as you don't poke me with it. *marches off to his room and finds her a wooden sword he had carved for his own children* Here. How's that?
Nieliqui: That's not a REAL sword.
Gorlim: No, but it still hurts pretty bad.
Nieliqui: ... Oh all right. *accepts it dubiously* I guess it'll be okay for now.
Gorlim: *smiles* Good lass. Maybe I'll find you a real one once I'm sure you can stay up there with that thing and not kill me.
Nieliqui: *makes a snorting "ffffftttt!* noise* I wouldn't.
Gorlim: Well, we shall see. *marches out into the hall* Ready for guard duty, little one?
Nieliqui: *waving the wooden sword as if he's a warhorse* Tally-ho!
Gorlim: Aaaaand MARCH! *marches down the hall with her whistling to the beat of his footsteps*