...................

[vardamir]

Tindómiel is dead. Everyone is certain that she won't be coming back

Comments

[amandil]

hi dad.

[vardamir]

Hello son.

Re:

[amandil]

I.

Um.

Nevermind. You probably want to be alone.

[vardamir]

(taps a pack of cigarettes against his palm distractedly)

No, go ahead, finish your thought.

Re:

[amandil]

I just, um.

It's not your fault you couldn't stop her. I guess that's all I wanted to say.

[vardamir]

(struggling with a faulty lighter, cigarette between his lips; pauses, staring at the wall)

(deflated tone) I know. (finally gets a sustained flame, lights a cigarette) Thank you, Mandi. (resumes staring at the wall)

[amandil]

I... well. I don't know.

I love you dad. *hugs*

[vardamir]

(falters; sighs a cloud of smoke and grinds out the cigarette)

I love you, too. (runs a hand through Amandil's hair and smiles a little) You look like her, you know. You favour her more than you do your mother or myself. (blinks a few times in rapid succession and turns away to tap out another cigarette) I'll be fine, Amandil. (recommencing the battle with the lighter) I'd be worried about your grandfather, myself.

...shit. (flings the impotent lighter through an open window; stands up, yanks a taper out of a candelabra and holds the flame to the end of his cigarette before dousing the wick in the water of a nearby vase) ........ (exhales, noticing the expression on his son's face; softens) Really, Mandi. I'm all right. (faraway expression reappears) Go see to Manwendil. He's in a bad way right now. (sits back down and blows smoke out the window)

Re:

[amandil]

*trying to avoid the smoke without looking like trying to avoid the smoke*

Yeah. Okay.

Yeah.

Bye dad...