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Durin's Day Party...Part 2
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Some of you have asked what the Kaz'ängler dance is like. Well, I picture it as a mix between the waltz and one of those old English dances like in Pride and Prejudice...where they line up and dance side by side, facing each other, and weave in and out. But put a dwarf spin on it for good measure. ha ha.
And no...I made up the name. Sounds dwarfish though, right?
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Chapter 35
~X~
As the musicians began to play, all in attendance hushed, eager to watch the graceful and intricate dance performed by the Durin family. Needless to say, there were many wide eyed dwarves, and dwarrowdams, staring not only the two exotic looking hobbits on the dance floor…but their mighty war chief as well! It was truly a sight to behold.
Sier did indeed forget all about the spectators, keeping her sight trained on Fili's blue eyes, feeling safe and protected just as long as he held her hand. The steps came naturally to her, and as he twirled her around, parting and coming together, she could honestly say she had never felt more alive.
"You are amazing," he whispered as he held her to him, moments before she ducked under his arm and linked hands with him as the danced side by side.
"And you are a flatterer," she chuckled, following the others in the line as they formed a circle and the males twirled their partners within.
"I only tell the truth," Fili laughed when she at last came back within his reach. And the truth was exactly what he planned to tell her later that night. The truth about his feeling, and especially the truth about what he was beginning to suspect was happening between them. He only hoped that she wished to say the same thing…oh, how he wished it with all his heart.
Dancing with Fili was nothing like dancing with Dwalin, for while they were both equally graceful, she found there was no comparison. Sier could not have wiped the smile off her face if she tried, and her heartbeat raced every time he looked at her. His little mustache beads swung back and forth when he twirled her, and she found herself wondering what they might feel like if he kissed her. They had tickled her hand before…would they do the same if he kissed her lips? She could also not help but notice what a fine figure he cut in his new coat and crown, tantalizing her senses as she brazenly allowed her mind to imagine what he might look like out of them. She had seen his bare chest before, and enjoyed what she saw very much…but dare she allow her thoughts to wander any further? She took in a deep breath and tried to focus on the dance…and not on the place her mind would rather have gone.
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Thorin and Dis were doing well, having practiced this many times over the past ten years…and many more before that in Ered Luin. But tonight, the princess could see that her brother was unusually distracted, his eyes not staying on her or the steps, but straying over to Kili and his lovely little hobbit partner. And as Dis continued to watch, she suddenly became very much aware of the reason…or at least what she hoped was the reason. Was her brother actually sitting up and taking notice of a female? Could it be that Mahal had opened his heart at last and sent him the lass who could be his one? For years she had prayed for Thorin to find love, to offer him the joy and companionship she had found with her Flinn. The idea left her almost giddy, and she quickly began to devise a way to see if her suspicions were true.
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Dwalin had not said a word up to this point, not because he was dissatisfied with his partner…oh, no, quite the opposite in fact. He had remained silent simply out of fear that he might open his mouth and quickly insert his foot! He was a warrior, not a poet. He handled swords and axes, not lovely dams such as Miss Bergie. And yet, here he was, dancing with the prettiest maid he had ever met, and he could not form a single sentence to express his delight. What was wrong with him?
"Thorin did not lie," Bergie said at last, when the two were close enough to speak. "You are very graceful."
This caused Dwalin to look down at her, a scowl causing his eyebrows to meet together over his somewhat crooked nose.
"It was a compliment, you big brute," she quickly added, laughing at his perceived offence. "A warrior such as yourself cannot help but be fluid and graceful while engaged in battle, and it is no surprise that such a thing would carry over to dancing as well."
"Oh…I…thank you," he muttered, somewhat mollified by her explanation. "I do apologize if my hands are too rough," he added, knowing that all his training had calloused them, making them coarse to the touch.
"No, not at all," she smiled. "I mean they are a bit rough, but that only shows that you are used to hard labor, not some dandy who shies away from honest work, or your sworn duty." Here her grin turned into something a bit wicked, and she gave him a wink as she whispered into his ear. "I am rather fond of your hands, master dwarf, and I look forward to exploring them further."
Dwalin just about stumbled over his own feet as she spun away, causing Kili to bump into him with a loud oomph.
"Keep moving!" Kili hissed, looking at the stunned warrior in front of him.
Dwalin righted himself and held out his hand just in time to accept his partner back as she returned to his side. Grabbing her by the wrist and placing his hand at her waist, he pulled her in tightly against him.
"Not the subtle type, are you lass?" he growled low into her ear, making her grin wildly.
"Not when I am after something I want," she informed him.
"And how many times have you gone after…something you want?" Dwalin asked, though not sure he wanted to know the answer. Dwarves were different from other races, they married for love…and for life, never dabbling in the arts of romance until their one came along to tempt them. Yet he was unsure as to the moral code of hobbits. Had Bergie sampled the goods, so to speak, in her past…and how often?
"Counting you?" she asked with a serious tone, looking up at Dwalin.
"Aye," he nodded, encouraging her to go on.
"Only once," she grinned back, her adorable button nose wrinkling just a bit as she did. "No one has ever tempted me before, not like you have. And while I am far from needing a rocking chair, I am not a spring chicken either. So you will have to forgive me if I come off appearing too forward, but I know what I want, and I see no sense in playing games or beating around the bush." She paused for a moment and then gave him a pointed stare, all seriousness reflecting in her eyes. "But should my advances be unwelcome or unappreciated, just say the word and I will leave you be. It is not my aim to make you uncomfortable"
"Nay, lass!" Dwalin almost choked, the thought of her simply walking out of his life suddenly inconceivable. "I never said your attention was unwelcome. I…well, it has just all come on rather fast. I am no spring chicken myself, as you put it. I have lived my whole life as a contented bachelor, never dreaming I would find a lass who was willing to take me on. I…I just need a little time to wrap my mind around it, that's all."
"Are you sure you wouldn't prefer to wrap your arms around me instead?" she asked, giving him another one of her wicked grins. When she saw his eyes grow wide again, and his jaw drop open, she patted his hand that held hers in a sympathetic manner. "I will give you some time, my fine warrior. Just don't take too long," she warned. "Subtlety is definitely not be one of my strong suit, but neither is patience." And with that she ceased the conversation and concentrated on the dance, yet the sly smile never left her lips.
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Fili could not believe the near euphoric sensations that had come over him, simply from holding his wife in his arms. He loved it when they were face to face, her body pressed against his…though to be honest, he was probably holding her closer than the dance actually called for. But she didn't seem to mind, and he wasn't complaining either.
"You did an excellent job learning the steps," Fili complimented her once more. "Though I must admit, I would have thoroughly enjoyed teaching them to you myself." He could only imagine the delicious torture such a task would have meant for him. Yet perhaps, had they been placed in this position earlier…then that talk he hoped to have later might possibly have already taken place. Still, holding her now was no less appealing, and he found it only heightened the anticipation of what was to come. He would not let the night end without them coming to a full understanding.
Yet…he still wondered, was there a chance that Sier was truly his one? Were all of these feelings he was experiencing genuine, or merely fabricated by that damned elixir? He had wanted to speak with Oin once more about all this, Gandalf too if he could get him alone, all in hopes of gaining a straight answer. Fili knew there were feelings…very strong ones that he wanted desperately to act upon…but there was that little part of him that still needed to know for sure. He thoroughly believed in his heart, that unless the truth was revealed, he would never completely be at peace. Bina's revenge had been severe, and long reaching…plaguing his mind down to this very day. Fili was so distracted by his thoughts that he missed a step, causing Sier to bump into him, almost falling if he had not caught her in time.
"Oh, I am sorry," she mumbled, her face slightly blushing. "I didn't mean to do that."
"It was my fault," he corrected. "You are doing marvelously. I was just a bit…distracted, is all. He then leaned down and whispered into her ear, using a deep and sultry voice. "It is difficult to concentrate on dance steps with such a beautiful dam in my arms. You truly take my breath away."
Sier really turned red now, looking down as she did her best to avoid his piercing eyes. Yet, she did not let go of him, even when she knew the dance called for her to spin away…she stayed.
"I think it is my turn to be the one out of breath," she whispered, snuggling in just a little bit closer, enjoying how Fili placed his hand to her back and held her in place.
"Hey!" came Kili's voice as he moved up beside the two. "You two are messing me up…stick to the steps!" He then rolled his eyes and turned back to his own partner, as they now moved to the back of the line.
"I suppose we better finish this dance…before we begin another," Fili joked, yet his tone carried more than just humor. "Shall we, my dear?" he asked, taking her by the hand and spinning her away from him.
"We shall!" Sier replied, laughing as they went.
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"You are doing really well," Kili told Marigold as they turned and twirled in step with the music.
"Lies do not become you, Your Highness," the little hobbit laughed, knowing full well that she had already stepped on his toes at least three times. "Yet, I appreciate you saying so."
"No, it is the truth!" he argued. "You are so much better at this than the dam I picked to dance with last year. She was all pointy elbows and knobby knees…with wandering hands to boot! I was black and blue for a week, and not just on my feet."
"You poor thing," she laughed, looking around at the crowd that was watching. "Though with all the evil looks I am receiving from the dwarrowdams, I am starting to wonder if I should be fearing for my life. I would hate to come all the way across Middle Earth simply to end up murdered at the hands of a pack of jealous dams."
"Don't worry, I will protect you, my lady," Kili told her, puffing out his chest a bit.
"My hero," she laughed, as the two continued to dance.
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Dis and Thorin had just circled around to take their place at the end of the line and could not help but overhear Kili and Marigold's conversation. When Dis felt her brother's grip on her hand and waist tighten to an almost painful hold, she knew it was time to act…that or run the risk of being bruised and sore the following day.
"Ouch!" she cried, stumbling to the side and stopping Thorin in his tracks. Her outburst also caught the attention of Kili and Marigold who was dancing in front of them. "Oh…I think I turned my ankle!"
Fili, Sier, Dwalin, and Bergie were farther ahead, and unaware of what had transpired behind them, so they continued on with the dance. While Thorin and Kili helped Dis to the side, followed by a concerned Marigold.
"Are you alright, Amad?" Kili asked.
"It is nothing serious, just a little sprain I am sure," she said, waving off the fearful looks from her brother. "Yet that puts me out of the dance I fear," she informed them.
"We will get you to your chair and you can sit down," Thorin nodded, moving to help her towards the tables.
"No, you need to keep going," she insisted. "You are the king, and it would not do for you to step out just because of me. Finish the dance with Marigold, Kili can help me to my seat."
Thorin opened his mouth to object, yet for some reason, no words came out.
"Oh, I am sure the king would rather have no partner at all, than to suffer one such as I," Marigold protested. "I am really not that good…just ask Kili's feet."
"Nonsense, I have been watching, and you were doing marvelously," Dis argued. "Now, please, get back out there before Fili and Dwalin notice we are gone and stop as well. The dance needs to be finished. Go!" And giving the two a gentle nudge, they complied, heading back out.
"I…I hope you do not mind," Thorin murmured as the two fell into step behind Dwalin and Bergie. "Switching partners and all."
"Oh, no, not at all," she told him, a blush coming to her face as he slipped his hand gently around her waist. "It is an honor to join you, Your Majesty."
"Thorin," he replied. "Please…call me Thorin. For it would appear that you and I will be working rather closely over the winter, getting the planting project up and running for the coming spring. I think it best that we get off on the right foot, don't you think?"
"Oh…yes, of course…Thorin," she nodded, her mouth suddenly very dry for some reason. "Then in turn, you should call me Marigold, or Mari if you prefer, since Miss Brandybuck is far too formal."
"Mari it is then," he smiled, running this thumb over the back of her hand, just before he extended his arm and twirled her away from him. Thorin found that he thoroughly enjoyed the look of delight that came over her face, and the peals of laughter that escaped her lips. Ah, yes…it was truly music to his ears.
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Meanwhile Kili helped the limping Dis back to her seat on the slightly raised dais, pulling out her chair and then running to get a small tufted stool to place her foot upon.
"Is that better, Ama?" he asked, concern shining in his eyes.
"Very," she smiled, doing her best to fake a bit of pain, but not so much that he would suggest getting Oin over to look at it. "I am sure I will be just fine in a few minutes."
"Would you like a drink of water or something?" Kili offered, eager to be of service.
"That would be lovely, thank you," she nodded, watching him dash off to the refreshment table.
"That's the wrong foot," Bilbo spoke up from where he was sitting beside her, smoking his pipe with an almost lazy look in his eyes.
"What?" Dis asked, glancing over at him in confusion.
"The foot you have on the stool," he repeated, pointing at it with the end of his pipe. "It is not the one you pretended to have twisted."
"It isn't?" she gasped, looking down and realizing he was correct. She gave a quick look around and then switched it with the other one. "I can see I might be able to fool some, but not you, Bilbo Baggins."
"Hobbits are quiet folk, we sit, we observe, and we hardly ever go on adventures," he told her with a sly grin. "They make one late for dinner you know. Yet that does not stop us from being sneaky or sly, and as they say back in the Shire…it takes one to know one."
"Are you calling me devious, master hobbit?" she asked, trying to sound offended, but failing miserably.
"Oh, yes," he nodded enthusiastically. "And a finer compliment you will not receive, east of Crickhollow."
"Well…I do not know where Crickhollow is," she huffed, though a grin spread across her face. "Yet I will take the compliment nonetheless. Just as long as you will in turn keep my secret, Mister Baggins."
"My lips are sealed," he nodded, turning his attention back to the three couples still on the dance floor. He silent watched his friends, Thorin and Dwalin, dancing with Marigold and Bergie. "Can't say I saw that coming…did you?"
"On my word, I did not," she chuckled. "Though I have to admit, I am far from opposed to the idea. How about you, Bilbo…any objections, seeing as how they are both related to you…even if distantly."
"Your brother is one of my dearest friends, and if he, and Dwalin, can find happiness, who am I to object?" he told her with a heartfelt grin. "They are both fine and honorable ladies, none better in all the Shire. Yet, will the inhabitance of Erebor accept their king courting a lass of a different race?"
"That will remain to be seen, for as far as I know…things like this do not occur very often…if at all," she mused. "Yet, a one is a one, and no dwarf can argue with the choice of Mahal. If he has seen fit to pair my brother with a hobbit…I for one am not going to argue."
"You are very singular in nature, my lady," Bilbo mused, puffing on his pipe a few more times as he sized up the dam beside him. "So…you are a widow then, Miss Dis?"
"Aye, my Flinn went to the halls of waiting when Kili was only a small lad," she nodded, then gave Bilbo a humorous look. "But don't you go getting any ideas, master hobbit. Flinn was my one…an only. There will never be another for me, even one as fine as you, Bilbo Baggins."
"Ahhh," he said, nodding his head in disappointed acceptance. "Story of my life, Miss Dis. All the good lasses are either already taken, related to me, or simply not interested." He gave a rueful chuckle, having parroted Bergie's statement from the day before.
"You will find your one someday, dear friend," she consoled, patting his arm gently. "Look at how long my brother had to wait. And knowing him like I do…there is still a good chance he will muck it up anyway. Unless we, his friends and kin, help him out just a bit."
"Yes…I see your point," Bilbo agreed, knowing all too well how difficult it was for Thorin to express himself emotionally. He then looked over at Dis and gave her a conspiratorial wink of his eyes. "I think you and I will get along famously, my lady. Yes indeed."
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Fili and Sier were so wrapped up in each other, it barely registered that the conclusion to the dance was upon them. At the last moment, Fili, having performed these steps so often, came back to his senses and executed the final move flawlessly. Taking Sier in his arms, he grasped her left hand in his right, supported her back with his other, and dipped her backwards in one sweeping motion. She gave a slight squeak, but when she found herself suspended by his strength alone, looking up into his Durin blue eyes, she just about melted. Oh, how she loved him…and was more than ready to admit it.
As the crowd roared, the clapping and cheers filling the hall to a deafening volume, the three sets of dancers bowed and exited the floor. Hardly a beat passed before the band struck up a lively tune, and many of the other guests clamored to the floor with varied partners, or none at all, to kick up their heels and stomp out another dance.
"What happened to you out there, Amad?" Fili asked as he assisted Sier back into her chair between him and Flinn. "When we came around to take our place at the end of the line, we found you gone, and Marigold was now dancing with Uncle."
"Just a turned ankle, nothing serious," she assured her son, not wishing for him to worry, not on such a wonderful night as this. She had seen the two of them interact all evening, the looks, the slight touches, and the sheer adoration during the dance – and she did not want anything to spoil what could easily be the night when they finally confessed their true feelings for each other. She had sworn that she would not interfere unless she had to, but perhaps her help would not be needed after all. "Kili looked after me so that Thorin could continue the dance. And didn't the two of them make a fine looking pair? I thought they danced divinely." That last part she said a bit louder, so that her brother and Marigold, who had just returned to the table as well, might hear her.
"I assure you that it was all King Thorin's doing," the hobbit lass responded to the princess' compliment, yet when her partner cleared his throat as a reminder, she quickly corrected herself. "I…I mean Thorin. He was the one doing all the work, I merely followed his lead."
"And you did so divinely," the king under the mountain replied, borrowing his sister's descriptive word. He returned Marigold to her chair, gallantly kissing the back of her hand as he did, causing her to blush and look away.
Dis and Bilbo exchanged knowing looks, each one plotting and planning silently to themselves. Oh, what fun this would turn out to be.
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While all of this had been going on, Flinn and Frodo had slipped out of their seats, crawled under the table and down off the dais - all under the watchful eye of Primula, of course. They stood at the edge of the dance floor and clapped their hands, stomped their feet, and swung arm in arm around in circles along with the music, enjoying themselves immensely. Flinn had been keeping an eye out for his other playmates, Bram, Tam and Tae, eager to show them his new friend, Frodo. When he at last spotted them, over by the dessert table, he pulled the little hobbit along, quickly making introductions. They talked and sampled the treats for a while, until Ilin called her brood back to their table, telling them they had had plenty of sweets, and leaving Flinn and Frodo on their own once more. Taking the sticky buns they had pilfered over to the dais, they sat on the steps and watched the dancing some more, licking their fingers clean to get every last bit of sugar.
"Do you have a brother?" Flinn suddenly asked his hobbit friend. There was always a chance he had an older one, who had stayed behind in the Shire.
"No," Frodo answered. "Do you?"
"No," Flinn replied sadly. He looked around, seeing Dwalin and Balin talking, as well as Bofur and Bombur laughing and having a good time. "But it seems like everyone else has one…or even two," he added when he spied Dori, Ori and Nori, over by the beverage table.
"My mam said that I might get one someday…but so far, nothing," Frodo lamented.
"That is what my adad said too," Flinn nodded, not having been satisfied with his response. "But I want one now!"
"I know," Frodo sighed, resting his elbows on his knees and propping his chin on his hands. "Me too."
Suddenly Flinn's eyes got huge and he turned to Frodo with a big smile.
"I could be your brother…and you could be mine!" he cried, acting as if he had just come up with the most brilliant idea.
"How…we don't have the same mam and pop," the little hobbit pointed out.
"We could be…sword brothers! Just like my adad talked about," Flinn suggested.
"How do we do that?" Frodo asked, sitting up as the idea began to grow on him.
"I don't know…but I think we would need a sword," the little dwarrow determined. "I am not allowed to touch my adad's weapons, so we can't use his. And Uncle Thorin would skin me alive if I even looked cross-eyed at his sword."
"My cousin Bilbo has a sword…a pretty one that glows blue!" Frodo piped up. "Maybe we could use his to be sword brothers?"
Both Flinn and Frodo turned, their eager little eyes falling upon the elvish blade of Sting, hanging at Bilbo's side. They spent the next few moments with their heads together…plotting.
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Fili and Seir shared the next new dances, spinning and laughing with the lively music until they were both winded and red in the face. Kili had been cornered at last by three dwarrowdams, each one gaining a promise from him for a turn on the dance floor, much to his chagrin. Dwalin, still a bit shaken by Bergie's forward declaration, spent most of the evening with his brother, Balin. Yet he could not stop his eyes from seeking her out, watching as she fluttered around the room, conversing easily and generally enjoying herself.
Thorin, on the other hand, took up his seat at the head of the table and stayed there, declining every invitation to dance, and only making polite conversation with the brave few who dared approach the sour looking monarch. His dance with Marigold - or Mari, as she had insisted - had disturbed him more than he cared to admit. While it had thrilled him to have been pushed into her arms, he quickly realized the dangers as well. He felt like dry tinder, and she the spark that could sent him ablaze. And every time she had taken his hand, or allowed him to touch her, he had felt like he was being struck by a bolt of lightning, setting his senses tingling as a pleasing warmth spread over him.
It has been highly enjoyable…but now as he sat and contemplated the ramifications of this, it caused his brow to furrow and his mood to darken. It wasn't so much that she was a hobbit, and not a dwarrowdam…that had hardly crossed his mind. It was the issue of their ages! She was what, in her mid-thirties? A mere child in dwarf terms, though apparently of age for a hobbit. Yet what about him…he was two-hundred and five, for Mahal's sake! He had what…forty to fifty good years left before he began to feel his age? What then? Would a young lass such as she wish to coddle and care for him as his hair turned white and his body began to slowly betray him? Why had his maker chose to stir such a longing within him at this late date? It was madness…pure madness!
He let his eyes drift over to where the Brandybuck lass sat, visiting and talking with Tilda and Bain, all three of them acting as if they had known each other for years. She was delightfully friendly, and so very easy to converse with, though Thorin had given himself very few chances to do so. She deserved a young lad her own age, someone she had more in common with. His sights landed on Kili, his nephew twirling a dam across the dance floor without a care in the world. He would be very well suited for Mari. They were both young, of similar temperaments, and apparently they could both shoot a bow.
And yet, the idea of them together awoke such a fury within Thorin that it frightened him. He had felt this feeling once before…ten years ago when he had laid his eyes upon the gold of Erebor. Was he now to suffer through the malady a second time? To trade one form of gold for another? It made him sick at heart to think of such a thing, he had lived through the curse once, he might not survive it a second time.
No…it was better to simply ignore her, to keep her at a distance until she left for home after the first harvest. He was a dwarf king of Erebor, who needed to concentrate on his people! While she was a pretty little hobbit from the Shire, only here on loan for a season of planting. They were from two different worlds, two different races…yet, deep down, Thorin knew they were of one heart.
Sooooo, did the dance meet with your approval after all the build up and waiting?
What do you think of Bergie's declaration of intent on Dwalin's person? Should he run...or jump her bones? ha ha.
Dis and Bilbo are now in cahoots. Watch out Thorin!
What are Flinn and Frodo up to? Will they get into trouble...or just be adorably cute?
Face it , Thorin...you are sunk. Just go down with the ship already.
ONE more party chapter and then...and then...?
Guest Reviews
nursenan: Thorin should know better by now than to mess with Dwalin. ha ha. And I too was happy to have Bilbo and Gandalf back under the same roof as the dwarves. They make a good team. ha ha. So how did you like the dance?
Mjean: One: I agree, but thankfully, all my OCs are somehow writing themselves. As for the other characters, I love them just the way they were portrayed so that is not hard to keep going. Two: You are most welcome. Those are NOT my cup of tea. And of course Thorin has feelings, it just took him ten years of being king and not having to worry about everyone and every little thing to simmer down and show them. Three: Ummm, sorry, you lost me a bit...'very public...getting down to business...population of Erebor'? Can you translate that please...ha ha. Four: Three chapters of party...then Fili and Sier get to go to a different party. hee hee.
Guest: We all knew the kinder, gentler Thorin was in there, deep down. Deep, deep...deeeeeep down. ha ha. I enjoy seeing him joke around with Bard. Glad you like me tossing in some Hobbit lovin' . Just not enough dwarf girls to go around. And Thorin does NOT want a Bina! Ale for everyone...and a double helping for Kili since he is getting the short end of the stick here. Love that cutie pie. ha ha.