Part 6: Likes And Dislikes
70. What is/are your favourite hobbies and pastimes?
She ponders a bit. "Well, honestly, moping and drinking probably would be what's not also something besides pastimes." She shakes her head at herself. "But drawing, fishing, and some kinds of leatherwork are good. And sometimes, even writing in a journal."
71. What is your most treasured possession?
A chuckle comes as she looks over to her steed. "I try not to accumulate too much in the way of possessions to be too attached to them. And there's a saying among horse-folk: 'Ask a stallion. Tell a gelding. Negotiate with a mare.' I reckon Aduial might say I belong to her, but I still gotta say it's her."
72. What is your favourite colour?
"Mm. Now that depends on what it's for. Considering my scouting, dark browns that ain't quite black be pretty common for gear. But if'n I ain't worried about hiding? Like for festivals and such. I like bright blues and greens. Like the colour of a clear lake reflecting a near cloudless sky about noon."
73. What is your favourite food?
She sits pondering a few moments. "Ain't that much I don't like, long's it's been made by someone who knows how. And that mostly means not eating alone, but in some sort of company – and the company matters as much as the food then. So, really, about anything I've had in The Shire would be pretty high up on my list. But I ain't really got a single favourite."
74. What, if anything, do you like to read?
A chuckle with an amused shake of her head. "Almost anything I didn't have to write myself? Oh, that ain't quite a fair answer, though it's close to true. I like learning things, though, so good histories. And I don't necessarily mean things writ up to teach history, but like… reports from quartermasters in armies. You can tell so much from those if'n you know what was being fought when, to go along with them reports. That kinda thing."
75. What is your idea of good entertainment (consider music, plays, dances, art, etc.)?
"I like music, and dancing. I suppose more for dancing to someone else's music, though I can play a few things. And good tales, especially of times long past – like Drell telling me about things in Doriath and Eregion. But despite my liking to draw, trying to look at drawings and paintings ain't as good for me. Nor even tapestries, for all I respect the effort what goes into them. Some folks like to hold more still during their times, I reckon, but I like moving more."
76. Do you smoke, drink, or use drugs? If so, why? Do you want to quit?
"Upon rare occasion, I like a bit of pipeweed, but not often. I feel the effect on my lungs too much. Otherwise… I drink. Too much some nights. I ain't proud of it, especially not when it drags on too many nights in a row. Those nights, I ain't found a better way to get at least some sleep, though. It ain't good sleep, but it's better'n none." She shrugs. "I'd like to not need to do that. Or find a better way. So I reckon that's kinda wanting to quit. Not that I do it all that much. But I'd prefer just to enjoy a pint or two and be done, and sleep proper without."
77. How do you spend a typical night?
She snorts in amusement. "What's a 'typical' night? I got nights full of watchfulness, nights of sleeping fine, and nights of being a fretful ninny. It's that last kind that's when I find myself eventually needing drink if'n I can't stop the fretting some other way. Though I prefer to see if some writing or drawing will fix it first. The other two? Well, watching and scouting, or peacefully sleeping. Ain't that much to say."
78. What makes you laugh?
"Good jokes? Fun surprises? Sometimes the antics of happy, carefree childer, not that I see much of that. For all my dour and scarred-up face and maunderings in the wilderness, though, I really ain't a sourpuss. Oh, I reckon I'm reserved enough, as they call it, I often just get amused inside, but I laugh often enough."
79. What, if anything, shocks or offends you?
"Ain't much shocks me any more. Not the way I grew up, and not with what else I seen since. Offends, though? Plenty offends me. I don't often show it. Not at my size, and not when someone might object to how I'd like to show it. But brigandry and bullying of all sorts offends me."
80. What would you do if you had insomnia and had to find something to do to amuse yourself?
The small woman shakes her head with a small, amused huff. "I thought we already covered that with my fretful nights? Draw and write, mostly, and hope I can work through whatever's keeping me awake. And drink too much if'n I can't. If'n I spent more time in places where some music in the middle of the night wouldn't make trouble, that'd be part of it as much as drawing, at least, I reckon. But it ain't usually something I can add in."
81. How do you deal with stress?
"There's stress over things I can do something about soon, and that… often gets dealt with by a bit of planning, and, well, a bit later, some killing. Not much to deal with there, for all that killing ain't something I love.
"But stress over things I can't really help? Or at least not soon nor so easily? I stew over 'em. If'n I can make some kinda plan what might be useful, that helps. Otherwise? Now we're back to my sleepless nights and excess drinking again."
82. Are you spontaneous, or do you always need to have a plan?
"Plans are… for things that need it, and usually only a broad outline. I mean, they say no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy, or at least it mostly shouldn't. And a scout… mostly my plan reads 'contact the enemy', in those terms. So ain't no point in more detailed plans. Oh, sure, right now I got a plan of 'get back to Bree.' But it ain't got details. And if'n I'm between jobs with no particular goals even, which is really all that 'get to Bree' plan is? Well, 'remember to do laundry' ain't much of a plan, and otherwise? No, I don't really plan much. Not like some folks do, that's for sure."
83. What are your pet peeves?
She ponders, then smirks. "People who gotta have so many details in a plan it takes so long to make it you're late for what you're planning for, and then don't use more'n a tenth of it."
