Ah. Sit here beside this sparkling brook, and I shall expound.

Like any properly ineffable concept, the mystical Trout is hard to explain comprehensively. It began with Lothithil the Very Wise, who mentored me in my long steep path back to fanfic. She would occasional smack me with a virtual trout when I had need of such correction. Eventually, I achieved Enlightenment. She still whacks me with trout when necessary, but now I smack her back as needed.

If that made any sense at all, you probably haven’t had enough sleep in the last week.

I could simply tell you that it’s a combination of a long running joke and a high level of mutually affectionate support, but that’s not as amusing. And it’s equally true. The trout may be applied for inspiration, correction, castigation, or as a reminder not to wallow in self-pity or self-abnegation. It may also be presented as a trophy, prize, or commemoration, or used in any other suitable manner. Occasionally, other fish are used; at some point in the running exchange, I acquired a squid for a sidekick.