That ain't no girl, baby, though the sash or ribbon-thing in Mario Minniti's hair makes him look a lot like a girl, that's for sure. Yeah, he's flat-chested because he's a guy.

The "transient nature" remark was included in one of the notes about 'The Lute Player' I read, too, but mentioning the full-blown flowers and fruit that often imply the impermanence of natural goods (the fruit will rot, the flowers fade, etc.).

Frodo sure is a dish in that shirt. From Pearl's comment, I think the shirt gives her a Darcy-emerges-from-Pemberly's-fish-pond moment. It is awfully nice on him, requiring only its slow removal.