#anywhere

"Wow, I'd offer seconds if you like but.."

"Oh no no, we're stuffed, at least I am " Alanza cuts Charity off

Charity says "Well, the important thing is you're both warm again. Look, if you want i'll take those clothes and have them washed. Going to do linens soonn anyway"

"Thank you so much, Charity." Adam can at least scoop things up and bundle them for her.

"You might have saved a life with that meal." He grins stunningly.

He hands the bundle over.

The poor boggan seems to snap out of hte spell of Adam's smile then takes the bundle "oh.. uhm anytime:

"

And now Adam is well-fed, warm, rested, and loosely clad. He checks in with Alanza. "You doing ok?"

"Better" She says after thinking his questtion over "I no longer feel like EVERYTHING sucks. More like...somethings do, but there's still some good stuff I shouldn't take for granted? You?"

"Kinda like that. I can.... I can think of other things, if I try. There's still stuff that makes me think of her. Guess there always will be. But it's not paralyzing."

"Saining is supposed to help too. That's in a couple of weeks."

He inhales. "I guess.... I guess I should put something on, check on the animals. Totally lost track of school; have you been recently?"

"Hey.. the saining, when is it? Are you having guests?"

"It's the 21st. I don't know about guests, sorry. I haven't asked. I was kind of busy planning the Wake." apologetic.

"No no, that's fine. If you find out let me know"

"I'll definitely ask. Hey, you've been Sained. What was it like?"

"Actually I thought it would lock me down, but in most ways it opens doors. It's like some things are easier to reach aftter it"

Adam nods. "That makes sense."

"I know you get tired of hearing how you're different, but in this case. I think the name will help make you more.. secure while still given more options."

"Baroness Coradel asked if I had any memories. Memories that weren't mine, or that I didn't remember happening? I do. But I don't have.... I don't feel another name, yet."

"For me it was like watching a TV show from the angle of a character I didn't know"

"I'm not sure I understand that, exactly, but ... I'm glad it worked for you. I'm sure it will work for me, you know, in my own way."

"Like, you see the hero on a show, he or she gets the camer on them? Imagine if the heroine was walkingg around CARRYING the camera. you saw what she was looking at but never quite her?"

"Yeeeeessss.....?"

"it's like that. "

"That wasn't exactly like my memory dreams but nothing says it has to be." he says reasonably.

"Mm interesting, and no it doesn't have to be"

Adam rubs his chest for a moment, thoughtfully. "I'm going to stick my head in at the art gallery from last night, then go get dressed and figure out what's next. Maybe ask my mentors about how Saining is supposed to go, get my chores done and all. Mm. Hey, what day is it?"

"Ah, the fourth?"

(Or day after the wake)

((Sixth))

"Right so... no school anyway. Cool." He looks at her again. "You ok from here? Is there anything I can do for you?"

"No. No. I'm good"

And she kisses him on the cheek "Thanks, Adam. I.. know it's selfish, but I would hate to have felt this alone"

He gives her a hug. "I understand. And thanks for being there with me, too. I'll catch you later." And he heads off for the art gallery.

And off he goes... where the art gallery has been cleaned up, though the art displays of Nab remain. For how long he's not sure

He doesn't linger long; just checks to make sure everything is to rights and no one was left behind.

It is GOOD art... and .. no, no one left behind

Then he's off to his room to dress, and then to find a mentor who's upright at this hour.

Magnus is. He ..ah missed the orgy. Married man and all.

"Sir?" Dressed and groomed (if shiny-headed) Adam knocks.

"Come in, Adam. I've got a little while

"

"I don't mean to interrupt. I was hoping you might tell me a little more about how the Saining will actually -work-. I mean, yes, a Namer will find my True Name and tell me and then I'll be... more really me. And it's the 21st. But.... what time? Who will be there? What.... what should I wear?"

"Oh a lot of that's up to you"

"What would you recommend?"

"Family..close friends" He says "You may not be the only one sained that day depending on tthings. It's not so much YOUR event to run but rather a welcoming of you into our society as an full kithain who knows our laws, and can handle things. I suggest wearing a nice suit or, flip side, go forward in a white robe"

Adam nods. "When do we know if it's just me or if there will be others?"

"I'll try to find out. The Namer works on a Ducal level"