#datenight

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In the Gardens of Earth Runes, an archer looks for her prey

August searches, muttering.

"Sir August?" Leonora says, "Ahem.' she moves her hair out of her eyes.

"Oh!" He straightens and turns. "Dame, hello."

"Just call me Leonora," she smiles, "Can we talk for a moment, in private?"

"Of course." He glances around, as to the privacy, and offers to walk with her.

They move to a more secluded spot and, "August. Bachdion tells me you, seemed upset that I wouldn't be in on as many classes . before I get quite flattered, could you tell me why? Just..straight and true?"

"Oh. Ah." He pinks. "I... got used to you."

"Okay, less flattering if I look at it wrong?"A toss of her hair, "August, you're a dream boat, and you've got that whole 'white knight from the scandalous house' thing going on. And if it was okay with Coradel, I'd be happy to do more than be on display, but uhm, if you're attracted to me and want me, you do need to tell Coradel. She might be cool with it, she might not, but I don't homewreck, you know?"

He boggles. "Ah. No. Thank you. That is, I mean, I'm not.... I love Coradel."

"I know" She beams, "It's wonderful, and you're both such great people. I'm happy for you! " a hug

"Ah." He freezes, then pat-pats her back carefully. "Thank you. I'm not interested in anyone else, though."

"Geez, you smell like, vanilla and chivalry" then she blushes, and looks up at him, her eyes in his "Then, I'm confused. If you don't wonder what sex with me is like, and why the hell not..pardon ,not the point, then why does Bachdion want me to see if I can work my duties around so I can still help you with lessons? I mean , it's flattering, but also confusing."

"Because I'm used to you." He repeats, flustered. "I mean... well... ah, how many naked people am I supposed to see for these lessons? Can't we just... ah, keep it to one?"

A soft groan, not of carnal pleasure (Thank God, his nerves might be able to take that), "Oh, August. You are..." She tries to find the right words, "so pure they ought to bottle you and sell you as a health drink. But do you really see the naked form as dirty, or repugnant? Why some of the greatest works of art , be it painting or statue, were nudes. Or would you sneer at the works of bottacheli, Michealangelo, and others whose names I am butchering now?"

"No, of course not. But that doesn't mean I want to see lots of naked, ah, women." Mumbled. "Modesty and all....."

"August, have you considered your dictionary may need updating? If you can count the number of nude women you've seen with your fingers, and in your case probably on one hand, you're not really hitting 'lots'."

He clears his throat. "Well. No. But I don't want to so.... Anyway."

"August, you're a good guy" she pats his chest with a palm, "I just worry your studies are going to suffer if you end up waiting for me just because your eyes no longer see my nude form as anything special . Also, women aren't uniform. I have the 'sidhe' edge, but we come in many shapes and sizes and types of sex appeal, an awareness of our myriad nature might do you good. But... I don't want to make you uncomfortable. But I'm not sure I can work my schedule around to be 'demo girl' without telling Baroness Coradel"

"Ah. No." Another throat-clear. "You, well, you have duties that need your attention. I understand. Of course."

"Would it help if I picked the girl?"

"Would it?" Not sure.

"Echo" she smiles

"Well. Maybe? Although, well, Sir Bachdion made some, ah, notes."

"How can a man with such much conviction in so many areas vacillate so much. You must drive Coradel bonkers" a smile though "Oh, let me guess, Bachh was all 'what sort of girl stirs your blood?' " Doing a good impersonation

He sighs, and nods.

"I adore him, but he does not get you. Not that I do, but you'd probably want the opposite, on that doesn't 'stir' your blood. One you could be clinical about observing. "

"Well. I -tried.-" He offers, with a wistful look that suggests her idea is perfect in his mind.

"You dear dear man, you are a bit of an oakenhead, I can't speak for all women? But any man seeing me in my all together , at least if he's straight and alive, I sure hope he has a hard time being clinical. Then again, maybe I've vain. I always got the feeling you liked how I looked." A thought then "Tell you what, I'll ask Bachdion to let me help him on picking one out, and I'll see what I can do to have him ease up on the search for girls that will make you feel guilty because you have the nerve to have an imagination and testosterone. " A wink

August -is- now blushing.

"Thank... thank you." He stutters.

"Not a problem I..." A pause "Hey, there's an idea. What if you were chicaneried to see Coradel every time you looked at her? or she were shapeshifted to look like Coradel? Would that make you feel less guilty?"

He starts to brighten at the idea, then very slowly it dims and he shakes his head. "Ah. No. Thank you." Throat-clear

"What's wrong with that one?"

"I... love... Coradel." He stammers a bit. "I, ah, already know what she looks like."

"Probably better than anyone else," A wink "Okay okay. " gentler, "You're a good guy, August. And sweet. Look, before I was sained, I wasn't crazy about signs I was going to be Fiona. I thought 'Oh God, I might as well get the Silver Lion Tramp Stamp now', and sometimes it gets a bit wild even for me NOW, so I think it's great your'e trying to understand her. It can't be easy. Just, don't beat yourself up for feeling jealous too much, OR for being attracted to to other women , feelings and actions are not the same thing.' She kisses him on the cheek, "Thanks for the talk" And sways off

He sighs, and can't help but watch her leave. "You're welcome."

Her sway turns into her stride, and she's gone

Another sigh, and he goes back to his flower-work

(End Scene)