#debukefarmhold

"You didn't tell me he was a screamer ,sister," Chastisement, but she lets Zara in

And there is August, in most fetching Edwardian style voile.

Bound in a chair

Facing a wall.

and a blindfold

Struggling. "RUN!"

Vashti reaches for the gag

"Shhh, shh... August..." a cool hand. "Sister, I believe thou hast frightened him."

"Zara!?!" He cranes his neck around at the touch. "Are you ok? Are you hurt?" He rocks the chair with his urgent motions.

"I think, mayhaps, the prank is now spent? Shhh, August, calm yourself..."

"Twas not a prank, you have been cut off here in the black hole of calcutta for my sake, and he won't stop texting the artists number bzzt bzzzt bzztt"

A TOUCH petulantly.

"I thought perhaps a friend of another sort might bring you joy."

For Zara, he makes the effort.

"Ah, a sweet sentiment. Perhaps I should steal one dressed in black and white for thee..." Clever fingers un-knot the blindfold.

"Get my hands, I can get the rest.....

"No I mean.. ha I mean"She pooh poohs "He's at the cleaners"

Vashti sighs and undoes the hands "I warned him that they might eat him if they found him here but for some reason he doesn't believe pooka"

"August, you have met Vashti before..."

Now that August can see her straight on, oh yes

Hands released, August goes after the bindings on his legs, ripping himself free quickly.

"You are as safe as Iowa may be, August."

"Iowa? Where are we?" He staggers to his feet and takes Zara by the shoulder, checking her over. "Are you ok?"

"At least he's a gent enou to inquire of thy well being, but you did not warn me he'd be so looooud" Vashti whispers

Assuring himself that Zara is, in fact, fine, August turns his attention to Vashti. "You -kidnapped- me... for a prank? Because I was texting Earl?"

Indeed, there is a soft knock on the door, deep, "Everything okay in there? "

Vashti starts to tell August "Your ears are so full of wax you cannot..." Then the knock at the door "Zara and I are having a female moment"

August moves in front of Zara, or slides her behind him.

He flushes, but at what might not be clear.

"Oh.. ah.. pardon" The deeper voice suddenly grows embarrassed, "Sorry, Miss Vashti. Things are sort of tense now with the trouble and all." And the footsteps leave

"Iowa...." something finally clicks "The DeBuke's place in Iowa?"

"the land where no elf enters and survives" Vashti says "Without help. You're welcome"

August shakes his head. "No, Clem helped me, and Earl is my friend."

"They are your friends, but they are not here..."

Then "And I was not 'pranking thee', at best is 12% of a Prank. Zara has been tethered on account of a sneaky pooka and the sneaky pooka thought to amend and my you are ingrateful, sirrah, after I got thee such a nice ascot...or is it a cravat?"

Zara twists her fingers together in a complicated knot, a flash of nerves showing. "My casting was solid, they have a blessing upon them..."

"...Cravat, aye..."

"Is this person keeping you here against your will, Zara?" For that matter, he keeps himself between sluagh and pooka, too.

"August, this is Vashti."

Vasthi sighs

"You met her. At my birthday. She has been to Earth Runes."

and her antanee drop a bit

"I know. I think she hurt Shalimar."

"Her wings twist her tongue, but she meant no harm..."

"NO."

At that Vashti looks struck

August startles at that and turns to Zara; she has his full attention.

"No. She... she sought to protect him from harm."

"I..he.." The moth pooka's wings are at high tremble, almost like a shaking hand from an anxiety victim

"I understand this. He strikes at those who are beloved." She takes Vashti's hands, giving them a squeeze.