#earthrunes

"Yes, that's what I understand, too." She urges August to sit on the edge of the bed, then lightly kneels astride him, settling in his lap, and plants a soft, slow kiss to his lips.

He kisses her back softly. "What did you do this weekend? Other than bruise yourself?" With a small smile.

((ding ding -- must sleep, work in 6 hours)) "Oh...Carnivale preparations, coping with the wilders, played with the children...and I learned the Chicken Dance." The last said with some annoyance.

"The Chicken Dance? From weddings?"

"Please tell me there's not more than one Chicken Dance, August. Shalimar thought it would be appropriate fool material for me."

Another troubled frown. "Coradel... I'll do it. Really."

... and the two of them discuss who'll do what, to whom, and then put words to actions.... FtB.

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Sometime during Sunday.....
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"Nice isn't it?" Bachdion says as August enters the room agreed upon this weekend. It appears to be like a small training salon where one could fence or whatever, but the walls have a book case, there is a desk as well. There is a masculine feel to it, but not frat.

The books make him smile, and he automatically drifts over to them. "Yes." Simply.

After the library he's arranged the lack of variety among the books might disappoint. Poetry, books of etiquette, and some such as the Kama Sutra- Satyr Edition (Didn't know there was one? The goats improved it), yes, a book about the language of flowers. Beginners French? Of course, the language of love.

Some of the books raise a blush but he doesn't turn away or move on as quickly as one might expect, knowing him.

"A specialized collection.... " very casually as he looks the titles over "So, ah... do you think you might stay here? A while?"

"Now, you already know how to ride a horse," He says, pacing, "But ...mm? Well, technically my tutoring of Coradel is done. I really should ask the House if they need me again, but right now, they're not asking so. I help you. Why do you ask?"

He pauses a moment, then looks over. "I think ... I, ah, I know Coradel would mourn if you left. And I think I'd like you to stay, too."

"oh, Coradel doesn't need me," He smiles, "One day she'll out grow me, and I don't mean because she's a baroness. She's got good people, people who let her see a larger picture, and oddly, smaller ones. But I do admit, while I fear nothing, I do feel more... well, less energy of the soul." Thoughtful, "Ah well, guess the impact of grumphood is finally catching up with me. I've been one for a while, I just feel it more." Then he glances over at August, "Nice of you to say though. I thought I was in the way with you."

"She doesn't need you, perhaps. But she li..." His jaw tightens. "She loves you." Quietly.

"Love comes in many forms, August. You studied them. Agape, Eros, Philos, and more... House Fiona is about love, or we try to be," he motions to a set of chairs to join him, "but I wonder sometimes. You do realize I am no threat to what you and she have yes? She will always consider me a friend I hope, and think of me fondly. But I am not her heartlight. You have that joy and calling. '

He nods and sits down. "I -know- that." He taps his temple, then rubs his chest.

"But the heart is another matter," He looks at the younger man, "mmph. There are something I'm not sure I can teach. You just have to adapt on your own. Notice, I say adapt not evolve, I'm trying to respect your take even if I offer you other paths. Please tell me I'm not the reason you haven't been sleeping well?" He glances at the sidhe, "Your birthright means you look good even weary, but the signs are there."

"I... I had some dreams that.... " He shifts in his seat, looking away. "One of her lovers from Before is here. At EarthRunes."

A low whistle, then , "And in your dreams, how did you and the fellow before time get along?"

"We... shared." An uncomfortable throat-clearing. "Well."

"I think they are not so much dreams as... memories. He seems to have similar impressions."

"Ah, your dreams certainly lobbed you into the deep end of the pool, didn't they?" A frown, "And just when we finally moved beyond the doggie paddle. I'm sorry, memories and dreams aren't always fair. " The frown lessons, "On the other hand, the fact you trusted him that much speaks will of your past selves relation. "

The boy nods. "I am having trouble translating theory into practice in this."

A thought, "August, if you mean you and he AND her at the same time? You don't have to. It makes you uncomfortable, and you feel it might build resentment. You are not obliged. Things should bring you joy too. Okay?"

He nods, blushing. "That...." throat-clear "... that is what I dreamt. Remembered."

"Fine. You're not the same man you were then, it's understandable some things are different . Now I thought you two had agreed that you could have other lovers as long as they had no other Loves, loves with a capital L."

He nods.

"She understands that she can have another lover, but you come first. If you flash the Liam symbol up on the sky while some fellow fellow is nibbling on her ear, she is to immediately pull away, tell him she has to go, get dressed and rush to your side. And if you are showing some nubile nymph how to do the 'Smooth Oak Wiggle', and hear your wife call for you, you kindly roll over, apologize to the lass, and get going to Coradel's side. "

He gives the satyr an utterly shocked look. "I.. what? No. I mean... no. That is, I won't be... There won't be anything to ... detain me."

"I'm not... she said I don't -have- to. Take another lover."

"Why not?" He asks , "I'm seriously curious. Not mocking. What is good for the gander is good for the goose, and vice versa, and you are a fine young man who some women would long for based on looks alone, and frankly, with what I've taught you they damn well better give you a good yelp review, so to speak. Repeat business would be a no brainer for said lass."

He shakes his head. "I don't love anyone else. Not like that. I love Coradel."

"Mmm so, do you think that means Coradel loves others like she loves you if she takes them to her bed?"

The satyr looks at the Liam, no mockery.

"No." with overtones of 'Of course not.'

"That's good, but it does appear hold yourself to an unfair standard. August, have you ever been attracted to other women? Purely on a physical level?"

He ponders adding 'or men' but, no, that might burn the Liam's brain out.

He shakes his head with only a minute hesitation.

"So when I demonstrated with a certain lady knight, you didn't appreciate and feel your blood heat up? When she was there, posing to show you contours of feminine nudity, you didn't wonder what it would be like to feel her against you? To touch the heaving swell of her curves? You put that note book in your lap just..because it was what, heavy?"

He clears his throat. "Biological responses? This is a human body. Of course, I've had those. Dame .... Dame Leonora ... I met her early in her fostering, over a year ago. She is attractive. I... I noticed. Of course. But ... attracted -to- her?" He shakes his head. "Not... not in a real way."

The satyr blinks,"I think we have a different definition of 'attraction' at work here. You did hear me say 'purely on the physical level' yes? That's what 'biological responses' are."

"Then yes." Evenly, if pink. "But... not the way you described. I didn't want to ... to touch her."

"What did you want to do ?" He asks

"When... when she was modeling? Ah. Mostly, leave. But not because of her. I wanted to, ah, to go find Coradel." Pink shading to red.

"Ha, well, that speaks well of you in its way" He says with a chuckle andshake of his head, "Yes, I see. You got your appetite elsewhere, but prefer to eat at home."

"I get my appetite from Coradel." Evenly. "At least, if I have anything to say about it. Biology aside."

"No offense intended," He says holding up a hand in a gesture meant to demonstrate no aggression, "Please, remember, I'm a Fiona, and a satyr. your mindset, despite our lessons, is alien to me in some ways. You're a good man, but I worry that subconsciously, you will think less of Coradel if she , who is a good woman, engages in actions you would consider beneath yourself. I don't want you subconsciously feeling betrayed or scornful towards the woman you love if she and this fellow should act on desire." A look at him, "Do you think there's a danger of that?"