#earthrunes

A sigh from the Skunk pooka, then pets Bronte, "Had I known, little one, that you were here, I'd have brought a copy of They Shoot Canoes, Don't they? . A hundred and one apologies for books that smell worse than me when startled as I did not know a part o the dreaming had blessed us that was so tied to them had come to visit us this century."

Bronte nips hi flinger, then licks it then nods

"Ow.Thanks. Huh?" The pooka skunk says blinking

Zara looks slightly mollified. "At least they are back and safe. One bent page...."

"or missing color" The Jester nods, "I know. Join me over the bridge, Miss Zara?"

"One bent page," Coradel nods.

“And why not let her read one?” He purrs, with feline curiousity. “Are we banners of books? “A small smile. “After all the forbidden is always so much more tempting. This way, at least.... supervision, and proper understanding of the nature of the story?”

Curious about the answer to Vince's question, she looks to Zara.

"She is a babe yet. A time for everything, a proper season. Think of it as.. ah... building up antibodies?"

Shalimar, actually agrees with Zara on that looking at the others, "She is A maltese falcon, you see. And patchwork is not easy once the bird is broken"

A nod. "All right, then. No 'objectivism' for her yet."

"Though yes, I promised Russians in trade for patience."

Coradel reaches to pet Vince's mane. "I trust Zara's judgment in this. I don't know the book myself, you see."

"Fyodor Mikhaylovich Dostoyevsky!" Bronte bounces

A blink. "Did she just sneeze?"

"With a name like that I hope he carries a big knife" The pooka blinks

A rattle, like reeds in the wind - was that laughter? "Aye, darling. Two."

"Now..." She moves to stand with Vince again. "I believe I have two more guesses as to subject."

Shalimar chuckles as the sluagh does

"Miss Rand... if you are unfamiliar... ah... espouses a philosophy of self. If it may be deemed 'philosophy' and not.... screed of unvarnished egoism."

He shrugs amiably. “I haven’t read it recently, I admit. I’ve been working through the classics.”

"The Classics? Twins or tripplets?" He asks Vince

A grin to Coradel, and he holds up two fingers, waggling them enticingly.

"There are many classics here, sir. And you may peruse, if you are careful with them. Mayhaps the Rubaiyat..."

An amused look at the two fingers. "Lion taming."

“I am rather fond of the illustrations in the novels of Vatsyayana...”

“It’s too bad if a heart lacks fire,
and is deprived of the light
of a heart ablaze.
The day on which you are
without passionate love
is the most wasted day of your life.” Zara quotes, eyes half-closed as she pulls out a slender volume with an intricate gilded design on the cover.

"A most Fiona book for an Eiluned's collection, truth." She offers it out.

Coradel blinks, and looks to Zara. "That's...what is that?"

An amused purr at Coradel as his second finger folds down. “You never did say my prize, should you not guess. And after all, no one can truly tame a lion. Hmmmph!”

Bronte looks pleased as her mistress quotes.

He blinks, golden eyes back on Zara with a renewed glint of interest. “Now that is a lovely bit, hmmmmm. Yes, can I check that one out? Mmrrrr.”

"The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. A poem, Baroness."

"It's...lovely." Her voice sounds nearly reverent.

Shalimar smiles at Zara and Coradel for some reason

“Oh... one more guess, or the Baroness may learn and recite it to me, over drinks?”

"Well, Lioness and Lion, you must work out together who wouldst borrow it first."

A defiant lift of chin to Vince, then a grin. "Hmmm...how to renew old friendships?"

A delighted grin spreads ear-to-ear. “Could such a thing be written, and not learned through practice? Nay...” he blinks lazily towards Zara. “Has the library any texts concerning the treatment of alcoholic libations alongside fae Magic’s, perhaps from prohibitions era?”

A flick of his tail to tickle the Baroness. “And you thought me unscholarly. Time to start studying, lady, for your recitation...”

A sigh that she doesn't really mean. "I do believe I will be taking that book, Miss Zara." Then she smiles back to Vince. "No fear, though...August is likely to appreciate it just as well."

"Indeed, I dare say an Oaken voice reciting it will work just as well, after all, his voice would have timbre"

A wince at Shalimar. "Oh...that was awful."

She gums on her lower lip, eyes troubled, as she hands the book to Coradel.

Shalimar grins shamelessly

“Your delivery was a bit wooden, friend.” He purrs to Shalimar.

"I believe - Da Vinci, nu? Leo-nardo - that I saw something on the treatment of spirit-sickness. Give me a moment."

'in my defense, my range was recently limited, a least along the spectrum. " A chuckle

She takes the book carefully, curiously, and leafs through some of the pages.

"Well, perhaps one ought to be mindful of the worldviews one espouses, lest they take hold. Vershtay?" An eyebrow raises at Shalimar.