#earthrunes

Delores says "he asked that it be alone."

HIs face fall.s

"Guess you're stuck with us, my friend," Bachdion slaps August on the shoulder.

"Oh?" Her expression goes serious and she stands. "I'm sorry, everybody...I'll be back. Please enjoy in my absence." A smile, and she breezes out.

A blink of surprise, and he murmurs. "A lion-hearted newcomer, to dictate terms to the Lady of the Manor."

But, he turns back to August in good humor, pushing her abandoned beer back over to the Liam.

"As it warms, you'll see that the flavor profile develops..."

Bachdion considers, "Perhaps a bit over his station, but seers often have matters that do require ...solitude. Da'an is a tricky thing and most practiioners of SOothsay seem to have a sense of secrecy to avoid altering it."

"I will be glad on a chance to chat with him, myself. Liam, I was starting to fear I would need your advice on how best to court the favor of the young shadow in the library, to have my palm read."

"And if I spoke wrongly, her guardian might singe my mane." He paws a hand through his hair, patting the bun it is pulled back into protectively.

He watches her go... almost desperately.

Then he looks down at the drink.

A chuckle at something "Apologies

"

"The... Zara?" A deeper frown. "Zara is my friend." So there will be no mistake.

"Oh, aye, of that there was no doubt. The kitten spoke quite fiercely in your defense, though none had given any cause to threaten. Sweet lass, I am sure. Helped me find some bedtime reading materials."

"She... did?" He pauses. "Wait." Thinking.

Bachdion raises a brow and sips

He genuinely seems confused.

"Let's just say that you have friends in high and low places, as well as in the cracks of the floors and between the wallboards, I'm sure. It's a good problem to have."

With a sigh, he seems to give up.

"Sorry, Vince, you know we non-pooka, we rarely understand things properly" Bachdion says with a smile

"Oh, it's okay." He sips his beer nonchalantly. "We can't all be perfect."

A wistful glance at the door.

"She'll be fine, August." Bachdion assures him.

Whereupon appears.... a slip of a wilder, clad in gauzy greys. Dark eyes peer at the room from behind her veil of bone-white hair.

"I know!" A defensive protest.

A double take back to the door. He stands. "Zara?" Softly.

"I.. ah... the kitchen was loud..." Uncertain.

He catches the glance, and murmurs. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Though between the two of you young lovers, I can't see where there is much room for improvement." And, he stands, just so that he can bow to the shadow in the doorway. "Ah, Miss Librarian. I swear, I was JUST on my way to return this..." And starts looking around for where ever it was that he stashed that book...

"Ah," Bachdion smiles, "Miss Zara. I've heard of the wonders you have worked on behalf of the library. August, do introduce."

"You were in the kitchen?" He goes to her, offers his arm. "We can be quiet, if you like." And he is.

"I was out of tea."

"Ah, I had been wondering... may I offer you a drink, miss?"

"Tea." He smiles, offers her a seat, and goes to make.... possibly bumping into Vince on the way.

(Bear with me, internet is being shoddy.)

She pushes her straying bangs back behind one batlike ear, ink-black eyes flicking between Bachdion and Vince.

He works his way around Vince and sets up to make tea. Hopefully there is loose leaf?

"Sir Bachdion ap Fiona, this is Miss Zara. My best friend." Gently.

"If I might offer a libation? It is a shame to drink alone. Just a touch, mind, I am not trying to loosen your tongue, as I am sure I would find that it has a hidden sharp edge I'd cut myself on. After all, you DID happen upon Cocktail Class."

She seems to start back up again form her frozen moment. "Oh - this is Cora's mentor? A pleasure, sir." A bow to the satyr.

"And... just tea, please."

He slides out of the way, and rumbles a direction to August, so that he can find the tea. Vince hasn't yet taken full inventory of the non-bottled beverages, so it will be whatever Jack had in stock.

"the pleasure is all mine, you and August have done wonders for the library. while I am perhaps not as academic as either of you, I'd be a poor tutor not to admire the work you've put into the books. I am aware many were from the Baron Nemasus, but Eiluned Indexing seemed designed to vex."

There are quite a few tea options, including some stored leaves marked 'china'

"Oh, purposefully. Truth, it was meant to throw off casual searching... but we've been re-cataloging..."

"Ah, but it would give me no end of pleasure, if you would but taste something for me. I swear, on pain of being tied to a stone table and my mane chopped off, this would be a favor, tis true. I do wish to keep on hand libations that appeal to all..." He ducks out of sight and rummages for a while, before coming up with a rather dusty bottle that looks like it was forgotten in the back of the cupboards, the label stained and faded.

"China tea, I think? Let me... ah, yes. Ok. Here we go." He's started the kettle, now he sorts out the pot, cups, so on. Two cups.

The label has a vague outline of an elephant on it, and as he cracks the seal, he holds it away from the others, though a keen nose may still catch a whiff of a sour smell, like milk that has gone a bit...chunky, unattended.

"Well.... mayhaps, Sir Aslan."