#earthrunes

Coradel laughs as Shalimar and Vince begin to dance, and tries to get August to dance with her again.

"Ah, you like the ladies... " He shakes his head, once, twice, thrice and...his already efeminite visae now looks fully female, indeed herbody is that of a woman "Who can blame you?" She asks

She blinks, struck wordless for a turn.

And the Count...err Countess continues to dance with the wordless Sparrow, a silver laugh

"No... who can? Oh, you are lovely."

August takes Coradel into his arms again to sway, then doesn't, mouth open.

"Thank you, merely snow to your flame" Her eyes incandecent

"But the two dance together so well..." She spins, wings spread.

Amidst an apparent sweet nothing he would whisper into Shalimar's ear, he instead blinks, eyeing the newly changed Count...ess with a look of bemusement. And, perhaps, disappointment, counter to his earlier admiration.

Coradel's looking the other way, but catches August's expression. "What...?"

She turns to follow his gaze...then mirrors his expression.

It would appear to be no chicanery at play here, even the shadows from Sparrow and Honeyblade are those of women in sway

August blinks, and looks away, clearing his throat. He murmurs to Coradel.

Gideon 's own eyes are wide. Stevi sings, but looks intrigued or at least impressed

Still spinning on the dance floor with Shalimar, they appear deeply engrossed in the whispering of sweet nothings to one another, and Vince taps his finger aside his nose with a nod to the Jester, evident agreement.

Coradel murmurs back, then gives Gideon a slight gesture which she hopes translates as "wrap it up."

And Countess Honeyblade whispers to Sparrow,

Sparrow seems to be having a good time, at least, and she leans in to listen to the whisper.

August nods.

The music ends. Perhaps a stanza skipped. But who knows Disney tunes well enough to be sure?

A murmur back, smiling.

"Thank you," The Count turned Countess turns to the Baroness Coradel, "Deryn has kindly offered me an escort. I had a lovely time."

"Friends, I believe dinner might be waiting for us...let's adjourn to the feast hall where you will meet the rest of my Court, Excellency."

"You...you are leaving?"

August frowns, fading back slightly.

"Well, " She looks to Sparrow then back "if it would not insult you?"

A faint sigh. "Oh... dinner is fine." She still has her hand entwined with Honeyblade's.

"Dinner it is then and thank you" She says kindly

She does have her hand entwined with a soft squeeze in the lovely liam ladies, and shoots her frequent admiring looks

"We did have a lovely dinner planned in your honor, Excellency...but...at the very least I must speak with Baroness Deryn about a few court matters beforehand. If you'll excuse us." She sweeps over and takes Deryn's free arm in a gentle but firm grip.

"We will only be a few moments.

August takes a deep breath before stepping forward and bowing. "Excellency."

She rather reluctantly leaves that admiring gaze. "Yes, Cora?"

"the loss is mine" She turns to see August, "Sir August. A pleasure. You are a force, I hear sir. Quite commanding on a scene"

The knight seems puzzled. "I am not sure about that, Excellency. The pleasure is mine. Will you be in the area long?"

Coradel draws Deryn out of the audience chamber and into the corridor. "Are you all right, Deryn?"

"I have some adventures to seek out, should I keep you informed? I do not know your full duties here. Do you coordinate for others?" No mockery

"I'm fine." Feathers fluff. "I thought I'd... keep her company, and away from you and August..."

"I think she'd enjoy mischief..."

"She would. And so would you. You know that I have nothing against a bit of mischief...but I think she's trying to play all of us into...something. Be watchful. Now...are you sure you want to go with her?"

"Okay, and maybe I'd enjoy a little mischief tonight..." Blushing. "I know part of that is her doing, but..."

A gentle smile. "I want you to have fun. I don't want you to tear yourself up over it tomorrow. It's not Samhain, Deryn."

"No, Excellency. My duties here.... I am the Court Scribe."

"And I'm not in winter yet. Just... oh, I want to just have a little fun..."

"Ah, intriguing. You seem a natural commander to me, but if that is the task that best suits your passions, then I rejoice for you"

He nods soberly. "It suits me."

Coradel considers. "All right. If she hurts or misuses you, I'll have something to say about it. But otherwise, have fun."

"Yes, I suppose it must," She says

"Oh, I will... on Easter night, at that. My father would have a fit..."

Coradel releases Deryn back into the wilds of the audience chamber, and follows a few steps behind. "Excellency, I certainly do not mean to make you feel obligated if you have other priorities."