#earthrunes

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Bachdion looks around the garden, "earl? Earl, are you here?"

"PSTTT" Earl hisses back

the satyr grump turns, "Ah, behind the gazebo, why are you hiding behind a gazebo?"

"Because my clothes came off..." Earl growls. "And I don't have my sword with me either... so I can't veil."

"Would it help if I took my clothes off too?" Bachdion says sympathetically.

"NO" then lowering his voice, "no, it would not. What did I do wrong?"

"Far as I can tell, not a darn thing," The Satyr leers

"Stop that. " Earl says, "you know what I mean. I lost my clothes when you told me to guide YOUr flicker flash, did you do that or..."

"I do a lot of things, but I don't deliberately sabatoge my own teaching." The satyr shakes his head., "You lost the control over it, but that's to be expected."

The sound of singing from beyond the hedges that hide the gazebo. “Tiptoe.... thrrrrrroooooough the tulips....” A throaty purr adding to the tune.

"Oh sweet Dreaming strike me dead now, " Earl prays

Bachdion grins, "Vince, that you? Hey, Vince, if you see any clothes that might fit a troll back there, let us know. Okay?"

"And why is it to be expected?" Earl says, "This is ..taking forever"

"This isn't hopscotch lad, this is the final stage of mastery for Wayfare, it takes some years to learn. What's the rush?"

“Knee deep in flowers we'll stray...
We'll keep the showers away ...
And if I kiss you in the garden, in the moonlight
Will you pardon-“

The voice cuts off. “Pardon me? Oh, my. Ooooh my. What ARE you up to, my friend? Keeping the fun to yourself?”

Rustling around looking for clothes, coming closer.

Earl sinks into a thicker part of the bush "It's nothing ...learning a cantrip"

“Are you looking for a feather boa and silk scarves? I see them, about ten feet up yonder willow tree...”

“Or are those Beltane leftovers?”

Bachdion smiles, "Only so much fun you can have with a modest troll I fear, Vince. Ah, the Boa ...I think that's Deliliah's...or maybe Jack's."

Vince emerges into the clearing, a hand over his eyes, and with a some cloth over one arm. The aforementioned boa, and a few silk scarves- enough for base modesty, if just. He is also burned down with a baby-Bjorne yep contraption and three large eggs. “This is all I could find.” Guileless, peering through cracked fingers.

"Pass," Earl eyes the boa

Then remembers his manners, "But thank you"

He leaves the clothes with a grin and a wink, “This, or what mother gave you!” then bows his way back into the rest of the garden to wander off.

“Maybe it's flowers you stray will be the showers of life
And when I kiss you in the garden in the moonlight
Will you pardon me and tiptoe through the tulips with me?”

Later, the missing clothes will be found laundered and left outside Zara’s room. But not, sadly, anywhere Earl can find them now...

Earl sighs as the fellowwanders off, then looks to Bachdion,"I borrow some sweats or a bathrobe or something?"

"What? when my room's all the way over on the other wing?" Bachdion says with tired eyes

"YOU FLICKER FLASH" Earl says

'Temper, Temper," Bachdion tuts, "You trolls are far too passionate. You need to learn some stoicism."

"I'm in, " Earl groans

"I'm in hell" the troll mutters "This is troll hell"

"Oh lighten up, Franciss..." Bachdion gestures, and Earl vanishes.

Elsewhere, a nude troll lands in the bedroom he's been using. Where he can find some backup clothes

As for Bachdion, he smiles, 'A feathered boa..damn, Vince is fun."

(End Scene)

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Late saturday, Zara is floating around the library with a book, humming to herself.

August slips in, reading, and heads to the Desk.

"‘Then must I leave my own people, man of Gondor?’ she said. ‘And would you have your proud folk say of you: ‘There goes a lord who tamed a wild shieldmaiden of the North! Was there no woman of the race of Númenor to choose?”’ Bronte croons at August.

"Ah, August. Hello."

He looks up in surprise at Bronte's quote, a faint smile. "Hello, Bronte. Oh! Hello Zara." SOftly.

"Isn't it.... I didn't expect to see you today!" Clearly a pleasant surprise.

She smiles at him. Her hair is unbraided, flowing in wild tumbles. "How are you? I'm out early - going to do my errands after sunset, nu? Tomorrow is Mother's Day... and, oh. Mama really... tomorrow is important."

"It is?" He puts his book away and comes over. "Is something wrong?"

She sighs. "No. Yes. I don't know."

"I just want Mama to have a good day, and feel pampered."

"What do you have planned?"

"Breakfast in bed for both of them, and I will be doing some cleaning. Flowers, and cookies, and I made her a new prayer shawl with lace... and in the afternoon, I'm taking her to a place that does mani-pedis and serves wine."

"Papa has dinner reservations for after."