#earthrunes

A frown. "This isn't mine."

"Nope, but it s a mazing, see, it carries an urge to sing and make you feel like everything is normal, it turns all the world into a musical. Nice prank. It doesn't work on Sidhe, our noble bearing means we can't be embarrassed so directly. You were the perfect patient Zero."

"So...he brought it around...and it affected others?"

"Nothing harmful, they don't even remember the embarrassment" He ssmils, "it's a clever prank. Sir August. You feel asleep on midsummer. rather than marking your face, someone tucked this in your clothes"

"Clever. Yes." He nods and offers the button to Almandine. "If you would, Sir."

Coradel smiles now. "That is a good one."

"Delighted, may I have this for study?" He seems VERY intrigued

"Certainly." He nods to both the others. "If you'll excuse me?"

"Thank you" He says "Oh yes. I must study this"

Coradel watches him go, and her smile fades, but she nods to the seer. "Thank you, Sir Almandine." Then she turns to follow August.

August heads for his, thier, room.

And to their room they go.

And there's something waiting for August, another box, a gift..is this another trick? there's a bow on it

Coradel follows, doesn't try to stop him, and closes the door behind them when they're in the room.

He goes about getting ready for bed.

"Love...are you all right?"

Of course, he CAN ignore the box on the bed.

He stops and looks at the box (which his player didn't see....), shirt half unbuttoned. "Coradel, is that from you?" Quietly.

She follows his gaze. "No. I didn't see it earlier."

He crosses to retrieve his blade from the holder it rests in, and he draws it.

Then returns to the bed and carefully examines the box from a distance.

It does not explode

There is a glamour about it. but, it doesn't feel malicious, it feels...serene, and peaceful

Frowning, even scowling, August gently prods it with the blade.

Coradel stands there, and folds her arms...she refrains from sighing, but does say, "August, I doubt it's going to explode."

"Is it going to burst into song?" Sourly.

"Do you want me to open it?"

"No!"

A wooden box, very tasteful under the wrapping

and if that wooden box is opened?

August carefully works the wrapping off, yes, and if it can be opened by flicking it with the blade-tip?

It can

He flicks it open.

The rosary is of blue and silver and gleams with a holiness

and there are pictures it lays upon, showing a pope blessing a rosary.... that very one! The pope! A child holds it as he does

Coradel watches the process from a distance.

Pope Jean Paul the II if we must be specific

August frowns into the box, looking for a note, or message.....?

And there is

To Baron August Truthbranch, I know that your dale was scarred badly in the past. Amateur fools are twits. But in truth I admire you, for despite white oppression you've never quit. So if this joke seemed mean, please understand I had to pick a prank that never touched you. The purest souls such as you, are loved very mucho! Not one, but two, perhaps even three, ladies to your defense have rose. So you yourrself were untouched, as I'd like to keep my toes. but if I still have offended, like puck pleading after a play has ended. Know that you shield one whom we deeply care. If you need a friend? I am their. Your serrvant..And a black and silver S

Coradel quietly asks, "What is it?"

A frustrated huff. "Shalimar." He offers her the note.

She reads it, and smiles fondly. "I think that's sweet. What was in the box, though? " She comes closer and peers in.

"A rosary. I mean, unless it turns into a noose or something when you touch it." He risks it, and picks up the circlet of beads.

the only glamor is the same sort he feels in church. The pictures seem to provide evidence. Whether this gained glamour from the blessing of the pope , or the belief of the child who held it. He doesn't know.

"That's lovely," she murmurs. "Who's that in the picture?"

"Pope John Paul the second, head of the Church two popes ago." He murmurs. "I don't know who the girl is."

She rests her hands on his shoulders. "August...don't be irritated with him. It was a funny prank, and nobody was hurt."

"Was it?" Dolefully. "Okay." He looks at the rosary. "It's beautiful."

"It was." she asserts, then rubs his shoulders gently. "Is it because of the Hollow? Is it because of how people treated you there, that you're so cautious of pranks?"