#earthrunes

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Monday the 20th.

August finishes packing a last duffle bag. The Prius is already loaded but for that. His expression is sober, even serious.

Coradel watches. She offered to help, but Boy Scout training is all about efficiency, so there wasn't really much she could do. "How many classes this semester?"

"Six." Easily, as if it were nothing. "A full load, they call it."

She smiles and nods. "Busy." A pause. "What night is good for me visiting, like before?"

He gives her a quick grin. "I think Wednesdays will still be good."

OOC I have to put together his schedule....

"Okay." A smile, and she moves closer to him, a hand stroking his shoulder. "Will you still be able to come back for weekends?"

"I'm going to try, of course." He says sincerely.

A nod. "Can I...is there anything I can do for your squires, to help support them while you're there? I know you were going to have sort of a switching-off thing...."

He nods, finishing the bag. "I thought I'd take Tylar for the first week, unless they'd rather otherwise. I'm not sure it matters who goes first. I think Velvet will be working with Zara, when she's here. Of course, if there's anything you need from them, just ask."

"Will Tylar work with anybody in particular while he's here?"

August frown-thinks. "Well..... I know he'd get along well with Delores."

"You might suggest her to him. I don't know if he's likely to be shy to ask."

He nods. "I will, thank you."

She touches his cheek. "You said goodbye to Leonora?"

He nods. "We went out a few nights ago."

A warm smile. "Good. Everything okay with you two?"

"Sure." A quick grin. "Have you and she had a chance to catch up since you got back?"

"Not really. Briefly." She brushes his hair back from his brow. "I'll hunt her down later today."

"I, ah, I have this. I mean, if you want it." He offers a piece of paper.

A puzzled look, and she takes the paper and looks at it.

It's a class schedule.

"Just, you know, so you can know where I am. I mean, what I'm taking, and all."

That makes her smile. "Okay. Let's see..." She reads. "Composition and Writing...Speech...oh those'll be easy for you. Interpreting? Very helpful." She nods....

He shrugs. "Everything satisfies a core requirement." He seems a bit troubled.

"Algebra. Okay. Chemistry...and..." A blink, and she looks at him with surprise. "Really? A mortal school offers this?"

"What?" He peers.

She points. "Sex Roles and Sexuality"

"Oh. Yes." Untroubled.

"It sounds straight out of a Fiona primer." She smiles.

He chuckles. "I will let you know."

"And, nothing starts too early or goes too late, like it did last year, and weekends are free."

"Maybe I can help you with the homework on that last one..." she teases, flirtatiously.

"And I'm glad you'll be able to keep good hours. It worked well for you last time."

He chuckles fondly. "It is the 'Sociological, psychological, and physiological perspectives of the contemporary human sexuality, development of sex roles, and on alternatives for personal, interrelational and societal adjustment.'" He quotes.

And nods. "I was thinking maybe a gap year, after this year. Starting in Summer. Not sure, though."

"A gap year?"

"When you take a break from, or before, college." He explains.

"You think you'll want one then? It seems a little early to make that kind of plan for almost a year from now.

"

"It does?" He considers it. "Well. I'm just thinking about it."A shrug. "There's a lot I'm still not sure about."

"Of course there is. If I understand it right, college is where you go in without having all the answers, and you don't figure out how to get the answers until you've been there for a while." She slips her arms around his waste and sways slightly, murmuring, "You'll figure it out. Give yourself time."

He sighs, but circles her with his arms in return and nods. "I guess."

Still swaying, gently drawing him into it as if it were a slow dance. "Enjoy the process, the now, while you're there. You love learning new things," she reminds him.

"Fiona." Wryly.

She taps his nose. "There's a wisdom to it, and you know it, Mr. Liam." Smiling.

He nods. "Not enough, but some." He agrees.

She rolls her eyes. "Fine. But you know I'm right in this case." Still swaying in his arms, she stretches up a bit to kiss his lips lightly before murmuring, "Be gentle and kind to yourself. You'll figure it out."

He sighs, kissing her back. "I wish I didn't have to leave."

"Me, too. But...we will have Wednesdays there, and weekends here, and you will learn more and meet people and do all the college-y things you like." Then the smile fades a bit. "And I'll miss you."