#earthrunes

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August, rattled and clutching a piece of paper, texts Zara, then calls her.

A sleepy whisper on the phone. "Mmmph - aye?"

"Zara.... Zara, I'm ... it's, ah, August, ah, can I see you? Now? Or... or soon?"

"Ah, soon, it can be soon. I'm at Firnost."

The sound of rustling fabric. "Earl, beloved, don't wake up... I'm going to see Earth Runes."

"I could come there if you like." He offers. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"mmm?"One eye "need with?" mumble "can go"

"No worries. I am a big girl." The soft sound of a kiss. "Sleep. I'll be back. August, did I forget to read for you last night? I promise, I will be right there, I made this special mat to lay out the cards and everything..."

"No, no, you... you read. I... Shall I come there?"

A wince "August?" Memories, fractured. "I may owe him an apology."

"I.. ah... a moment..." A hand over the phone. "Earl, hast thou thy pants here?"

"Yes," he says "I think 1122 is raiding them for lint in the pockets" he reaches for it, now waking more fully

Back to the phone. "Aye, you can come here if you wish."

"I'm on the way." *Click*

"Yeah, lt's not have our good altar boy friend scared by the troll ala nude" A low mutter

She raises an eyebrow after setting the phone aside. "Well, not quite the thought..."

"And truth...." A wicked grin, and she stretches out a leg to poke his hip with a toe. "He would have good reason to be intimidated by a pants-less Herne."

He laughs softly at that, a chuff louder than hers but in similar fashion "You flatter me, lover. thank you"

"Now... I believe I have a change somewhere..." And she goes hunting while August travels.

OOC Meet there or stay here?

Earl himself gently shoos 1122 out of his pants. "yes yes, the lint is yours. Prepare it for a lady friend or something"

((I am lazy. Stay?))

OOC Could stay.

Zara turns up with a change of clothes - who knows where she had it stashed. A kiss on Earl's cheek in passing, heading barefoot downstairs to make tea.

Earl smiles and soon is changed.

August plunges into the room from the Garden, rattled.

"Good morning, August. I made tea." Indeed, she is filling up three cups.

Earl notices, "August, are you okay?"

He swallows. He seems helpless a moment, then offers Zara the paper he holds.

There is writing on both sides....

One is a dainty china number, chipped and cracked, the other has flaking gilt and the third... the third is twice the size of the first two put together and declares 'Good morning. I see the assassins have failed' printed on one side.

"Ah?" Tea offered in exchange for paper.

He takes the cup, but does not drink.

A cursory inspection of the paper, silently skimming.

OOC Which side? One has more on it than the other.

"Oh, my... August, did Coradel write this?" THAT side. Of course that side.

"Write what?" Curious and he looks over the shoulder before he thinks about it

"Write... no, of course not...." He seems baffled. "Those are my... my notes."

Her eyes widen, and even unseelie, her cheeks turn pink. "..oh dear..."

Earl blinks "She moaned as the straps tightened, taking the last of the breath that August had already stolen. She cold feel the heat from his throbbing..." A cough "Pardon"

"It.. ah... it seems you had a most successful holiday?" She offers the paper back.

"What....??" He takes the paper, scans it and colors as well. "Oh. Ah."

"Look, the Baron had this copier, nocker-made, it can keep memories of what the Mists would steal but it does.... this... on the back." Chagrined. "-These- are my notes..." He flips the paper over.

And offers it back.

Earl fights a smile and fails "Nockers- they make things interesting."

"Mist-proof? Fascinating. I should like to examine it." She takes the paper back, and skims the other side.

A puzzled look, then.. understanding, and a nod. "I read cards, then. It sounds like a good reading, though I fear it slipped into the mists for me..."

"Ah, August.. I don't know how much YOU remember, outside the writing?" Erl says"But I might havee been..too blunt with you. I hope I didn't ah..hurt our friendship?"

"I do not recall being angry... nor... I know not what the vision of trinkets means. Nockers, mayhaps?"