#earthrunes

"You're right." Quiet.

A gentle touch of her fingertips along his jaw. "Don't worry, August, I'm not suggesting sexual depravity in the entry foyer. But...I'd like to be able to show them affection a bit more openly, as you have begun to with her."

He nods rapidly. "Of course. Maybe... maybe I just needed to... to get used to the idea? I'm sorry, that's not very enlightened of me."

She turns to face him a bit. "Beloved, if you had become any more enlightened more quickly than you have in the past year, they would use you for a lighthouse on the edge of a darkling sea." A quick kiss. "You are wonderful. Nothing for you to be sorry for."

He chuffs. "Ok, so.... So.... what are we talking about, then. What do -you- want?"

"Well...I think the fact that we have lovers is hardly a secret to other members of this household. I think...I'd like to be able to share a cuddle and a kiss with them in public without being concerned that I was betraying our agreement of discretion."

He nods immediately. "Done."

She blinks and smiles, pleased. "I thought that would be a good half hour of agonizing, at least."

He blinks. "You did? I... I just figured... I can't ask anything I'm not willing to give, right?"

"Well, not if you want to be fair about it, no. But sometimes accepting new things hasn't come easy for you."

He frowns. "I don't think that's a good thing....."

"I'm not saying it was. I'm saying I'm impressed with how you are now." A little kiss, if he accepts it.

He does.

"Well. Thank you. You're pretty impressive yourself." He offers.

"Only pretty impressive?" she flirts.

"Ahhhh...." He parses a foreign language. "-Very- impressive?"

She relents and nuzzle his cheek a bit.

He seems reassured by this, and nuzzles back. "Have you had any thoughts about the house and Derynwydd?

"Well...I'd love to just buy the place outright. I can ask my father to do it, but he'll probably want to know what the investment return is, and....there really wouldn't be one. Do we know anybody who might be interested in moving in with her there? Or...does she know anybody who would make a good roommate?"

He's thought about this. "Well. Jeanette and Ludmila and she have been close, but I think they have formed their own couple and that could be awkward."

"Someone Fae would be best, so she doesn't have to hide who she is for the Right of Ignorance."

"I could put up flyers at Firnost."

"That seems a bit impersonal...but..."

"Well...hmm...do we know how she feels about the idea of having a roommate?"

August nods. "I'd rather it was someone we know and trust. But I think that boils down to 'me'." He nods. "We talked about it, and she's open to it."

"Hey...what about Earl?"

"Earl has a roommate."

"But...what if Earl and his roommate moved in with Derynwydd?"

"Ahhh... Earl and Derynwydd... and Doyle. Well, I suppose we could ask her about it. Maybe all get a coffee or something together?"

"Sure, we could all talk. It's a first thought, anyway."

"It's not a bad one." He reassures her. "There's a part of my that would love to see her... you know. Happy."

"I want that, too, August. I'm sure we'll find a way to help. Of course, she has to be part of the conversation. Drinks, definitely."

He nods. "I'll call Earl tomorrow, see what we can set up. Say, could I invite them to Yule here?"

"Of course! The more, the merrier!"

He grins. "Ok. I mean, I hope Zara will be here. For part of it, anyway."

The grins fades just a bit.

She watches his expression. "What is it?"

He shakes his head. "No, just... I feel like I should reach out to her but at the same time, respect her privacy, her need to... to hide. Not in a bad way but... you know."

"Hmmm..." she looks off. "How do you normally contact her, when you do?"

"Phone. Text, mostly."

"Would you like me to call her?"

He blinks. "I thought.... I thought you said she didn't like you."

"I did. That doesn't mean I can't call her. Perhaps I can tell her I'll call her again and again until she contacts you....?" She might be teasing.

He looks briefly horrified. "Coradel, no, that... that would not be good. That's not... it wouldn't work."

"No?"

"No." Firmly. "Please, don't do that."

"I won't...if I don't have to."

"You don't." He is absolutely sure.

"I hope you're right."

He shifts to look into her face. "Coradel, sluagh... Zara, she doesn't like ... attention. Like... Like if you told a satyr they couldn't flirt, or a nocker they couldn't curse. It does against what she is." Intently.