#earthrunes

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Shalimar is outside, smoking a candy cigarette , his french beret at ze angle of misery. He is embracing his ennui

"Ah, it. What has love got to do with it? What is love but a second hand emotion? "A drag and puff "What has lovee to do with it? Who needs an 'eart' when an 'eart' can be broken?"

Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more.

He nods as the chimera that chimes "Oh, but it will hurt, myfreend. That is why I have taken the pieces of my 'eart and buried them in the solace of my pain. Let Lions prance, let sparrows soar. It matters not"

"I don't care about anyone, or anything anymore" A puff "It doesn't matter.. I shall tell the next fool that asks about love to abandon it, love is a poison pill"

A text hits , he looks : HELP. I need to find the right gift for Emma for ❤️ day'

The skunk pooka sighs, nd texts back the picture ofa comedy club, 'Two tickets beat me up. I wasn't even going to use them'

As the return text gushes and thanks him, the skunk pooka puts the candy cigarette out, stomping on it, and takes his beret off and putss back on he foolscap. he returns into the hold, forcing a smile on his face as he prepares to give tickets to help someone else find happiness innstead.

"You seem a glum plum, cher." Whiskers twitch.

"What's made you a fruit?"

"Nonsense, my lady" The skunk smiles

"STUFF and nonsense, my stock in trade!"

"You deal in stocks? I tried that once... the locals pelted me with tomatoes"

"How else do you get enough sorrow for salsa?" She drapes her tail over her arm, like a lady's stole.

"oh, lady, does though enjoy being clubbed by comedy?" He texts as he types "Asking for a dire enemy"

"...You may be a restauranto mexicano, comrade."

"Comedy? Oh, I detest it."

"Oh so do I... it's why I beccame a jester. self loathing" A nod and his phone beeps again . "Mmm Salsa? I do like dancing."

"Well, that makes dollars." She nods. "But for one rolling in dough... why, have we a pirogi? No! "

He walks on in with her "I think the queen prefers Dachshunds now"

"Scandalous! Who could?"

"Germans are an odd people" A sigh And he taps something back as they approach Oswald.

Oswald smiles "hey man I..oohh" A blush as he sees Emma is with him

"Even so... oh! Bonjour monsieur!"

"Bonjour" Oswald says looking as i he might have been caught at something and putting his cellphone away "Ah, nice to see you Emma I..."

The skunk smiles and reaches into his poccket "here's those tickcets you bought. Thank you for letting me snniff them. I wasn't weird about it at all" Then he slaps the two comedy club tickets into the big blue hand

She narrows her eyes lookign between the two. "Aliens! Area 51! Chemtrails!"

"Slander... I didn't so much as belch" the Jester says stroking his tail gently

"Ah.. " Oswald says with a blush 'Emma, would you like to go out to a comedy club onn Valentine's day? I ...don't know if you're available"

"Oh my... my dance card is packed tight. Let me check." She holds the end of her tail and skims it. "Oh! The barest of gaps!"

"Quickly, a gap to fill" The jester says to Oswald, "Ready to fill it?"

"Yes" Oswald says hurriedly "I want to fill her..." Then he realizes what he almost said, and shoots the Skunk a LOOK, then coughs "I would love to go out with you then, Emma, for the club. The show is at .." He looks at the tickets "Seven"

She dissolves into laughter.

The troll is SO purple only royalty can wear him

The Jester grins

And sneaks a little poke in Oswald's side with her tail. "Nine it is!"

Oswald mutters' Thanks" as he's poked "I ..didn't want to spend Valentine Day alone.."

"I suppose I shall spare you that. Though I know a most excellent ice cream place - and chunky munky is even better than a date."

"Ye gads, if only..." the Jester says "There were some way to have Dinner and THEN a show? Madness though"

"What? Some unconventional plan! Shalimar, daring to suggest so!"

"It's the lion hairs in the ventilation, it's made me depraved" the pooka says

"I think icecream is good ANY Season"A smile from the troll, then a look to Shalimar "thanks, Shalilmar"

"Depraves and deprived. All that dander got in your eyes, cher."

"Ahha! So thats what they mean by Danderlion" The Jester says

that makes Oswaldlaugh

"Be well the both of you." Shalimar says "I must go find my date. I think she's hiding behind a fig."He bows, bells jangling, and withdraws

Oswald watches him go with a smile "he's a nice guy"

"The saddest ones always are."

"Huh? " Oswald says "oh, right..pooka speak ..the saddest bit confused me"