#earthrunes

"I called some time ago.. so it's ;possible I called when she was laid up! Oh my.. " troubled "i'm so sorry I wasnt here."

"Well, Claire is already in the hold back on position. Oswald is filling her in"

"We rather strictly kept her on bedrest for a while. She was poisoned, you see."

August gestures for Magnus to join them, and for a place setting and food, then seats himself.

"Reeally?" Magnus' voice goes low, and a bit dangerous "Did we cath the poisoner?"

"Two of them. Well, two abductors. Sluagh and ogre. They both claimed they were promised Shadow Court positions in exchange for this task. Now, the sluagh was in a desperate fix, trying to provide for his ill mother. We've arranged for her care, and in exchange he is now reporting back on what he learns. But the ogre? He is ambitious and unrepentant...and still in the dungeon."

"Hmm...I wonder if we ever got his clothes back to him...."

"Huh. You have style, mother" then to to August he pats his bac "Dad? how is everything? Missed you too"

August nods. "I'm glad you're back." Sincerely.

"Things are well. School's tearing into the homestretch. But..." He glances at Coradel. "... it'll be worth it."

"I imagine so ," A grin "Acing it as usual then?"

A warm smile back at August, and she pours some champagne for Magnus.

"Doing my best."

"Good." He takes the offered seat, "And mom, Claire is fine. Catching up with Oswald to learn what she missed. Ah we patched afew things up with the wedding.. in fact, doing very"

"Mmmm...can you share anything about what got patched?" Coradel props her chin on her hand, leaning to listen with curiosity.

A laugh then "Well, you know she regretted we eloped on Samhain? She wanted the marraige and it got put off and put off and then.. samhain we snapped? Well, she's better now..we're going to have our anniversery on Oct 30 by mutuaal agreement. "

"Oh, that makes a LOT of sense." Coradel nods approval. "A proper celebration that you won't forget."

"Just what we were thinking" He says "Also, something amusing about celebrating matrimony on Hell Night"

boyish grin

She beams. "I think it suits you both, at least in your Winter clothes."

A chuckle "Thanks. "

"I'm glad you sorted it out, Magnus. I hated the thought of the two of you being unhappy. But next time...warn your mother before planting a grand deception." A chiding tone.

"oh yes, well, Clare mentioned you almost cut her friend in half.. wow, how red would your face be then?" A tisk

"I'd think Claire would be flattered that I'd be that outraged on her behalf. She should value her friends better." A tsk in return.

August sips his... champagne?

"I'll let her know"

Coradel winks at Magnus. "So, now that you're back, anything in the works?"

"Oh I'm helping with a lost child case already. Mortal. Claire is going back to duty here. "

August tilts his head. "Can I help?"

"I.. sure, dad. A lot of it is fliers and asking around at the early stages. I thought about asking sis too"

August nods. "I'll be out and about on Sunday. I can take some with me, put them up."

"What do you know already?" Coradel is curious.

"ten year old boy, named ahem.. August." He pulls out a smart phone and shows them a picture

The sandy haired lad with bright eyes and a green striped shirt seems on the shy but curious side

A surprised blink. "Oh." She looks at the phone, frowning.

The elder August looks, consternated, at the picture.

"August Clark Walton to be exact. Age 10, likes Percy Jackson and thinks Hockey is cooler than football. Favorite team, the Philly Fliers...not that I know hockey. "

"Where... what were the circumstances of his disappearance?"

"Jefferson City, he was in a store with his mother. The poor woman is despondent, she's blaming herself for this. And..." A look at Breakfast, "I'm sorry to unload this on you two. It probably WAS a nice meal before I brought gloom and doom here"

"It's all right, Magnus. This is important. When did he go missing? How long ago?"

"As of now? he's been missing for about 50 hours. The police don't have much hope. There's an amber alert out and all. but..." A shrug

"50 hours? Don't the odds ... drop? After, what, 48 hours?"

"YUP...and the Waltons know it." He says "But with a bit of dross, Chronos and luck, I'm hoping to have an edge the police don't. Speaking of which, sorry to come in and mooch but can I tap into the Holde's dross reserves for this? I will pay it back"

"Absolutely." Not a moment's hesitation on Coradel's part. "I'll authorize it."

"Perhaps Almandine could assist you?"

"Thank you" And then "Almandine? the Seer? oh sometimes I forget you have him. Well, he probably would say this isn't a fae matter if I pester"

"He might. At which point, I'll make it an order, if you need the help. I'm pretty sure you have the ability to do this yourself."

A grinn "I rather like telling him that you're ordering him on this. Eiluned always look so put upon when they are put to work on things besides their personal pet projjects"

"Magnus, that's not very kind." Mildly.

"Well, neither am I sometimes dad"