#earthrunes

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*knock knock knock*

There's a soft groan and the door opens, disheveled , his tutor smiles anyway "Hello. Come in" He's casually dressed, no swashbuckling courtly attire

"Have I come at a bad time? I could come back...." Offered honestly.

"No, please. I've just strained a few things during the preparty, the party, the after party and the after after party" He motions him "Speaking of which, you were amazing all around, sir"

"Ah." He blushes and rubs the back of his neck. "Yes, well... ah, speaking of that."

Bachdion moves to a spot "You want some coffee, tea? "

He steps in and continues, "First... I wanted to say thank you."

"For what? We barely touched. Now, That redheaded fire cracker of a wife of yours and Leonora the delicious..."

August clears his throat. "I mean, what you did for Coradel. Ah, the Jester. At Carnivale, the .... jello wrestling. Thank you."

"All credit to Vince there," The satyr admits "I never would have thought about it. It was his idea- and a good one! You know, Vince is a fine young man...also, fantastic hair, but an even more fantastic heart"

August nods. "I plan to thank him as well but... you joined him." He paces a few steps, stops. "I'd just come back from getting what I could on the King and I saw her... and I could see she wasn't happy about .... and the only thing I could think of was to stop it, and I knew I couldn't... I almost left Carnivale, Bachdion."

"You're a smart young man, and with a will of steel. I bet you would have found a way to think of a way to distract or change the situation, but, you are welcome for my part. It's the price she pays being liege, and a good one. I know it's hard to believe, but her showing up in those outfits, taking that ribbing and a bit of rough housing? It pays off. I've seen it.. It lets the locals vent any resentment safely, blow off steam, and also shows them she's one of htem and puts their traditions above herself, that she's not her for her own sake but everyone's. Carnival is a liege's nightmare sometime, but after carnival? Those locals will be in high spirits for a month and talking about how great a sport she was. You might have a few modernists turned reformer last night, and a few formers turn traditionalist."

"I understand all that, Bachdion, I really do. But when I saw her... like that, and... she wasn't enjoying it...." He flushes RED, but not a blush. "I've fought people before for things like that." A pause. "And then you and Vince defused it. The answer I should have seen, to de-escalate." He clears his throat and wets his lips. He looks over at Bachdion. "Thank you."

The older fellow takes his hand and gives a warrior to warrior risk clasp, "You had a hard time at Alabastar, rumor has it. Being a Liam. you were persecuted there. Here, at best you get eye rolls and some mutters. But Carnivale is not the same, or it shouldn't be. Those goofs throwing Coradel about didn't have malice in their actions. It's an important difference. But I'm glad Vince found a way and that I joined in to help, especially if it meant she was off the hook AND you didn't feel a fury building. Honestly my f riend, jokes aside, I like you better as a Liam than a Gwydion."

August gives him the honor of a warrior's grasp back, even if he isn't one.

"And... as a Fiona?"

Almost shyly. "How do I fare in that regard?"

A grin "Better than I thought possible friend. Outrage ready to defend your truelove, and … well, once operation liberate Coradel was successful, you were far bolder than I expected. August, you actually had a good time with the atypical, and not just for her sake, maybe I misread, but you seemed to learn a lot about what you like... " A sip of his own drink, "Sure you don't want some tea or something? And how about that scout outfit? I wonder if Leo will keep that around for special occasions? "

"Probably." He says absently. "Oh, yes, thank you. Tea would be nice."

Tea is already brewing so soon handed over graciously. "Here, it's that blend you and Miss Zara both like. Oh, shout out to Shalimar as well I think."

A fleeting, fond smile, then he nods. "Yes. I'll speak with Shalimar as well."

"Ahh... well. Coradel and I spoke, after we left you the morning after Carnivale."

"Oh?" A sip

He clears his throat. "She asked me a question I wasn't ready for and.... well. She knows."

"Oh? Knows about..." Curious

Another throat-clear. "My...lessons. Faux-Fostering."

"Ah... I may have let some of my pride slip , enough to give her a hint. Are you okay?"

"Yes, she was.... " Puzzled. "She seemed pleased? Ah. Surprised." A small, intimate, smile. "Pleased."

A smile back "I'm glad. I thought she might be. She knows you learned a lot for her sake, August. Women enjoy when men show how much they care in ways that are out of their comfort zone." Bachdion takes another drink, "i'm glad it worked out for everyone. Why, even Vince got what he wanted." A sip

"Ah. Yes." He takes.. well, it's a gulp of tea. "What, ah, what did he want?"

"you, dont' remember?" A sip

"The last thing I remember is Coradel kissing me and whispering to me...." Woodenly. "I knew I would not last through the night. Not like... ah, not like you three would. But I wanted to be awake a little longer than... anyway. She bid me to rest and join in again when I woke but when I did..." Deep breath. "Coradel was on one side of me and Vince was on the other."

"Good choice, the man's a grade A snuggler"

August blinks, possibly mishearing that and then rehearing it. "I didn't choose it. Not that I know of, at least." He drinks tea like another man (or nocker) might drink whiskey. "Bachdion, what happened?"

A chuckle, "You are so lucky I'm not a pooka." He says "Friend, as far as I know, and I'm pretty good at holding my booze, you did not partake of manflesh. Not mine, not Vince's. Might explain the big ole smile on Leonora and the bite marks on her merit badge." A pause "Unless you were the badge biter in question?"

".............once or twice, maybe..........."

"Ah, I may owe him an apology, he at least respects the badge." Firm look which breaks into a smile "I'm joking friend. Leonora loved it. Point is, Vince finally got free, joined us, and … and sometime in the morning, snuggled. Trust me, you would have woken up if there was more. "

"I'd hope so." So serious.

"I've enjoyed Vince myself, and to his credit, you KNOW when he's been somewhere" A nod, "Now, if you ever want to know where his tickle spots are?" An offer

August blinks. "You've... " He stops, trying to figure out how to say.... "Bachdion, may I ask an indelicate question?"

"Ask away" He sips "If it's 'have I had all my shots' the answer is 'yes'"

"It isn't. When you say you've enjoyed Vince, do you mean sexually?"

"Yes, not often, but more than once." He says "At the risk of kissing and telling. And I'll ask you not to go gossiping about it, lest it hurt his feelings. He's been a good chap"

"I would never say anything." Soberly but with something on his mind. "So Vince is... ah, heteroflexible." A statement-but-question.

"He's incredibly flexible, awww Youth"

August clears his throat.

He seems deep in thought.

"Bisexuality isn't uncommon among changelings, August. Though I favor ladies a BIT more, say 65/35?"

"It is also, not required. " He says "Many Kithain are firm in their prefernces and as hetero as they come. Trolls can be quite set if you want a counter example to we satyrs"