#earthrunes

He nods. "I have found it better to phrase things in terms of preference instead of dislikes." Absently.

"Now to be honest, both VInce and I tended to share a lady..."

"I just thought he said... " An exasperated sigh. "I thought I -understood- something he said."

"Wait, what?"

"Don't worry about it, pooka are hard to understand at the best of times"

August exhales. "Yes."

"Ok."

He clears his throat again. "Do you know... ah... ok this is ...awkward."

"Go ahead, my young friend. It's just the two of us in here..." A sip "And possibly a slaugh in a rafter"

August... rather freezes. "Sir?"

"I'm joking," He says looking about "pretty sure we're alone. Go on, ask your question"

It takes August a moment, then he asks "Do you know if Vince... is, ah... inter.. attracted.... to ... ah, me?"

There is a lot of effort in the question.

"You know, I really don't. I think he wants to be your friend, is your friend, but on the sexual attraction side? I can't tell if he's just flirting for fun or earnestly interested. "

"Damn." Quietly. Then, "Sorry.

"No, it can be frustrating, I know. Shalimar, for example, can make me nuts. Half the time I don't know if he's having fun at my expense or deeply respectful"

"Or both." Brother-spirits.

"Or both" A smile "We of commoner born kith sometimes enjoy how vexing the pooka can be to sidhe, but the truth of the matter there isn't a troll or satyr alive who hasn't been tempted to strangle one at one time or another. And Sluagh ..well, it varies, but some sluagh would rather have teeth again, ones that could then be drilled, than spend an afternoon with one. We also just as often smile at them. They're often very hit or miss, aren't they? Not that one is JUST his or her kith"

"It... I... when we...."

"When we? "

"Sorry." August collects himself. "I thought one thing, then another... now something else. So much for Empiricism." A faint grin.

"August, you're coming across a bit pooka esque yourself. Just ask whatever question you want to ask first mm?" A smile

"You?" quietly.

"If... would you consider..... me?"

"Oh. Ah, August, are you coming onto me?"

"NO! No. I don't mean that at all, Sir. Sorry I asked, please... forget it."

"Sorry."

"I'd be flattered if you were, but oh, you mean did I consider you?"

A long pause... and he nods yes.

"When I first saw you? before I knew you? I wondered what it would be like. After that, less so, not because you lack appeal, far from it. You're a handsome man, and have a lot of character. But because I think it might do you harm. I am your mentor, and while I have slept with my students before- I think on some level you would see it as a betrayal of your trust if I tried it with you. You have different ideals, and while sometimes they confuse me, I try to respect them. I guess by now, I don't see you that way, now obviously, I'd be happy to share a lady with you any day and if we collided I'm not going to freak out about it" A chuckle "But I think I value your friendship more than any carnal curiousity. I Hope that doesn't offend you?"

"No, sir... not at all." Some relief. "In fact.... ah... It's.... good."

A smile, "I'm glad then. August, I have sampled many men, twice as many women easily... and I can tell you right now, that while the pleasures of the flesh appeal to me, like you, I understand connections on other levels and enjoy them too. Intellectual, ideological, and more. Eros is a wonderful form of love, but no form of love should be shunned entirely for a Fiona.... we're limiting ourselves otherwise. You aren't Fiona, but you have tried very hard to show respect and open mindness over the last year ,and that is not unnoticed by me or other Silver Lions. I don't want to endanger what we have by pining over one narrow aspect that we haven't. That's just contraryism on my part. Maybe in my wilder days I'd have felt that urge, but now? No.. I suppose to some degree being a greybeard gives me some much needed perspective. Now," A smile "You want to talk academics or something? I'm versatile."

And so they talk , on matters theological and philosophical, matters of heart, and matters of mind, and of the limits of logic alone

(End scene)

----------------

The after party was... interesting at Earth Runes. Folks enjoyed themselves and not just a certain quartet. Sparrow had a surprisingly good time with a certain Dougal in a fish suit, and both had enough drinks to laugh at jokes about fillet vs drumsticks

Gowdeen seems to be a hit with most who have met her at the hold, and she got Colton's thumbs up, alas the Squire went off away from Earth Runes that night. He's not yet returned

As morning rolls in, the Goose is looounging on a chaise, in a soft tumble with, perhaps, more tha one lady.

"Okay, you told me the food was good," Gowdeen chuckles, "You didn't warn me the drinks were deceptively alluring. "

"That's all Vince..." a sleepy purr.

Meanwhile, Coradel is triumphant! Oh, yes, there were costs to that night, such as being lobbed about like a wet sack in a sporting event, but that was a brief moment; that had wonderful fellows rush to her rescue. And 'after' was grand. It is Delores who is talking to her now as they walked by a chaise with a bird and fish combo, "All signs are nothing but praise for you being such a great sport! "

Gowdeen says "So many disappointed but well intentioned lads offering to help clean me" She laughs with a shake of her head "I had to tell them that we were in very different streams"

"Well, I'm very glad to hear it," Coradel says, "but I couldn't have managed it without a lot of support, for which I am very, very grateful." She spots the cluster of feathers and glittering scales, and waves. "Hello! Did you enjoy yourselves?"

"Quite, baroness," Gowdeen says "Is it okay if I don't rise to bow? I'm not sure which leg is mine."

A laugh. "Please, don't. I'd hate to interrupt such a pleasant tableau."

"Mmm, nope, no help here. Legs! morning Cora."

She flops back down across the Dougal - at some point, she lost her mask, and her coppery hair has come loose in a bed-tumbled fall of curls.

Gowdeen's golden gaze does fall down upon that spread now and then, "Also I'd feel bad disturbing fair lady"

"I am going to declare this a success, then. Any Carnivale you can't walk away from...."

Delores says "more than a success, though letters of thanks can be written. Honestly, my liege, this is quite good as social capital. WOrd will reach their excellencies, and their graces... "