#earthrunes

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August gets a phone call from Earl

"Yes! Hello! I'm here, yes??!"

"Hey, she's willing to talk to you face to face... Delores I mean. Do you have time now?"

"Yes! Yes! I'll be right there. Ah. Where?"

"Where are you now?"

OOC What's our timeline here? Current or timebubbled to when?

OOC: Well, we know it's before the Duel date

OOC The Duel was supposed to be 'this weekend' but that could be whatever weekend we need it to be. Should probably be closer to Carnivale than further away. I'd like to keep time bubbles to a minimum?

OOC Can we say it's this current weekend?

OOC: If you prefer sure.

OOC: So where is August?

"I'm at the shelter, but I can be at the Manor in... 20 minutes?"

"Oh.. I know the place. Be right there." He hangs up.

August quickly wraps up the project he was working on, lets the shelter workers know he's got to go, and waits by the front door.

Earl is there "Hey. Got you a drink" He offers a bottle of one of August's prefered sodasa

(or teas, but bottled version)

"Thanks." He takes it.

Earl says "She's says she's not willing to talk to you for your sake, but because of Coradel. So.. my advice is to bear that in mind.. she does love Coradel too. She's loyal to her. Okay?"

August nods. "I know. Believe me. I know."

"Fair. Then...." He touches his shoulder "Shazam"

And they vanish.. only to appear before a table with Dame Nansaidh and Steward Delores

August blinks, a little unsteady. "Earl... you could warn me, you know?"

"Oh sure..warning... I have flickerflash now" Straightfaced as a troll is.

August shakes his head, then turns to the ladies and bows.

Dame Nansaidh and the Steward rise to return the bow, but the latter's is a bit cool to say the least.

August clears his throat and speaks quietly. "Ladies, thank you for taking the time to meet with me. How can I make this right between us?"

"Well, Sir Earl has pointed out to me that you making an Oath might clash with your trueheart oath if we don't word it properly.," Delores humphs "But..honestly, Sir August, the problem is I dont' trust you not to do something similar to going back and risking others . I know you want to be the hero, and you think you know best but..."

Dame Nansaidh puts a hand on Delores' arm "Steward, please. That's not constructive."

August stands, actively listening.

"It is how I feel" Delores says "But fine. I don't know what's in your head when you step all over me, Sir August. I only know it offends me, and when it endangers others, it enrages me. If I were a sidhe you wouldn't have done that."

"August can and has clashed with other sidhe, when he felt he was in the right" Earl says defending his friend.

"Peace, Earl." with a friendly smile to the troll that sobers as he looks back to Delores. "It is possible." he admits.

"And you really think you can curb your bigotry, if it is that, with an apology?" The boggan says "Doubtful"

"I understand why you would say that." he agrees.

"Wonderful." She says and looks at the Gwydion "You understand why I feel patronized?"

"A little" the knight replies

August looks lost, unsure. "I... ah, what did I say?"

"It might be seen as a little overly placating and thus patronizing," Earl admits "But right now anything you say might be taken wrong. With respect, Steward Delores, you are prone to hear the worst in things from him at this time."

"I suppose..." Delores grumbles

The Sidhe looks positively contrite, and nods, pinning his lips together.

"Please go on, Sir August. I did agree to hear you out" A sigh

August shakes his head. "No, Steward." Respectfully. "I owe it to you to listen, and be silent. I regret the situation and I will do as you wish to make it right."

"I understand you are willing to go on any three quests I name" Delores says, "is that true?"

He nods.

"Are you an idiot?" Delores asks

"Steward!" Dame Nansaidh gasps

He nods again; yes, he probably is.

"I am picking this duel because it will be in controlled and relatively save situations. So you wont' get killed, you knob. Coradel would be DEVASTATED if you died on some quest" Delores says

He nods again, eyes down.