#earthrunes

Confusing more that that, but he lets it go. He shifts with a Catholic's inherent guilt but nods as well. "Maybe. Yes."

"Jesus died for your sins.. so he must have seen something in you that was very lovable? Now, mind you he's an easy touch, and loves everyone, but dont' think being a person of faith, and then thinking your god was WRONG to think you worthy of loving yourself is a bit. I don't know? Blasphemous? You are a good person, a loving person, and you should not be ashamed of who you are"

A deep breath. "Wow. A lot to unpack there" He lays close to her. "You are not wrong." He warms to the topic. "We are encouraged to care for ourselves and others in both my Faith and in Fae society.

"I'm not ashamed of who I am as much as....careful."

"Better, but still worrisome" She says with a kiss "No one should have to be on their guard about who they are 24/7. "

(Pause)

A fond smile. "Spoken like a true Fiona."

"Well, doesn't mean I'm wrong" A wink

A chuckle. "It doesn't mean you're -right,- either. But I understand what you are saying." He relaxes to look up again. "It's complicated. We all have our biases and privilege. I see that. Perhaps no one -should- have to be on guard about who they are all the time, but some people are. However. Everyone can grow. Well, if you can't grow you can't live and if you can't live, you start dying. I'm not ready for that yet." A sober smile.

"You' are somehow grim even when you smile, ye gads" A grin herself "Okay. How can i help you grow in the way you want?"

"You are." he says simply.

"Well darn it, I want growth and gradual progress for yoU NOW" A wink

He takes a moment to kiss her.

She takes a moment back

"A work in progress."

"Nice work so far" she admits

He shrugs, but agreeably. "I try."

"You're very trying but we adore you"

"I'm sorry about being trying." Sincere.

"I'm trying to you too, sweety" A pat

A huffing laugh. "I'm surrounded by Fiona. I'll get used to it. There are coping skills... but I don't think there's group therapy."

"Maybe there's a website for your poor abused kind?" A giggle

"We don't see ourselves that way. Abused." Soberly. "We carry the weight, and are honored by it, not by other dictates."

Then he looks.... aghast at himself.

He withdraws, somewhat. "Sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"I.. " She says "I'm sorry, I..the weight?"

"Awfully close to, ah, House matters." He closes off. "Liam is Oathbroken, that is enough to say."

"Do you think your love for Coradel is a weight, or knowing Fiona? For a moment it sounded like..." Curious, maybe a bit hurt

"No, not at all." Gently.

"Oh, good."

He kisses her temple.

"Look, maybe you do have to have a weight, and mauybe we can never understand it, but we can still help with the load. Tell Coradel about it, let her aid you. You're truehearts. You should share your loads..even that one"

"We will."

"Share each others, I mean."

"Good" She says

"Is everything good with you?"

"Are you kidding? After that? yes, all is well, though I do wish I could help you more"

He chuckles. "I mean in general, and in view of the coming season."

"Oh." She props up "I'm a bit worried. in truth. Sparrow is..withdrawing, and in truth? I think maybe she needs to. She seems to want space and is too shy to say so. But I could be wrong. Shalimar has been in a funk, though I guess he's over that. Saw him with a raven pooka. Innish is still threatening to retire."

He listens, and prioritizes. "Derynwydd will have the whole house come the end of the semester. Is that too long to wait?"

"No I don't .. think so. I just.. not what I meant really. Argh. I wish I were a boggan"

"Why?" Nonplussed.

"Sometimes she's very hard to read, like you, she doesn't want to make trouble. And sometiems I mistake clues from all of you. Mary Goodall was a tutor ot me. I think I must have seemed dense at times" A smile "She was a boggan"