#earthrunes

"Oh? Sure" She says "Where? Here or... you want to go to Jack's or the garden?"

"Ah. The Garden, I suppose." He offers his arm. "First, and separately, recent events have convinced me that I should devote some effort to my martial training. Could I call on you as a sparring partner occasionally?"

She takes his arm and follows "Me? August, I'm not good with a sword, I'm..average at best. Archery I can own"

"Yes, but I'd bet you're better than I." with wry humor.

"I doubt it, you need a tutor? Why not Coradel, she's good. Or, if you want my advice, Claire. She's possibly the best. She can beat Bachdion"

"Ah. Well, maybe I'll work my way up." Mildly. "Get regular practice again to start with, move forward from there."

He opens the door for them and they step out into the day and the gardens.

She goes to the garden with him, "Sometimes I think you don't like Claire"

"She and I have our differences." He admits.

"I, ah, I'd like to talk to you about something within our relationship." He takes a deep breath. "I feel as if I've been doing you a disservice. I've felt this way for a while, but was finally able to put a finger on it, and I wonder if you feel the same and how you'd like to address it."

"August, she's good, you shouldn't let your differences keep you from learning from the best and...."

"oh. Go on"

He nods, acknowledging the truth of what she said (or started to).

"Ahhh.... Ok, so..... I feel... we always go to your room, or your penthouse. I have no where I can offer you. And... that doesn't sit right with me. But... I'm not sure how to change that."

He swallows with a bit of pink on his cheeks.

"August, that.. you know, you and Coradel don't share your mutual room"

"And for good reason."

He nods.

"So why are you apologizing"

He shrugs. "I don't think it's fair that it's always your place. But I don't really -have- a place, and mundane as it is to say it, I can't afford two apartments and.... it doesn't seem fair. And frankly, I -want- a place I can take you. Ah. You know, host you. The logistics are just......" He sighs.

"We're in the 21st century, guys don't have to buy everything for the girl. HEck, I'm the rich one "

She pats his cheek "But it's sweet you worry."

"My family is ... well-off." He looks at her. "Please don't patronize me." Gently.

"I don't mean to," she says surprised. "I just.. August, this has never been a big deal to me, the you having no... i mean. I didn't realize it bothered you so."

"I didn't either." He explains. "I mean.... I guess it was around in the back of my head but.... now it's in the front of my head, and I thought I should see if it was in your head, ah, at all."

"What brought it on exactly?"

He clears his throat, shrugs. "Coradel and I are going apartment shopping. Seriously, not just, you know.... looking at places."

"That's great, I mean I heard, but didn't know how close you got. So, you're saying if you could, you'd set me up in a cozy little spot where we could tryst? "

"No." A frown. "I'd have somewhere I could take you. I mean... sure, I guess, a hotel, but.... it's not the same. You've invited me into your home.... I can't do the same, exactly."

"August.. I've never invited you to my home" She says

"i've invited you to a house, or an apartment, where I live, but it's nto a home"

"You know what I mean."

"My mortal father.... the man who's daughter I took away? He's... he's become MY dad, and where he lives where WE live, is where I feel at home. I .. I'm not patronizing you or trying to make you feel better, it's the truth"

There's still a flicker from August, Liam to the core; it's necessary and unavoidable, but he feels a needle's point with every reminder.

"Well. I'm glad to hear that, I think. That you have that." A sigh. "And chagrin I didn't know it before."

She tries to read that flicker, unsure if he's upset at the reminder of the body she took or.. or what, "August, you can't be perfect. And how would you know? I didn't say."

He nods agreement.... or at least, acknowledgement.

He thinks...... "I understand what you're saying. It doesn't change the fact I can't... provide for us." He pinks more deeply.

She kisses him on the cheek, then says "But you.. August, you do. I mean, you provide what I need. Warm arms to hold me, an ear to listen - and yes, comfort of intimacy and to celebrate being alive. When I first became a Fiona, i was worried I'd become some bisexual tramp..and I thought of it in those terms. And yes, I like sex, and I am bisexual after all... but you gave me..." A deep breath "Trust. I don't just mean you trusted me, I mean you helped me grow to trust myself, to accept myself. A house is just a place, a thing really. What you provided ... I couldn't afford if it was the sort of thing that was sold."

August looks... almost panicked. Way beyond thunderstruck. POLEAXED, (and not a Dagmar to be seen.)

"August?"

"You.... I... you....."

Okay she's not any further along in understanding

August finds a spot and sits. Grass, bench, whatever.

"I... did?" Lost.

"Which part?" She sits next to him.

"Any.... all... "

"I meant it all" She says

"I don't... I can't do that." He sits up, with a game grin. "That was all you."