#earthrunes

She nods. "It is known."

"of course, how ignorant of me, pray forgive" Earl sips

"I challenge you to find a cat who cannot see thee. Of course, they are secretive creatures, and may pretend not to notice thy existence at all."

"Are they then, even more grander than spiders, or dragons?"

He asks.

"Dragons are chimera, and the spider knows her own secrets."

"I think he is trying to provoke you" The girl says eyeing Earl

"moi?" Earl sips

"Likely." A smile.

"mmmph" Velvet says "Indeed, in some legends of the natives, grandmother spider...."

"Oh, pardon my interuption, but I know of Grandmother spider. Here.." he shows his phone, a bit of a breach of true high tea but this is not that.

The girl looks at the picture and is startled. It is surrealistic meaning to draw from many tribes, but it is one Zara has not seen. It has a great spider weaving the WORLD

She knits mountains and forests, weaves and looms rivers and seas.

"Ohhh... this is a new one, aye?"

"It is," He says "I had a commission that fell through, but I figured I'd finish it. NOt my usual style but..."

"Who asked for it, if I may pry?"

"You may always pry" He says "Though sometimes I will make it harder for you so I don't bore you" A smile to her, then a sigh "A gallery wanting art for a mythological display. THey said they were short of Native American mythos"

"Ahhh..."

"If it looks that intriguing on a mere cellphone it must be truly wondrous on the canvas" Velvet says impressed

"Yes, well, I was late, missed my time and.. there you go"

"Late?" A slight frown.

"No big" He says "I will find another buyer"

Velvet admires it "most certainly you will"

"Aye... but.. one must be careful, nu? Reputation."

"Have you looked for connections in poughkeepsie yet?"

"I have" he says "There's a place willing to consider me, but they hadn't really heard of me" He admits "WHich stung a little"

"Well, you must needs expand beyond Missouri. Yes. But they cannot help but love thee."

"Oh, I've gotten a dent in chicago.. and that's no small city" a wink "might even compete with the big apple"

"Indeed? Perhaps the best avenue to bridge from, then..."

"Hmm maybe" He admits "I have to confess, my flickerflash does mean I... " A frown

"You should be careful... it is an expensive gift..." She draws his hand close, kissing the back of it.

Earl smiles "yes" A kiss on her cheek "I need to not be too reliant on it"

"Exactly. So - perhaps we use the summer to contact galleries?"

"Why, Miss Zara, are you putting me to work?" Earl smiles though

"Yes!"

"Noted, but one never knows when I might stray. You might have to do your reading near me now and then to make sure I do not become idly distracted" He says

Velvet rolls her eyes...mostly discretely

A soft chuff. "Live makes us all fools, Velvet."

"Me thinks Sir Earl is very cat like himself, give him not attention, and he is sure to threaten trouble"

"Hm. I wonder if he will start pushing glasses of the counter..."

"Certainly not cups, not while they have tea in them anyway" Earl says "I'm not a savage after all" Faux prim

"Oh, lies! Thou canst be MOST savage."

HIS turn to blush

Velvet looks a toucvh confused, she is still young yet, then slowly.. she blushes to "My, this tea has been lovely, but I should see to tasks"

"But of course. Do check with your knight and get back to me, aye?"

"Aye," she says with a graceful hand to chest as Zara herself uses at times, and then she withdraws

Earl chuckles "I'm afraid we scared her off"

"Indeed. Mushy stuff."

"One day, some guy is going to have a near death experience and she's going to get such a crush on him" Earl predicts

"Oh, aye! How romantic!" Siiigh.