#earthrunes

Jack shrugs "Something about a girl not understanding.. and hating him now because she feels he betrayed her. I think we got youthful exageration going on"

"Earl, is it Zara? Is she ok?" Intense concern.

"She wants me to GO AWAY" Earl says "She thinkz I'm lying to her! We're lying... and I tole her it's not the birthday and she says it's SOMETHING and well yeah... but.. here.." He hands his cellphone to the man though he drops it twice..his normally skiled hands arent' working "She's mad hiding mad.. "

August, worried, takes the phone and scrolls through.

He pales.

"Yeah..zhe..shates me... I'm in egshile..."

Jack sighs "Never knew a troll to get drunk on appletinies before in my life. Even Oswald can handle it better than this"

"I don' hanle anything well.." earl says "mm a failure a sa man..na boyfrieen..."

August frowns. "Appletinis are pretty strong, Earl." Oh lawd, he's serious. And misses any eyerolls from Jack, watching his friend.

"Man, Earl... this is not good." Rereading.

" Ifuckedup. I fucked everytin up" Earl nods against the table, causing hsi head to do pushups

"Well... I mean, everything is almost ready, right?"

"Yeah...an..n it's soon.. .so if she hides that long.. it's all shot to hell.. " ignoring it's not just for Zara now, others will show "I fucked it all up"

Jack looks at August "You want some tea or something?"

"Please." To Jack. He scoots onto a barstool next to Earl. "We -can- find her."

"Nope. I can't. It would betrayz her... again. She aszked for privacy... so If i have Uncle Emmit or anyone scry... nope. nopenope"

Tea is served, touch of lemon

Coffee is set out for Earl

Earl doesn't even like coffee but he's getting some.

"She hasn't said anything to me." He takes up his tea. "And even if she did...."

"Aughust... I can't... we can't..she'll get more hurt. I hurt her. I'm a traitor. ..i'm borderline oathbruken"

Jack sighs "Not sure that's how most oaths of true heartness work, buddy"

"Look, there has to be a way. We've come too far."

August blinks. "Wait.... how does she know all this??"

"SHe's zarafuckingswchartz... you can only keep enough of a sekret from her to get in trouble"

"shouldaknown" he says

"but it hurt to think she didn't believe me. Ya know?"

Jack shakes his head "Drink the coffee."

Earl takes a sip, makes a face

"Earl, I know this hurts, and it's hard. I'm sorry."

"Could .... ok, she could use Soothsay, right?"

"Of course she can...mygirlfiend is the besht"

"Ok, so.... would she have found out with that?"

"I don'e care how she found out.. I care that she hatez me"

"oh boy" Jack mutters and cleans a glass

August frowns in concentration.

He pats Earl absently.

"Sorry yeah maybe... scrying... or spying in person, or sending 11twwwwo.. or just asking other sluagh"

"What about beautiful Bronte? Or... wait, 1122?"

"Bronte's not so much a spy...she's more like a book buddhe... but mabye.. yeah.. her sphcide... clockwork litlte kindda... you don't know about him?"

"I know about him, of course." A fond smile.

"he..s an extra sets of eyez..."

Another sip of coffee, 'Gah, how do the rivervalers STOMACH this stuff?"

"Right, but.... could either of them have... you know, carried or got information?"

Earl lbinks "YEAH.. thatshwati'msaying"

"Ok, so... either one of them Bronte or 1122 could have ... you know. Heard. Let her know."

"Yeapso?"

"Would her family have... said?"

"oh...well, hirim faked a heartatack..really oughta thank him now that I think on it"

"He what???" August blinks "Master Hiriam ... faked... a heart attack?"