#earthrunes

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Decorations are being put up. Two chambers prepared, naturally the troubadours have been practicing their hearts out.

And Earl paces.

On seeing Earl, Coradel goes to him and rests a hand on his shoulder with a gentle laugh. "You will wear a path in the marble."

"Sorry, Baroness ... I... zara and I are ..this backfired"

Her smile vanishes. "How badly?"

"Not good. I mean, we'll have a nice gradution and prom here, thank you for that... the handful of folks who are showing in addition to Zara will, I hiope have fun and get their due... but Zara herself may not show at this rate. She's... she feels like I've been conspiring against her..... that WE have been ..."

He holds up his hand "I handled it all badly. She feels like she's not trusted... I felt hurt I wasn't trusted... and somehow it became about that"

She frowns. "Where is she?"

"She's not telling"

He says in a tone that indicates a great deal of hurt.

"Oh. Oh, Earl...I'm sorry. That's difficult." She pats his arm. "If it helps...August and I have had some dreadful arguments. We got through it."

"Thanks, it does a little. I just.. after Paler was gone, finally gone, I thought we could drop our guards about every thing safely... too soon I get it, but I thought at least she'd .. know that I would never.. I don't understand sometimes. I'm sure there's something I'm missing that I should be seeing. I usually am"

A sigh and a head shake. "I do not understand her. She is...frightened? Of a surprise? I know she is not Fiona, but...I do not understand this."

"A shanda, a public embarrasment I guess? I think at first she thought it was about her birthday... because Paler sent horrible things to her birthday and he got into her head about it." He admits "But despite my assuring her... I don't understand sometimes myself. She is a sluagh, and they value secrets,, but damn it. I have to curb my kith instincts, it won't kill her to hold back hers."

Coradel thinks about this a moment. "I wonder...have you spoken with August about this? Perhaps she said something to him?"

"I did. Apparently August upset her too... but that might be August taking things on his shoulders again. No, this is on me. I miscalculated." a sigh "Hopefully she'll show up."

She sighs. "Hopefully. Hmm. Are either her little dragon or her spider here? Or did she take them with her?"

"Bronte was at her house, 1122 could be anywhere." he sighs "And I coudln't use either to find her. More over.. she told me to leave her alone. So... I have to do just that. Otherwise I don't trust her, don't respect her.

"

"Hm." She tilts her head. "Well...she hasn't asked me to leave her alone. And I think she might not expect my respect. If only I could find her, though."

"Sorry, Baroness. I'm not sure that would fly well." he sighs "August already offered too. I fucked up. "

"Pfft. August. She has him wrapped around her finger as much as she has you, and you both care too much about upsetting her. I...do not. I value her, Earl, do not mistake me...but I do not fear to tell her when I think she is acting a fool. It may be what she needs to hear, and from me she wouldn't think of it as a betrayal of trust."

"She might if she thought I told too mcuh" He says "Sorry, Coradel, you're.. you're a good person. And I am grateful."

"But I have one or two more options and I should take them"

"Options? How do you mean, options?"

"Well... I have to go to her family and explain that because of me, that their daughter niece may not come at all. " he sighs "Not looking forward to that, but otherwise they might show up and she doesn't and... well, I've cheated them of the reason to go."

"But...how is that an option? It doesn't solve much."

"It's the right thing to do. I'll also text her again. She told me to leave her alone, she didn't say how long "

August trots around the corner, duffle bag slung across his body, on his way to ..... "Hey! Hi." A pleased smile.

"Hi"

He nods to Earl. "Hi. How, ah, how's it going?" More subdued.

"August!" Coradel beams and turns to him, offering her hands.

He takes them with a shy grin, and kisses her cheek.

"Not great," earl says "I'm going to have to tell Zara's folks I messed up I think unless I'm very lucky"

August grows very sober. "I'll go with you."

She appreciates the kiss, but listens. "I think you both are clumsy oafs, and I wish you'd let me be ruthlessly brash with her, but fine...go to her family."

"August, I got this. I..." He blinks at Coradel and taps a message between her comments

"Seriously, Earl. I bet I could get her to come." She looks at his phone. "You're texting her family?"

"Earl, I messed up too, I...." a slightly alarmed glance at Coradel ".... I could talk to her Uncles. Or her parents. You don't have to do this alone."

"Trying to text her.." He says and smiles slightly "pardon me."

"Sure." Some form of recognition, and August draws Coradel a few steps away.

"Hi."

Coradel grins a bit at Earl's slight smile, and allows August to lead her away. "Hi, you." She rubs her nose against his.

He eases his arms around her. "I have a shift at the shelter."

"You're leaving?" A pout.

Earl is typing away at a faster pace

"I told VH I'd take his shift." Regretfully.

"VH? Oh, a pox on him." She is mockingly petulant. Then she gives him a light peck on the lips.

August seems worried. "I just wanted to help. He said he had a conflict, something about double booking himself and...."