#earthrunes

"if both displease thee, I shall throw myself from the rotunda"

"Two?"

A hapless look, "The muse took me in his grasp and ravished me..." a raised brow "Tell Shalimar not"

Then "It did occur that if you liked not one, yhou might hate the other instead"

"But they are so lovely? How do I choose?"

A pleased look from her sister.

"Well, neither can live here after this... mine shelter is full." Gesturing to both "As for which you take to the dance with thee? A coin? "

"Mmm..."

"Mmm... mayhaps... mayhaps I shall muse on it."

"Of course. You know, musing is easier when trying on clothes.. one then the other, while someone sticks you with needles to make sure all fits?"

A soft chuff. "Alright then."

A relieved look, and with the door locked so they wont' be bothered, Vashti tends to her sister's undressing, dressing, and redressing ..first one gown, then another.

And between all this, somethings let in, some out. and soft adjustments.

Zara might twirl... but who would believe Vashti if se said so?

Indeed! Pooka can make most useful witnesses in that regard. Her sister actually claps very softly once as Zara does the twirl test.

"Aye, these please... summer and winter, nu?" The lilac and purple respectively.

"If thou art asking for spring and autumn, time left with elvis" she says

"Oh, these are more than... they are wonderful. But I think... I... tis June..."

She touches the gauzy sleeves of the lilac again, and the flowers...

"Oh? Hmm how did she visit again so soon?" The pooka smiles though, and nods.

"Aye. How indeed." Dreamy distraction.

The pooka smiles, and with the last touches on the dress, the lilac garment should fit to a T.

"I shall float.... tis but air and purple..."

"As a lavender cloud in the dusk's dim"

"Aye." Another smile.

"Now, should I explain to thy paramour how best to remove it exterior, or do you declare he shall strive?"

a wicked gleam.

"Oh, he needs to earn it."

Vashti bobs her head, wordlessly agreeing

and while Vashti cannot tell the truth at least she listens, and she will listen, about frustrations, fears, or lavender clouds.

(End scene)

"August," Earl says "it's on! I mean..she's there.. gonna be there"

"She is!" He snaps up from the exercises he was performing, glowing with exertion. He grins. "That's great news!!!"

"I know ..so I've talked to her family and they tell me they can make it..let's see, I spoke to Miriam... We got the numbers. Holy snot, this could work. There's just one TINNNNY Problem"

"Coradel said -all- her family is welcome.... what problem?" Apprehensively.

"I don't have a suit for prom..." He says "I told Vashti to work on her dress, maybe more than one and Vashti did it, but.. I dont have a suit and I'm not sure we have time for a new one."

August grins. "Heck, just get a tuxedo."

"Just get a tuxedo? You know a place? Because the place I used to go is closed"

He shrugs. "Sure." He wipes his face and chest down with a towel. "If you want, let me clean up and we can go?"

"Sure.. ah, thank you"

August nods, grins, and bounds off.

He returns in short order, freshly showered and changed. "C'mon...." he leads the way to his Prius. "It's so awesome to be -here- now, have my stuff and my life here. Much easier."

"I'm happy for you" he says and means it.

August takes them into Jefferson City and to Samuel's tuxedos. "Here we go."

"this is... nice" he says as the staff moves forward to ask if he needs any help. So on

"I'm looking for something a bit period piece but I don't know if you have..." "oh.. right sure..thanks"

August waves off help, indicating Earl, and wanders around the shop looking.

As he looks , he hears a man on the phone, "Honey, that's silly.. no one can sell their soul."

"You had a nightmare... okay, daymare" Assurances

August listens with half an ear, his mind drawn back to ring designs and the next time -he- will need a tuxedo....