#earthrunes

She reaches up to tap twice on his chest. "The heart can be a challenging student when the head keeps distracting it. You know it's true, Earl. Even when she runs away...she comes back, and she comes back to you. This is true, isn't it?"

"yes," the smile strengthens "Well, sometimes she floats back, sometimes she wanders in exxcitedly having made a discovery.." Adoration, "But she does come back..and she has given me much that she gives no one else far beyond ..the hoped for. "

She smiles with him. "That's a wonderful thing to know. And you know, I think sometimes it might be nice to have doubts because being reminded of those reassuring moments must feel so sweet to you."

"I never want to take her for granted" He agrees gazing at Zara, then he turns back to the Baroness, "And you? I've seen how you fight for august, literally and otherwise. I would not bet against you, Coradel Truthbranch, when it came to you with love strengthening your sword arm. No, that would be throwing coin or dross away. I think instead I look forward to helping as a friend, and cheering you on when my help is not needed." A bow from a DeBuke, who never bow to any noble if they can help it.

She may not fully grasp the import of the gesture coming from him, but she accepts it graciously, and responds with a full curtsy in reply. "You have been a true friend to my trueheart, Earl, and I thank you myself for your faith in both of us."

"It's well earned," And he waits for Zara.

When Zara and August part, Earl offers his own arm again, "I missed you" he admits to her.

"Aye? Mayhaps thou needest to spy more..." She slides her arm in his, smiling.

"On you? Oh I will try now and then, I want you to know i care after all" he winks as she slides in, "But I don't think the odds of observing you without you knowing are good. So.. a drink? Someplace to talk? Another dance? People watching?"

"Mmm.. a drink. And.. may we go outside? See the stars?"

"Sounds ideal," Drinks include punch mostly, keeping with the Prom theme, but there is tea to be had as well, for Earl made sure of it. Some drinks are marked with a indicator of 'sluagh approved' which is much better than 'non sluagh might hate this'

"Preference?" He says

"Oh, I must know what is in a sluagh punch..."

He gets her a glass...

to say the fruits this punch incoprorated for juice were ... well aged, is probably to put it to its best. Anyone else might retch, but if she savors, oh my...hint of rotted pomegranate

"Oh, mold! I do love it when there is texture..."

"You'll forgive me for getting the ah, more generic brand?" He grabs regular punch.

"Of course."

"Mmm. I suspect meal planning might get interesting. Though with Jacob downstairs... that would be two and two?"

"Yes, yes it would" he nods pondering it, "Miriam and I can handle our end... Jacob? well, children of any kith can be picky but we'll ask her if he's showing those tendencies." A smile "Speaking of family, I don't know if you looked, but yours was beaming with pride when you got your diploma" As they talk they make their way outside to see the stars.

"Oh, thank goodness, the Uncles behaved..."

"I might have hinted to them that if they could write a writen list up of everything wrong with the stage and set up it might work. We'll see how THAT works out but it seems to made them less verbal."

"...until they march in on the Baroness. Oh, I mgiht wish to see that."

"Troublemaker" He looks at her, but can't fight the smile as they go out itno a...

oh.. the garden is less wild, but more faerie tale than ever. The new Gardener has placed small statues of toadstools and gnomes here and there.. and in the dark they seem to be spying. A gazebo has been erected, and it provides some privacy

"From a discrete vantage point..."

"prudent troublemaker" he corrects

"Oh!" She tugs on Earl's hand, pulling towards the gazebo.

They slip into the gazebo, speaking of discrete vantage point, one can more easily look out than one can in, a curtain of flower adorned vines can be shift... and yet the moon, being naturally in the sky and not ground level (And thank goodness as no one wants a dirty moon) bathes down in its silver kisses that catch Zara's hair

Zara trails her fingertips along the curtained vines, then twirls back to catch Earl's hands... ready, it seems, to dance again.

As she twirls, he gazes in amazement at the way the moon's light infuses her. His hands are hers, and his heart too, of course, they begin to dance again...to music so soft it might as well be a whisper out here. "You are beauty."

"Oh, flatterer..."

"Truth is my ally" He says moving with her, pressing, then slipping back just a little before pressing again in tempo, "You are like the milkyway, sparkling light here, deeper purples there... you have the power of zodiac's dance on my fate and I am grateful for it."

"Thou art my night sky, my aurora, the first blue of evening.."

"And our lights intermingle so well..." He kisses her on the ear as they 'collapse' together.

A soft laugh, and she returns the kiss.

The dancing in place closes, less backing away, more intimate, until they to be clasping in the music and moonlight, and none the wiser. Soft kisses, gentle touches, and play.

It is less dancing, and more a close embrace with a bit of swaying.

Perhaps there are others in the garden they could spy on , those none the wiser, but it seems that such distractions are needless at this time. Zara can hear instead his heartbeat, and his hands can feel her form writhe within the cloud like dress suits her so well.

She presses her ear against his chest, eyes closed, and snakes her arms around his waist. Welp, no escaping now! She's got him!

For some reason, it never occurs to him to use annnny wayfare ta this moment

He best not! He's been claimed!

And he claims her in returned, hands sliding against the small of her back. and he whisper sings a bit , hearing what's being played in side..."What's this whole world comin' to
Things just ain't the same
Any time the hunter gets captured by the game" The song so fitting and he's happy for it.

A soft chuff. "Hunted me until I caught thee."

"Truer words never spoken...and here is your trap that holds me fast," And he claims her lips with his own.

"Mmm" A happy murmur.

Prom night at a Fiona hold has many lures and pitfalls, why, one might fall into a lure and wonder where their clothes went... but for Zara and Earl, well.... she can slip away unseen and bring him along, he can whisk her away to any chamber of their knowing and choosing...

though she does have a room here.

choices choices most pleasing choies...

but for now, holding each other under moonlight and stealing kisses back and forth is most most pleasant.