#earthrunes

"Ah. I was bringing you that and heard about the commotion and.... well.... sorry. And yes, I think we are." Glum.

"When is a man ever not?" Shalimar chuckles

"Well, " Ivory says "That's confirmed. Thanks for the stew, Shalimar and..thanks for the book, August."

Looking baffled he shakes his head with a shrug. "It... it must have some wisdom in it."

"And beef chunks" Shalimar nods at the stew

"And.... " A frown "... no, the book."

"I'm sure something chunky is in that too" Shalimar says

A soft groan from the other Liam "Fiona holds. huh?"

"Forewarned is forearmed." August says sympathetically. "Most of all, a strong believe in choice. It might take a while, and people will keep trying to test you.... mostly because I think it's outside their, ah, realm of experience that someone, -anyone- would decline, ah, physical pleasure but, ah, eventually..... well, those who press unwelcome attentions are -not- in the spirit of House Fiona."

"...... ah, so I've read."

"Ah huh" He nods "Sounds like one who knows. " He flips it open to read

"Mmmm." Still resigned. "That's the starter lesson." He starts to eat stew before someone tells on him.

Shalimar nods and watches. The little snitch.

The pooka gets a -Look.-

Then he says "Would you like a menu as well?" Gesturing to the book Ivory has as an example

"No, thank you." Politely. "I wouldn't want to spill."

Shalimar nods and occupies himself by juggling long silver needles.

And the meal is..quite good.

(End scene)

----------

Later that same evening, Zara and Bronte return with a cart of books. The sluagh whispers histories to the two Liam - Herodotus, Plutarch, Hesiod...

While meant for the Liams, Bronte luxuriates in it. Nothing better than raw knowledge after dealing with the ignorant.

And if they sleep through it, no matter - she reads nonetheless. At least one dear soul is there to appreciate it.

......and in the morning, August stretches and yawns.

Morning might find Zara a little pretzel in one of the chairs. It surely can't be comfortable to folded into such a compact tangle...

He exhales, looking over.

She's asleep. Bronte is sneaking ahead in the book, the little minx!

And no guilt in doing so.

It would appear that sometime, Ivory slipped away.

August grins a bit, watching.

Little dragon tail waves

August grins charmingly at her.

Bronte looks up "The tempter or the tempted- who sins most?"

The grin fades.

A sleepy murmur. "Bronte, don't you read the last page first..."

Then the bookwyrm looks guilty and goes back to reading.

"August?" A familar voice, Leonora

Zara unfolds, and rubs at her bleary eyes. "Think I nodded off..."

"It's ok." August's soft voice.

A little grey smile. "Thanks. Art thou well?"

"Yes. Fine. You?"

Leonora bites her lip and looks tempted to withdraw

She stretches, with a back-breaking arch of her spine. "Oh, well. I think I needed that."

A grin. "I would think so."

With that, the Fiona does turn to go.

"You needn't go." She links her elbows behind her back in an impossible contortion and... crack!.. pops some joints.

A pause, The Fiona isn't sure she spoke to her whispers are...hard to hear, she looks back at the two of them "I think I must be intruding"

August looks around "Leonora?" Puzzled.

"Hello, August," Leonora says "I heard you were in a fight. I came to see if you were... okay"