#earthrunes

*****************

Coradel fusses at August as he prepares to go into work two days after the Ignoramus Rex encounter. "Are you sure you're ready?"

"Yes, absolutely." Firmly. "I've -been- ready."

He zips up his work duffel back and pauses. "Coradel... ah, something you should know. Meant to mention it earlier but...."

"Mm?" An interested sound as she plays with a lock of his hair.

"Leonora approached me. The, ah, night after we defeated that chimera in the garden."

He seems puzzled. "I walked her to the door of her room, where we parted but.... well... it seemed odd."

"Odd?" She frowns curiously. "Odd, how?"

"Well... she said she wanted distance, time.... and, ah, then she.... well, she approached me, invited me in. Has she spoken to you?"

She sighs. "No. No, she hasn't."

He shakes his head, frowning.

"Maybe...maybe she's trying to get closer to you again? While...getting some distance from me?"

"Which..." she adds "...is fine, August."

"That's not.... I don't know how I feel about that."

A little shrug, and she strokes his ear. "She's your paramour, August."

"Yours too." Mildly.

"I think.... I think we should all talk again before... before anything else."

"No. No, August...not...not in the same way."

"We should, I think you're right. I just...I hope we can all be honest with each other."

"Do you think.... " Slowly ".... we were not when we talked last?"

"No...no, I think there was honesty, but also caution. But if our next conversation is getting closer to making a decision about what-happens-next...some might be tempted towards caution over honesty." A gentle look at him.

"You mean me."

"Well...not just you." A slightly troubled look. "If she truly loves me...she may be cautious of hurting me."

He gives -her- a look. ".... and that is how you're right. She not a paramour for either of us the same way. She believes she loves you. She does not love me."

A sigh. "And I do not love her, not that way. I enjoy her...and I value her...but...I'm certain it's not the same kind of love that she's talking about."

He nods. "Do you think..." after a moment's reflection "... you would fear for one that you enjoyed and valued? I mean.... is that enough, or... does it have to be more?"

A tender look. "I have feared for Bachdion when he was near death. But...it is more intense with you. FAR more intense."

A sigh, and he barely refrains from an eye-roll. "I'm -fine-....."

"I'm not just talking about this time, August," she is amused.

"Or have you forgotten about the other times you've nearly died, hm? Because I certainly haven't."

"Well, I don't do it on purpose!"

A soft laugh and she claims a kiss.

((Pause))

She gets her kiss, but then he shrugs. "You love Bachdion. Would you fear for Leonora if she were near death, in that way?"

She thinks about it. "Honestly, August, I don't know. I wouldn't know until it happened. And...let's not perform some sort of experiment to find out."

"Let's -not-." He agrees fervently.

A smile. "Well, at least that's agreed."

He grins and nods.... then slowly sobers. "You two should talk first. After that.... we'll see."

A head tilt. "Maybe. Do you think she'll come to me, or that I'll have to corner her?"

He shakes his head slowly. "-No- idea. But if we're supposed to give her space.....tell you what, though, if she comes to me again I will tell her I'm not comfortable going forward till you two have talked. Which is true."

"If it's true, you should definitely say it. Okay. I'll try to talk with her today. Now..." she sneaks another kiss from him...and then another... "I still think you should call out sick, or whatever you call it."

A fond smile. "Rent."

(Kiss)

She pouts. "Fine." And another kiss.

And a kiss. "I'll be home tonight." A kiss, and he swings the bag on his shoulder. "See you then." Kiss.

She returns each one, and sneaks in another one or two. "Anything in particular you want to do tonight?" An inviting look...and another kiss.

"Ahh... I'll, ah, think about it?"

"Oh, I bet you will." A wink, and instead of a kiss she pinches his butt. "Go, before I drag you back to bed."

He looks tempted for just a moment, then nods and bounds off.... gone to work!