#earthrunes

"I know, I know.... I try, ok, I do the best I can, and ... well, it's not one-sided."

What's the problem then? If both you and the lady want to work the problem all the better!

"It's more complicated than that... and I'd prefer not to talk about it any more, please."

Faint heart! Fair lady! Rage rage against the dying of passion's light! Show them you see in them what others miss! Listen to them, really listen and... you sure you don't want more? This is good stuff damnnit

"Yes, it is." He assures the little spider. "Thank you."

1122 welcomes him, but says that if he needs advice, he knows where to find him.

"I sure do. Ah. Where -is- Zara?"

Probably at her home.. library is empty.

"Ah. Ok. Thank you."

A nod, and bounce... he's late for this scorpian he met... sure, it's living dangerously... but no guts, no glory, no risk, no love story!

"Well, be... ah, careful."

TROJAN MAN! He chimes in Morse to reassure and is gone.

It is possible the Fiona hold magic has influenced that poor chimera

"Tro....ah." August blushes, gathers his stuff, and goes inside to clean up for dinner.

(And mercifully we end scene for now)

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

Leonora swirls the food left...

she swirls the food right...

she drops a bit so Thistlesnort can eat it.

then swirls again

Footsteps, soft. "I cannot figure out if you're bunking a cantrip or preparing to paint with that."

"Oh.. I.. just not hungry I guess. " SHe shrugs

"May I join you?" Coradel rests her hand on the back of another chair at the table. "Hello, Thistlesnort."

"uhmm sure" She gestures to that chair.

Thistle snort wags

Coradel seats herself gracefully and gives Leonora a once-over look. "Forgive me...but you seem tired."

"I guess. Mostly I'm..confused. I tried to set things right with august, threw a clue I was sure he ..hell.. I Offered myself... and... He shot me down hard. I think I really hurt his feelings. I think I burned a bridge."

"You...threw a clue?" A bit of a smile. "How exactly did you do that?"

"I forget the exact words, but I think 'would you like to come to my place' was among it"

"Mmm." A sigh. "I don't think you burned a bridge, Leonora. But I think August is taking a step back until we have this..." she gestures between the two of them "...figured out."

"Oh." she says "I can understand that"

She nods. "So...."

A coaxing tone.

"So..." she says "ive been giving it a lot of thought. And I have.. a possilbe out but it could be wishful thinking"

"Well...Okay, let me hear it, but I'm not just interested in solutions, Leonora, but in how you're feeling, what you're going through. I'm not trying to say, 'Fix this now, woman!' " A mockingly imperious snap of her fingers. "Tell me what you need to talk about, as well as this 'possible out.'"

"It is Possible that while I lust for you, the love I have isn't romantic, but rather... liege and knight. I mean, it is said Arthur's men loved him...and despite the wishes of the LGBT community, I don't think they all meant in the sheets"

An interested look. "So...a passionate loyalty?"

"It's possible" she says "I've been scared when my father was in a small plane and I heard there was an accident.. turned out not to be his... but I actually tensed up with white knuckles"

A smile and a nod. "I understand. And I think it's likely. I can see how the passion of the sheets and the passion of serving me as a vassal could get tangled up and complicated." She rests her chin on her palm. "Leo, have you been seeing other lovers lately? Besides August and me?"

"Bachdion, Vince now and then.. though it's been longer with him... THOUGHT about making a play for Oswald, but you know, I'm not sure what the sitch is between him and Emma so I decided nah"

"Mm, that's a bit of a tangle, I agree, after those chimerae. Well, have any of those relationships become complicated like this?"

"No, but then again, none of them are my liege so back to square one right?"

"Well, more like proof of concept, I think."

"I suppose...have you spoken with Bachdion about this?"

"I didn't it... felt private? Between the three of us" A frown, "I don't want to shame August OR you"

A soft little amused sound. "Leonora, Bachdion has been my mentor and has counseled August as well. I think he knows more about us that we might think he knows. But if that's how it feels, I certainly respect your feelings." A pause. "How would you like to move forward with this? Know that neither August nor I would like to lose your friendship."

"oh, neither do I" she says with a smile

"If you think Bachdion is okay to go to for you AND August, then.. I'll ask him. I mean, he's been a Fiona so long he's THE Silver Fox of our area."

A warm smile. "I think Bachdion may find it very amusing to be guiding all of us at one point or another. So..." she reaches out and rests a hand on one of Leonora's "...don't be sad if August and I give you space, at least romantically, while you're still figuring out where you're at with us. We don't want to make you sad...but we do want you to feel like you're head's on straight."

"Thanks." A squeeze "One thing I can tell you, I DO want what you and August have... for some guy ..or girl out there...so one day I might... well...introduce you to someone very special and we'll have to sort things out again. And..please, tell August I get it. THat it wasn't rejection so much as his respecting you, like always does and should"