#earthrunes

"Okay I don't understand why not. I .. it feels wrong to be ashamed of it, "Camillus says

"Not ashamed. Not at all ashamed, not ever." Coradel looks directly in his eyes as she says this. "But for now, please don't. I'll explain another time."

"Yes, Baroness' He says. With eyes like that, if she asked him to please hold this burning hot coal. He'd try.

She rests a hand on his for a moment. "Now...you mentioned your mother. You live at home?"

August twists around again, seeking at the doorway for.... someone.....

"Near our place on Independence." He murmurs to Coradel.

"Yeah , w'ere neighbors" Clifford/Camillus confirms

A warm smile. "Oh, that's good! We hadn't checked if there were any fae in the area before we decided on the place."

August looks down/away.

"Well, from what I understand it's hard to notice when we're not. .ah awake yet?" Camillus looks at Bancroft.

Bachdion nods "It can be very hard to sense them"

"Yes. So you're a delightful discovery! But, now tell us of your mother?"

August murmurs in Coradel's ear, rises, and heads out....

"Well, when dad and she divorced, I went iwth her. She kept the house. She worked hard to provide for me... " He says

A soft nod to August.

"Mmm." She nods to Camillus. "Any chance she might be fae as well?"

"I.. mom? SHe's.. I don't know.. I mean, I don't know how common it is." He says surprised

"Not as much as it used to be," Jack sighs.

Bachdion looks distracted and glances over to where August went

"Jack is right, there are far fewer of us than there once were. This is a very chilly world for us. So this..." Coradel gestures to the walls around them. "This is a freehold, a place that houses a font of glamour and supports the fae of a region. When we are done with our drinks, I'll will introduce you to the balefire, unless Bachdion has already shown it to you?"

"No, he mentioned it though, the Escheat, haven and Demense... I think ..." Camillus says "Did I get that right?"

"Quite right' Bachdion says

"You learn quickly. Camillus, may I ask what interests you have? What pursuits drive your passion?"

"I had social anxiety for a long time.. I.. got therapy for it... and I guess you could say I'm lucky because I'm a lot better... but I'd like to lose weight. .. I guess. Get i nshape? Not sure if that's what drives my passion."

A gentle look. "Well...that's not quite what I asked, I think. What do you enjoy? Or...what do you think you'd enjoy? Hobbies, activities...things like that?"

"Ah.. nothing comes to mind" he says "Video games.. and so on."

She considers this, then smiles warmly. "Something will present itself. You'll remember who you are, as you go along."

She senses the satyr is embarrassed about something beyond his weight

A bit of a head tilt, an inviting look for him to share more if he wants, but not pushing.

"Surely" he says

A curious look. "You said video games...what sort of games?"

"Oh, RPGs mostly... Dragon Age is my favorite franchise"

"We have lost me" Jack says not even sure waht that is

Coradel smiles at Jack, "Me, too, but it sounds...adventurous."

"Oh it's great... the first one has the most starting options and good storylines but the graphics are old by our standards but the story? The character interaction you can even ah..romance folks. Now the second one? Great banter reads like a greek tragedy for your family..sorry for spoilers, but hey sexy female pirate for the win. And ...let's see Inqusition? Epic... you can play a quinari"

"yep. Still lost"

That last from Jack

A bemused look on her features. "Interesting! Well...you may find an opportunity to try those skills in real life, now. For you see, for us?" She leans in and murmurs, "Dragons are real."

"Whoa.. how big do they get? Good or evil? Are they intellgent? Do they brreathe fire? Do you have on here?" A stream of questions

"Oh, some are massive...and some could sit on your shoulder. We have one here sometimes, though really she's a little bookwyrm. She's delightful. Oh! Oh, have you met any pooka yet? Bachdion, did you explain about pooka?"

"I tried to but well, he'll have to meet Shalimar to believe it"

"Or Emma. Camillus, our healer, Emmaline, is an opossum pooka, and she's lovely. Shallimar, my jester, is a skunk pooka, and one of my dearest friends. However...it is impossible to take a pooka at his or her word. Once you figure out what they're truly saying, you may be able to trust them, but getting past that first step can be tricky."

"As soon as you figure out what they're saying sometimes they shift gears on you" Jack says

"Oh, and then there's Vince. Oh, Vince...he's a force of nature."

Jack grumps "He's been missing a lot of work lately. I worry what he's got planned for Pranksgiving"

"Oh, dear...." Coradel gives a falsely-worried look that implies she's actually anticipating some fun.

Bachdon smiles "I have dross for flicker flash. I might vanish myself for that holiday"

"I am , once again, lost" Camillus says "But okay"

(Pause)

"Does that bother you? Feeling lost?" Coradel asks, smiling.