#earthrunes

"exactly, August.. this isn't your FAULT... it's not anyone's fault. Sometimes things just go side ways"

"It's not that I want to find the flaw in this gem." Gently. "It's that I want to know why you dropped it. Or if I can help you hold onto it next time."

"Ladies, I -do- understand that sometimes things happen, go sideways, make mistakes, that people get hurt unintentionally. I do. I just want to be sure I've done all I can to help avoid or mitigate those mistakes or hurts that I cause. Because I care."

"Part of the helping to hold onto it is knowing what we are. Leonora knows now that she loves us, but understands that we cannot return that love. That's something different from what we all knew before. Knowing that, helps."

Leonora takes a breath, "what was that quote ? Old show: “It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not weakness, that is life.” It doesn't QUITE fit here, but it's close. "

"August... in this situation, what I felt? The confusion? You had..zero power over that. Coradel had zero power over that. You can't make it not happen again by changing yourself because it never was in your power to begin with. "

"You can't improve past this. You can't will yourself to be immune"

Coradel nods. "You have done everything you could, August."

"It's not possible I had -no- responsibility here." he seems sure.

Bemused. "Isn't that a bit arrogant?"

His grey eyes are guileless.

"little bit" Leonora says less bemused

"Baron August von Tightbottom, you are great in the sack, sweet, and I think you're wonderful. You are strong willed and heroic, but you do not have any such control over my heart that you can claim to be responsible for it to such exacting detail"

"Just because you're involved doesn't make you responsible, August."

August goes a little bug-eyed.

"Just because you're involved, doesn't make you responsible" the other Fiona agrees

"Not entirely, no, but -some- accountability......"

"No wonder he wants to be a lawyer" Leo mutters

She gets an eyebrow; it's not that impressive.

Coradel smiles indulgently at August. "Yes...you are accountable for your own behavior. And both of us have absolved you of doing anything you shouldn't have. You didn't do anything intentionally harmful, and at worst we were all somewhat clumsy with each other. Does that make sense?" Looking to them both.

August thinks about it.... and slowly nods. "Yes."

"Ooo can I say 'I was more clumsy than anyone' ?" Leonora holds up her hand excitedly

Coradel laughs happily. "Don't make us fight you for it!"

"Okay," Leonora says "Then I'll just say 'yes' too"

"Then... what's next?"

Leonora looks almost, well, afraid, to say anything that will walk this back too far

"Mmmmm....well, perhaps it's not terribly spontaneous, but let's have a night of reunion? Dinner, a movie, board games, and a night of luscious sex?"

"All three of us?" Hopeful "Since all three of us no longer need to feel ..responsible ? Or the like? "

"I think that might be a stretch." August mutters. "That is, about not needed to feel responsible." A sigh and small grin, game. "I think we could try dinner, at least. Yes."

"All three of us. And if we're not feeling ready at that time, we wait. Fair?" She looks to August. "Or simply sleep together, no sex required. That can be lovely, too."

"One step at a time. And, to be honest ladies, since -I- am the one most likely to be hesitant, I don't, at this time, have any concerns about you two, ah, enjoying yourselves without me if that's the way things work out."

Coradel looks to Leonora and smiles.

"Ah.." Leo squirms

'Sorry .. we can wait, but I won't feel comfortable with just one of you.. not to sound greedy. I mean, we see if the thr ee of us want, but.. I won't be okay with someone left out after all this. 3 or None... and that's not an ultimatium, we'll find out when we find out but.. nope.. no two unless it's just you two"

August reaches for her other hand. "I can accept that."

Relief "Thank you for that" A smile "So.. lead on, Baron, Baroness"

August suggests a date and time and.... "Ah, where?"

Leonora looks at Coradel "Your choice I think."

"Oh, then...let us host at our house. All right, August?"

"It is with me." carefully.

A nod

August lifts Leonora's hand and kisses it, and then Coradel's.

Coradel gives him a smile. "Good. This will become easier again. I'm sure of it."

Leonora smiles "No pressure though" A chuckle "one step at a time"

August nods, releasing the ladies. "Exactly. One step at a time."

"Agreed." She offers both of them mimosas.

August indicates his tea with a soft smile.

And the night will unwind... rather pleasantly, not all at once, but definitely pleasantly