#earthrunes

"Oh!" Vince brightens up, and gives August a grin. "Well, why didn't you say so? Whispering is one thing, but THINGS are another thing altogether. I thought if you needed to whisper, then the librarian would be the one to speak to, as she teaches the master class - not that anyone can hear it. But there are things and things, and ways and ways, and I am sure I can find a way to help you figure out a thing or two about a thing or two."

"Zara is busy with school... and far away." With regret. "But if you can help..."

"Hmmm. I have missed her, indeed. Luckily, I can assuage my sorrow at her absence by curling up in a fine nest of ancient texts. The older the scroll, the softer the vellum, and the finer a pillow it makes, after all."

"You aren't.... -Actually- sleeping on the books, are you?" Concerned.

"You could join me some night and find out." A rakish grin.

"Ah. Well, actually.... it had occurred to me to invite you to the house, sometime. I think Coradel would enjoy having you."

A blink, and a smaller, softer smile. But, Vince is still Vince, and he cannot help but reply, "I always enjoy having her, as well."

"Ah." He realizes what he said.

A chuckle, and he gives August a playful push on the arm. "You are a delight in providing me with the openings I so desire." A pause, and he laughs delightedly at his own turn of phrase.

And August goes pink.

"Now we are getting somewhere! So... tell me." He pulls up a chair, and gestures for August to do the same. "Wherein do your current skills lie? Not the interesting ones, the magickal ones. Not that bedroom skills are not magickal in and of themselves..."

August sits, without apparent thought, in -his- seat. "I can Willow whisper, but only very simple things. I have some Wayfare and, of course, sovereign. "

"I can affect mortals, places, things, and Far, but I have to know them well."

"My studies were never geared towards the Arts, you see."

He rubs at his chin thoughtfully, and his gaze travels around the room, before returning back to August. "Well, this is a hold-up. Empty your pockets." And taps lightly on the tabletop.

He blinks, but does just that. Wallet, hankie, a chap stick, and... a hook-and-eye closure.

He examines these, and settles on the chap stick. It's close to something that would be worn, but not quite. Reaching out, he takes August's hand, and wraps it around the stick, lid removed. "To speak with the chapstick, one must BECOME the chapstick. Mmm... You are solid, yet soft and smooth. Pliable, especially with a little... friction, or heat. Clinical, yet very personal - applied to tender lips, smoothing away the roughness, bonding with the softest skin, and leaving a bit of thyself behind. Chemical, yet natural. Once the product of a hundred hundred ladies, toiling away to build their home filled with sweetness collected drop by drop - and the very cells, strong yet yielding, recovered and repurposed to become such a simple thing, with such a history. Can you imagine, if such a thing could speak it's truth to you?"

The young man's color remains high. "Ah.... sorry, what?"

"The chapstick? Ah... probably things about those it touches. Illnesses, perhaps, or weather?"

He waiting for a few moments, letting August move past his initial flush of embarrassment, and letting the young man come to his own conclusions. "Mmm, good. What else?"

"Maybe places it's been. Pockets, purses, drawers, under car seats?"

"Indeed!" He takes the chapstick, poises it for use, and then pauses. "May I?"

"Yes."

He carefully applies the chapstick to his lips, coating them briefly, but thoroughly, then leans forward, reaching as though to apply to August himself, but pauses again, just shy of the Sidhe's lips, the question unspoken.

A little weird but.... He nods.

He leans in, close enough that August can feel the warmth of his breath, and carefully applies chapstick to his lips as well. Vince whispers to the sidhe, "Try, asking something of it? A simple request." Holding it up between the two of them.

"Ahhh...." Uncertainly. He takes the chapstick, fingers brushing the pooka's, and stares at it. "Who do you belong to?"

Vince, though he does not possess skills in Primal himself, lends a spark of glamour as their fingers brush, aiming to help boost the bunk for August's attempt.

And it works... but both feel a bit drained, that took glamour from both of them...

August listens to the tube....

"I belong to you, I have been used by others"

It whispers weakly

August blinks in surprise.

"Where have you been?" He tries a harder one.

Vince grins, but stays silent to hear the weak voice - weak, but there!

"poooookcet"

and then the magic fizzles

now AUgust may never know who else used this

He looks at Vince. "It worked! I've never done anything this complex before. Why did it work so quickly?"

"Was it the Glamour?"

"As a master of magic myself, I have to say, it was probably a little of the glamour, and a little of the teamwork. Your Art, my Realm, we make beautiful music together. And I'm happy to jam with you, anytime."

"Well... it's banner house business. Do you think it would work with someone else?" He examines the hook and eye.

"Ah." He frowns slightly, and stands, brushing off some lint from his trousers. "I don't doubt it, if you share a bond, and with your Truthbranch family, none could doubt that. But, alas, I fear I have business that urgently needs tending... parting, sweet sorrow, etcetera, and anon."

And, he gives a small bow of apology, before heading off!

"Vince?" Puzzled.

A sigh. "Darn it....." He looks at the metal closure in his hands.

August tries to Whisper it.

NOpe... and he's feeling a bit drained

August takes a deep breath and looks around the room.... his banner house room. His chair.

It's quiet, until.. a door opens.. and Delores comes in looking about confused