#earthrunes

Then "Yeah, good luck with that. She doesn't listen to me either. I chased her around with a paint brush for an hour"

"Oh, ah, sorry Earl...." he drops and peers under a side table. "Come on out......bring me my pen....." (Nope)

Earl keeps painting, its a dark morbid thing.... a pair of dark lips speaking...pleasing...and ignored by a circle of ears. "No worries. I had to distract her with a better toy to catch her interest"

August tries to reach under; the furniture is too low to allow it easily.

"The cat seems to have had you distraced earlier. I'm glad you like her."

"Well.... more like....." August gives up and sits back on his heels, staring at the furniture in frustration. There's a scratching sound underneath there. "..... I didn't have a choice?" He sighs.

A slight shrug. "I have other quills."

"can you maybe use a cantrip? On the quill if not that cat?"

August looks over. "Order her out?" mildly appalled.

"Well, hold on" Earl puts things away, and goes to the table the cat is using cover. HE knocks on it three times, and a portal appears , he opens it "Grab the brush quick" Portal passage probably shouldn't be used like that but hey

August does. "Quill." He corrects.

"Sorry, Habit"

Curiosity is stunned by this betrayal as August retrieves the quill.. her toy.

August looks the quill over; some teeth marks, punctures, a few barbs missing......

Earl says "If you're looking for Zara, I'm afraid she's not here"

A sigh, and he tickles the floor just outside the edge of the table's underside.

"No? Did she go home?"

"Yes." He says

"Darn. I wanted to talk with her." A small paw extends from under the table and pats the floor after the feather.

"About?" A brow raise

"Just catch up. We don't talk as much as we used to." Regretfully.

"Then why didn't you talk to her earlier?"

August sits back, cross legged. "I wanted to but the cat distracted me and when I looked up, you were both gone."

"Mmm" A nod as if something confirmed.

"I am sorry about that." Sincerely.

"I'm not the one you might want to say that too," Earl says with a shrug

August looks down, then up. "You're right. She went home? Vassar?"

"Vassar;s area is our house, but it's not her home" He says "It's something she was trying to tell you" Earl sighs "August, what do you remember about what she said?"

"There's a professor she has that she doesn't care for.... it sounded like he works for the local Baron?"

A nod "Yes. I think you tuned her out. I'm sure you have a lot on your mind, and as you said, a distracting cat, but..well," He shrugs.

"What did I miss, Earl?" Frowning at himself.

"If you will tell me."

"I'm not sure my lady will be pleased for sharing things, but to be blunt? You missed a cry for understanding, if not help. " Earl frowns

"Not out of any malice, of course. your'e a good man. But...sometimes you tend to hyperfocus"

"I'd give Zara anything she wants." He stands, dropping the quill. "Where is she? I'll go to her."

"Stop" Earl says "August... I've tried that tactic, it just makes her feel hunted and distrusted. Look, it's my life too so if you'll join me, we c an talk and I'll tell you how we're doing at Poughkeepsie"

August nods. "If you feel that's best."

"Come on," He guides the man along. "A private talk ... over some food"

August nods and follows Earl.... after a glance back at where the kitten hides.

They get a small room, private enough and they'll see any boggans trying to snoop. A plate of finger foods, sauce dips, and drinks.

August seems puzzled, but goes along.

Earl says "When we went to Poughkeepsie... I thought itw as going to be great. " A sigh "Miriam as a neighbor below, but Zara would have family? Only...well, Miriam is almlost never there... never free to talk. Vassaar was a dream college... but the Baron there offended Zara by prying into her affairs and keeping secrets of his own at the same time. She had none of her own old friends, and the family that was there was distant whether they knew it or not. I think Zara has two homes, but neither are that building we rent, and she lives at neither"

"I didn't know it was that bad." Softly.

"Between the lines, she was trying to tell you I think. " He sighs and dips a cheesefizzle into some fancy mustard "There are other changelings, some perfectly friendly... but Zara is a creature of habit as much as curiosity herself. And when the only family tunes you out, and friends are trods away... well, I'm not sure she even really wanted to try to make many new friends...or more accurately, she moves very slowly to do so, and she is loathe to lose old ones. I can't blame her for the last one at all. So I told her it was okay... we visit here... the hold is Coradel's, sure, but... the library?" A smile "Zara is very proud of the library you had her make"

"She'll never lose my friendship, for what that's worth. And I'm very proud of our work in the library." August confirms.

"As you both should be," He says "But she came here, started to vent to you, as much as she does vent, about the Baron... and...you acted like it didn't matter."

"But...." Puzzled. "Does it? I mean.... it's not like she can remove or replace him."

"She can stay out of his view."

"August. You might be accurate, but you aren't sympathetic ."

"Or atl east, that's hwo it felt to her. Sometimetimes folks want an open ear and encouragement, or assurances."