#earthrunes

Getting dressed for the Carnival, Earl's not sure he can or should hide his hand from Zara. Probaly can't. It's got bandaged.

Zara has retreated to her room at ER, avoiding the library.

So he knocks on her door A"Zara?"

The door clicks open.

Earl says "Hey. You okay? And..can we talk? I may ahve screwed up"

"Come in. Screwed up how?"

Sniff. "Do I smell blood?"

He comes in, "I got a bit angry with August. And I chewed him out" Closing the door, making sure no frickin boggans are listening in (Though by now, Zara and her spiders may have htem extra cautious anyway) "I'm sorry. Coradel was trying to help every one patch things up but.. apparently AUgust..." A frustrated sigh "He did the august thing where he takes something... runs with it to some insane extreme and... I just found out I... oh.. i may have punched a wall. IT's okay. Emma wrapped it up nice"

A frown as she catches up the injured hand.

"Mayhaps... mayhaps we go elsewhere, tonight?"

"No no.. Not for my sake. And... maybe I should tell you everything, and you can advise me."

"What if the sake is mine?" She makes fussy noises over the hand.

"Then I would probably natter and talk about how you and August's friendship can be salvaged, and how he was under a really big assumption that might explain some of your worries...even if he had to think the worst of me for it to make any damn sense."

His hand is not heatherbalmed but has been EXPERTLY tended

There are tiny cuts and scratches under the wrapping, bruised but nothing broken.

A sigh,

And he relates what happened. His utter surprise at the Baroness teling him he had FORBIDDEN August anything, and how hurt he felt to find out August thought so little of him that he would think he'd try to own Zara like that. He goes on with how Coradel mad them talk... and how Earl brought up the fact he had never said for ever and even mentioned 'in a few days' ... and he had actually tried to help August not rush right after her for August's ssake as well as Zara. He admits how Earl sees things, and what was said...

"Then coradel went to talk to you. I hope that went better than my private talk with August because I.. well, he did that 'curl into a ball and maybe they'll go away and I won't have to learn anything' posture ..again. And I chewed him out and told him sorry was only half of it"

A frustrated noise.

"No. I do not wish to go the party."

"Well, after giving that speech about hwo I don'[t control you I can't make you go, but I think we should. We might accidentally have fun, and I don't want to run from this.. and ... I still hope you and August can heal your friendship even if I may have just damaged mine with him. He's...flawed, but then again, who isn't? Maybe my approach, even if I was being an angry ass to him, will help him ... adapt? I don't know. Cruel to be kind isn't something I normally believe in but maybe"

"Mayhaps I do not wish my Carnival to revolve around this."

"Then we don't go here" He nods "I made my reasons, but you and I are partners, equals and ..." He kisses her, then parts "Then I won't let you be bullied by Coradel , or August... or me. So where do you want to go for our Carnivale?"

"I do not wish to go anywhere."

"Okay. Just spend the night in ?"

"You could go..."

"I would rather spend any day of the year, any holiday, just sitting by your side, than I would dancing or having the finest food or finest sights anywhere else with others"

"Besides, I clearly need a chaperone after the shit I talked to August" A sigh

"I hate all of this."

"Yeah." A sigh

"I got him tea, I can be perfectly polite."

"Yeah, you can." he says "At this point it's me I have worries about"

"Is there anything I can do to make you feel better that's in my power?" He takes her hand and looks her in her eyes.

"No."

"Friends grow apart. It happens. He has a whole life, I have mine, and they are not so close as they once were."

"I think, it maybe too soon to give up on it, Zara. And too precious. "

"But I know tonight isn't likely to resolve it if it can be resolved . So..what would you have us do tonight?"

"He is hurt that I... I do not exist in stasis, nu? That I may be some second-tier interest to him, but how do I not think we are close?"

"I think, if you told him this, how you feel directly... he might catch on. If there's one thing I've learned with August tonight, it's you have to limit how much wiggle room you give him to 'understand' something"

"So direct and detailed might be best"

"I spent a lifetime adoring him, but never gained his notice. He does not remember me, that is how little I mattered."

"Coradel remembers her better than he does."

"I watched him the the Hollow, I found him when he had forgotten... but now, he is hurt because... because I am trying not to be hurt?"

"He wishes me to listen, and I can listen. But I know better than to think I shall be heard."

"Remembrance is.. fluid for us all... memories and mist, some remember small unimportant things, and forget important people to them. It's not always their choice or priorities that dictate?" he strokes her hair "And he was hurt because I told him not to rush after you right away, and he took that as 'never ever see her again'"

"Feh."

"Can you imagine how well you would have taken it if he had charged after you and started beating the door down wanting to tlak to you instantly while you were still fresh from the hurt?"

"Because it would be about his pain. And it is still about his pain."

"I do not wish to cause him suffering, he is dear to me yet. But I can't... I..."

"How many times must I be reminded that I am a prop to him?"