#earthrunes

Karoke was fun! the girl smiles, and even now sings, not in a whisper, but a loud and clear voice as she twirls down the halls. There are others here who sing better than she, but so what? She has a voice!

So in the halls of Earth Runes, folks hear...

"Come with me
Into the trees
We'll lay on the grass
And let the hours pass

Take my hand
Come back to the land
Let's get away
Just for one day

Let me see you
Stripped down to the bone
Let me see you
Stripped down to the bone

Metropolis
Has nothing on this
You're breathing in fumes
I taste when we kiss

Take my hand
Come back to the land
Where everything's ours
For a few hours

Let me see you
Stripped down to the bone
Let me see you
Stripped down to the bone

Let me hear you
Make decisions
Without your television
Let me hear you speaking
Just for me

Let me see you
Stripped down to the bone

Let me hear you speaking
Just for me

Let me see you
Stripped down to the bone

Let me hear you crying
Just for me"

She peeks into the library, and her feelings grow torn. She loves those books. But she's got living to do beyond that... things she wants that the other couldn't do, but she can. And... yet .. she wonders, why does she share HER books with every grubby mitted yokel who is probably going to look up a plot summary on Wikipedia anyway?

And there, as it happens, is the quiet scholar, the unlooked-for Baron, puttering quietly. He is shelving books, checking against the sign-out log, putting things in order.

And suddenly the worry about the books are lost. Her eyes glisten with interest on the pretty one, the one whose hair curls at the forelock meant to be etched with a woman's finger as if she were inscribing a rune. She grows quiet, she can BE quiet.

He doesn't seem to see her.

She moves quite close behind him, fingers almost playfully within an inch of touching him. A whimsical glimmer of her eyes. Counting Coup. Tag you're it. If she were a jungle cat he would be an unsuspected prey and dead to rights. It's a bit heady. How many times did she watch him, come close to him. Smell his scent just a bit, watch the lines of him? And she never touched. Spoke only as if she just came on the scene.

A soft kiss on the back of his neck. She's always wanted to do that.

He jerks, jolting, and spins around "Cor.........."

"????"

Zara... has dyed her hair? Raven strands rather than pale flush out, purple black. Her eyes shimmer pale and bright. Her outfit is...well...

(Only purple where red is)

"Hiii Augie" she says in a loud amused whisper.

He looks stunned. "Z... Zara? Where's Earl?"

"I don't know," She shrugs "He wasn't at the karoke bar." She moves inches into August's 'personal' space and looks up at him. She smells of Autumn leaves, maybe a touch of clove. "You seem startled" intrigued "maybe even a bit spooked. Why, it's almost like you're flirting" She runs finger tips along his cheek "Recovered from the events of the mission on Tantalus, got your ..vitality back?"

He backs up, away from her. "I... I am startled, yes. Are you well?" worried.

He slams into the bookcase he had turned from.

"Careful, August" Zara tuts, "The books..." She reaches forward and presses a hand to steady a book on the top shelf, of course, her arm now blocks one way to the side so he can't slide that way "O, how interesting, victorian romances. Do you believe in omens in the day to day, August?" A wicked smile

"I... I suppose? Ahhh... how do you mean?"

"Destiny, kismet," Her free hand runs along his chest, "Da'an?"

"Zara....." He takes her hand in his, but to hold it still. "What's going on?"

"firm, forceful, determined, you always did hide that part of you away, that inner tyrant, that unseelie commander." A sigh "So scared of half of yourself, and yet it's not always a bad half. I would enjoy defying you, working you up. You couldn't control me, of course," Proud, openly proud! "No one controls ME"

"But .. I might pretend" She admits "For you. And I'm just speaking my mind.. for once"

August shakes his head slowly. "No."

"Oh August," a sigh "if this is about Coradel, I suppose we could share her if it gives you an out. I'm very good with magic work arounds... " A pause, and intrigued look "I wouldn't mind seeing you and Earl together now that I think of... oh what an appealing visual image. Cory and I could have a show while we watch the two of you."

She isn't malicious, she honestly seems intrigued and admiring.

"I.... no. No, Zara, this isn't you." Gently but firmly.

"My dear , August, you have not bothered to decode one tenth the encrpyted fan fiction that is Zara Scwhart's heart" A smug look "Oh how I love the part where you're the Vicar ...so new ... and I make you burn"

His cheeks pink. "This isn't you." Steadfast.... even if his eyes wander to take in the new look.

"If you mean I'm being upfront, bold? Well... yes. I suppose" She admits "If you mean I never wanted to try things? " SHe backs away and twirls "Depeche Mode... did you know I liked the band, August? "

"No." Honestly. "I have heard of them."

"They're great!" She smiles openly "I am such a fan girl. but you don't know I am because it's not what we talk about. Not what we feel safe sharing. " A sigh "Fear, I'm supposed to spread it, instead I've been bound by it. Feh." Then a pause "I like the word Feh. How many sluagh say Feh? It's almost bold... it gets looks sometimes. But it also shows I've had enough. Feh gets shit done"

"Zara." A frown, troubled by language.

"Profanity has it's place in literature, August" A roll of eyes "You know this."

"Y...yes."

"For emphasis, for sincerity, why I do believe some of it is even biblical." She says then tilts her head "I DO adore our discussions mind...intellectual equals." an admission "I used to think Coradel was a moron. Now I see her progressing and .. find I enjoy her company more... fine fine.. I'll leave you be."

"She has grown." August agrees softly, fondly.

"You," she pokes him in the chest "missed out though! I would have set thee on fire as a paramour... I would have tantalized you over points of debate, which, I would win by the way, and we could have floated on a sea of shared lore... then made love again." a pondering and August notices ... as she smiles smugly, she has teeth! shiny, small, perfect. He also sees she has NO shadow

"I'm going to vandalize Jude's freehold with grafitti now.." A nod "Stuck up cheat of a noble has it coming."

"What?" A bit lost, shocked, stunned.......

And she turns walking away "Now, what's the most telling insult that willy wonka wanna be is literate enough to grasp... you sir, are NO Gene WIlder, and you're certainly no Dahl" HURUMPH

No shadow, and she's NOT whispering!

Not as she carps about JUDE anyway

"Zara!"

She jumps and turns "What?"

At a loss, he fumbles a moment and finally says "He .... is my HouseBrother."

"I know, but I forgive you" She chirps magnanimously and she waves with fingers, speaking at normal volume "Relax geez it's just a bit of vandalism" A sniff "Everything went according to HIS plan indeed. Feh and falderal"

"You are not Zara." Dawning realization.