#earthrunes

"Well, I wrote mine."

Earl sips his own tea, and ponders

"Do you recognize the name this was submitted under? Or anything different in the text that may be a clue?"

Zara frowns, and takes a look at the folder.

The name Lorelei Gretchen is not one she would use herself

Nose-wrinkle

"That is a dreadful name. Disharmonic."

"Anything ring a bell?"

"An out of tune one, perhaps?"

She ponders.

Commenters, forum members...

So many...

Eyes narrow.

It is German though... there was a poster...

Goethe Girl 16

"Ffff...Germans."

And the changes in the manuscript are a bit more Germanic, though Zara can't quite place things

Bronte... is reading the printout!

Zara doesn't notice this as she's puzzling over the Weeping Bellflower, and not the Bellflower Weeps...

"There is aught of the Saxon here. I cannot quite... there was a GoetheGirl on AO3..."

Natira ponders this, a little lost, but quiet as the sluagh puzzles through this mystery.

Earl raises a brow.

A sip of (almost!) forgotten tea.

Happy little tale-twitches!

"Could you leave this with me? I must needs ponder who the culprit may be..."

"Of course. I've ensured that a hold was put on any processing - my editor more than owes me that much, with some of the deadlines she's put me through. Granted, that's just a print out."

"You could, perhaps, spend the night under hospitality... Earth Runes is a fine hold, and has fascinating residents..."

"If you like, I can show you a room if you want to stay..." Earl agrees

"Methinks you would find quite the heroine in our Baroness."

A grin! "Oh, I didn't want to overstay my welcome, but I -do- always welcome a fresh perspective..."

"And, of course, our Lion." A smile.

A blink, and then a smile at her joke. "I see the Narnian influence on the children's shelf, indeed.""

"This place is a walking story book with a lot of favorite pages"

"and Vince is... ah, you have to meet him"

"Come, let us make arrangements..."

"Oh, let's. Otherwise I'd stay in here all night and end up falling asleep in my cold tea."

"There are worse things..."

"A most terrible fate." She agrees.

Earl smiles, and arrangements are made. Natira is lead to a room not far from Zaras, one with an Irish cottage feel.

And Zara, to bed with a mystery! (And Earl)

He is thanked, and she gives him a little grin on the way out. Admiring, in a way that looks like she's almost sizing him up - or rather, comparison. But he's certain she's not disappointed. After he leaves, she laughs, and in appreciation murmurs, "du Buchanan indeed... I see it.. and see the appeal!"

The pensive artist , who lights up only for the touch of his lady's hand. Oh.. yes, comparisons work.

(End Scene)