#earthrunes

"You ask, aye, for escheat - but beyond what you know is legalese, when you must needs understand it more simply and more subtly."

"The houses... well... nay, more fundamental issues must be addressed. The Courts."

"Seelie and Unseelie. Which are not good or evil."

"No, they are not."

He recites the tenants of both, the Seelie parts slightly tinted but the Code of Dagda.

"Trolls."

"So - what calls you?"

"You mean, which code?"

"Aye."

He thinks about it; a 'true' Fae might not need to. "I guess... Seelie. I mean.... Love conquers all?"

"Does it now?"

"It should. Maybe that is part of the codes? Not just what you think is, but what you think should be?" He seems to be honestly asking.

There, a glance - something pale. "Mayhaps."

"So, you seek love?" The soft slide of leather as she pulls a book from a shelf.

"Wait.... you're sluagh." He intuits.

"Aye."

"Huh. Makes sense, I guess." Adam then answers her question. "Yeah, sure."

A soft chuff - amused?

"Why?"

"Why seek Love? It feels good."

"Love has its pleasures, but does it not also bring suffering?"

"Yeah." A sad sigh.

"Ah."

"Yet you seek it still?"

"Yeah." Matter of factly.

"To feel good, yourself?"

"Make them feel good too. Share the love." He grins.

"Indeed."

"Puerile, but not selfish."

"What does hand sanitizer have to do with it?"

Zara is suddenly THERE, before him, with a small stack of books. They look like novels, not tomes.

"He jolts slightly, surprised. "Woah."

"You have the letters, but not the spirit. And spirit is not a thing so aridly taught."

"I have spirit!"

"Aye, aye - but you do not yet grasp the essence of the seasons, of the tension between them - and the balance."

"But I want to know.... the Houses, why do they exist? They seem.... really just political."

"Well, they largely were."

"They each have their high lord, an elf king or queen of great age, and power."

"Seems like they still are."

"And yes, they still are."

"They are marked - shaped by ancient choices. But they will plot and scheme against each other, within as swiftly as between."

"That's stupid." Frowning.

"Oh?"

"Yeah. If you're going to call each other family you should act like it."

"There are many kinds of 'families' - and the nobility is ever thus."

"The monarchy is about power. And power oft leaves little room for trust or love."

"That's dumb too."

"It depends on how much you value power, and love."

"Power is only important if it helps people."

"Are you not a 'people'?"