#earthrunes

If Earl is aware that his girlfriend and paramour has designs on him getting a proper artist education, it doesn't show. He currently is in his garret painting the distant river or at least what he can see of it, and imagining the rest

What he can see - is that... is that a pale figure swimming?

At that, his eyes light up just a bit. While her kith is the stuff of nightmares to many, Earl has learned to appreciate sluagh beauty, and none more so to him that Zara. His fingers move deftly, painting her form in a nebulous fashion, capturing an essence yet preserving her mystery.

Like the rusalka she admires, she slips through the water in Eve's costume. Perhaps spending so much time in a Fiona hold is a bad influence.

Try as he might to drum it up, in this case, Earl can't bring himself to complain about Fiona influence at all. She's like a pearl waiting to be plucked up, but who knows what dangers in the waters might punish the hand that tries?

He wonders if his lady knows she stirs him without even trying?

She just might.

Not that I can hide much from her. If she wanted to, she could slip her fingers between the ribs and steal my heart away. Oh wait, like she already has. And Earl keeps painting, playing on the aspect of a dangerous prize, a reward too perfect to be safe but some fool will try anyway.

And his fingers continue, the paints shaping, the brush putting on those pearlescent touches

She stretches out on the grassy banks to dry, sun and shadow dappling her pale skin in leaf patterns.

Earl is torn. Having the pattern of the painting down, torn by a desire to keep painting, or rush to her side.

Then a wicked and loving thought comes to him. He takes out another canvas, and paints a pearl blossomed night lily surrounded by grass and water. It is a somewhat hasty job on the background, but the lily? Oh he has drawn this before.

But it is not the painting originality that matters so much as... well, he blows upon it...

drying it... and then with a flash of glamour

it vanishes

only to reappear a minute later, fluttering down on that patch of grass near the pale bather

As he essentially 'casts a flower' before her, in tribute

Zara is startled, but - oh, she picks it up to admire!

The lily is the centerpiece, more detailed, more luxurious, and delicate. The grass and shore and water... oh those are a part but she is the star, this lily.

And in his tower, Earl beams at what he hopes is her pleasure.

She does a little twirl, and goes to place the painting in the little grotto she's cultivated - a home to books and tea and curated leaves and river rocks...

And he loses sight of her, and sighs. Oh how he longs to pursue, but she sometimes wants her privacy. And he wonders if she knows how his blood is on fire now? Likely she feels not a twinge of guilt at all, and no small amount of pleasure. He certainly hopes the latter, he loves when she is pleased- even when it means his blood heats with no immediate release.

While he burns, he paints the first canvas, the one with the pearl rising that she inspired

It may be quite some time before he realizes he's no longer alone in the garret.

Indeed, he turns to place a brush in a cup of now muddied water and ..well, the little start of surprise AND delight might please her

Zara smiles.

"A flower landed upon mine banks today."

"Did it?" He says , feigning surprise

"Aye. Imagine that?"

"I placed it in my grove, so I may delight in it."

"Oh, so somewhere, there is a grove of hidden treasures? "

"Aye." A coy smile.

"If a certain Houseless knight were to quest to find it, do you think it would be dangerous?" He asks as he finishes up the painting

"Mmm.."

"Perhaps it would be wise to bring a gift to placate the river-witch..."

"I see, but what to get the River Witch who has everything?" He smiles "I could offer a kiss, but she might steal the breath and spirit from me"

"Worth the risk, nu?"

He finishes, puts the brush away, and sits next to her "Always and forever, yes, it is worth the risk" And he kisses her

She nestles against him, returning the kisses.

Near her, the now drying painting depicts what could be a pearl hued rear, quite dainty, rising out of the water- or perhaps a pearl. And yet, further in the deeper part peeks out an almost draconic head, a river beast? Also pearl hued... until one follows the shadow under the river and realizes they two are one, the tantalizing 'backside' a coil on the loch ness like nightmare. Oh to approach is to be seized.

A chortle.

"Thou hast painted a serpent for the unwary."

"A river monstress" he assures and kisses her near the ear "You like?"

"...aye.."

"I'm glad." Earl kisses and then parts to survey her garments, or lack of same

She is dressed, a gauzy grey caftan that taunts at being sheer.

"Alas," he says and runs finger along the material, "A fog obscures the river queen's form yet again. I know not whether Doom or Delight awaits"

"Or both!" She quips.

"oh what a wonderful blend, let's see how our hapless hunter fares" And he dims the light so he might still see her, and tries to remove that fog.

(Fade to black)