#earthrunes

"And those who witness as well."

"But what -good- will it do? What will it change? I'm still.... stuck."

"I want to find that.... that faker, instead."

"Adam" Grand Dame Bondraste says "This is still your baroness"

She looks to Bondraste. "He doesn't get it."

"I'm sorry, Baroness."

She looks back to him again. "It is not always about what you want. But...you have decided."

"No." She sighs " I fear he does not"

She turns away. "Pity. I was going to give you a kiss for your efforts, as well." And she goes back into the crowd to retrieve her drink.

"But..... "

Her drink gets a refill

He looks at Bondraste for guidence.

"Resume your fun, all!" she commands to the party at large, toasting the crowd with her drink.

Vince casts a sad glance at Adam, but that's all he can spare, before his attention draws him aside again.

Adam looks genuinely lost.

And everyone resumes

Bondraste looks at Adam "Adam, you chose. "

"What did I choose, GrandDame??" baffled.

"You chose to be self serving rather than to have the courage of humility, my dear boy" A sigh "You were fooled, yes, but then when you could have turned folly into faith, you chose not to believe. Not in yourself, not in the dreaming's possibilities. "

He listens, and still seems frustrated and confused.

"Fool me once, shame on you....."

"And yet it was not the same person asking it of you ? Was it? And for that matter, it was the Ruler of the hold herself who came close to giving you a blessing- of sorts."

Adam sighs, shoulders slumping.

Bondraste says "Adam, you won't likely remember this in the morning, but I tell you now. You are my grandson. I am the mother to the Sidhe who sired you. His fate was not the best one... but in you I sense a chance to balance it. Please, you must learn to trust beyond your own wants and fears. It blocks you more than anything else. You will arise, but I think what you do and how you do it decides whether you arrive in glory, or mourning"

"You..... " stunned.

"Yes, my boy. I hope it's welcome news? Make up for the frustration?" Grand Dame Bondraftlooks around "this is my grandson. And while he has his moments of... Adamness.." She says with a tolerance, "He also has such wonderful ADAMNeess" She says proudly

"Do my folks know?" he gasps.

"No. though I've thought about telling your mother. I think she suspects when she doesn't think about it" Bondraste says

Around them the party resumes... Jessica gets a platter of candies from a woman dressed like a convict. Delores!

"Oooh, what are these?" She takes a candy and tastes.

She bites.. and for a brief moment she remembers the best sex she had in a particular position

"Each..candy type provides a memory ..specific to positioning, Mrs. rabbit"

The groan of pleasure she emits is enough to turn a dozen heads at least...and the balefire certainly feels it, too.

ROAR

well, PURR

Adam exuberantly flings himself into GrandDame Bondraste's arms.

"Oh! my" She hugs her grandson "I love you too, my darling boy."

"We should celebrate!"

"Theree you go again, running off with another woman on OUR Date" Nab sulks

"Aw, Nab!" He laughs and picks her up to spin. "C'mon! You're not really mad are you!??!"

She laughs "Nope . not this time " Nab laughs as she's whirled

He sets her down and settles in to Bondraste's arms for another long hug.

Coradel, meanwhile, helps herself to another candy...okay, a handful. "I know just the person to share these with." And as it is getting very, very late, she may not be missed if she goes to see if her husband has returned to their room.

"Enjoy!" Delores waves. Then looks around"Behold, my coup was successful."

Bondraste says "Come, Adam, Nab, let's go talk..while we can" She motions

Adam takes Nab's hand and goes with her, his vengeance put off. "But we'll forget about this all in the morning!"

"Probably, but in your dreams you may yet remember"

"That's.... not bad." Adam allows.

"It's not" She says

"Not bad at all" And they talk until the mists recede