#earthrunes

"You are, as always, welcome."

He sips.

Ivanka knocks gently, the Sluagh Kinian maid says "Apologies. Is this a bad time?"

A glance at Zara, letting her answer.

"Not at all. Hello, Miss Ivanka."

August rises and offers a bow. "Miss." They may not have met.

"Baron, Miss Zara, I have ah, a shipment from Rivervale? "

"A shipment? Would you like assistance?"

August has seen her working quietly

"Oh no, Lord." She shows the box, a small crate "it is packed but not too heavy. And there is a note" She offers it up to Zara

August retakes his seat at this.

An eyebrow. "Aye?"

The note, should she read it says To, Miss Zara, Librarian of Earthrunes.. and good friend. We had a cleaning for New Years Eve at Rivervale Lodge, and rather than decimation tried for relocation. Perhaps you would be willing to take in a few dustty mouths? Sincerely, Lady Captain Waveborne!

She tilts her head and checks inside. "Curious..."

The crate is opened and.. there it is! Dustbunnies! of the Apple kingdoms variety! One wears a little viking helmet (No they never wore horns but the chimera don't care) and greets her with a chirp that sounds a bit like a 'yop'

the smell of old wood, fire place ash, and aged scrolls ..some of this must be from their study.

August sips, but watches with curiousity.

Zara smiles. "Oh, hello there little loves..."

She cups her hands to help transfer them to the floor.. where they may scurry to corners and under chairs. The library does have resident bunnies...

He watches with a soft smile. "Will the natives accept them?"

They hope down... and if August and Zara watch, they get to see how dustbunnies interact.

"I do hope so. If need be, I may be able to relocate some to the garret."

He does indeed watch.

A fascinating display unravels... as each tribe looks a the other cautiously. They huddle, separate at first...

then slowly, they seem to each pick their champion! the locals present 'Tastes of Vellum' who comes out, pricking ears high...and hacks a bit of lint.

The horned dustbunnies of the North, send out their own champion, 'Smells of Coffee grounds'... who lifts ears too. Then sneezes

They circle. Warily.

"Manners." She chides, gently.

The locals bob their heads, ears flapping at this. But the circling does not stop. Not yet.

then...'Smells of Coffee' Grounds begins a puffy stomp, up and down, hop hop hop , very high, with heavy landings (For a bit of dust and lint and such)

The locals observe this, then chater among themselves

'Tastes of Vellum' then moves forward, and gives an elegant slithering kind of waltz!

The visitors gasp at this odd kind of crawl that is not their style at all, and quite new to them

Ivanka watches, riveted, as most kinian might look at falling stars

'Smells of Coffee' sways, then.. puts a bit more slither in his hop hop and stomp stomp

'Tastes of Vellum' eyes this, then chirps, and.. puts a bit more hop in her slither

Both tribes charge each other, slowly and lazily at first, and then in a rush! As dances are exchanged, and each tribe steals 'moves' from the other, incorporating it. Not stealing, gifted! As the visitors learn the style that works so well in this new haven, and the locals bring in a newness and vigor they did not realize they were lacking

"Fascinating."

And so it is, that the Dust bunnies begin a path of respectful interaction and muttual learning! They are terribly simple creatures you seee, and do not know that if they were Autumn cultures they would instead try wiping the other out or demanding their way was 'better'. No, they are truly simplistic bits of dirt, lint, and dust... and don't know better than to not just accept and enjoy.

Soon the dust bunnies local are showing the dust bunnie refugees their homes with pride, and the refugees have ideas that the others here may not have tried yet. Oh neither side has been this active in years

"I must needs pen a thank you note to Siv. Too many would disregard their value."

"I didn't know they danced."

Ivanka wipes at her eyes "Terribly dusty indeed in here. A few may wish to go to the garret just for exploration, perhaps a dual venture to form a colony?"

"Perhaps! The garret has many promising crevices."

Indeed, at the word colony, one of the younger dust bunnies of the Riververale lint, the dust of explorers in her strands, perks up. A local dustbunny, a dapper fellow whose ears are near fused to look like a top hat, notices her fire, and sighs with admiration, even as he too grows wistful. Go Garret, young dustbunny, they seem to hear.

"I should, perhaps, warn Earl."

"They seem, ah.... frisky. Some of them."

Ivanka says "Dust is very sedate until a change stirs them, Baron" Then she blushes "Beg pardon. I spoke above my station"

"You did not!"

"as you say, Miss Zara" Polite