#earthrunes

"Oh, I only dance when it's called for."

"Oh" Surprised "yet you showed up to class"

"Yes, it.... there's a project I'm working on and I needed to .... I needed to go. For a lesson."

"I hope you come back" She smiles as they finish the meal, and he drives her off

And when he drops her off, he notes the address carefully before returning to EarthRunes.

Yes, progress is made!

************

Coradel savors some tea in an alcove overlooking the winter gardens as she turns another page of Emma.

A familiar voice murmurs thanks in the hallway, and his familiar bootsteps approach.

She smiles and carefully puts a marker in her page in anticipation and looks in the directly of his approach.

He is smiling as he approaches to bend and kiss her cheek. "Hello."

"Hello!" She returns the kiss and offers, "Tea?" There is a second cup with the set. Perhaps she half-expected him? "You seem in a fine mood."

"Thank you." he sits and takes the cup when presented. "Fine enough. I... I took a chance today. I should be worried but... I feel confident it will work. One way or the other."

"And I found a satyr kinain."

"Ooh! Was that a result of the risk? If so, it's a fine pay off!"

"No, separate matters, although related. I was working on the Luvetz? Turns out he's not having an affair. He's been ballroom dancing. We spoke at a lesson and, ah, I..... ah, ordered him to tell his wife about the lessons."

"He had a rather toxic concept of masculinity and may have transferred that concept onto his wife's expectations of him."

"Oh...he wasn't taking the lessons at her request, but learning for himself?" A smile. "You ordered. That's new-ish."

"At least in how you relate to mortals."

"I had limited time."

"I see. I'm certainly not criticizing." In fact, she seems very pleased.

"I have Gia....the kinain.... a ride home. I have her address and we spoke a bit, ate together. I wanted to see how you wanted to proceed."

"Me?" Surprise. "I'm certain you have a good sense of how to do so."

"Actually... no. Of course, I know how to Enchant someone but to what purpose? I thought perhaps we had kinain aplenty?" wry.

"If you wish, I will bring her here. Or perhaps you'd prefer to send one of her own to her?"

"Well...my inclination is that anybody who can be awoken to the Dream should be allowed to share in it. If nothing else, at least one more resource we can call on in times of need." A sip of tea. "You don't wish to enchant her yourself?"

He considers. "It's not necessary. Whatever would make it best for her."

"Enchant her," Coradel advises decisively. "And then guide her in how she can help other mortals. You may find her a helpful agent in that world."

"Are you sure?" clearly, he is not. "Learn more about her, certainly, but....."

"August, it's almost certain that at some point there will be a crisis in which it would be desirable, or possibly unavoidable, that you seek her help. Wouldn't it be kinder to her to show her our world first, rather than in the midst of crisis?" Another sip.

"Yes." he admits "But am I the best one? Sir Bachdion or another satyr might be easier for her?"

"Why?"

"Because she is satyr kinain." as if it should be obvious "Her passion is music, I think. And... it would not be as potentially creepy?"

A grin. "Creepy? August..." She rests a hand on his.

"Coradel."

"Would it make you happier for someone else to take her over as a project?"

"She met a stranger at a ballroom dance lesson who offered her a ride home, fortuitously ended up hungry and bought her dinner, then took her home. Do you see how that might be creepy for her if I were to contact her again?"

"Not if you encountered her again at the same dance classes. And perhaps...with your wife?"

A blink. "I'm not sure she plans to return. She was noncommittal. Although.... yes, if we were together that might be less .... uncomfortable."

"For her, or for you?" A bemused expression.

"For.... for her." a beat "And perhaps for me, as well."

She lifts his hand to her lips and kisses his knuckles gently. "You're sweet."

"Rather than be ... overcome by our Sidhe presence, another satyr......"

"Orrrrr..." Another brush of lips on knuckles. "...we let her be overwhelmed."

"Let her.....?" he doesn't follow.

"Let her enjoy the full blast of sidhe-ness."

"Sometimes I envy them the wonder they must feel."

"She bears Fae blood, but she is mortal." He tilts his head "You wish to see her... dumbfounded? Tongue tied? Do you think she would enjoy being unable to keep her train of thought or her attention on anything but us as her first Fae experience?"

She blinks and smiles at him bemused. "Yes! To have a moment of primal astonishment? To be completely overwhelmed by something beyond one's control? Thrilling!"

August looks bemused.