#earthrunes

The birds put away, chores done, two wilders have drinks

"Okay so," Alanza says with a sip "That's a nice mocca blend. How's yours?"

"Good. I heard about a coffee that they put whiskey in; might try that sometime."

"You don't owe me anything, Alanza, an apology or otherwise." He takes her hand if she'll let him. "You haven't shunned me, and I'm really grateful for that. I just wasn't sure if you wanted this to go somewhere else after you brought up being someone's Someone Special. I mean.... I agree with you. It's nice when that happens."

"Then why don't you... pardon, maybe I'm presuming, but you never try that yourself. " A pause "Unless you and Nab are now exclusive?"

"No." easily "We're not... why don't I what?"

"You say it's nice when it happens but you clearly have no interrest in it" She points out

"Well.... It's not that I don't have an interest in being Special to someone, but does that have to mean exclusive?" He frowns, thinking.

"For nine out of ten folks, I think it does. " She says "And if you're that one out of ten, that's fine. But don't be surprised when 90% of the girls get skittish about it. Not everyone can pull it off." She says "Vince is a rare example"

Adam grins broadly. "He's awesome."

"Maybe you should hang with him, he's hard to understand sometimes, but he's got.. I think he's a role model for you. Maybe even more than Sir Bachdion"

"We hang out sometimes. I think maybe I cramp his style, though."

"Oh? "

"Yeah, you know, under 18 here. It's cool, though. Won't last forever, right?"

"So they say" She says "But then, you could be CURSED, a cursed Prince who will be stuck at 17 years 11 months and 27 days....never to achieve maximum cool."

He blinks at her.

"Like I don't have enough problems?!?!?"

"Shhh, don't confuse things with facts, I smell a good story here " Playful "yes, forever trapped, perhaps you'll be encased in amber, and the kingdom's hottest warrioress will have to quest to restore you , their reward, you will be their prince... or pool boy, their pick"

Adam groans and flops over backwards, careful not to spill his coffee.

Then he lifts his head. "Do you think that could be it?"

"I mean, seriously..... could I be cursed?"

"What? NO.." She laughs "You're not cursed."

"How can you tell?"

"Seriously, like.... what if the reason I'm not Fae is because I'm cursed?"

"Adam, you're not supposed to BE Fae at all." She reminds "this isn't a curse, itt's a gift that's stuck. Not the same thing. Almost opposite of the same thing"

He sighs and flops back down.

"Don't sulk" She says "You're a good guy, but you're clearly not doing your homework storywise. In the storybooks some folks seek treasures, gifts, hands of marriage or even five minutes with a wise man after YEARS of questing"

"If I knew that was the answer, I'd get started!" he sighs "Probably couldn't quest anyway."

He sits up. "Anyway. Back to you, and us. What-do-you want?"

"Like, from us? Or are you good with things like they are?"

"Well, friendship is nice" She says "And sometimes I wonder if I wouldn't want more." She admit

He nods. "If you ever meet someone you think you might want that 'more' with, you go for it, ok?"

Amused "I.. thank you. " A cough "I'm going to try to take that as an 'attagal' instead of you giving me permission"

"Well yeah!" he sighs and rolls his eyes, mock-exasperated "Of course. But, hey? If that someone is me, let me know?"

"thanks. Though I have to tell you, you boys do make it hard to pick"

"Just..... we started kind of casual and it's working good for me. I'd hate to miss the sign, you know?"

He smiles broadly. "Hey, never said you had to pick."

"So I get to use both of you to buy me movie tickets and things? Seems a bit shallow doesn't it? Of me I mean"

"You are letting us spend time with you. " he points out reasonably.

"Thank you, but it's not like I don't ENJOY ggood looking guys making a fuss?"

"We enjoy making a fuss over you. Win-win."

"I'm an eshu... I LIKE being the heroine more than the damsel"

He sips. "I can see you as a heroine. "

"One who needs to be pampered? does not quite fit the stories" A grin "Though don't get me wrong... some folks try tomake it work with varied results. Don't get me started on the life action Aladin"

"I won't." He promises "Why can't you be an occasionally pampered heroine?"

"you mean.. raid the lost Ark, destroy the deathstar, take out Black Bart, and then get a mani pedi?"

"Yeah! Or a massage, or both, whatever."

'And who gives me the massage?" A grin

"Well, either one of us would be happy to, I'm sure." he winks.

"And trained, I hear"