#earthrunes

"You look great" Zane assures

"You do." Adam assures her. "Shall we?"

She takes the arms of both boys and walks out with them "Sure you don't hate me?"

"I don't hate you, Alanza."

"You ought to" She says with a sigh

"No he shouldn't. And he shouldn't hate himself either ' Zane says firmly

"I'm working on it."

"Wait, Adam, you're hating yourself?" Alanza looks at him

"Trying not to." He is still walking, albeit with them.

"Dumbass" Alanza says "Why would you..."

Zane says "Feels are feels are realz" He says "Give him time"

A dog barks and approaches as Dumas joins them

"Hey boy. You allowed out?"

Apparently so, I mean he's out isn't he? Dumas fixees himself near Adam's side (the one not claimed by Alanaza) and heels without leash. He really has been learning. Wag

"Good boy. " soft praise.

Wag and happiness

"He's actually a sweet dog" Alanza says

"Dogs don't judge" Zane nods "Well, sometimes they give you guilt inducing looks a the table" Thinking of his own family's golden retreiever

Adam puts his free hand on Dumas as they walk.

Having a dog means folks get to talk to the dog instead of you sometime. It's a buffer, and one that the three grieving wilders might appreciate. they still get greets and meets. Folks happy to see them, annd some giving condlences. Alanza smiles weakly now and hen, but seems tto almost hide between the two boys when she feels overwhelmed.

And Adam, against his own impulses but responding to his sense of chivalry, provides cover for her.

She seems to rely on it . There's a fragility to her right now she probably resents but can't help. Zane, a satyr, should be an emotioanl wreck but seems to be borrowing some troll like resolve to look out for BOTH his friends "Let's try out some foods here guys. They've got a sampler row with everything from Funnel cake to mutton ke bobs"

Adam walks over with them, but declines to eat. Not hungry.

Alanza only nibbles. Zane eats some rice krispie treats.. ANd MIGH Smuggle one to Adam's dog

And the dumbass might eat it.

MUNCH

No might about it

"Gonna get sick, dumbass." Mild warning.

No regrets. Hopeful looks

Adam is not swayed.

Sigh

Squires Tylar and Velvet approach holding arms

Adam nods politely.

"Hey, Adam, Alanza, Zane.." He says "Good to see you all. Blessed Imbolc to you"

"You, too."

Velvet looks tempted to say something, then does "it is of little comfort to you, but in time, a dream like Nab maybe born again"

"Maybe." He does not, however, look hopeful.

"Aye, maybes aer little comfort" She says "may your sorrow have some sweet with the bitter" A sluagh blessing perhaps

"Thank you." He takes a deep breath.

Tylar just pats him on the shoulder ,and the couple moves on

Adam falls to silence.

Zane says "Tylar's a good guy"

"He is." Adam agrees.

"Velvet's nice too, in her way" Alanza says "morbid, of course, but nice about it"

He nods.

"Garden or main hall? " Alanza asks

"Up to you." He offers, sensitive to her state.

"How about the art gallery? It's probably ..quieter" She says

"Sure." And they head in that direction.

The art gallery IS quieter. Various art pieces shine. Adam's seenn them before, been shown them, but some are quite breath taking. Earl's tends towards the morbid and surreal, but he's not the only artist who has works here. And at the end of hte hallway, they see a new addition! It must be related to the crafts.