#earthrunes

And there is a strong hint of an answering glory from Adam.

"Be nice, Magnus, or I'll hold you while Adam gets a punch on you to defend his grand mother's honor. Not that she can't defend her own mind... " Bachdion winks

"Bully " Magnus says but chuckles

A small smile.

"I am TOO filled with delight to worry about the peanut gallery over there" The Grand Dame says eyes still shining on Adam "Now, let's have a nice talk"

And they do, holiday plans are hinted at, and a lot of talk of what it was like for them to be sained. How odd, and wonderful, and scary. What it was like to become Fiona and how they each had to figure out what that meant. They offer their past up to help Adam take a break from the present if he wishes. And.. as the stories are told skillfully, he may find it helps ..quite a lot

(End Scene)

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Zara is flitting about the library, arranging clusters of candles and flowers (though the library itself is so verdant there's little need for extras)

It has been sometime since the wake, and Valentine's Day is

well NOW, but it's not evening yet. Time refuses to move FAST Enough... but soon Oh yes.

The spiders move about alteringg their webs to add to the decor!

No - not time to change yet, but the sluagh is precariously balanced as she drapes Miriam's frothy lace from one bookshelf to another.

A skunk nose wiggles a the door frame

Spiderwebs and floral vines help fortify the gauzy impromptu chuppah.

And a voice... "Shoo shoo" Sweeping broom sounds, and a skunk is swept away and down the hall? Someone's brave.

"....Hello?"

Delores peeks in "Sorry, dear. Just Jester wrangling"

"Ah... thank you, Delores." She climbs down.

"You're welcome, dear. Oh. ah, when should I bring in certain.. delicacies?"

Zara pinks all over. "Oh, aye. Ah."

"I could, mayhaps, prepare a basket." A sudden frown. "Oh, I should have planned and asked for something fresh for Earl..."

Judging by the pinterest-ready Library, Zara has been busy.

"Oh don't worry about that, Miss Zara"

"Aye? Oh, if there is something sweet I could use, I would be most grateful. The plan... well, I've set up a little place by my River, though it is perhaps too cold to stay for long... so if there's a basket we could take?"

"Aye, a basket would be best... " Fluttery. "I know not quite how this shall all be...."

"It will be wonderful" Delores says "You two could be in a rainstorm in the middle of no where and it would be wonderful" Delores says "But.." A smile "You'll get that basket and more"

"Oh, we could... it... oh... I would be forthright soon enough. Aye."

"Anything else?" She says gently

"Could... could I ask your opinion? On the decorations? I shall clean it up, of course... "

"Miss Zara, the library is your domain by order of the Baroness, Baron, and.. I might add, by dint of your hard work" She does step in "however...I have not been shy about sharing opinions"

"And I do value your opinion. This has been in my head, and, truth, both too hasty and yet agonizingly long..."

"I wish to surprise and delight my love. The fabric, it was from my birth-mother, and the paper roses are from Mama..."

"Oh" She covers her mouth and at first Zara might worry, but no, the boggan is touched "that's so perfect, Zara..." She moves "now my colors are all wrong, but what i might do is.. for backdrop to the main display a second sheet to give..." And she makes suggestions to accent things

"You do not think it is... too much?"

A pause, then "Do you hope this to be a once in a life time event Whatever it is?"

She gums on her lower lip and nods.

"Then I don't think it's possible for too much if you want it. I think lilac, gray and white are just fine, my dear... but a touch of lavender here?" A gesture "And... is there a traditional scent or incense or.. oh! How silly of me I just realized... how sensitive is your nose? Because I might have just the thing for that. "

"well, the flowers have quite a scent, but something to accent?"

"I have a small chimerical candle.. it takes on the scent of whatever you ask..so if you, for example, were to light it and whisper 'Old Book smell' or even 'Old books and oil paintings" She says "I"m afraid it doesn't last long, about 3 hours"

"Oh, but that could be perfect..."

"Oil paint and linseed and bay rum aftershave..."

"I'll fetch it" She rushes off

Zara goes back to fussing. A smile at the lacey cobwebs. "Oh, Quatre - they are very lovely."

If spiders could dimple, Quatre would

Indeed, even the less sentimental of the spiders are helping though, happy for Zara whatever they may think of a romance where you don't drain your mate dry, bite his head off, or even kick him out of the web after

1122, at least, supports the lack of beheading.

And shortly, Delores returns.. with a small tray. Oh there is a candle, but also the cake she requested conjoined with another cake...a fresh one, clearly meant to be lock and key

"Oh, how delightfully clever..."

"Thank you dear, I thought this way, well, it SHOULD be one, yet different." A light smile