#earthrunes

Zara's furniture has been snuck in. Her items secured.

And there is the crack, that hole hat allows her to slip up and sneak into Earl's Garret

She has squirmed herself under his bureau. He does not see her.

Delight!

He does not... and yet her heart might thump with pleasure from another source. He is walking without shoes, but wearing one of the sets of socks she made for him! In fact, he is painting while wearing her gift socks.

When the feet are pointed away, she squirms out from her hideyhole to appear behind him. She wants to see the painting, of course.

The painting might catch her off guard, rather risque , a woman in victorian garb, clearly excited and scared, lips pursed, her black bodice ripped away, but the figure that did it with heat in his transluscent eyes is a wraith of a man... and on that hand that somehow touched the tangible is an echo of a wedding ring, that looks very much like the wedding ring on the widow's own hand

Salacious!

And it might indeed inspire a novel idea for the young writer. A desire that does not die with one of the couple? A ghost willing to break who knows how many laws of the underworld, perhaps slipping by Cerbrus itself to rejoin his bride?

Cool, ghostlike hands slide around the painter's waist.

Surprise, then a sniff, and a smile, he knows her scent, "Do you like it , love?"

"Aye. Death cannot part."

"I admit, I've been... my imagination has seen strength since we oathed" He looks at her and at the Raven that hovers nearby only they can see , "I thought you'd be a distraction, a wondrous one mind, but you're musing me when when you're not near."

"Oh, but I do aim to distract, a'times."

"Aye?" A smile crosses his lips "I imagine if you aimed, you'd hit your mark"

"I wager." She nuzzles his neck.

And down goes the brush to wait for later as she nuzzles, and he returns attentions "I didn't even hear the door open. You're sneakier than ever, love"

"Oh, aye. The door..."

A perplexed look

He knows she cannot portal passage. He eyes the slim window "love, you'll catch your death climbing out there"

A catlike smile, enjoying her secret.

He wants to fuss, she could catch a cold or slip! Nimble as she is, it's possible nevertheless, but that toothless canary eating twist to her lips IS So endearing "Wait for warmer weather before taking the window passage" And he kisses her to push the message, unaware that this is needless, well, the warning is needless. His kisses are hers , obviously

"I shall be mindful, I would not wish you to fret..."

"Thank you, love, ever so considerate." And he rewards with another kiss, though it is a reward he savors giving "I know we have considered Carnival costumes before, but now that we are oathed, did your thoughts change?"

"mm.."

A thought "it occurs to me, now that we are oathed, if it be not too revealingg, why not what might seem to be fine venice reneisance garments... but with Raven feathers or designs, perhaps masks akin to plauge doctors meant to resemble the beaks? A hint to our song bird?"

"Ohhhh!"

"Oh, I like that..."

"Or.. Poe and his Lenore?"

He smiles "You know I have a weakness for Poe. Mmm think Vashti would be able to make your vision of Lenore come true?"

"I think so..."

"I like that then," He takes her hand and kisses the inside of her wrist, "Now, you were plotting to distract me?"

"...aye..."

She twines closer, kissing his arm, his shoulder, his clavicle...

He returns the kisses and then, as if it were an unwelcome guest that has overstayed a welcome, he blows out a candle, dimming the light further so that only the strarlight through the window might cast a gleam upon their soon to be bare forms.

(Fade to distraction!)