#earthrunes

At one of the many stairways in Earthrunes, a small voice pipes up and sings, as a litle puppy boy is alone, or so he thinks anyway

"Halfway down the stairs
is a stair
where i sit.
there isn't any
other stair
quite like
it."

He looks through the woodsen supports of the railing and singgs to his reflection

"i'm not at the bottom,
i'm not at the top;
so this is the stair
where
I always
stop." The reflection sings back. It makes him wag!

"Halfway up the stairs" He likes the echo of this stairway
"Isn't up
And it isn't down.
It isn't in the nursery,
It isn't in town.
And all sorts of funny thoughts
Run round my head.
It isn't really
Anywhere!
It's somewhere else
Instead!"

Isis sits her butt down watchin,g in cat form. She was tempted to pounce her brother but, well, guess not.

Below him, Enri sees the Baron walk past, nose in a book as always.

"Hi mister baron sir... I'm sorry!" He assures

It takes him a moment, but August registers speech outside his mental world. He looks up. "Enri? Good afternoon."

He nods "Afternoon probably likes when you tell him that" A soft wag, then "Uhm.. do you need up or down the stairs? I can move out of your way since I take up so much space"

"I wasn't going.... ah. Ahup the stairs." August turns a hesitation into a word "Are the stairs... important?"

"Well, ladders are more work I think?" the boy pets the step he is on

"Ah." Unsure, but August climbs up to sit with Enri.

the boy sits with him,and wags a bit "Sir? Am I terrible at pookingg?"

"No, Enri, I don't think so. Why?"

"I don't like making fun of other people, I don't prank right" A sigh "I don't think I pook well."

August starts to speak, pauses to consider the words.

"Can you... tell me.... of some of your pranks?"

"Well... Poppy says surprise is a big key, like they didn't expect , and BAM.. so I surprised the baroness by bringing some pretty flowers" he shrugs "Apparently that's not how the joke goes"

A gentle smile. "Enri, if you gave the baroness flowers, know that you touched her. Her heart. She smiled because of you, and you made her day better. Her burdens lighter. Her cares.... less. And I thank you for it."

"But.. it didn't fart or shock or shoot goo or anything" Stunned at his words

The baron coughs slightly.

"Ah. You have met Vince, yes?"

"If you rub his belly , it gives you luck" he nods

"Ah."

"It.... could not hurt."

"Vince does not indulge in hurtful or harmful pranks. Not to my knowledge."

"Is he broken too?" A worried look "Poor Vince"

"Does Vince seem broken to you?"

"Once I heard him say the baroness wounded him rightt in the heart" The boy remembers "he clutched and everything. "

"He did?"

"to be fair, I think he said that to Lady Leonora too.. he may have heart conditionn!"

"Vince leads with his heart; with his feelings." August explains.

"The point I wish to make is.... Vince is no less a pooka for his lack of hurtful pranks, is he? He can lighten our hears with his words and affection and naught else.... true?"

Enri smiles and wags "HE IS a pooka, the biggest tabby pooka ever even!" As it sinks in

"Yes." gently "I am not a pooka, so I must speak the truth. I do not think a pooka, or anyone, is defined as much by what they say as by what they do, and how."

Enri gives the baron a hug "thank you, baron, you're better than Captain Crunch crispy treats with marshmellows!"

August gives the lil pooka a hug back. "Thank you. I think. Now. I must study. Will you walk me to my work?"

"Yes, your brainienness" He escorts him down

And to August's study.