#earthrunes

Despite her faux offended lingo, Vashti seems aglow

"Oh, certainly. The scoundrel." She pours a cup for her sister - FRESH cream, for unsophisticated palates.

"How am I to shimmer in forlorn and forgotten maidenhood if he entraps me in a white picket fence?" A nod "He of course, wants to marry on June 31st of some random year" Meaning 2022 "But I was pondering Frey's day in May ,a baker's dozen might be lucky no?" A roll of her eyes "He thinks June is for brides. And he does look dapper in white"

It would appear there's a minnor scuffle on whether to have it June 1st... or May the 13th of next year

"Mmm... I am partial to my Fridays."

"Wouldst thou be so tied?"

"Well, I've tried tying him, but he knows escapology" A huff "Such a tease. The magic feather mattered knot, the gift was his all along"

but then she smiles "It is differennt for me than thee, sister. Your adventures were things of great stress and ggloom, for me, adventures were working for the pale on all paid for cruises along red rivers"

Despite mention of her father, she does not seem disttressed, "To be tied by love, well, I was sure that would never be allowed ... never dared to dream"

"Well, you are both affixed with the colors of bride and bridegroom... and dreams are what we are. What we must pursue."

"He is a great bully my love, forcing humility upon the haughty, preaching truth through slapstick, and I am sure he is voted most likely to be fed to the sharks off the islannd, yet he also launches lovers to the heavens , and paralyzes young with laughter...and he KNOWS old paths left by dead elves"

A soft sigh at the mention of elves.

"Aye, he is a fitting match for thee. Now, I must needs be allowed to make thy veil..."

A beaming smile "How utterly presumptive of you to garb me in such lovely work. Truly sister, thou art brazen "

"It seems only fair, aye?"

"I cannot craft a dress, but... lace? A humble spider, I."

"Your humility honors this most terrific occasion"

"Now, tell me - wouldst thou have a grand ceremony, with many witnesses?"

"I am assembling a list of targets" She slides a paper through, nothing formal and final... SUBJECT TO IMMEDIATE TERMINATION

Zara's name is at the top

Looks like most of the hold is listed

"Ah, wise. That one is most tricksy..."

"Oh, but see here?" She points to Earl's name "I will place bait. Surely this onne will wear what ever that one "Back to Zara " thinks is most scrumptious ..and so the spider is lured, humble or no"

Gray lips quirk in a smile.

"I did ponder asking the shining one over" A sigh "Glorious Hirim who knows not my kinship in full...and hte other Scarsdalians"

"They are thy family, too, aye?" She reaches out to touch Vashti's shoulder. "Uncles and Aunts and all. Thou art mine, and thus, what is mine is thine."

Why the moth's eyes well up "Oh sister, you knnow how I get about dust" And she reaches and touches Zara's shoulder in return "I shall put them on the firing list and make sure they get invites in time"

"Jacob shall be naughty, and Miriam shalt be awkward, and Ratchet and Hirim shall squabble and cause a shanda, and Mama will give you hugs despite that others are watching, and Papa shall hide behind a book."

"Your papa is a genius" She observes candidly, 'Alas, I shall be squished by thy mama's most infamous hugs"

"So it must be."

"our dooms are written in skeins as strong as steel" A nod, "And thee, sister,as any bridesmaid, I shall adorn thee in dresses garish and earplugs vivid"

She pinks a little. "Oh, sister - be kind. I will wear scarlet if thou asked, truly, but..."

A soft chuckle "may haps the vivid should be eggshell with a touch of eggplant?" meaning a light lavender "I know your diet"

"Better than any, aye."

"Shallimar hath suggested some music for the funeral a classical piece I do not recognize by name..." She ponders perplexed "Perhaps thou wouldest recognize it?"

"Oh dear..."

She reaches to pull out a music idea list, it's much smaller . At the top, in Shallimar's hand writing, are the words "Entry of the Gladiators"

"he said it was an old peace " One can almost hear the typo that makes it easier for pooka to say "But it is not mozart and I only know Mozart" she knows more, but is clearly flumoxed

"Oh... oh, nay."

"You do not wish this piece, I do not think."

"Non?" A brow /antennae look then a frown "Hath my love taken liberties?"

"It goes thusly..." She picks out the notes in her broken voice, a broken music-box version of the familiar circus song. "Da-da da-dum da da da-dum dee-dah"

"I see" Her face grows regal and ired "Just well... he'll be a much more tractable mate.. once I embalm him"

"HIs nature is... jovial."

A sigh "It is and I doth love him" A pondering, then "Maybe the reception ? As all approach cake to sacrifice it?"

"That seems a fair compromise."

A nod "I shall have to get used to this"

She arches a brow.

A smile "I knnow, what I said sounded like I was lying. Pooka never get confused or unsure" A bite of her lip "How much will we change you think?"

"Have Earl and I changed much?"