#earthrunes

"For a Fiona? " he shakes his head "that for a part, but they're doing amazing thigggs witth zip lines in Skyhook, somethingg like a zipline or peter pan pull ropes to have you zipping about with maybe a lighht electtric charge"

"Hmmm...maybe...but then that would put me above our Carnivale Royalty, and we can't have that."

A pause. "Hoverboard, perhaps?"

"Oh! It could be Shakespeare-themed, and I could play Ariel to our mortal Prospero...or Prosperina! Of course, we'd also need a Caliban...." She gives Hume a side-eye.

"Ah.. I think Shakespeare is uhm.. over rated?"

A blink. Another blink. And a very amused look. "Better not let August hear you say that."

"How much Shakespeare have you read, exactly?"

"I have the cliff notes, and I wikipedia the plots"

"Mm. Well, no wonder you think it's overrated...you've never experienced it."

"I'm betting you've only read the ones where everybody dies at the end, too."

"Romeo and Juliet... just sounds like a lesson to read the whole user agreement on a vial before you click annd drinnk"

A laugh. "Well, no wonder. Yes, well, that's a tragic romance, and absolutely essential, but I don't blame you that you don't get it. However, he wrote comedies, too, and some of those are terribly fun. I'm sure the Librarian would be able to aim you at one that would suit."

"In fact..." she pauses. "Oh, well, maybe you're not up to that particular challenge, yet." She finishes her drink.

"What challenge? the don't watch a play without falling sleep challennge?"

"Well, that, yes. But also...taking something like, oh, A Comedy of Errors and creating a production that gives it a cyberpunk twist."

"And tthe purpose of this would be?"

"Well, one, to keep you from talking about things when you don't know what you're talking about. And two, to show cleverness and craftiness and mastery of your form while working with art as well."

He winces "How long do I have??"

She considers, then beams. "Midsummer. Let Miss Zara help you to select the piece to adapt. And don't feel you have to do this alone. It must be a team effort. That is the nature of theater, I think."

" I equate theatre to zombie media... " He explains "It's dead, and then it infects someone else.. and it doesn't become more alivve, it just spreads it's plague further. Please don't exile me?"

"And you've seen how much theater? In person?"

"uhm... "A blush "I saw Rent once?"

"In the theater? Or a video?"

"Theatre, the Duchess took me along.."

"Baronness?" The steward peeks down "Sorry to trouble you. It's about that shipment? Could I show you please?"

"Ah, a moment, Delores." Coradel stands. "Lord Hume, get thee to the library! And we are going to the theater sometime next week." She moves to exit the bar, then pauses. "And again, fine work on rescuing the Firebrands." A graceful gesture of appreciation, and then she strides out.

"I.. feel like my reward is more work" he mutters but she is already gone

(end Scene)

Quietly, in the library, over a scrying pool. "Huzzah! You idiot."

A thump as Earl appears in tthe library "Tell me that wasn't for nothing?"

Zara stretches her hand towards her Trueheart.

He takes it

And she pulls him in for a kiss.

And he is pulled and gives her the kiss she insists upon just be being so wonderful