#earthrunes

"Turning a conundrum over in my mind. Talking with Sir Ivory. We were having tea, but I fear it's gone cold."

"I must admit, I know you've been busy.... but I've missed you."

"Ohhh..." A tone of fond sympathy, and another kiss. "Well, that's almost done with, anyway."

"Your project is going well then? Will you sit, or would you rather walk or.... do you need to get back to it?"

She leads him back to his chair, urges him to sit, then slips smoothly into his lap. "Oh, it's all done but for the presentation. That's next week. Then...well, not much of import between now and the end of the term, thank goodness."

"Tell me of your conundrum?"

He sits and makes room for her gracefully and gratefully. "That is good news. Do you have.... ah." his question is derailed by hers. "A matter of mortals."

"Bannerhouse work?"

"Not officially, but it might come to that."

She nuzzles his ear a moment. "Tell me."

"Ahhh...." momentarily distracted by the nuzzle, he rallies "A girl in my class is having some challenges with her neighbors and I would like to help."

"Oh, academic?"

"No, social. The lady-neighbor has made some unkind assumptions and seems to be trying to make trouble for my classmate. I'm sure it can all be worked out."

She smiles and nuzzles his ear again. "I love it when you get all heroic for mortals."

As she does, she can't see the flash of a sad smile. "It... is what I do."

She can hear it, though. She draws back a bit to look at him with tender curiosity.

He smiles; his eyes always light up like that when they are together.

Oh, she loves that. A smile in return. "So...what can I do to trouble lady-neighbor?" A little spark of fun in her eyes.

"Nothing at all." he assures her gently "I think she has enough trouble all on her own."

A pout. "Drat. I felt a good torment-the-baddie coming on."

"This close to Beltaine?" he asks with a head-tilt of curiousity.

A wink and a smile before she kisses him. "Fiona, love. We're somewhat all-seasons, remember?"

"Well, yes..... I've noticed you -generally- follow the wheel, though...."

"Is something wrong?"

A shrug. "Not particularly. Perhaps school has been a bit tedious. I'll be glad to be done with it."

"You need some freedom." He brushes her hair back behind an ear.

She tilts her head into the touch and gives a soft, purring sigh. "I need some adventure, I think. Some battle. Some...some great charge into the midst of the fray." Funny how she can speak of warfare in a way that sounds seductive.

"We're not currently at war with anyone." with an tone of amused regret "We might take a quest, during the summer? Perhaps late summer."

"Oooh...I like that idea." He earns an earlobe nibble.

Then a sigh. "Of course...that means leaving things in Hume's hands."

"He has... and is... proving himself. Yes?" gently.

"Ohhh..." An annoyed acquiescence. "I'll admit, he's growing on me. And that last bit, leading a charge into unknown peril, but knowing how to use his non-combat strengths at the same time? That was truly impressive." A pout.

"Compared to me, the man is a prodigy." he points out.

A little annoyed sound. "True."

Another man might look affronted at her agreement, but not August; he just strokes her back. "Hume will have good advisors. And guardrails, if needed."

Her agreement seems to have been not so much about August's ability but ...more distracted by some other thought. "Yes, yes, he'll be fine," she waves it off. "So...a quest for us."

"A quest for us!" he smiles "What will it be? You wish adventure, a battle.... "

"I do...but...I don't mind a dramatic rescue, either," she suggests.

"Of others, or yourself?" amused.

A grin, and she trails a finger tip along his lower lip. "The latter sounds like an adventure for you."

"Coradel, I think it's safe to say that if you require rescue, not only will I not be in a positions to effect it, I more than likely will need resuscitation." wryly.

"Oh, I imagine if I were in peril, you would find yourself inspired."

He nods. "Yes. Ah, It's probably nothing but Shalimar seems to be on a distant warpath against an actor in Hollywood who struck another during a televised award show; it apparently made quite the stir."

"I am reminded of this by a thought I had when he came to me for my signature on a declaration of war. I declined." he adds unnecessarily.

"Oh, yes, everybody seems to be chattering about that. It seems a wonderful gesture of passion." Then a tilt of her head..."what was the thought you had?"

"That if someone were to offer you offense.... well, I understand the gentleman's impulse although I cannot condone it."

Her eyes fill with adoration, and he is rewarded with a lingering kiss.

He seems nonplussed but does not object.

"Aaah...." he clears his throat when they part "Late summer will let me speak with the Seer and Lord Hume about my conundrum, at any rate."

A blink. A pause. "You...will ask their aid...but not mine?"