#earthrunes

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August, having braced himself and prayed diligently, enters the Barony Freehold in search of Dame Temerity.

Dame Temerity isn't in obvious view, but he can ask around

He does!

Delores knows "Oh, my lord, she's actually in the library"

She hardly ever goes there

August, of course, does often go there. And so he does it again.

And he finds Temerity reading a book 'Men are from Mars, Women from Venus' and frowning "But I wouldst say I am a Martian born"

He taps before entering out of habit; he always gives Zara a warning.

"Ah, my lord" SHe rises and bows "Hast thouhg found mine suitor to gather power for the banner house? I hath been learning how to bake breads and smile vapidly"

"Dame... may we speak as plainly and honestly as we can?"

"I know your kind has difficulty with forthwrighness, my lord "She says kindly "Do your best"

"Mm. Would you care for anything? Tea?"

"Tea for two"

August nods and steps out to ask for a tea trolley, not an unusual request, and it is delivered quickly. He brings it in himself and plays mother, pouring.

"What gnus do you bring?"

"No news, Dame. I had to hoped to clear up my own confusion." he serves, and sits across from her. "If you would help me to do so."

"I shall SLAY the confusion!"

"Thank you." he says gravely, and sips his tea "Dame... I'm ... feeling confused and lost about this interest of yours in.. ah... finding... ah... an especial friend. You've referred to getting married?"

"I have references" She nods

"Please, remember that I struggle with meaning, sometimes. Can you show me those references?"

SHe pulls out some papers and hands them over

He reads through them.

Copies of rejections on Dating apps.. PIn those ears back girl, you're scaring folks one says _ another says So , looking at your teeth, you're British? and so on

He frowns, and keeps reading.

there are offers of a quick fuck, almost that crudly put

He sets them down and looks at her, troubled. Not at or about her, no.... but for her.

"So you see, my lord" Temerity says her back straight, her eyes a bit shining, as if a tear were thinking of escaping but did not dare "I am a find. Best any marriage I get be arranged. Eh? Done and done"

"Oh... Dame." Tenderly. He offers a hand.

She takes it "It's quite all right, my lord . Perhaps a blind dougal?"

"I do not think you would suffer pity or sympathy, Dame, and I do not offer it." he says quietly "I do know what it is to be rejected. I apologize I did not understand sooner. I hope you will think of me as an ally in this. I would see you happy."

"Ah my lord, tis a Fiona hold how sad that I cannot find a companion for mine grove? I detest failure" A sigh

"Dame... Temerity." he amends "I can see how this effort, and my involvement in particular, could veer catastrophically into a farcical version of Pygmalion. So... please understand if I tread with caution?" he asks for understanding.

"I'm an armed woman, my lord. Higgins would find his head on a pike" A nod in understanding

He takes a moment to think about that, making sure he understands.

"Ah. Yes."

August looks troubled. "In honestly, I am -not- the one to ask in terms of .... Temerity, I've never dated. Or... or sought a mate. Not... ah... not as such."

"My lord, I do not expect a harem, but... even if political, I wold not be so lonely?"

"I think you could find not a few political marriages suffer mutual loneliness."

"You mentioned this is a Fiona hold. Ah." thinking "Are you looking for, ah... a, ah, single partner?"

"What is a knight without a damsel?"

August takes a deep breath "I ask because... if it is, ah, company you seek.... a Fiona hold can, I have observed, provide that readily. A relationship with a single partner is... ah, a more difficult match, perhaps. But not impossible."

A frown and she slams her fist on the table in frustration "how many people do I have to behead to be recognized as the delicate femine flower that i am?"

"Temerity, please... help me by trying to answer the question. Are you, ah, open to relationship-s- or... do you honestly seek one special one?"

A whisker twitch, then "I wish to exist in the eyes of one alone, and his eyes be mine alone." A pause 'were I sluagh, i'd keep them in a jar'

He exhales, nods "I understand."

"Do you have any lady friends here that you feel close to, that you trust?"

"Ah, " She ponders "uhmm... "

"me fears Dame Coradel and Baroness Leonora might throw me to the flesh pit?" A blush

"I know that Leonora would be... vibrantly invested in perhaps offering advice? Ah... hair and clothes and, ah, manner, and .... ah, such."

"My mane offends?" She touches at it "Why did thou not tell me my mop was medusa like?"