#earthrunes

Squire Velvet sighs in a melancholy way as she sorts the books

the wilder girl's brow is knited, and her fingers seem shakier right now

"What plagues thee, Squire?"

"it is what I wanted for well over a year, a tempestuous passionate fight with my love where I end up spurned...and pine. He refused to humor me and now..." A swallow "It has happened in truth. I do not enjoy it. I do not enjoy it all. It is a misery without comfort"

"Ah, aye."

"Would you care to tell me over tea?"

"I am poor company now, but .. if you wish? I... I find myself unable to focus. I cannot stop shaking, I, a nightmare of genteel fear"

"Tea will help." Gently herding the younger wilder towards the table and wingbacks.

She takes the seat, almost curling into it as if she had no bone structure

Well, sluagh are not so far removed from cats. Zara prepares the tea, using the chest to guarantee Velvet's favorite.

"it was nothing like I thought it should be, oh the Sturm und Drang...the drama.." She shakes her head "But it was actually rather..quiet. His face seized up and he said 'I don't think we should see each other anymore' and he.. he turned his back and walked away."

Zara frowns. "What was the point of dissent?"

"it was his call of the needy, this desire to aid someone... some fellow who wanted a jogging partner. As if one needs that . We were to spend the morning together, but he canceled saying the fellow needed him. I told him I was deeply hurt and he did seem properly guilty, and then he invited me to jog with them both.. in the sun. I told him I had no interest in such and that I had no interest in some obese mortal's health and... then suddenly, there was this horrified look in his eyes. And he said 'you do not mean that' but of course we sluagh are all about truth and I told him I did. And .. he broke up with me."

Zara arches a brow.

"Thou knowest boggans can no more turn away the call than we may shout, nu?"

" i know, but I did not expect him to react so ... dramatically"

Gently. "And was it necessary to comment on the stranger's body?"

"I..." A pause "I..may have used the word corpulent, and.. immensity"

Zara arches a brow as she levels a silent, impassive gaze on Velvet.

"I..oh" Realization "Oh i am a fool. I ...hath forgotten. He himself was a tubby childling, he said as much"

Sip. Nod.

"A word of advice?"

'grovel like a lowly dog and hope he takes me back?" miserable and not in a fun way

"Nay. Groveling - making a production, that is... centering yourself, aye? And only apologizing because you desire absolution?" She shakes her head.

"I believe you understand, now, the hurt you caused. As a kith, we are rarely... direct... but in this? I would advise sincerity. Playing games once nearly cost me my trueheart. I would not have you repeat that mistake."

"It did? But Sir Earl worships and adores thee"

"Aye. And yet I once played coy and turned him away - and he took it to heart."

"I hurt him. Twas not my intent, but that was the result."

"men are terribly fragile, but in the stories they're always so strong. I .. feel mislead"

"Fragility and strength needn't be mutually exclusive."

"Men are human yet, with hearts which may bleed when they are wounded."

She lowers her eyes "And I neglected both his human and kith nature in pursuit of my own self. I am a wretch of a paramour"

"You are. But you must not center yourself when you apologize, aye?"

"That is the nonsense of a dramatic Fiona. You may feel a wretch, but the injury here is not about you."

"it is contageious, this place" She admits

"He is not obligated to forgive you. You have hurt him, and it may have been a step beyond what he may bear. That is not a place to put pressure or guilt. But I believe sincerity and true regret on your part would be accepted."

She sips her tea, "He must be hurt too. I was so cold. We sluagh are to educate the guilty, yet I mocked an innocent out of envy "

She nods.

"You may explain, but not spin excuses. You are a supplicant, approaching in humility."

"Apologize, explain, but do not make it about me" She nods "And... I needs must give him time if he demands it?"

"During which you may pine away, aye."

"I have found romantic suffering is much more pleasurable in the theoretical, than in practice."

"Why are we not warned about this?' A huff "they spoke of the 'sweet pain' of it, but it is .. just pain. "

"I know. But... mayhaps you will be able to mend the rift. Tis my hope."

"mine too.' she admits "Zara, how did i let a boy get such power over me? i was a creature of shadows, a whisper in the halls, I needed nothing and no one. '

She arches a skeptical brow at that.

A pout "thou art not being nearly as obliging to my imaginings as I would hope, kith sister"

"There are times to indulge, kith sister. And times when good sense must be dished alongside the biscuits."

"Try not to enjoy it too much" A sniff "I .. suppose I did fool myself"

Gently. "We all do that, a'times."