#earthrunes

A pause as he seems distracted, "All well?"

"Oh, yes. Is Dame Temerity well?" with a hint of concern.

"Well, Coradel thinks so... but truthfully, this is going to be a challenge. I thought i might fill you in on it? "

"If... if you wish to." he might be puzzled as to why this would help, but doesn't argue.

"Ah, there you are!" Coradel has turned a corner and found them talking. An amused look to Leonora. "Have you told him about it yet?"

He brightens, and offers Coradel a kiss. "Hello."

"Not yet, please, you tell him? I'm still worried it's a dissaster but Alonso might still be hookable"

Coradel takes that kiss happily. "Hello, yourself," she says with a smile.

"Oh, nonsense, it was fine." And Coradel tells August of the axe-throwing bar, of the patrons who appreciated Temerity's skill but didn't seem interested in her herself, and of Alonso, the one who seemed mildly entranced, who came to her aid more than once, and who watched after her as she departed. "He works there, so he'll likely be there when she returns. We should all go next time."

"Did she enjoy herself?" he asks politely.

"She was the star of the show, and then miserable in retreat"

"She had some moments that embarrassed her terribly. But really, those work in her favor. They get rid of the weeds while letting the true bloom emerge."

He frowns, listening.

"True, if Alanso can be there for her when she's not at her best, it speaks well of him"

"Her skill with the hatchets was splendid and admired. She was a bit clumsy otherwise. But she definitely made an impression, and he doesn't seem to have been scared off."

"She's certain it was a failure. And unfortunately, we can't prove otherwise right away. She couldn't, for example, go right back to the same place tomorrow night."

"She's rarely looked so defeatest. I mean, Temerity is irrepressible in battle. Dating freaks her"

"It can be intimidating."

"It's a new kind of battle for her, and she's not immediately skilled in it. A new experience, to be sure."

A soft smile to August and she reaches to take his hand. "You were clever about it from the start, my love."

"Maybe mini golf for a safer social area?"

An amused look. "Clubs and competition? What could possibly go more wrong there than with a hatchet throw? I say we go back in a week, after the man has had a chance to simmer for a bit, and see how a second meeting in the same venue works. Then we bring on the minigolf."

August clearly has doubt about his cleverness, but says nothing.

"All right. I just hope she doesn't choose fight over flight if something else goes wrong. It'll be a slaughter of barflies"

"She wouldn't. Not unless they gave her serious threat. She is an honorable knight." Coradel sounds absolutely confident.

"Well that's true"

August nods.

"To be certain, I'll make it clear to her that no mortals are to be harmed."

"Baroness?" The steward intrudes "You have a call from the Countess?" Delores apologizes "Something about a gala for Fall? "

"No need to tell her that." August says quietly.

"You're right, August. Sorry, I shouldn't even doubt. She's a LIam, and proud of it. " A nod "She's never betray it's core ideals"

"Oh, of course. Be right there, Delores." She gives August a quick kiss on the lips, and a peck on the cheek for Leo. "Pardon me, both!"

And Coradel breezes away down the corridor.

"Of course." he murmurs.

"You okay, August? " Leonora says "you've gotten quiet, even for you"

"Yes, I'm fine." he says "I simply have noting to add."

"I don't know about that myself." A pause "Say, How ARE you at Mini golf?"

"It's been a few years since I played." he admits "I suppose I did passably well."

"Do you like it? " She asks "Sometimes I forget to ask what YOU might enjoy on a date night"

He thinks about it. "It's a pleasant enough activity to occupy oneself. I mean... the point of a date is to get to know the other person, not win a putting golf game, correct?"

"True, though I do get a kick out of the tacky little set ups some time"

"I think you're meant to."

"Do you like any sports? You're such an intellectual I sometimes forget you might like the athletics too"

"My host played a little baseball, and I kept that up through high school. It was excellent exercise and built a strong foundation for teamwork. And I continue to work on my combat skills."

"Oh? What position?" Curious then a grin "I meant that in a non dirty way"

He pinks a little and says "Shortstop."

"Hey that's a hard one, isn't it? I'm not expert but they have to hustle"

He nods. "It was a pleasant challenge, yes."

She ponders "We should do that sometime" She ponders "Zara loves baseball... she'd be for this"

"Oh, I haven't played in a couple years. I don't think Zara ever played."