#earthrunes

Footsteps near the library

OOC Oy.

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Well, yes...footsteps near the library...Coradel's, in fact, and she's in search of August.

He is usually in his study or the library.... so 50-50!

So she peeks into the library, knocking on the doorframe. "Madame Zara? August?"

"Salutations!" Bronte chirps.

She has been peering over August's shoulder.

August looks up from his studies at one of the tables. "Coradel?" softly but pleased.

"Hello, Bronte," Coradel says warmly.

"Ah, there you are, my love!"

Zara lifts a hand to waggle pale fingers, something akin to a wave. She is finishing THIS PARAGRAPH.

The sluagh is ensconced in one of the wingbacks, and has a cup of tea on the table beside her.

Coradel has learned to understand reader sign-language, and makes a brief gesture of acknowledgement to Zara. She moves over to August's side and settles into a seat next to him. She rests a hand on his arm. "What are you reading?" she whispers.

"Case briefs." he says with a sheepish smile.

"Mm, dull," she says with despair, teasing him.

"Have you had any thoughts about Samhain celebrations?"

He chuckles, and closes the book "It is, sometimes. But what you can do with it......" a pause "Ah. No."

Zara perks up, peeking over the edge of her book.

So she was listening.

She finds his immediate caution adorable, and she plays with a bit of his hair. "Well, I have. And I think it will be popular among many of our household."

A subtle leeeaaaaaannnnnnn.

He takes a deep breath, and nods.

"I was thinking...." she trails out the last syllable. Oh, she's certainly trying to torment the sluagh.

"...I think that a theme of dissolution and decay could yield beautiful results. Tatters and Lace."

"Certainly, it would be fitting." he agrees.

She smiles. "I'm so glad you think so. Ohhh, I look forward to see you in ragged garb."

Zara squirms with silent delight!

August squirms too, a little. "As you wish."

"Mmmmm," she purrs and leans in to nuzzle his ear.

Then a glance over to see if Zara is still focused on that paragraph.

August's head tilts into her nuzzle.

A hasty look down!

A second too late, but she tries!

Another smile. "How does that sound to you, dear Librarian?" she says with just a hint of volume to indicate that Zara's officially invited to the discussion.

"I believe it sounds elegant." The whisper tumbles out with more enthusiasm than she perhaps intended.

"I'm so glad." And she genuinely is. Another nuzzle of August's ear, adding a quick nibble of his earlobe for extra torment, before she leans back and turns more towards Zara. "I suspect your sister will approve, as well."

(squirm)

"There are ways to mimic rot on foods for those with less discerning palates... and, oh, one could dress the ballroom with cobwebs and I have a colony of Dust Bunnies in my room which hath been well-protected from the boggans..."

"Aye, Vashti does love a theme."

"Oh, Zara...may I ask you to be Steward Delores's advisor for this event? I suspect it may go against her instincts."

"Well... I must not risk the bunnies to the wrath of cleanliness."

"So... so, were I to be involved, I could protect them?"

"I can think of no one who would do it better."

"I don't see why not. They've been stellar residents in their own domain, as far as I have seen."

A smile to August and a nod of agreement.

"And I suspect Miss Vashti will have no peer in costuming this event for those that wish it."

"Precisely. I will be going to see her in a bit. August, would you be so kind as to inform our troubadours? They will need to prepare a suitable play list."

"Oh, ah, yes. Of course. Is there, ah, something else I can do to help?"

"Well, visit Vashti for a fitting, of course. She'll make sure that we have appropriately complimentary costumes. Beyond that...let me think..." she taps a fingertip against her bottom lip as she ponders.