#earthrunes

Another Day at Earth Runes.

It's actually rather quiet today. Some have their duties, but it's a rather lazy day

So it is, that Oswald, thane and star wars fan, sleeps in the garden in a hammock

"He looks so harmless when he naps like that," Coradel murmurs to August as they take a stroll through the garden.

"He's a good man." August returns.

"Oh yes. But at moments like this, I'm tempted to tickle him." She pauses. "Or send Emma to do it."

"Has she returned?" curious.

"I'm not certain, truly."

"Ah." he nods "I, ah, I spoke with Zara."

"Oh, yes? About the quest? What did she have to say?"

"She is interested." with shy pleasure "We haven't talked too many details but.... she said she is in."

"Lovely! Oh, but I hope Earl will come along, too."

"She didn't say specifically but I would expect he would attend."

"Wonderful. Oh, let's start soon, August." She squeezes his arm eagerly.

"We're free from college; no reason we couldn't go."

"Good! Tell me again about the goal you have in mind?"

"We, ah, there was rumor of King Liam's journal. We'll seek it."

"Quite the prize to recover. I imagine you and Zara will have to negotiate over who gets to read it first."

He blinks. "I... hadn't thought of that."

"I suppose you could read it together, over tea."

"I... ah...." hesitant "I hadn't thought to -read- it."

She stops and looks at him. "August. It's a book. I'm fairly sure that's what one does with books."

"But... it's... private."

"I had only imagined.... turning it over to the House."

"August..." her tone is patient and quiet. "Somebody is going to read that journal. If not you, it will be somebody else. I think you, above all, have earned the right to be among the first to do so." A pause. "And good luck keeping Zara from reading it. Or Bronte."

A sigh. "You are right about that." Zara and Bronte, not necessarily himself.

"Well..." she takes his arm again and continues their stroll "...I happen to think that the fact of us locating the journal means that you will have been deemed worthy by the Dreaming and have every right to read it."

"Being deemed worthy by the Dreaming, and being deemed worthy by others, are not the same thing." ruefully.

"A fart on others, then. You think your House would deny you? August of Bannerhouse Truthbranch? They'd be mad!"

August chuckles, despite himself.

She smiles, pleased to have drawn amusement from him.

He offers her a smile back. "I make no assumptions."

"No, but what of aspirations?" she murmurs.

He glances at her, and away. A small shrug. "I am content."

"One can be content and still have aspirations," she counters lightly.

He thinks about this as they walk.

"You are right."

"Soooo.....?" she 'walks' her fingers up his arm as she draws out the word.

"Ah, so? I... I only wish to bring the journal to my House."

"Mm," she makes an ambiguous sound, but also seems to be content to let the matter go, for the moment at any rate.

"So, we should meet with Zara. When she's ready. And, ah, make real plans."

"Let us seek her out then. Perhaps she is ready, but awaits our initiative." Coradel redirects their wanderings towards the library.

((Pause))