#earthrunes

"Thank you for understanding." with a smile.

"Oh, consider it a turn around from my shallow days... I'm deep now" She winks "Let me know what Honoria says"

"I will. And, I hope we might have dinner together soon?"

"Definitely!" She grins "Let me know when is good "

"I will send Benny with word." he assures, not without amusement.

"Dandy" She gives him a happy kiss "SO glad you guys are safe. See you at the dinner whenver it is"

And August excuses himself after returning her kiss genteelly.

Honoria is in a lab, tinkering away

The wind up heart seems to be working fine, and she smiles to see him.

"Dame Honoria, may I disturb you a moment?"

"Baron," She looks up, "What can I do for you?"

"I hope it is a matter of what I might do for you, or that we might do for each other and others.... well, ah, yes." August clears his throat "I am recently returned from the Duchy of White Trillium in the Kingdom of Northern Ice, and with a young pooka lad who is in search of a knight to serve as page. I wondered if you might like to meet him."

"Oh," She ponders "I'm not sure I'm ready for that, August. I don't mind assistance, but I'm not sure I'd have time to contribute to proper mentorship"

"I'm asking for you to meet him; not adopt him." August points out with kindness "Not yet." and with humor.

She laughs softly but says "August, sometimes my heart winds down and I get unfeeling. That's not always good for kids"

"It might be that we all need a reason to keep our hearts wound up, and feeling. I know it has changed me for the better."

"In my cause it is more than figurative," She reminds and taps her chest where her mechanical heart is cased.

"I hope I did not offend, or make light of it."

"You didn't do either, but I think you might not understand the difference? It's not a matter of if, but when, I eventually putter out and grow indifferent"

"But.... your mechanism can be revived, yes? It's not a permanent condition?"

"Oh, of course, I just need to wind it up again" She says

A small smile. "That is good to know. And, for what it's worth, being young and being a page, respectively, are not permanent conditions either. If you meet with him, and you decide to invest in that relationship, he will eventually outgrow it and move on."

"I suppose we all do" she ponders "I'll meet him if you want but I don't think I'm right for a page "

"I didn't think so about myself, either. Thank you, though, for agreeing to meet with him." August offers a small bow. "I'll arrange something, perhaps over a meal?"

"THat'd be fine. " She says "Let me know when, and..well, I'll try not to lose myself on my latest project."

"If you're looking for a knight, don't forget we have others"

August nods. "Thank you for reminding me; do you have any suggestions?"

"I'm not sure, Sir Sergei , Dame Claire, Leonora, of course... that's just the sidhe"

"Thank you; I will consider them closely. I value your advice."

"Thank you" She smiles "And as Pages go, you've been great with Benny"

"Ah, thank you." he pinks "Benny is a good lad."

"He adores you, Baron"

"I am very fond of him. I'll send him to you with dates and times that might suit you; make a choice and send word back with him and... thank you, Dame."

"You're welcome" She slips her goggles on and gets back to work on her project

August goes to check his schedule and, if he can find it, Coradel's.

Coradel's schedule is hard to nail down. His wife is no slacker, but she also tends to follow her whim.

Steward Delores bows and assures him "I'll leave a note to see if she can compare schedules with you, Baron. That is if I see or reach her first" An offer

"Thank you, that will do nicely."

She makes a note of it.

As for HIS Schedule, he has some free time ... looks like somone thought he'd need a day or two off to rest after returning

After a moment of thought, he ensures the sword he received from the Duke of White Trillium is secured in his study, and then takes himself to the yard for exercise with a more typical sword.

He goes out to find Dame Temerity and Dame Claire clashing

In a practice, nothing serious. There is room for him also

He doesn't take much room; he will do his solo kata practice and so on.

"Your swordwork is still amazing, Temerity but I think I've got you this time." Claire declares to her opponent

"Bah, THINKING? That's for lesser knights!" Temerity increases her assault.

August focuses on his own work; he is his competition.

As the two ladies fight, August works on self improvement.

He's no stranger to meditation and prayer, and uses that experience to develop a moving mediation sort of practice.

He soon gets in the zone, so doesn't, at first, notice both lady knights have stopped to watch him with curiousity