#earthrunes

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Zara is feeling decidedly... Cerrainic. Earl, her true heart has been spoiling her with lavish gifts, and the kitchen's fine teas being well stocked, well, why shouldn't they go straight to HER Keeping? She knows them better than others. Books have passed before her eyes, some good, some merely tolerable, but she savors them like a satyr might a massage. She is decidedly and... justly, spoiled. Still, there is work to do, even for the unseelie...not the least of which is keeping up on some delicious news.

Oh, how has the Fiona hold corrupted her.

Various letters of elegant spidery script have been dropped off, other slaugh sending missives covered in veiled ink. Most kithin ignore them or feel no interest, but sluagh DO have special senses.

And she sees easily their import. There is one from Lily, sweet childling, one from Mr. DeVere, her father in law as it twere, and another a sluagh she has not heard of

Oh, how she delights in her correspondence!

Why letters and not in person? No doubt they are each relishing in how the oncoming samhain tilts the seelie non sluagh in their lives. SO much is revealed at such times.

Oh - no, letters are very much A Thing, especially for sluagh. The formality of them, the ritual of stationary & ink & wax seals...

It was Earl's own unseelie tendencies that , coaxed out in moderation, helped Zara guide him to be her dark regency romance.

Tea is Tea, of course. But letters are Correspondence. Both are very meet & proper.

Then Lily has been learning her lessons well indeed. She's improved on her style, with a fine wax seal bearing a smiling spider. Mr. DeVere's are, as always, impeccable,, showing a deft hand. The strangers, labeled 'Bazel Krumb, Esquire' is the new one. It smells vaguely of sea docks, and rotted fish heads.

A delicate sniff, a check for potential traps, before it is unsealed and read.

The tale is deliciously detailed, with insights into the motivations of many, the delight Bazel had to see Piper's initial dubiousness of the spooky looking ship, and more. Then it gets to the part of the unleashing, the odd results on the sea monster, and the tragic treatment of the children, which Bazel admits, 'moved me to terrible education upon more than one of the abusers' . After confessing his almost unseemly ire, he goes onto the reason he requested Zara's notice.

(Continued) The Rimrunner seems to have a voice now, whispering in every board, every section. She is also driven to hunt down scum and criminals of the sea, though she has gained enough awareness to overide it . It is far beyond my ken if this will fade once time passes, or linger on. My Captain Shi, who is a serviceable and sanquine satyress of good disposition, dearly likes talking to her ship, but ddoesn't want her constrained by dictates of vigilanttism. So I ask, on her behalf, for other kith do not know as well as we what is proper, if there is anyway to keep the Rimrunner aware and whispering? What appears to be the ultimate fate of the ship should that fade is a Flowers of Algernon situation. The ship IS aware, of her existence, her being. I am all for philosphical terrors, some of the best sort, but oblivion? It does not set well with me. There are rumors that among sluagh you have gifts and knowledges many of our elders lack. I thereby offer this story and facts as prepayment for your evaluation ... obviously payment for cures for the malady of unbeing for the ship itself are yours to dictate, ours to haggle over, IF it can be done. Your humble kith brother, Bazel Krumb, Esquire, of the Rimrunner'

And thus it ends.

She is free to ignore this, of course, but a sentient ship brrought to be so by an unleashing... it may intrigue

Monsieur Krumb, salutations.
I have, perhaps, skills which may be of unique service. And your story has intrigued me. Tell me of where the RimRunner may come to port, and we shall see.
-Z

That letter elegantly finished, Zara may trust that the missive will reach him. Inish the herald is old, but he set up a fine system of delivery.

The letter from Mr. DeVere is warm and kind, but also inquiring if she would object to his visit. Ever since his near undoing, the farmhold has treated him as if he were fragile glass... he IS fragile, but a slaugh finds the idea of being transparent insulting! He is tired of being coddled, and would like to come to Earth Runes where he is likely to be deliciously delightfully ignored, save for a visit from Earl and a visit to Zara if she'd mind? If she wishes not, he will likely find a remote locale to brood instead

Oh, Zara can ignore her Father in Law like a pro!

Though Mssr. Devere might care to investigate Mssr. Gluminski's shop, where they can ignore each other.

Oh how wonderful that would be. Customer and Vendor, delightfully pretending the other does not exist! One can enjoy hours of that

Lastly, the letter from the childling. Apparently Lilyhas had a very poor few days. There was an authorized an overlong hugging, though as Zara reads it would appear SHE was not the subject of the hug. An attempt to educate with spiders lead to an interfering redcap which scared them off, and ate Kenny. The hustle and bustle at the lodge with its many changes means she has been ignored, rather than approached so she might say she WISHES to be alone, as is more proper. AND, to top it off, the lodge's very shape has changed so one of favorite hidey nooks has closed off entirely! She would like advice for a truly horrible hex or curse to put on SOMEONE, anyone. SHe's in a very sour mood!

A soft raspy chuckle at that, but the return letter is very sympathetic. Kenny's sacrifice must, of course, be honored - but there is also now a chance there is a GHOST Kenny. Ghost Spiders seem a delightful thing. Zara suggests several hexes to try - itchy kneecaps and socks-turned-with-with-the-heel-round-inside-a-boot and just-spoiled milk when one wants cereal for dinner.

This wisdom will no doubt, be well recieved

As she finishes, she hears Earl come up behind her. He kisses the side of her neck delightffully, and says "Aren't you popular?" Playfully

She leans in to the kiss. "Dreadfully so."

He tuts softly "The burdens you bear, when what you should have are more things like this" Something slides about her neck, if she allow

An inquisitive sound, akin to a trill.

a soft clatter, so soft only she or another sluagh might hear it, and the necklace falls about her neck

Spindly fingers trace the delicate chains. "Oh, mine Hunter hath brought me a prize."

"You are the prize, this ? Merely accent" But his eyes light up "You like it?'

"It is from thee." She purrs.

"As is this" Another kiss on the neck, then he parts as if reluctant to stop savoring her "I had thought we might go out tonight if it please? You see, there are tickets at that theatre in St. Louis to a certin musical this october. "

"Aye? And thou wouldst display thy prey and woo me and, mayhaps, indulge in a more private celebration after?"

"I would drawn you to the edge of shadow so some might get a glimpse of she who I wooed, only for their eyes to fail them if she wished to slide back into the shadow again. I would have her , with ears comfortably protected, bathed in sound as the waves of song went over her pale form. As for private celebrations, always do I thirst to have you rejoice entwined, but you knew this"

A wicked smile, and she steals a kiss. Oh, surely, her love would give one freely - but they taste so much better when they are illicit.

That they do, and while he might fake protest after, he regrets the robbery not at all. When they part, he says "Thief" But his eyes dance "So this then is a yes. Be ready at six, if it please"

"It pleaseth greatly."

And with that, he smiles "Good. I'll please you more then" A last kiss, and he withdraws.

(end scene)

Poppy rushes in "Emma Emma, " Tears are in her eyes