#elsewhere

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Earl enters with Zara, "not that Clem's a blabbermouth..." He leads

"As a rule, for a troll..."

"But.. she did hint something to me that makes me think... maybe you're .. lonely" He admits

Her chin tilts. "Sluagh are not social creatures."

"On one hand, you are the very exemplar of a sluagh lady," He kisses her hand, and gives it a squeeze. "on the other...you are rare for your kith. Zara, it's okay to admit you like social interaction, even if only on your terms. "

"Well, there is Miss Gavriella and her housemates..."

"Gabby's the only one you have much in common with... and you don't want to offend the other two by ignoring to so you ignore her.. nevermind that even if she's quiet for a nocker ,she's still best in small doses. But you do need ..company. I love when it's just the two of us, me painting, you reading- but that's not always fair to you. And I know you miss your library."

She sighs.

"Zara, the baron here is... interesting, a challenge, and you like challenges, but like a cat ...you require everything in its place. Challenges and that which is forbidden over here, things to hunt. You need proper attention on lace pillows 'there'. And sometimes you need your perch in blissful solitude 'just so' there. " He points in random directions, "And I'm sorry... I got so caught up in how nice it was to have you to myself that I forgot how you enjoy having others to..." he almost says something but corrects course, "..educate."

"I like our little home."

"But... no, I care not for the Pocket. It is too loud, too crowded."

"It's a bazaar, pleasant to visit, but not a place to unwind. And the Baron's hold is a labryinth that you dare not relax in, not yet anyway. " A nod, "We have trods... and you have me. "

"Flicker-flashing costs dearly."

"Dross we can get, from the farm or Earth Runes. But there is the shakespeare gardens"

"True... not so swift as the Firnost trods. Perhaps some kind of transport for that path..."

"Perhaps, " A smile, then a pause "What if you were to nickname it speedy?"

"Mmm.."

"Mayhaps. Trods are... fickle."

"Well we can find ways. And I can definitely find ways to recharge for flicker flashing us to the your library."

She sighs again, resting her head on her folded arms.

"Perhaps college is not for me."

"Oh now, " He puts an arm about her, "It's going to be hard, we knew that, but don't be too discouraged. "

"I know... I wish... I don't know. It is not yet home."

"Mmm well, I won't say 'make this home' but what could make it more home like for you?"

She wilts and shrugs.

"It's okay, love." he says with confidence, "we don't know exactly, but that's part of what makes this an adventure."

"I miss home."

A nod "Then we'll spend more time over there and flash or trod back here for classes."

"if you want"

"No..." A frown.

"I'm not a little kid, I'm an adult."

a nod.

Then he says "Zara...I know better than anyone what a woman you are. " A kiss on her lips ,gentle, brief, "Not because we are lovers. But because I have seen you dare where no one could. "

"But this is not home."

"Firnost was a home, the Farm... Earth Runes, too."

A nod, "But they didn't start out as home. Heck, I remember when I worried the farm was more a prison for you" A guilty look

"Well, when I couldn't leave as I willed..."

A nod, "But now you can. Maybe this isn't home to you, maybe think of it as an outpost? " Not joking exactly.

"I like the house."

"I wish... well, I had hoped..."

"Miriam's been very..focused of late" he says it simply "it's like she' s not here even though she's here."

Zara nods.

"Have you told her you miss her?" He says

And gives a squeeze

Zara shakes her head.

"I would not cause her distress."

"Perhaps I hoped for something impossible."

"Not impossible, just..trickier than we thought. It's okay to ask her. Just because it could surprise her doesn't mean it's going to be a shanda"

Another head-shake.