#elsewhere

"Well, what do you suggest then?"

"To help him carry on a conversation, get along at school, or .... sprout?"

"To make him less of an embarassment. To make his behavior more tolerable." She takes another bite.

August takes a drink of water, thinking.

After a quiet moment, "Maybe you should start taking him to church with you." An off-hand comment, perhaps not serious.

A soft smile and chuckle. "He is... cautious of me. Not outright rude but not overly trusting. And he doesn't strike me as particularly religious. Although I would welcome the company if he chose to join me."

"Do I understand that he doesn't want to go to this Farm school?"

"He doesn't. Bachdion feels it would be valuable for him to attend, and I do trust Bachdion's skills as a mentor."

"As do I. Does Adam?"

She gives him a look. "A mortal is being given a fast-pass to the realm of fae, and you think it's up to him to decide what that includes?"

"Coradel, I'm just asking if Adam trusts Bachdion's skills as a mentor." calmly "Although we're back to an interesting point. Is he mortal, or sleeping Fae?"

"Whatever he is, it keeps defaulting to tedious," she says before taking another bite.

"Perhaps existing halfway become tedious after a time. Do you know how long he's had this Fae soul? He was Sidhe Kinain before that, yes?" August takes a bite of spaghetti.

"I think it's less than a year."

An eyebrow as he considers that. "If he were awakened, he'd be coming up on his Saining. As it is...."

"Exactly. And...I see the point you're making. Any fae foster would be looking for next steps by now. So...fine. Do we kick him out? Have him learn how to live in the world with no special access beyond what the average commoner fae might have? Some live very difficult lives, though."

August shakes his head. "I don't believe that would be wise. He's not -quite- Fae yet, as we've agreed. And if or when he does Awaken, he won't be commoner Fae if I understand correctly. He'll be Sidhe. And, perhaps, Fiona."

"Perhaps. But not even all sidhe get to enjoy the privileges he does currently."

"True." A head tilt. "Perhaps... a field trip? He's lived at RiverVale and here... where else has he been?"

"The Farm. And I believe Sir Bachdion has trundled him overseas to several locations."

"Hm."

"I'd say field trips have done little to improve the situation."

"I thought maybe for perspective but perhaps you're right."

"Could it be that there are elements and parts of our Society and the Dreaming he -can't- understand or appreciate because he's ... not sprouted?"

"Well, if so, we're back to the original issue: if fae life is too much for him, maybe he needs to be absent from it until he does sprout."

"Which brings us back around to 'Is he Fae or Mortal?'"

"The quandary I see, in one regard, is that you've acknowledged him as Fae. I'm not sure you can or should take it back."

"August, not every fae gets to live in a freehold manor. Not every fae has a mentor who can sweep him away to Italy on a moment's notice."

"I agree." He nods. "I was one."

"I am saying, perhaps he's been granted too much privilege too soon."

"But my Fae soul, my Sidhe-ness, was never in question or denied. Denigrated, at times, perhaps, but never denied."

"So...he is like an unchrysalized commoner. Or one who has forgotten. But access to glamour doesn't seem to have made any difference at all."

August nods, swallows the bite he'd taken while listening. "I agree. Glamour does not seem to be what he needs to Awaken. I think I heard that there have been Arts used to try and see what might work?"

"That's my understanding."

"Do you remember any details of the results? If it isn't Glamour, that would work on almost any other Fae soul.... what would?"

"I don't recall the particulars, but I think it was a general lack of any result at all."

"He is quite a puzzle. Of course, I could see that being tedious as well."

"Coradel, with your permission, I'd like to try and find out what was learned via the Arts about Adam's future."

"More than that. He is damaging relations between EarthRunes and the Farm. Of course, that's merely a commoner hold, but still...if I can't trust him to behave himself there, then I can't very well entrust him many other places."

"And yes, by all means, see what you can see."

"Rather, I will see what others saw." with a small smile.

"Fair enough." She finishes her meal.

August has a few bites left.

"What was his behavior at the Farm? You said tedious but....?"

"Well, as described by Chieftain Clem, he has made his mother so miserable that she was reluctant to continue teaching there, showed blatant lack of interest in some of his classes to the point where his teachers were insulted, and was so 'hateful' to use Clem's word that some students left the school and some parents complained to her."

"Sounds very much like someone who does not want to be there." August agrees. "Acting out."

"You told me about your ride with him. I know it was recent but have you had any feedback since?"

"No, I haven't heard anything. I suppose I should inquire, but nobody has told me whether he's been following the guidelines set out for him."

"It hasn't been too long." August cautions "You can give it a few weeks." He finishes his meal, too.

"Well, if I hear more complaints, I won't be pleased."