#elsewhere

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"Ah." August looks a bit adrift, and blinks.

"You.... had a pleasant journey, I hope?" he tries.

"I should, ah, leave you to your ablutions. Although.... I would be interested to hear more of your stationary shop."

"At a more convenient time."

"Oh yes... nice whiskeies... oh, the SHOP? SURE"

"Oh no, young man, you put a quarter in my jukebox, you got to hear the song... ." And he starts to talk shop

August -is- interested, genuinely so, about paper and ink and nibs and weight and imprints and watermarks and....

Good suggestions come into play, about the best season to pulp and he has a few suggestions on methods

August offers some speculations on time-of-year to create paper materials and what could be made from those materials; esoteric ideas like a pumpkin spice paper stock for party invitations, or something more morbid (mushrooms, dead leaves, and lint) for use in copying spells.....

"Fancy... " He says

"Oh, ah, I ... that was just.... thinking aloud. Pardon."

"LOok, August? If I can call you that... you're smart, you know suff. As long as you don't lord it over others, and you don't seem the sort to do THAT , then you're almost obligated to share what you know. Don't cheat yourself, or others of what you can do. One old sot's opinion"

"Thank you, Baron." the younger man nods gravely.

"ROSCO," He reminds

"Rosco." as if at war between formality and the pleasure of a guest.

"IF this how you are now afer all this time in a Fiona hold, you must have been wound really tight"

The younger Baron clears his throat. "Ah. I suspect you are not the first to observe that."

"You are who you are, August"

"Yes. Thank you."

"Just understand part of who I am is making fun of incredibly nice wilders because they make me secretly guilty I couldn't be as brave in being vulnerable myself. It's a pathetic boomer male thing..." Sniff "Good whiskey"

"Ah. Yes." an awkward pause "Would you care for more?"

"Surely"

a grin

August knows how to pour a dram; Vince, Jack, Bachdion.... yes, he's been taught. And the staff at EarthRunes knows, surely, when to leave the bottle....

And so August pours a tot for the Namer.

The Namer takes it "And I need to stop after this. Won't name drunk"

August looks at the bottle in his hand, and then the glass in Rosco's "Ah. Oh. Oh, My Lord, let me... ah...."

"Quite all right" The old mann grins

The younger man is a bit pink 'round his cheeks and ears as he sets the bottle down.

"I should... go see what the plans are. And I will have those provided to you."

"Surely. Don't let me keep you. You've been fine company"

"Thank you, Baron. Ah. Rosco. Someone will come to ... ah, assist you."

August goes to find Sir Almandine.

Sir Almandine is in his office

A tap. "Sir?"

"Baron?" He rrises "Come in"

"Hello."

"What cann I do for you?"

"We have a Namer here to perform the Saining for Lady Minerva and others... will you go to him? See to his needs?"

A pause "I am not sure I understand. You want me to act as a manservant?"

August pauses.

"No. My apologies, I just meant to make you aware there is a Namer in the manor and Saining are coming due."

"I doubt I can do much for him as soothsay isn't required, but good news, and I may want to observe"

"Of course. Pardon me."

And he withdraws.

And finds Coradel in ER