#kc_necropolis

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Morning

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August got the futon, while Bird claimed a sleeping bag. She is up at dawn - the one glory of the tiny apartment being the green-gold light that fills the room as sunshine pierces the tree outside.

August argued, and won, and slept in the sleeping bag.

But, regardless, they rise. August rests in his sleeping bag, watching Sparrow sleep, and rise to wakefulness.

He would! She rubs at her face and shakes out her wings. "Mmmph. Morning, August."

"Good morning, Derynwydd."

"Sparrow, please."

"Why?" Curious, as he shifts in the bag and starts to rise.

"I... I don't know. It just seems like a very formal name."

"I sure don't feel like a Baroness Derynwydd Truthbranch ni Liam. Maybe Deryn. Deryn's okay."

"Can I call you Deryn, then? I'm sorry...." He pulls his fingers through his hair. "Sir August doesn't sound right to me, either. I mean... None of this does, but at the same time... I need it."

"You can, sure." She shrugs, and reaches to itch at the base of some feathers. "You know, it means 'Bird.' I looked it up." A flash of a smile. "Kind of works"

He nods. "It does." And extracts himself from the bag.

"There's a shower and everything behind the curtain, if you need. I do have extra towels. " She pushes back the blanket and swings her feet down to the floor.

"That'd be great, thanks." He yawns and stretches. Then he grins, brightening the room.

"Cool." She's up, bustling to find supplies. Not many places for them to hide - the shoebox of an apartment has little by way of furniture, and the towels are found in a hamper beside the curtained 'bathroom.' "I could make coffee? And there's cheerios!"

"Sounds great!" He hops into the shower with his supplies, and then out, dressed, and looking around, out the windows....

While he showers, Bird makes coffee. The view out the window isn't much, but it is the best part of the apartment - there's a tree beyond the catwalk, and he can catch a glipse of blue sky beyond the dreary brick building across the breezeway.

August frowns slightly, at war with himself.

"You take anything? I have milk, not cream..." She looks over. "Isn't it a great view? Feel less boxed in if you can see sky."

"I bet.... milk's fine." He watches the street outside.

The street is hard to see - he mostly catches alleyway. The rebellious tree, the fire escape, a dumpster. A lumpy figure is sleeping on the lee side of said dumpster, sheltered by some cardboard.

"You're sure this neighborhood is ok?"

DUbious

"It's probably not the best, but it's only four hundred a month. And that's with utilities!"

He looks over to watch her, and then moves to her side. "Hey, I have something I want you to see...."

"Yeah?" A little flutter, and she offers out his cup.

He takes it, sets it down, and starts to unbutton his shirt.

Her eyes widen. "August?"

He works steadily, getting it about half-way open, and he moves it aside to show his chest. "Does this mean anything to you?"

She reaches out, not-quite-touching the tattoo. A frown. "I don't know that name. August, I really don't remember. Sometimes... sometimes I feel more like Julia with wings than... than my own person..."

He seems disappointed, but digs in his pocket. "I'm carrying these around now... not really healthy, maybe, but....

"

He offers her some scraps of paper, notes.

"Coradel, wife of Margrave Truthbranch (Liam), Sidhe of House Fiona, red of hair, warrioress... aided King Liam in the soul passage before the falling of the gates. Her part in this unknown outside of Liam, considered a House ally. Mother of Derynwydd among others. Separated from her husband by his sacrifice, and from her children who underwent the Changeling way."

And another -

"August Truthbranch, who delayed the Arcadian Council hoping to sway them while our King Liam performed the March Defiant. Father of Derynwydd _Truthbranch, who herself had no small legends form about her as she took the half road through trying lives. Father of Magnus Truthbranch, who stood at the crumbling gate of Yestertear."

"Maybe you should talk to that Fiona. He called me out by name.... saw the device on my sword..." She takes the scraps of paper.

"A Fiona?"

"At... Firnost. I ran into a Fiona in the garden...." Her expression turns complicated as she reads, eyes widening. "The Changeling way?"

"That's what the records say." A little breathless. "What Fiona, Derynwydd?"

".... Magnus."

"I... I think I might need to sit down."

"Of course." He helps her to sit, and kneels by her seat. "Magnus. Yes. At Firnost?"

"In the garden. He called me by my full name, and I was... I was upset, and a little freaked out."

"I don't use that name, not here. Not in Firnost, especially." Her feathers are all rumpled, wings restlessly shifting. "He's from Bergen. He knows the Rivervale trolls."

"Why don't you use your name?" Politely baffled.

"I don't... I don't want to be like them. Showing off my title, while not doing anything. I don't... this isn't who I thought I'd be"