#kc_necropolis

"I'm trying to stay positive. After... after the ogre... I don't know how much I can really do. Sir Frank, he's helping pay for me to take lessons, so I can fight better."

"Let me help too?" He asks.

"Morthwyl, a gwydion, he's here to fight the Thallain, too. We're going to hunt the ogre." Her tone deadens, feathers slicked flat again.

August nods, committing to this plan.

She rubs her shoulder, eyes screwed tightly shut. "I don't know if I'll be a help or a hindrance."

"A help. We'll see to that." Firmly.

"But I figure, I'll work to be the best I can. This city needs defenders, not..." A frown, emerald eyes flicking to the window. A half-finished mural surrounds the frame, sketched out in pencil with perhaps a quarter filled in in vibrant color.

"Not what?" Gently.

"Not another useless sidhe, sitting around being pretty."

He chuckles. "We've never been just that."

"You see the Firnost night crew... "

"I have. I try not to judge."

"I try. But... Leanhuan. That goblin. I am happy for them to have their space, and I mine..."

"The Dreaming has room for everyone."

"But is it any wonder commoners get angry about sidhe? We have a duty. As nobles, we are obliged to serve. That's our responsibility."

"True, though, you don't have to share the space with them if you don't want to. And yes, we do. That is our responsibility...." He grins. "Spoken like a Baroness."

A laugh. "Maybe. Maybe I can figure out how to make that title worth something."

"Or be worth the title? I don't even know. Focus on fighting the thallain first, I guess."

"Both. All of it. And I'll stand with you."

"You're a good guy, August."

"...though.. okay, I'm a little freaked out by the whole situation. I hope that's not going to hurt your feelings..."

"-You- are freaked out?" He laughs weakly. "Well. Me too. At least."

"I never even considered - y'know - soul family? Fae family?"

"Me either." He rubs his hand on his chest. "Never."

"Just finding -housemates- was something! After... after my fior, I felt very alone. My host family... wasn't really an option. And being at the hold was... wasn't very... they didn't kick me out. They didn't, I was welcome to stay."

"I'm sorry, Deryn." Gravely. "I ... I didn't have the same experience. I would have wished better for you."

"Things are going okay. Were. I don't know, the past few weeks have been a mess."

Another weak laugh. "Yeah."

"I just need to... the lessons are going to help. False confidence, right? I was so sure that I could.. could handle myself. That I'd be safe."

"I get better at fighting, I won't get trapped again."

"We'll work together on it. I could use the work, I don't... I haven't really focused on combat but... I guess I should."

"I've been way smarter. I go to work and to the hold, I don't mess around otherwise. I stick to busy streets."

"If you wanted, I know other people practice in the garden."

He nods. "We can work in the Garden, yes. And Alabaster Hollow has a salle, they won't deny me entry now."

"It's a lovely hold. They denied you entry before? Jerks."

"Well, I got into some trouble and was dismissed from training." He shrugs. "I wasn't that interested in it at the time, to be honest."

"But now you are?"

He grins, filling the room. "I have a reason, now."

"Two."

".... Three." More quietly.

"....right. Wow." She shakes her head.

"Wow." Softly.

A laugh. "Life can be crazy. And, apparently, Firnost is some kind of nexus."

"So they say! You met Magnus there?"

"In the garden. It... didn't go very well."

He frowns quizically and waits for her explanation.

"He.. was telling me my line - the truthbranch line - was mixed with Fiona."

"It is."

"I... disagreed. Most Fiona don't care for Liam. I didn't know..."

"He got angry, and declared that a Fiona in love would have been true." She scowls, looking down at her interlaced hands.