#kc_necropolis

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A knock at the apartment door.

"Did you lose your key again, Doyle?" A voice, "Hold on a sec."

The door opens and , of course, Earl is the one opening, "August? Hey" A smile, "Come on in. What brings you?"

"Hey Earl." August's grin is just a touch.... dreamy? Bemused? "Thanks." He does step inside. "I was coming through the city and I wanted to talk with you."

"Sure! You look in a good mood. Can I get you something? We have tea , of course but some Mountain Dew, RC Cola if you like soda. The water here is relatively safe."

The Sidhe's face flashes with a warm grin that also brings a blush of color to his cheeks. "Tea'd be great."

He starts to put on some tea, it's obvious his time among the sluagh means he's not going to rush it and it's top of the line stuff. "Be just a bit. Have a seat if you want. Doyle's side is behind the beaded curtain so anything else is fair game." The studio set up has the walls with paintings, some in progress, but a lot of clear space for a dancer. There are two stools but also a bean bag, a large recliner, and another chair that looks like a slightly larger version in a burgundy of Firnost's wingback.

"Sure." He sits. "I don't mind waiting for tea."

"So what did you want to talk about?"

He takes a deep breath. "Well... ok. I spent the weekend in Jefferson City. And.... Well, I got a chance to see some of your work there. Your paintings."

"Oh? Jefferson City? Huh. Who had them? I sold some at a gallery recently but hadn't gotten the details on the..." realization, "Oh! Did Coradel buy them? I know she lives near there."

The nature of the smile on his face is probably completely unconscious, but it tells so much. "Ah, yes. Two pieces, actually. And I think she'd like to talk to you, but that's for her to move on."

Earl seems pleased, "That's great. Thanks for letting me know. Mind you, one was more my usual style than the other but when the muse doth descend and the bills come due at the same time. You roll with it. " The tea is now ready and he says "Just a sec."

"Sure." Muttered.

Shortly two cups of tea are presented, "here you go. Nothing too fancy,but my skills have improved. Zara tells me she'll have me trained right for high tea yet."

"Thank you." He grins. "Zara's amazing." Fondly.

A sip, "Preaching to the choir," A happy smile, "Smartest girl I know, and sweet and brave, but..heck, you've met her so you know too. What can I say? I love her."

"Yeah.... well... look, Earl, one of those paintings... pretty, ah, explicit."

A sip, then he raises a brow, "Ah, the Tithe one. Yes, it's a bit risque in its symbolism, I admit."

August might be sweating. "Does Zara know you paint like that?"

"Like that?" he raises a brow. "You mean creepy and disturbing even with my risque stuff? yes. Creepy and disturbing is kind of my thing. she adores it."

OOC: Okay maybe he raised both brows. Making him look very surprised 😉

"I mean, the risque stuff, creepy or not." He sits up, holding his cup.

"Unless it's for a special commission , Zara sees almost all of my stuff. Not sure I could keep her out even if I wanted to which I don't. You know how curious she is. August, what's going on?"

"Earl... and, you know, we both care for Zara so remember that but.... you don't use her as a model for that stuff, do you? I mean..." He continues hastily. "She's a private person, you can't... you know. Put that out there." A lame finish.

"What are you talking about?" Confusion.

"It isn't -Zara- in any of the pictures, is it? Please tell me it's not. I'll have to challenge you, and then she'll kill both of us."

"Have to..." A look heavenward, "Danu give me strength to endure. Seriously? I have ICE come out of the ether to challenge me for Zara right when we're dating... and now you need to challenge me for my art because you see Zara in it? Damn it, August! Why do you have to make this dirty? And if you had feelings of desire for her why didn't you tell me, man?!"

His eyes go WIDE. "I... no! No, Earl, NO! Jeeze...." Now his eyes squinch shut. "Oh man, not enough brain-bleach in the -Universe-...."

"Ice is ....Ice has issues, ok? And I'm not seeing Zara in your art, man! I just don't want you putting her there unless she's ok with it, which I can't imagine under any circumstances she would be!"

"Look, she's my best friend. If I was making pictures of.... of.... of someone with blue skin, and I was dating Clem, wouldn't you wonder??"

"What? Hold on... you see Zara just because i put a drawing of a river spirit... but then I wonder why you're seeing zara and you insult her by saying you'd need brainbleach? Zara is beautiful, and you would be LUCKY if you got glimpse one." Eyes darken a bit "And you're being really really weird here , August. And more than a bit insulting."

He lifts his free hand. "I'm sorry, Earl. I don't mean to be. Look, she's my friend, and I don't think of her that way, and it's .... ah, it's great you do and I couldn't be happier you're together and happy. Seriously." His grey eyes are sincere.

"Well, then I'm very confused. And still a bit angry," the normally placid troll sets his tea aside. "But I love her, and I don't get territorial often, but don't you think if she's going to have anyone defend her honor it wil lbe me? nevermind that she can defend her own honor. Do you really think if she took offense at what I'm painting I wouldn't have at the least gotten an earful, or at most gotten a curse that would make Poe's writings look warm and fuzzy? She is powerful, strong, and beautiful. And this whole conversation is kind of insulting to her. We're doing that thing she groused about. Overprotective, oversheltering, and not trusting her to handle things. Do I understand the urge to, yes. But I respect her right over my selfish desire to be the hero. And you need to to. How would Coradel feel if you went behind her back and told the Baron who is hosting her that she's a fragile creature and he might want to make things easier on her or something like that?"

He pales.

"Yeah, exactly" Noticing the change of hue, "She's slap you silly, and maybe I'd buy you a sympathy drink after but I am not sure I'd tell you you didn't deserve it. Zara inspires me, yes. But she is not every woman I paint. They don't even look the same. Also, while I think she's gorgeous, I'm well aware a lot of idiots in the world don't see what I see, so artistically I am forced to go with women more boring..pardon, traditionally beautiful. blah. Cut outs. I have to paint cut outs to sell things. I assure you, if I ever paint Zara herself 'all natural' or in such passions, no one but she and I will see it, because I am not a satyr. I am as jealous and selfish as the next guy and I have limits." A frown , then added, "And she'd probably curse me but we covered that. My art is mine. If you don't like it, don't buy it. But Zara can and will tell me if it offends her. "

"Right. Sorry." He drops his eyes.... ashamed.

"You most certainly ar.." He bites down, then takes a breath, "I am trying to appreciate the reasons you came here were well intentioned, but damn August. You just walked in and mashed every button I have." He sits down again, "Apology Accepted. You're too good a friend to lose. Okay, change of subject? Any subject?"

Mutely, he shakes his head.

His face going a fire-engine red.

"I have done you, and Zara, a great disservice, Sir. You have my most abject and humble apologies." A hoarse whisper. "Will you excuse me?"

"Of course, and... don't be a stranger, okay? We are still friends."

He stands, and offers a deep bow. "Thank you."

Straightening, he turns to go.

A deep breath, cleansing. He says , "Do you want the paintings with Coradel before you go?"

He stops and turns, confused.... "The.... Oh."

He nods.

He gathers up two paintings and a case, putting them in, and handing them over, "I hope you like them, I hope she likes them if you show them."

He takes the case and whispers. "May I recompense you, Sir?"