#kc_necropolis

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At the great Cathedral in Kansas City, August finds himself making his way through the mostly empty side areas towards the offices

He is bare-headed, and pauses respectfully to bow from the waist before the altar, then heads back through a side door to the offices, pausing to tap at one doorway.

"Come in, come in" Boccedelle's voice to be sure, "if this is about the charity event, we've already signed the waivers"

"Hello, Father." Softly, as he enters. "It might be a different kind of charity event."

"August, my boy" He rises and greets August with a smile, "If speaking and trying to counsel young men like you is a charity, it is a most joyous one for me. How are you?"

"Very well, thank you, Father. I was surprised you were in the area, but pleased of course." They shake, and even embrace.

"One muses where one can, and where our Holy Mother Church sends us in my case, besides, I was hoping to see you if I got a bit closer. Not a need, but a blessing within duty, mm?"

August smiles. "I'm honored you'd wish to see me." He tilts his head. "Is there something in particular.....?"

"No, lad no. No dire portents, the usual House chatter perhaps. Oh my, the Duchess is pleased with you. Many are. Your influence in Earth Runes , and that of your daughter, has been felt."

Mention of Derynwydd automatically puts a smile on his face, even as he shrugs off his own contributions. "She's not usually comfortable thinking of herself as such but... I'm very pleased to be able to. She really is very skilled, very savvy. A real talent for our House."

"Yes, and to see your smile, I know it delights you to see her grow in the House's paths. How fare you, August?"

"Very well, Father." He smiles, and it seems he is. Rather than the practiced, almost surreal calm and neutrality he had before, there's a ... buzz, a sense of life about him that's different. "Coradel and I have reclaimed our Oath."

"HAHA I had heard rumor, but boggan gossip is no subsitute! " And AUgust is embraced again, "I had feared for you a bit, my boy. I admit it. But you are oathed in the eyes of the Dreaming and the Divine?"

August chuckles and returns the embrace. "In the eyes of the Dreaming, yes."

"God has keen eyes, my son. If you were vowed as man and wife, he knows."

August nods. "I know." He shifts where he stands. "Coradel... has expressed an interest in learning more about the Sacrament." He takes a breath. "We have talked about exchanging our vows before the Church."

"I believe she needs to know more to make that choice."

"I am very pleased to hear of her willingness to consider your feelings and faith in this, August. I volunteer myself as the priest for the cermony if you and she will have me? Another SIdhe may better understand the challenges you have faced"

August nods with a bit of a blush. "Coradel would actually prefer a Liam priest, if one is available; Kith didn't seem to make a difference. We'd be honored, if and when the time comes."

"Would you be willing to do our Pre-Cana?"

"Willing? I'd be delighted. "

August nods, and chews his lip for a moment.

"Coradel remembers almost nothing of high school; there are significant gaps in her education."

"Well, we can help with that, we are a House of Scholars. Tell me, August, Coradel, how do you feel it best to bring the Pre-Cana before her? Some of my fellow priests would speak with, well, let's say the authority of the Church. "

He sighs. "I don't think -that- would be the best approach, no." He rakes a hand through his hair, one lock flopping back down on his forehead. "She is .... -very- Fiona. Some aspects of Church teachings will be difficult for her to accept. Or even understand. But she does want to learn more."

A chuckle, "I suspected as much," Kind eyes, "THat is what makes her willingness to come and learn all the more wonderful. If I could say it without risking sounding consdesending to her, and I do not mean to be, I'm rather proud of her. Yes, I think a Fiona, especially, might learn best from the love and passion found in the Church, and in a marriage blessed by same. There are certainly advantages."

August grins a little sheepishly, and nods.

"Will you both be able to visit me in the Scarsdale area?"

August nods. "I'm going to start correcting some misconceptions my host's family has about my, ah, choices. I'll be doing that this summer, so I can be in the area. -We- can be in the area."

"Excellent, we'll try to arrange it for then," He says pleased

"Thank you, Father. I know it's usual to start Pre-Cana 6 to 12 months ahead of the wedding date but we don't really have one yet. Even I can recognize we're too young. And...." He sighs, shifting again. "Father it's not just Pre-Cana. It's... everything. The Church, Biblical history and references... she doesn't have any of that."

"I have dealt with inquisitive heathens before, my boy. "Good naturedly, "And they often teach me more about my own faith. This maybe a challenge, but it is also an opportunity for all involved. We must be patient with her, and hope she will return that. It sounds like for your sake, she will."

He nods, chewing on his lip again. "It... it means a lot that she is."

"Just remind her of her one obligation as a Catholic Wife or trueheart she may not have considered, but I must insist on" Raise of brow

"What is that, Sir?" Worried.

"She has to be cheering by your side when Notre Dame plays"

August chuckles with relief. "Well, Father, I'm a bad Catholic; I'm not even sure when they play. But she is at my side, cheering, no matter the sport."

"Mmm well, no such thing as a perfect Catholic I suppose," Good naturedly, "And you do have the important part. You and she. Excellent. Now, forgive me, my boy. I have to tend to the matter of Sir Alton" A soft frown

"Can I be of any help, Father?"

"Well, you are of the House. Sir ALton is one of us, or so we thought. Yet, he has been accused, and with more than one witness, or Ravaging." A shake of his head "He is on the run, we cannot find him."

August frowns deeply. "I don't recall the man. If I can get a description, or be of assistance sending out word of him....."

"A moment' He rises and opens a drawer to his desk

And pulls out a paper, "Here, a photo of his mortal side. "

August takes it to look at, asking "Has he been here in Necropolis, then?"

"This is where omens indicated he would head to hide out. "

"For obvious reasons, we'd like it if he fell into Liam hands. Ravaging? From a Liam? Unheard of, some would say impossible. Even our unseelie few don't..." He shakes his head "There is something more to this"

The younger man nods agreement "It halts the mind just to think of it; that one of us could...." He tries committing the mortal image to memory.

((brb))

"It is possible he may take any number of trods from the Firnost area... even, conceivably, towards Earth Runes. Please inform Baroness Dernwydd of this. "