#rescuemiriam

"Ahhhhh....." Nervous.

Her eyes sparkle and she smiles, watching him, then leans in to nuzzle noses. "Dear Galahad."

Carefully, he winds his arms around her. "I just forgot.... bet I never do that again." Muttered.

Still close, noses touching, a gentle shifting. "I don't know...I rather like it when you forget things, sometimes.."

He moves so his hands are holding her waist and stills her. "Ah, ok, listen... " A whisper.

"I had an idea, but you might think it's stupid."

A bit of surprise, and she leans back slightly. "Oh?"

He nods. "But I'm willing to feel stupid, so..." He cups her cheek. "I would ... I would really love it if we could sleep together."

"Just, sleep. I want to sleep in your arms, and wake up with you."

A deep breath, and she looks down, moistening her lips before responding. "I...would very much like that. But." Another careful exhale. "I...may crave more than sleep, as we dream. You've said you want to trust me to stop you...and...I don't know that I would stop, August." A swallow. "I don't know that you could trust me."

A soft grin. "I had the same questions about myself. But I'm an Eagle Scout, always prepared. This is the part you might think is stupid, but I brought a sleep sack."

"A...what?"

Sheepishly. "It's a liner for a sleeping bag, brings a few extra degrees if you need it. And it can be used instead of hotel or hostel sheets if you want to. It's in my backpack.

Her brow furrows delicately. "So...a barrier, of sorts?"

He nods. "I figured it was that or try to find something that would work at the Hollow, and since it's a Dougal hold we have a lot of nockers and I didn't want to test-try a nocker-made codpiece so...."

"Um...no. I appreciate that, really." A slight laugh, that fades quickly, and she looks at him again. "I...suppose? Or...we could sleep separately. I wasn't trying to force you into anything here, August." A bit of a frown.

"I never dreamed you were." Sincerely. "If you want to sleep separately, we will. I can wait." Utterly honest.

A pause, then..."Let me think a few minutes...?" Nuzzling his nose again, slightly.

He nods, creating more nose-friction.

"Mm." She brushes her lips against his.

His breath catches, and he returns the kiss.

A gentle kiss, soft, savoring.

He exhales, staying with her.

A sigh, and she shifts to nuzzle his neck, trailing soft kisses just below his ear.

He tilts his head for her, nuzzling the bare skin of her shoulder in return.

Shifting in his arms, she murmurs close to his ear, "All right. Come with me." And she slips free of his embrace and stands, reaching a hand to him.

He grabs his pack, and then takes her hand, face so serious.

She meets his eyes for a moment, then turns and leads him out of the room, up the grand staircase, and in the other direction down the hall, away from the room Magnus and Claire are in...to her room...opens the door, and draws him inside, welcoming him with a kiss as she shuts the door behind them.

The door closes as he drops his bag inside and slips his arms around her again.

*fade scene*

The next day, post Waffles, Magnus aka Tony is outside admiring the yard of the estate, "That's it boys, I'm getting a castle."

He enjoys the bench and the sun.

August wanders out from the French doors that connect one of the parlors to the outdoor patio. "Hi, Magnus."

"Hey, August. Isn't this view nice?" He invites the younger man but older soul to have a seat.

He nods, sitting down. A mug of coffee is in his hands. "It is." He glances back at the house. "Place is kind of cold, though. Must have been tough growing up here."

"you noticed that?" He frowns a bit, "One of the reasons I mentioned that painting is, glamour wise, it was like sunlight through a dark room."

A soft smile. "Sure. I handle banality better, but I still feel it."

"Yes, well, I have a feeling with Delores' help Coradel might help lighten this place yet, but ... mm you think it's bad for Coradel?"

He sips. "I think she needs it." A small, private grin, maybe just from thinking of her. "She spends a lot of time at EarthRunes, and she doesn't remember anything about Chloe. She needs that connection, whatever she can make from it, and a place to balance Glamour with Banality. Plus, she's still a minor and all.

"Yes, she does seem to have trouble with mortal modern angles ....I thought she was going to tear that manual in half." A chuckle

A fond expression. "She'll get the hang of it."

"Oh, one thing you can say about Coradel is she maybe be defeated, but she gets up for another try I think," Amused, "Delores was telling me the other day about her equestrian losses. Most folks would see the top 3 spots each time as a win."

He chuckles softly with proud delight. "She was... is... -mad-. But mostly at herself."

"Seems like Chloe .... was a bit abrasive."

"Ah. Mortal host's sins come to punish the arcadian soul so to speak," A nod, "I think having a better idea of what you're going to fall into is an another advantage of the Changeling way."

He tilts his head, nodding. "You might be right." says the Arcadian.

"Well, Chloe may have been unpleasant, but Coradel will win them over, it'll just take time," he nods assuredly.

He nods agreement, sips his coffee.

"Ah, August. Speaking of another lady in the family?"

"Mmm?"