#rescuemiriam

She follows his glance to August. "He's not sure what he said wrong, by the way. But I hope they can get to know each other a bit." She settles into a slightly different posture in the Western saddle, getting used to it. "Claire has some good ideas about the manor here...ways to make it less cold."

"In service to my House." Evenly.

"Oh crap, she's going to want a bigger apartment now," A sigh, "And I don't expect August to give her a hug and and call her family, it's just...I'm trying to create a way to help Sparrow via Claire and he won't get past the 'she' aili and can't be trusted' angle. It's aggravating on its own, but when it hurts my plans to help Sparrow it's...argh."

"Does your House require similar training, then? You said horsemanship is expected."

"For those of Knightly ranks and warrior leanings, yes," Claire says, noting his earlier tone, "August, have I offended you?"

She frowns, and nods. "Claire said you'd spoken to Sparrow. She wasn't sure how much she could share...."

"Not at all, Dame." With surprise. "Why?"

"Oh I hope she shares all of it, but i ..." Magnus will sigh, 'well, now I kind of want to MAKE August have to talk to her to get the knowledge. But that's...well dammit, I love her. He's like a second dad.. I kind of need them to get along, and I guess I'm selfish about it."

A look to August from the lady Ailil "You seem very...brief in your answers. Like you're worried I'm trying to gather intel rather than just wanting to know you better. Maybe I misread."

"Oh." He thinks about this. "My apologies, I didn't mean to be short." Another think. "Probably just habit."

"Well, I'm trying to do my part in that...." And she gestures to the two of them ahead. Then she looks at him again. "You're doing well. Comfortable, yet?"

((Switching again))

Magnus says, "I know you are, and thanks," Shifting less than he did before, "Actually, Dolly seems to be doing all the work now. She's a sweet and tolerant thing." The Fiona looks at his House Sister, "Am I being too pushy with August? To expect him to work with Claire to get help with Sparrow?"

A nod to August, "I knew my House would put some on guard. If that's it, little I can do about it. Are you laconic by nature, or is it a Liam trait? Frankly how your House puts up with the abuse I've seen I don't know."

"Oh, honestly, Magnus, I don't know. Sometimes August can be incredibly dense...and then other times he's so very insightful." A secretive smile. "And he can write a hell of a letter."

He smiles quietly. "Well, one technique is to be laconic. Words can be weapons, don't give them to your opponents. Oh, not that you are.... just, that's what I meant about habit."

"Hmmm...." A thought. "I wonder if August has written to Sparrow at all."

"I heard about the letters a bit," A s mile to to her, "Good on him. I'm glad things are working for you."Then, "mm maybe he'd do better if he did. She's...very prickly though. Very sensitive."

"No offense taken," A look to August, "That makes sense, and would be habit forming besides. I tend to find a place with a my back toa wall in a restaurant out of habit because I've done it as a precaution. I guess it is a bit like that. "A pause, "May I be blunt with you?"

He nods. "Feel free. I don't offend easily."

"What exactly have you heard about the letters?" An arch expression, bemused, then more seriously, "The benefit of his letters, besides being better at expressing his thoughts than his voice is....they can be reread. I bet Sparrow would read them more than once...and that makes the words harder to dismiss."

"I admit, I knew I might be ...judged for my House, and I won't lie, an Oathbroken house judging mine always struck me as offensive," Claire admits "But Magnus adores Liams, after all, he has ancient ties to a family with one... that's you and Sparrow, so I tried to keep an open mind. "A bite of her bottom lip, "But I fear Magnus has some unreasonable expectations of us both. He doesn't always understand that strength of habit. that way we've both been indoctrinated. I liked Sparrow, I owe her. And I don't dislike you, but it's unreasonable ofh im to expeect you, a Liam, to trust a member of a what is essentially an enemy House, and I've already confessed to my own gripe about yours. I think, whether he likes it or not, it may take time to bridge any gaps and see if we can become friends or whatever."

August nods. "That's entirely reasonable, Claire. I agree. For what it's worth, I try very hard not to judge, since I have -been- judged. I don't dislike you either; Magnus has given me to understand that you're... atypical. For an Ailil. "

He reaches out and offers his hand to shake.

She shakes it, "Well, I'm Seelie, and a Seelie Ailil is probably not much common than an Unseelie Aiil, and I ..suck at lying. Oh, I can still find a away to sway? but flat out lying? There's a reason the House gave up and shoved me into full warrior training." A smile, "Maybe you could help me with a crisis of ...honor though?"

((Paused for now, taken to PBEM))

(Unpaused)

"Ow." Magnus says then looks at Claire, "You going to do anything?"

"Of course I am," Claire says, then looks to Coradel, "Well done, Coradel."

Magnus rolls his eyes

A gracious nod. "Now...this is going to be difficult. We must support her without making her feel that we think she's a helpless infant. For she isn't."

"She's quite capable, she took out an ogre," Magnus agrees, "But I still think giving her a chance to show her strengths, with art or kids might be something to encourage. "

"But it sounds as though she's taking those chances, and working herself into self-destruction."

Claire has grown quiet, then, "Is there some place that needs her help that provides room and board? "

A sigh. "I'd have my family hire her here, but...what an awful dynamic that would establish. Also...in what capacity? There's no role to suit her here."

OOC: Waiting for Shady to get home 😉

BIC: Magnus gives a look to August to see what he thinks

His white-hot rage is cooling fast to icy-cold fury. "Au pair." He said, tightly. "She needs a job as an au pair, live-in child care." His horse dances under him, the Sidhe's tension communicated to him.

Samson tosses his head a few times, pawing restlessly. "Au pair?" There are no children here, August." She frowns. "Where?"

"Kansas City. That's where she's chosen, that's where she wishes to be."

Still frowning. "I don't know. It sounds so...servile."

August lifts his eyes to engage Coradel's wordlessly.

"If it makes her happy, I don't care if she's flipping burgers. But i do worry about banality" Magnus says

Claire contemplates, "Firnost isn't organized enough to have a program for childlings that pays."

His horse jigs again.

A bit of surprise at the look August is giving her, then a stubborn set of the jaw. "I do not think it would make her happy, August." Firmly.

"Serving others, or working with children, in a family?" As firmly.

"In a family's home, not her own. As an extra set of hands, rather than under her own authority. There is a difference between service and servile, August." She looks away to Claire, hair fanning out with the movement. "What sorts of programs are already established like that? Among mortals?"

"I don't know," Claire admit, "Youth centers and charity organizations perhaps? But that doesn't cover the problem of paying rent."

"Rent for a dump" Magnus adds, "Dangerous neighborhood, small space."

August's horse protests, and goes in a circle.