#scarsdale

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*ringring*

Zara picks up the phone. "Hello?"

"Hi." August.

Zara scoots into a corner to sit and talk. "Hi August."

His voice is quiet. "Is everything ok?"

She gums on her lower lip. "Are you mad?"

"No!" Intense, not loud. "No, not mad. I mean... I thought it would be cool, but I get it. I think. I'm just worried you're mad at me again."

"It's a lovely library. I want to help. I just... I...."

"I will help, if you let me. Bronte loves it."

"Of course! You're welcome anytime, Zara."

"Everyone thinks I should move out." A soft huff of air. "Earl, Ice..."

"Move out... Move out of your house?"

"...yeah."

"Do you want to?"

"No."

"Then don't."

"Does that make me a baby? I'm sixteen, and a wilder..."

"No, you're not a baby!" He sounds second-hand outraged. "Are you -kidding- me?"

"Stay, and visit here when you can. And I'll be in Kansas City till the summer and I'm sure you'll visit Earl there..."

"I do, sure. I like Firnost."

"There you go. The trod to EarthRunes is in the garden there."

"Tell you what, I'll see if I can get you a space here at EarthRunes. Just somewhere to keep stuff, if you want."

"That's... that's really nice of you."

"I had some ideas about cataloging. Did you see them?"

"Yes! And I thought they were great! Listen, has your school work touched any of the library sciences yet? I wanted to take a course this semester but it was on another campus and the schedule didn't work out......"

"A little! I can't wait until college, so I can really get into it. I might start some online classes in the fall..."

She can hear his grin. "I bet you will."

"And this would be good practice...."

"Well, it might not translate directly but sure!"

"I don't know any time magic - do you know anyone who does? It's usually your folk."

A thinking pause. "No. I mean.... I'm not really well-up on who does what around here. EarthRunes. And no one at the Hollows...."

He doesn't need to finish that.

"No..."

"The Hollows, you know, sometimes it feels like I don't belong anymore. Even though..."

"... it is home. I mean, it will always be my, our, first Freehold. The first place we knew we were Fae."

"Exactly. And Hirim and Ratchet are here. And Miriam works for the Count..."

"Zara." Gently, and she can just -see- his warm eyes. "Are you worried you might lose contact with them if you left? Lose... them?"

"...aye."

"Oh."

"You won't. No more than you will lose me because I live here now. Well. Part time." He sighs.

"I know. Just..."

"You ever feel like you don't really belong anywhere?"

Soft laughter.

"Yes, Zara, all the time."

"But you have Earth Runes, now. And your... oathmate..."

"Yes." A world of emotion in that one word.

A wistful sigh.

Then, "... But I'm new here, and not everyone... you know. Approves. And Coradel and I are still... we're still trying to figure things out. I'm... " He clears his throat "... I'm trying to learn more about her perspective on things."

"She's very Fiona."