#scarsdale

"They are powerful dreams, mind. Good glamour harvest..."

"The Strain, the masque of the red death..mm "

"One good cough, and you can scare up.." A pause. "Ah."

"Ah?"

"Well. The fear is thick, and that is glamorous, too."

"But..." Shrug.

August nods. "Not my cup of tea, but I respect you find it attractive." A fond smile.

"Sweeter than year-old apple cake."

A chuckle soft

"I miss the apple cake." He admits.

"Mama is wonderful, isn't she?"

"She impresses even HEarth Agnes, and you know her standards"

"Mama is the best, aye."

August tilts his head curiously.

"I could make an apple cake. I know how."

Earl nods "Shes' a good cook. Given her tastes are more.. post refined, it's amazing how good she is" Proud

"You're a very good cook yourself, Zara." Then a grin as Earl and he speak almost simultaneously.

"Mama taught me everything I know."

"She looked well. I trust she is? And your father, and uncles?"

Earl begins to pour tea

"Well enough. Ratchet is deep at work with repairing the Orrery.."

"Of course. Will you tell me what happened?"

"Ah. One came who wished to spill blood on Carnival."

"I.. am still not certain on whose behalf he came."

"That is troubling. As you know, I was never well connected at the Hollows, but I am unaware of anyone who would want him -dead-....."

"Aye. The Count was protected, by several."

"By chance, there was forewarning."

Earl seems content to serve and let the two old friends talk and catch up

August takes his tea.

"What form did the attack take?"

"A man dressed as.. well, now I see... as a mash up of the Red Death and a Plague Doctor and Corona - he had golden rays around a dark beaked mask."

"Did you see his face? Or Kith?"

Earl tries not to wince. Not knowing is likely to draw his girlfriend into this deep.

"The Queen bade him to stay masked... but..."

Oh, she's up. Oh, that's a silver bowl and a candle...

August sits up, paying attention.

The sluagh settles down smack dab in the middle of the room. "Love, could you get the lights?" Pouring water into the bowl.

"Of course, my heart" And he does so.

The candle provides a flicker of amber light. "August, draw the curtains please?"

He does, right away.

Now, the candle is the only light that remains.

With a gesture, it seems the shadows deepen, and mist collects on the water's surface.

August makes his way back to the bench with care.

Zara's face is strange and shifting in the irregular illumination of the taper, dark eyes glowing with reflected orange and gaunt features cast in jagged shadows.

And for a moment, there is an image of plaid! Bright, stunning

"Ffft." Squint. She draws the image back.

And she adapts... her Uncle's work? OH... she knows how to work around this.

She's been doing so since she was a childling...

And there, past the failsafe used to keep whoever might assit this would be assassin from scrying, and she gets a peek