#ccsemberclub

"Surviving is not the same."

"If it helps my people in the long run, survival is better than selfish heart and its yammering"

"your food good?" She adds, perhaps to drop the subject

"Love is not selfish," Stubborn.

"To want love is not selfish. To wish a partner is not selfish."

"It is when it pulls you from your duty and responsibilities and the need of those who trust you to lead" Clem says

Stubborn set of her jaw. Silly troll, hoping she's right for some reason?

"It is not like your life is beef and butter, where the twain may not touch."

"I tried that, it didn't work, so I'm cutting out the butter" She says

"No. Be a goyim. Have a cheeseburger."

"Are they not both the better for the other?"

"I'll be fine with my butter free cheeseburger thanks" Firm nod

And she sucks down a noodle a little petulantly

"Cheese is dairy." She reminds.

"Tell me - has Earl changed, in our time together?"

"Well.. yes, he's definitely more confident, more sure of himself in a lot of ways...and he's happier, and I thank you for that"

Ignoring the cheese lesson. She's from Iowa, she knows dairy. Hurumph

"And think you that having a partner would make you less?"

Clem's mouth opens as she realizes she's landed in something of a debate culdesac

Then "Your pirog is getting cold"

"How's the soup?"

"Annoyingly good, complicated, confusing, but delicious. Happy?"

Ooo Clem is in a mood now

"So. Like love."

"Clementine Zaneeta DeBuke, I will not see my best friend wither away and collect cats simply because she is afraid."

"...though you may have as many cats as you wish, of course..."

A wince as her middle name is trotted out, then a LOOK at the afraid accusation, "I.. oh.. you.. I..." A frown "Fine. Fine. I'll date. " Mutter grumble

"You know we can smell it, aye? Like a snake." She sticks out her tongue.

"How many tongues do you need? Again, round down"

A soft chuff, almost a laugh.

A chuckle back, "Thank you for caring even if I may not like what you say, I probably need to hear it" A sigh "Perhaps especially if I don't like it"

She nods. "Who else but a friend may speak so plain?"

"It's why I need you now and then" A weak smile "But I understand if the farm is kind of.. not where you want us to meet. Getting the itch again to wander now that you can?"

"I just... I thought this would be fun and different? I was at Earth Runes, so one trod for each of us...."

"Actually, it's kind of nice" She admits "Music's good"

"Lots of local artists, aye.."

"Oh art. Earl's making contacts in Poughkeepsie right? He was going to..."

Worried look. "I am uncertain."

"He may have put it off because of ..well, you know. Zara, you know how I can ignore my own interests for those I look out for?"

She sighs and nods. "Aye."

A frown.

"Hey now, I did not tell you that to make you feel bad. I told you that so you can light a fire under his ass"

And there's the guilt, quietly blooming.

ANd Clem takes her hand "Not. Your. Fault. Now.. you kick him in the rump and tell him to get back into the game."

"Aye. Yes. Of course."

"Becausee lord knows he doesn't listen to me like he used to" A nod

"So I need you to help me with him, okay?" Hopeful

"Of course. I want him to succeed."

"You're the reason he does succeed or so he claims" A shake of her head, "Witch done put a spell on my cousin." A smile "A nice one though"

"I.. oh, no, no - he has bewitched me back. Or someone else... surely, he sees wonders when I am but flesh."