#ccsemberclub

"Is she...set on this?" Caesar is clearly at war with some emotions but curbing them. Interesting to watch satyrs when they do this. Their expressions do the most amazing facial contortions.

"I don't believe so" April says "But she'd be furious if she discovered I told you"

A chuckle. "What is her dream?"

"She wants to see the world... to travel. She thought of enlisting in the Armed Services... or the peace corps. I think it's more of a means to an end."

A chuckle and he glances at the satyrs.

"And if we could make that happen for her.... would her thinking run differently?"

CC coughs "And trods arent' always safe for Kiniain, are they?"

"No, ma'am. I took a bus here." April says

Then at Bill's comment, "I don't know. I.. I think there's a risk of offending her. We DeBukes are... well, foolish proud."

"Indeed." Murmured.

CC is better at masking her emotions. But Bill can guess what's brewing in her.

He waves a staff member over and meets them away from the table for some instructions. Then returns.

The staff member nods and withdraws

"Hm. We could provide those opportunities to travel, either overtly or masked behind some benevolent power. Of course, Caesar travels....."

"Too much some say, and I don't usually take trods to do it" Caesar points out.

"Oh come on, Caesar." April Maude protests, "You're going to bribe us to have the kids? You know what that makes us seem like?"

"A true pity your are away from your home so often." He glowers at the satyr, then to April he confides. "Lovely little suburban house, not far from Miss CC's, here in Kansas City."

"I go over occasionally when he's out of town, water that poor plant."

"Yeah, it's amazing I haven't killed that thing yet" He winces

"Not for lack of trying." William witnesses.

THAT actually makes April smile

"Caesar is better at real estate than he is horticulture" CC admits "Now houses, those bloom. He's got quite the real estate portfolio now"

"I had help" He says with a shrug at the praise

April looks as if an idea is entering on it's own. It's not... Emerson planted it.

but then she shakes her head and doesn't speak it.

"April do you think June would change her mind if she knew, for a certainty, that her opportunities to travel when and as she pleases would in fact -increase- should she have the child?" He steers the conversation back.

"Well. ..she might n ot take offense." A thought "out of all of us she's probably the closest to unseelie...." she says it like admiting a flaw.

"Oh dear." what he hopes is a scandalized murmur.

CC fights a smile at that, but then says "April, don't think of this as a bribe for ANY of you. Caesar is seelie and honorable too..." A proud look at her son, then back "Now you came here to do the right thing. But he wants a chance to do the right thing as well"

"And it's not for you girls, or for him... but for the children" CC continues "MM can think what she wants... and that's her right, but don't you want what's best for your child?"

Caesar looks ready to protest the constent 'your child' talk that seems to leave him out. Then blinks as if someone had kicked his thigh with her hoof.

"As I made my point with setting up a trust for them." William backs CC up.

"I suppose..." CC and Bill having united their social skills, April has a harder time resisting, "It would be foolish to let my pride deny... any son or daughter a...chance at... the best life we could"

"Not to mention, increasing the size of your tribe. I know we are not many in number, but as I said, who can afford to turn away from love??"

"I don't LOVE Caesar we... " An apologetic look to Caesar. And yes, she may not love him, but she's (clearly to boggan senses) drawn to him. And no doubt she enjoyed that night.. a lot.

"I understand that," Caesar says gently, "But you know you'll love the child."

THAT causes her to blush all over again, and she sayss "At times I thought about leaving the farm myself. "

It is now when Bill might realize April has not spoken of HER Dreams yet.

"What is -your- dream, April?" Gently.

"Well, you know we troll bloods, we're considered a bit dim by other kinian, and a bit weak by our troll sibs" She presses her glasses up to the top of her nose as if mocking the 'only good for heavy lifting' stereotype "I had two years of college. Soemtimes I'd like to.. continue, you know? Agrciculture studies lead me to an interest in botany. Though my interests aren't too helpful on a farm"

"How is Botany not helpful on a farm?" Caesar blinks

"Because it's not food plants that interest me" She smiles

Then she shrugs "But it was more important to the family to learn about good soil, best way to develop new grains... and so on."

CC murmers to Bill "She's a graduate, Bill. Associates, but.. still" Pleased.

He nods. "That is easy enough to arrange. " he grants.

"But that IS charity" she says alarmed

"That is investing in the well being of the mother of Caesar's child. And the child's well being for that matter."

"Exactly" CC says "Darling, if you don't think I have some very selfish grandmother reasons for what I do, you're giving me too much credit for selflishness. An advanced education for you means you gather a better future for my future granddaughter or grand son... and that yes you can offer more to your family on the farm in the future, as well as him or her. This isn't the 20th century, a woman expecting can have classes and arrangements can be made without shame... the charity here is you allowing us to help, but I certainly hope you will. In fact, I'd plead for it." CC looks at the girl with the imploring eyes that EBG has seen crack others before.

The poor DeBuke girl doesn't have a chance.

He puts his smirk in his wine glass.