#fenixtj

"mmm hmm? "

"Ok, this could be weird but.... I hate to say it but maybe it's the season. If you hate this idea, just say so. Won't be hurt."

"There's a treasure here, it... it works on a full moon. If you wanted to take advantage of it tonight, I'd be happy to arrange it."

"If this treasure is for the hold s houldn't one of your people use it?"

She shrugs. "That's kind of an awkward point. It gives.... well, I guess it could give you kind of an advantage in some ways and... that's hard to share out here without giving some folks an advantage others don't have and... well, it caused some feelings. So, I haven't since."

"But if you wanted it... I would."

"Okay, is there some reason you're not telling me what the advantage is?" Curiosity isn't just for slaugh

"No, no... it, um.... it seems to affect the way people see you. I found out by accident, see. Um. The Treasure seems to make you, um, sexier. More attractive, more alluring. And I thought, if you wanted to, um, maybe do that while you were here. Away from the Farm and all. Just to try it. Um."

"oh" Clem says

"Yeah, it's a lot weirder when you don't know why people are acting so strange."

That makes her smile, "I bet." She looks to Fontaine, "Fontaine, I know this is your anchor, but if you don't mind? A bit of privacy for Jessica and I?"

"Surely" He moves off, "I shall go pester Diego. He's fun to pester."

Jessica has a small smile on her face at that, not disagreeing with Fontaine.

"You've got good folk" she informs Jessica "As for the gift, was a time I'd jump in that thing but... uhm.. I haven't been with a man in...months. Acton and I broke up, and... I've just been focused on other things. And I'm not sure I do 'casual' that well so a fling could lead to complications. It's tempting and..."A light blush "You know what they say, you don't miss it until you've had it, well, I've had it and I DO miss it...but I don't know. I just... I had my swashbuckler, I've had a crush. I even had a stand with a Gwydion knight while unseelie ,though that was sometime ago. I just..." A deep breath "Guess I'm scared either it might go too far with my heart or not far enough. "

"I'm sorry to hear that, Clem. I know you liked him and the situation was working for a while." Seriously. "And, I totally understand." She glances at the door way, then looks back "I'm with Duff but... even after a year or more I couldn't tell you how serious it is."

"Not going to lie, I was curious how serious it was with you and Duff but you just answered that. He's a handsome man, too many tattoos for my liking but he carries himself like he can handle anything, and I can certainly see why that would keep you intrigued. So.. . you don't know if you love him or he's just..." SHe tries to think of the right phrasing "A release?"

A glum nod. "Keep thinking he deserves better."

"Oh, Jessica. You are a catch. Trust me. If I drank the water at firnost I'd be all over you" attempting a joke

A slow, creeping purple. "Um. Thanks. And, you might be right, but I'm a catch that comes with a catch. Renaissance. Fenix. They come first."

"Well, I was told first don't mean only but, I'm there with you. IT's hard. You find a guy, he seems wonderful, and he makes you feel wonderful and you want to give more but you worry to do that you have to take away from those what need you." a sigh "Zara thinks I should pursue romance. She's terribly romantic you know? Why she and Earl are two peas in a pod. But she's not a leader and I'm not sure she understands how trolls need to serve and how that complicates it when we find things for our selves too. We have our solar systems, we trolls, there's our sun... my farm, your people , our planets ,and our lovers sometimes , well, they're not even a planet, but a moon around a planet. I'm not sure how well this metaphor is holding up.But my point is, love is... love like what we hope for is like having two suns to swing around. It feels like it throws the balance off...and that can be wonderful but also scary, because might fail one or the other"

Jess nods. "Then, you know my parents...."

"Well ,I know mortal mom and dad had their story, and it was hard on him...and later you. I know Chieftain Brekke and Mountiain Frank eventually found each other...and to be honest, that's kind of what I'd like somedays, and ehn other days I want a lover off on the side like I had with acton… see, if he's not part of the farm, I can be selfish and that's nice, but then, if the fellow isn't part of the farm, then it feels like he's not really with ME. And then if he becomes part of the farm I feel like now I'm managing him..it's a no win"

"Yep." Confirming "And Duff... he's still an outsider here, in a way. In more than one way." She shrugs, flickering the water with her hands. "I don't know." A deep breath. "Ok, so we got here with an offer of that treasure, but if it's not something you're interested in that's fine too. It was just a thought."

"I'll think about it," She says "As for you and Duff? I don't know. Eventually he may want more, but you know that. Worse, he may want less and while you would roll with that it would hurt. I think maybe you should ask yourself if you love duff, and what do you love about him? Of course, the first question , if it was so easy to answer, you might have an easier time with the second. I don't suppose talking to your aunt Kerri about it would work? I could suggest my great aunt agnes, but I can guess what her advise would include 'Well, is he a provider? Does he have good work ethic? Does he know how to tickle you proper without slowing your work down too much? You got any better offers?'"

the last said with some attempt at humor

"I talked with Kerri about it. It helped some; helped that she didn't hate him, too. Dad... dad doesn't like him." With some regret. "Clem, you have someone to talk to? About ... well, I know how stressful it is to take over a position and try to make things better. I'll say this... it's been great to have Duff there to ... to ... to take a break with, you know? And there are other ways to get that break, you don't -need- a guy. But... you have someone? Something?"

Clem muses it over "Zara's...been very busy. So have you. I ...don't really see friends. I know that Rivervale is always welcoming me but, they've got their own concerns. I'm a grown woman and they have their own wilders to raise. I... " She sighs "no, not really. at least not right now. It's just me."a melancholy look to her eyes "Guess me will have to do."

Jessica sits up. "Clem. I know I'm a bit far away, and ... sure, we're -both- busy. But not -too- busy. Not for you. Ok? You need me, call. Or just show up."

"And I'll do the same."

"Really?" A pause "I think you might like the farm. No spa there.." She does enjoy the heat of the water "But we have horses you can ride without feeling foolish" wryly "And I don't mind, but I'm going to be Chief soon. Not sure I can afford to need anyone."

Jessica shakes her head. "Clem... I mean, we all take leadership differently, I know. But ... mom's a great leader, and she'd be the first to say a great leader can't afford -not- to need anyone. Great leaders need others."

"Well, I'll have my own mountain and storm and heath to handle somethings yes," An admission, "Maybe I'll have more time than I think but I.. Iwant to prove myself to them, Jessica. I want to show them that their trust is not misplaced."

"Quest?"

"Pardon?" That confuses her

"Sounds kind of like you want a quest. Even if it's like my lame Nameless Quest."

"It could be appropriate before you become Chief."

"No, no" she says "Sorry. I don't want a quest."

"I want to prove by doing at the farm. Quest is farthest thing from my mind, it would be selfish"

Jessica lifts an eyebrow.

"I mean, I loved the sea quest, but by the end of it I wanted home.. And going off to get the legendary spear of zappy or something might be a lark, but I'll earn my family's trust more by tending harvest time right and giving good counsel"

Jessica nods. "Ok."

"Then we're back to getting you to relax." a small chuckle "Is it working?"

"Was" Wryly

"Sorry about that." Ruefully. "Ok, shuttin' up. We've got lots of great things to do around here, so you let me know, ok? If you want to just rest in your room and order room service, that's ok too."

"Actually, I think maybe I will try that tub tonight. Otherwise years from now I might wish I had" She says "And I don't want you thinking I've gone grump just because questing alone has all the appeal of a root canal"

Jessica gives her a surprised look "Who says you have to quest alone? Not that you're going to quest at all."

"Well, no one else is available"

"Says who? Have you asked around?"

"Well, as I wasn't planning going on a quest not exactly, but when everyone else is so busy, it's pretty much a given. "

"Clem..." Jessica leans her head back and closes her eyes. "Thank you."