#fenixtj

"The -point- is... we haven't solved anything, Duff." Softly.

"Alright.. so let's go back to that. I believe I said... "a couple needs balance' and "you need someone you can be human with, I would be honored to be that man'" He looks at her to continue

"We haven't figured that out yet."

"Well, what have we figured out?"

.................

"We are both frustrated and want to agree but can't seem to?"

"We agree we need balance" he says "It's the means by how we find that balance that's the hard part, but it's something. Okay, here'e a start. Do you want me to move my shop to another barony? I would still come to you, or you to me, but it would be out of your power and you'd feel less pressure"

She thinks. "Where would you go?"

"Possibly the Varich's terrain. Certainly better than Summerstrike's" He shrugs "OR... with trods regular, maybe I could go to another part of concordia as long as I could be here quickly."

She looks away, troubled. "I don't want you to have to move."

"It's just an option, one I thought worthy of consideration, but we can put it to the side and find another" He says, "The other option is you marry me declare me your equal, I rule during the winter, you rule during the summer... but let's be honest you'd probably be working year around."

Jessica looks at him as if he's speaking Spanish and she knows...... Russian.

"You. I. What?"

"I.." ah.. he coughs "We could marry... you declare me your equal..." He runs through it slowly, not ot insult her, but as if realizing what he just said himself

"And...we would co rule... with you doing most of the work "

Jessica's face goes.... slow.

"Um."

"Um?"

"Well, you're always so logical and I tried to think logically, and nothing.. ah.. makes more sense to me than... than marrying you so you and I could... I mean, I don't really have an INTEREST In ruling but I suppose I have exerted power before ...and you ...you rule so well but need an equal and if that's what it takes to make you happy and so I can be with you..." The normally confident man says "It..makes sense, right?"

"Nnn.. no" Slowly. "I mean... maybe on the surface but.... um, I don't want you to move away. Unless you have to. But.....:

"Well, obviously it could be other ways maybe but.. this makes the most sense to my head and... to my heart" He confesses.

"Duff...."

"I don't have a ring.. but... If.. well, you deserve the right treatment" He starts to lower to one knee

"Duff, don't... "

"Why not? Doesn't it make sense to you too?" He looks up at her, for his leg is half bent already

"There's too much not ... that doesn't! We can agree, maybe, on a dinner order. Running a Fief?" She rises and paces. "Duff we are SO far from that."

"Well, wouldn't that be the point of splitting the year? Waiitng our turn? I could annoy you from Samhain to Beltaine, you could make me crazy Beltaine to Samhain, and the WHOLE year we love each other regardless? "

"Tear the Fief apart every 6 months?"

"Not apart, just shift gears..." he says

"Besides, I bet I'm more lazie faire tha you are"

She swallows and stands, moving away.

"I...Jessica... if you're scared of marrying me, I suspect it's because you're tempted"

She hunches her shoulders for a moment and then straightens. "Duff.....:

She turns to face him. "I don't want to marry you."

He looks wounded for a moment, then, visibly, dusts himself off and stands, features resolving into resignation "Ouch." He declares calmly

"I'm sorry, Duff." Sincerely.

"No no... you're honest. That's one thing I love about you. I... it makes sense to me, but maybe sensible isn't the best reason to marry. "

She nods tightly.

"Alright so.. not moving out, and.. not marrying" A cough into his hand "How else might we ...help resolve the situatioN?"

"Duff, we have a fundamental agreement and disagreement. What we want, generally, and how to get it, specifically."

"That's true" He admits "The ends we mostly like, the means... not so much"

"Duff, why are you even still here?"

He stiffens at that, "What the hell does that mean? "

"I don't.... " She moves away. "... understand why... I mean, we have'nt agreed on anything and... and I .... we agreed on no and....."

"Jessica, I lived in this fief before you did." A reminder

"And?"

"Then what do you mean 'why are you even still here' I LIVE here"

She takes some time to take that in. "Ok. Fair."

"Jessica, when I offered to leave, it didn't mean nothing. I value you over the location of my store, that doesn't mean I don't value here at all" A snort "Do you think I offer only what is easy for me?"

A bit insulted.