#fenixtj

"I don't like being talked about, period. Between us, or outside us. And I need.... downtime. Where I don't have to interact with anyone."

"So anyone talking about my body bothers me, yes. The idea of it bothers me."

"Then I'l lstop" He says "I never meant to hurt you, or demean."

A frown "I mean it as admiration, and while I dabble in poetry, I don't always have the right words. You're beautiful to me, and every sway and curve of you is worthy of praise to me. "

"I just don't want it public, Duff."

"How is the two of us public?" Confused "Or did I misunderstand? You said 'between us' between us is public?"

"Sorry. Just.... Getting told by Tweak to.... well... do more. Graphically. I....." She gives it up. "I'm sorry."

"Oh... Ah.." As if realizing, "That really got to you didn't it? What she said? I..wish I knew what to say to ease it. I'm sorry if I stepped on a wound she opened"

A shrug. "Ok." Accepting.

He looks at her for a time, "You worry this is some..duty now? to stay.. to have sex now and then? Please, don't think of it that way.. don't feel like you are rquired to go through motions. I assure you, I'm not"

"Um." NOW she's putting THAT idea together, if she hadn't already.... and she hadn't. "No?"

"No." and he says it firm

"You WANT me, whether you love me or not. That's not a duty."

"Just because I want you, that's ok?" Maybe it's the season coming..... fall...

"Of course it is," he says "We're both consenting adults. Passion before duty... is my way, perhaps it's not yours, but just because we mikght not disagree on the order they come in, doesn't mean that we can't have one because we embrace the other. I have duties... my passions are first for me, but I don't have no duties at all. You have a right to your duties AND passions"

"Duty comes... first."

"If you wish to live that way, but Passion can be RIGHT behind it. "

"Not... not within our Courts." Puzzled.

"Who says? Tell me where passion is not allowed in the Seelie Code? "

"Not that it's not allowed but... "

"but? Jessica, you are a woman of great sense, why would you throw at away something as fueling as passion? It's a strength.. now you might want to yoke it in someways, but why would you pretend you coudn't have it?"

"Some passion, yes. I guess. But ... not a personal passion, um, a sexual one."

"Not for me." She amends.

"Jessica, why not for you? Why not a sexual passion?"

"Um, sexual passion is... fine. But it's not... important. Overriding. We are trolls, not satyrs."

"Passion is passion, and sex is a facet orf it... take out that facet, and you mar the gem."

"And I know you're not a satyr.. we're a bit monogomous for that"

She nods.

"You desire me. I desire you. Sexually. Am I wrong about that?"

"No." Blush

"Then there's no dishonesty in our coupling, nothing to be ashamed of"

"I should say not!"

"Well then, it's okay if it's in the line of priorities.. it may not be first, but there's nothing wrong with it having a place i nthe line. "

"I shouldn't avoid my duties for, um, this, though."

"You're not. You're just waiting until you're best ready for them"

"I can't wait, I need to be ready. I need to -plan- to be ready. Train." She steps away from Duff

"I have to go."

"Okay, then..we go. Come on" He is dressed, "I'll walk you. Tell me your plans if it helps?"

She walks with him to the tattoo parlor. "Thanks. I'm fine from here. I need to go meet with knights and stuff."

"Okay. DOnt' feel like you have to take them all. You have barons you can assign them to if you need to."

"I don't but.... ok."

"FInd one that's so sweet and nice that he or she would surely annoy Tweak and assign the nice on to her? A bit of payback for her butting into your personal?"

"Thank you, Duff." Dry "I'll see you later."

"Sure, dinner maybe" He nods as she walks off

And off she goes.

Heavy hammer in hand.'

"Mmm" A thought If she needs my ear to the ground, so be it. I guess I better threaten some want to be pimps and he heads off

And Jessica has much to deal with

(end scene for now)