#fenixtj

"Well, the thought was, that if you had it up, I could to this more often" He kisses her neck from behind her

and a very lovely night is had

(Fade before Beltaine)

Jessica gets to forget her troubles for a time...the set up, romantic.. the food wonderful ...and she might even forget her concerns about how Duff feels for her. Though she may wish he hadn't made that delclarion.

She woke up in the bed, leaning against him.. it was, very intense. He maybe feeling seelie but it summer or winter he's a energetic lover.

And very quickly that Beltaine morning, she is disheveled and exhausted on a whole new level.

Duff runs fingers along the contours of her, "I wish I could keep you with me, All Beltaine"

"I can't." simply.

"I know" Duff says "And you would hate yourself if you did. Let's shower... I'll get your back"

She nods and slides out of bed, waiting for him and walking with him to clean up and then prepare for the day.

He's most attentive to those hard to reach places.

And..eventually she's dried off, redressed, and heading towards Fenix.

.... with Duff.

As a matter of fact, yes. it almost surprises him when he reaches for her hand.. or did she reach for his?

Just for the moment, she decides not to worry too much about that.

They enter in, and are greeted by Demos who seems uncomfortable but stays on guard "Early in the morningshift. Okay if I skip ceremony later today?"

Jessica nods. "If you must. Today's not a day to be forced."

"thanks.. gonna hold out as long as I can" He says

Jessica puts a hand on his shoulder in support, and heads towards the Balefire.

A definite harmony and serene joyfulness ...

Duff notices "Wind chimes? Those are new"

She nods. "A gift from the Dreaming, the Balefire, and the Balor yesterday."

"They provide a protection within the Freehold."

"The Balor giving gifts? Huh.. it's it's a trap or they are really mad right now" he says

"They didn't exactly give it to us. The raw materials...." She explains what happened ".... and it bobbed back up as wind chimes. I'm betting the Balor are pretty ticked right now."

"Interesting.. I'm not sure you're the one they're most ticked at" he says

"The Balor have plenty of ticked to go around."

Demos snorts "Well... bet that Coyote gang is still licking their wounds"

"Coyote gang?" Duff turns at that "The Mercs wore a coyote symbol?"

"That's waht Earl said" Demos shrugs

"That was it!" Jessica puts it together. "A canid, I knew it was something like that."

Dufff, seelie or not, mutters "Shit"

"Coyote.... yeah, suddenly in context that's not a good sign. Duff, what is it?"

"I know.. their leader." he says

"That does not sound good."

"Oh she's a fine lady... the name of the group is the Crazy Coyotes by the way... they take jobs from almost anyone... look out for their own. I've hired them" he says "not recently mind. you" There is more he's not saying

He gets an eyebrow.

"Want to talk privately?"

"Pardon us, Demos" He says

"No problem.. I'm done with my shift and going to bed"

And they are alone..

" I dated the lady who is now their captain" he says

"Dated........" She lets there be more room around that word.

"yes... " he says "Any other non Beltaine day I''d be blunter"

A sigh, and she leads them to a private room. "Ok. Be blunter."

"We were lovers... for about ...6 months... and a few times after that"

She nods. "Just for context, when did you stop?"

"Context?" A brow "you need context on that?"

"I'd like it." She seems calm.

"Before you seized the day and saved the Barony." he says