#fenixtj

........

The Kids had a blast, and the visit to Sunkissed has been a success.

"is it my imagination, or are you happy?" Duff inquires of Jessica

"Happy?"

"I'm not -un- happy."

"What makes you happy?" He asks, taking her hand

"Um." she looks and sounds puzzled.

He waits

"When my people are safe, and prosperous."

"Then you should be happy I think, " he says "You ended a threat with this ranter cell, your heir has charmed all she's met and helped you form new alliances. Even Tidemarch seems more open to you now thanks to your help. Can things get better? Always. But you are making great strides"

A deep breath. "Yes. So then, yes, I am happy."

A brow "Oh for a Gwydion boon." he puts arms around her waist

"I am!"

"Good" he kisses her ear "Me? I'm proud. Maybe it's not my place to be, but I am. "

"You're allowed to be proud."

"Proud of what?"

"Proud of you, of all I mentioned," He says then explains a bit "jessica, I have kept the chaos in a spin, chosen my evils in this city I set forces against each other to find a balance. you somehow balance it without that. Better it without that"

A gentle puff of breath, amused? "Balanced? I'm running flat-out just to keep up. Or to stay just behind."

"Mmph.. considering how you're pulling so many along forward with you, I'd say it's good speed"

"I guess.... that's a point."

A kiss of her ear, "You've even taken time for us now and then. I've noticed"

"I feel .... I don't think it's enough time. I'm sorry about that."

"It's more than we had, that too is progress," A pleased smile "Though you always have been amorous by the shore"

She BLUSHES.

"Duff....." chiding.

"I am now contrite" He does not look contrite, his eyes are roguish

He gets a -look-.

"I am now trying to hide my pleasure?" he corrects

eyes still sparkling despite his attempt at a somber expression

"Not even that." dryly.

"Never said I was good at it" Another squeeze

She rolls her eyes.

"We should get back to the others." She starts away, but keeps his hand.

"Yes, I suppose so. There's the Baron" He gestures with a chin as they start to walk, hand in hand.

After a few steps, but before they are in hearing, she murmurs. "What do you think of him?"

"I don't think he covets your throne, but he does prefer to run his own place. He expects respect for his success, and I think he respects some of what you have done, but he does not understand you. He moves in circles. You like straight lines. He can be ruthless, not that I can throw stones there, but he appears generous to those that do right by him. Like all Varich I've met he had a bias against sluagh."

She nods, and he can see (given how well they know each other) that she takes his words seriously and values them.

"Thank you."

"My pleasure," he says "One more thing, he is frustrated with his heir and yet cares for her. if he cared less. he'd be less frustrated. "

Jessica pauses and turns to his arms again. Thus occupied, she murmurs. "What is his frustration?"

"Vaeltilde is like you, a stright line person, he hopes to teach her circles. He worries she's not the best future ruler for his land, but really the truth is she'll just rule differently. Also, she's a kid. I don't even like kids myself" She might raise a brow at that at how he humors them and doodles faces with facepaint, "But even I know you can't expect them to be like a small verison of an adult. He's a wilder dealing with a childling he's fond of but doesn't understand and sometimes it shows."

He whispers it all, of course

She nods. "I'll remember that." She kisses him, and turns to lead him back to the group again.

The kiss is returned and they move on to greet the Baron

"Dame Ash quite good with children I think" The Baron says "How she manages to keep them so well behaved without protocal I do not know"

"It is a talent, I think, My Lord." Jessica rejoining the group.

"So it would seem" He says "The ranters are, for the moment either captured or licking their wounds"

"My Lord, I count on you to handle them." She says, as seriously as she can in a swimsuit with the ocean crashing just a few dozen yards away.

He bows low "I'll have full transcripts of all clues that spring from you."

"May we speak for a few moments?" She indicates the wide beach, away from others. And does not offer to hold his hand.