#fenixtj

He actually chuckles "Your greatest foe is not thallian but paperwork?"

"I think the thaillain are still a greater threat." she admits "Paperwork might have them beat on numbers, though."

"Sensible" He looks at her introspective and yet warm "Did you like the touring?"

"It was very useful to get out personally, I should have done it a lot sooner. I think it was very successful."

"Yes, the girls made friends wherever they went. " He ponders

"They were brilliant." She agrees fondly.

"I never would have thought of playground diplomacy" he says honestly

"It seemed... obvious, when I looked for it. Tidemarch has an heir the right age, there's Shuri at Skyhook and (name?) at the Pit. Within a few years, give or take."

"Well,Shuri is is much younger but yes, the others.and even Shuri seems to relate. Allthough'.." he says "Salma's thirst for books has it's price"

"Price?"

"Well, I speak of the TOpper offer she sent wild"

"-Selma- did that??"

"If I managed to translate Necropis foul tongue right, and I'm better at it than some, yes. She found a trove of science fiction books"

"How did that get to the .... Topper Offer?"

"Apparently it's what she used to get the crate the boxes were in open"

A sigh. "I see. I'll have a careful word with her."

"Well,somehow she ended up getting the books. I think Necropsis is softer than he pretends, atl east towards some pooka"

"Necropsis is a challenge, for me."

"Then let me handle him. We play poker "

An offer

"You play poker with Necropsis?" skeptical.

"I do. Sometiems guns are drawn" He admits

The food arrives, and a table is quickly set; off to the side, but not out of public eye. Jessica goes to sit.

And he joins her

"Thank you." to those that bring the food as they depart again. "I thought you were trying to get shot less."

"I am I am" He assures her "Maybe I am losing some of my zing but having a hole through me every week isn't as fun as it used to be. So I'm being a touch more cautous"

"I'm glad to hear that, Duff." seriously. She serves herself, offer the food to him.

He takes some "thank you, and, I admit, I much prefer time with you when I'm not bleeding all over your seats"

"I prefer it too."

"Thank you for coming with me on the Tour."

"I rather enjoyed it" He says "I mean, I've been all over the city, but it gives a man perspective to try it by day light"

"It helped. I mean, that you were there."

"More than just for the ambush?"

"Yes."

A nod "Good. I rather like your company for.." A a pause, and he admits "For everything"

"Everything is a lot."

"It is" He admits "Obviously not reasonable of me, but sometimes I'm not a reasonable man"

He enjoys the food, "I think I Might hang around partly for this cooking"

She nods, eating. Hm. Maybe she skipped a meal?

Maybe she did, he does not pester, merely enjoying her company

And they savor the meal, Marie and Rosa peek out now and then to see if they neeed anything, then leave them their privacy

OF course, as boggans, they might also be checking how the relationship has changed after the touring if it has at all

Jury might be out on that.

But they know the trolls love the meal

(End Scene..for now)