#fenixtj

Jessica is having a meal at her appartment, and she has company

Mitra has brought some food in, and they get to talk "So, Otem is ... trying to court you?"

She blinks "Jessica, I have to ask, did you get a curse when you were young that everyone in your life would try to intrude on your romantic life?"

"I'm beginning to think so." with a sigh, and no heat.

"I'm sorry. You have enough serious matters on your plate without soap operas slipping in, but it does seem to be a part of being kithain. Just more so for you. At times I think you should INVENT a boyfriend, some rover in canada"

A soft snort. "It's been tried."

"well if anyone tries to pressure you and you need an out, please feel free to fake a text from myself or the Pitt saying I need you to drop by now and see something. I'll work to make sure you have something to look at." A sip of her coffee as they continue to eat the food she brought in, "On the flip side, damn it. A marriage of alliance IS peacemaking 101. I just DON'T think it will pay off in the long run"

"I offered a -TREATY-."

"Jessica,, while this isn't nothern concordia, indigineous dreams know what 'treaties' were worth to their mortal dreamers. Squat. How many times were they betrayed by governments that wanted more land, more resources? How many times were the words on paper 'changed'? Ask Johnny, he probably has studied in detail. Let's face it, folks don't trust House Eiluned to always play fair but we have NOTHING on the sons of Adam at breaking contracts and changing the conditions as soon as it's in self interest. Why woudl the nunehi trust a treaty?"

Jessica notes the 'Johnny' but says nothing about it. "No, I GET that. I do. I tried to talk to Otem about Oaths but.... I don't think -he- 'GOT' it."

"Few get it like a troll does, your kith is...the leading expert on Oaths I dare say, and for good reaosn. You get the most benefit from it" a pause "They rejected the idea of you taking a nunehi ward ?"

Jess flaps a hand. "That was my -second- suggestion, and I specified down the line, in TIME.... AND they don't like that idea."

"Childlings are precious and we don't trust you and you don't trust us so...."

"Well, yes. I imagine if someone asked you to hand over Ellie you'd be twitchy about it" she points out

"Absolutely! Notice please, since they did NOT, that it was my SECOND plan? Plan B? Specified for a LATER CONSIDERATION?" emphasis, not volumn.

"And they went straight to marriage" She shakes her head "Wow. Talk about raising the stakes."

"Yeah." she sighs.

Eats glumly.

"I'm sorry, Jess. You have other reasons to reject them beyond the 'good lord what is it with people wanting to own my love life?' point. It's not atypical for it to lead into co rulership even if consort ship is how it starts. And that's a big shift your people may not be ready for. They love you and trust you to try to soothe nunnehi, they do not want to be RULED by a nunnehi and his customs"

"I -did- make that point to him, in a way. It's their custom to decide on .... relationships.... as a community. He consulted his community, but I haven't consulted mine, and we haven't consulted each others. And... there's the Duke. And my family."

"Yes. Jessica, I don't know your mom and dad that well, but I suspect they want you to marry for love. Sidhe understand marriage for politics, trolls not as much. And yes I am stereotyping, doesn't mean I'm wrong. " A beat "A shame you can't offer them your sister, but then, we're trying to AVOID war" humor in her smile to let her know yes, that is meant as a joke

"Mmph." Jessica doesn't argue.

She pushes food around, stabs it a bit, eats some.

"That said, I did want to talk to you about something Pitt focused, but if you want to keep this more casual?" Cautious

"No, please, something important?"

"I've sent some folks on a quest" She explains "On bhealf of my barony"

"That's your prerogative. Well, on behalf of Sayda."

"True, but I thought you should know. IF you see an Eshu and a redcap who look totally oout of their depth racing from some ancient chimerical monster, feel free to lend them a hand IF they ask for it"

"Ooookay?"

"Sure."

"Thanks" A nod then "If they succeed it will help the hold. more healing magics are handy at our place. We don't have Fenix's spa"

"Well, you -could-."

"I know we're always welcome, Jessica, but Sayda doesn't like being a burden. SHe's a proud little girl"

"Fair enough, but it's -my- job to support the Pitt, and you, and Sayda."

"Like I said, if the two who took up the quest get attacked by a giant monster and ask for help, please do" A humorous look in her eyes

Then more seriously "Jessica, you're the most responsible woman I know, but OUR job is to see to the Pitt's needs and rule well, Sayda and I. We can't be a constant drain, we need to produce, or it reflects badly on her and I."

"And you have been producing. I've seen the accounts. Point is, we're in this together. "

"We are. Did you feel left out to learn about this after the fact?" A brow

"No."

"Good" A nod "I don't want to ever do that. Truth I was a bit proud of Sayda to take the initative on something and didn't want to discourage her by saying we could just go to Fenix"

"Agreed."

She moves food around some more.

"SHe's really getting a grasp of this. As a sidhe it's a bit humbling. I mean, I used to think only Sidhe had real rulership potential and the other kith were LOST..." A pause "ANd trolls , of course, sidhe and trolls"

A look.

"Oh sue me, I'm darn progressive for an Eiluned" she chuckles

"Mmph. True." she eats a bit more.

Sayda gets a bit more bragging her way. Clearly the Regent IS fond of the girl

And Jessica is glad to hear it.

"Uff" She finally catches herself "But you didn't have a meal with me to hear me gush on about her"

"Well. Not entirely."