#fenixtj

Jessica jogs and patrols, and never alone

Eats, sleeps.... the bathroom door stays open when she's in there. It is frustrating and against her nature but she tries to channel that energy into revising the town halls.

To be fair, she was better prepared for this than her blackmailer might have known. She's had a LOT of ideas for the town halls, so she can break them out. But it is is at a faster rate than she had planned. The towns folk mostly approve!

But some seem surprised, worried, and tell her they hope they aren't overworking her

She could move at a faster rate, of course. But with Brekke and Frank in So Cal looking for answers, and with a guard on her at all times, it makes better sense to make small changes, maybe backtrack a few, to -appear- to be following the instructions while buying time.

And eventually, the Duke will get curious!

Which is not at ALL what she wants, but so be it if he does.

Diego is delighted, of course. "On the path to democracy, at last"

Jess takes a deep breath, exhales slowly. "If I were of a suspicious mind, that comment would call some things into question, Diego. But, as I said, I trust you."

"And you know both of those things, so you're just trying to get a rise out of me or make light of things. I'd prefer you didn't."

"I'm not trying to make light or get a rise" he says assuring her "And what has been done to you is evil. I've got my own contacts out. I even left a map with your parents of my old allies in San Diego"

"I'm sure that will come in handy."

He says "This is such a stupid move on their part. It gets them what they want in the short term, but it risks driving you towards MORE traditional stances and hostility towards groups like the one I useed to run"

"You used to kidnap mortal relatives of Fae to force them to do as you demanded? How did Rathbone take to that?"

"No , I never did for the reasons I mentioned"

"Sorry."

"It's all right, Jessica." Diego assures her "it was tempting. And we did kidnap Dreamers sometimes, usually ones she stole from commoners"

"My mother is -not- a Dreamer."

"Quite the opposite I hear" He says "And I'm sorry"

She shrugs.

"Jessica," He ponders "Did you want to delay these changes?"

"I don't -like- be told what to do in these circumstances." she admits "I don't -want- to give them what they want." another shrug "If we can delay a bit, buy time to find out who they are and what's going on... get my mother back.... then I'm good with that."

"But I've never been -against- listening to people and looking at changes made for the benefit of all."

"Okay... how about this?" He offers "How about we fake an assassination attempt on you, or a chimerical attack you need time to recover from? It would slow everything"

"No." then she amends "Not yet."

"Don't need to give anyone ideas."

"Mmm sounds like they already have them"

"If they wanted to assassinate me or attack me physically they could have done that on Samhain."

"To do violence on Samhain isn't just a rule, the Dreaming enforces it hard."

Her expression is extremely skeptical.

"Jessica, that's why you don't have everyone attacking on Samhain. "

"Diego, plenty of violence gets down on Samhain."

"COnsensual usually, and not between Kithain otherwise. Wildhunts...well, there's ceremony to be sure" He mmphs "FIne though."

Jess does not feel compelled to fill the silence.

"What CAN I do to help?"

"Babysit me."

He chuckles at that "Sure. What would you like to do or go? "

"Patrolling like this is fine. Might as well get out and be seen."

A nod "Understood"

She keeps moving.

And the satyr keeps easy pace with her

(TBC)