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[ukan]

This is Lark Tennant, leave a message.

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[atowncalledtreffy]

[Trevor holds Lucy out for Lark to take]

Go on.

Well, just so long as we're all being realistic.

[ukan]

[He cautiously takes her. To his surprise she doesn't immediately try to bite him, but she would plainly rather be with Trevor.]

When is the last time you were pleasantly surprised by someone?

[atowncalledtreffy]

Pleasantly surprised?

[he grins, turning a page to glue in another next to it]

I guess....two years or so ago. I was leading away a mob who wanted to skin me alive and the girl I had rescued that day turned out to be a magician. She returned the favor.

[ukan]

Two years ago?

[He rubs Lucy's ear] What about two months ago when you met me?

[atowncalledtreffy]

Well, I..

[He trails off, evidently clueless. Finally, Trevor shrugs]

I just didn't expect anything from you except for you to be weird, and you are.

[ukan]

I was kidding.

And I'm not weird. I'm atypical.

[atowncalledtreffy]

You're fucking weird, Lark.

[he reaches over to give his hand over to Lucy to lick so that she settles down]

What about you? When's the last time you were pleasantly surprised?

[ukan]

By you.

[He sets her on the table so she can waddle around and smell the books.]

Twenty minutes ago when you started saying the same things my husband did yesterday.

[atowncalledtreffy]

[He visibly balks, clearly running back in his head what was said]

Wait. Hang on.

Alec isn't your wife, he's...

Well, shit.

[ukan]

Yeah. [He is, it must be said, a little wary. People here tend to be progressive, but Trevor is from an era before running water.] I think you'll like him.

[atowncalledtreffy]

[He's clearly processing this. Same-sex relationships aren't as unusual as some like to pretend it is, but marriage is a whole other concept to wrap his head around.

Finally;]

I didn't think the church would let that happen. Or just....wait, so, how does inheritance work? I don't..

[he's fumbling, and gives a pleading look to Lark to rescue him. Help?]

[ukan]

It became legal a few years ago. Anyway I'm a lawyer, I drew up our contracts. I die, it goes to him. He dies with me, our fortune goes to Zinzi and Bonnie. They lead two factions of the pack.

[atowncalledtreffy]

[He falls silent, chewing this over.

And then;]

....Well, shit.

I didn't -

Fuck. The future's a really, uh. Different place.

I mean, we have men fucking other men, we're not animals, but no one - I mean, you have to get married in a church, right? And....

Fuck, sorry. Lot to wrap my head around.

[ukan]

We found a church that decided to follow the rule of law. It wasn't Catholic, most mainstream churches are still very much against same-sex marriage.

You're handling it better than most people. And I do think you'll like each other. I hope you do, it'll make my life a whole lot easier.

[atowncalledtreffy]

Huh. Guess my only other question is when do I get to meet your h-husband? Husband.

[he repeats it under his breath to get used to the word in this context, with Lark, and wanting to get it right. Another thing from the future he doesn’t mind, if only for the delight he has in picturing what self-righteous church officials might look in response.]

[ukan]

Soon. As soon as you want. He works in the infirmary, you might have met him already.

[atowncalledtreffy]

Don’t much get the chance to go there. But I might have seen him in passing.

[ukan]

[He pulls up a picture. It's Alec in their kitchen mid-something, flipping off the camera.] That's him.

[atowncalledtreffy]

[He looks over, and smiles, a little wan]

How does a man compliment another man's beauty in your time? WIthout getting punched in the face?

[ukan]

Some people still get punched. I met Alec here, though, and this place is more accepting.

[atowncalledtreffy]

Then I like his eyes. And his smile, and his way of telling you to fuck off.

[ukan]

[Yeah he can't help but grin] Me, too.

He does, too. Vain little fucker. [So much fondness in the insult.]

You never married?

[atowncalledtreffy]

I had a girlfriend. And a kid on the way, but no. We couldn’t have been married anyway - the church isn’t exactly forgiving towards its enemies.

[ukan]

[he isn't the least bit surprised that Trevor fell for someone who could be described as an enemy of the most powerful entity in that world.]

What is she like?

[atowncalledtreffy]

Sypha? Oh, she’s…..

Well…

You know. She’s a Speaker magician. So she’s very, uh. Insistent on how things should be and she’s so smart.
Much smarter than anyone I’ve ever met, so I don’t know what the fuck she’s doing with me.

Her feet are always cold.