periwinkle

"Oh, Addam...I'm so happy I found you. And I suppose it's lucky for you that you found me, too."

"Well, of course I'm happy, Flora. What do you mean?"

"It solves your marriage problem, doesn't it?"

"Ah, that. Well...you see..."

"Oh, dear. What do I see?"

"I don't think it does. I like men."

"I know you like men, silly."

"No, no, I mean...only. Exclusively."

"What on Alrest do you want me to do about that?"

"Nothing, I suppose. Not want to marry me, probably."

"I'm sure Minoth will be very happy about that."

"What does Minoth have to do with it?"

"Oh, for the Architect's sake..."

"Flora."

"Yes?"

"Suppose I was to marry you...even if I didn't love you."

"Ah-! Don't suppose it! Don't do it. I won't be a part of anything of the kind."

"I shouldn't think you'd have to! Because I don't think it would be possible for me not to love you."

"A good man does love his friends."

"Well, yes, but you're more than a friend to me. The task before me is royalty, and appearances, only they won't like me to have those, so much, and managing people and resources, and doing so many things I'd rather not do on my own."

"But you would rather do them?"

"Certainly, being a prince isn't...intolerable. Given what they've allotted to me."

"It works out well, doesn't it?"

"It would, with you."

"Addam..."

"Yes?"

"I don't know about this."

"I don't expect that you won't doubt me. It's...it's quite a proposition."

"A proposition, indeed! No matter what you think of me, others will think so many...other things."

"I doubt anyone could very easily think anything unpleasant about you."

"Unpleasant people will as they will - as will pleasant ones!"

"What would you have us do, then? And I don't mean it as a challenge! Your suggestion is as good as mine."

"If not a good deal better."

"If not!"

"But you're saying we won't have to, let's say, consummate."

"If anyone makes us, we'll flee to Gormott."

"Oh, yes, because that'll be a popular decision."

"Don't you see? It doesn't matter! We've just the two of us."

"Just the two of us..."

"Oh, this is wonderfully silly."

"What, being nominally noble homesteaders? I suppose it is."

"Well, yes, that, but mostly this...alternate definition of marriage."

"Purely arbitrary, the other."

"Purely!"

"Still, I hope it isn't too silly. I won't have my wife making fun of me!"

"Then you won't have her, because I don't think I could manage otherwise."

"Neither could I, in that case."

"Mhm, so it suits you well."

"I do believe it suits me wonderfully!"

"Speaking of suiting, have you found any?"

"Me? I'm a married man!"

"Elysium forbid it! What will I tell Marena?"

"What's Marena got to do with it?"

"Oh, Addam, for the Architect's sake...!"