"My dad died while she was pregnant with me and she sort of--lost interest in parenting without her beloved coparent around. She wasn't materially neglectful or anything, I always had clothes that fit and food, but she never made more than a token attempt to pretend to be more interested in her child than her dead spouse."

"Yeah, that's pretty bad."

"Yeah. I mean, I'm fine, but lots of kids would have been hurt worse than me."

"Most kids probably would've been fine with my parents. Well, maybe. They only got really annoying when I started doing things I would've been arrested for if I'd been anyone else's kid. I don't know if they would've been perfectly nice to somebody who wasn't growing up into a violent bully, or if they would've found other things to complain about."

"Were you trying to get arrested or just undeterred by the possibility? I think most people who do horrible things would be glad to have the ability to get away with pulling arbitrary shit."

"I didn't exactly mind not being arrested, but... everybody'd act like nothing happened, if I hurt somebody bad enough they'd move away and people would just stop talking about them, like they'd never existed in the first place. It was creepy."

"That is creepy."

"Yeah." He sighs. "That's the north for you. I hear Okaiva's much more civilized."

"Yeah. Welcome to the City of Not Creepy."

"I like it here so far!"

"Remind me what fraction of your time in the city has been spent having sex with me so far? I'd hardly call that a feature of the city."

"They did give me this lovely house to have sex with you in!"

"True, the house is very lovely. Want to go check another room off the list?"

"Mmmmm." Snuggle. "I'm so cozy, though."

Awww that's so cute. Clearly the correct thing to do here is pet his hair.

Yes! Yes it is!

She nuzzles him. "Best fiance."

He nuzzles back. "The gods did a good job setting us up."

"They did!"

"I couldn't ask for a better person to marry." Kiss.

She kisses him back and shivers happily. She wouldn't marry him today, but they have almost a year to be sure. She strongly suspects they'll be sure.

Snuggle. Adoring gaze.

Mm yes those things. They are good things and there should be two of them.

So cozy!!

Yes it is.

"You're so warm."