Act 3: The Ball - En route to Emerald

Konrad appraises Femke for a moment, as she stands at attention by the door, almost as if she's presenting herself, with that eerily impassive look in her eyes. "Er, excuse me, I was just thinking about how calm and unreactive you are in most of our meetings."

"Is that a problem?" she asks, her hands still behind her back.

He shakes his head. "No. If that's how you wish to be seen, that's your business. It's also a great poker face. But if it's not intentional, it's alright to be a bit more reactive around people you trust. Just letting you know."

Femke doesn't react for a moment, but then dips her head to him and says, "I understand... Thank you for the advice." Her posture relaxes a little.

He smiles a little when she does, but wipes it away. "I wanted to talk about our secret arrangement. Forgive me if I sound like a broken record, but I want to make sure we're both in the same mind. We're still friends, but what we're doing - it's just harmless fun. Just a fling. Right?"

There's a noticeable pause during which she briefly glances at her feet before she answers. "Yes," she finally says. "You made it clear that you have romantic feelings for another, and I do not intend to stand between you and her."

He sighs. It was at this time, Konrad knew that he had messed up. "Here, why don't we sit down?"

Femke gives Konrad a slight nod and takes the chair right next to his. The red mage sits down in his own chair and lets a moment of silence pass before speaking again.

"I've been careless with you. I was worried that I've been behaving more intimately in this relationship than I should be, and it looks like I was right. You're interesting to talk to, Femke. And I think you're very fine. But I was never after your heart. I only bring this up now to avoid hurting you later, but if you feel I've already hurt you or led you on in any way... I'm very sorry."

Femke stays quiet for a long while, peering into Konrad's eyes as she carefully ponders his words. She opens her mouth to say something, but nothing comes out, and it's only after she thinks some more about it that she finally speaks again. "You haven't led me on in any way. I... I knew exactly what I was getting into, as you made it clear yourself. And yet..." Her gaze falls downward. "I don't understand this feeling."

Konrad stares back at her, at a loss for words. Was this all him, or her? She's not falling for him, surely. No, she isn't. He has to be firm on it. "This is the afterglow. Fulfilled passion can give you warm fuzzy feelings, but you can lose yourself in it if you're not careful."

She meets his gaze again. "Then... the intimacy we experienced was making me fall in love for you, despite the fact that I knew you wouldn't return these same feelings?" Clearly, she took his words another way.

Konrad sighs again. "That isn't what I meant. But, you know your heart better than I do... I don't know what to say, Femke. I didn't expect this, but I did contribute. And I will apologize for that. I insist on it." He puts a hand on his chin. "Hmm. Well, you know my position. I know yours. With all of it on the table... what comes next?"

"I... can choose?" she asks, uncertain.

Konrad nods. "Yes. Something about how we got here, doesn't seem...fair. And life is not fair, but you are new to all this. We would have to set some boundaries. What we should have done from the start, really. But you'll have to accept that when it's over, it's over - definitively." He waits on her reply with a sympathetic look. After another moment of silence, he adds, "You don't have to decide right now. Take some time to think about it, if you need to."

Femke considers her options in silence. Her face gives no hint as to what she's thinking, and it's only after she's had two full minutes of deliberation that she speaks again. "For the success of your mission and the interest of maintaining healthy relationships among the crew, it would be better if we put an end to our relationship. I also understand that it would save me some emotional... ‘distress’ in the future, however..." Her cheeks flush slightly. "I also very much enjoy the intimacy we've shared. I will need some time to think about it."

Konrad nods, and smiles at her blushing. "I understand." He gets up out of his chair, and motions for her to do the same, with his hands up inviting a hug. Femke hesitates for an instant, but then stands up and awkwardly puts her arms around his shoulders. Konrad brings his arms below hers, and rubs her back warmly. After a few seconds however, she begins to relax, and she nestles her head into his neck. Before he can feel uncomfortable, she pulls back and then nods at him.

"Thank you for the honesty you have shown me. I will never forget it."

Caught off guard by the unfamiliar complement, he just smiles and nods. "Alright. Let's get out of here before we get any bright ideas."

The hint of a smile appears on her face and she turns away to exit the room.

Brutus just seems to be having a good time engaging with the adventurers in this conversation.