"Really?" The youth had a chuckle at that before nodding a little to himself, "It is most strange to keep finding out so many things about how people feel about me," he mused over his beer before he just shrugged.

"At any rate, I like her. And we are family. I. I have little enough of that. So it will be very difficult for her to push me away."

"Just realize that how she does things. Push people away. Sometimes she's a damn hard woman to be a friend to. Can't imagine what poor Marcello has to deal with." Jochy shook his head and leaned back in his chair.

"So far yer taking this a hell of a lot better than I would. Anything else yer curious about?" He was trying really hard to make that not sound like an invite.

"I. I do not have a choice," he said carefully, "I must accept what has happened and that this... other person. This other-Seth will be a mystery to me until the spell is broken. And if it is never broken, so much the better." He looked down at the table for a moment, "I. I am used to losing everything, Jochy. Have done it fully three times now. I accept that this is my lot."

He shrugged a little before asking, "Who is Marcello to her? Are they lovers or something? And." He bit his lip a little before looking to the man, "Do you still want me?"

"Marcello is her lover, yeah. But he's older, and a tallfolk, which probably worries her a bit. Ain't exactly like we live as long as they do, and any kids would be halflings. Not sure how responsible she feels to make sure the Niall line continues undiluted. She's weird about shit like that at times, it's like she can't be happy 'cause of her duties." Jochy sighed a little.

"She's stupid that way."

But at the last he found himself hesitating. "Well... I... thing is. Yer still hot. And it's impossible for me not to see the man I fell for since yer young now, and not the man I screwed things up with. But nothing's gonna happen. Trust me on that."

"Duties are duties," Seth said with a sigh. "And she... I do not think she would be happy if any claims for it were debatable by any one. The Cnoch is... it is important, Jochy." He shrugged a little and rested an elbow on the table, propping his chin on his hand. "Though not so important, I suppose, as one's happiness." He shrugged a little, "I am male and tallfolk. Quite the opposite of anyone who could be expected to bear that weight."

Saying nothing of being terribly tall and paler than a cloud next to most Tuatha.

"Still, she has time. And if they are happy..." He shrugged some. "If I can, I think I would speak of it with her. Later. When she is more comfortable with me."

The youth laughed a little at the man's hesitation. It felt good to make someone hesitate like that. And now he was in his own time. Where he belonged--as much as he belonged anywhere. "Okay," he said, nodding a bit and leaning back.

Oh that laugh made Jochy completely want to forget that nothing was supposed to happen. Damn, he was supposed to be over Seth, but this was Seth without the bitterness and strangeness.... so he should stay away. He had a great part in fucking the other man up after all.

"Are you laughing at me?" he protested with a look of mock indignation.

"No," he said with a smile then. "It is only that..." He bit his lip and tried to find a way to articulate his feelings. "Jochy, I. I have never been loved romantically. It is... interesting to hear about. And it is rare enough that I find out that I am someone's idea of attractiveness. In any respect, be it... be it some old crush or any other thing." He laughed a bit and leaned back again.

"And it just occurs to me that I do not have to drive people away myself. It is... It is a nice feeling, I suppose."

"Yeah..." Jochy smiled a little and shook his head. "It's always nice to be wanted I suppose. Yer a lot less shy now than you used to be though... but then again I haven't done anything to make you blush."

Yet.

"That is what Niabheara said, too," he chuckled and looked down at his hands before shrugging, "And I suppose that much time with Amadeo would make anyone a bit quieter." He tilted his head then, a small, almost challenging smile on his face. "Blush? Me? Really?"

Oh this was not gonna end well. But it was just something Jochy couldn't walk away from, a challenge he found impossible to ignore. Had he still been with Elaine, he would have. Probably. But now?

He was better than this. Really. But this wasn't fair, Seth was teasing HIM, not the other way around.

A lot of this conflict probably showed on his face.

"Yeah. Blush. You. And stutter too." He looked so very serious, but under the table one of his legs accidentally brushed against Seth. It still could have been an accident. "You mean you don't do that anymore?"