Blood from Stone [AU]

[GamesMaster]

"No," he growls. "If we have no catfolk kits, we will discuss what to do. I will leave a will, naming a successor, just as my father has to name a successor. But don't disinherit them ahead of time. I... If the Tribe ever turns on me, casts me out, I'd rather have that in my back pocket."

[Bethany]

"Don... If the Tribe ever disowns you, my family will take us in," she assures him. "And your Lighthood can't be taken from you. The Founder positions are ridiciously locked down. It would take you years to give it over to someone else," Beth points out. "So... basically, fuck them if they turn on you. They lose not just their Light backing, but also my dad's. He can be... kind of vindictive when you hurt his family."

[GamesMaster]

"Yeah," he admits. "But if I've named, say, Ari as my successor, and they turn on me... I'd rather they have incentive to keep me around."

[Bethany]

"We don't have to tell them until we have to," Beth offers. "But it might be helpful to be able to procure an agreement we made now, instead of at that time."

[GamesMaster]

"Yeah," he sighs. "I'll have something drafted up laying down the rules. I just... I hate this stuff, Beth. I don't want to think about what happens if I die."

[Bethany]

"Retire," Beth says firmly. "Think of it as preparing for your retirement. I want at least two decades of being old and wrinkled with you without any politics to worry about. And grandkids. Possibly great-grandkids, given that we are kinda starting early..."

[GamesMaster]

"Yeah," he says, with a fond smile. "Retirement I can get behind."

[Bethany]

"So..." Bethany says in a tone he know very well from working with her. "Let's sum up. We're still together, still in love and determined to be long-term mates and partners but neither of us want to marry. We're going to raise our children together but we need to see how official we can make it. In the meantime, my dad will start buying up properties for us to take over. Your dad will start teaching me about Bharnarol with the goal of me swearing oaths. We'll start shifting this place over to be the site for all small celebrations for the Tribe. I'll speak with Carver about our decisions, make sure he doesn't get up bug up his ass."

[GamesMaster]

"That sounds about right." He sighs, nestling against her. "Quiet evening in?"

[Bethany]

"Yeah... and maybe..." She pauses. Hmmm. That's... a possible idea. "Would... would it also help if I started... being part of other heats? Females only," she adds quickly, wrinkling her noise. "I..." She blushes a little. "I mean... it wouldn't be a hardship, I do... well, I kind of miss lesbian sex," she mutters, feeling really strange. And a little ashamed. Sure, Don has sex with other people but that's- he only does it... 

[GamesMaster]

"Yeah, that'd be a help," he admits, planting a kiss on her cheek. "I really really didn't want to pressure you into that, but it sounds good if you want to."

[Bethany]

"How... how does that work? I mean.. how do I let people know... I'm... uh, willing to help with that?" Beth asks with a wrinkled nose. "With A- ah, the heats I've helped with, it was friends that offered kind of unexpectedly or the result of a long, slow courtship I didn't realize was happening for most of it and tried to deny for months."

[GamesMaster]

He chuckles. "That's basically the normal ways, yeah. But you can mention it to my dad, he'll match you with people who need help."

[Bethany]

"Is there... like a mixer or something? I... Well, I'd prefer to get to know them first," she says awkwardly. 

[GamesMaster]

"You'll work it out. I believe in you." He smiles.