She simply stared at Brian as if it was taking her brain a moment or two collect what he said but by the way her hand twitched, violently, at her side...she heard him. "W-What.." What do you mean you are dying" Why' Can anything be done"!" The questions spewed from her one after the other.

"He stood there, his eyes were to own. That faint smile still there, even if it seemed as if it were wavering. A shake of head followed, "No....Nothing can be done, dear. Believe we've tried. We've been back and forth with it, but it looks like—- well, that it's my time. Looks like all that time, magicking here and there, the runes, the gauntlet....Gods know what else—- it's all caught up to me, Katt. My body here, it just can't take anymore. I mean look at me, lines here and there along my face....Silver throughout my hair. And inside—- well, that's another deal entirely. So with everything I've done, all these years—- well, here I am. I made peace with it, finally. I admit, I'm scared....Jen is too. As for how long, they can't say. But this last year or so has been a ringer for me— for us."

She was struggle with keeping her posture and the emotionless mask cracked to show a hinting frown. What really showed she didn't take the news well was the tears that threatened to spill. First Ed, now Brian. Wait...."U-Us?" She barely managed to squeak the word out.

?"Jen and the girls....They didn't take the news well, and I can't blame them. We've been all over the realm, researching—- trying things. Some seemed to work at first, but fizzled out soon, after. So it was decided, to come back home. Get everything back in order, and live our lives to the fullest, until it's time."

She nodded faintly and after a moment or two of a pause she moved to hug him again. "Wh-why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"He shrugged softly, "Because I though we could stave this somehow. Really, I did. We all did. We figured, it'd pass somehow....But it didn't. Still as we were trying, we didn't want to worry anyone. I know a lot has been going on here as well....Also it's part of why I resigned my commission with the Watch. I knew, something was off with me."

?"I just had no idea, it was as bad as it was."

She grunted quietly. He had known that long...."What is it with you men keeping such secrets from me." she mumbled. She managed to collect herself to the point she knew she wasn't crying. Pulling away she looked up to him. For once..she really didn't know what to say. "I ..don't like this..."

Her eyes drifted half closed. She didn't believe what he said. Some part of her felt like she was just going to mentally snap when it happened. Slowly her eyes opened normally again. "You can't die. Not until after you walk me down the aisle at my wedding.." Like he could totally control it but she knew he'd understand how she meant it. A light smile twitched her lips.

Oh that caught his attention, alright! His head snapped, those eyes looking to her own, as he righted himself all the more so. "Wedding" Really??"

She chuckled at his reaction. "We haven't set a date yet. Clayton has been off world with Ed for the past few months so talking to him about it has been slow. But..Umm. Yes. We are engaged."

"Now that is something to look forward to!"

"We had even talked about having children." Might as well blow his mind.

Yup, his mind was blown actually. Damn!

"Now....Well, that's awesome to hear, Katt."

Moving herself to lean on the fountain she looked to the fountain. "There is just a problem with that. I ...am internally damaged so I don't think I can have children. At least...that is what Renna has said."

"You know—- I couldn't either. Funny, how that works out, sometimes, no?"

She raised a brow at him. As many kids as he had"! "How?"

He shrugged softly, "Honestly—- I've no idea, but—- I'll tell you this, you want it bad enough— you don't let anything stop you, until the very end. Until everything has been exhausted, you keep trying. And for the record, as twisted as she may be— Renna is just as much an asset to us all."

"Kind of hard to when I've been skewered through the middle too many times." She chuckled and she grunted quietly. Her talks with Renna always left her..unsure of things. "I am sure Clayton doesn't mind keeping trying." Probably not something a father figure wanted to hear his daughter figure say.

"Never stop, trying. Ever."

The Marketplace, a few nights later.



Brian had just made his way into the Marketplace, shortly after leave the Inn. It seems, that he did not do so entirely alone, however.

Elegant' Yes, her dress was. Her hair" She smoothed it out and placed it up into a ponytail on her way here....the bloodied lip and darkened eye' Not so much easily repaired. Renna entered the Marketplace looking none too pleased, but, then again, as of late, she has no reason to find any interaction with Brian a nice one.

"Yes?" She raised her voice.

Brian was walking, granted slowly—— towards the center of the market. Strangely, it seemed like business was a bit light for the eve, as he made his way. Her arrival drew his attention, as he stopped to turn to her. A warm smile taking form, "Evening, there. You look lovely, Ren."

"Well, I was going to get into a bar fight until someone distracted me."

His garb, was a bit off. A bit nice for him as well, a solid collared suit with a long jacket instead of short, black with black slacks and dress shoes. A white shirt underneath, as well. His hair was tied back with that ever present sash of blue tying it off. A somewhat smirk took form, as he replied. "I am sorry for that, forgive me?"

"Fine by me." She narrowed her eyes. "Always. You know that."

"Thanks, that means a lot to me. So how have you been, dear?"

"Fine. The usual **** and a different day." One approached him, smiling. "Look, Brian....this is normally the other way around. What do you want?"

By that, she meant that normally, it was she who called for him. So for him to ask of her, was most assuredly out of order.

"I know it's strange, me asking for you like this. But honestly, I didn't know when we'd have the time, again. Especially as chaotic as things can get around here. I'll just come out and say it alright' And if you have any questions, just ask them one at a time and I promise, I will answer them, sincerely."

So here it is, "I'm dying, and it seems there's nothing that can be done."

One's mouth opens. Nothing comes out. She closes it.

He nodded softly, "It's alright. If you like, I can just tell you what?s going on, if that's alright."

She lowered her gaze to the ground. "You're lying."

Shaking his head softly, Brian spoke once more. "I honestly wish I were lying, that this is some cruel and sick joke that I am trying to play—— but it's not, dear. And that's alright, I'm okay with that. I won't give up, and wait for it—— but I also accept that, it's real and it's coming." He glanced from her, "All of what I've done, these years past. Magicks, Runes, Gauntlets—- gods know what else, you know" It's all caught up to this mortal frame o' mine. It just can't take anymore—- and believe me, we've been here and there, near and far looking into this, trying to find a way. All we can do is stave it off by bits, that's about it."

"Then cl-clearly you are looking in the wrong places. I have more than ample technology to preserve your mind....your..." She shook her head. "Let me take samples of your DNA now so I can....so I can do something. I refuse to believe this is impossible."

"It can't be impossible." She shook her head. "This cannot happen again."

"Hun..." he said softly, "I'm not going to be kept in a shell, or some construct. I wish I could say I was one of those people that could do that, but the truth is— I can't. I just can't. It wouldn't be me....Jenai and I— we've talked time and again on this, and still do. Of course we don't like it—- I don't like it. No one does....But at the end of the day, it is what it is, you know? Eventually, we all come to an end."

"No." Her face remained stoic, but tears fell. "No."

His hand lifted, a finger wiping some tears away, as he smiled warmly. "Hey....It's been a damned good run, and there's still time, left. "

Moving to her, those arms of his slid round her, embracing her in a hug. "It'll be alright."

"You can't die." She wept. "No." She wiped her tears away, but still they came. "You can't....I won't let you."