ＰＥＯＰＬＥ Aʀᴇɴ'ᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ＳＯＬＤ (Heartz)

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leim shrugged. "Maybe my parents will stop pestering me."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Yes, because that's so helpful. My parents won't leave me alone until I'm married off and pregnant to ensure that I can't run off. And even then I'm sure they'd find a way to bother me," Pippa scowled and examined her nails.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Hey, I have no desire to 'settle down' with a wife and have a baby," Leim said. "I have other plans."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Pippa snorted, "You think I want to have a family? No thank you. I can think of plenty of better things."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Then we're in agreement," Leim said, giving a small nod. "For now, though, maybe we should act the part, until we figure out a way to get away from all this." He swept out his arm, gesturing at everything and nothing in particular.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Act the part? Meaning pretend we're okay with this arrangement?" Pippa wrinkled her nose.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Something like that," Leim said. "Not completely, but we could act like we don't hate each other.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Pippa clucked her tongue, "I don't know how easy that will be."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leim grinned faintly. "I'm willing to give it a try if you will."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

She sighed and drummed her fingers against the window sill, "And you think this will get people to leave us alone?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Worth a try, don't you think?" Leim said with a shrug.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Perhaps. But I worry that it might encourage our parents to plan a wedding or something," Pippa made a face.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I think they're going to do that no matter what," Leim said grimly. "But at least we can figure out a plan to get out of this while they're distracted."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Pippa sighed and folded her arms, "Okay, fine. I see your point."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Is it a deal, then?" He held out his hand, his eyebrows raised.