Pushing Buttons

     Due to the nature of his employment in life, Clover had come to understand the rules of various card games. He wasn't particularly good at many of them, but knew enough to hold his own.

     And having grown just slightly bored, asked Pepper if she knew who to play Cribbage. When she had said no, asked if she was willing to learn.

     She had merely shrugged, so Clover had set up the game in their rooms above the tavern.

     He'd prefer to play in the common room, card games only felt right with the commotion of a bar. But the residents of Woolhope were still warming up to him, and he could tell that Pepper didn't much enjoy the company of others.

     In fact, she didn't seem to enjoy much. He'd spent several months with her at this point, and he's really only seen her give a ghost of a smile to her many pets.

     Of course this might also have to do with Clover's intrusion, along with Johnathan's insistence of their being "fated".

     And even now, when he glanced over, he found her staring listlessly out the window, instead of the cards in her hand.

     "Penny for your thoughts?" He asked, laying a card down.

     She glanced over, clearly annoyed. He held back a smile. Paprika gave him a similar look when he was brooding.

     "I'm not thinking anything," She said, returning her gaze to the window. 

     "Then may I ask you a question?" When she did not respond he continued. "Why do you not refuse the things you do not wish to do?"

     Pepper's gaze shot through him, something he supposed he should get used to if he decided to keep poking his hands in her business.

     "Everyone asks so much of you," He said, laying down the winning card. "And while you don't refuse your services, you don't exactly agree either. Just shrug your shoulders and go through with their requests."

     Pepper continued to say nothing. Clover recognized the look on her face as someone trying very hard to hold it all together.

     "Look, I don't want to pry into your personal life if you don't want me to. I understand the desire for privacy. All I wanted to say is that, as long as you allow others to dictate what you do, nothing is going to improve."

     He gathered up his playing cards and put them back in their box. 

     "Maybe the violence you wish upon others would disappear if you allowed yourself to be selfish occasionally. Now if you excuse me, I'm going to see if Hanabi is up for a game. Maybe I can make Piero jealous."

     He gave her a wink, and patted Blueberry before heading down the stairs. Outside he found Johnathan stomping up, clearly intending to "woo" his "lady love".

     Clover quickly grabbed the scruff of his neck, and dragged the fox back down with him, despite his protests.

     Pepper would need time to mull over the rather one-sided conversation, and this talkative fool wouldn't be of any aid.