Newlyweds Poe and Rey negotiate just how much time Poe is allowed to play video games
Damerey Fic Challenge #5 - Pentadrabble
Prompt: Negotiator/Negotiation
“So,” Poe said, a businesslike expression on his face. “Let’s begin negotiations, shall we?” He folded his hands in front of him on the table.
Rey couldn’t stop the snort of laughter from escaping, but she bit her lip to keep from laughing even more. He looked so serious! She took a deep breath. “Okay, what do you want?”
He tilted his head and pursed his lips. “Three hours after dinner, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.”
Rey scoffed. “Three hours? That’s the whole evening before bed!”
“It’s not like you do anything but read during that time anyway!” Poe argued back.
“You know, it wouldn’t hurt for you to crack open a book now and then,” Rey griped.
Poe rolled his eyes. “I know how to read, Rey. But I’m not like you. I need a little more action to release stress after work. I’m just not a reader.”
“Not a reader of fiction, anyway,” she added. “You seem to absorb biographies and memoirs well enough. I’m still not sure how you got started with video games.” He hadn’t played them before they got married… much. How he had gotten addicted to gaming she would never understand. “You know, it’s hard to concentrate on my reading when you’re hee-hawing and swearing up a storm,” she continued. “Sometimes I feel like you talk to your gaming friends on-line more than me.”
“I do not!” he countered. “Wear earbuds,” he added. “Listen to music.”
“I do,” she shot back. “They don’t work. You’re too loud.” Shaking her head, she muttered, “Three hours is too long. You’re going to rot your brain.”
He brought his hands up to his face dramatically. “Oh, God, that is so not true!”
She paused. “I have a counter offer.”
Poe sat back and folded his arms in front of him, one eyebrow raised.
“Two hours. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. With that last hour before bed with me.” She gave him an innocent smile.
“With you?” he frowned. “Doing what?”
“Anything you want… as long as it doesn’t involve clothing,” she smirked.
Poe’s eyes flashed. “That’s bribery.”
“It’s not bribery,” she countered. “It’s finding a compromise.”
He stared at her, his jaw tight. “Anything I want?” he finally asked, his voice low, his eyes intent.
Rey felt a chill go up her spine. “Anything you want,” she repeated softly.
“You drive a hard bargain,” he told her, then seemed to consider. “What if what I want to do takes more than an hour?”
Holding back a grin, Rey answered. “I’m willing to consider extending that hour if things are interesting enough for me.”
A devilish smirk appeared on her husband’s lips. “Oh, I’ll keep it interesting,” he told her. Suddenly, he brought up his hand and reached across the table. “Deal.”
Rey reached back and shook his hand with her own. “Deal.”
“See,” Poe said with a grin. “We’ve got this marriage thing down. And people told us it would be hard.”
Rey rolled her eyes as she laughed.
Comments