Molly stands on the deck of the Rose, looking down into the water, watching the flickering reflections of the flame lamps that light the dock. She sighs deeply, breathing in the cool night air. In the darkness, illuminated only by the low light of the dock, she thinks on the conversation she has just finished with the Colonel, and smiles to herself. Slowly, she sips from a large glass of brandy and slips off her shoes, feeling the cool breeze and rough wood of the Rose beneath her. Kurt comes down the dock and hails Molly from the dockside. "Hello Molly! Permission to come aboard?" Molly looks down at him, suddenly out of her thoughts. she smiles. Of course, Lieutenant, please do. If you're looking for the Colonel, I believe he is with Quartermaster Morgan at present. Niene, i vas actually looking for you. I vas hoping for some intellectual conversation if you have ze time? I vouldnt vish to distract you from your vork on ze ship of course! Molly laughs softly I am completely at your liberty, Lieutenant. However, I only brought one glass of brandy. We can share it, if you wish, or go to my study where there is more... she smiles and shrugs, her eyes questioning He smiles as he comes up the gangplank onto the deck I doubt von glass of brandy vill be enough to sustain us... to your study zen? He offers his arm to Molly She bends down, putting her shoes back on. Looking up, she smiles at him playfully. She sounds more relaxed than normal, but it could well be alcohol Of course, Lieutenant, that makes far more sense... She laughs softly as she straightens up I think I saw a bottle of cherry flavoured brandy there earlier, though I have not opened it yet... Vonderbar, zat sounds delightful! How goes ze cleaning of ze ship, if you dont mind me asking? Molly's smile fades, and her voice becomes solemn. I have finished all the cleaning I shall be doing upon the Rose. A cleaning crew will be taken on in the morning to complete it. Vonderbar, i am glad to hear it! So tell me, vat do you know of zis... Explorers Guild is it? Zey go all over ze vorld ja? *she takes his arm and heads towards her study* I think so. If I am honest, I know every little of them. Obviously, I was not invited to try out *she laughs softly* Though perhaps now I have the Rose, they'll be more interested in me? Perhaps, ja, you should maybe strike up a bargain vith zem, so zat you can transport zere explorers and adventurers around ze vorld... being such a fast ship you vould surely be in a good position to do zis no? She nods It is a possibility, though I rather prefer running her for passenger and cargo transport, for I like the freedom of choosing my own destinations and schedules. Surely zho, if zey ofered you a large sum of money zen you vould not turn it down neine? Molly looks thoughtful In truth, I would have to give it some thought. It is possible, yes. The dreams I have for my future would require funds, so may be. Never say never, Lieutenant. She smiles as she breaks off his arm to go down the stairs And vhat are zese dreams for your future ze Molly? Unless zey are private of course? And please, call me Kurt, i am not on duty and ze Colonel is not here, to me, titles and ranks are unneccesary unless is large social situations, or upon ze battlefield. Obviously i vould not let ze Colonel know of my opinions on zis, he vould be most irritated i am sure! Rounding the bottom of the stairs, she pushes open the door into the corridor, She looks over her shoulder at him with a conspiritorial smile. I should imagine he would be greatly displeased, but your secret is safe with me. My dreams for the future could not come to pass for a few years yet, but one day, I wish to settle down, have a little house, and have children. What about you, apart from rebuilding Eisen, what is it you dream of? Vhat you have already stated is my sole dream. Ozer zan ze rebuilding of Eisen, zere is nothing in my life i vish to do. My every waking moment, my dreams at night, zey are spent thinking of ze vays in vhich zis can be done... it is almost an obsession you know? I try not to let it come across to often in company, it is not a sing ve Eisen like to talk of, ze state of our country, ze internal strife, zat even now, still affects us. But my only passion is restoring our nation. I vill do vhatever is neccesary to see it happen. Even if it does not happen i my lifetime, i vill die happy if i can bring zat day forward slightly! She stops, and turns to him, her eyes intense. Eisen is very lucky to have one so dedicated as you to push forward her healing. Please, though, I would always have it that you feel free to discuss with me anything, I am a very good listener. And I will help, if I can. Do you think, had the war not happened, you would have channeled such determined energy in to finding a wife and having children? Ja, listening is probably my strong point too, and giving advice. Taking vons own advice is alvays ze hardest zing zho no? Perhaps if zere had been no var zen i might have taken ze time to find a vife and continue my family line. But now, vith no lands, no household and limited funds, it is best zat i simply dedicate myself to a sole purpose. Plus it is unlikely a voman vould vant to marry a mercenary! I travel to much, and ze pay is not quite enough to sustain a household in a proper fashion you know?! She smiles, making her way towards her study Oh, I think you have plenty of things that would recommend you to a woman. Perhaps if you met a woman who had been widowed and was in possesion of her late husband's fortune, you could find yourself taken to her heart quite easily. I believe that love is not limited by what one party can give to the other, it just... happens. Vell perhaps, but ze fact zat i vould rarely be around tends to deter vomen, from vhat i have seen! Zat is vhy i am often friends vith vomen, but nosing more ja? *she gets to the door, and unlocks it with a key on piece of pink ribbon. She opens it, and goes inside, waiting for him to follow* I can imagine that not only would it be hard to be left behind, but also very hard if your work took you away from someone you cared greatly for. She looks at the floor a moment distracted. She looks back up to him with a smile Please, come in and make yourself comfortable. Ja... hence vhy i am only friends vith people! He grins Anyvay, you must be looking forvard to starting your life as a captain and owner of such a fine ship! Vhere do you propose to irst offer its services? Perhaps an announcement at ze Torrington Estate vould be ideal? She pours the cherry brandy, and hands him a glass After a discussion with the Colonel, I think it would be prudent to take the ship to freiburg with the pretense of returning it, as it was a wedding gift. Once that matter is resolved, I am planning to find passengers for the return trip, and then trade between carleon and freiburg with stops at tawstock, and possibly the northern montaigne coast. Ah ok, i see, zat is a good plan... perhaps you vill find some interest in some of ze people vishing to attend ze explorers guild exhibition. Or people simply vishing to travel to ozer parts of ze vorld, im sure merchants vill vish to take zere wares across sea as vell! She smiles I hope so. At the very least, I have friends willing to help me where possible. She wanders to the back of the study, and looks from the window out on to the dock. She sips her brandy. Oooh, that is very sweet!