13[12:43am] * Adalbrecht is in his office
12[12:44am] * @Morgan knocks on the door
13[12:44am] <04Adalbrecht> kommen
12[12:45am] * @Morgan goes inside, shutting the door behind him
13[12:45am] * Adalbrecht is sat at his desk, spinning a coin idly
13[12:46am] <04Adalbrecht> Afternoon
[12:46am] <08@Morgan> father...
13[12:47am] <04Adalbrecht> Yes?
[12:48am] <08@Morgan> I was... concerned about your absence
13[12:50am] <04Adalbrecht> I don't really fancy so much company as there is in there
[12:50am] <08@Morgan> are you ok?
13[12:51am] * Adalbrecht smiles
13[12:52am] <04Adalbrecht> Thank you for your concern. I am, but I am getting too old for this
[12:54am] <08@Morgan> I dont think anyone is young enough for some of this
13[12:54am] <04Adalbrecht> I doubt it too
12[12:55am] * @Morgan indicates a chair
[12:55am] <08@Morgan> may I?
13[12:55am] * Adalbrecht nods
13[12:55am] <04Adalbrecht> Of course
12[12:56am] * @Morgan sits down
[12:56am] <08@Morgan> what happened?
13[12:56am] <04Adalbrecht> I got angry, she got angry, I laid down the law, she gave in
12[12:56am] * @Morgan looks surprised
[12:59am] <08@Morgan> it didn't sound that simple when I left
13[1:04am] <04Adalbrecht> thats the basics
12[1:05am] * @Morgan watches his father
13[1:07am] <04Adalbrecht> She is hurt and unhappy, but she understands that even if you were willing, Sudlachenburg's decision is Molly
12[1:08am] * @Morgan shakes his head sadly
[1:08am] <08@Morgan> I wish I could've made it easier for her...
13[1:09am] * Adalbrecht nods
13[1:09am] <04Adalbrecht> As do I
[1:10am] <08@Morgan> I tried
13[1:10am] * Adalbrecht nods
13[1:10am] <04Adalbrecht> I know
[1:15am] <08@Morgan> so what now? She and Holzheim haven't been seen either
13[1:16am] <04Adalbrecht> I've left it to her. She knows not to persue you. I don't know what the future for them is
12[1:16am] * @Morgan nods
13[1:18am] <04Adalbrecht> they may still wed
12[1:18am] * @Morgan screws up his face
[1:18am] <08@Morgan> I dont think she had any intention of wedding him
[1:18am] <08@Morgan> and, I'd wager, he wedding her
13[1:19am] <04Adalbrecht> she may take him as a second choice
12[1:19am] * @Morgan shrugs
[1:19am] <08@Morgan> he's no interest in being tied down, I think#
13[1:21am] <04Adalbrecht> I dont know
[1:22am] <08@Morgan> considering there was already talk of taking 'special friends', I very much doubt its in his plans
13[1:22am] * Adalbrecht nods
13[1:23am] <04Adalbrecht> I'd guess you're right
[1:24am] <08@Morgan> I normally am
12[1:24am] * @Morgan frowns
13[1:24am] <04Adalbrecht> and modest
[1:25am] <08@Morgan> did I ask you about the law of affinity?
13[1:25am] <04Adalbrecht> no, why?
[1:26am] <08@Morgan> I heard someone mention it and dont really know what it is
13[1:28am] <04Adalbrecht> You can't marry someone whose relations you've been intimate with
12[1:29am] * @Morgan nods
13[1:30am] <04Adalbrecht> Is there an issue for you with it?
12[1:31am] * @Morgan looks confused momentarily
[1:31am] <08@Morgan> no... Molly has brothers and though I feel close to Martha, not _that_ close
13[1:31am] * Adalbrecht laughs
13[1:32am] <04Adalbrecht> good
[1:32am] <08@Morgan> dont brood about it, father...
13[1:33am] <04Adalbrecht> I dont intend to
[1:34am] <08@Morgan> intend to or not, thats what you're doing
13[1:34am] * Adalbrecht smiles
13[1:35am] <04Adalbrecht> consider it forgotten
[1:35am] <08@Morgan> I've... arranged something that I think perhaps I should've run by you first
13[1:36am] <04Adalbrecht> which is?
[1:36am] <08@Morgan> Claudias going to come by and discuss some additional training for the guards
13[1:36am] <04Adalbrecht> when?
[1:36am] <08@Morgan> she's dropping in tomorrow morning
13[1:37am] * Adalbrecht nods
13[1:37am] <04Adalbrecht> alright
[1:38am] <08@Morgan> I think they could benefit from outside tuition
13[1:38am] <04Adalbrecht> perhaps
[1:39am] <08@Morgan> we had our customary little competition earlier
13[1:39am] <04Adalbrecht> who won?
[1:39am] <08@Morgan> it was a tie... she kicked me in the chest again
13[1:39am] * Adalbrecht laughs
13[1:40am] <04Adalbrecht> dont you ever learn?
12[1:40am] * @Morgan nods
[1:40am] <08@Morgan> I did it to her at about the same time
13[1:40am] * Adalbrecht laughs


[12:13am] <08@Morgan> I thought so
13[12:14am] <04adalbrecht> Is everything in place for the wedding?
[12:14am] <08@Morgan> more or less
13[12:15am] <04adalbrecht> I was led to believe Varick is to share your room?
[12:15am] <08@Morgan> the night before, yes
13[12:15am] * adalbrecht laughs hard
13[12:15am] <04adalbrecht> Unless you hadn't noticed, that is tonight.
12[12:16am] * @Morgan nods
[12:16am] <08@Morgan> I've had my mind on other things
13[12:16am] * adalbrecht looks shocked
13[12:16am] <04adalbrecht> what could command a grooms attention so much?
[12:17am] <08@Morgan> the safety of his bride... getting kicked in the chest took a fair bit of my attention too
13[12:17am] <04adalbrecht> I assume once the wedding is complete, you will no longer fear for her safety?
[12:18am] <08@Morgan> we'll see
13[12:19am] <04adalbrecht> Alarice will be no danger, she has been warned
[12:19am] <08@Morgan> if its all the same to you, I'll worry anyway
13[12:20am] <04adalbrecht> I doubt anything will stop that. But rest assured, Sudlachenburg will not allow that to happen again
12[12:22am] * @Morgan nods slowly
[12:22am] <08@Morgan> I've got a new gun
13[12:23am] <04adalbrecht> Oh?
12[12:24am] * @Morgan nods
[12:24am] <08@Morgan> Claudia gave it to me
13[12:24am] <04adalbrecht> What sort?
[12:25am] <08@Morgan> butt at one end, hole at the other, trigger a third of the way down
13[12:26am] <04adalbrecht> You're so sharp you want to be careful you don't cut yourself
[12:26am] <08@Morgan> I'm going to ask HeinzHarold to make her a sword while I'm aw.. *he stops, frowning*
13[12:27am] <04adalbrecht> What?
[12:28am] <08@Morgan> I'll need to speak with the Eisenfurst... when he gave me the rings, I mentioned seeing his valet at the blacksmiths... he had no idea why he would be, nor why he'd try to leave without my knowing
13[12:28am] * adalbrecht frowns also
13[12:29am] <04adalbrecht> very strange
12[12:29am] * @Morgan nods
13[12:30am] <04adalbrecht> I'd be interested to know also
12[12:31am] * @Morgan nods
[12:31am] <08@Morgan> I must remember to ask him
13[12:31am] * adalbrecht nods
13[12:32am] <04adalbrecht> Unless there are any other distractions
12[12:32am] * @Morgan frowns slightly
[12:32am] <08@Morgan> no... I get the feeling this might be important
13[12:33am] * adalbrecht nods
13[12:33am] <04adalbrecht> I'm inclined to agree
12[12:35am] * @Morgan nods
[12:37am] <08@Morgan> as I was saying... I'm going to ask HeinzHarold to make Claudia a sword
13[12:38am] <04adalbrecht> In exchange for the rifle?
13[12:38am] <04adalbrecht> ((gun* not rifle))
[12:39am] <08@Morgan> no no... she didn't want gun and I did... no, I think it sort of... I dont know, its almost symbolic, I suppose
13[12:39am] * adalbrecht watches him
13[12:39am] <04adalbrecht> Of?
[12:40am] <08@Morgan> There'll only be three swords just like this *he motions his own*... only the three of _us_
13[12:40am] <04adalbrecht> I dont understand
[12:41am] <08@Morgan> Only the three of us came back
13[12:41am] * adalbrecht nods
13[12:42am] <04adalbrecht> Too many of the young children I saw here were gone
12[12:42am] * @Morgan nods
[12:42am] <08@Morgan> it jsut feels right that we should have something that shows it, that shows how we're tied to eachother
13[12:43am] * adalbrecht nods
13[12:44am] <04adalbrecht> I understand that. I had compadres of my own that I'd lost
12[12:44am] * @Morgan nods
[12:44am] <08@Morgan> Noone came out of it unscathed, even those that didn't go
13[12:45am] * adalbrecht nods
13[12:45am] <04adalbrecht> It seems so futile now
[12:46am] <08@Morgan> as I said to Varick... war doesn't show who's right... only who's left
13[12:47am] * adalbrecht nods
13[12:47am] <04adalbrecht> That's very true.
12[12:48am] * @Morgan nods
[12:49am] <08@Morgan> still, its done now
13[12:49am] <04adalbrecht> Let us hope we never see such a war in Eisen again
12[12:50am] * @Morgan nods slowly, face becoming determined
[12:51am] <08@Morgan> Varicks
[12:51am] <08@Morgan> ((oops))
12[12:51am] * @Morgan blinks and looks up
[12:51am] <08@Morgan> Varicks decided to be a revolutionary
13[12:52am] * adalbrecht sighs
13[12:52am] <04adalbrecht> Oh dear
[12:53am] <08@Morgan> chocolate cake for breakfast, I believe
13[12:57am] * adalbrecht laughs
13[12:57am] <04adalbrecht> As a law?
12[12:58am] * @Morgan shrugs
[12:58am] <08@Morgan> possibly
13[12:59am] <04adalbrecht> I think we can safely say by the time he has the power to do it, he'll have lost interest in cake and developed an interest in blokners
12[1:00am] * @Morgan laughs
[1:01am] <08@Morgan> he's been asking when he can be taught certain things... how to ride, sword work, when he can fire my rifle...
12[1:01am] * @Morgan becomes solemn
13[1:01am] * adalbrecht 's expression matches Morgan's
[1:02am] <08@Morgan> its difficult... how can I respond to that knowing he may well choose to go with his mother?
13[1:02am] <04adalbrecht> It should be Karsten, rest his soul
13[1:06am] <04adalbrecht> I am not sure, I think given that he knows that it is his decision, I would be honest, and tell him that you don't know until the situation is resolved
[1:07am] <08@Morgan> its not that simple... I'm trying not to influence his decision by what may seem to be bribery
13[1:08am] <04adalbrecht> Then tell him that he'll learn at certain ages. If necessary I'll push Alarice to do it
[1:09am] <08@Morgan> I'm still concerned about her statement that "she cant have you both"
13[1:09am] <04adalbrecht> What are you afraid of?
[1:09am] <08@Morgan> how do you mean?
13[1:10am] <04adalbrecht> What do you think she'll do to make sure Molly doesnt have you both
[1:11am] <08@Morgan> disappear with Varick, since having me is out of the question... I think she's trying to keep him simply out of spite
13[1:12am] <04adalbrecht> It would not surprise me
13[1:13am] <04adalbrecht> I need to think about what is to happen with him and her whilst you're away
[1:14am] <08@Morgan> he's staying with Martha and David
13[1:14am] <04adalbrecht> Does Alarice know? Are they staying here or at the cottage?
[1:14am] <08@Morgan> I dont know and I dont know
13[1:16am] * adalbrecht nods
13[1:16am] <04adalbrecht> I'm not sure the cottage is wise. She will see it as us taking him away from her, especially in the care of Molly's family
12[1:17am] * @Morgan nods
13[1:18am] <04adalbrecht> So he'll probably need to be here. Are you taking Inga on the honeymoon with you?
[1:18am] <08@Morgan> did I tell you Yensid was working for Alarice?
12[1:19am] * @Morgan looks vague
[1:19am] <08@Morgan> I wasn't planning to... I'd have to ask Molly, though. I dont know she could be dragged away from HeinzHarold
13[1:21am] <04adalbrecht> You did. Yes, do find out, those two would be useful for looking after Varick.
12[1:21am] * @Morgan nods
[1:21am] <08@Morgan> thats what I was thinking
13[1:22am] <04adalbrecht> However, it'd mean I need to speak to him about how I'd expect them to behave here
[1:22am] <08@Morgan> HeinzHarold?
13[1:22am] <04adalbrecht> Yes
[1:24am] <08@Morgan> I dont think he'd be a problem father
13[1:24am] * adalbrecht nods
13[1:25am] <04adalbrecht> I'd like to see them set a date. Whatever they do once they're bethrothed is their own business
[1:25am] <08@Morgan> the joys of not being nobility
13[1:27am] <04adalbrecht> Yes, it chafes, doesn't it? But everyone will be gone then, and they can plead de futuro betrothal ((particularly in commoners, if you promised to marry on a set date, you could have sex and it'd be binding and ok)
12[1:28am] * @Morgan nods
13[1:29am] <04adalbrecht> You understand that I couldn't agree to that for you, don't you?
12[1:29am] * @Morgan looks slightly confused
13[1:30am] <04adalbrecht> I couldn't tell you and Molly to just go head. We're watched to be perfect by our neighbours, and our reputation hinges on that.
12[1:30am] * @Morgan nods
[1:31am] <08@Morgan> wouldn't have done it anyway
13[1:31am] <04adalbrecht> No, I think it's better to wait til your wed
13[1:32am] <04adalbrecht> Perhaps it would be preferable for you to speak to HeinzHarold about it
[1:33am] <08@Morgan> I'm not going to nudge him into proposing
13[1:34am] <04adalbrecht> No, but for him to be aware that it'd be appreciated for the two of them to look after Varick, and that I want him to stay here til you return
12[1:35am] * @Morgan nods
[1:35am] <08@Morgan> I will
13[1:36am] <04adalbrecht> If they were to set a date, I'd make arrangements for them to share a room.
12[1:36am] * @Morgan raises an eyebrow
[1:36am] <08@Morgan> I thought you preferred couples to wait until marriage
13[1:38am] <04adalbrecht> I do, but I am willing to concede that my views are noble views
[1:41am] <08@Morgan> thats very noble of you
12[1:41am] * @Morgan smirks
13[1:41am] * adalbrecht laughs
13[1:42am] <04adalbrecht> You object then?
[1:42am] <08@Morgan> to being that intimate before the wedding?
13[1:43am] <04adalbrecht> yes
12[1:43am] * @Morgan shrugs slightly
[1:43am] <08@Morgan> its hardly my business
13[1:44am] * adalbrecht smiles
13[1:44am] <04adalbrecht> And also none of mine?
12[1:44am] * @Morgan chuckles
[1:44am] <08@Morgan> no, I'm afraid you cant get out of it... perks of the job
13[1:44am] <04adalbrecht> Your time will come
12[1:45am] * @Morgan nods
13[1:46am] <04adalbrecht> It's just a shame I won't be here to see you
[1:46am] <08@Morgan> dont start that, I've managed so far to avoid thinking about it
13[1:46am] <04adalbrecht> Another fact of nobility
12[1:47am] * @Morgan shrugs
[1:47am] <08@Morgan> you know what happens when a farmer gets too old or tired to carry on working his farm?
13[1:48am] <04adalbrecht> What?
[1:48am] <08@Morgan> he retires and makes his son take charge, relaxes while constantly telling his son how he could've done it better
13[1:48am] * adalbrecht looks interested
13[1:49am] <04adalbrecht> Unfortunately, you can not pass down a title whilst you're alive
[1:49am] <08@Morgan> says whom?
13[1:50am] <04adalbrecht> The law
13[1:51am] <04adalbrecht> You can't be Graf whilst I'm alive
12[1:51am] * @Morgan shrugs nonchalently
[1:51am] <08@Morgan> who owns the farm?
13[1:52am] <04adalbrecht> What farm?
12[1:52am] * @Morgan looks at his father
[1:52am] <08@Morgan> maybe you are too old for this, forgetting the farm we were discussing not a minute ago
13[1:53am] <04adalbrecht> I thought you meant a real farm. The farmer, then his Freiarr, then his Graf, then his Eisenfurst
[1:54am] <08@Morgan> forget the Freiarr and the Graf and the Eisenfurst for a moment... the farmer has retired, his son runs everything but who owns the farm?
13[1:54am] <04adalbrecht> the farmer
12[1:54am] * @Morgan nods
[1:56am] <08@Morgan> Its still the farmer that gets the money from the crops, still the farmer that gets the letters from his Freiarr... everything is handled by his son
13[1:56am] * adalbrecht looks at him
13[1:56am] <04adalbrecht> And this is how you would want to proceed, when the time comes?
[1:57am] <08@Morgan> father, whats the point in working til the day you die? Surely part of life is supposed to be enjoying yourself
13[1:58am] <04adalbrecht> I suppose your mother and I would be able to take a few holidays
[1:59am] <08@Morgan> from the other side of it... when the son goes to town to order things, his requests are taken as those of the farmer himself, you see?
13[1:59am] <04adalbrecht> Yes, I do
12[2:00am] * @Morgan frowns
[2:00am] <08@Morgan> I think they call it something like acting as regent in Avalon, but thats in the case of the monarchy
13[2:01am] <04adalbrecht> I'll look into it
12[2:01am] * @Morgan shrugs
[2:01am] <08@Morgan> thats your choice
13[2:02am] <04adalbrecht> It won't be for a while yet, so don't make any plans to redecorate my office!
[2:02am] <08@Morgan> I dont want your office
12[2:02am] * @Morgan brightens
[2:02am] <08@Morgan> besides, the north wing has a rather nice study
13[2:03am] * adalbrecht nods
13[2:03am] <04adalbrecht> And you have that rather nice desk up there
12[2:04am] * @Morgan nods
12[2:05am] * @Morgan grins quickly
[2:05am] <08@Morgan> want to see my gun?
13[2:05am] * adalbrecht nods
13[2:05am] <04adalbrecht> Yes, go and fetch it
12[2:05am] * @Morgan nods, standing up
[2:05am] <08@Morgan> providing I can remember where I hid it
13[2:06am] * adalbrecht laughs, waiting
12[2:06am] * @Morgan heads out to go fetch the rifle
13[2:27am] * adalbrecht clears his desk
12[2:27am] * @Morgan wanders back in with the gun
13[2:28am] * adalbrecht has a look at it, and whistles low
13[2:28am] <04adalbrecht> Wow, expensive
12[2:28am] * @Morgan nods
[2:28am] <08@Morgan> I thought so
13[2:28am] <04adalbrecht> Where did she get it from?
[2:28am] <08@Morgan> it was a thank you gift for some training she did
13[2:29am] <04adalbrecht> Have you fired it yet?
12[2:29am] * @Morgan shakes his head
[2:35am] <08@Morgan> I thought you'd ratrher I didn't to be honest
13[2:36am] <04adalbrecht> Take it in to the woods, the gamekeepers are out there
12[2:37am] * @Morgan pulls a face
13[2:40am] <04adalbrecht> What>
[2:40am] <08@Morgan> I dont like the woods
13[2:41am] <04adalbrecht> We're far enough from the schwarzenwald
[2:41am] <08@Morgan> I dont like _any_ woods
13[2:42am] <04adalbrecht> Unavoidable here
[2:42am] <08@Morgan> I'm painfully aware of that
13[2:42am] <04adalbrecht> You never used to be afraid
[2:43am] <08@Morgan> I've been afraid for a long time
13[2:44am] <04adalbrecht> You weren't as a child
12[2:44am] * @Morgan watches his father closely
[2:44am] <08@Morgan> you either wont believe me or wont want to hear it
13[2:45am] <04adalbrecht> I'm listening
12[2:49am] * @Morgan sighs
[2:49am] <08@Morgan> you remember that time I disappeared overnight?
13[2:49am] <04adalbrecht> When you were 17 or so?
12[2:49am] * @Morgan nods
[2:50am] <08@Morgan> Edward was clucking at me like a hen when I returned...
13[2:51am] <04adalbrecht> He was worried about you
12[2:52am] * @Morgan nods slightly
[2:52am] <08@Morgan> I've been, at best uneasy about woods and at worst flat out terrified since then
13[2:52am] <04adalbrecht> Why?
[2:53am] <08@Morgan> I got lost... I got turned about, tripped and hurt my ankle. There was no way I was getting home then, it was already getting dark, so I made a little camp
13[2:55am] * adalbrecht nods, listening
[2:55am] <08@Morgan> did you know that wood in the Schwarzenwald burns dark red?
13[2:57am] <04adalbrecht> You set fire to the schwarzenwald?!
[2:57am] <08@Morgan> father, I was freezing, it was dark and I needed to cook the rabbit
13[2:58am] * adalbrecht nods
13[2:59am] <04adalbrecht> It's just that we're all superstitious about the place
[2:59am] <08@Morgan> I know... *he looks slightly haunted* I really know
13[3:01am] <04adalbrecht> I would probably be afraid having spent a night in there
12[3:01am] * @Morgan nods slightly
[3:01am] <08@Morgan> how tall is the schattenmann?
13[3:01am] <04adalbrecht> 7 or 8 feet
[3:01am] <08@Morgan> The first knee is about 7 and a half feet up, the tallest point
13[3:03am] <04adalbrecht> Based on?
[3:03am] <08@Morgan> first hand experience
13[3:04am] * adalbrecht shudders
13[3:04am] <04adalbrecht> What was it like?
[3:04am] <08@Morgan> terrifying. I still have nightmares about it.
13[3:06am] <04adalbrecht> How did you escape?
[3:06am] <08@Morgan> escape? I didn't. I laid as still as I possibly could until it went away
13[3:08am] <04adalbrecht> How long was it there?
[3:09am] <08@Morgan> too long for my liking... minutes probably... I was convinced if it noticed me, I was dead.
13[3:09am] * adalbrecht nods
13[3:09am] <04adalbrecht> The old stories say so. We give it pumpernickel bread, it leaves us alone
[3:10am] <08@Morgan> I know... I remember Edward saying the seamstress' assistant had eaten it when she fell ill
13[3:11am] * adalbrecht looks thoughtful
13[3:11am] <04adalbrecht> You might be right there, it sounds familiar
12[3:11am] * @Morgan smiles faintly
[3:11am] <08@Morgan> I'm right. She was replaced by Dietlinde
13[3:12am] * adalbrecht smiles
13[3:13am] <04adalbrecht> That's right, yes
12[3:14am] * @Morgan sighs
[3:14am] <08@Morgan> thats why I dont like forests
13[3:14am] * adalbrecht nods
13[3:14am] <04adalbrecht> I understand
13[3:14am] <04adalbrecht> You should have told me
[3:15am] <08@Morgan> You wouldn't have wanted to hear it
13[3:15am] <04adalbrecht> Wanted to or not, I would have been there for you
[3:15am] <08@Morgan> if you could've believed it...
[3:16am] <08@Morgan> besides... I couldn't have had mother worry over it
13[3:17am] <04adalbrecht> I won't tell her
12[3:17am] * @Morgan nods
13[3:19am] <04adalbrecht> The rifle is very nice
12[3:20am] * @Morgan nods
[3:20am] <08@Morgan> I thought so
13[3:21am] * adalbrecht stands up
13[3:21am] <04adalbrecht> Was there anything else?
[3:22am] <08@Morgan> no sir
13[3:22am] * adalbrecht nods
13[3:22am] <04adalbrecht> Shall we go to lunch?
12[3:22am] * @Morgan nods, standing up