**** BEGIN LOGGING AT Thu May 26 16:18:29 2022 May 26 16:18:29 * Morgan has quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer) May 26 16:18:44 * Morgan (~mads@192.168.1.117) has joined May 26 21:58:21 * MollyK (~igloo@CrystabllesiPad.lan) has joined May 26 21:58:33 * MollyK is now known as Rosa May 26 21:59:51 * Rosa and Stuart are both serving customers in the inn, which is not too busy but also not empty. He has gone in ahead of Mina and her entourage May 26 22:01:56 * Morgan goes and waits by the bar May 26 22:04:49 * Rosa recognised him immediately, her Vaticine cross glints in the candlelight as she comes over May 26 22:05:03 My Lord, you're looking well May 26 22:05:30 Thank you Rosa, you're looking wonderful yourself May 26 22:06:35 *Stuart gives him a brief wave* May 26 22:06:51 What can we do for you tonight, my Lord? May 26 22:07:45 I need some rooms... Three guards, myself and Lady Hapsburg May 26 22:09:12 * Rosa looks unsure May 26 22:09:23 Any of you sharing? May 26 22:09:37 the guards can share... I'll sleep in the stable again if needs be May 26 22:10:09 Molly isn't with you? May 26 22:10:43 She's in Koln May 26 22:12:02 That's a pity. I think we can make the space May 26 22:15:31 sure? May 26 22:16:35 * Rosa nods May 26 22:16:46 Might not be fancy May 26 22:17:06 * Morgan smiles slightly May 26 22:17:19 I slept in the stable last night, dry and safe is all we want May 26 22:18:38 You were quiet as a mouse then May 26 22:18:58 * Morgan nods May 26 22:19:17 Must\ve been... one, two o'clock... I was on the move again by five May 26 22:20:14 * Rosa nods May 26 22:20:39 Should have come in by the fire, my Lord. Cold last night May 26 22:21:41 Thought it might be locked, and the horse was skittish... lights in the forest, see May 26 22:22:36 * Rosa nods May 26 22:22:48 Snowed yesterday, didn't it? May 26 22:23:31 * Morgan nods May 26 22:25:28 Seems to bring the lights May 26 22:25:37 peculiar May 26 22:25:43 * Rosa nods May 26 22:26:28 You must be hungry, I'll find you a table and get you all fed May 26 22:26:58 Thank you. May 26 22:30:03 * Rosa gets them settled with wine, stew, and whatever else they want. The meal is a little awkward, but soon over. The guards and the chaperone have some brandy, and Mina sticks to wine, the more appropriate drink for a noblewoman. The tap room of the inn is becoming noisier May 26 22:31:23 * Morgan looks round, glancing at the guards May 26 22:31:35 perhaps we should spirit her ladyship to her room May 26 22:35:56 *the guards follow his command. The chaperone looks keen to stay for another drink downstairs* May 26 22:36:04 * Rosa is now known as Mina May 26 22:37:04 * Mina dismisses them on the threshold to her room, except Morgan. Once they're gone, she says "thank you for this, your Excellency" May 26 22:37:30 * Morgan looks confused May 26 22:37:32 for what? May 26 22:38:06 Arranging our stay, and escorting me. You are very kind May 26 22:38:59 You will be my sister in law, of course I'd do this... and I thought we'd agreed on Morgan... May 26 22:40:23 Morgan. Yes, of course. *she smiles politely* I do have one question to ask you. May 26 22:40:59 oh? May 26 22:41:19 Why hasn't Edward come to escort me himself? His letters express in strong terms that he misses me. Why not come himself? May 26 22:42:23 I could tell you that its because I'm more dangerous than he is to anyone with ill intent... which is technically true... May 26 22:43:44 But it is not the truth. *she watches him, her expression unreadable* May 26 22:44:28 No, it isn't... its why _I_ came instead of any of my staff. May 26 22:45:32 * Mina nods a little, waiting for him to go on May 26 22:46:34 There are things you and he must discuss, and if he'd come, that conversation would have been in some place like this, rather than somewhere you are safe, you _feel_ safe. May 26 22:47:22 Then it is something I might be upset about. May 26 22:47:39 I'm afraid so May 26 22:49:26 * Mina shows none of the worry or distress he knows this would cause in Molly, nor the irritation it would in Claudia. Instead she watches him. May 26 22:49:51 And you are not at liberty to inform me further? May 26 22:50:34 Edward and I have grown close... it is something he wishes to discuss with you himself, and I am loathe to damage the trust he has put in me now May 26 22:50:45 * Mina nods May 26 22:51:03 I would not damage that either. May 26 22:51:32 * Morgan nods May 26 22:51:41 I appreciate that. I'm sorry I cannot tell you more. May 26 22:53:02 I understand. Goodnight, Morgan. Sleep well. May 26 22:53:31 Goodnight Mina May 26 22:55:45 * Mina goes into her room, shutting the door May 26 22:56:45 * Morgan goes to his room to check the mirror May 26 23:00:35 *Its the same room he and Molly had, nothing changed since the summer except he is alone. The mirror says "seven in the morning: My love! How awful. The fair folk in Eisen? I hope you are safe and well now." Followed by "lunchtime: I have not seen anything from you. Are you well? My love, always" then "dinnertime: let me know you are alright, May 26 23:00:35 liebling. I miss you greatly" May 26 23:02:57 * Morgan writes a reply :All is well, I'm with Mina, we are in Seefeur. Not the fair folk, small, flying things. Well known myth round here. I miss you terribly. We will be together again tomorrow.: May 26 23:06:13 *when he checks half an hour later after cleaning up and preparing for bed, it says "I am relieved. I look forward to your return, I miss having you in our bed xx" May 26 23:07:28 * Morgan smiles, laying down on the bed May 26 23:07:34 Not long now blossom... May 26 23:11:09 *the final night they stayed here comes to mind, the way she had enjoyed him holding her in place to kiss her much harder than before. With the subsequent revelations about her liking him being in charge, it seems clear to him now that that night was one of the first indicators of it May 26 23:12:36 * Morgan makes a 'huh' noise, before closing his eyes May 26 23:13:59 *sleep eludes him despite his tiredness. It's just not the same without her singing* May 26 23:14:40 * Morgan refuses to get back up, just laying there May 26 23:19:14 *after about an hour, he drifts off. He wakes up, no idea it is just part of his dream. It is pitch black, his head is pounding as if he has drunk far too much, but Molly is curled up with her back to his stomach. Except... why does she smell like jasmine, like Mina does? And why does his mouth taste like strong whiskey and the taste of having done May 26 23:19:15 something very intimate to a woman, yet not precisely like Molly. And why is he completely naked? May 26 23:20:19 * Morgan rubs his face, climbing out of the bed May 26 23:21:31 *his movement disturbs Mina, who sounds like she might still be drunk* oh... oh no. May 26 23:21:44 what the hell? May 26 23:22:27 Oh god. What have we done?! May 26 23:23:07 No no no, this can't be right... May 26 23:24:00 *he can't recall much at all. He had dropped her to her room, she had cried, he had told her the truth, she cried more. There was a lot of alcohol, too much of it... May 26 23:24:22 * Mina starts to sob May 26 23:24:37 Edward is going to be so angry May 26 23:24:43 * Morgan slumps down against a wall May 26 23:26:25 What are we going to do?! May 26 23:26:31 I don't know May 26 23:27:00 * Mina cries for a bit longer May 26 23:29:01 *its still completely dark May 26 23:29:32 * Morgan gross about for a tinderbox to light a candle May 26 23:30:48 *he manages it. Mina has wrapped the covers around her to protect her modesty, but it only reveals the red mark on the sheet that confirms his worst suspicions May 26 23:31:56 * Morgan slumps back down into a corner May 26 23:33:30 Maybe we shouldn't tell anyone. We could pretend it never happened May 26 23:33:50 I couldn't keep it from Molly. She'd know something was wrong May 26 23:34:53 Maybe she would not. Maybe she would be happier never knowing that you've been unfaithful May 26 23:35:47 Undoubtedly, but... she would want the truth May 26 23:36:06 What if it costs us everything? May 26 23:36:32 * Morgan sighs May 26 23:36:51 Then it costs everything May 26 23:37:05 * Mina shakes her head May 26 23:37:34 I cannot lose Edward, not after everything we have endured May 26 23:38:18 I won't hide it from Molly May 26 23:39:21 So Edward and I have to lose each other again because of you? May 26 23:41:39 You resent me because of what he did... May 26 23:42:53 You put him in that position. We were talking about him coming back to Sudlachenburg to talk to the Graf about a betrothal when he arrived in Freiburg with the bad news May 26 23:44:00 * Morgan nods May 26 23:44:39 I understand. What you tell him is up to you May 26 23:45:15 But if you tell Molly, he will find out May 26 23:46:07 I'll ask her not to tell him. May 26 23:48:10 I don't think she will listen to any commands of yours, do you? She will probably hate us both May 26 23:49:04 * Morgan shrugs May 26 23:49:07 maybe May 26 23:50:43 * Mina stands, taking the covers with her. She heads for the door May 26 23:51:04 * Morgan watches her May 26 23:51:43 We will talk tomorrow. I do not wish to be here now. May 26 23:52:42 Aye May 26 23:54:12 * Mina goes, leaving him alone with the candle and the blood on the bed marking the third virginity he has taken, this one very different to the first two May 26 23:54:33 * Morgan just stares at the bed May 26 23:55:55 *the candle flickers out. This time he does properly wake up in the dark and an empty bed* May 26 23:57:11 * Morgan climbs out of bed, lighting a candle May 26 23:57:44 *everything is just as it should be. He estimates only an hour has passed May 26 23:58:04 * Morgan mutters, sitting back on the bed May 26 23:58:40 *it is all quiet