**** BEGIN LOGGING AT Mon Jul 14 18:39:41 2025 Jul 14 18:39:41 * Molly (~u931732@192.168.1.101) has joined Jul 14 18:48:14 Because I needed it too Jul 14 18:48:14 * Molly smiles “I’m so glad. If you hadn’t wanted me for when you came back in tonight, I’d have managed alone...” Jul 14 18:48:14 * Morgan nods Jul 14 18:48:14 * Molly chews her lip Jul 14 18:48:14 There’s been a few times today I’ve considered excusing myself from company to do so... Jul 14 18:48:17 * Morgan gently withdraws Jul 14 18:48:19 Oh? Jul 14 18:48:21 My desire for you is quite the challenge at times Jul 14 18:48:23 * Morgan nods Jul 14 18:48:25 Understandable... Jul 14 18:48:27 *She smiles, looking relaxed* it’s not a problem you have though, planning such a solo adventure! Jul 14 18:48:31 No, it isn't Jul 14 18:48:33 * Molly giggles “You do it enough in my imagination for the both of us!” Jul 14 18:48:35 * Morgan nods Jul 14 18:49:07 * Molly moves, gently kissing him “I am going to clean up for bed, my love” Jul 14 18:49:24 Alright blossom Jul 14 18:54:24 * Molly takes a robe, and goes out to the bathroom, leaving the satin shorts on the floor where they’d come off him Jul 14 18:54:47 * Morgan picks them up, looking for pyjamas Jul 14 18:55:25 *he finds the navy satin ones she’d bought him inFreiburg Jul 14 18:56:10 * Morgan puts them on Jul 14 18:56:29 * Molly is back a couple of minutes later Jul 14 18:56:41 Mmm they look good on you, my love Jul 14 18:57:23 Not bad... Jul 14 18:58:09 * Molly smiles Jul 14 18:58:23 “Very not bad. You look very sexy in them.” Jul 14 18:58:34 * Morgan shrugs Jul 14 18:58:36 If you say so Jul 14 18:59:22 I do. If Inga was staying tonight, we could ask her opinion too! *She removes the gown and the vest* Jul 14 19:01:27 No, I don't think we could Jul 14 19:01:53 * Molly looks him over “No... You look too good to share the sight of.” Jul 14 19:03:02 * Morgan makes a pff noise Jul 14 19:04:07 * Molly smiles “You pretend not to like it, but I rather think you do...” Jul 14 19:04:35 * Morgan shrugs Jul 14 19:04:36 Maybe Jul 14 19:05:28 * Molly smiles “Are you coming to bed, my love?” Jul 14 19:06:57 * Morgan nods Jul 14 19:06:59 Aye, I am Jul 14 19:07:53 * Molly nods, getting in Jul 14 19:08:28 You do not wish to visit the redwood forest again? *she giggles at the awful line from Edward’s letter to Petra* Jul 14 19:08:54 * Morgan frowns Jul 14 19:08:56 Thats gross Jul 14 19:09:26 * Molly nods “Why did he think that would be appealing to her?” Jul 14 19:10:12 Theus alone knows Jul 14 19:12:17 * Molly nods, lying down with a yawn Jul 14 19:12:42 I’d rather receive your special drawings. Jul 14 19:13:06 * Morgan nods, climbing into bed Jul 14 19:14:40 * Molly smiles “I’d like to see them again when we get home” Jul 14 19:14:48 * Morgan nods Jul 14 19:14:49 Alright love Jul 14 19:15:13 * Molly moves to him “Should I sing?” Jul 14 19:15:26 * Morgan nods Jul 14 19:15:29 Please blossom Jul 14 19:16:46 *Molly starts to sing, a lullaby in Avalonian, and he starts to feel sleepy right away* Jul 14 19:17:20 * Morgan settles down Jul 14 19:19:51 * Molly continues to sing, and he falls asleep. He dreams something he hasn’t for a while, of Molly as Jaeger’s widow now his fiancée and her William and Connie to be his adopted children, a burnt and cropped Edward married to Ilena with twin boys. In the clearing with the wreckage, he thought he’d seen a patch of light that distracted h8m from the boy Varick’s attempt to communicate with Dietlinde and Jana’s ghosts Jul 14 19:19:59 * Molly is now known as Varick Jul 14 19:20:39 * Morgan looks around Jul 14 19:21:52 * Varick , an awkward shy teen who could communicate with horses, is watching him Jul 14 19:22:05 If you’re scared, we can go back to the party Jul 14 19:22:28 No its... its alright... just thought I saw something Jul 14 19:23:51 * Varick nods. In the moonlit night, he smells Lily Of The Valley again Jul 14 19:24:19 * Morgan sighs Jul 14 19:24:23 Why aren't they at rest? Jul 14 19:25:44 * Varick stares fixedly at a spot about six feet from Morgan, and takes a few seconds to say “She can’t rest until you start to live again” Jul 14 19:26:01 I don't know what that means Jul 14 19:26:57 * Varick is quiet longer “She says you’ve only been half alive, one foot in the real world, one in the past, and she can’t stop worrying and rest until you let go” Jul 14 19:27:12 * Morgan sighs Jul 14 19:27:16 I'm not sure how to do that Jul 14 19:27:34 * Varick shrugs “I don’t know, Morgan, I’m just a boy” Jul 14 19:28:35 I know... I'm trying... I've got people to look after now... who care for me... Jul 14 19:30:20 She says that’s good. It’s what Theus would want and expect from you. He built you to be a good man, and a husband, and a father Jul 14 19:31:22 I need them to be at rest... I've started moving forward and I cant bear for them to be lingering, not at peace Jul 14 19:32:58 * Varick nods, his gaze moving closer to Morgan “she says you should bury her ring at her grave” Jul 14 19:33:33 * Morgan frowns Jul 14 19:33:39 But its all I have left of them... Jul 14 19:35:04 *the lad is quiet* She says no, it’s not. Her parents have things from the house, and your heart will always carry them Jul 14 19:35:17 * Morgan is quiet for a moment before nodding Jul 14 19:35:19 alright Jul 14 19:36:15 * Varick smiles, nodding. Morgan feels a light brush against his leg “And she says there’s still him...” Jul 14 19:36:32 Him? Jul 14 19:36:35 * Morgan looks down Jul 14 19:37:53 *Ballard is not much more than a shadow, black fur in the dark, but the feeling against Morgan’s leg is the same as always* Jul 14 19:38:08 * Morgan whispers "Bar?" Jul 14 19:40:00 *The dog responds with a brief woof* Jul 14 19:40:16 * Morgan crouches down, wrapping his arms around the dog Jul 14 19:40:53 *his fur feels matted in places, bald in others, but he fits against Morgan as he always did* Jul 14 19:41:58 * Morgan cuddles the dog quietly Jul 14 19:42:23 *Bar licks Morgan’s face* Jul 14 19:43:17 She says you should try to forgive yourself and those who did this... Jul 14 19:43:28 * Morgan frowns Jul 14 19:43:32 I've tried... Jul 14 19:44:34 She says you would never give up on saving someone else, now you need to never give up on saving yourself Jul 14 19:44:53 I'll try Jul 14 19:45:41 And she says you need to go back to church Jul 14 19:46:07 Why? He abandoned me, abandoned them... Jul 14 19:46:25 * Varick waits a moment Jul 14 19:46:41 She says she’s never felt abandoned, not by either of you Jul 14 19:47:08 * Morgan screws up his face, weeping quietly against the dog Jul 14 19:47:34 * Varick stays quiet Jul 14 19:48:57 Okay... okay, alright... I'll go Jul 14 19:49:32 She said that brings her peace. She wants to see you in heaven one day Jul 14 19:50:31 * Morgan nods a little Jul 14 19:50:34 One day maybe Jul 14 19:51:56 She says she believes you can be there, and that you deserve to be Jul 14 19:52:15 Time will tell Jul 14 19:52:30 * Varick spins round, then laughs. The dour boy looks briefly cheerful Jul 14 19:53:07 * Morgan watches him, confused Jul 14 19:53:12 The little girl says “Jam for Vati”? Jul 14 19:53:27 Oh my little darling... Jul 14 19:53:58 * Varick watches nothing Morgan can see get closer and closer to him Jul 14 19:55:05 * Morgan holds still Jul 14 19:55:33 She wants to hug you Jul 14 19:56:24 * Morgan shifts to kneel with his arms open Jul 14 20:00:17 *he feels the lightest of presences in his lap, but he can smell her so clearly, the hint of jam, the warmth of her hair* Jul 14 20:01:03 * Morgan closes his eyes, drawing his arms in a bit Jul 14 20:01:46 * Varick smiles Jul 14 20:01:50 She’s smiling Jul 14 20:02:30 * Morgan nods a little Jul 14 20:04:42 * Varick watches, then giggles “She says ‘Tschüssi mit Küssi’ ((bye with kisses))?” *This is something Heinzharold’s father used to say to the younger girls when he was going out to the forge or into the village, something he’d hoped to teach her when she was bigger* Jul 14 20:05:14 How does she know that? Jul 14 20:05:47 * Varick ‘s gaze moves away a bit Jul 14 20:06:27 Dietlinde says she taught her while they waited to see you again, she remembered Heinzharold telling her about it Jul 14 20:07:39 * Morgan nods, repeating it quietly Jul 14 20:08:19 *it’s quiet a moment, then Varick says* I think they’re going to go now Jul 14 20:08:28 * Morgan nods Jul 14 20:08:33 Alright... Jul 14 20:08:45 Dietlinde says she loves you Jul 14 20:09:44 I love her, I always will... both of them... Jul 14 20:10:48 She says she knows, and that you don’t honour them by living -simply-, you honour them by living -honestly- Jul 14 20:11:07 * Morgan nods slowly Jul 14 20:11:11 alright Jul 14 20:12:23 * Varick nods. The presence fades, as does the scent. Varick watches south, standing still Jul 14 20:12:35 * Morgan watches him quietly Jul 14 20:13:14 There’s a light... it’s beautiful Jul 14 20:13:27 * Morgan glances southward Jul 14 20:13:48 *there’s nothing to see, just the glowing of the Sudlache behind the trees Jul 14 20:14:28 * Morgan looks back to Varick Jul 14 20:15:08 * Varick is watching, a tear on his cheek “they’re going together...” Jul 14 20:15:31 * Morgan nods, standing up and moving beside him Jul 14 20:16:38 * Varick does something surprising for a fourteen year old boy who hardly knows his cousin once removed, and holds Morgan’s hand Jul 14 20:16:52 * Morgan squeezes it gently Jul 14 20:17:53 * Varick watches a little longer, but Morgan doesn’t have to be told when they’ve gone because Ballard whimpers, coming to lean on Morgan’s leg Jul 14 20:18:16 * Morgan leans down, stroking him gently Jul 14 20:19:09 *the scent of the lily of the valley goes, and a settled sort of peace fills the clearing Jul 14 20:19:32 They're gone Jul 14 20:19:42 They’re in heaven now Jul 14 20:20:34 * Morgan nods, looking around before looking to Varick Jul 14 20:20:36 Thank you Jul 14 20:22:01 * Varick nods Jul 14 20:22:08 Are you scared of me now? Jul 14 20:23:28 Do I look scared of you? Jul 14 20:24:17 * Varick appraises him with the distrust of a mistreated child Jul 14 20:24:20 no... Jul 14 20:24:55 * Morgan nods Jul 14 20:25:00 There you go then... Jul 14 20:25:52 * Varick nods, looking around Jul 14 20:26:00 Can I trust you? Jul 14 20:26:26 * Morgan nods Jul 14 20:26:28 You can Jul 14 20:26:59 We’re not really cousins. Jul 14 20:27:48 You're my cousins son, so... we are Jul 14 20:36:11 * Varick shakes his head, letting go of Morgan’s hand and going to stroke the dog Jul 14 20:36:14 I’m not. Jul 14 20:37:20 You're not... Alarice wasn't your mother? Jul 14 20:37:54 * Varick shakes his head Jul 14 20:38:15 She was my father’s wife, but my mother was his mistress Jul 14 20:38:50 Thats... complicated... Jul 14 20:39:14 * Varick nods Jul 14 20:39:34 I’m not supposed to tell anyone because Innesbruck will be taken away Jul 14 20:40:35 Oh... because it went to Alarice then her children... Jul 14 20:40:43 * Varick nods Jul 14 20:40:51 Her baby died Jul 14 20:41:39 I see... Jul 14 20:42:18 * Varick nods, looking at him Jul 14 20:42:28 Are you scared of monsters? Jul 14 20:43:14 Haven't been so far Jul 14 20:43:50 my real mother was a shape shifter Jul 14 20:45:03 Like... a werewolf? Jul 14 20:46:19 Mostly, but she could be other things too Jul 14 20:46:59 * Morgan nods slowly, watching him Jul 14 20:47:03 And you can too? Jul 14 20:47:12 not yet... Jul 14 20:48:25 But you will... Jul 14 20:49:55 * Varick nods, looking as grim as boys his age had been after lying to be old enough to come to war, and then facing their first battle line Jul 14 20:50:35 * Morgan nods slowly Jul 14 20:51:11 Don’t worry, I’ll be at the Academy, I can’t hurt your children Jul 14 20:51:49 I was more thinking about -your- safety Jul 14 20:53:38 That doesn’t matter, to anyone. Only that we’d lose Innesbruck if I die Jul 14 20:54:56 * Morgan frowns Jul 14 20:55:00 It matters Jul 14 20:55:55 * Varick shrugs “I don’t want to have been a disappointment to him. That’s what matters” Jul 14 20:56:30 That sounds awfully like you've already decided you're going to... Jul 14 20:57:42 * Varick shrugs again “I just don’t think it matters. Maybe I’d stay a wolf and go away” Jul 14 20:58:56 I think it matters Jul 14 20:59:55 * Varick sighs “I’m tired.” Jul 14 21:00:10 You want to go back? Jul 14 21:01:05 * Varick nods “I can walk myself” Jul 14 21:01:50 You want me to leave you alone? Jul 14 21:02:33 No, just... you don’t have to do stuff for me because you feel sorry for me Jul 14 21:03:15 Even if that were the case, I would not abandon you when you've done so much for me Jul 14 21:03:49 * Varick shrugs roughly, looking away Jul 14 21:04:05 Just did what I could, like for my mother. My real one. Jul 14 21:04:59 * Morgan nods slowly Jul 14 21:05:19 What you did was kind, for the sake of kindness... you should be proud of yourself for that Jul 14 21:06:11 well I’m not proud of myself, okay?! I’m a kid that no one likes! I’m strange, and no one wants me around! Jul 14 21:06:57 * Morgan watches him for a moment before speaking quietly Jul 14 21:06:59 I do. Jul 14 21:07:12 Why? Jul 14 21:07:47 Because you're kind, and I like you... Jul 14 21:09:16 I like you too. Jul 14 21:09:34 I'm glad Jul 14 21:09:43 Youkre kind to your kids Jul 14 21:10:52 They're children, they deserve kindness Jul 14 21:11:29 * Varick nods sadly Jul 14 21:11:32 yeah Jul 14 21:12:11 So do you Jul 14 21:13:17 * Varick shrugs “Maybe” Jul 14 21:14:24 No maybe about it Jul 14 21:15:29 * Varick nods Jul 14 21:15:46 Could I visit you, next time it’s the holidays? Jul 14 21:16:02 If you want to... Jul 14 21:17:02 We’re not cousins, but... we could be friends? Jul 14 21:17:35 * Morgan nods Jul 14 21:17:55 I'd like that... but I'll tell you something someone told me once... family ain't always about blood... Jul 14 21:20:06 * Varick smiles Jul 14 21:20:16 Okay. I’m a bit hungry Jul 14 21:21:00 Alright... lets go back and get you some food Jul 14 21:23:04 * Varick walks with him, the dog between them. It’s good to leave the clearing knowing it’s empty, but those words ring in his head “Tschüssi mit Küssi” Jul 14 21:23:48 * Morgan sighs a little, watching the ground in front of him Jul 14 21:25:14 *the arrive at the house without incident, but Ballard won’t go further than the hall Jul 14 21:25:38 * Morgan looks around Jul 14 21:25:50 Any idea why he won't go further? Jul 14 21:26:09 * Varick concentrates “It’s big and smells weird” Jul 14 21:27:10 * Morgan nods, crouching down Jul 14 21:27:22 Its alright boy, I've got you... Jul 14 21:27:39 *Ballard licks him. A footman appears* Jul 14 21:28:24 * Morgan looks up at him Jul 14 21:28:32 Have someone find some food for my dog please Jul 14 21:29:44 *the footman nods* And water, and a blanket, Lord? Jul 14 21:30:18 Yes, please Jul 14 21:31:24 *the footman bows then goes. There’s a sound of a man and woman laughing, heading their way Jul 14 21:33:09 * Morgan looks in that direction Jul 14 21:34:24 *Claudia is coming in from outside, her husband’s arm around her shoulder. She’s wearing his coat. It’s still a shock to see her in a dress and so feminine. Jul 14 21:34:44 * Morgan carries on fussing the dog Jul 14 21:36:59 *she looks surprised * Wait... that’s Bar?! Jul 14 21:37:49 * Morgan nods Jul 14 21:37:59 I thought I'd lost him too... Jul 14 21:39:27 *Claudia smiles, coming to crouch down and rubbing the dog’s head* Glad you’ve found him, man Jul 14 21:39:51 * Morgan shakes his head Jul 14 21:39:59 Varick helped me find him Jul 14 21:42:02 *Claudia smiles at the boy* Good job. You did a great thing, he’s always been crazy about this dog Jul 14 21:42:12 *Varick blushes* yes ma’am Jul 14 21:43:01 * Morgan nods Jul 14 22:34:56 * Varick has quit (Read error: EOF from client)