[20:24] (Molly) [20:08] (Molly) **they spend a while at the farm before heading to the inn for lunch, followed by more visits. People wave to him, and seek him out to thank him. They make their way back to the manor house late in the afternoon, Otto walking beside Morgan
[20:24] ** You're now known as Otto
[20:24] ** ChanServ sets mode(s) +o  Morgan
[20:26] (Otto) I hear you're leaving in the morning?
[20:27] * @Morgan nods
[20:27] (@Morgan) much to be done
[20:31] * Otto nods
[20:32] (Otto) You'll both be missed here, you're very popular
[20:33] (@Morgan) Thats because I've had a low expectation set by the previous steward
[20:35] * Otto nods. Much as with David, they've started to fall behind
[20:35] (Otto) I've heard rumours about him, yes
[20:35] (@Morgan) Why the sudden interest in Molly, Otto?
[20:35] * Otto shrugs
[20:37] (Otto) I think they like how down-to-earth she is compared to Lady Eldreich
[20:37] (@Morgan) I meant _your_ sudden interest in her
[20:38] (Otto) She's an interesting young woman
[20:39] * @Morgan nods slowly
[20:40] (@Morgan) She was somewhat upset last night... she feels that people don't understand that my desire to be with her is because of who she is, not who she is like...
[20:40] * Otto looks troubled
[20:41] (Otto) It was not my intention to hurt her, I am most sorry that I did
[20:41] * @Morgan nods
[20:41] (@Morgan) which is what I told her
[20:42] (Otto) I'll apologise if you'll permit me?
[20:43] (@Morgan) If you want to. If I'd thought for even a moment there was malice, we wouldn't be having the conversation. I do have something I need you to do, though...
[20:44] (Otto) There was no malice. It didn't occur to me that likening her to Dietlinde could be anything other than flattering
[20:44] * @Morgan nods
[20:44] (@Morgan) I know
[20:45] (Otto) What do you need me to do?
[20:46] (@Morgan) act a little bit iller... its been noted that you're a touch too sprightly
[20:49] (421) he :Unknown command
[20:49] * Otto nods solemnly
[20:50] (Otto) It's harder than I expected. I haven't felt this healthy since I was your age
[20:51] * @Morgan nods
[20:51] (@Morgan) I understand. Just keep peddling the line about avalon medicine being more advanced... anyone not avalonian shouldn't know thats not true
[20:53] * Otto nods
[20:53] (Otto) I'll do my best
[20:53] (@Morgan) thank you
[20:55] * Otto smiles
[20:56] (Otto) I don't want to comprise her safety. After all, we are family, after a fashion
[20:56] * @Morgan nods
[20:57] (@Morgan) absolutely
[20:58] (Otto) I know I said things about how Dietlinde would have felt, things that were wrong. I think she'd have liked Molly
[20:58] (@Morgan) I hope so
[20:59] * Otto nods smiling
[20:59] (Otto) I hope you have a pleasant time on your travels
[21:02] (Otto) **later: he's back at the manor, keen to find Molly after not seeing her all day, the time to prepare for dinner approaching
[21:05] * @Morgan walks through the house, looking for her
[21:10] (Otto) **he hears voices from the drawing room. Her tone is firm
[21:10] ** You're now known as Molly
[21:12] (Molly) I understand it is not the _Eisen_ way. But sometimes the Eisen way is not the best way. *she sighs briefly* Take it up with my husband if you must, but I assure you he trusts my judgement.
[21:13] (Molly) **there's a moments silence before Heinrich exits almost straight into Morgan
[21:15] (@Morgan) What now, Heinrich?
[21:16] (Molly) H: *he shakes his head* She's wrong about the rents
[21:17] (@Morgan) This again.
[21:17] (Molly) H: It's too soft
[21:18] (@Morgan) Its exactly what is needed here right now.
[21:21] (Molly) H: *he frowns* It isn't sensible, my Lord, it's too risky
[21:21] (@Morgan) Do you know how rulers rule, Heinrich? From kings down to towns overseers...
[21:24] (Molly) H: By keeping the goodwill of those below them
[21:25] (@Morgan) precisely, at their subjects pleasure...
[21:26] (@Morgan) After all this place has been put through, this is precisely whats needed to regain some of that goodwill
[21:29] (Molly) H: I still think you're making a mistake
[21:30] (@Morgan) well that's your wont
[21:30] (Molly) H: *he nods* yes my Lord
[21:33] (@Morgan) I trust there'll be no issue following our edicts while we're gone...
[21:36] (Molly) H: *he shakes his head* none at all
[21:36] * @Morgan nods
[21:36] (@Morgan) good
[21:37] (Molly) H: *he bows* my Lord.
[21:38] * @Morgan turns and walks into the room
[21:41] * Molly is sat sipping her coffee, checking off a list
[21:43] (Molly) Good afternoon, liebling
[21:44] (@Morgan) blossom...
[21:45] * Molly looks up
[21:45] (Molly) Are you well?
[21:46] * @Morgan nods slowly
[21:46] (@Morgan) more or less, aye
[21:48] * Molly watched him
[21:48] (Molly) More or less?
[21:48] * @Morgan smiles slightly
[21:48] (@Morgan) Have you seen your father at all?
[21:49] (Molly) Yes, most of my childhood infact *she tries not to smirk, hoping to lighten his mood*
[21:51] * @Morgan raises an eyebrow
[21:52] (Molly) Not today, no
[21:52] * @Morgan nods
[21:52] (@Morgan) I see Heinrichs making a nuisance of himself
[21:54] * Molly nods
[21:54] (Molly) He has no _actual_ reasons or proof that it won't work
[21:54] (@Morgan) Just that its not Eisen enough...
[21:55] (Molly) And I suspect a little that it is because it is a woman's idea
[21:56] (@Morgan) It wouldn't entirely surprise me
[21:56] * Molly smiles softly
[21:57] (Molly) It is why you wished to be my business partner on the Rose... To prevent my gender automatically ruling me out in negotiations
[21:58] * @Morgan nods
[21:59] (@Morgan) I've had a word with otto
[22:00] * Molly busies herself pouring him some coffee
[22:00] (Molly) Oh?
[22:01] (@Morgan) he's hoping to catch you to apologise before we leave
[22:02] * Molly sighs softly as she hands the cup to him
[22:03] (Molly) He does not _need_ to apologise
[22:03] (@Morgan) I know, but he wants to
[22:04] * Molly nods with a serious expression
[22:05] (Molly) Alright, I'll find him after dinner
[22:05] * @Morgan nods
[22:06] (Molly) You asked about my father?
[22:07] * @Morgan nods
[22:07] (@Morgan) he's noticed somethings not right about Otto... and that Avalonian medicine isn't any better than Eisen... obviously he's keeping that to himself
[22:08] * Molly nods
[22:08] (Molly) So he knows?
[22:08] (@Morgan) some of it, aye
[22:08] (@Morgan) since he's also been able to pick up on your mothers feelings...
[22:09] * Molly nods
[22:09] (Molly) I wondered how long it'd be til he realised it was magic
[22:10] * @Morgan nods
[22:10] (Molly) Are you concerned?
[22:12] (@Morgan) Not particularly...
[22:12] * Molly smiles
[22:12] (Molly) Good
[22:13] (Molly) Did you enjoy your trip to the village?
[22:14] * @Morgan nods slowly
[22:14] (@Morgan) its coming along well... though your father is trying to get me to do his dirtywork
[22:14] (Molly) Oh?
[22:15] (@Morgan) He wants me to convince you to do something for him
[22:19] (Molly) Why does he not ask me himself?
[22:19] (@Morgan) he's going to...
[22:19] * Molly smiles
[22:20] (Molly) But he thinks you have me wrapped around your finger
[22:22] (@Morgan) he thinks I could persuade you, paint his request in a favourable light... that sort of thing
[22:22] * Molly smiles playfully
[22:23] (Molly) He's right... There is little you could not persuade me to do
[22:23] * @Morgan shrugs
[22:23] (@Morgan) I'll keep that in mind later
[22:24] * Molly looks surprised, then blushes at the images that appear in her mind, which he is unable to perceive
[22:26] (Molly) Y-...yes
[22:26] * @Morgan grins briefly
[22:26] * Molly shakes her head to clear it
[22:26] * @Morgan sips the coffee, smirking
[22:26] (Molly) Sorry, you were saying?
[22:27] (@Morgan) I've told him to bring his issue to you himself and ask, I'm not getting involved
[22:27] * Molly nods
[22:28] (Molly) Will you at least forewarn me?
[22:28] (@Morgan) If you really want to know, aye
[22:28] * Molly nods
[22:28] (Molly) I'd be grateful
[22:29] (@Morgan) He wants you to 'put his affairs in order' in Tawstock for him
[22:30] * Molly sighs
[22:30] (Molly) Right
[22:30] (@Morgan) he doesn't want to subject your mother to being that ill, especially over such a long timespan
[22:31] (Molly) No, I understand. I just thought he might go without her
[22:31] (@Morgan) he says he's staying here to help with the harvest... I wonder if perhaps he's feeling a little out of his depth and wants to do something familiar
[22:32] * Molly nods
[22:32] (Molly) I'll ask him
[22:32] * Molly looks thoughtful
[22:33] (Molly) Could you do it?
[22:34] (@Morgan) leave you for that time?
[22:35] (Molly) Yes... It'd probably take him five or six weeks to travel so far
[22:36] (@Morgan) I could, if I had to... but the reasons to do so would have to be compelling and, if I'm honest, sorting out his affairs isn't important enough to do so
[22:37] * Molly smiles gently
[22:38] (Molly) Good. I would surely suffer were you to be gone so long from me again
[22:38] * @Morgan nods
[22:38] (@Morgan) as would I
[22:38] * Molly giggles
[22:38] (Molly) In more ways than one
[22:39] * @Morgan blushes briefly
[22:40] * Molly watches him a moment, looking undecided, before finishes her coffee as the clock strikes six
[22:41] (Molly) I'll be along to dress for dinner shortly, I just have a few things to do still
[22:41] (@Morgan) are you dismissing me?
[22:42] * Molly shakes her head
[22:42] * @Morgan looks confused briefly
[22:42] (@Morgan) I'm fairly sure only my father can do that
[22:43] * Molly blushes suddenly, then looks at the clock
[22:43] (Molly) No, I am just becoming accustomed to the patterns here in Eisen, so I assumed you were about to leave
[22:44] * @Morgan shrugs
[22:47] (Molly) Stay if you wish to
[22:48] (@Morgan) well, since I have permission...
[22:48] * @Morgan sits on the edge of the desk
[22:51] * Molly bites her lower lip, trying to concentrate on her paperwork.
[22:51] (Molly) Are you sad to leave Innesbruck?
[22:51] * @Morgan nods
[22:51] (@Morgan) I am rather, aye
[22:52] (Molly) I think we'll settle nicely here when the time comes
[22:53] * Molly finishes up, locking her things in the desk before popping the keys into an empty vase
[22:53] * @Morgan nods
[22:53] (@Morgan) I hope so
[22:55] (Molly) Much as I like die dauerhaftigkeit, I'm not sure I can tolerate the lack of...privacy... we'd have there
[22:55] * @Morgan nods
[22:55] (@Morgan) mind you, we do have our own apartment there
[22:56] (Molly) True... *she smiles* but it is different here. I have work to do here.
[22:57] * Molly comes to stand in front of him
[22:58] (Molly) The sort of work expected of me there is very different
[22:59] (@Morgan) thats true
[23:00] (Molly) And much as I enjoy my work as your Veisgrafin *she smirks* I enjoy helping with your stewardship also
[23:01] * @Morgan nods
[23:01] (@Morgan) I understand that
[23:01] (Molly) I like to be indispensable to you
[23:03] * Molly takes his hand
[23:09] (@Morgan) You're always indispensible to me
[23:10] * Molly smiles warmly, kissing his cheek briefly
[23:10] (Molly) I'd best help you get changed for dinner then
[23:12] * @Morgan raises an eyebrow
[23:16] * Molly giggles
[23:16] (Molly) We only have forty five minutes...
[23:21] (Molly) **with similarly lighthearted expressions, they head off at a rapid pace to make the best use of their time*
[23:29] ** You are now disconnected