(@Molly) **As he rounds the top of the stairs, he bumps into Marta, dressed with shawl and bonnet as if leaving the manor. She looks fairly happy, and curtsies to him when she sees him* * Morgan nods to her (Morgan) Marta (@Molly) My Lord. **she heads off* * Morgan continues to the nursery (@Molly) **Oren and Lars are on the door, letting him know that Claudia has gone for a break. They let him in.** * @Molly wears her old blue dress that was the first one she had at Catherine's, one that has seen her through maid, housekeeper, jaegers betrothed, ship owner, mistress, and veisgrafin. Her hair is loose and still damp in places, her make up subtle and sweet again, barefoot. She is winding the mantle clock. * @Molly looks quite serious, even though she smiles a little (@Molly) Varick is already in bed (Morgan) I received word that Varick wanted me to read his bedtime story (@Molly) He does. He is waiting for you. * Morgan nods (Morgan) are you ok blossom? (@Molly) Once he's fallen asleep, we need to talk * Morgan frowns * @Molly turns towards Varick's room, hearing the noise of him getting out of bed (@Molly) I'll have some tea brought up. I hope you can spare a little time before you must be off again? * Morgan nods * @Molly smiles slightly again, and Varick opens the door. He looks adorable in his long night shirt, and has the pirate book in one hand. In the other he has Hermann, a raggedy teddy he brought with him and has had for years, familiar to Morgan (@Molly) V: You came! (Morgan) of course (@Molly) V: *he motions him in.* Come on in, old boy! * Morgan chuckles, heading into the boys room * @Molly smiles broader, wondering where on earth he has picked that up (@Molly) V: *he climbs into bed, right up against the wall to give Morgan space * Will you lie down and cuddle me? * Morgan sheds his coat and belt and does so ** You're now known as Varick * @Varick tucks himself up to Morgan's chest, head under his chin (@Varick) Where have you been all day? I missed you (Morgan) I've been busy making sure people are safe (@Varick) Are we safe now? (Morgan) Safer, but not completely (@Varick) But you'll make us safe, I know you will (Morgan) I'll do my best (@Varick) You can do anything! You beat all the monsters in Avalon (Morgan) Most of them anyway (@Varick) Will there still be monsters when we go there? (Morgan) Hopefully they'll hear I'm back and run away (@Varick) I want to fight some monsters (Morgan) Not yet little man (@Varick) When I am bigger, I can fight along side you? (Morgan) If we really need to, perhaps (@Varick) Molly says we are going to see the cottage you lived in * Morgan nods (@Varick) And I will meet my sort-of-cousins (Morgan) oh? (@Varick) Can't remember all their names. They are Molly's nieces and nephews, so they're my sort-of-cousins * Morgan nods (Morgan) thats right (@Varick) And we will see the farm where Molly was born *he sounds confused* * Morgan nods (@Varick) I wasn't born on a farm, I was born in my house in Koln (Morgan) I know (@Varick) And you were born in Die Dauerhaftigkeit (@Varick) That's not a farm either. (Morgan) I'm aware of that (@Varick) Ladies aren't born on farms in Eisen * Morgan shrugs (@Varick) Marta helps babies be born (Morgan) I know (@Varick) She helped me be born. Did she help you be born? (Morgan) No, I don't think so (@Varick) She said my daddy cried when I was born (Morgan) I'd imagine he did (@Varick) He was happy to have a baby (Morgan) I'm not surprised... you are rather wonderful (@Varick) *he nods* Marta knows lots of stories about my daddy and me. She's going to write them down for me. (Morgan) Thats good (@Varick) I like to hear the stories now * @Varick moves away enough to be able to.look at Morgan, lying on his back (@Varick) I still love him, and I still miss him (Morgan) I know. It never goes away but it gets a bit easier to feel * @Varick nods emphatically, drawing a circle over most of his chest (@Varick) When I met you, it was a big hurty hole here * @Varick watches Morgan as if trying to see if he understands * Morgan nods * @Varick draws a circle about an inch in diameter right over the centre of his chest (@Varick) Now it's a small sad hole here (Morgan) Thats better * @Varick nods (@Varick) I would like to see him again, but I don't always remember every day (Morgan) I think I understand * @Varick nods (@Varick) I have you and Molly to look after me and keep me safe now * Morgan nods (@Varick) Can you tell me a story now? *he yawns* (Morgan) You have your book? * @Varick hands it over, snuggling back up * Morgan takes the book and starts reading Meanwhile: Molly watches Morgan go into the room, sighing when he's out of earshot. "He is a fine father. He clearly loves Varick, just as I'm sure he clearly loved Jana. I can't let him hear her screams within Alarice's, or see the twisting pain in her face whilst watching Alarice's. The smoke, the smell of burnt flesh, and the responsibility for another woman he loves death. It would break him all over again if his magic is used to burn Alarice to death. I can not allow that. If he is going to keep moving on with Varick and I, and Ehren and the others, I cannot have him reliving their agonising death and his role in it. He's already drawn the likeness of Varick and I at risk to not rescuing them. I must do what I must do. But he will be very much against that, just as I would with him. And the rift it will cause if he does not yield could be huge. *She sighs heavily* But no matter the personal consequences, I must protect him. And I will be strong and bear it with all the fortitude he admires in me, so he will respect me even if he can no longer love me. **To prevent the sobbing that is threatened, she takes the soldier set to the table and begins to.unpack.** "Dignity. Mercy. Compassion. Honour." * @Varick is fast asleep before he even finishes the first page * Morgan kisses the top of his head before creeping out of the bed and out of the room ** You're now known as Molly * @Molly is stood by the table, unpacking small metal figurines from a wooden box, a slight frown on her face.There is a tea tray, but none has been poured yet. * Morgan sighs slightly * @Molly looks up (@Molly) He's sleeping now? * Morgan nods (@Molly) Good. * @Molly picks out another one, twisting it in her fingers with a deeper frown. From that distance he can't tell what it is. (Morgan) whats that? (@Molly) I asked the servants to find a metal soldiers set for his birthday tomorrow. This is a little more... unusual than I expected. (Morgan) oh? (@Molly) One half is human warriors, ships, cavalry and so on. **she's still looking at this particular piece** (Morgan) and the other? * @Molly looks up (@Molly) Supernatural things of all varieties (Morgan) how Avalonian * @Molly nods, smiling a little (@Molly) Sirens, Kracken, Vampires, all manner of other things... *she looks to her hand* and what I can only assume was _supposed_ to be the schattenmann * Morgan glances at it (Morgan) spindly? * @Molly shakes her head. It looks like a tarantula * @Molly hands it out to him * Morgan takes it with a look of distaste (@Molly) It doesn't look right to me. But I have no idea why I feel that. (Morgan) You had a dream about it... (Morgan) and no, its not right (@Molly) Did I? *she frowns* it's... thinner than that... * Morgan nods * @Molly looks over the whole set. It's well made, detailed, and probably cost him quite a bit of money (Morgan) Ironic, isn't it... I've never flinched at anything I faced at the Torrington estate... but this thing... * @Molly nods and shivers (@Molly) There were plenty of things to flinch at there... * Morgan shrugs (@Molly) But they were usually similar to humans, in some ways. This is... It's different. It's creepy in a way that I just cannot explain. Ever since you told me that night whilst sat on my bed in Carleon, it's played on my mind * Morgan nods (Morgan) sorry about that * @Molly looks solemn a moment (@Molly) No. You don't need to apologise. ** You are now disconnected