** You're now known as Claudia
* Claudia is as usual up the rigging waiting for Morgan "Morning"
* Morgan nods, climbing into the ropes
* Claudia looks him over ((expression pls))
(Morgan) ((grumpy))
(Claudia) Scotch?
* Morgan shakes his head
(Morgan) No thank you
(Claudia) Bad night?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) wasn't pleasant
(Claudia) Wanna talk?
* Morgan glances at her
(Morgan) just a sort of 'what if' where Jana survived and I became a drunk
* Claudia looks at him
(Claudia) Pretty odd
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) just a new way to torture myself
(Claudia) What sparked that do you think?
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) I don't know
(Claudia) Cant imagine you as a drunk
(Morgan) It wasn't pretty
(Morgan) it was the only way to quell the nightmares I think
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Would have assumed that if you still had Jana you'd have fared better
(Morgan) apparently not.
(Claudia) Didn't realise til you woke up and she was gone?
(Morgan) pretty much the same, even in my dreams I'm torturing myself about losing Dietlinde
(Claudia) Not good.
(Morgan) No, it wasn't
(Claudia) Were you like this the whole time you were AWOL?
(Morgan) Its fair to say I was worse
(Claudia) As weird as that though? Most normal people dont have nightmares like that
(Morgan) Thats not weird
(Claudia) Not weird to dream she was still alive and you became a drunk?
(Morgan) just another way to torture myself... maybe a look at how it could've been
(Claudia) People don't normally dream like that. Or about trap ships.
(Morgan) I'll give you, those ones that happen, thats weird
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Sounds like you weren't any happier
(Morgan) some... I think I had nightmares all the same
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Being drunk help at all in reality?
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) Don't know
(Morgan) Though in the dream I had to basically drink myself to oblivion to lessen the nightmares
(Claudia) Might be worth a try ((two secs whilst I check what he dreamt after getting drunk with Edward))
* Morgan tilts his head
(Morgan) No... I got drunk with Edward and the dreams were... awful
(Claudia) Worse than last night?!
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) Tried exhausting yourself?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) a solid month of not more than half an hours sleep at a time for three hours a night, and fighting monsters... still the nightmares came
* Claudia sighs
(Claudia) **she gestures* $Can't Molly fix it?$
* Morgan shakes his head
(Morgan) Nor can the Nieblungen
(Claudia) That why they gave you the balm? **This reminds him of the first dream of the night where they had given Heinzharold the horse that could travel faster than a horse should be able**
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) maybe
(Claudia) Think it'll get better with time?
(Morgan) I've no idea. I was hoping it'd ease if I can, as you put it, deal with it... but I just don't know
(Claudia) Any ideas how to do that?
(Morgan) I'm working on acceptance and that its alright to move forward
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Life's gotta go on. You can't stay frozen in a space and time.
(Morgan) its difficult
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) I'll bet
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) Varick can't do anything...?
(Morgan) why would he?
* Claudia shrugs
(Claudia) Maybe put you in contact somehow?
* Morgan smiles slightly
(Morgan) They've passed over... they were so loved they had no reason to linger
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Gotra be some comfort in that? Some closure?
(Morgan) some, yes... quite a lot, actually, now its just the other things to work on
(Claudia) Other things?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) my failing of them, how much I miss them, how moving on isn't betraying them... 
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Only time can do that. People remarry all the time. My Father remarried about two years after my mother died, and everyone said how slow that was
* Morgan nods
* Claudia huffs
(Claudia) Not that they were a good example of what to do.
(Morgan) no?
(Claudia) I told you the other morning whilst you were being an ass to Molly about keeping secrets.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) yes, of course
(Claudia) They were horrible to each other, after the first few months. They were alright to begin with, but once they had to live together with all of us they started to resent each other. Then they would spend weeks sniping at each other, picking each other to bits. Probably why I think love is a big waste of time.
(Morgan) doesn't sound like they loved eachother much to me
* Claudia shrugs
(Claudia) Hard to say. If they did, they hated each other at least the same amount. They obviously got something out of being awful to each other. I didn't like her, but I don't think she was a bad person, they just didn't work as a couple.
* Morgan nods
* Claudia takes out the scotch and sips it before offering it to him
* Morgan shakes his head
(Morgan) No, thanks
(Claudia) Should be on the move if you want to be up there for dawn
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) aye
* Morgan suddenly drops from the rigging
* Claudia stashed the scotch and follows him down
(Claudia) **they get up to his usual spot with Claudia having been quiet on the way**
(Morgan) something on your mind?
(Claudia) Family.
(Morgan) anything I can help with?
* Claudia shrugs
(Claudia) Just thinking about my Father and Step-mother. They might have ended up happy eventually. I was eight when they got married, seventeen when they all got massacred. But I hadn't seen them for almost two years, didn't write.
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) **the sky is a bluey gray, stars fading rapidly
(Claudia) Maybe they had your issue, neither of them had fully moved on from their spouses *she watches the lightest part of the sky*
* Morgan nods slowly
(Morgan) maybe
(Claudia) Doesn't seem like marriage is a worthwhile activity to me.
(Morgan) I can see why you'd feel that way
(Claudia) All can end in misery. Who wants that?
(Morgan) it can always end in misery, married or not
(Claudia) Don't become attached, one less thing to get hurt by.
(Morgan) Bit cold, though... and you have attachments
(Claudia) Not cold, self-preserving.
(Morgan) No, I meant life with no attachments, not trying to avoid them
* Claudia shrugs
(Claudia) My attachments are few and I prefer it that way. You, Heinzharold.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) You going to try to bullshit me about not having an attachment to Sorgi, or Molly, or Varick?
* Claudia glances at him
(Claudia) Sure you want an answer?
(Morgan) I think I do
(Claudia) I could leave. It wouldn't hold me back. I'd want them to be well, but it's not the same as with you and Heinzharold
* Morgan nods
* Claudia shrugs
(Morgan) I think you'd miss them
(Claudia) I don't really miss people. I _had_ to stop missing people when everyone I knew was suddenly dead and I was dealing with the aftermath of everything that happened during basic training.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I'm sorry I abandoned you
* Claudia shrugs
(Claudia) Doesn't matter now. Let it go.
* Morgan nods, looking around
(Claudia) **The sky is lightening further, sun almost rising**
(Claudia) Just don't fucking do it again, because I will find you next time.
(Morgan) So don't completely let it go... got you...
(Claudia) Forgive it, dont Forget it.
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) Ever think maybe you should have stayed away longer?
* Morgan looks at her
(Morgan) why?
(Claudia) Maybe you needed more time before going back to Eisen, taking on a wife and a child again.
(Morgan) I don't think so... I came back because I wanted to be with her... I wanted to come home to marry her. Taking on Varick was an unexpected complication, but not one I regret
(Morgan) I think if I'd stayed away I wouldn't have healed any further 
(Claudia) Just seems like maybe you needed to find yourself, stop making war against yourself and start making some peace
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) **The sun peeks above the land in the distance*
(Morgan) I think... thats been happening since we all got together again
(Claudia) Not stopping your nightmares though
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) takes time... 
* Claudia shrugs
(Claudia) Well, Heinzharold won't be going anywhere
(Morgan) and you?
(Claudia) Depends
(Morgan) on?
(Claudia) On what suits me. I won't be tied down to one place. If something or somewhere comes along that feels right, I'll go
(Morgan) \/me nods
(Morgan) I'll miss you
(Claudia) No plans to go yet. I'll give you fair warning.
(Morgan) I know... I just want you to that
(Morgan) to know that *
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) I know.
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) It wouldn't be forever. I'd miss Heinzharold too much. *she stays deadpan, but he can see she's trying to wind him up from her micro-expression *
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) cant say I blame you
(Claudia) You should have taken him.
(Morgan) I couldn't
* Claudia shrugs
(Claudia) Agreed to disagree.
(Claudia) Agree*
(Morgan) I've spoken to him about it... he understands
(Claudia) Or he doesn't want to hurt your feelings.
* Morgan shakes his head
(Morgan) No... 
* Claudia just shrugs, watching the sunrise
(Morgan) Just as well I didn't, Lady Torrington would've been all over him
(Claudia) Bad taste in men?
(Morgan) awful
(Morgan) Seems to like pretty ones
(Claudia) Never understood the appeal of that. If you like pretty, bed a woman, if you like handsome, bed a man.
(Morgan) To be fair, the one she asked permission to marry is a good looking man... quite hateful, really
(Claudia) Most men can't admit other men are good looking. You don't secretly flatten out both sides of your sheets? **she's trying not to laugh*
(Morgan) I'm assuming thats a euphemism
(Claudia) Obviously
(Morgan) No...
* Claudia glances at him
(Claudia) Went to a noble academy though... we all heard the rumours.
(Morgan) what?
(Claudia) What happens at the academies... young men and their curiosity. Mind you, same was said about being in the navy too.
* Morgan shakes his head
(Morgan) They might do that in the army
* Claudia snorts
(Claudia) Wouldn't surprise me, can't see it with Edward though
(Morgan) He thinks I'm a stick in the mud
(Claudia) He's not wrong
(Morgan) yes but... _he_ thinks I'm a stick in the mud...
(Claudia) He's worse
(Morgan) you'd be surprised
(Claudia) Surprise me then. It'll go no further
(Morgan) I caught him and Mina getting very enthusiastic in a corridor in the Eisenfursts house
* Claudia laughs
(Claudia) More shocked of it from Mina than Edward!
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) Impropriety in the Eisenfurst's house is a great way to ruin your noble reputation
* Morgan blushes
* Claudia stares at him
(Claudia) Guilty conscience?
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) maybe
* Claudia laughs
(Claudia) Worse than Edward?
(Morgan) might be
(Claudia) Must be bad if you're getting evasive
(Morgan) its just sex, as you so bluntly told me not that  long ago
* Claudia laughs
(Claudia) I was expecting something dramatic. I'd bet most of his guests have had sex in the Eisenfurst's house with their wife. Assuming it was with one of your wives!
(Morgan) Not necessarily in the stables, though
* Claudia stares at him open-mouthed
(Claudia) Holy fuck!
(Morgan) No, not in a church
(Claudia) Not a hope in hell could you persuade a woman to do that
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) if you say so
* Claudia shakes her head
(Claudia) Even _Heinzharold_could not manage that
* Morgan shrugs again
(Morgan) feel free to bet me if you dont believe me
(Claudia) Name your terms *she looks amused*
(Morgan) five guilders says I'm telling the truth?
(Claudia) That you could, or that Heinzharold could? She'd have to agree not just theoretically, but in practicality
(Morgan) that I _have_
* Claudia looks impressed
(Claudia) Alright
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) I know you won't lie, so on your word, and I'll give you five guilders.
(Morgan) You owe me five guilders
* Claudia hands them over
(Claudia) The stables and a church, you lucky bastard.
* Morgan tucks them into a pouch
(Morgan) No,not a church.... that'd be... inappropriate... 
(Morgan) a tavern full of people is more likely...
(Claudia) I was talking about a church. Hang on, you've done it in a tavern?!
(Morgan) I was talking about the Eisenfursts stables...
(Claudia) How the hell did you get away with that?
(Morgan) barely
(Morgan) shenanigans in the tavern was riskier though
* Morgan looks over at the horizon
(Claudia) Bloody hell. It's like you've come home a different man.
* Morgan sniggers
(Morgan) a lots changed in the last few weeks
(Claudia) Like what?
(Morgan) apparently I'm willing to engage in scandalous behaviour in a tavern
(Claudia) Proper tavern, or tavern that's mostly a front for a brothel?
(Morgan) you know that night you went off to the brothel?
* Claudia smiles slightly
(Claudia) I do
(Morgan) that tavern
* Claudia laughs
(Claudia) Definitely not a brothel.
(Morgan) no
(Claudia) "Shenanigans" as you put it would be acceptable in a brothel, or a fronted brothel. Seen couples go to them to do that before.
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) We were all feeling a bit bad we'd abandoned you to listening to Edward droning on
(Morgan) cant say I heard much of what he said
* Claudia shakes her head, laughing
(Claudia) What the hell has happened to you?!
* Morgan shrugs
(Claudia) How did you not get caught?!
(Morgan) Not entirely sure actually
(Claudia) Edward would shit a brick if he knew
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) yes... he would
(Claudia) What did Heinzharold say?
(Morgan) he doesn't know
(Claudia) Surprising
(Morgan) He'd have a field day if he knew
(Claudia) He would probably tease you
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) indeed
* Claudia shakes her head smiling
(Claudia) I just assumed you were a bit like Rheinpfalz, twice a week, organised and efficient, get it over and done with.
* Claudia is grinning
(Morgan) ah, no. 
(Claudia) Until the Draw happens,  at least.8
(Morgan) No, that was entirely without that
(Claudia) Wow. Who would have thought _you_ would be like that?!
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I know
(Claudia) Heinzharold I would expect it from. Not with Inga though
(Morgan) No, she's been shaped by her past
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) That I understand all too well.
(Morgan) at least I could do something about hers
(Claudia) How do you mean?
(Morgan) what do you know of her past?
(Claudia) Worked in Die Dauerhaftigkeit since she was a child, was involved pretty heavily with Heinrich, which Heinzharold is still jealous about
(Morgan) She was sent from her home because the Freiarr had a predilection for young girls, and once they were pregnant, were cast out.
* Claudia scowls
(Claudia) Right
(Morgan) She was sent away to escape that from reaching its conclusion. I paid him a visit.
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Sounds like he needed one
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) didn't kill him though
(Claudia) You should have
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) No, what I did to him was worse
(Claudia) What?
(Morgan) If he was still alive, he wouldn't be bothering any young girls anymore
(Claudia) How did he die?
(Morgan) infection set in
(Claudia) Painful and slow. Good.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) indeed
(Claudia) Nothing you can do for me, I did it myself.
(Morgan) I know.
(Claudia) I'd say sorry I took that from you, but I'm not.
(Morgan) I know. 
(Claudia) Sorgi is helping.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I'm glad about that
* Claudia nods
(Morgan) I wish you were comfortable enough with me for me to help you, but I'm grateful to just have you.
* Claudia smiles a little
(Claudia) You couldn't help in the way he is helping.
(Morgan) No, but in _some_ way. 
(Claudia) In some way, you are. You and Heinzharold with your wives. You're helping me see it in a way that doesn't seem abusive.
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) I don't recoil just discussing sex like I did. Even a few weeks ago we couldn't have had this conversation.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I think... we're all slowly changing
* Morgan tilts his head
(Morgan) except HeinzHarold, he's still thirteen
(Claudia) You need to change. Suppose I do too. Heinzharold is always going to be like he is, and I think we need him like that
* Morgan nods, smiling slightly
(Claudia) Sorgi isn't changing really. Is Molly?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) aye
(Morgan) She's more confident than she was, certainly around people think they're better than she is... 
(Claudia) Needs it, living with you. She was very shy and quiet that first day I met her.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) hang on, what do you mean, living with me?
(Claudia) Needs to be confident and outspoken. You can be pig-headed
(Morgan) nonsense
(Claudia) Sure. Besides, if you're going to be leading her to stables and taverns, she needs to be confident in telling you to pack it in
* Morgan mutters
(Morgan) wasn't my idea
(Claudia) Seems unlikely.
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) so did doing it in those places in the first place
* Claudia shrugs
(Claudia) Good for her then. About time women were allowed to take the lead and get their own desires seen to
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) can't be doing with this idea about nobles and sex, either
(Claudia) Not something I think about often!
(Morgan) can't say I did... sounds utterly pointless
(Claudia) Making heirs. Save the dirty stuff for mistresses and whores
(Morgan) Its not _fair_
(Claudia) Fair to whom?
(Morgan) to the wives... 
(Claudia) You're assuming they married for love or desire. Hannalore didn't want Rheinpfalz's passion.
(Morgan) but it should be their choice, not an expectation...
* Claudia shrugs
(Claudia) Men like novelty, no matter who gets hurt.
(Morgan) its not right
(Claudia) Plenty of noble wives getting their pleasures on the side too
(Morgan) I suppose so
(Claudia) Normally once they have an heir and a spare, they're free to take discreet lovers too. And they do. Hannalore had loads of stories about them.
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) They get bored of the same man, or irritated about him being in love with some mistress or whore, and decide why shouldn't they have the excitement of some handsome young man who will light up her bed.
(Morgan) a pity it has to be that way
(Claudia) That's  what happened with Edward's friend Pottersdam's parents from what Hannalore said. He was mad about his mistress, she hated him for it. She slept around and then decided he could  keep on loving someone other than his wife. He became a drunk, his mistress left him, they never got back together. She's mostly flinging herself at new men and embarrassing them all
(Morgan) I noticed
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Women will play men like a fiddle, and often men are too stupid to see it.
* Morgan nods
* Claudia rolls her eyes
(Claudia) Sometimes they play women like it too.
(Morgan) Just sounds like they're not very nice people
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) I dont think you need to worry about it. I  cant picture Molly with anyone but you
(Morgan) I'm not worried.... its just a sad state of affairs
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Fidelity is uncommon. Brothels would go bust if it wasnt, especially in peace time
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) true
(Claudia) And that would be a shame
* Morgan glances at her
(Claudia) What?
(Morgan) I was trying to decide if I wanted to have a dig at you, but its something you trusted me with so I decided not to
(Claudia) You know how difficult it is to find women to spend time with who are also attracted to women, without potentially getting caught by a husband or father and ruining her life?
(Morgan) No, none at all
(Claudia) Brothels are about the only way around that
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) I haven't decided about telling Heinzharold yet
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I think he'd be fine, but I understand your reticence 
(Claudia) I feel a bit bad that I told you and not him. Makes it seem like I care about you more.
(Morgan) which just isn't true
(Claudia) No. If I was having to take him with all the crew to the brothel, I would tell him so he knew not to worry if he couldn't find me, but there's no way he'll go
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I wonder if perhaps its because I just accept you
(Claudia) No, it's mostly because you caught me out and I didn't want to lie.
(Morgan) If its all the same to you, I'll stick with my reason, I like it better
(Claudia) If it helps, the other part is that I know you understand wanting someone the world says you arent allowed to want.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I'll take that
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) And I don't have any option to defy convention and marry regardless
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) aye
(Claudia) Not that I would.
(Morgan) indeed
* Claudia nods, looking at the risen sun
(Claudia) Could take Heinzharold along to stand watch and keep the men in line
(Morgan) depends on the day
(Claudia) Why?
(Morgan) Molly's ex fianc?... his wife died. She and Molly were very close. She wants to go and pay her respects, I'm sending HeinzHarold with her
(Claudia) Overnight?
(Morgan) No, no... but it'll be a few hours
(Claudia) You could do it instead?
(Morgan) Last time I saw him I had a sword to his throat... I know what he's feeling right now and seeing me unexpectedly isn't a good idea
(Claudia) I meant the brothel
(Morgan) oh... if Inga will have Varick, maybe
(Claudia) Do we take the Rose over now then, drop Inga, Varick, Molly and Heinzharold in Tawstock, and then go on to Kingston for the day and night?
(Morgan) Might be an idea... could do with talking it over with molly first
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Come on then
* Morgan nods, heading back towards the ship
* Claudia goes to find Sorgi. Morgan hears giggling from his study before he even arrives there
** You're now known as Molly
** Morgan has quit (Quit: Leaving)
** You are now disconnected

------------------------------
Logging started for 192.168.1.82:#7thsea on Friday, 6 August 2021 10:58:31 British Summer Time
------------------------------

** You have joined #7thsea
* Molly and Inga are fully dressed and sat giggling on the sofa. He just makes out the word "pillow"
(Morgan) ladies
(Molly) **They both blush like they've been caught out, and giggle more. Inga stands up** I: I'll get Varick's boots on him
* Molly nods, biting her lip "Thank you, Inga"
(Molly) **Inga goes through to Varick's room, collecting his boots on the way. Molly looks at Morgan** liebes herz... good morning.
(Morgan) pillow?
* Molly blushes
(Molly) Ah.
(Molly) Your sharp hearing always gets me into trouble *she smiles*
(Morgan) oh really?
* Molly shrugs nonchalantly
(Molly) I was just... helping my friend
* Molly tries not to grin
(Morgan) passing along information from Stef, perhaps?
* Molly nods
(Molly) Precisely. Just telling Inga something I was told...
* Molly bites her lip
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) How are you feeling this morning?
(Molly) Good. And you? No sore head?
(Morgan) I didn't drink much
* Molly nods, patting the couch beside her with a questioning look
(Molly) Unlike Heinzharold
(Morgan) He w/me sits down
* Morgan sits down
(Morgan) He was determined not to get so drunk
* Molly smiles
(Molly) He wasn't too drunk... just quite drunk
* Morgan nods
(Molly) How did you sleep?
* Morgan shrugs, looking at the floor
(Morgan) about the usual
* Molly gently strokes his arm
(Molly) I'm sorry
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) it happens
(Molly) I dreamt something strange
(Morgan) oh?
(Molly) I was looking for something in some boxes, but I couldn't find it. Every time I thought I had the right box, it wasnt, and more boxes kept appearing. No matter what I tried, I never found it
(Morgan) what were you looking for?
(Molly) I don't know *she frowns* I just knew it was something important, something I absolutely had to have
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) Perhaps you weren't ready to find it?
* Molly shrugs
(Molly) Maybe I thought it was there but it never was?
(Morgan) maybe
* Molly smiles
(Molly) I dreamt a few other things, but that is what sticks in my mind
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) you were making some noises when I woke up first time
* Molly blushes
(Molly) Oh dear!
(Morgan) Claudia was wondering if I'd go help keep the crew inline on shore while you go to see John Dagget
* Molly nods
(Morgan) they'll probably end up in a brothel...
(Molly) Oh.
(Morgan) Thats a problem for you
(Molly) Its... *she takes a breath* No. It makes sense to make sure everyone is keeping the peace with the locals.
(Morgan) Come on, tell me
(Molly) I can appreciate why it would be a good solution... but I'm not overly fond of the idea of you spending hours on end around barely dressed women who are touching you and trying to tempt you into bed *she looks uneasy rather than angry*
(Morgan) You don't need to worry my love. I'll find myself a quiet corner with a book
(Molly) I am not worried that you would do something... I am just uneasy about you being at all tempted
(Morgan) Not something you need worry about my love. Consider how people harped on about Hannalore, and my reaction to her...
* Molly nods
(Molly) Would it bother you if I was spending a day somewhere that there were attractive men partly undressed and trying to seduce me?
(Morgan) I suppose so... I'm more concerned about you spending time with someone you had feelings for previously...
* Molly looks surprised
(Molly) You are?
* Morgan shrugs slightly
(Molly) You wanted me to be open about my feelings about the brothel...
* Morgan sighs
(Morgan) its a man you loved... how could I not find that difficult
* Molly chews her lip, quiet a moment
(Molly) I wasn't _in love_ with him.
(Morgan) But you had strong feelings for him... it just bothers me
(Molly) You have nothing to worry about. I care for his pain, and I want to console him, but I don't want to be with him. It is _you_ that I love. Whatever life I could have had with John is long gone, and I don't ever wish it back.
(Morgan) I know I have nothing to worry about... as you know you have nothing to worry about with my chaperoning the men
* Molly smiles ruefully
(Molly) I know that. I'm just a little jealous at the idea of it
(Morgan) You needn't be. I have no interest in anyone else
* Molly nods slightly
(Molly) And nor have I. Neither from my past nor anyone I might not have met yet.
* Morgan nods
* Molly squares her shoulders slightly "We will have to take the Rose to Tawstock then, theres far too many men to go on the Ketch"
(Morgan) We're going to Kingston... the tensions Tawstock are too high to risk it
* Molly thinks
(Molly) It's about six or seven miles from Tawstock. How long will you be gone?
(Morgan) a good few hours, but I daresay you'll be that long anyway
* Molly nods slowly,  calculating
(Molly) Eighty men... I would say a few hours is optimistic if they will also want time to drink and relax...
(Morgan) I said a _good_ few hours
(Molly) If you take the Rose to Kingston, we will take the Ketch to Tawstock. I will see Mr Jeffries and the solicitor,  then we will leave Inga and Varick at Sunnymeade whilst we go to Goodleigh to see John. We won't need the Ketch there, so the crew can join you.
(Molly) The four of us can take lodgings in the town for the night, and in the morning the Rose can come to take us and Mr Jeffries to the island whilst the Ketch stays with you in Tawstock for your visit to Lady Torrington's house
(Molly) ((This also makes sense incase he drops in on John, and for him to find Elsie in the brothel which he hasn't told Molly about))
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) good idea
(Molly) That would be alright with you? We would briefly see each other tomorrow morning
(Morgan) its less than ideal, but if I'm going to be on the Rose without you for a time, it might be worth trying it
* Molly nods
(Molly) I do not mind it too much. They do say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I could certainly stand the idea of you desperately missing me…
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) very well then
(Molly) Alright. I suppose one of us needs to tell Sorgi so the Ketch crew can get ready, and those of us going to Tawstock can pack for the night
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) aye
(Molly) **The next half an hour is a flurry of activity. Sorgi approves the plan, and the crew cheer the prospect of time off, drink, and ladies. The Ketch is hauled out and prepared. Molly, Varick, and Inga are slightly later than Heinzharold who finds Morgan on the deck**
** You're now known as HH
(HH) G'morning.
(Morgan) sore head?
(HH) Nope, I'm fine. Didn't get a slap either.
(Morgan) good for you
* HH grins
(HH) If I wasn' 'scorting Molly, I'd come with you, just to watch you handle sittin' in a brothel!
(Morgan) I know you would... 
(HH) **HH slaps him on the back in a bear hug** Rather you than me!
(Morgan) thats usually the case...
* HH nods
(HH) Any instructions for me?
(Morgan) the usual, keep her safe. Watch for any... odd behaviour...
(HH) What sorta behaviour you thinkin'?
(HH) **Rousseau, the captain of the Ketch, comes in their direction**
(Morgan) talking to people that aren't there, going... blank...
* HH nods
(HH) Leave her alone with Daggett?
(Morgan) see what you make of him... if he seems like he's going to lost it at any minute, no...
(HH) That likely?
(Morgan) sadly, its a possibility
* HH nods
(Morgan) There's a reason I'm so feared around Tawstock, and I'd already had time to start dealing with it all
* HH nods
(HH) I'll be cautious. She know what yer doing today?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) of course
(HH) Did _you_ get a slap? *he laughs*
(Morgan) Don't be daft
* HH shrugs
(HH) You had years o' sitting like a grumpy monk outside brothels, won't be much of a challenge for ya.
(Morgan) I was thinking I'd sit inside, in case it rains
(HH) Wouldn't be the first time ya picked the rain.
(Morgan) No, thats true
(HH) **Molly and the others come up. He has to say goodbye to her, Varick, HH and Inga on the shore as they board the Ketch, knowing that with the Rose's speed they will easily overtake the smaller vessel.
(HH) **Inga gives him a brief hug** We will take good care of them
(Morgan) Thank you Inga
(HH) **Varick hugs him tightly** I'll miss you
(Morgan) and I'll miss you... have fun with your cousins and be good, alright?
(HH) **He nods, going with Inga and HH on the Ketch.
** You're now known as Molly
* Molly comes to him, bringing her lips to his despite the audience
(Morgan) I've told HeinzHarold to get an idea of what Johns behaviour will be before he lets you alone with him... I want you safe.
(Molly) I will be careful, liebling. Be careful too. Do think of me, if you get a spare moment please.
(Morgan) I shall, always
* Molly nods
(Molly) I will most certainly think of you *her eyes sparkle with mischief*
(Morgan) I hope so
* Molly kisses his cheek, lingering just a moment
(Molly) I love you, endlessly.
(Morgan) and I you blossom
* Molly boards the Ketch, and the four of them wave goodbye as the boat sets sail. Claudia yells to him "Come on, Casanova!"
* Morgan nods, heading back onto the Rose
(Molly) **The Rose passes the Ketch quickly, and before they arrive in Kingston he's far enough from Molly that she's off his mental radar entirely. The crew is cheerful, and he's left to his own devices for the hour long trip. Left on their bed is Molly's shift neatly laid out for him
* Morgan smiles at it, drinking coffee on the short trip
(Molly) **The Rose docks in Kingston, an unfamiliar port but one much better suited to ships like the Rose than Tawstock. Given the geography, it would make more sense to use Kingston as the regular port for supplies and trade with the island.
(Molly) **Sorgi easily brings her in, and Morgan goes to deal with all the permits. The new ship has gotten the attention  of the locals, and people seem curious. There is not much hostility here, certainly nothing like in Tawstock.
(Molly) **Sorgi is giving orders to the crew when he gets back to get The Rose settled. He then details that they will be able to go on shore leave half the crew in the day, the other half in the evening. He then looks to Morgan*
(Molly) Anything you would like to add, m'lord?
** You're now known as Sorgi
(Morgan) I'm trusting you all to behave like gentlemen... I will not tolerate anything that leaves bad gossip in our wake. Is that understood?
(Sorgi) **They all nod
(Morgan) good... enjoy yourselves
(Sorgi) **There's cheering
* Sorgi motions Morgan aside
* Morgan follows him
(Sorgi) If you take Claudia now, I'll go along later.
(Morgan) sure?
* Sorgi nods
(Sorgi) I'm in no rush, m'lord. *he smiles* You won't want to stand watch in a brothel for the next seventeen hours, it'll be useful for Claudia to be able to take off from you.
(Morgan) Good shout
* Sorgi nods, he looks a bit undecided about something
(Morgan) something on your mind my friend?
(Sorgi) If you're going to be participating, I'd recommend waiting til everyone else is busy. It'd be difficult to keep it quiet with so many crew.
(Morgan) I have no intention to, I'm just going to make sure no-one gets out of control
* Sorgi nods
(Sorgi) That's what I suspected
(Morgan) I'm almost offended you thought otherwise
* Sorgi sighs
(Sorgi) I didn't want to offend you, m'lord, but I wanted to look out for her Excellency just incase
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) almost offended... but rest assured, its not something you need concern yourself with
(Sorgi) Thank you. Try to keep Claudia safe too.
(Morgan) always
* Sorgi nods his head, going back to his tasks
(Sorgi) We'll see you later
(Morgan) aye cap'n
(Sorgi) **He doesn't know this port, but port towns are port towns. There's a row of three brothels, all quite large, down one side street of the dock. With a group of forty men keen to drink and enjoy themselves, they go into the first one. It's nothing like Madame Verbene's in Fischler where he went to meet the Comte Du Valois with Claudia at his side. That's where she is now.
** You're now known as Claudia
(Claudia) Looks passable.
(Morgan) take your word for it
* Claudia is the only one of the party who looks to have taken the time to get cleaned up and tidy. Her hair is half down at the back
(Claudia) **She pushes the door open. The brothel is more like a standard tavern, plenty of seating for their large party, and they all get settled in for a morning of drinking. Claudia looks around, spotting the multitude of "barmaids". Jugs of ale are soon poured for the men with plenty of tankards and glasses on the tables. Its noisy quickly.
(Morgan) reckon I can get some tea?
* Claudia laughs
(Claudia) Are you crazy?
(Morgan) there jury's still out on that
(Claudia) **There's a man serving drinks at the bar**
(Claudia) **In the background, there are women laughing and sitting in laps of the Eisen sailors. She glances around at the crew before looking to Morgan* Wont be long before they're all getting a bit handsy
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I'll be back in a minute
* Claudia nods
** You're now known as barman
(barman) **he's drying some glasses and setting them on a tray**
(Morgan) morning
(barman) Good morning. Ale? Whiskey? Looking for someone special?
(Morgan) some_thing_ special actually...
* barman smiles
(barman) Depends what it is. Some of the girls will do it the Montaigne way, if that's what you're after
(Morgan) Not at all... I want some tea
(barman) Tea... *he thinks* that a euphemism?
(Morgan) No... chopped leaves, hot water, milk... 
* barman looks a bit lost
(barman) Noone ever asks for that. Yes,  I can do that. Can't take it upstairs though
(Morgan) I'm not going upstairs
* barman glances at his hand
(barman) Ah... just here for a bit of company then
(Morgan) here to keep them out of trouble...
* barman makes some tea. Claudia comes to sit at the bar with whiskey. The barman looks at her and puts two and two together, making five
(barman) Ah... your wife?
* Morgan glances at Claudia
(barman) **Claudia obviously doesn't know this Avalonian word**
(Morgan) No, my... no.
* barman shrugs, pushing him the pot and a cup
* Morgan puts a couple of coins on the counter, thanking him
(barman) Will you all be wanting feeding in a bit?
(Morgan) I'd imagine so, if they're not otherwise occupied at that point
* barman nods, going out the back. Claudia looks round at the men again. Theres now hands down bodices here and there, some kissing. She smiles before looking at Morgan
** You're now known as Claudia
(Claudia) You could have done with some blinkers, like a plough horse
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) I've been in a brothel before
* Claudia sips her whiskey "Yes, with me in Fischler just to find your comte, you said"
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) quite
(Morgan) and I'm familiar with the steps outside several of them
(Claudia) **she laughs** That one was a lot classier than this. *she sips her whiskey* Classiest I've ever been in.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) For those who think a lot of themselves
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Wasn't the easiest of places to be in with you. I was trying not to look, then I kept thinking that not looking would give the game away just as quick. It was downright uncomfortable
(Morgan) sorry. If I'd known... actually, if I'd known you wouldn't have had to be trying to not give it away
(Claudia) *Claudia leans against the bar, then looks at Morgan** Gonna be a bit strange, having you here. But it's good that I don't have to hide it from you
* Morgan nods, sipping his tea
(Morgan) I didn't think of that when Sorgi suggested I bring you with me... 
(Claudia) **The singing starts, Eisen drinking songs, and escalating groping and partially undressing leads several of the crewmen and their new friends upstairs**
* Claudia sips her whiskey
(Claudia) Don't worry, you won't cramp my style
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) good
(Claudia) **She's keeping an eye to the room. The men aren't misbehaving, noone is being aggressive or falling out, but he's gradually seeing more nudity of undone bodices.
(Claudia) Heinzharold is missing out.
(Morgan) Not sure how he'd handle being here...
(Morgan) Sorgi suggested I wait until later if I was looking for company... didn't want Molly getting wind of it and being upset
* Claudia smiles vaguely, sipping her whiskey
(Claudia) Does he need stitches now?
(Morgan) No, he was so uncomfortable about it I thought he'd suffered enough
(Claudia) He doesn't know you as well as the rest of us
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) **Her attention is caught by a brunette, who is probably not much above five feet high. She's not the prettiest one of the girls in the room, and she's definitely not all over the men as most of the others are. She's carrying a heavy tray of glasses.
(Claudia) Heinzharold would have loved it before he was married. Now it would be cruel
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) and I'm not cruel
* Claudia sips her whiskey "I always thought Heinzharold liked that bit best" *she gestures towards one of the crewmen who has a topless girl sat in his lap whilst he's managing to tickle her and make her laugh* I know he never actually properly had sex with any of them
(Morgan) I don't think he'd be him if he wasn't always trying to make people laugh
* Claudia nods, glancing at the brunette again. Meanwhile the tickling man picks the girl up and puts her over his shoulder whilst she laughs. The drinking and tapping of tankards is getting even louder despite around ten of the men being gone.
(Claudia) He's a good man. Surprised he stayed a virgin, but I reckon that was your fault
(Morgan) I don't see how
(Claudia) Peer pressure. Didn't want to look bad to you.
* Morgan shakes his head
* Claudia shrugs
(Claudia) Either way, he waited, on that but at least
(Claudia) Bit*
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) You gonna be alright here on your own?
* Morgan nods slightly
(Morgan) I'm sure I'll manage
* Claudia nods, downing her whiskey
(Claudia) Excuse me
* Morgan nods, looking for a chair somewhere quiet
(Claudia) **he finds a quiet spot that gives him a view of the room, stairs, and the street where he can drink his tea
(Claudia) **Claudia goes over to the girl she's been watching. There's a confidence to how she moves. But it's not sensual like when she fights in that style. Nor is it aggressive. It's just dominant, like she has complete control. It reminds him vaguely of Edward.
(Claudia) **Claudia takes the tray. She smiles at the girl, and they converse in what is a mix of broken Avalonian and Eisen. The girl seems to respond well, and she's quickly shyly flirting with Claudia, who seems utterly relaxed yet interested.**
* Morgan shrugs to himself, drinking his tea before pulling a small sketchbook out of a pocket
(Claudia) **A few minutes later, a blonde woman with long pale blonde hair comes over to him** Looking for some fun, sir?
* Morgan shakes his head
(Morgan) No, thank you
(Claudia) **the blonde smiles** If you change your mind, I'll be here somewhere. Want more tea?
(Morgan) please
(Claudia) **She wanders off with his tea pot. This leaves him to the room of singing sailors going through Eisen songs and weak Avalonian ale. From the rooms above, he can still hear the sounds of sex above the sea shanties.
(Claudia) **Claudia continues to move and carry things with ease, and the girl looks impressed. She starts touching Claudia's arms and body without seeming to realise. Claudia doesn't push this at all, but seems to be smiling and teasing the girl, and the girl ends up increasing the touching, moving further into Claudia's personal space.**
* Morgan sketches Claudia as she looks relaxed and happy
(Claudia) **It doesn't seem at all like a business transaction, not like with the men who are engaging the services of the women and going upstairs. It's more like a subtle seduction. Claudia is apparently excellent at this.
(Claudia) **The attraction is definitely there, but it's not fraught like he saw it between her and Sorgi, it's more like the slow burning of whiskey as it's swallowed. Claudia leans back against a table, and the brunette stands close diagonally to her. They're watching each other intently, the girl looks full of anticipation but Claudia just looks as if she has all this in hand, practiced and confident.
(Claudia) **The blonde places his pot back down full** There ya go, handsome. Shout if you need owt.
* Morgan nods, thanking her
(Claudia) **The woman wanders back towards the tables of noisy men. Claudia makes the first clear move on her quarry, a hand on the girl's neck whilst Claudia's thumb applies pressure to the centre of her lower lip.  Morgan can see both the expression and micro-expression of the girl light up with desire at this.
(Claudia) **Claudia whispers something to her, to which the girl nods. Claudia moves her hand, following her to the stairs with one hand gently holding the curve of her waist. His friend doesn't even give him a backwards glance.
* Morgan pours more tea, getting comfortable
(Claudia) **He knows it's going to be a very long day. He'd done this before, waiting for his crew mates to complete their business in brothels during the War, but  he sat outside where he could avoid the sights and sounds of these couplings. Often he would walk the towns instead, sketch some buildings or people. Anything but be inside those places. Some things were supposed to be special and sacred between a man and his wife.
(Claudia) **He had been glad that January day, having carried Dietlinde over the threshold into the cottage he had secretly bought them that he was only coming to her with the overheard gossip of the men, and not with their experiences.
(Claudia) He had been glad that he was not at all jaded by the women he would have seen naked before when it was time to finally consummate the marriage and to see her undressed. It was special that they experienced it all together, the purity of virginity becoming a purity of wedded congress.
(Claudia) **A breaking glass followed by a cheer is what pulls him out of this memory*
* Morgan looks round
(Claudia) **Someone has accidentally knocked a glass, but they're all working to clean it up carefully
* Morgan nods slightly, satisfied before looking around
(Claudia) **The hours wear on, more bare breasts and bold groping. The crew go upstairs bit by bit, and sometimes five minutes, or twenty minutes pass before they return. Those who sit back at the table all seem relaxed, keen to drink and chat. Those who haven't been yet are more fidgety. The conversation is expectedly rude, things that he would usually shut down if he overheard it on the ship, but it's all good natured. All in all, things are peaceful.
(Claudia) **It's more than two hours before Claudia and the brunette return to the tap room. Claudia looks as unflappable as normal, but the brunette looks like the world has flipped upside down, giddy and dazed.
(Claudia) **Claudia comes to sit by Morgan  drinking some ale** Everyone behaving themselves?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) Aye, remarkably well
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Good. It often is when there's plenty of women to go around and no competition from other groups
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) **The barman and Claudia's conquest bring out plenty of bread meat and cheese to the tables, and she brings someone to Claudia and Morgan. She smiles gently
(Claudia) G: Hello, are you Claudia's friend who speaks Avalonian?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) Morgan...
(Claudia) I'm Gisele. Could you please tell her I had a wonderful time and I hope she isnt leaving yet? **she's quite a sweet looking girl, gently spoken, and doesn't sound particularly common*
* Morgan looks at Claudia, translating
* Claudia smiles, pulling the girl to sit beside her and gives her some bread
(Claudia) Tell her I'm not going anywhere for a few hours at least
* Morgan does so
(Claudia) G: *she looks at Morgan ((still got his sketchbook out?))** You haven't picked a girl yet?
(Morgan) ((aye)) No, I'm here to make sure this lot behave themselves
(Claudia) G: They are being very calm. You only like men?
(Morgan) No. I'm married and have no need to indulge here
(Claudia) G: *she smiles* That's nice. Sometimes young men come here to learn things that will help them please young women. If there's anything you would like us to talk to you about...?
* Claudia is trying to follow along the conversation but isnt managing it
(Morgan) I appreciate that, but I'm fairly comfortable in my abilities
* Morgan translates for Claudia
* Claudia laughs
(Claudia) G: *she smiles* It must be boring though, like when everyone else is drunk and you're sober
(Morgan) Thats a fair assessment... though I'm used to being in the crows nest at night, so its not _that_ boring
(Claudia) G: That's on a ship?
(Morgan) the bit at the top where we keep an eye out for pirates
(Claudia) G: How exciting!
* Morgan shrugs slightly
(Morgan) not usually
* Claudia looks at him after Gisele has been called back to sort drinks
(Claudia) What have you been doing whilst I was gone?
(Morgan) drawing, daydreaming, thinking... 
(Claudia) Brooding about Molly seeing her former fiance?
* Claudia eats her lunch as they talk
(Morgan) some
(Claudia) She'll be fine, she can take care of herself
* Morgan nods slowly
* Claudia watches him as she rips off a chunk of bread with her teeth, though has the manners to wait til she's swallowed it before asking
(Claudia) Jealous?
(Morgan) some. More worried.
(Claudia) That she'll want to go back to him now he's able to remarry?
(Morgan) No... that he'll be dangerous. There's something about losing her sister that I'm having to tread very carefully around, and I'm concerned losing her friend will bring it to the fore
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Sounds complicated. You need to check on her?
(Morgan) No, HeinzHarold knows whats going on
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) He knows about grieving a family member in childhood, he's a good bet
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) **There's noisy laughter and a slapping noise. Claudia glances over before rolling her eyes.
(Claudia) Tomorrow the Rose is going back to the Island, taking Molly and Varick but you're going to Tawstock.  Where do you want me?
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) haven't thought about it
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) What were you drawing in a place like this? Taking Heinzharold a consolation prize?
(Morgan) Drawing you, actually
* Claudia looks bemused
(Claudia) Why?
(Morgan) you looked relaxed and happy... I wanted to capture that
* Claudia nods at his sketchbook
(Claudia) Let's have a look then
* Morgan passes it over
* Claudia looks,  nodding
(Claudia) You're not bad
(Morgan) not so bad yourself
* Morgan winks at her
* Claudia rolls her eyes
(Claudia) I look too approachable. Doesn't look like I'll chop your arm off if you get too close
(Morgan) it was your face, you'll need to have a word with yourself
* Claudia shrugs
(Claudia) Gotta be fairly approachable in certain situations
* Morgan shrugs
* Claudia smiles
(Claudia) Most women,  even here, have no experience with other women. You need them to know you know what you're doing and are safe
(Morgan) She certainly seems to have enjoyed herself...
* Claudia nods, smiling
(Claudia) Nearly fell down the stairs twice
(Morgan) judging by the look on her face, I'm not surprised
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Helps to know what you're doing and why you're doing it
(Morgan) thats generally the case, yes
(Claudia) Doesn't happen much for these girls. Most of them will find today boring at the very least.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) same as any other day
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Gisele won't have that problem
* Claudia sips her ale
(Morgan) it would appear not
(Claudia) I'll tell Sorgi to keep an eye out for her later too
* Morgan sips his tea
* Claudia smiles, watching him
(Claudia) You don't approve
(Morgan) I don't disapprove. I'm just not comfortable thinking about it
* Claudia laughs
(Claudia) What else is in this sketchbook then? Got pictures of Heinzharold in here?
(Morgan) near the beginning, aye. Few sketches of some of the things I used to dream...
(Claudia) Mind if I look?
(Morgan) help yourself
(Claudia) You need to check if theres anything in here I shouldn't see?
(Morgan) No...
(Claudia) Sure? *she starts at the beginning of the book*
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) the only remotely... adult ones I've done are tucked away on the ship
* Claudia laughs
(Claudia) Wise. Heinzharold seen them?
(Claudia) ((Details of the book please))
(Morgan) No, he hasn't
(Morgan) ((just various sketches, people, places, burning cottage, spiders, several of the schattenmann
* Claudia exhales suddenly at the one of the cottage
(Claudia) Oof. Fucking hell. A heads up would have been good!
(Morgan) things I dream... I recall saying that...
* Claudia turns the page
(Claudia) You never dream of anything nice?
(Morgan) I get the occasional sex dream...
* Claudia laughs
(Claudia) Wouldnt have expected that
(Morgan) I know... 
(Claudia) Bit less shocking than the stable and tavern stuff though
(Morgan) or is it less shocking _because_ of the tavern and stable?
(Claudia) Fair point
(Claudia) Still hard to believe you'd risk everything in the Eisenfurst's stable though
(Morgan) When the woman you love states thats what she needs right then...
* Morgan sips his tea
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) That would be hard to deny, even with you romantic bullshit
(Claudia) Without the*
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) indeed
(Claudia) And that's without the Draw? *she shakes her head* With it you could end up doing it on his dining table during dinner.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) its very very difficult to ignore
(Claudia) No shit.
(Claudia) You warned Heinzharold yet?
* Morgan smirks, sipping his tea
(Claudia) Let me guess, he doesn't believe you because his willpower is just too good?
(Morgan) No, he seemed to take it onboard
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) He wont really understand it until he feels it though
(Morgan) No
(Claudia) You get it easy
(Morgan) you think so? She thought people were just being nice and attentive to her, not that they wanted to bed her...
(Claudia) Why is that so bad for you?
(Morgan) trying to keep her safe while everyone else is a potential danger to her... and she thinks its sweet and wants to engage with them
* Claudia shrugs
(Claudia) And the rest of us have to deal with knowing that if our restraint breaks then we are basically going to be taking advantage of her, ruining our friendships with you and probably ruining your marriage
(Morgan) some of you do, yes...
(Claudia) Dont we all?
(Morgan) Not the crew
(Claudia) Because they wouldn't live long enough to see the consequences?
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) tough one... it'd hardly be their fault
(Claudia) But it would change things for you I reckon. You'd always be wondering if she enjoyed it more, if someone else was better
(Morgan) probably, aye
(Claudia) Some men are only suited to virgins
(Morgan) the worst thing about that is it wouldn't work to get rid of the draw like it does with me
(Claudia) She could end up having sex with half the ship for nothing?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) it'll wear off on its own after a day...
(Claudia) A whole day of torture for whoever is guarding her
(Morgan) indeed
(Claudia) I don't relish that
(Claudia) Thing is, it makes most sense for me to guard her, doesn't it?
(Morgan) I think so. I trust your self control more than most
(Claudia) It's not that
* Claudia sips the ale
(Morgan) Thats a part of it for me
(Claudia) There isnt a man except you and Heinzharold on the ship that I couldn't beat. But the potential physical harm or unintended consequences is much less with me than with a man.
(Morgan) I suppose so
(Claudia) Wouldn't be good, but it'd be the lesser of two evils
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) She worried about it?
(Morgan) less than I am
(Claudia) Doesn't help being naturally possessive  I guess?
* Morgan smiles
(Morgan) no, not really
(Claudia) Makes me glad I'm not like that
(Morgan) possessive?
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) **More men come downstairs and others go up. The balance has shifted towards drinking rather than waiting for sex
(Claudia) Were you as possessive with Dietlinde or is losing her why you're so possessive of Molly?
* Morgan sips his tea
(Morgan) could be... it'd make sense
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Ever worry you'll suffocate her with it?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) yes
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) I would hate it
(Morgan) You are very different to her, though. To an extent she likes it I think
* Claudia sips her ale
(Claudia) Maybe it fills the gap where your reserve is
(Morgan) less of a gap now I think
(Claudia) Been hard at work have you?
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) Good. We all want to see the two of you happy
* Claudia hands back his sketchbook
(Claudia) What are you gonna draw next?
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) don't know
(Claudia) **he settles down to sketch, just peacefully putting pen to paper. What he ends up sketching is Molly in the Eisenfurstins dress from last night's dream, his hair braided into hers. After a while, Claudia says his name*
* Morgan looks up
(Claudia) **Lunch has finished, it must be around four now, and many of the men seem to be ready to head back to the ship, yawning. The combination of sex, alcohol and food seems to have made them sleepy. Gisele is sat by Claudia, sharing what's left of her food and drink*
(Claudia) Go back to the ship and take a break if you want, I'm fine here for a bit.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I'll get this lot back, looks like they could do with their bunks
(Claudia) I'll bring any stragglers. We'll regroup for dinner and the others can come afterwards
* Morgan nods, standing up
(Morgan) good idea
(Claudia) **Gisele looks at him* Will you be back tonight?
(Morgan) Maybe. 
(Claudia) G: But you still won't be looking for anything?
(Morgan) Just tea
(Claudia) G: You're not like the normal men who come here
* Morgan smiles slightl
(Morgan) I doubt you've ever said a truer word... I'm even more unusual once you find out who I am. Maybe I'll see you later
(Claudia) **She nods. Morgan standing has attracted the attention of the men, and the one who had been tickling the bare-breasted girl asks "Going back to the ship,  my lord?"
(Morgan) aye, as are you lot who're ready
(Claudia) **lots of drinks are finished and money left on the table. Theres about ten missing, but they all seem to be with the absent brothel girls. The barman thanks them on their way out
** You're now known as Sorgi
* Morgan nods to him, following the men out
* Sorgi is waiting on deck. The men chat merrily, all at least tipsy as they go below to their hammocks.
(Sorgi) How did it go?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) not bad, no issues. 
(Sorgi) No Claudia?
(Morgan) She's... spending time with someone, going to make sure the stragglers get back
* Sorgi nods
(Sorgi) Good idea. If you prefer, you can stand watch over the ship instead of going back, m'lord
(Morgan) No, I don't mind going back... I'm hoping it'll be a different barman
* Sorgi nods
(Sorgi) In that case, I'll stay here unless you need me there
(Morgan) You don't want to be... entertained?
* Sorgi shakes his head
(Sorgi) I realised I was trying to talk myself into it, but I don't have any enthusiasm for it
(Morgan) fair enough
* Sorgi nods
(Sorgi) Never been much of a brothel man, m'lord
(Morgan) I've been in one twice now
* Sorgi smiles
(Sorgi) Rare
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) actually, both times I've been in one have been with Claudia
* Sorgi nods
(Sorgi) I hadn't been in one for a long time before that one in Paan
(Morgan) we've kept you busy
* Sorgi nods
(Sorgi) I am much happier for it too, m'lord
(Morgan) Morgan...
* Sorgi smiles
(Sorgi) Force of habit
* Morgan nods
(Sorgi) Claudia was alright though?
(Morgan) seemed to be aye
* Sorgi nods
(Sorgi) No jobs for you I'm afraid, unless you want to help cook with dinner?
(Morgan) I might do that, aye
(Sorgi) If you're going back to the brothel, maybe a nap
* Morgan pulls a face
(Morgan) I don't think so
(Sorgi) Because of Zweibrucke?
* Morgan nods
* Sorgi nods slightly
(Sorgi) **Captain Ulysses starts purring at Morgan's feet**
(Sorgi) **The cat follows him to the kitchen. Mr Cook is quite happy bossing Morgan around in the kitchen as if he was one of the crew, and making more than eighty meals takes a lot of prepping, cooking and cleaning. It's good hard work, and reminds him of Lady Torrington's kitchen, which in turn reminds him of Molly.
(Sorgi) **Claudia has returned with the others in good time, and Rousseau and the Ketch crew are here too, leaving Molly, Varick, HH and Inga more than six miles away in Tawstock. It's the longest time since Zweibrucke where he hasn't been able to sense her direction**
* Morgan helps get everyone fed
(Sorgi) **Half the crew are very mellow, the other half keen to eat and be on their way. Claudia finds him when the meal is done**
** You're now known as Claudia
(Claudia) Sorgi says you're going back to the brothel
(Morgan) he isn't interested in going, so...
* Claudia nods briefly
(Claudia) He'll go to supervise them, but...
* Claudia shrugs
(Claudia) You need company?
(Morgan) Not if you're not wanting to go back down there
(Claudia) I don't need to
(Morgan) Its up to you
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) I'll bring a deck of cards
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) alright
(Claudia) **This is what they do. The brothel is noisier, the behaviour downstairs far worse. It's still good natured, but there's mouths on breasts and hands up dresses, and the noises are much more graphic. Claudia rolls her eyes, they're sat back at the quiet table again** I forgot to warn you that it'd be worse tonight
(Morgan) cos they've had all day thinking about it...
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Something about the night time too.
* Claudia shuffles the cards
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) Dont know why I'm telling you, you know plenty about having sex in taverns.
(Morgan) shut up
* Claudia laughs
(Claudia) And sneaking around in dark stables
(Morgan) dark?
(Claudia) They usually are
* Claudia deals for poker
(Morgan) ah... a little I suppose
(Claudia) Hang on, it wasn't late at night when you wouldn't get caught?
(Morgan) Mid afternoon 
* Claudia shakes her head
(Claudia) At that time of day there was a high chance you'd get caught
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I know
(Claudia) Lucky you weren't
(Morgan) nearly were
(Claudia) Who by?
(Morgan) Edward
* Claudia laughs
(Claudia) That would have been hilarious
(Morgan) You might think so
(Claudia) Sounds like Molly has really brought out something in you
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) aye, it does a bit
* Claudia watches a blonde undoing the placket of one of the sailors before looking away
(Claudia) What do you make of Sorgi not wanting to come here for the evening?
* Morgan sips his tea
(Morgan) you can tell they don't make tea here often
(Morgan) in what respect?
(Claudia) He seemed keen enough this morning
(Morgan) apparently he'd been trying to convince himself he wanted to. Says aside from going with you, he's not been in one for years
* Claudia glances back at the crew mate who is now being stroked by the women. "Drumnach, take it upstairs." He quickly does his trousers back up before taking the woman upstairs. Claudia turns her attention to Morgan
(Claudia) *muttering* They have rooms for it for gods sake. *normal* I'm not even sure he did anything but supervise in Paan either
* Morgan frowns
(Morgan) really...
(Claudia) What?
** You are now disconnected (Connection timed out)

------------------------------
Logging started for 192.168.1.82:#7thsea on Friday, 6 August 2021 19:35:12 British Summer Time
------------------------------

** You have joined #7thsea
** You're now known as Claudia
(Claudia) [18:21] (Claudia) What?
(Morgan) just... unusual
(Claudia) Yes, I get that. But _why_?
(Morgan) why what?
(Claudia) Why doesn't he want to. Its what men _do_
* Morgan raises an eyebrow
(Claudia) Apart from you
(Morgan) and Sorgi... and HeinzHarold... and Edward eventually.
(Claudia) Edward won't give it up
(Morgan) first, you're wrong, second... he hasn't actually partaken in the activities in a brothel for quite some time. 
(Claudia) **The crew are rearranging the chairs and forming two long lines. It almost looks like they're planning to dance, but what it becomes is a game that involves passing a peach pit mouth to mouth with the girls in the middle. It makes no logical sense, but they're all having fun with their good natured competition
(Claudia) Edward. The one with the reputation for whoring around Eisen...
(Morgan) He did for a while... but it paled because all he wanted was Mina
(Claudia) Yuck.
(Claudia) You're all turning so romantic.
(Morgan) I think he was anyway
* Claudia shrugs
(Claudia) I wont ever understand it
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I know
* Claudia continues the card game. The others are loud, and the game changes to having to put the peach pit into cleavages and retrieving them with mouths. Aside, a couple are rather passionately kissing against the wall, very much as Edward was kissing Mina in Faulk's corridor
(Claudia) If they're gonna mess around with games all night it'll be very late when they're ready to leave.
(Morgan) You need to get back for your beauty sleep?
(Claudia) No but you need yours
(Morgan) Long past that doing any good
(Claudia) Good point
(Claudia) Besides, some of them will get too drunk to get the job done, then they'll be aggressive about it. Never goes well then.
(Morgan) so you want to hurry them up?
(Claudia) No, just making conversation
(Morgan) Well, its what we're here for, keep them in line
* Claudia drinks some ale
(Claudia) Not sure how anyone could get properly drunk of this stuff
(Claudia) Off*
(Morgan) Mostly with determination and a _huge_ capacity to hold the urge to urinate
* Claudia laughs
(Claudia) Can always finish the job back at the ship. Not much point you staying sober enough when she's not here
* Morgan shakes his head
(Claudia) Unless your dream about being a drunk is putting you off blokners now
(Morgan) No, but my nightmares are worse when I'm drunk... properly drunk anyway
(Claudia) Gonna be bad tonight?
(Morgan) good chance
* Claudia nods, winning the hand a dealing again
(Claudia) Anything I can do
* Morgan shakes his head
(Morgan) Not a damn thing
(Claudia) Missing her yet?
* Morgan smiles
(Morgan) you really want an answer?
(Claudia) Why would I ask if I didn't?
(Morgan) because I'll say yes, been missing her since she left and you'll say yuck
(Claudia) Yep. You could have brought her, let Inga watch Varick
(Morgan) She wanted to see Dagget today
(Claudia) More than come to a brothel with eighty sailors, what a crazy woman (!)
(Morgan) You weren't complaining earlier
(Claudia) I don't think it's the sort of place for most women
(Morgan) No...
(Claudia) It'd make it difficult for you to concentrate on the crew anyway
(Morgan) whys?
(Claudia) You'd be busy trying to protect her from some of this nonsense. **she nods in the direction of the crew, where the game appears to have moved on to retrieving the peach pit from underneath the women's skirts, swapping it mouth to mouth with another woman who then swaps it with a man who puts it in some unknown location under a whore's skirts*
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) true
* Claudia smirks
(Claudia) Hands over her eyes and everything
(Morgan) I suspect so.... though she did sail with a group of montaigne courtesans, so I daresay not much of this would shock her
(Claudia) Montaigne ones... wow, that would be an education
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) **They play a few more hands, the peach pit game seems to have just descended into groping and skirts hitched up. Claudia gives them a brief glance. Though its raucous,  noone is falling out, and none of the women look pressured
(Claudia) Think I should speak to Sorgi about it?
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) if you want to
(Claudia) I don't want him feeling like he shouldn't, because of he and I
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) He does know where things stand between you, yes?
(Claudia) That we can both do who and what we wish, yes.
(Morgan) I mean more that there's not what would be considered a relationship between you...
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Definitely
(Morgan) what if he no longer feels that?
* Claudia frowns
(Claudia) Why wouldn't he?
(Morgan) I mean... what if he's feeling things for you that you aren't prepared to reciprocate... 
* Claudia groans
(Claudia) I hope not.
(Claudia) Not sure you can even imagine how bad that would feel
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) _thats_ my concern. 
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) I'll talk to him
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) don't do anything rash
(Claudia) Like what?
(Morgan) Leaving without talking to me primarily... 
(Claudia) Obviously
(Claudia) **From the rooms above is the sound of very overacted female orgasm. Claudia rolls her eyes at Morgan*
(Claudia) You think they'd at least get it right
(Morgan) why? Most of the men won't have any idea
* Claudia laughs loudly
(Claudia) That's very true. Many dont care either
(Claudia) Men. Rubbish at sex.
(Morgan) generally speaking, apparently so
(Claudia) Present company exempted, of course (!) *she smirks*
* Claudia swigs the ale
(Claudia) I caught the tail end of Heinzharold singing to Inga last night when I went to bed
(Morgan) oh?
(Claudia) No idea what the song was. It kept getting very muffled. She seemed happy with his rendition though
(Morgan) I hope it wasn't the one about peaches and cream again
(Claudia) Not sure. She kept telling him not to stop though, so it must have been a  good song *she watches him, deadpan*
(Morgan) Maybe he sings better when he's drunk
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Maybe he does
* Claudia soon tells a few more of the men to get a room as their antics start to border on sex in the tap room
(Claudia) Am I being too strict here?
(Morgan) No. If they keep pushing their luck I'll drag them back to the ship to sort themselves out
* Claudia cringes
(Claudia) All the squeaking swinging hammocks
(Morgan) They won't be in the mood once I've dragged them out of here by their balls
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Most would let it slide. I've seen a lot happen in rooms like this, but honestly, I'm not that keen on it.
(Morgan) They want to crew my ships, they need to be better than that
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Seeing it in the brothels was at least preferable to being on the receiving end of it on the ship.
* Morgan nods
* Claudia shuffles the cards
(Claudia) Safest time was for the two days after shore leave. After that, object lessons had to be made. But after a while I had enough of a reputation that men who knew me warned men who were just meeting me
* Morgan nods
* Claudia smiles a little
(Claudia) The best one was in a camp somewhere near the weissenburg mountains, not long after I was out of basic training. There was a lovely grandmother-type following the drum with her eight grandsons, used to be always knitting socks
* Claudia drinks some ale
* Morgan nods, sipping his tea
(Claudia) I got cornered near her tent, and it was  a close call. She grabbed him by the back of the neck and told him if she ever saw him near me or another woman again, she'd put one needle up the hole in his dick, the other up his ass, and knit his guts into a pair of mittens.
* Morgan laughs
* Claudia glances at Morgan "Didn't see him again for a couple of months, and when I next did he ran away from me"
(Morgan) I'm really not surprised
(Claudia) Wasn't the last time it happened, but it was the first time I really decided that doing these men harm was good rather than bad.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) understandable
* Claudia looks at him again
(Claudia) If my commanders had had any idea that some men on our side weren't killed in battle by the Vaticine but by me, I'd have been executed
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) I'd rather lose without them than win with them
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Would the commanders though. Nineteen men is a sizeable loss.
(Morgan) You told anyone else that?
(Claudia) Sorgi. That's it.
(Morgan) Keep it that way
(Claudia) Obviously. Besides, I can do without the pity
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) It's such horseshit though. In battle I have killed hundreds of men who did nothing but wear a different cloak, bent the wrong knee, or believed something slightly different to me, and that's fine. Vengeance for crimes they committed on me is unacceptable.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) You aren't wrong
(Claudia) If I hate men in general, it's because they taught me to
* Morgan nods
(Claudia) Not you though. I can tolerate you
* Morgan smiles faintly, sipping his tea
(Claudia) **The stream of couples up to the rooms and then back down intensifies, and then the remainder of them who are already spent start singing and drinking in earnest. He and Claudia keep on playing cards. About 11 ish, he's started to feel a bit like he's just going through the motions of the game, heart and mind not in it. It's almost meditative in its quiet repetition. Then he feels the oddest little sensation on his neck, not on the back, but on the side, almost like a little kiss
* Morgan frowns, looking round
(Claudia) **Theres nothing going on, the men laughing and drinking. Claudia yawns
(Claudia) Wont be long now I would think
* Morgan nods, flicking a card so it buries itself in the remaining deck
(Morgan) Good
* Claudia looks impressed
(Claudia) Keen to be off to bed yourself?
(Morgan) Not especially, no
(Claudia) **Nothing more odd happens. All the men are accounted for and pay up, and soon they're all back out in the cool air of the dock, making the short walk to the ship. Once there, the men head for their hammocks, only a handful of crew on deck for the watch. Claudia says goodnight to him before heading to her room
* Morgan fetches coffee before settling on the deck, watching the dock
(Claudia) **It's very quiet until the watch change at midnight. This is when Sorgi finds him**
** You're now known as Sorgi
(Sorgi) I have men to stand watch, get some rest
* Morgan smiles slightly
(Morgan) I don't want to
(Sorgi) I've been given orders.
* Sorgi pulls up a crate and sits beside him
(Morgan) oh?
(Sorgi) "Don't let him exhaust himself, Sorgi. He needs to rest. I trust you to see to this for me"
(Morgan) Thats a harsh thing to do to a man
* Sorgi nods
(Sorgi) I would hate to come up against her, m'lord, but you can tell it's because she loves you
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I'm alright. Its not like I've actually done much today
(Sorgi) I'm also under orders that if you start to get like you were in Zweibrucke, the Ketch is immediately sent to fetch her, and that although she let it go then when I didn't send for her, it would be much harder for her to do it a second time
* Morgan nods
(Sorgi) I don't want to let her down
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I'm hoping it doesn't come to that
(Sorgi) How was the second lot in the brothel?
(Morgan) more challenging... still, no cross words were needed other than the occasional 'get a room'
(Sorgi) Claudia,because plackets were open?
* Morgan nods
* Sorgi nods
(Sorgi) She hates seeing it. Understandable, given what she went through
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) indeed
(Sorgi) But she's alright tonight?
(Morgan) I think so. *he frowns* its difficult, knowing her for so long without knowing her... 
(Sorgi) How's that, m'lord?
(Morgan) I knew nothing of any of this, or about her family... 
(Sorgi) She's a very private person
* Morgan nods
(Sorgi) Similar could be said of you too, m'lord
(Morgan) howso?
(Sorgi) How many people really know you?
(Morgan) I'm an open book
(Sorgi) You don't come across that way, m'lord. Claudia is getting better.
(Morgan) I don't really think there's that much to know about me
(Sorgi) **Theres a hooting of barn owls from the woods on the opposite side of the river
(Sorgi) Everyone thinks that about themselves, m'lord
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) I'm easy, Sorgi. I want the right things done.
* Sorgi nods
(Sorgi) Too late for us to do the right things for Claude now, except just support her
* Morgan nods
(Sorgi) She's opening up to you, you just have to be patient
(Morgan) Don't get me wrong, Sorgi, I'm immensely grateful and pleased that she trusts me enough to start opening up to me. I'm more disappointed that I hadn't earned that trust before, you know? Its my criticism, not hers
(Sorgi) She just didn't _want_ to let anyone in then. It wasn't lack of trust, from what she's said
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I can understand that
* Sorgi nods
(Sorgi) She went through a lot, and it shows. It's our job to help her through it in what way she needs
* Morgan nods
(Sorgi) Heinzharold will have his part to play eventually, she's just not there yet
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I think there'll be a time they're a bit more open with eachother, both ways
* Sorgi nods
(Sorgi) They're like brother and sister. Pick on each other and tease each other, but they'd defend each other to the death. She's very protective of him, in her own way
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I saw the sheer delight on her face when we picked him up... 
* Morgan takes out his sketchbook, flicking to the page showing Claudia before handing it over
* Sorgi moves the lantern closer to see it, smiling
(Sorgi) Good work. Nice to see her like that
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) aye
* Sorgi glances around, despite their only being about six crew awake, before whispering
(Sorgi) You should see in the more relaxed moments than that, when theres no more cares on her shoulders a little while. She's stunning.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) she says she looks like her mother
* Sorgi shrugs slightly
(Sorgi) Wouldn't surprise me. From what she tells me her mother was gorgeous and her Father was obsessed with her, in a good way
* Morgan nods
(Sorgi) If she's anything like her mother, it's not hard to see how he ended up that way.
* Morgan nods
(Sorgi) Did you meet this girl Gisele then?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) very sweet girl
* Sorgi nods, smiling
(Sorgi) She sounded it. Short too, unsurprisingly
(Morgan) why is that unsurprising?
(Sorgi) Hannalore, for one. The girl in Paan was short too. If you ask her about the others, right back to the first, there's not a one of them much over five foot
* Morgan nods
(Sorgi) As for men, apparently former-drunk old sea dogs is about all she can stand
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) How're you feeling about your arrangement?
(Sorgi) Fine. She's happy, I'm happy
(Morgan) She was asking me why you didn't want to go to the brothel
* Sorgi smiles
(Sorgi) What did you say?
(Morgan) what you told me... she said 'but thats what men do'/... she's going to talk to you about it I think
(Sorgi) She forgets that I am almost fifteen years older than her, and nearly drank myself to death. I don't have the interest now that I did.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I cant say that crossed my mind either
(Sorgi) It takes me a lot longer to recover than it did when I was your age, and to be honest she and I have spent quite a bit of time together lately. I'm not sure I would have made a decent showing for a young woman I don't have any attachment to after yesterday.
* Morgan nods
* Sorgi chuckles
(Sorgi) I'll speak to her in the morning
(Morgan) good
(Sorgi) Nothing to worry about. I'm not refusing to sleep with other women in the hopes she wont, I'm just happy with what I have at the moment. I dont need more.
(Morgan) I'm glad. I'd hate for their to be friction between you
* Sorgi nods
(Sorgi) I'm easy-going, and I just want her to be happy because that makes me happy.
* Morgan nods
(Sorgi) Life will take Claudia and I where it takes us, but she'll always be precious to me, even when she's moved on
(Morgan) Thats a nice way to put it
* Sorgi nods
(Sorgi) Without getting all philosophical, something isnt worth less because you don't keep it forever. Lean in to it's worth while you have it, hold it in the now, and be grateful that you ever had it at all
* Morgan smiles
(Morgan) wise words
(Sorgi) That's how I see it with Claudia and I. All things being fair, I'd have died in the gutter in Koln, I wouldn't have even had her these few weeks.
* Morgan nods
(Sorgi) We'll be dropping you off in Tawstock in the morning and taking Molly and the others back to the island. Do you need some time to see her before we set sail, because I can find some repairs and adjustments to fill the time if you do
(Morgan) some time with her would be good, thank you
* Sorgi nods
(Sorgi) I'll see to it, on the condition you go and get some rest so neither of us is in the bad books
* Morgan sighs
(Morgan) very well
(Sorgi) I'm up here til four, then it's Claudia. Between us we can handle it
(Morgan) its not your ability to handle it that worries me
(Sorgi) Maybe it wont be as bad
(Morgan) god I hope not
* Sorgi nods
(Sorgi) Not as far away this time
(Morgan) No...
(Sorgi) Goodnight, m'lord
(Morgan) goodnight captain
* Morgan gets up and heads below
(Sorgi) **He gets everything done as usual, and Molly's shift smells of her skin and her perfume. Even though there's no signing and he's done nothing all day, he falls asleep quickly
** You're now known as Molly
(Molly) **His hammock on the Oreste is more comfortable than standing watch up in the nest, and at least here he can play his guitar. He's had it about six weeks, he'd bought it in Ramsfeld when they fought out west of there. Morgan, just turned 18, had had time to look at the shops there whilst his comrades had invaded the local brothels.
(Molly) It wasn't easy, being the odd one out, but waiting for marriage was important to him. He's wondering where in Eisen his bride will come from, which nobleman's daughter may be chosen for him and what she'd  be like. Suddenly the guitar disappears from his hands,  the chatter of the others sailors filling the silence.
* Molly appears out of nowhere, on his left arm and pressed against his side. She smells of Roses,  laughing quietly. He suddenly remembers her from a dream he had before. Certainly he remembers her kissing him
(Molly) Hello again, my lord *she speaks quietly, not disturbing the other men*
(Morgan) what the-?
* Molly , from what he can see, is wearing an Avalonian style dress that's yellow with little blue forget-me-nots, nothing like the black satin and lace negligee of the previous time
(Molly) You're dreaming again
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) right
* Molly glances around, then up at him
(Molly) Mmm... this is rather cosy
(Morgan) There's worse places to be
* Molly nods
(Molly) Do you bring many girls to your hammock? *she giggles*
(Morgan) No, I've never thought there room for two
(Molly) Oh? And what do you think  now? *she wriggles, giggling, making the hammock sway*
(Morgan) it would seem so
* Molly shifts a little, hooking her left leg over his, and her left arm over his stomach. She watches him
(Molly) This would be a little safer
* Morgan nods
(Molly) Is this making you shy, my lord? **she smiles teasingly**
(Morgan) That would be fair to say
(Molly) Would you like me to go?
(Morgan) No, definitely not
(Molly) You wouldn't perhaps like me to kiss you, like before?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I would
* Molly fidgets a little in the cream canvas until she's able to lean over him and graze her lips over his. Theres a sound of familiar footsteps coming down the stairs
(Morgan) thats my doing, isn't it?
* Molly speaks quietly, scrutinizing  his expression "what are you doing to yourself, hmm?"
(Molly) **The footsteps are Kaufmann's**
* Morgan nods in Kaufmann's direction
(Molly) K: KOERTIG! Out of your bunk, NOW!
* Molly watches Morgan's face
(Molly) Who is this asshole?
(Morgan) my commander...
* Molly tilts her head
(Molly) Kaufmann?
* Morgan nods
(Molly) K: KOERTIG, I will write you up for insubordination again! GET DOWN!
* Molly sits up, leaning over the edge in a way that is quite likely she'll eventually fall off, hanging over with her bottom in the air
* Morgan sighs
(Morgan) best had
(Molly) Hmm, he's about as short as I expected
* Morgan chuckles quietly
(Molly) K: THIRTEEN MORE LASHES? I will do it!
(Morgan) No you won't, because I'm dreaming...
* Molly rolls herself over the edge, and he can hear her land on the floor on her feet
(Molly) K: WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME?!
(Morgan) You heard me
(Molly) K: GET DOWN HERE RIGHT THIS SECOND OR I WILL THRASH YOU WITH MY BELT
* Molly starts giggling at this
(Morgan) No you won't
(Molly) You can make him go away. You could make him small as a mouse
(Molly) K: I WILL TELL YOUR MOTHER YOU HAVE LET HER DOWN!
* Morgan nods, looking at him a moment, imagining him gone
(Molly) **It takes quite a bit of effort, but he abruptly winks out of existence**
* Molly suddenly reappears back in the hammock with him
(Molly) Very good. You're getting stronger.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) harder than I thought
* Molly giggles
(Molly) Oh really?
* Morgan nods
(Molly) Perhaps we'll see what can be done about that... *she kisses him again. The ship starts to pitch and roll*
* Molly tuts, holding on tight to him "My lord, a girl could start to get a complex..."
(Morgan) thats my doing too?
* Molly nods
(Molly) Very much so
(Morgan) why?
(Molly) Why what?
(Morgan) Why am I doing it?
* Molly shrugs playfully "Maybe you do not really wish to kiss me?"
(Morgan) No, I definitely do
(Molly) Calm the sea then
* Morgan concentrates
(Molly) **It calms**
(Molly) Now, where were we...?
* Morgan brings his face to hers
(Morgan) somewhere around here
* Molly brings her mouth to his once more, running her tongue along his bottom lip
* Morgan licks at it
* Molly draws away, smiling with  a raised eyebrow "Much as I appreciate the direction  your thoughts have taken..." she takes his hand, bringing it down towards the apex of her thighs
* Morgan looks surprised, blushing
* Molly moves his hand to tap his knuckles against solid metal "... I think fitting me with a chastity belt is a little bit unnecessary!"
* Morgan frowns
(Morgan) why on Theah am I doing this?
(Molly) I am not sure, it is as if you want to make yourself suffer
* Molly shrugs slightly "I can bear the chastity belt"
* Morgan nods slightly
(Molly) Although, it is your dream, so you must remove it if you wish
* Morgan nods, concentrating
* Molly frees his hand, going back to kissing him. Against his mouth she murmurs "mmmhmm... much more comfortable"
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) good
(Molly) Perhaps you could just... not do it for a while? *she giggles, licking his lip again*
(Morgan) I dont understand
* Molly carefully moves to be laid mostly on top of him
(Molly) Stop making it into a nightmare
(Morgan) I'm trying...
* Molly nods, kissing him firmly
* Morgan returns the kiss
(Molly) **he hears more footsteps, Heinzharold this time. He's singing about peaches and cream. Molly pulls away enough to look at him, smiling
(Molly) Its not really about peaches, lil dorlin...
* Morgan chuckles
(Morgan) sorry
(Molly) What for?
(Morgan) thats clearly my doing as well... 
* Molly nods
(Molly) **HH hauls himself to dangle from Morgans hammock. He looks surprised** Y' never told me you had a little stowaway up here
* Molly smiles, looking at Morgan "Oh, you clever boy"
* Morgan looks confused
(Molly) Now you're making it so he can see me
(Morgan) thats good?
(Molly) HH: Kaufmann will go berserk if he finds her
(Molly) No, it's just clever
(Morgan) You've no idea my friend
(Molly) He's still just your dream
* Morgan nods, concentrating
(Molly) **Heinzharold shrugs, walking away whilst still singing*
* Molly smiles, taking his hand which she places on her left breast "you see, these are the peaches..." she grins
* Morgan blushes hard
* Molly giggles
(Molly) I don't think I should explain further if you're blushing so much at that
(Morgan) well, its just... I never... 
(Molly) Never what?
(Morgan) this... done this
* Molly looks thoughtful
(Molly) Oh yes, of course! Do you wish not to?
(Morgan) I didn't say that
* Molly nods, shifting slightly so he has better access. What it does mean is that pressure of her thigh runs right along his manhood
(Molly) Is that better?
* Morgan grins slightly against her
* Molly looks surprised, but smiles
(Molly) I shall take that as a yes, my Lord
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) aye, very much
* Molly returns to kissing him, shifting in such a way that she can gently apply and release a grinding pressure to his erection rhythmically
* Morgan moves in time to her motions
* Molly brings her mouth to his neck, running her tongue up it. There's a sound of a cannon volley
(Molly) Oh my goodness, really?!
(Morgan) Are you sure thats not you?
(Molly) Absolutely sure.
* Morgan frowns, concentrating
(Morgan) I don't understand why I would do that
(Molly) **The cannon stops, her eager mouth continues on his skin** Don't know.
* Molly carries on with the friction on his hardness, pressing her breast against his hand.
* Morgan squeezes it, continuing to grind against her
(Molly) **Theres the twanging sound of rope fibres breaking, like on a hammock...
(Molly) You'll want to fix that before hit the floor...
* Morgan frowns, concentrating again
* Molly licks from his collarbone to his ear
(Molly) **the rope fixes itself
* Molly draws away a little to be able to watch him, her hand running down his chest, over his stomach
* Morgan watches her, flustered 
(Molly) You do not want this.
(Morgan) what>
(Molly) Me to touch you
(Morgan) \I think I do
(Molly) You are not sure
(Morgan) it is not I interrupting...
* Molly gently strokes back up to his chest, gently rubbing her hand over him here. She goes back to kissing his neck and grinding her thigh to him
(Molly) Another time perhaps...
* Morgan looks confused
(Molly) I will not push you, my lord. But I will tell you I would very desperately like to take your virginity here in this hammock, even though I am not going to.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I rather wish that too
* Molly moans against his neck before sucking on the skin
(Molly) I want to know how you'd move, the look upon your face, the sound you'd make...
* Morgan moans
* Molly whimpers, clinging to a fistful of her shirt. She changes the movement of her thigh against him, not in gentle waves now, but a more staccato rhythm, undeniably closer to a thrusting movement
* Morgan grins himself against her
(Molly) I want you... I want you so badly I can scarce breathe because of it
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) likewise
(Molly) *a drop of water falls from the floorboards above onto his forehead**
* Molly becomes quieter
(Molly) I want to feel you push into me...
* Morgan grunts, thrusting against her thigh
(Molly) **another drop, and another
* Morgan frowns, glancing upwards
* Molly 's movements become even more staccato,  longer, firmer pressure with each mock thrust. Above him is very wet floorboards seeping from above
* Morgan frowns, concentrating on the water for a moment
(Molly) **its disappears**
(Molly) I want to feel you thrust as you learn what feels good to you...
* Morgan whimpers slightly, grinding hard against her
* Molly moans at this, continuing to move against him
(Molly) I want to feel your thrusts get erratic,  your breath get erratic, your hands on me become firmer and more urgent...
(Morgan) dear lord this is torture
(Molly) Is it?
(Morgan) in the best way
* Molly moves along the lines of her talking, the thrusts with her thigh becoming less predictable, her fingers sinking into his chest, inadvertently grazing his nipple, and squeezing his flesh firmly in urgent grasps
(Molly) Mmmhmm
* Morgan swells against her leg
(Molly) **He doesn't hear footsteps this time, only his mother saying "dear boy? Are you in here?"
* Molly inhales sharply, surprised "good lord you like to torment yourself!"
* Morgan frowns, concentrating again
* Molly reduces the speed and pressure a moment to give him time to find his bearings again
(Molly) **verity disappears**
* Molly smiles, watching his face
(Molly) Now, my lord, where were we?
* Morgan looks at her, clearly desperate
* Molly looks absolutely smitten yet a little  surprised by this need in his expression.  She returns to a slow by thrusting sort of movement, not taking her gaze from his.
(Molly) I want to feel you slow your thrusts as you try to cope with the sensations, and swell deep inside me...
* Morgan grunts, frustrated
(Molly) **She moves faster, firmer* I want to feel the way your body surges beneath and within mine as you find that first release into my tight heat and I am overcome with pleasure of my own...
* Morgan grunts
(Morgan) I can't take this frustration...
(Molly) What do you wish me to do?
(Morgan) I don't know
(Molly) I can't have you like that... desperately as I want you.
(Morgan) why?
* Molly runs  her hand down between them
(Molly) It's complicated
* Morgan nods
(Molly) I can bring you release with my hand though? Like when you do it yourself?
(Molly) **he hears a faint chime, but doesn't recognize it**
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) please
* Molly lies close to him, undoing his placket and wrapping her cool fingers around his hardness
* Morgan groans deeply
(Molly) That feels good?
(Morgan) extremely
* Molly strokes him, somehow seeming to know exactly how to please him, moaning softly as she does so
* Morgan starts thrusting into her hand
(Molly) I wish I could sink down upon you like this **she slides her fist down him** that you were thrusting inside me
* Morgan groans, swelling in her hand
(Molly) **The dawn watch chimes three times, waking him into the reality of solid erection and the empty  bed**
* Morgan grunts, breathing deeply
(Molly) **breathing deeply only brings him the familiar scent of Molly's shift that he has on his pillow
* Morgan sighs and rolls out of bed
(Molly) **There is a little meow from Molly's side of the bed
(Morgan) Yes, I know
(Molly) **The cat rolls on the bed, stretching and showing his belly
* Morgan leans over, rubbing the cats belly
(Molly) **Ulysses playbites him*
* Morgan plays along
** You are now disconnected

------------------------------
Logging started for 192.168.1.82:#7thsea on Saturday, 7 August 2021 10:40:31 British Summer Time
------------------------------

** You have joined #7thsea
** You're now known as Claudia
(Claudia) **Captain Ulysses follows him on deck when Morgan has finally lost enough arousal to get dressed. The dull, persistent ache in his groin implies he spent a lot of the night hard, and is not pleasant. Claudia is in her usual spot, but spots him as soon as he gets there, watching him with concern**
(Claudia) Do I need to put you down?
(Morgan) For the record, if I get like that, you can't touch me... 
* Claudia rolls her eyes
(Claudia) I'd just brain you with something
(Morgan) It'd mean getting close enough... I don't know how far away I'd be dangerous. If it got to that, I'd just jump in the dock, that seemed to work
(Claudia) **The sky is a deep grey, lighter over where the river meets the horizon
(Claudia) How likely are you to lose it this morning?
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) should be alright
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) Scotch?
* Morgan shakes his head, brandishing coffee
(Claudia) Coming up?
* Morgan nods, hauling himself slowly into the rigging
* Claudia watches him disparagingly
(Claudia) You're getting old and slow
(Morgan) fuck off. I'm choosing to do it slowly
* Claudia laughs
(Claudia) Touchy!
* Morgan gets comfy, sipping his coffee
(Morgan) besides, this is really hot
(Claudia) The fact you aren't in the water says it wasn't as bad as you were expecting
* Morgan nods, sipping his coffee
(Claudia) Sorgi stayed on watch til five, just incase
(Morgan) He's a good man
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) We were worried you would lose grip on reality again
(Morgan) so was I
(Claudia) You seem about as normal as you ever are
* Claudia watches the sky
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) No crazier than usual
(Claudia) Crew will be up in a minute, Ketch and Rose both moving to Tawstock. You reckon Molly and the others will be ready to go?
(Claudia) **Captain Ulysses climbs up, trying to sit in Morgan's lap, which isn't at all plesant**
(Morgan) Doubt it...
* Morgan hoiks the cat to his shoulder
(Morgan) Sorgi's going to find repairs that need doing so we can actually see eachother
(Claudia) Got the surveyor to take over to Morgan's Rock, best to get underway right away. You can see them all tonight when you're back
(Claudia) **Captain Ulysses meows loudly**
* Morgan strokes the cats head
(Morgan) we'll see
(Claudia) What are you up to today?
(Morgan) going to see Lady Torrington
(Claudia) Ugh high society bullshit then
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) suppose so
(Claudia) Not taking Molly for that?
(Morgan) No, she's got things to do.
(Claudia) Good for you to be having time apart
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) I suppose so
(Claudia) You going on the Ketch to Tawstock? It'll be a bit quicker
(Morgan) it'd make sense
(Claudia) **Theres the sound of crew coming on deck, though it's not time for watch change yet, Koen instructing them for getting ready to move out. It's not quite dawn yet.
(Claudia) Decided where you want me today?
(Morgan) No, can't say I have. Want to come with me?
(Claudia) **The Ketch's crew come up next, not staying long before going to prepare their own vessel
(Claudia) There gonna be people to hit?
(Morgan) potentially
* Claudia nods
(Claudia) I can do that. Unless you need time to catch up with Heinzharold about yesterday?
(Morgan) thats a good idea actually
(Claudia) **The sun comes up above the horizon*
(Morgan) Not just dangerous, you...
(Claudia) What?
* Claudia seems distracted
(Morgan) something on your mind?
(Claudia) Just thinking about something Sorgi said. Bit too many ears around for it now though
* Morgan frowns
(Morgan) alright
(Claudia) **within ten minutes, dawn is properly done, and the crew of the Rose is ready
(Claudia) See you in Tawstock then, when we've got this hulking monstrosity moored *she grins*
(Morgan) shut up being cruel to my ship
* Morgan drops down out of the rigging and heads towards the ketch
* Claudia watches how slowly he does so, smiling
(Claudia) **Rousseau and the Ketch are ready before the Rose. They're barely out of the dock when they get within five miles of Molly, because she's finally on his mental radar again.
* Morgan stands near the bow, watching the horizon
** You're now known as Rousseau
(Rousseau) We'll be staying in Tawstock until you're ready to go back to the Island, my lord
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) Hopefully there'll be a warmer welcome this time
* Rousseau nods
(Rousseau) Wary of us
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) understandable
(Rousseau) How long are you going to be?
(Morgan) A few hours at least... got some digging to do
* Rousseau nods
(Rousseau) **Its a very smooth trip, and he can soon see the dock. At two miles, he can tell he could get a feel for her feelings
* Morgan tries
(Rousseau) **She feels both arousal, and anticipation at seeing him again, but there's also sadness mixed in too**
(Rousseau) **Behind them, the Rose is following at a distance, harder to sail here. The Ketch is easily moored, very suited to river travel, and Molly, Varick, HH and Inga are all sat on a low wall watching out for it. Molly is wearing a dress he has never seen before, except for in last night's dream, yellow with blue forget-me-nots embroidered on it.
* Morgan climbs onto the dock, heading for them
(Rousseau) **Varick arrives first, hugging Morgan tight*
** You're now known as Varick
(Morgan) well hello young man
(Varick) I missed you!
(Morgan) I missed you too. Did you have fun?
(Varick) I had to share a bed with Molly because there were no more bed. It was toooooooo warm!
(Varick) **Molly is busy watching the Rose. Inga and Heinzharold are watching Morgan and Varick**
(Morgan) She does get quite toasty doesn't she
* Varick nods
(Varick) I played with the children yesterday, and I can understand them more now. Except Mary, I dont understand her because she doesn't really speak Avalonian or Eisen
(Morgan) it won't be long though
* Varick nods
(Varick) Molly held her when she was asleep for a looooong time
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) women do like to hold little children and babies
(Varick) I like that too. I want us to have a baby like baby Joseph soon
(Morgan) really?
(Varick) **Heinzharold starts to chuckle**
(Varick) Maybe twins like Charlotte and Emily. Our twins could have ginger hair like them because they look like Martha and people's grandchildren sometimes look like them, so our twins could look like them too. They have lots of twins in their family
(Morgan) yes, they do
(Varick) So when can we have some babies?
(Morgan) Not for a while... we've got too much to do in the meantime
(Varick) But Auntie Beth has a baby in her tummy and she can still do things. And Auntie Caro can feed baby Joseph _and_ still walk around and make food _at the same time_! Molly could do that
(Morgan) Not really, not where we've got to go
(Varick) Why?
(Varick) **Heinzharold comes to hug Morgan, speaking quietly** This is all we've heard about since dinner last night.
* Morgan chuckles
(Morgan) because, my young friend, we've got to go search for undiscovered lands
(Varick) Why can't Molly do that and have a baby too? Inga and Heinzharold would help
(Varick) **Inga comes to hug Morgan too. Still Molly is watching the ship**
(Morgan) I'm sure they would... stay here for a moment, I want to go say hello to Molly
(Varick) HH: *he crouches down to Varick, and Morgan can hear him say* Once you have younger siblings, you have to do things they enjoy, not exciting adventures that older boys like. Don't wish the time away, as one man with four sisters to a young man who is going to have eight babies eventually.
* Varick is stood a little away from the others
** You're now known as Molly
* Morgan pats HeinzHarold on the shoulder before heading towards his wife
* Molly watches him approaching
(Molly) Good morning...
(Morgan) are you alright blossom? You seem... reluctant to see me
(Molly) Not reluctant at all, the opposite in fact.  *she smiles, but stays fairly still*
* Morgan holds out his hands to her
(Morgan) Not how it seems right now my love
* Molly takes them, then moves closer to speak quietly
(Molly) I absolutely must tread carefully, that is all
(Morgan) why blossom?
(Molly) Because right now all I can think of is finding some quiet little alley with you...
* Morgan blushes
* Molly watches his expression blowing out a controlled breath and stepping back a little, but keeps her hands in his
(Molly) How are you?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I'm fine. I missed you
* Molly smiles, blushing
(Molly) I have missed you most dreadfully
* Molly watches him, then looks back to the Rose
(Morgan) you're keen to be back aboard?
(Molly) There is much to do... Mr Jeffries is waiting on me to send a messenger when it is time to sail
* Morgan nods
* Molly glances at him sidelong, almost whispering "besides, I had to share a bed with Varick, and a little time of being alone on the Rose would be most welcome now"
(Morgan) I see...
* Molly frowns slightly
(Molly) That troubles you?
(Morgan) No, I was in much the same mind this morning
* Molly squeezes his hands, but looks back to the ship
(Molly) Mmmhmmm. I'm not sure what is wrong with me, I just woke up like this...
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) dreams?
(Molly) I don't recall dreaming anything at all
(Morgan) strange
* Molly tries to put her thoughts in order
(Molly) I'm sorry, I haven't even asked about your nightmares. I hope it was not too awful for you alone
* Morgan shakes his head
(Morgan) no
(Molly) That is good, I was worried about you
(Morgan) So were Sorgi and Claudia
* Molly nods. She's started to stroke his hands with her thumbs without realising
(Molly) Did you sleep at all?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) aye, I did
(Morgan) Sorgi was quite firm about it
(Molly) **her pressure becomes inadvertently firmer at that** I was concerned you would try to not sleep at all
(Morgan) That may or may not have been my plan
(Molly) It would have been unhelpful in assessing whether you could manage without me for a few weeks at sea
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I suppose so
(Molly) **HH catches his eye, and gestures $leave you alone?$
(Morgan) $give us five$
(Molly) But if you didn't have dreadful nightmares, perhaps you safely can?
(Morgan) maybe
(Molly) **HH takes Inga and Varick on the Ketch**
* Molly watches them a moment before looking back to Morgan
(Molly) How was the brothel?
* Molly looks slightly uneasy
(Morgan) They were well behaved. I sketched some, played cards with Claudia... 
* Molly nods, chewing her lip
(Molly) Were there lots of pretty women?
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) Not that I noticed. 
* Molly nods
(Molly) Its nice that you had Claudia for company
(Morgan) For some of it, aye. 
(Molly) Did you take shifts?
(Morgan) No, she went off and found someone she was interested in. 
* Molly tilts her head
(Molly) In the brothel?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) we've gone over this before blossom
* Molly nods
(Molly) You told me she liked women also, I just didn't really think that she might do anything, that's all
* Morgan nods
(Molly) You do not find it so strange?
(Morgan) I've had a while to get used to it I suppose. It took a lot for her to tell me
(Molly) Are you pleased that she did?
* Morgan nods
* Molly watches The Rose be turned in the widest part of the river
(Molly) I suppose it is just new to me. I knew from Kit and the Laird, and the Holy Book, about men laying with men in the Montaigne fashion, but I did not realise that women would lay with other women
(Morgan) it doesn't occur to most people apparently
* Molly nods, looking thoughtful
(Molly) What did you sketch?
* Morgan takes the book out of his pocket, flicking to the pages he drew
(Morgan) just this and that... drew Claudia
* Molly looks at the one of Claudia
(Molly) She would be very pretty if Inga and I were allowed to get our hands upon her
* Morgan sniggers
* Molly blushes hard "To do her hair and makeup!"
(Molly) "Not to..." *she shakes her head* "nevermind."
(Morgan) sorry... been around HeinzHarold too much
* Molly giggles
(Molly) He made me laugh yesterday after I had been at Goodleigh, and it was much needed
(Morgan) how did that go?
* Molly sighs
(Molly) It was horrible, as expected.
* Morgan nods
* Molly glances around
(Molly) It's going to be quite a long conversation, are you sure you wish to start it now?
(Morgan) No, probably not... we need to get moving really
(Molly) I... *she sighs, squaring her shoulders* We have much to do today. Once the Rose is here, we should leave you to your visit to Lady Torrington
(Morgan) We should really... much as I don't really wish to be parted from you any longer
* Molly smiles, though keeps her eyes on the Rose's manoeuvres
(Molly) "Parted" is the absolute opposite of what I wish to be with you right now
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) quite
(Molly) It is the same for you?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) very much so
* Molly shivers a little
(Molly) You did not have to share a bed, you could have... *she smiles slightly* managed without me...
(Morgan) the temptation this morning was strong I must admit
* Molly inhales sharply and exhales slowly, fidgeting a little
(Molly) Your willpower is strong than mine... only Varick being there prevented me
* Morgan nods
(Molly) I do like that you would think of me like that though
(Molly) **A grinning HH gestures from the Ketch deck $Now looks like a very bad time to interrupt$
(Morgan) $and yet...$
(Molly) **HH smirks $Glad to be of service$
* Molly watches HH with her head tilted
(Molly) What do you think he is finding so amusing?
(Morgan) interrupting us
(Molly) Oh, with that gesturing thing the three of you do?
(Molly) **Given how subtle it is, it's likely the first time anyone has called him out on it**
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) keen eye
* Molly smiles
(Molly) I first saw you do it when our marriage was announced at the tenants meeting, I have been watching for it since
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I was out  of practice 
(Molly) I have no idea what it means, though I suspect I could, if I really worked at it
* Molly smiles mischievously
(Morgan) probably
(Molly) But I won't. Besides, it isnt quite as much fun as how I can silently communicate with you.
* Molly glances at him, biting her lip
(Morgan) That is very true
(Molly) But if I start that, I suspect we may end up in a great degree of trouble, or undress, or both!
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) that, my love, is a fair assessment
(Molly) You wouldn't want for your conversation with Lady Torrington to be a reprimand for taking me in public in her lands... *she looks innocent, eyes  on the Rose being angled in towards the dock*
(Morgan) No, I'd rather not
* Molly giggles
(Molly) Get reprimanded, or... ?
(Morgan) the reprimand... not that she's very good at them
(Molly) **she moves to lean against his side** No, she isn't
(Molly) Will you be taking Heinzharold or Claudia with you?
(Morgan) HeinzHarold, though he doesn't know it yet
* Molly nods
(Molly) Alright *she sighs** I think it's nearly time to go
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) aye
* Molly watches him a moment
(Molly) I will miss you
(Morgan) and I you my love
(Molly) I would strongly suggest staying out of my mind for at least fifteen minutes after I am on the ship...
* Molly smiles
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) very well
(Molly) For your own comfort *she giggles*
(Morgan) since you'll be finding yours?
* Molly tilts her head
(Molly) Unless, of course, it is my husband's command that I wait...
* Molly watches his expression with curiosity
(Morgan) why would I do that?
* Molly smiles, shrugging with feigned nonchalance
(Molly) It might please you to keep me at this level of frustration until we are together again?
(Morgan) That is something you want?
* Molly thinks about this
(Molly) I had not considered it before... Is it something that you would find some enjoyment from?
(Morgan) I've no idea
* Molly nods slowly
(Molly) Would you like to try it and find out?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) why not
* Molly watches him, rather than the Rose that is freshly moored where a gang plank is being prepared
(Molly) Alright... *she breathes slowly* this is going to be quite a challenge I think!
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I think you're right
* Molly gains a look of mischief
(Molly) I think you probably ought to tell me you command me...
(Morgan) because that'd make it easier?
(Molly) It would be easier to follow an explicit command...
(Morgan) Then that is my command
* Molly fidgets a little, blushing, her pupils dilating a little
(Molly) Then I will do as you say
(Molly) **HH leads Varick and Inga off the Ketch, waiting for Molly and Morgan. $Can't give you any longer$
(Morgan) $thats plenty$
* Molly smiles at him, exhaling slowly
(Molly) Alright, I am as ready as I can be to face the day!
(Molly) **He sees them safely onto the Rose, where the cat is waiting. Molly runs a hand over his fur, looking a little distracted.**
(Molly) **HH is talking quietly to Claudia, and Inga is waiting near them patiently. Varick is talking Sorgi's ear off about the children. Molly suddenly blinks before glancing at Morgan*
(Molly) Liebes herz...
(Morgan) yes?
(Molly) Could you let Mr Jeffries know we are ready to sail?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I'll be back shortly
(Molly) **HH goes to Inga, kissing her with a overly theatrical kiss to the lips** Oh, my belov'd wench, though it doth rend my heart to part from thee, I must go upon the noble quest for our valiant majesty, treading many a mile 'ere I return to thy open and welcoming hearth!
* Morgan rolls his eyes
* Molly starts giggling, speaking quietly to Morgan "That's rather a suggestive image!"
* Morgan shakes his head, going to find the surveyor
(Molly) **HH follows him along** Most glorious leader, I do beseech thee most humbly to consider the renting of two beasts of burden...
(Morgan) do you want a thick ear?
(Molly) Nay, my liege, just a creature with the normal thickness of ears will suffice
* Morgan looks around suddenly, darting into an alley, pulling HeinzHarold in behind him
(Molly) Yer majesty! I am a taken man and most enthralled with my comely and toothsome young maid!
* Morgan ssshhh's him
(Morgan) stay here...
** You're now known as HH
* HH does exactly that
* Morgan glances out of the alley in both directions before stepping out and walking along the road
* HH doesn't move
* Morgan comes back a few minutes later with a pair of horses
(HH) Yer majesty! Yon horsie has _four legs_! That is one leg more than the beastie my buxom maid doth ride!
(Morgan) I wouldn't have thought you'd let her do that... thought you were possessive... 
* HH 's mouth flops open, his brain struggling to catch up a moment
(HH) My venerable lord! I am the beastie!
(Morgan) Would you like a few minutes to think of a decent reply?
(HH) Yer majesty's oral prowess is superior to mine own, for I am but a lowly blacksmith's son, and yer majesty is a virile god amongst us humble men of diminutive flesh
* Morgan rolls his eyes
(Morgan) are you planning on being a dick all day?
(HH) It is but mine only true calling in life
* HH grins,  mounting up
* Morgan pulls himself onto the horse
(Morgan) so I'm told... 
(HH) **Riding a horse is not particularly comfortable given the lingering ache he has. When they get there, Mr Jeffries is waiting with a large overnight bag. He looks happy enough to be on this adventure.
(HH) J: The ship is called the Purple Rose? Will Lady Koertig be waiting for me to come?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) aye, you cant miss the ship. She's easily the biggest in port
(HH) J: *he inclines his head* I hope you found my assessment of the value of Sunnymeade acceptable?
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) We've not had chance to put our heads together about it. 
(HH) J: *he nods* When will you be joining your wife and I?
(Morgan) It'll be later today, I've a few things to sort out before I come back
(HH) J: *he nods* Good day then
* Morgan nods to him before heading back o HeinzHarold
* HH waits to smart-mouth til they are well out of earshot
(HH) Not very deferential, yer majesty.  Maybe yer majesty should add him to yon leper colony
* Morgan mutters
(Morgan) I'll stick you in a leper colony...
(HH) Tormenting them poor unfortunate souls with my wholesome, unblemish'd and handsome visage. Yer majesty is a tyrant!
(Morgan) getting that way, aye
(HH) We poor serfs are most bless'd that our  most sublime queen is of a gentle, peaceful bent with great pity for our sufferings and provides us her glorious sweet succour
(Morgan) thats because she doesn't have to listen to this...
(HH) I will prostrate myself at her feet to provide for her this entertainment if only she were to turn those most fair eyes of the sky upon my lowly face
(HH) **They pass through the town easily, soon on the road that leads first to Sunnymeade and then to Lower Tawstock where they would have to turn left for Goodleigh or right for the Torrington House**
* Morgan turns left
(Morgan) how did her seeing Dagget go?
* HH shrugs
(HH) Noone got physically hurt
(Morgan) its a start
(HH) **The route from Lower Tawstock towards Goodleigh is very rough going**
(HH) Three sets o' crying, lots of huggin'. More cryin' on the way back to Sunnymeade
* Morgan nods, frowning
* HH looks at him
(HH) Don't be jealous, I'm sure she did the same for you lots in the beginnin'
* Morgan shrugs slightly
(HH) That little baby is cute as a button
(Morgan) Joseph?
(Morgan) oh, Daggers little girl
(HH) Aye, Kathleen. Looks like her Ma 'pparently. Blonde, blue eyes
* Morgan nods
(HH) Been years since I've had to hang on to one of them that small
* Morgan nods
(HH) Its al'ays in the back of yer head "what if I drop them?"
* Morgan looks round
(Morgan) they bounce
* HH laughs
(HH) Bullshit
(Morgan) weirdly, once you get over the initial oh shit what am I supposed to do... you don't worry so much with your own
(HH) *he nods slowly, then grins* Hold up, did you drop Edward, because... it'd explain a lot.
(Morgan) Not that I recall
(HH) *he shrugs* Havin' seen Dagget yesterday, I'm no' in a rush to have any of my own, ever.
(Morgan) its different for him
(HH) It's a risk for all of us. A big fucking risk.
* HH looks pretty grim
(Morgan) and yet having been down that road... here I go again
(HH) Ever think maybe yer touched in the head?
(Morgan) I was not dropped
(HH) That you know of.
* HH grins
(Morgan) it'd explain why I put up with you
(HH) Yer Father would never, ever admit it, but let's be 'onest, we've all seen him do clumsy stuff
(HH) You put up with me b'cause you'd ne'er have been successful with women if it wasn't for watching me.
(Morgan) what absolute tosh
* HH leads the way up a steep track
(HH) Ackshully, remembrin' that night Edward came back and smarmed all over our women, I hafta say maybe y' got it from him
(Morgan) smarmed... 
(HH) Yeah... all **He does a very good impression of Edward being cool and collected yet very flattering. It puts Morgan in mind of how Claudia approached Gisele yesterday* "How can any woman who hasn't been made by the hands of an artist be as perfect as you..."
(Morgan) I didn't see them complaining too hard
(HH) No... the treachery of the fairer sex, my liege!
* HH grins
(HH) Speakin' of the fairer sex, how was yer day in the brothel? Learnt much?
(Morgan) That if you ask the barman for tea he thinks is a euphemism
* HH shrugs
(HH) Not sure wha' for!
(Morgan) me either, but it was entertaining watching him try to figure it out
* HH laughs
(HH) Y' know they have alcohol there?
(Morgan) that might be what _they_ call it
* HH nods
(HH) Weak here
(HH) Claudia complain about it?
(Morgan) she went for the scotch to start with... but yes.
* HH nods a little
(HH) Usually does.
* HH takes a quick look at Morgans expression
* Morgan looks apprehensive
(HH) What's on yer majesty's noggin?
(Morgan) Not sure seeing him is a good idea
* HH pulls up his horse
(HH) Why?
(Morgan) I'm not sure how difficult it'll be for me... and the last time I saw him was not friendly
* HH nods
(HH) More worried about the first. He's not aggressive, he's just... *he shrugs* Don't see the point in you pokin' a splintery stick in yer own wound.
(Morgan) I'm thinking it might help him to know someone else understands
(HH) *He shrugs* You arent the only widower, he's had support. But listen, I don' wanna break a confidence, so let's jus' say that anything that is gonna cause you pain isn't gonna only hurt you.
(Morgan) I don't understand
(HH) Your lassie cried plenty of tears with Dagget yesterday for him, the baby and her friend, but the tear on the way back when it was just her and me, they were for you. But it goes no further, y' understand?
(HH) Tears*
* Morgan sighs
(Morgan) You think I should not go?
(HH) I will support y' in whatever you decide, y' know that. But I'd ask yerself if you're seeking out the hurt to help him, or to help you.
(Morgan) thats not what I asked
(HH) I know.
(Morgan) Its not for me... I wanted to make it just a bit easier for him
(HH) If you need to poke about in your own wound, then you'll do that. I dont wanna see you or Molly hurt. Given that you don't even like this guy, nor were that keen on his wife, it seems like maybe there's more to it than just bein' a good samaritan. Might not be what you intend, but to an outsider, that's a possibility, y'know?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) he won't benefit from it at all, will he? And coming from me, it wouldn't be welcome
* HH shrugs
(HH) You wouldn't have even felt the benefit of it coming from Claudia or me, so you know the answer there.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) alright
* HH leans over, patting his shoulder
(HH) You alright? Need a moment?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I'm ok. Lets head back to Sunnymeade
(HH) Not going to the Torrington estate now?
(Morgan) makes sense I suppose
(HH) Up to you. Need to talk to you about Sunnymeade though, if yer done talking  about Dagget?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) go on
(HH) If it makes you feel better, write him a note. Send it up when Molly lets him know about the Christening?
(Morgan) the what?
(HH) Kathleen's chri- wait, she's not told you?
(Morgan) we didn't really have much chance to talk
* HH nods, turning his horse back down the hill
(HH) Eliza had John take down a letter for Molly towards the end, after she knew she was dying
* Morgan frowns
(Morgan) right...
(HH) It's sad, obviously. Sayin' sorry for the time they spent apart and that.
* Morgan nods
(HH) But she also asked Molly to be one of Kathleen's godmothers, 'longside John's sister. Said it would undo some of the damage, the Dagget family makin' it clear that Molly was a good woman of faith and decency et cetera
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I assume she'd already talked that over with her husband
* HH nods
(HH) He wants it. Says he'll organise it for 'fore she leaves if she'll agree
* HH looks at him
(HH) It was one of Eliza's final requests, see?
* Morgan nods
(HH) Molly said she would think it over and get him a reply tomorrow at th' latest
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I dont see her turning her friend down
* HH shrugs
(HH) Dunno. Yer probably right.
(HH) Should prob'ly ask her about it rather than gettin' it secondhand.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) aye
(HH) No offense,  just... it was a bit intense yes'day, and words spoken in shock and distress, ya know?
* Morgan narrows his eyes
(Morgan) right
(HH) Pack that in
* HH watches Morgan
(Morgan) You want me to leave it, then throw a statement like that in, what do you expect? 
* HH just shrugs
(HH) Tryin' to do the right thing, that's all.
* Morgan scowls
(Morgan) fine. Sunnymeade...
(HH) Varick ran off from Inga while we were out,  and figured out 'ow to get in the loft
(Morgan) right...
(HH) He told Inga he was lookin' for something in the boxes. By the time we got there, the tension was through the roof. Fortunately Molly wanted to be off in the hay loft so she didn't pick up on it
* HH glances at Morgan
(HH) You know why her sister fell in the pond?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) hang on, tension with who?
(HH) Peter and James looked like they might spoil themselves at the prospect of Molly seein' what Varick found
(HH) Soil *
* Morgan nods
(HH) Someone, and they have no idea who, pulled the damned mermaid doll from the pond, cleaned it, and packed it in a box in the loft.
(Morgan) Molly had a dream night before last... looking for something in a box...
(HH) Huh.
* Morgan nods
* Morgan sighs
(Morgan) generally if Varick does something that seems unusual, its something to do with something he's being told...
* HH nods
(HH) Makes you wonder...
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) given what happened when she died, I'm concerned its coming to light
(HH) Howdya mean?
(Morgan) the insomnia, the delusions... I dread her suffering that again
* HH nods
(HH) That would be awful. It'd be like losing her whilst she was still there.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) but its coming back to her anyway
* HH shrugs
(HH) Could you slow it by keeping her away?
(Morgan) I don't know. She's been picking up bits for weeks
(HH) When did it start? ((First time was the night before the cast, just before Edward and Mina's bundling, when she said about Cecily singing Kosk Yn Ta))
(Morgan) the night of Edwards bundling... that was the first bit
(HH) - the fuck is a Bumbling?
(Morgan) its a tradition where Mina's from. They share a bed but are separated. If in the morning the woman feels the man has acted honourably, she can agree to marriage
* HH laughs
(HH) If she likes him enough she'll pretend they didn't do it
(Morgan) I've no doubt that happens. Not in this case, though
(HH) Saint Edward of Puritytown...
* HH grins
(Morgan) shush... it was important. and it was a big step towards us getting along
* HH smiles
(HH) That was nearly you, given that you fancied Mina!
(Morgan) it was never nearly me, she only had eyes for him
(HH) Was he miserable the next mornin'?
(Morgan) No, he... no, never mind
(HH) What?
(Morgan) doesn't matter
* HH shrugs
(HH) Sounds like a good way to have balls blue than a summer sky
(HH) Bluer *
* Morgan shakes his head briefly
(HH) Maybe that's how they know the man's b'haved, he walks like he's sat on an 'edgehog
(Morgan) could be, aye
(HH) Dont think Inga woulda gone for that
(Morgan) no?
* HH grins
(HH) I coulda managed it.
(HH) **he chucks an apple to Morgan* I'da just pretended I was you, and didn't even think about breasts, let alone know what t'do with a pair.
* Morgan glances at him
(Morgan) you were saying...
(HH) About?
(Morgan) Sunnymeade and Molly...
(HH) That's it. Doll found, Peter was gonna bury it in a box up one o' the fields, Varick got bribed not to tell Molly, we left for town
(Morgan) Probably best not bury it
(HH) Whysat?
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) might need it
* HH nods
(HH) What you wantin' to do there?
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) I was just going to poke about, try to get a better idea of what Molly might end up doing, things to watch for
(HH) About buyin' it? She got an estimate from Jeffries, and has asked the solicitors assistant to get enough money from the bank in Carleon for that, plus to pay for some new clothes
(Morgan) No, signs that things with her aren't right... she's determined to keep that place int he family though
* HH nods
(HH) Un'erstandable
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I spose
(HH) She was upset, but she wasn't closed off yesterday.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) about as good as could be expected
* HH nods
(HH) Cant be easy, be here an' not on the island keeping an eye on her
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) its not
(HH) Thought she was gonna march us down to the dock long 'fore dawn this morning
(Morgan) oh?
(HH) She had a proper bee in her bonnet. Guess she was worried about how you were managin' without her
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) makes sense
(HH) Then she seemed a bit distant with you
(Morgan) thought jumping me on the dock might get a few looks
* HH grins "Yeah, noticed that sorta thing eventually"
* Morgan nods
(HH) Life's a bit strange, ain't it?
(Morgan) why's that?
(HH) Well, that there's a woman who looks at _you_ an' thinks "Wow, I wanna ride that one until the cows come 'ome."
(Morgan) and thats strange is it?
(HH) Very strange. I spose you _are_ tall...
* Morgan looks confused
(HH) But aside fr'm that, th' only thing that recommends y' to women is being friends with me.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) absolutely
(HH) **They get nearer the farm*
(HH) Claudia seem weird to you in the brothel?
(Morgan) in what way?
(HH) Just... nah, I dunno. Been to a few with her in tow, and summat never sat right.
(Morgan) She said, but you'd always been a good boy...
(HH) Fairly good, aye. Good enough to be sharing my virginity with Inga after the wedding, bad enough to know how to do a decent job of it
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) She told me that she heard Inga agreeing with you in that regard
(HH) For someone who hates sex, she talks a lot about what the rest o' us do!
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) I think she was trying to make me uncomfortable
(HH) That's too easy
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) think I rather surprised her actually
(HH) By saying you've had sex since consumating the marriage?
* HH grins
(Morgan) oh my poor, sweet, innocent young friend...
(HH) ... is what I have always thought when I thought o' you
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) you keep that delusion...
* HH snorts
(HH) I did hear something about a pillow though, but apparently even that didn't come from you
(Morgan) No, it didn't
(HH) Sounded bizarre t' me, but...
* HH grins
(Morgan) works a treat...
(HH) Yes it does. Inga said Molly implied you hadn't tried it yet ((they have only used it for oral on her))
(Morgan) not exatly
* HH grins
(HH) Worth it
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I'll remember that
(HH) I'd shake the washed hand o' whoever came up with it
* Morgan laughs
(HH) Y' want a nice thick one
(Morgan) thats what she said
* HH sniggers
(HH) That's what I say to her at bedtime
(Morgan) you're incorrigable
(HH) **They get to the stony driveway
(HH) Worse without Inga with me too
(Morgan) She keeps you in line
(HH) Nah, I'm so busy thinking it when I look at her that my mouth gets less chance to run
* HH grins
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) lucky her
(HH) Why,  y' want me to look at how and think about it? *he laughs*
(HH) You*
(Morgan) mostly the part about your mouth getting less chance to run
(HH) She likes my mouth running.
(Morgan) so I heard
(HH) **They get to the stable, which is empty**
(HH) Heard from who?
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) just that she liked your mouth running so much she was telling you not to stop... you must've been saying something hilarious
* HH grins
(HH) I wasn't saying anything... just singing, get my breath back.
(Morgan) uh huh
(HH) Singings good for preventing yer jaw locking up
* Morgan nods
(HH) If I 'av t' explain that, I pity yer wife
* HH dismounts
(Morgan) you mean your wife hasn't told you?
(HH) Told me what?
* HH tethers the horse before steadying Morgan's
(Morgan) that my wife needs to pity in that respect
(HH) Molly is very close-lipped where you are concerned
* Morgan smiles slightly
(Morgan) I see
* Morgan climbs down from the horse, tethering it
(HH) We just assumed you were a bit dull **he flicks a piece of hay at Morgan*
(Morgan) You assume incorrectly
(HH) I'll send Inga on a recon mission, find out all the dirty stuff *he scoffs*
(Morgan) best of luck with that
(HH) Prob'ly be bored to sleep
* HH makes a dramatic fake snoring sound
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) sure sure
* Morgan heads out of the stable
(HH) **They can hear crying from the kitchen door when they get near the house. HH looks at Morgan
(HH) Sounds like Mary. **But to Morgan, the eighteen month old's cries sound a bit like Jana's**
* Morgan winces
(Morgan) aye
(HH) Wanna wait out here?
(Morgan) No, it'll do no-one any good
* HH nods, leading the way
(HH) **What they find is heavily pregnant Beth sat cross-legged on the floor feeding her nephew whilst Mary cries from the nearby playpen. On the floor is a broken cup and spilled milk everywhere. Beth's crying is silent but the tears that fall on the baby are heavy. She doesn't seem to hear them come in.
(Morgan) $Take Mary outside$
* HH immediately goes to pick up Mary, carrying her carefully and sings in Eisen to her
* Morgan gets a cloth, moving the broken pieces of cup into a pile and mopping the milk before sitting in front of Beth
** You're now known as Beth
(Beth) I'm sorry, I didn't hear you come in. *she wipes her tears with her hand before trying to stand whilst still feeding the baby*
(Morgan) no no, let me help you up, then you can have a seat
* Morgan helps her up before directing her to a chair
* Beth stands with his help, but looks resistant to sitting
(Beth) I'll get the kettle on and then mop the floor
(Morgan) You'll do neither, sit down
* Beth does so
(Beth) Only for a minute
* Morgan gets the kettle on the stove before cleaning up the floor
(Beth) *she looks at the playpen* Where's Mary?
(Morgan) outside with HeinzHarold
* Beth nods, stroking the baby's face
* Morgan stands up, taking the balm out and rubbing his fingers in it before holding out his hand
(Morgan) hand please...
* Beth does so
* Morgan rubs the balm on the inside of her wrist before going to make tea
(Morgan) smell that
* Beth does so, making a gasp of surprise
(Beth) How could you possibly know?
(Morgan) its a long story
* Beth nods
(Beth) If we had known you were coming we would have been prepared
(Morgan) spur of the moment thing 
* Morgan puts a cup of tea in front of her, sitting opposite her
(Morgan) why don't you tell me whats going on
(Beth) Thank you
* Beth looks at the baby again
(Beth) Today is a hard day. Tomorrow will be easier
(Morgan) anniversary?
* Beth nods
(Beth) How could you tell?
(Morgan) I understand. I could tell because I know how it feels
* Beth nods
(Beth) Not my first husband though, that one is in spring. A few years ago Pete and I had a baby, he was about Joseph's age...
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I assume Pete is out trying not to think about it?
(Beth) He's made of harder stuff.
(Morgan) Thats what he'd like you to think
(Beth) He was the last one to see Levi alive, when he went out for the cows. When I woke up it was already light, and Levi was just... gone.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I'm sorry
* Beth nods
(Beth) That's what we say, isn't it. Even when we know it makes no difference to us, we say it to others too.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) aye. Because we need to fill the silence
* Beth strokes the baby again
(Beth) Because if we don't, we could fall right into it, and never come out again
* Morgan nods
(Beth) And everyone says "But you have other children", as if that's in anyway the same. As if you just replace one with another and cant tell the difference
(Morgan) Because they simply cant comprehend what its like
* Beth nods
(Beth) They did it when Michael, my husband, died too. They told me how I had William, I had a part of him left. But I didn't want a part of him, I wanted all of him.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I know
* Beth nods
(Beth) And even with being with child again, everyone asks if we want a boy to make up for it... *she rubs her eyes again*
* Morgan scowls
(Morgan) They dont realise that there is no making up for it.
(Beth) Tomorrow will be better, but these three years have been hard, and it doesn't seem like they're getting easier
(Morgan) I don't think it gets easier, but it becomes... more manageable 
* Beth takes the tea and sips it
(Beth) It's easier with Michael now than it was, but that was almost seven years ago. I miss him, but it almost feels like it was someone else's life
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I know
(Beth) That is what will happen with Levi too, one day. But I'm not there yet
* Beth puts the cup down, swapping the baby to the other breast
* Morgan nods
(Beth) Sorry, probably a bit strange for a nobleman seeing women feeding babies
(Morgan) My first wife wasn't noble born... we lived in a little cottage, me, her and our daughter. Its not an unusual thing for me to see
* Beth smiles
(Beth) Its nice for a husband to be part of things like that
* Morgan nods 
(Beth) Michael was like that. We were married a long time before we had William.
(Morgan) oh?
(Beth) We were 21 when we got married, 31 when William was born, and Michael died a year later
(Morgan) that is a long time
* Beth nods
(Beth) The time never seemed right to have a child. There were always poor harvests,  poor yield to seed ratios, sick herds.  It never seemed like a good year to try.
* Morgan nods
(Beth) By the sounds of it, you have some busy years ahead... and maybe the time is also not right for you to have another child?
(Morgan) No... not until we've settled... thats the plan at least
* Beth nods
(Beth) I'll have a little chat with Molly, pass on some tricks that worked for us, if that is alright with you?
* Morgan nods 
(Morgan) if you wish to...
* Beth smiles
(Beth) Dont let my current brood of children fool you, they work, but only if you follow them. Pete wants a big family.
(Morgan) I think thats a Forrester trait
* Beth nods
(Beth) Time has run on a bit for thirteen for Pete, but Caro is still young, and Molly is younger still.
(Morgan) we're having eight
* Beth smiles
(Beth) That's well-planned
(Morgan) a tradition at home, we smash a special plate on our wedding day. The number of pieces say how many children there will be. 
* Beth nods
(Beth) Were the Forrester's disappointed?
(Morgan) with not having thirty six? I don't think so
* Beth smiles
(Beth) They weren't keen on me at first
(Morgan) no?
(Beth) They said I was too old and had been married too long without having children. But I owned the farm that was my Father's and the Michael's, so I was a good match. I also had a baby and the need for a man about the place.
(Morgan) rather mercenary
(Beth) Just practical. I needed Pete, Pete needed me. We got along well enough and after a while if both of you are decent people, you love each other
* Morgan nods
(Beth) David was always prickly about Pete being my second husband. Took me a long time to understand why. Is he like that with you?
(Beth) **Joseph comes off the breast, and she carefully balances him on her lap in front of the bump whilst pulling up her dress*
(Morgan) Why do you think he was like that?
(Beth) Because of his father, mother and step-mother
(Morgan) how do you mean?
(Beth) George  and Sophie were loving couple, and David was theirs. They lived out at Alrington in her father's cottage by the sea. Not long after David was born, Sophie's mental problems got worse and worse. One day she was swept away by the sea, took days for her body to wash up. George broke down, developed a drinking problem. Then they moved back here to Sunnymeade with David's grandparents. They pushed George to remarry, but he wasn't a good husband to Margaret.
* Beth starts winding the baby
* Morgan nods
(Beth) They had another six children, but I get the feeling sometimes they weren't lovingly made...
* Morgan frowns
(Morgan) I see
(Beth) Margaret died with the last one, and George died when David was sixteen. David hated his Father, because although Sophie was his birthmother, Margaret had been the only mother he could remember. Seeing his Father mourning the first whilst mistreating the second sat badly with him. He thought I'd possibly be like that with Pete.
* Morgan nods slowly
(Morgan) that makes an awful lot of sense
(Beth) He's given you issues?
(Morgan) Some... a good part of them because of my nationality
* Beth hands Morgan the baby "Just for a minute if you would"
* Morgan takes the baby, rocking him gently
(Beth) David bears grudges and preconceptions for a long time. *she stretches her back before rubbing a spot on her stomch* Squishing you, was I?
(Morgan) I've noticed that somewhat
(Beth) If you're alright with him, there's something that came down from the loft I think you'll like.
(Morgan) I think we'll be fine
(Beth) **Heinzharold sticks his head round the door after hearing footsteps, the little girl asleep on his shoulder. This is actually worse than with Inga, because he had seen Heinzharold hold Jana like this a few weeks before her death**
(Beth) HH: Everything alright?
* Morgan frowns but nods
(Morgan) getting there
(Beth) Ghost?
(Beth) HH *
(Morgan) what?
(Beth) Hh: that broke the cup?
(Morgan) No, an upset mother
* Beth comes back down with a package wrapped in paper. She sizes up Heinzharold and then looks at Morgan
(Beth) Your friend has no business being as handsome as that whilst cradling a cute child, it does dreadful things to a woman!
* Morgan glances at HeinzHarold
(Beth) HH: *he grins his handsome-but-thick grin, his blonde hair slightly falling into his face. Its calculated as hell to Morgan, but women never seem to realise*
* Morgan shakes his head
* Beth watches him, then sighs, placing the parcel on the table. HH winks at him
* Beth lays out some paintings
(Beth) These are all that's left of George's work
* Morgan looks them over, rocking the baby
(Beth) **There are five. One is a self-portrait of a young man, not quite grown into his looks yet. There's a lot of Peter and David in him** George when he was about seventeen
(Beth) **she taps a landscape of a beach and in the middle distance, Lundy. It's a sunset.** Your island, from Alrington
(Beth) **Theres one of a prettyish brunette, she looks gentle, approachable** Margaret, the step-mother
* Morgan nods
* Beth slides over another brunette. She's lovely, but there's something about her that seems almost transparent, as if she is just too good, too pure, and ethereal. It reminds him a little of the Holbein painting of Dietlinde and Jana, but this girl's eyes are almost identical to Molly's.
(Beth) **HH quietly comes in to be nosey, and takes a look at this last one*HH: She is lovely, isnt she?
(Morgan) That would be Sophie...
* Beth looks at Morgan
(Beth) She is
(Beth) HH looks at Morgan: who is Sophie?
(Morgan) Molly's grandmother. 
(Beth) **HH looks again ** The eyes...
* Morgan nods
* Beth looks at Morgan
(Beth) This one is my favourite *she reads the back before turning it over* "My heart and soul, and Shep. March 1619, Alrington"
* Morgan looks at it
(Beth) **This painting is of Sophie, sat on the sand dunes beside a big white and grey shaggy dog. She looks more real in this, more vibrant, and she's smiling with genuine joy. This is precisely as Molly described in a recent dream of meeting Morgan for the first time whilst he was sketching on the sand dunes and he'd said he would keep coming back to draw her until it was perfect**
* Morgan nods slowly
(Beth) I didn't even realise David had them until Varick was up there yesterday.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) painful perhaps
* Beth nods
(Beth) Did they tell you about the doll?
* Morgan nods
(Beth) Pete buried it last night. He's worried.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I'm wondering if it might be useful. She's starting to get little memories anyway
(Beth) Pete wont like it
(Morgan) he doesn't have to
(Beth) **Mary starts to stir on Heinzharold, one hand trying to go down inside his shirt. He looks a bit alarmed ** Umm!
* Beth smiles at Morgan
(Beth) You can tell this one hasn't had children  yet
* Morgan nods
* Beth takes her from Heinzharold, sitting to feed her
(Beth) You still haven't said why you came today?
* Morgan shrugs
(Morgan) I was going to see John Dagget but it wouldn't have helped either of us... and I came here to poke around, try to get more of a handle on what Molly might end up doing as she remembers more
* Beth nods "I'll go and see John soon, poor man. Poke around as you wish, there's only me and the nurselings today
(Morgan) when's Pete due home?
(Beth) A few hours yet. Once there's no feeding babies to take a long, they all tramp around the woods for hours on end
* Morgan nods
* Beth wiggles her finger between him and Heinzharold like drawing a line "Consider having babies close together in age, it makes it practical for your wives to share the breastfeeding"
* Morgan glances at HeinzHarold
(Beth) HH is trying to figure out what she said:  translation?
* Morgan smirks
(Morgan) Beth, you'll be alright with them both now?
* Beth nods
(Beth) Yes, thank you. Put Joseph in the playpen please. **she strokes Mary's face*
* Morgan nods, putting Joseph down gently
(Morgan) Where were the boxes?
(Beth) In the loft. They're in Molly's old room now, second on the left
* Morgan nods, motioning to HeinzHarold
(Morgan) we'll be out of your way before long
(Beth) **he goes on ahead**
(Beth) You're not in the way... How old was your daughter?
(Morgan) about the same age was Mary
* Beth nods
(Beth) It occured to me that I've seen you hold Joseph and interact with all the others...
(Morgan) its... difficult
* Beth nods
(Beth) I know. It was hard when Mary was six months, and it'll be a little easier when it's this next one, and easier the time after that.
* Morgan nods
(Beth) If you change your mind, and think it would help to have a cuddle with her, you're welcome to
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) thank you. I'll think about it
* Beth nods, going back to feeding
(Beth) **he hears HH mutter** Maybe close the window, 's freezing in 'ere
* Morgan looks at him
(Morgan) close the window then
(Beth) **He's upstairs on the threshold of the room she directed him to
** You're now known as HH
(HH) Its closed already.
(Morgan) didn't picture you being such a delicate flower
(HH) **The hairs start to stand up on the back of Morgan's neck when he gets to the top. It does feel cold and just... wrong.
* Morgan frowns, looking round 
(HH) **There's nothing to see except an old single bed, lots of children's shoes, some boxes and some very faded drawings on the wall
* Morgan looks at the drawings first
(HH) **He recognises Molly's poor sketching immediately. There's houses, what might be horses if you squint, and lots of pretty dresses. One is peeling off right near the pillow
* Morgan presses it  back to the wall
(HH) **it doesn't want to stick, and it seems to have something like writing on the back
* Morgan peels it forwards to look at the back
(HH) **There are around fifty sets of markings, either open or shaded dots. Theres no words of letters, but theres a very faint blood splatter in tiny pin pricks
* HH looks at it
(HH) Whatcha got?
* Morgan holds it to him
(Morgan) looks like a code
(HH) **Each set of markings is around 30 in a group. Of them, in each group, around 7 are shaded and about 23 open circles. The final three groups are all just open
(HH) No, don't think so
* HH points to each set of shaded circles one by one
(HH) Notice how they're always about the same gap apart from the next set?
* Morgan nods
* HH starts counting the groups.
(HH) 31, 28, 31, 30, 31, 30, 31...
(Morgan) its a calendar?
* HH looks to Morgan
(HH) Yes. With sevenish days marked every four weeks.
(Morgan) it marked courses...
* HH looks it over again, particularly the end where there are no courses, only months of blood-free days
(HH) At a guess I'd say this was when your wife got sick
* Morgan nods
(HH) **The circles in that final month are less neat, more wavery, pencil marks made weaker. He's starting to frown
(HH) She's not even _my_ wife an' this makes me want to scream at someone
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) as much as I like him, I hope he feels as much shame as he deserves to
(HH) Who?
(Morgan) David.
(HH) Reckon he does?
(Morgan) when he thinks about it, aye
* HH leans against the wall
(HH) Something I dont get...
(HH) All this upset with her sister and her mind afterwards, but they callously through her out into the world with nothing but a normally-fatal illness. Makes no fucking sense to me.
(HH) Throw *
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) no... it doesn't 
* HH looks at Morgan's expression
(HH) Need some air?
(Morgan) No, I want to check these boxes over
* HH helps him, but theres nothing of interest in there. Its almost like all the evidence of the other ten Forrester children is gone.
(HH) I bet Die Dauerhaftigkeit is full of old crap, my 'ouse too
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) undoubtedly
(HH) Why haven't they kept anything?
(Morgan) too painful? too big a risk of her remembering?
(HH) Then why is the one thing they did keep the one that got their daughter killed and most likely to spark memories?
(Morgan) too hard to let it go maybe
* HH nods, looking around. He spots a drawing. It's not great, but it's a little girl following a raven through snowy trees
(HH) This is nice
(HH) **The girl has dark red hair*
* Morgan frowns, nodding
(HH) Something from a fairytale?
(HH) Shit, am I allowed to say that?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) just not too often
* HH nods, looking around
(HH) Anything else?
(Morgan) anything else catch your eye in the drawings?
* HH looks around then laughs, pointing to one
* Morgan looks
(HH) **It's a big castle by a lake with trees beside it. It's very childlike, but it bears a resemblance to die Dauerhaftigkeit
(HH) That's a weird coincidence
* Morgan nods, taking it down
(Morgan) aye
(HH) Do you wanna see the pond?
* Morgan nods
(HH) **They go out the front way to not disturb Beth*
(HH) Know where it is?
* Morgan nods, leading the way
* HH follows along. When they get there, they encounter a five foot high, closely set fence with a well-barred gate
* Morgan leans on the fence looking at the pond
(HH) **Its dark green and looks deep. There are ducks on in. He can pinpoint the exact stone that sixteen years ago was magically forced from the ground by the mind of the mines
(HH) Can see why they fenced it off
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) aye
* HH sighs
(HH) Must have been terrifying
* Morgan nods
(HH) Be better for her not to remember
(Morgan) I don't think thats our decision in the long run
* HH nods
(HH) Still want to go on to the Big House, yer majesty?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) aye
(HH) Then back to Morgan's Rock?
(Morgan) I expect so
* HH nods
(HH) If it was me I'd need to be giving her a hug right now for my own sake
(Morgan) Not really an option
(HH) Not able to talk to each other this far?
(Morgan) No... about a mile
* HH moves away from the pond towards the house
(HH) Pity
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) aye
(HH) Going in to say g'bye 'fore we go?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) best had in case she comes looking for us
(HH) If y' want, I can give you a hug and you can pretend I'm Molly
(Morgan) You'd be offended when I squeezed your chest...
* HH laughs
(HH) Already had an unexpected 'and on my nipple today thanks!
* Morgan nods heading back towards the house
(HH) I told Inga you were going to a brothel yes'day,  she asked if you knew what one was
(Morgan) I want to be offended by that
(HH) She's picking up my sense o' humour
(Morgan) my condolences... would you like me to intervene?
(HH) No, she's hilarious
(Morgan) I know, but if she's getting your sense of humour...
(HH) Then she'll be a lot funnier than you
(Morgan) unlikely
(HH) I'll try and get her to play dumb for you
(Morgan) I don't know she'll like imitating you
* HH grins
(HH) She does
(Morgan) everyone likes to act dumb sometimes I suppose
(HH) People like you have to act smart
(HH) What was that thing Beth said that you didn' translate?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) You're so smart, figure it out
(HH) I'll ask molly.
(Morgan) good for you
* HH goes to get the horses whilst Morgan goes to say goodbye. Beth is swaying with the sleeping Mary
** You're now known as Beth
* Morgan speaks quietly
(Morgan) we're leaving now... will you be alright?
* Beth does likewise
(Beth) I'll be fine. They'll sleep a while. Thank you
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) if you or they get restless, get whoever it is to smell the balm on your wrist
(Beth) Is it shaving soap?
(Morgan) No
(Beth) Smells like it. Like Michael's shaving soap.
(Morgan) when I've got more time, I'll explain it to you
* Beth nods
(Beth) Take care
(Morgan) and you
* Morgan nods to her before heading back out to HeinzHarold
** You're now known as Hh
* Hh is already mounted up
* Morgan swings into the saddle
(Hh) **They arrive at Lady Torrington's a while later. HH seems to have run out of innuendos for a while, and even his Olde Eisen Serf nonsense has stopped.
(Hh) **The last few miles have been silent, giving Morgan time to process some of the conflict over visiting john, Molly and John yesterday,  the christening, the mermaid doll and Varick, the calendar and the drawings, and also just wondering how Molly is faring with both Jeffries and his command that she shouldn't pleasure herself. The last must have changed his expression,  because HH says* Missing yer wife?
* Morgan nods
(Hh) Been a while since you've properly seen her
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) aye
(Hh) Reckon she's missing you?
(Morgan) I'm sure she's too busy for that
(Hh) **He nods. They pass the church and school house, rose garden, and stables where the horses are given to the groom. Catherine's favourite gelding is here.**
* Hh stretches
(Hh) What y' want me doin'?
(Morgan) have a scout around, make sure none of Dau's men are around, then come inside for coffee
* Hh nods, sauntering off like he belongs there
** You're now known as Catherine
* Morgan heads inside the house
(Catherine) **A butler he doesn't know bows to him** Good afternoon, may I help you?
(Morgan) I need to see Lady Torrington
(Catherine) Your calling card please, I will see if her Grace is at home to visitors
* Morgan tilts his head
(Morgan) when did you start?
(Catherine) I am come with her Grace from her Carleon property
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) nip in the kitchen and explain that the new butler is keeping master Hockridge from seeing Lady Torrington...
(Catherine) **He's not that smart  because he does. There's a lot of muted giggling
* Morgan mutters, wandering through the dining room
(Catherine) **The butler comes back, looking embarrassed** If you'll follow me...
* Morgan pushes the door open, holding it for the butler
(Catherine) **He doesn't seem that pleased by this but goes through.
(Morgan) you plan on being here long?
(Catherine) B: I do
(Morgan) a piece of advice?
(Catherine) Yes?
(Morgan) You aren't here to greet people... you're here to know who everyone is and why they aren't welcome, and how close an eye you need to keep on them
(Catherine) Thank you.
(Morgan) And don't wander off leaving unknown people to leave where you left them.
(Catherine) Yes, sir
(Morgan) how is she?
(Catherine) In good health, sir
* Morgan nods
(Catherine) **He announces Morgan and then shows him into a sitting room she never used to use, which has been redecorated. Tea is served and the butler retreats with Catherine's instruction to show Morgan's man-servant into the servant's dining room. She sips her tea, her familiar face looking significantly older these last few months.
(Catherine) How are you, Morgan?
(Morgan) fairly well your grace, and you?
(Catherine) I am, thank you. How is Molly?
* Morgan smiles slightly
(Morgan) very well
(Catherine) I am pleased to hear it. When are you returning to work?
(Morgan) Unfortunately, that is not possible
* Catherine watches him
(Catherine) You are leaving?
(Morgan) I must
(Catherine) This is a great surprise, Morgan. *she sets her tea into her saucer*
(Morgan) Much has happened
(Catherine) Much has happened here that I have needed your protection from. A protection you offered to give your life for.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) and for that I am truly sorry
(Catherine) It is disappointing, after I gave you such leniency about your true identity
* Morgan smiles slightly
(Morgan) I'm sure... but it is that identity that prohibits my return
(Catherine) At the cost of abandoning me to my fate?
* Morgan sips his tea
(Morgan) why dont we drop this formality and talk properly?
* Catherine nods
(Catherine) Go on then
(Morgan) I miss you and this place but I cannot return... I've got a Grafdom coming to me within three years, trade ambassadorial roles to conduct until then, and we have adopted my cousins son, for a start
* Catherine nods
(Catherine) You've got things too precious to risk
(Morgan) we married... and I've duties I must attend to. 
(Catherine) I'm glad you made an honest woman of her
(Morgan) I argued against it, passionately, right up until I was told I couldn't marry her if I wanted to. Its not often I walk into a trap like that, but they were right
(Catherine) Molly was always going to end up married. You should count yourself lucky you saw sense. I know there were others interested in her.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I do
(Catherine) Horatio in particular was intending to make himself plain
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) it would've been a decent match... 
(Catherine) It would have been very practical for me
(Morgan) Kept me here?
(Catherine) Kept the three of you here
* Morgan nods
(Catherine) And you will be settling back in Eisen?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) A Grafdom in three years, plus my fathers eventually... and whatever a duke does...
(Catherine) I didn't know you were in line for a Duke dom?
(Morgan) nor did I... in truth, I've mostly got the title because Molly was made a Duchess
* Catherine looks confused
(Catherine) Why?
(Morgan) long story. Eisenfurst wants something, she managed to become a Duchess return, amongst other things
* Catherine smiles
(Catherine) Its a lot of pressure
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) You need someone to run the day to day items so you can concentrate on the other things
* Catherine nods
(Catherine) Indeed. Now I will also need a master at arms
* Morgan smiles
(Morgan) It was cheaper to have me, doing both. 
* Catherine smiles
(Catherine) You gave good service.  I had hoped allowing you to have Molly as your mistress here would make you both stay for the long-term
(Morgan) can I be frank?
(Catherine) Why change things now?
* Catherine sips her tea
(Morgan) a lot of work has been done, successfully, in healing things with my family. Duty aside, I want to be near them, build on what we've started
* Catherine nods
(Catherine) Family is one thing that money, titles and popularity can never bring back.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I do not wish to lose more
* Catherine nods
(Catherine) I can understand your desire to protect Molly from the dangers here
(Morgan) I mean my mother, father and brother, but your point is well made. 
* Catherine nods
(Catherine) I am sorry to see you go. I owe you my life many times over. I hope we can part as friends now
(Morgan) I would like that... there is something else I need to discuss with you.
* Catherine sips her tea
(Catherine) Yes?
(Morgan) Colonel Dau
(Catherine) What about him?
(Morgan) You need to distance yourself from him, greatly. And Rebecca deBurgh
(Catherine) And why is that?
(Morgan) In his case, he is untrustworthy and dishonourable. He and his men have fostered a good deal of bad blood within Tawstock.
(Catherine) I hadn't heard this
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) I don't think it'll be long until there's violence over it. Add to that it was his command to sink Mollys ship, and two since in Eisen, one of which nearly killed Molly and my son.
* Catherine frowns
(Catherine) For what purpose?
(Morgan) The Rose because he wanted it and couldn't have it. The other two were rival mercenary groups. There is a writ for his arrest in Eisen. Worse than that, while dallying with a working girl in town, he's done her some serious harm... I'm going to have your physician see to her
* Catherine nods
(Catherine) Please do so, and let him know he is to report back to me so I can take action.
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) as for Miss deBurgh... aside from all else, she is involved in a bargain with... a certain prince and has not repaid her debt... I would not want you caught up in her fate
(Catherine) In truth, I find her very tedious
(Morgan) I find her to be a venomous snake
(Catherine) To what extent is Kurt embroiled in this?
(Morgan) still sweet on him?
(Catherine) I am considering a more... quiet situation with him, as Queen Elaine will not permit a marriage
(Morgan) I must advise caution... I know him better now and believe him to be a good man but things are most complicated with and for him
(Catherine) Is he married?
(Morgan) to Eisen perhaps
(Catherine) Arent all Eisen men?
(Morgan) No... most, but not all
(Catherine) I will talk to him about it on friday
(Morgan) I may return to see him, though briefly.. I would not wish to intrude
(Catherine) It's not an intrusion. You are always welcome to visit. You have in-laws in Tawstock I am told
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) Molly's parents have come to Eisen with us, her father is the estates manager for my fathers land now... though I should like to bring Molly and introduce you to my son
* Catherine nods
(Catherine) I would like that
* Morgan finishes his tea
(Morgan) I will think on candidates to replace me, in both roles
* Catherine does likewise
(Catherine) Have you taken everything you want from your cottage?
* Morgan nods
(Morgan) we have
(Catherine) Then it is time to return the estate keys
* Catherine stands up
* Morgan stands up, fishing out a bunch from his pocket, placing them on the table
* Catherine looks at them a moment before looking at him
(Catherine) Thank you for your service. I wish you well in your new life.
(Morgan) Don't let your title make you lose sight of who you are Catherine... that gentle touch is what makes everyone love you.
* Catherine smiles
(Catherine) Thank you.
* Morgan bows his head before heading to the door
* Catherine lets him go
* Morgan heads through the house to find HeinzHarold
(Catherine) **He collects Heinzharold from the servant's dining room. Lots of the staff come to say goodbye, and then it is time for him to finally leave that house he intended to die at behind, no longer its master at arms. As he rides out of the courtyard, so many memories of how he was there come back to him, the shouting, the rudeness, the blind flinging of himself at death again and again.
(Catherine) As he turns to the Rose Garden, he recalls one early spring morning where he had been sat out here watching the new dawn's golden light spread across the valley when suddenly Molly started talking to him quietly from behind him, and he explained how this was the time of day he spent in communion with a love he had had and lost and would never have again. It occurs to him that HH has been talking.
** You're now known as HH
(Morgan) sorry, what?
(HH) I said, are you gonna hurl, you're white as a nun's arse.
(Morgan) How would you know what a nuns arse looks like?
(HH) Well... *he grins. He begins to spin some elaborate hard to follow yarn, and once he mentions buttocks Morgan is thinking of Molly. He remembers holding her hand a year ago on the second anniversary of Dietlinde and Jana's deaths in the dining room he'll no longer waste evenings in, and saying "my lady, it would be all too easy to fall in love with you... truthfully, for most it would be difficult not to"
* HH huffs
(HH) Where's your brain wandered off, cos you're definitely not listenin' to me?!
(Morgan) You don't want to know
(HH) We've got a couple of hours back to town, I've not got out better to do, have you?
(Morgan) alright, I don't want to tell you...
(HH) Spoilsport. I'll just sing then
* Morgan nods
* HH clears his throat
(HH) Nine hundred and ninety nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine bottles of beer in the wall, Nine hundred and ninety nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine bottles of beer... *he grins*
* Morgan mutters
(Morgan) you're a nuns arse
(HH) And I'm still sexier than you
(HH) **As he leaves the estate and past the church,  at around about 999, 979 bottles of beer, he recalls saying to Molly one day "the house is a waystation, a stopover for better things in people's lives". And then he leaves the boundary of that house, his stopover finished and back on the tracks of his life as an Eisen Veisgraf,  son, brother, husband, father, and rather frustrated friend.
** You are now disconnected