Sitting With That Woman

Writers: Cali, Patrick
Date Posted: 19th March 2007

Characters: Mosler, Kouna
Description: Mosler and Kouna return to the Dolphin Hall after investigating Tippo's murder, and does Kouna have some words for Mosler about that. Or does she?
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 2, day 3 of Turn 4
Notes: Follows "An Attempt at an Investigation"

When Mosler returned to the Hold to drop off Rollif and pick up Kouna, she passed him calmly and stiffly mounted their rider back to the Hall. She was cold and distant the entire ride back and ignored him when he offered her assistance down off the green.

They thanked the rider for her service and just when it seemed that Kouna would remain quiet, she turned to him.

"May I see you in my office?" She asked politely, gesturing down the hall. She didn't wait for an answer but dragged Mosler down the hall and into her office, slamming the door behind her. "Sit." She commanded, sweeping past him to rest her hands on the windowsill, looking out. Via landed there from the outside and looked at Mosler with the anger he knew Kouna felt.

"Do you _know_ how boring it was to sit with that woman?" She asked suddenly turning to him.

The humor of the fact that she first pouted like an apprentice and now was treating _him_ like an apprentice was not lost on the Hallmaster. He didn't sit, rather he leaned against the well and folded his arms across his chest. "I'm sorry you didn't have fun today, I thought she was a rather charming woman myself." he teased. Leave it to Mosler to pop her bubble. She was getting into a fine ranting mood too. She tried gallantly to save her anger. "I'm so glad you find my exclusion funny. When I took this job Mosler I never expected to be shoved aside. You know I can't do that, not for anyone." She slumped into her chair fussing with her bodice. How she _hated_ wearing formal clothes.

"Kouna, you _know_ I didn't want you to stay behind; but I didn't want to push and be rude to Rollif either." Mosler explained, "And that green probably couldn't have held us all anyways." "I know Mosler but it doesn't stop me wanting to pound some sense in these Southern men!" She growled as she rummaged in a half empty box for her emergency change of clothing, this bodice was _definitely_ an emergency!

She stepped behind a screen to change out of the formal dress and into a large tunic and shorts, much more comfortable. "I know that this was going to be different Mosler, I really did. But I never expected to have to deal with a _murder_ in my first month as Hallsecond!" She wasn't screaming now, her voice was hushed and she felt almost scared. Almost as scared as she had been during that awful storm...

"Does it help if I say this doesn't happen very often?" Mosler replied with a little dark humor as he averted his eyes (just in case). "Ha ha very funny." Kouna said stepping out from behind the screen. "I'm serious Mosler. This kind of thing is a huge turn off for the job." She slumped back into the chair and motioned Mosler to do the same. "I expected a bit of animosity to the female crafter policy, but I never thought that there'd be _murder_. And Tippo was a man! Why kill a male crafter unless to get back at the Hall? Maybe it wasn't you're best idea to bring me here." Kouna frowned at the thought.

He took the offered seat this time, "I don't think he was killed to get back at the Hall. Given his report of suspicious activity, I think he was killed because he was in the wrong place at the right time. And I _know_ it was the right call to bring you here." Mosler said as he tried to reassure her, "You've already won over the Hall, _and_ got me caught up on my paperwork!" Kouna had to chuckle at that. The only reason he was caught up on his paperwork was that it had shifted to her's. "I know. But maybe it was more than that? Are we even sure he saw that mine? This is such a travasty." Kouna tried to pretend to slam her head on her desk, but misjudged the distance and came back up with a large red spot on her forehead and a pained expression.

"Ow." She said, rubbing where she'd hit.

Mosler gave a bark of laughter, "Are you alright? I think someone spent a little too much time sipping wine with the holder's wife."

"I did no such thing." She told him defiantly. "I much prefer klah." She rubbed her head again. "I just feel so overwhelmed."

"I'm tired as well." He said with a weak smile, "Why don't we both go and get some sleep and we can talk more tomorrow."

"I'm good with sleeping." Kouna said lightly getting up and swinging the discarded dress over her shoulder.
She held the door open for Mosler. As he walked by she wrapped her arm about his shoulders and pulled him down for a quick peck on his cheek. "Thank you for listening. I know this has been an _immensely_ hard sevenday, for both of us. But it will get better. I'm sure of it." She grinned at him, glad again that she had such a close friend in Mosler. Even if it seemed that's all they'd be.

Last updated on the March 22nd 2007

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Sitting With That Woman