Appointment's Post

[talentsgirl]

For all your "Getting in touch with Molly" needs. Any extraneous voice, action, or written posts, flowovers, invitations (present drop offs, etc) can go here! Please label the thread using the following format:

[written, March 11]
[voice, June 6]
[action, December 15]

Comments

[greenjacketed]

He eyed her hair and let his gaze flicker to her neck. Only for a fraction of a second. Only long enough to try and search out a hint of that tattoo. Perhaps those things are normal for her time -- for all he knew.

But his conversations with Dresden suggested that the young woman had a fierce streak. One Sharpe had already seen a few hints of.

So, he teased: "Call it a hunch, missy."

[talentsgirl]

She couldn't help but be a little amused at the subtle flick to the tattoo on her neck. That tattoo had been a long time ago, but she wasn't tired of it yet. Her regrets from that time in her life weren't so visible.

Her protest was mild and in good humor, "Hey, I tow the line. Show up on time. Follow instructions."

A flicker of humor quirks up her lips, "When it counts, anyway."

[greenjacketed]

"Aha. I can tell you -- speaking as an officer, of course -- that there's no greater virtue than punctuality."

He eased comfortably into this space of non-seriousness. Of jokes and raillery. "And obeying instructions, mercy! I will indeed make a sergeant of you yet."

[talentsgirl]

She tilted her head, smiling. "Bossing other people around? Making them have to tow the line, not for my sake but for someone else's? Where have I heard that before?"

[greenjacketed]

God, but he was happy just to be sitting across from her. Just to be chatting with her. Strange feeling, that. Just simply chatting with a lass.

"I dunno, Molly. Tell me. Where've you heard such a thing before?"

[talentsgirl]

She tucked a strand of multi-toned hair behind one ear. "I'm the oldest of seven kids, back home." Her tone was warm with rueful affection. "Keeping all the jawas in a row was a full time job by itself."

[greenjacketed]

"Seven!" He was delighted to learn. To listen. Although he had no idea what a jawa was. "So I suspect the Carpenters are a numerous, noisome bunch."

[talentsgirl]

"Mmm, that is true. But like my mom likes to say 'there's no passengers, only crew.'" She smiled a little, "We all pitch in."

[greenjacketed]

"No wonder -- 's like a darned little army of your own. Sisters and brothers, I suspect?"

[talentsgirl]

Still smiling, she nodded, obvious - if mildly exasperated - affection in her tone. "Three more girls, three boys. It's a full house. I think they're done after Harry, though."

...she hopes. It's been a few years, and beyond that it had been about a kid a year, so hopefully, hopefully this will be it.

[greenjacketed]

"Harry!" A certain delight entered his voice. "Named after our Dresden, is he?"

For Dresden mentioned knowing Molly's father.

[talentsgirl]

'Our Dresden' - a Brittishism, she thought. Still, it had a strange sound. It was fair enough, though. Harry never 'belonged' to any one person. "That's right. He and my dad are good friends."

And he kind of saved me from a fate worse than death and a beheading on top it it.

[greenjacketed]

"So he's told me. No wonder it's a relief having him here."

[talentsgirl]

"Oh, he.. told you that?" A brief pause. "What did he say?"

[greenjacketed]

"...That your father's a good man."

And Sharpe, in turn, had taken to understanding that Harry was the lady's guardian in this village. Tricky.

[talentsgirl]

"He is," Molly glanced down, soft affection lighting her face. "He's one of the best."

There wasn't only sincerity behind that statement, but simple confidence.

[greenjacketed]

"What's he like, lass? Tell me more about him."

He'd gathered a little; he wanted more.

[talentsgirl]

"More about my dad?" The topic of Michael Carpenter's actual occupation was one which Molly was well-practiced at not revealing. However... "What would you like to know?"

[greenjacketed]

What would he like to know? Frankly, he wasn't quite sure. He had no fatherly experiences of his own to draw on. Nothing suitable, at least.

Except: "Do you see him often? Back home?"

[talentsgirl]

"Well, he used to travel around a lot. But he was -" she paused for a moment, gaze flickering down - "injured about a year ago. He made it through, but he's not able to travel the same way he used to."

She looked back up at him. "So now he's able to spend a lot more time at home. It's actually pretty great, especially for the little ones."

[greenjacketed]

"The little ones? Aye. They must've missed him, when he wasn't around."

He considered his little Antonia. Could she even remember him, now? "Sorry to hear about an injury, though. Nothing so serious...?"

[talentsgirl]

"Well... it was pretty bad." Her gaze flickered downwards as she remembered the horror of that night. Shattered pelvis. Damaged spine. Collapsed lung. Destroyed kidney. "His vision was permanently damaged, and he's still got a bit of a limp, but he's pretty much walking without a cane now."

[greenjacketed]

He chose not to ask about what had happened...

Sadly, though, it left him only able to parrot himself: "...S-sorry. For his sake. And yours."

[talentsgirl]

"Well..." her smile was faint now, soft and reminiscent. "It was pretty horrible. But he's free now to be at home, and he wasn't killed. So it really worked out for the good."

[greenjacketed]

"Must be a hell of a time, being apart. If you're used to havin' him around, now."