As one season ends.... (Milo please)

Alicia Elsdragon · February 18, 2010, 07:27 AM

Timestamp: End of Melora, Winter, Era XVII

It was a rare thing, but Alicia had made an appointment this time. She had arrived in Prime a few brightenings before and had made an appointment. Which had to be a good sign - usually things were so rushed for the Lady Vicereine, that she had to pop in here on the off chance.

However, this brightening she arrived in the offices of Mrs Ada Stromb with a smile.

"Serale, Mrs Stromb" the young elven woman said, clutching a scroll when she walked in. She had arrived courtesy of the bracelet that Milo had given her, with a fairly minimal amount of security. She considered, wryly, that her standards had changed since she started out as an assistant Aedile, when three guards and a wizard would have been considered extreme security, not minimal.

"The children made this for you, Mrs Stromb. They send their love and hope that you are well. Hannas made the ribbon himself, knitted it carefully" she motioned to the rather scraggy but obviously lovingly made bright red ribbon "And Scylvana wrote the words..." When Mrs Stromb opened it it was a "Stiff-cut of bean the best!" duly signed by both children and witness by their mother. This certificate of being the best was a work of art for the young things, bright garish colours bedeking it, carefully crayoned words and a splodge-like drawing which showed Mrs Stromb and them both.

Alicia would then chat, asking about Mrs Strombs health, assuring her that she was eating well, asking about Milo and Nell's children and generally chattering and asking after Mrs Stromb and her family. When she had chatted, which she would do (for she had arrived ten minutes early on purpose to ensure that she had time to do so) she would nod her head to the door.

"I have an appointment, can I go in?" she asked, with a smile. What would Keldon say, she thought... here she was popping in to see Milo. And proving him right, in his own mind of course, in that she was undoubtedly having an affair.

Pah.

Milo L'Evienne · February 20, 2010, 04:27 PM

Missus Stromb was without question expecting the elf’s arrival, and knowing already that Alicia was in the family way, the old dwarf was prepared. A whicker basket sat upon the surface of her desk, covered with green and yellow checkered cloth tucked neatly and bound round its lip with bright yellow ribbon. And beneath that cloth the basket’s contents seemed so ample that they might burst through at the slightest provocation. Later, when opened, Alicia would find several jars of preserves including fresh apple butter, the old woman’s own blend of tea measured neatly into serving size bags, several small loaves of her ale batter bread and several jars more of her pork, mushroom and barley stew, knitted socks, scarves and caps for the twins in bright, unlikely shades, and a tiny set as well for the little blessing to come.

It was a foregone conclusion that Alicia wasn’t eating enough, elves never did but what would barely keep a bird alive in Missus Stromb’s opinion, and she concluded as much yet again when in her estimation, the lady Minister’s belly strolled in ahead of the rest of her. Small yet as it might be. Still, the old woman met her with a delighted smile and greeting, and equal delight when told more of the twins she’d grown so fond of during their stay, and missed when they’d gone back home again.

Therefore, after chiding Alicia gently to rest more, to eat more, to avoid stress, she happily crooned over the certificate crafted by the twin’s hands, and declared that it would before the cycle was through, find itself framed nicely and hung on the wall nearby her own desk. Ultimately though she confirmed that yes, Himself was expecting her, and Sir Harry there would kindly give a knock to alert him to her arrival, then open the door and show her right in.

With three Rose Knights and lord Tierney in a chair nearby the bookshelves all keeping watch, Alicia would find Milo seated near the fire, boots lifted up, propped and crossed on the low table in front of him, hair loosely bound and dressed in shades of darkest plum, bronze and cream. He turned when she entered, and ultimately dropped his feet and rose. ”Alicia. Please, come in,” he said and glancing back as Sir Harry shut the door quietly behind her, he smiled a little. ”I assume Missus Stromb has already given you an earful. She’s been fussing over that basket of hers the morning through.” Then indicating the chair adjacent to his own, he asked, ”There’s a fresh pot of coffee on the bar and I was about to pour myself a mug. One for yourself?”

Alicia Elsdragon · February 21, 2010, 05:31 PM

Chatting with Mrs Stromb was a pure pleasure and Alicia revelled in it - she agreed that yes, her stomach was still ridiculously flat, that no, she probably wasn't eating enough but it was this dreadful morning sickness... did the wise dwarven woman have any suggestions as to how to get over that? Yes, the children were missing her dreadfully, and she must absolutely must come for a meal. It would be Alicia's pleasure to spend some time with the very kindly woman and she smiled softly at the thought of pampering the elderly dwarf.

She thanked the elderly dwarf effusively, a small tear being blinked away as she looked at the basked. She didn't open it, but she did let Mrs Stromb know that there was, without a doubt, no kinder mortal soul on Telath and she was very, very, very appreciated.

Still, there was time a-wasting and so she agreed that she would rest, eat and avoid stress much more. She was pleased at the thought of a frame and she positively beamed. But then it was time to speak to Milo and in she went in.

"Thank you" she said, grinning at Milo as she walked in and nodded "Indeed, Mrs Stromb has let me know that I need to.. let me see. Eat less, get more stress, sleep less, something like that. Maybe." she grinned a soft, almost lopsided grin and she nodded

"A coffee would be great, thank you" she said, and it had to be said that there was no sign of pregnancy in the slender-waisted young thing.

"How are you doing?" she asked, looking at Milo with a clearly thoughtful and considerate expression. She had no idea of how must pressure the man must be under, she could only begin to understand and she looked at him with a critical eye.

But that notwithstanding, she sighed, and taking the coffee with a smile, looked up at him. "Alright. Let's get the negative out of the way. Keldon and I have split up.... I couldn't do it any more, Milo. I simply couldn't. I .. so yes. We're separated, and I'd like a divore as soon as is possible. I don't really know what to do about that, and I'd appreciate some help with it...."

When that conversation was done, however, she wanted to talk about work, and that seemed to follow on naturally.

"Also... I want to talk to you about work. I think that this role just doesn't quite work, to be honest. The governers need someone who.... well, I don't know, Milo, but I've failed to unite them, I know that. I hope that Liselle can manage it better than me, but I don't... anyhow - I'd like to come back to Prime, Milo, get back into the actual swing of things. I was wondering if there's a role that I could take up here? I was a damn good chancellor, I know that much, but I haven't been able to break through the Governers... I just haven't done it..."

She sipped her coffee and then grinned "And lo... the pregnant woman chirped on. How's Nell?"

Milo L'Evienne · March 1, 2010, 03:21 PM

The elf might show no visible signs of her delicate condition that Milo would recognize. But rest assured that Missus Stromb knew. The old woman had an uncanny knack, an additional sense of things that no Sovereign, nor appointed official or even Inquisitor could rightly put a finger on. Suffice to say, Nana was an Intelligence Agency all of her own.

”You’d best listen to what she tells you or you’ll never hear the end of it,” he warned with something of a grin while she took a seat, and he did the honors of pouring sturdy mugs of coffee for them both. He returned with both in hand, hers as she liked it as he delivered it and took an adjacent chair. ”I’m well,” he said in the wake of a sip from his own mug, then set the thing aside to cool. ”Busy as always, there’s always a crisis somewhere to contend with.”

”Nell and the children are fine. They’re out of Prime at present,” he said, though didn’t elaborate as to why they were absent. But matters of marriages gone on the downside, in truth while he’d not so much as anticipated the revelation, his expression was such that he didn’t seem terribly surprised. Only enlightened and perhaps disappointed.

But the man’s increasingly objectionable behaviors in Prime had unfortunately followed him home and Alicia then subjected to them in their personal life as she'd seemed to imply, in truth Milo could only imagine the grounds for her request. He knew her well enough to know the extent of her dedication to both her public and personal life, to family, and that she'd not give up on a thing such as marriage without substantial and irreconcilable cause.

”I see,” he said quietly with a sympathetic frown. ”I’m sorry Alicia, truly. You’re sure?” he asked and then added, ”Your marriage…Were you married by a Priest or cleric? One of Carmelya, Diana or…” Clearly it was a topic he wasn't necessarily comfortable with in his role, this contending with matters of the heart gone wrong.

But then she quickly moved on to business and he considered her thoughts while settling in again. ”So you’d like to work in Prime. I wouldn't consider it a failure Alicia,” he told her. ”It was a new and untried role and anyone appointed was bound to encounter a few rough patches no matter how dedicated. Or find it a position that needs to be altered or reexamined. Things have certainly gotten busy in the capital city of late and there are a couple of roles that will come open with Spring approaching,” he added. ”I’ll be needing to reappoint the Almoner’s role in fact. What do you know of the Ministry and it’s mandate?”

Alicia Elsdragon · March 21, 2010, 11:17 AM

"Well, if there wasn't a crisis, you wouldn't know what to do with yourself, would you?" she asked, with a smile. It was wearing him down, she thought, as her eyes gazed on his grey hair and his over-tired eyes. There was something else, and there it was. Out of Prime? Nell seemed to spend a lot of time out of Prime, it must be said. That was not good, and Alicia's brow furrowed, albeit briefly, at the revelation from him. Still, the expression was on her face but a moment, far too long for Milo not to notice it she was sure.

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life, Milo. I married him because it was best for the children and I have done my best, I really have. But I think that it's completely gone too far ~ maybe he's lost his mind, I don't know, but his behaviour.... I can't and won't put up with it anymore. He's convinced that you and I are having an affair, he's passive-aggressive and I don't feel that the children are safe. So we're out. It was a priest... of the Church of Faith." she said, softly. "I know you find this really awkward, and I'm sorry. I don't want to add anything to you, I really don't."

But then it was on to work and she smiled, grateful for the movement to it "Well, consider it a failure or not, I didn't do a storming job. I think that Liselle's role will be more appropriate to it - those few Governers who were vaguely on side seemed to infer that there was a level of animosity towards another person who was telling them how to do their job whilst not doing there job"

She looked at him with a raised eyebrow "Well, I know that Duncan once described his role to me as having a lot of money with the remit of giving it to those who need it for the betterment of the Empire.... but my understanding is that the Almoner is in charge of the Ministry of Interior Aid, which has the remit of providing aid both in times of crisis and in a more long term manner, as the situation demands it."

She spoke the last bit with her eyes slightly closed as she remembered reading it. "I do study the Articles of Imperium a fair bit" she said, as way of self-depreciation. That said, she looked at him and waited to see what he said.

Milo L'Evienne · March 26, 2010, 12:35 PM

”No, I suppose I wouldn’t,” Milo admitted of crisis, and just what to do with himself. He smiled and sipped his coffee, then set the mug down again. ”Although I might not mind a…critical void, now and again.” He could hardly miss the furrowing of her brow when the topic of Nell’s whereabouts arose. But the cause of his wife’s absence from Prime at the moment was a multi faceted one, complicated. And for similar reasons, a topic he hardly spoke of in detail even with those closest to him. Even while enormously appreciative for their concern.

It seemed though that her path was set in regards to her marriage. One might call it irreconcilable differences, or certainly in Sir James’ case, an agreement that, perhaps, yes, Elsdragon was utterly, irretrievably…Well, quite simply, possibly mad. Milo however maintained a need to be…diplomatic. ”I understand. Very well then,” he added. ”That you were married by a priest of the Church of the Faith probably simplifies things. It’s true, Alicia, these sorts of things are awkward for me.”

”But, there are ways to make it less so, and insure that things are handled sensitively and as they should be. We’ve a resident priestess here in the palace. She administers to my family, to other residents and officials here, conducts services in the grand chapel…I will speak to her on your behalf and explain the situation. It will then be for her to judge sufficient cause and if so, she will issue a dissolution of marriage, and done properly, I will add my signature and seal. Therefore, the church has their say,” he explained, ”and by virtue of an appropriate process, my signature only makes official the Church’s findings.”

”Now then,” he continued while picking up his mug again. ”the Almoner’s role. Stated simply, true enough. It seems to me that it might suit you perfectly. But it’s more Alicia. Certainly at its inception, the role was fashioned to operate both from Royal funding, and with donations of crowns and resources from the public. Charitable donations from churches, houses of nobility, guilds or individuals as a way to encourage a broader sense of the philanthropic. Citizens helping each other in times of need, across the Kingdom. Though I’ve funded it sufficiently enough that it need not rely on those donations, they would only enable it to do much more. These are the people’s taxes after all, they ought to see them used to improve their lives.”

”Providing aid in times of crisis, certainly,” he agreed. ”Be it monies, resources, manpower, whatever is needed. But more than that. There’s so much that needs to be done, so many in need of an extra hand after so much upheaval, war, the longest winter…So rebuilding, structural support, enhanced educational and employment or financial incentives…All based on identifiable, genuine need, to put to rights much of the damage that’s been done over the past decade. And as importantly, wherever possible, involve the citizens and communities in their own recovery. Therefore, not simply a handout. But a personal stake, something to take pride in. Something that would interest you?” he wondered.

Alicia Elsdragon · March 26, 2010, 06:35 PM

Hmmm - best not to go there, she decided, as she saw his face when she mentioned Nell. Goodness knows, she thought to herself with an inwards lift of a cynical brow, she was hardly the one who could give advice on relationships. She nodded her head, once and moved on. Then the discussion on her marriage, in fact, and she smiled a soft smile of gratitude to him "Thank you, Milo. I can't tell you how grateful I am to you. I know that I'm not the easiest person in the world... and I promise never to get myself into this situation again for at least another... I'm swearing off men for the rest of my life." she said, with a cynical smile.

And then on to the role of Almoner, and she listened intently. "That sounds like a marvellous job, Milo. I don't relish the idea of simply giving out money, but making money and resources work for the betterment of people, putting down foundations.. that sounds great. If you'd consider me up to the job, it'd be my pleasure..."

She smiled, and sipped her coffee, pleased with the idea and put her cup down with a smile "And the children will be pleased, they've missed their playmates dreadfully. I've tried to shield them, Milo, but they've witnessed more than their share of arguments... more than their share." She sighed, a frown creasing her forehead. Lifting her cup up to her lips she stopped, just before she was about to take a sip and then spoke.

"Are there any awards for the woman with the worst taste in men on the face of telath?" she asked, with an entirely straight face.

Milo L'Evienne · April 4, 2010, 02:33 PM

”Are you now?” Milo quipped with a mildly quirked brow, the prospect of Alicia swearing off men entirely. They’d see he supposed, but best to move on. ”No need Alicia,” he assured her. ”Esmerelda has tended to the religious needs of those in the palace for a number of eras now. She came shortly after Nell and myself arrived, and she’ll handle the matter wisely and with a great deal of sensitivity. It will only be left for me to add my signature to her conclusion.”

”Now then,” he said and moved on. ”this change in roles. I believe it would suit you and there’s a lot of work to be done. I guess you’ll have affairs to settle in Jaedaxia before beginning or settling into Prime. Come late Spring?” he wondered.

”Hannah, Owen and Madeline will be happy to know the twins are returning…” he added and then nodded in understanding. ”Children are resilient Alicia, and they understand more than we give them credit for. Give them time, they’ll be fine.” Then he adopted an evasive smile in the wake of her last comment and opted for a swallow from his mug instead. ”I’m not answering that.”

Alicia Elsdragon · April 7, 2010, 09:29 AM

She nodded, quite a serious expression on her face which was made a lie by the twinkle in her silver-grey eyes "Yes. Swearing off men completely. Nothing but trouble, the lot of them" she said and she no more believed it than she suspected he did. Anyhow, he dealt with her latest relationship implosion and she smiled "Thank you, Milo. I really appreciate it, and will let Esmerelda know that, too."

She nodded her head, pleasure lighting her face "That sounds great. I'll start mid spring. I guess there's an office here, yes? I look forward to it" She smiled and looked at Milo with a familiar quirked smile "It will be good to get myself back here. I'll still make use of Stokey, if that's acceptable, and go home to Jae often. I've taken on a few.... well, things there that I will want to keep going." She had grown uncommonly fond of Jaedaxia, but she would be glad to get home to Prime. It was funny how the capital had become that place, her home. The children would be delighted, too.

"I know. Resiliant in the extreme. Hope this one is, too" she said, placing a hand on her flat stomach. She nodded her head and Milo could practically see the thought processes going through her mind "Alright. So I need to contact provinces, when I start, get the office in order and then I guess we need to meet to discuss where you'd like things to start ~ Sheria rather springs to mind, but I guess we need to talk that through?" she said, looking at him.

She chuckled at his refusal to answer her question. Fair play was bonnie play after all, and she smiled "Politics can ruin a friendship you know" she teased and then sipped her coffee.

"So, any other housekeeping that we need to discuss?" she asked, and looked askance at him

ooc: do you want to keep this thread going and discuss priorities / start a new thread / do something else? Let me know!

ooc2: housekeeping questions.. shall I use Duncan's old office? Does her salary change? let's talk budget!

Milo L'Evienne · April 13, 2010, 09:21 AM

”Well should you meet her in person, I think you’ll like her very much,” he remarked of Esmerelda and he grinned a little before adding, ”She’s a mousai and her regular services in the Grand Chapel are always filled to overflowing.” In truth the creature had terrified him on a primal level when they’d been first introduced. A lifelong phobia of rodents, in spite of being as closely guarded a secret as those of State, had brought a mild case of the jitters washing over him even before the introduction. However impossible it was to maintain after meeting and speaking with the tiny priestess. Liquid brown eyes, twitching whiskers against powdery gray fur, and as charming creature as he’d ever the pleasure to meet.

”Mid Spring it is then…There’s a building in the Forum devoted to the Ministry. I’m not certain if Duncan has completed his move to his new offices just yet. But I’ll check on that for you. And yes,” he added of the sorcerer in her employ. ”Stokey is free to make the transition with you. His talents in fact will be of great benefit to your new role, a means of quick travel to any given locality that finds itself in sudden need.”

”Sheria will certainly be one of the Ministry’s undertakings in the coming months. In fact of several Ministries combined, including that of Transport and Infrastructure Development. You’re acquainted with Pala, yes?” he wondered before carrying on. ”However, presently the province is placed under a state of Martial Law, a Military Governor, relief and aid is being administered by our Legions and Navy in the province. However once order is completely restored throughout the province, there’ll be plenty to keep you busy,” he promised.

”Now then, I suppose we ought to draft you up a writ and provide you your operating budget.” With a smile, he rose and excused himself in order to return to his desk, while the towering Sir James quietly offered Alicia a refill from a fresh pot of coffee. So seating himself behind his desk, Milo arranged the appropriate paperwork in front of him, and armed himself with a newly filled fountain pen. It didn’t take long, names and dates, seals and signatures on parchment with fluted edges dusted in gold and a faded relief of the Realm’s Coat of Arms in the document’s middle.

It was folded thrice neatly after a dusting of powder, bound in a wide band of black velvet and sealed in crimson again, then slipped into a leather envelope, that held sealed by leather strand and wooden disk again bearing his official seal. When he returned, he brought with him as well, an additional document plucked from a file in the lower drawer of his desk. Retaking his seat, he first handed Alicia the envelope with a smile, then followed by a second document.

”Your writ, and your operating budget. Now, keep in mind that this was drafted previous to the conflict in Sheria, also previous to the onset of the Longest Winter. At that time, along with anticipated charitable donations, the discretionary funds allotment seemed adequate, with room to request more if need be. However, given the lingering effects of the Longest Winter and the prospect of Sheria requiring a great deal of funding during the rebuilding process, it’s quite likely that this portion of the budget will need to be revisited.”

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