#anywhere

He never did it again because he almost inhaled one... but that's neither here nor there. "Oh I'm genius... one time? I married this phenomenally hot chick. Einstein level thinking. Now, some might say you already have Sally Mae or Brogan, but squires ..you can send them off on 'assist knight stuff' like polishing a blade or fetching whatever... so I'd suggest either have Sally mae fall into 'helping you tutor' role.. or give her a week off...whatever you know to be best. Heh... oh yeah..forgot about this.... the girls might have to learn about the fae phone tree.. 'the system' as you call it" He ponders "And yeah, it might scare them off. Hearthdom isn't for pussies. But it might also make them want to try it as they realize how essential it is. Folks don't appreciate what they don't see the work for... and I think you're gift of making it look so easy might be working against you."

"Gerd did say she felt she'd been training under Hearth. She really doesn't have a clue, yet."

"She really doesn't" He agrees. By now her sore muscles have been tended. Her husband sniffs his own hands, "My fingers smell like flowers. Hope the boys don't sniff this on me. Patriarchal indoctrination I am thy bitch"

"Mmmm....gonna call you 'Blossom' from now on." A sigh. "Thanks, hon. I feel a lot better."

"Hey, you're the one who mixed that lineament up so of course you feel better" Deliberately, she suspects, missing the point of the thanks. "So, have I won a little forgive ness?"

She blinks. "Um...what was I forgiving you for, again?"

"The fact I not only recorded that arm wrestling on the phone, I put it on the cloud thing so you can't delete it easy"

CHEESE eating grin

Her eyes widen. After a moment, she whispers, "You didn't."

BIG Nod up and down.

Relaxed muscles or not, she hauls off and punches him in the arm.

"ow" he says obligingly, and not fake either... she's a troll and can give it as well as anyone. "Relax, it's encrypted. Not just anyone can open it up. Sylvi taught me how."

"It'd better be encrypted from Sylvi," she points out. Then more contritely, "Sorry." And she leans to kiss where she hit him.

"Encrypted from..." A pause as something sinks in "uh oh."

"Olgar!"

She points at the phone. "Fix it! Fix it!"

"Ah... " he scrambles.. "Hold on I gotta... wait, is it double click or right click?"

Phone in his hand...

Only then does he notice.. "It's. ..ah been accessed THREE times. That's... one time more than... uh oh"

Kerri's face is in her hands. "I'm doomed."

Then she looks up and points at him. "Whatever she tries to extort, you're paying."

"I think I have to" He says shocked, "Your daughter just changed the password. I can't get in."

Eyes wide again. "The whole account? Olgar...what else is on that account?"

"It's a cloud thing so ... the cloud stuff? "

The phone buzzes in his hand: TXT: I'm thinking this is good for dinner and movie (WITH snacks) for me and Colton, don't you, Dad?

He looks at the Text, "YUP... Your daughter. I think we've established she can't have gotten the tech smarts from me."

"I'm suspecting she got them from Symon, which is not reassuring." A sigh. "Okay...we should dress and pack and go. I could use some breakfast, too."

"Lunch, really, I guess."

He sighs and types TXT: I'm gonna want proof of life... and ALL EXISTING COPIES of any further materials before we consider this, and I think snacks are superfluous if you're having dinner before or after the movie

"Yeah..." He says, "I think your underwear is on the lamp"

TXT: We're growing wilders with active lifestyles. Snacks are PART of the movie! As for the dinner, I'm thinking a steakhouse.

TXT: YOu know, reall shame if your steak eating boyffriend got lost on a trod... just saying

She gathers her things, including the lampshade undies, and dresses in the clothes he packed for her, noting that he packed for her unseelie mood more than her seelie mood, but not TOO much so: black t-shirt and tight denim, but no slick leather.

TXT: You were saying about copies?

Yup. He's a conscientious sort her husband. Even if perhaps he should have phone camera privileges revoked

TXT: Pushing it, Rugmonster. We'll talk later about those baby pictures that can ALSO be put on line. For now I gotta go

TXT: Love you, Daddy!

HE puts the phone away, "I pulled out a big gun, we'll see if she blinks" And he helps dress and pack.

She shakes her head. "And that was the day that Olgar learned a valuable lesson about internet security." She zips her bag closed.

"Yes... don't leave it to our daughter" Okay NOW he cops to his part in her. He puts an arm around Kerri's waist, and the two head out for lunch...any place she wants.

(End scene)