#earthrunes

"My dearest acquaintance, we simply must stop meeting thusly. The court will be all a flutter with rumours." He offers a hand to Emmeline, turning a pretty bow now that his weight has been lifted. "Sir Vinchenzo de le Vinci at your service, and your family's."

"I'm Rollo, and that's good enough for government work" Rollo heads off to alert the steward of all that's gone on, and then take up slacker Oswald's last hour

After greetings are duly exchanged with the Possum he has managed to somehow dance around meeting until now, he stays long enough to be sure that Oswald is comfortably settled, then either will stay to keep company with his new acquaintance, or, if she prefers him out of the way or to carry word elsewhere, will head off according to her wishes!

(then pause OR end scene as Emma and Vince P decide)

Vince stays to see that Oswald is settled, and then stays a bit longer after fetching tea and biscuits from the kitchen to share with his new acquaintance, and also offers to help move the ill thane to his own bed, if needed.

Afterwards, it’s a hot shower for him, trying to shrug off the bit of a chill from prancing around in damp silk all afternoon. Then, just a quick nap before it’s time to man the bar...
...Vince dozes off into an uneasy slumber, his earlier discontent blossoming into feverish dreams as the flu takes hold. He does not show up for his evening shift.

Emma exclaims her despair - mostly in French - when boggan whispers bring news of illness. Little to do but hot tea and warm blankets and water and water and water...

The troll is a mess, a feverish mess. THank goodness no one else is ...oh dear

A cot! A cot in her chamber.... so blue and gold may be tended side by side.

"Disinfect everything" The steward declares as word gets out "Masks to be provided to those going into the ..well ,I guess it's an infirmary now"

"Fais dodo, Vincent mon p’tit frère
Fais dodo, t’auras du lolo
Maman est en haut
Qui fait du gâteau
Papa est en bas
Qui fait du chocolat
Fais dodo, Oswald mon p’tit frère
Fais dodo, t’auras du lolo..."

It might be a bit muffled by the mask, but the patter of the cajun lullaby is soothing enough.

The feverish troll at least seems to rest better.

Medinces, herbs, nothing is denied Emma in this. It's almsot as if she's got a budget and authority (Spoiler: She does!)

She simmers herbs in the sickroom - to clear the air, to open clogged lungs, to soothe aching muscles.... it smells very green.

And The steward seeks out CORADEL

The lion tosses fitfully in his sleep. “Mmmm. F..fondue.... no, not... mmmmrf.... sorry, lamb.. lamby lambkins...

...kids and kittens... alas. Alas.

Chocolate, in the... mmmrrr, no, jus... the... cheese... cheese lioness.

Crackers... broken all apart.

...but why is the rum gone?”

Just feverish mumbling of a sick pooka.

Coradel sits at a table in an alcove, perusing a small cloth-bound book between glances out the window at the perfectly gothic rainy day. A slight nostalgic smile.

"You rest now, cher. Tea is just as good as rum. Doubly so if one is a sluagh, as you are..."

"Baroness?" The Steward says "I'm afraid Flu has hit the hold"

She closes her book. "The Flu?" A pause as she thinks. "Is it bad, Delores?"

"Thane Oswald was found face deep in the slush and mud earlier" She says "He'd passed out. NO telling how long it was perculating hin him. Thane Rollo and Vincent brought him in. But Vince seems to have caught it. Emma has access to pretty much everything now on my orders unless you disagree?"

"Oswald?" Surprised, and then she hears Vince is also down, she stands. "They are in Emmaline's room?" She's already moving there. "You say Rollo helped, has anybody checked on him recently?"

"He's on duty , working tripple shifts. Says trolls seem kind of fragile so a boggan better do it"

"He will exhaust himself, the silly man. "

"Yes, bit of a nit, Rollo" She says with a sigh "I have other thanes on guard. The children are being blocked from certain areas that might be vulnerable. Ludmilla and mr. Benson are warned. "

"Cantrips don't work against it?" Unless Delores stops her, Coradel's about to barrel right into the sick room.

"Baroness.. what do you.. you don't even have a mask... stop please'

She chases after

"A mask? For what?" But she does stop.

"Because it travels thorugh the air somewhat, particles up to ten feet. I Think" She says "Didn't anyone ever... have you ever had the flu?"

A blink. "Not that I know of, no. I've heard of it. Sounds unpleasant. "

"Oh dear lord..yes. It's horrible". Delores gives a more mundane detailed explanation

Coradel frowns at the details, her nose wrinkling in distaste.

Meanwhile, Emma continues to function well, everything will be okay.

At some point, Emma sleeps - curled up as a plump little ball of grey possum fur on a chair between the two beds.

At some point a hand drifts from the bed and lands upon the plump ball. “...kitty.” Absently stroking the possum for a moment before dozing off again.

Though reluctant, she eventually agrees to stay out of the sick room, and authorizes continued supplies as Emmaline directs (within reason).

She does thank Rollo for his dedication, and orders all Thanes to be alert -- "We don't know who might have come in while Oswald was unconscious."