#fenixtj

The centauress trots along "Well, you know... I was thinking of giving lessons in first aid. Do you already know that?"

"Mmm.... yes. But I could stand a brush-up."

"Well if you like, on some patrol you were doing anyway you could accompany as I tend to some locals?"

"Sounds good." Then, not without humor "I've had cause to need some first aid myself, on recent patrols, so it's apt."

A soft smile "Your sister told me you played rough"

A frown. "Pardon?"

"Apologies, Siv told me a long time ago you didn't LIKE fighting but you were very good at applied force. I think she was bragging about you"

"Mm. Not sure what she knows about it, but she's not wrong. I'd prefer to avoid fighting but if I have to, I want to win. Not that I always do. Hence the need for first aid."

"Well, when we tend to some locals, you'll get a refresher on first aid. And if trouble comes for us, I'll have you to hide behind"

Jess nods. "Sounds good. I'll let you know when my next patrol is."

"Lovely" She says then looks off "Pardon me. I think I hear the sound of my name"

"Sure." Jess moves on.

Jessica sees Demos and Phobos arguing... about what she's not sure. As they are brothers, and redcaps, there might be a fight... but that's not atypical

Unless there's an overt reason, she will let them handle thier business.

And on she goes...

Constance walks by, scribbling notes as she walks. How she does this without crashing into a wall is a power in itself

Good to see she's on the job.

Holger is patrolling up and down the hallway near the kitchen

"Hello Holger. I trust the girls are ok?"

"They plot against my duty, I fear" the boy sighs

Jess gives him a sympathetic smile "As much as we wish to protect those we care about, and have a duty to, we have to respect the rights of others to live thier lives. And sometimes, that means taking risks."

"Sometimes, we have to protect them from ourselves."

"I must keep them from the tarts" he explains, "Within the kittchen are, I suspect, the most delicious tarts in all Mexico. The senoras who bake them have tasked me with keeping my fellow childlings from snitching them before much later tonight" He looks about left and right "It is hard, Chapulah... for I think the girls plot to bypass me. I imagine donkey ears peeking around the corner. I thought I saw the flash of purple magic from Countess ellie. And Ariel.. the tap tap tapping of the hooves. "

Jess considers this. "Have the ladies in the kitchen -told- the girls to leave the tarts alone?"

"I belive they have, and I have told Ariel at least once" He looks about "But you know how it is, Miss Jessica. Sometimes a guardian to goods is seen as a dragon to the adventurous. They are wily, the girls. And I think they maybe thinking that now is a challenge"

"Did the kitchen ladies ask you to patrol here?"

"Si" He nods

"Then you should patrol, but I don't recommend looking for trouble. If they girls get past you... well, they have been given instructions already. The onus is on them."

"But I must protect them from the onus too" A beat "What IS an Onus?"

"Blame, or guilt. Responsibility."

"I am the troll. I must be responsible" HE says with his little jaw as firm as he can make it

"But what of your duty to the ladies? If you always take all the responsibility, what will they learn? What does that teach them? How can they grow?"

"Well, " He ponders "I suppppooosee there is merit to that"

Jess nods patiently.

'But.." he confesses, "I still want to be good enough that they'd have a hard time getting past me even if they wanted to. How else am I to become the guardian they need?"

Jessica thinks about this. "I don't know that there's anything wrong with them getting past you, Holger. You would want them to have the skills to slip away if they needed to. But you would also want them to have the self-control and discipline to obey the kitchen ladies' requests. So yes, patrol. Warn them off; remind them of thier own duty. But if they get past you... well, that's on them."

"I suppose either way I cannot truly fail?" It seems a surprise to consider that

"I think maybe only if you didn't try."

"Oh, I am VERY trying. Ahpuch says so"

"You're a good troll, Holger." she claps his shoulder.

He can't help but smile a little, "Gracias. Pardon. I must resume patrols up and down the hallway"

"Of course. Carry on." She nods, and off she goes.

Whether young girls plot to bypass Holger for true, or if it is just in his head remains to be seen, but Jessica moves on and he resumes

It is a testament to how nicely things are going that his trial is one of the bigger challenges

There -is- that small niggling concern in the back of her head, that NOTHING can be going this well... but she ignores it resolutely.

She looks around a corner, peeks into her room.

No signs of a visit from Siv. Whew

Not that she was overly concerned about it, really. She steps in, sets her maul in the cradle, and checks her notes and message.

She does have a message, looks like Tidemarch has a report he'll be sending later.

She makes a note to be sure and attend the report when it arrives.