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NPC 160:
Effrem, Husband of Jillian, Father of Mikhail[+bye +job +name]
You see a man with a sour expression on his face holding a baby boy. As he sees you, his face brightens.
"Hello again, <AvatarName>. I am here as usual, taking care of little Mikhail." Effrem grimaces.
name{
"I am Effrem, <AvatarName>. I am but a simple resident of Moonglow.
"What is thy name?"
AvatarName{
"Hello, <AvatarName>." He turns to the baby.
"Say `hello' to <AvatarName>, Mikhail."
}Pseudonym{
"Fine, <Pseudonym>, if that is the title by which thou dost wish to be called." He looks at the infant. "The <woman|man> is quite a snob is <she|he> not, Mikhail?"
}the Avatar{
"Aha, the Avatar, thou sayest. Whatever thou thinkest...." He turns to the baby.
"This poor person here wants to be the Avatar. Too bad there is only one Avatar, eh Mikhail?"
}
}[+Moonglow +Mikhail -name]
job{
"Me? I do not have a job. Not a real one like my wife has. All I do all day is watch over my little Mikhail, here." He turns to look at the baby, taking on a patronizing tone. "Yes, I take care of thee, do I not? Yes, I do. I sure do." He kisses the boy and then looks back up at you, embarrassed.
"Where was I? Oh yes. All I do is take care of the boy. What I should be doing is working, not staying at home. That should be Jillian's job. She belongs here at home, not me."
}[+Jillian]
Mikhail{
"That is the name of my son. 'Tis a good name, yes?"
}[-Mikhail]
Jillian|wife{
"My wife? Jillian? She's the scholar. She is a very good one, too. Not that I could not have done well. I could have. Better, in fact. But it is not worth arguing about now. She has her occupation, even if I do not have one. I should have a job, though. Dost thou not agree, <AvatarName>? This is not what a man ought to be doing. Staying at home raising the children, like this. 'Tis a disgrace!"
He begins to stroke the infant's small tuft of hair.*
"Now Effrem! Thou knowest perfectly well what we agreed when little Mikhail was born. Thou shouldst be ashamed, talking such nonsense."*
He raises his shoulders, making him appear quite sheepish.
}[-Jillian -wife]
Moonglow{
"What about Moonglow?" He shrugs, "'Tis a fair town, but a little too crowded these days. I hear it was a much nicer place back when Moonglow was separate from the Lycaeum. Much smaller.
"This place is too large to really get to know anyone. Not that I have had much of an opportunity, having to stay at home and take care of my son." He looks down at the boy, smiles, and tickles the baby's nose.
"This is not a job for a man. My wife should be home with the boy, not me. I should be out earning a living. That is what I ought to be doing!"
}[+wife -Moonglow]
bye{
"Leaving so soon? Fine, leave me with the baby. Go on, leave me. Just like my wife!" END
"Leaving so soon? Ah, that's all right, <AvatarName>. I understand, thou hast real man things to do." END
}