Network - 04 (Posted on March 15, before the start of the event)

[graveyounglady]

Who: Mercy Graves
Username: mercyme
Warnings: reference to underage drinking

To the Gentlefolk of Other Worlds,

The spring of this world is nearly upon us! The 20th of March will mark its turning, and I would propose a celebration to mark this. I will have flowers and ribbons to weave crowns and fresh bread, berries, and cream to share, along with what alcohol I can carry. At Evergreen Abbey, my home, we would celebrate the turning of the seasons with a grand feast and games from dawn until dusk. I fear I do not have the means to give this to you, but I would like to give you something.

At the end of the feast, the Abbess or Abbot would name the season, as well. I am no one so grand, but I would make a proposal: The Spring of Dawn's Light. For the dawn represents so many things:

Guidance - The dawn will always give us direction when we feel lost. As surely as a stone will fall when dropped from a height, the sun will rise from the east.

A New Beginning - The dawn hails a new day, something that may be different than the one before. We close the chapter of the day before and open something else with the rising of the sun.

And Hope - The dawn is a reminder that darkness cannot stand forever. Light will bleed through, it will kiss the earth and spread across her as a lover. Warm tendrils that invigorate and call waking.

I know that not everyone has inclination to come to the ADI offices, so I would propose the Oval Playground at Centennial Avenue and Harvard Street. It is very near to one of the cemeteries, and I would lay flowers for some of the graves there, on that day of celebration. Those who have died should know the joy of a turning, as well, for they are the soil that feeds us and lets the spring come forth.

I will be there to celebrate from the sun's breaking to its height. Please be wary of the shadows if you come.

May the spring bring life to you and yours,
Mercy Graves

Comments

text; @stark

[fightinginfinity]

Sounds great I’m in

Just don’t overextend yourself. Whole lotta jerks around here who don’t deserve this kinda hospitality

text; un: kruos

[whisperedone]

i would be honored to join you in your celebration, miss mercy. the words you have written for the dawn's light are lovely and give me heart.

if i can aid you in anyway, i would very much like to do so.

may the dawnfather's light go with you

text; un mkblackwood

[lowficharm]

This sounds really fun! :) I remember you talking about a big spring festival back at Thanksgiving. I'd be happy to help whatever you need, I think this would be really nice.

text; un: bright

[abrightboy]

I'd like to help out. The thing is, I can't if we don't talk about what happened in the cafeteria after the new year.

text; un buttercup

[licensetotrill]

That sounds like a lovely ritual and I'd love to do what I can for it. If there's time beforehand would you be willing to tell me more about it? I made a study of many of the religions of my home continent and I'd be fascinated to hear about ones from others and see how they compare.

[graveyounglady]

I do not plan to! I only wish we had the staff in the kitchens here that we did at the Abbey. There are so many foods and drinks I would share. Fire Whiskey and Blinding Ale, so many pies and trifles and cakes. Fish and a wild boar caught by the Guard to roast all through the day and served for the evening feast. And mushrooms and roots from the forest cooked in more ways than you can imagine. We would send the little ones out to gather things the whole week before the spring turning.

Everyone helped with it. I do so miss home sometimes. This place is wondrous in its own ways, even if the terrors and hardship it brings, but I miss the food most of all.

[graveyounglady]

Thank you kindly, Mr. Garner! I think another pair of hands would be most useful once more, to carry what I would bring to the park. A neighbor to help would be much appreciated if you have the time. I would call upon you on the earliest hours on the day, though. Would that cause issue?

[graveyounglady]

How are you with kneading? I would plan to make many different types of bread for the celebration, if you would like to join me in that effort?

[graveyounglady]

[... Ah.]

Would you be more comfortable speaking via letters like this, or would you prefer to meet in-person for such a discussion, sir? I cannot say that I regret getting you the treatment you so sorely needed, but I can see that I was... somewhat affected, myself, by whatever was happening. It felt imperative to fix you in a way I am not accustomed to. I am sorry that I spoke to you as a child, as well.

[graveyounglady]

That is very kind. I have time to tell you now, if you would not mind my baking while we speak? But would knead you to stop by my apartment.😉

[licensetotrill]

I'd never mind such an invitation, I'm sure we'll be on a roll in no time. 😉

[abrightboy]

I definitely do not want to meet in person. I understand the compulsions this place can cause; I was compelled by one myself. But do you understand that it wasn’t your tone that offended me? It was the assault.

cw: discussion of corporal punishment

[graveyounglady]

[Mercy eyes that word. 'Assault.']

I mean to say the slapping you and everything, Mr. Malcolm. It is something my Mama or Papa would have done to me were I acting out of turn in my younger days. You did not deserve that, and I should not have been hauling you around.

[abrightboy]

I appreciate that. Part of my continued concern is that nobody else did anything about it, either. That a compulsion could take you and the other people in medical were fine with that. A compulsion could make you behave in an extreme way and nobody in medical was inclined to rein it in.

[graveyounglady]

I'm on Flour 3, Apartment Block B. I look forward to your arrival! I shall leave the door unlocked.

[graveyounglady]

To be fair to them, sir, you looked deathly ill and were shouting and flailing like you had a madness upon you.

[abrightboy]

I was screaming for help. Because I was being assaulted. And their inability to recognize that has made me reluctant to use the medical facilities even if needed. I tried to tell you: I can’t be sedated. If I can’t wake up, it’s like I’m trapped in there. Not one single person was interested in understanding why that’s a problem for me.

[lowficharm]

I can't say I've ever done a lot of it? But I think I'm pretty good with my hands, and it's not supposed to be too hard, right? As long as you can show me I think I'll be okay.

[whisperedone]

you are my leading reference for my ability to carry things, i would be happy to do so again.

i wake near sunrise to practice my forms and stretch as it is, a little earlier will be no trouble, madam.

[licensetotrill]

Suppose I need to stop loafind around and get to know the buildings around here sooner or later. I'll be by right on my way in a moment!

[graveyounglady]

How are we meant to tell the difference between your raving because of an effect and because of legitimate concerns, though? You were thrashing and screaming, all but incoherent. I was the only one who heard those concerns, in full, I believe. Please do not fault them for something I have done.

I must also ask why you find induced sleep so abhorent? If you are asleep, then you will not know to feel trapped?

[graveyounglady]

Of course! I will be baking all day and into tomorrow, I suspect. If you find kneading has left you wanting, I have purchased honey to coat some for of the loaves I am making, as well. It may be a rather sticky job on that front, but it should be a delicious one. Evergreen Abbey is rebuilding its hive populations still, after the Great Cleansing Fire, so I am most pleased to find such an abundance of things here.

I only lament my brother is not here. I recall when we were younger, he was left with a puffed up face for days after he tried to rob a hive of their goods before they were properly smoked. Colm has always been a fiend for honey, even if he must suffer for it.

[graveyounglady]

Your forms, sir? How do you mean?

>action

[graveyounglady]

I look forward to it! Thank you for rising to the challenge.😉

[As promised, the door to Mercy's apartment is open. She calls out when she hears the door.]

Just put a kettle on for tea, if that's your fancy, sir. I'm over here in the kitchen.

[The place is set up like every apartment in the ADI buildings with her having a good view on the living room and entrance from her vantage point. The place is clean but has signs of being well lived-in. A few books on one of the tables, a colorful blanket on the back of the sofa. There are empty pots on the balcony and a plant that's clearly struggling a bit inside. The kitchen is a bit chaotic at the moment with Mercy in full bread-making production mode. Flour is dusted across the countertop, and there are bowls with towels over them where dough is in the process of rising.]

[whisperedone]

my apologies. practice forms, stretches, exercises with my glaive to ensure my skills are not dull when I need them.