Harvest for our lives! (video/action)

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin is standing at the eastern edge of the Orchard, whose branches are green-leaved and some heavy with fruit. One of the firetrucks is parked behind him. Nearby are tables stacked with baskets and boxes, for the collection of fruit, plus vegetables, herbs and other edible plants that are growing in gardens amongst the trees. Another table is covered with dishes of food and glasses of wine and other beverages, refreshments for the workers. (This post is backdated to May 21.) ]

A few days ago Dr. Sweets was talking to the community about organizing supplies for the upcoming relocation to another planet. Various efforts are now underway.

At the moment, we are harvesting the Orchard for anything that can be stored or cached, in case the trees are damaged in the move or the new planet's climate is cold or hot enough to kill off the trees and plants.

The Fire Brigade is volunteering a fire engine to be a transport vehicle for whatever we collect today and in the next few days. We need to get the produce to locations where it can be stored safely.

And for that, we need some locations! Would anybody like to volunteer or suggest some?

We could use some more help with the picking, too! Everybody welcome! We have food and drink for you -- harvesting is thirsty work, and hungry work.

I understand that some of you have gardens here in the Orchard. We won't touch your plants without your permission. Just let us know. If you are donating your produce, we'll help pick it, if you like.

Comments

[Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

There is so much to do. We'll all be hustling to get everything done that needs to be done.

His name is Cobweb? But how nice, for you to think of this garden-loving mother-like person as you pick fruits and vegetables amongst the rows of an orchard.

Re: [Video]

[swiftlet]

At least there was a warning. As I understand it there wasn't before.

[Granted he hadn't been here for any of that, but. He'd taken some time to look.]

Yes it is. I wonder sometimes what he would think of this place.

[Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

There wasn't a warning last year when Fear split the city in two and moved only one half. We were all devastated, until he finally had enough energy to bring the other half along and put them together.

But we did have warning of the move right before and the move right after the battle with the Null. Problem was, we were so busy fighting that most of us didn't have time to worry about food or supplies. I think a few people were working on it, but we were all hungry for a while after we got to this desert planet.

I guess its best Cobweb is not here. But what would he think of Hadriel? Has he ever been in a strange situation?

Re: [Video]

[swiftlet]

It sounds awful. I wasn't here for that, at least. I don't know what I would have done, to be honest. Most days it feels like I'm ornamental at best.

Not so strange as this place, no. I don't imagine he would enjoy much of it, but I suppose he'd learn to live with it eventually, although the fit he would have at first would be legendary, I'm sure.

[Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

Ornamental? Why so?

What is Cobweb like? He has an interesting name.

Re: [Video]

[swiftlet]

I don't really have any particularly useful skills for a place like this. I never had to worry about it when I was a harling and once I grew up I had to learn a rather narrow set of them.

That depends on when you catch him. Usually he's been calm, lately, but he was much more...fierce, I suppose, when I was younger. Maybe that had more to do with my father. He can still take offense very easily, though, and "vain" only barely begins to cover that. I think being legendary has gone to his head.

[Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

It's never too late to learn. Besides, if you can pick fruits and vegetables, maybe you'd be good at growing them? We really don't have enough gardeners. But what skills did you learn after you grew up?

It sounds like Cobweb felt obligated to protect you, even from your father?

Re: [Video]

[swiftlet]

I should learn something useful. Maybe bring Cobweb's harling will help me a little.

Politics. I took over leading my father's hara once he was ousted and I haven't done much else since.

I suppose so. My father was not kind to him--or to me, really, but I know he was cruel for cruelty's sake to my hostling.

[Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

What would you like to learn? There are people here willing to teach various skills.

Ah, you were a politician. But that's a useful skill, too, if you have a goal.

That is sad, that your father was cruel to your hostling. And to you!

Re: [Video]

[swiftlet]

I'm not sure. Whatever we need more of, I suppose.

It was easier when I had a people to lead. Something tells me the people here wouldn't enjoy being led. And there hasn't been much call for diplomats. Not to mention I think I made a poor impression of myself when I first arrived.

[A shrug] It doesn't matter. He's dead now and good riddance. He wanted me to be like him and I'm not, so we won.

[Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Small laugh. ] We need more people with negotiation and arbitration skills. We waste too much time with infighting, though I don't know that everyone thinks of it that way. Maybe we all just think we are holding the line, and don't think of the chaos. But we need people with other skills, too. Anything that results in more food or more of the kinds of supplies we need is good. And what else? -- anybody with an art. The arts can help people stay sane in difficult times.

And you're right, people here don't much enjoy being led. Some of us agree to it in a few circumstances. I'm in the Guard, and that means I have to get along with my superiors for the sake of mutual goals. But we've had people here who could not understand why Hadriel is not interested in a supreme leader. Needless to say, we all told them why not!

[ Curufin is always happy to hear that an abusive parent is dead and gone and not here to plague their grown-up child anymore. ] Did you decide when you were young not to be like him? I admire that.

Re: [Video]

[swiftlet]

Perhaps, although from what I've seen, most people prefer to fight their own battles.

For a time I very much wanted to be like him. He was confident and warlike and he seemed like the pinnacle of what hara should be. I was too small to understand what he was like, then. I didn't find out until later. And as distant as he seemed from me sometimes, knowing now what he was capable of, I can't even imagine the things he did to Cobweb, nor would I ask him to tell me.

I'm not so sure it was me who decided not to be like him so much as Cobweb. Terzian underestimated the depth of his defiance. My father wanted a copy of himself to raise up as a leader in his place when he was gone. Cobweb gave him me instead.

[Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

Perhaps. It is still a great mystery to me, this whole topic.

Your father sounds like one who will definitely not be missed! Neither by you nor Cobweb.

And it sounds as though you had a great ally in Cobweb. You were not alone in your fight, and that is always a good thing.

Re: [Video]

[swiftlet]

Cobweb loved him, somehow. I think he still misses him from time to time but he's at least found somehar else far kinder and better for him.

It didn't always feel that way, but I've never doubted that Cobweb loves me.

[Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

That is more than a bit sad, that Cobweb loved him, if he was so horrible to Cobweb. And I guess it is normal. When there are few people to love, some of the ones who are looked up to and adored are not good for anybody. Cobweb found someone better?

Tell me more about Cobweb? What sort of being is he?

Re: [Video]

[swiftlet]

Yes, eventually.

Vain and beautiful. Legendary, even. He's rather well-known for his loveliness but he's a deer as well and as well-known for that, too. Kind when he isn't insulted, but nohar knows when that will happen, not even me.

[Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

But he is not one of the hara? Some different type of being? He sounds very beautiful, charismatic and unpredictable.

Re: [Video]

[swiftlet]

He is har. He used to be human, but so did all of the hara his age. Seel did too.

He's all of that, too.

[Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

Oh, I see. Yes, Seel did tell me a little of hara history. Seel's in the Fire Brigade with me, and we've had some occasion to talk.

Re: [Video]

[swiftlet]

It's good to hear he's keeping himself occupied.

[Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

He's been absolutely invaluable!

Re: [Video]

[swiftlet]

I'm glad to hear that, too. I admit, I was worried when I first arrived.

[Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

Why were you worried?

Re: [Video]

[swiftlet]

He isn't the kindest har either, and I saw some of the things he'd been doing and saying while I was gone.

[Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

Really? [ Curufin has been completely oblivious to all this. His relationship with Seel has been very cordial but it's been entirely about working together on construction and technical problems. Now he's worried about Seel and possibly about Swift as well. ]