hadriel | Harvest for our lives! (video/action)

[ 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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!

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.

[ 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.

Edited 2018-05-27 06:14 (UTC)

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.

Edited (Ack sorry phone tagging AND AGAIN LAST ONE I PROMISE I LIED) 2018-05-27 06:32 (UTC)

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.

Edited (you never have to worry about how many edits when you're tagging with me. . . I'm terrible myself! rotfl) 2018-05-27 06:41 (UTC)

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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

He's been absolutely invaluable!

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

Why were you worried?

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

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. ]

He tends to hide it well and he can be friendly when he puts his mind to it. But he's rather...particular sometimes.

He's made a great effort, then. For which I commend him.

[ Switches to private video. ]

If you're really worried about him, can we talk somewhere else? I don't think it would be fair to talk in public.

If you'd like. I'm not so worried about him now, though.

In that case, let's defer it. But if you ever need to talk, don't hesitate to message me. Okay?

Of course, and thank you for your concern, but we're both alright.

I'm glad.

And thank you for coming to help today. I really appreciate it!

Certainly. I'll be there in a few moments.

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