eachdraidh | video, open to both courts (action if you are at the barrel)

[ Alice has been at the Barrel for a few weeks now. No one's asked her to cook and clean, but it's been a bit of an engraved habit brought over from her time in London. It's only through getting children's clothing and interacting with the nearby town that it's been plaguing the back of her mind. Unlike the last time she's popped on the lockets back in December, Alice looks healthier, but she is still pretty thin.

As usual. And as usual, her white rabbit is sitting there beside her, munching away at a bowl of food. She's not good at public speaking. ]

Hello.

These may be strange times to open a dialogue about this subject while both of our courts prepare for another skirmish. There are plenty of natives here of various ages who have been hit the most by war, especially children. I used to be the maidservant of an orphanage back in Whitechapel London.

[ Her face only flashes with a hint of pain when she mentions it. ]

Houndsditch Home for Wayward Youth—if you heard of it. And the children there came from similar backgrounds, that they were all traumatized and lost family either by sickness, death, or murder. These children are often overlooked, sometimes they are swept up by those with ill intentions and treated even worse. But they are still children and they still have pieces of their innocence left.

I may not have the resources nor the... capacity right now to replicate that orphanage, but I still want to help the youngest natives here have the smallest comforts like food or clothing. I've only had a handful of opportunities in Redgate and the Station to make good on my word and clearly I need the additional hands.

In addition to natives being sent away from the path of war, I hope that there can be a way to provide resources for them or find them the appropriate care somewhere down the line. I know that it is silly to think of such a thing when all the adults in this world are preparing for battle, but they are so young and they deserve so much more while they are being guided to safety.

But if I were to oversee these things, I reserve the right to be very picky. The children I cared for weren't even spared from the cruelty of adults, even the proprietor of that orphanage.

Surely my friends will be thrilled if I focused my attention on children rather than them. I know they must tire of my nagging.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ If combining helping people with orphans isn't a way to pull Bolin's active interest and investment, then nothing in the world is. ]

I can volunteer my additional hands. I mean, I've only got two, but I'll do whatever I can to help. If that's... okay. [ If this is a Seelie-proof strategy, he can't exactly change the fundamentals. ] And between you and me, you kinda find out that a lot of orphans have similar backgrounds down the line. Since there's sort of a, uh. A family loss. Requirement.

[ It only really gets weird when they hang out in the same alleyways and try to see who trumps everyone else for the most tragic history, obviously. ]

Well, right not, it's surveying to see who would help with such a thing and planning. I don't expect anything to happen until after some dust settles.

[ Whenever that may be. ]

Usually lose is some sort of requirement, yes, I know that all too well.

[ She saw the children often swapping stories, even having their own little groups. They're lucky, in a sense, she didn't have that as a child. She only had her imaginary friends. ]

Then count me in when the dust settles. I'm good at picking up heavy boxes. And I can handle any earth-related stuff you might need down the line! [ He can also offer enthusiasm and the potential reality of calling himself literally every orphan's new big brother. For better or for worse. ]

I mean, when you think about it, it really doesn't seem fair that all these people get caught up in our problems in the first place. Like they're minding their own business trying to make a living most of the time, and suddenly it's all battle-y Shardbearer, city-destroying, trying to take their money or their family stuff? That's just rough.

[ There's that word again -- "Shardbearer". Alice doesn't bother hiding that cringe. ]

I know and of course the younger ones pay the ultimate price for it and even more with those who exploit them. But very well, I will take that into consideration. When it is over, I will start drafting more ideas to bring them relief.

Great. [ No really. He thinks that's great. He doesn't know Alice all that well because Redgate was complicated and everything after it was complicated. Still, she definitely seems like her heart's in the right place. Bolin's not known for his faith always paying off or being well-founded, but he's got a good feeling about this. ]

Like I said, you've totally got me on board if you want me!

[ Being the pessimist she is, she always finds eagerness a little off-putting. But he's right, she remembers the orphans swapping stories and making divisions in the household. That's experience right there and she won't ask.]

You are more than welcome to. I think when things die out, those who are interested can help bring food, water, medicine, and clothing to children. That way, I can get a better scope of their situation.

[ What hurts the most is that she's so unsure of her mind that she'd be ready to oversee an orphanage again. A lot of good that did to the children of Houndsditch, being so out of her mind. ]

Food, water, medicine, clothes. I'll remember that. [ It's actually kind of cool to know sooner so he can try to maybe get a little supply going before inevitable chaos and terror. ] I bet you'll be able to get plenty of stuff when things do settle back down.

I'll try not to hold my breath. [ After all, Alice is expecting the Seelie and Unseelie to clash, soon. Resources are being compiled elsewhere. ]

We can make it happen. You know, a little elbow grease, some asking around. Some supply-getting. It might not be easy, maybe, even if you'd think it would be, but it's still a really good cause!

Heavens no, it wouldn't be easy. Even in my world, it wasn't very easy. At least I wouldn't be alone in it. Caring for twenty children by myself was never-ending.

Really? All by yourself? [ Bolin's respect level for Alice just pokevolved. He adopted one little brother back home and an entire group of supervising adult figures couldn't keep tabs on him. ] I can't even imagine what that must have been like.

video, open to both courts (action if you are at the barrel)

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;