eachdraidh | 002 ☙ [video]

[War changes people, Mary Crawley included.

After her midnight ride from Caer Glaem the night of the jabberwock attack, she arrived a frozen mess in the land of the Elves. Nearly dead, they had taken her in and helped nurse her back to health. The whole experience had been surreal. Being in their realm made her wonder if this was what heaven was like. Everything seemed so bright, as if someone had turned the contrast up on the entire world. Whatever medicine they used on her worked, because she was as good as new within a week, feeling stronger than she had in years. They helped equip her and her horse before she set out. She owes them a great debt and she knows it.

She has since arrived in Parrais, where she knew that Anne would be, in order to seek shelter since the castle at Glaem has been damaged. Truth be told, she'd rather not go back there for a while anyway. While in the Elvenlands she had a lot of time to think and was subsequently able to act in Parrais. Mary has cut her hair, partly out of deference to the latest style back home and partly for practical reasons. She realizes that finding someone here to do her hair every day will be difficult. Mary also hasn't worn a corset since she fled Glaem and after several weeks without one, she has no plans to go back. A camisole suits her fine and again she's met with the obstacle of having no one to help her tie a corset anyway.

Congratulations. The war has successfully pushed Mary into the twentieth century.

She appears on the locket looking well-rested and back to being herself again.]

Hello to anyone who may be seeing and hearing this broadcast. I was not able to properly introduce myself last time I used this device. [Since she was fleeing on horseback through the frozen landscape.] I am Lady Mary Crawley, daughter of the Earl of Grantham. Firstly, I would like to thank the Elves for their hospitality and care after I arrived in their lands following the attack on Caer Glaem. Your generosity will not be forgotten by me. Secondly... [She pauses here for a moment, gathering exactly what she wants to say.] I wish to know if I may help in any way now that the battle is over. I'm staying in Parrais for a while so anything in this region would be well-suited. I know... a bit about farming, actually, and the running of an estate. I also have a small bit of nursing knowledge thanks to my sister and the experience of a war back home.

Please let me know of a way that I might be helpful.

[Not only has the war pushed her into the twentieth century, it might also have caused hell to freeze over. Mary's not usually the helpful type, though maybe the healing she received from the Elves is causing her to want to pay it forward. Or maybe she just doesn't want to sit around bored all day. There are only so many shops to visit and books to read. They don't even have formal dinner here. At least back at Downton she had responsibilities and tasks to complete.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Magic. I didn't even know such a thing existed before I came here, but I don't see how I have any other choice but to confront it in this land.

Lady Mary, actually.

[She's a bit stuffy, sorry Mako. Mostly just very proper and polite. But she knows that not everyone here has been raised in the same environment as her.]

What's your name?

I'm, ah — [ shouoould he use a title??? nobody knows. maaay as well try it. ] — Just Mako. I'm one of the Cuidigh Le Marquis at the Citadel.

Oh. Have you earned a title here? Where I come from that would make you Lord Cuidigh.

But I can call you whatever you prefer.

[It must be strange to get used to a new title when one has never had one.]

Just Mako is fine. I was a police officer, back home, and — [ he sighs, scuffing his fingers through his hair. ] This position's still got fresh paint on it.

Of course. It's a lot to get used to and it seems to be very different from what you did back home. So would you prefer Mr. Mako then?

[Mary is very formal with people. Everyone is Mr., Mrs., Miss, Lord or Lady until she gets to know them very well. Or if he insists, she will acquiesce.]

If that's whats easier for you.

[ HE WON'T INSIST but... she is definitely going to be in the minority. ]

But — are you more interested in the nursing part, or do you want to actually learn to be a healer?

[She's realized that she's very much in the minority here, so it honestly won't bother her. Mary thinks for a moment on his question, then asks for a clarification.]

What exactly would be the difference between being a nurse and a healer?

Nursing handles a lot more of the long term, detail oriented stuff; changing bandages, administering healing potions, especially when its the kind of thing that means someone'll be in the infirmary for a while. I'm trained as a healer — so I do a lot of one stop shop things instead. Stitches, broken bones, concussions, that sort of thing.

[ basically: nurse versus surgeon. ]

Potions...

[Aka medicines?]

I think nursing would be best.

[She doesn't really have a desire to stitch people up or set their broken bones. That type of thing seems like dirty work.]

I don't know what there is in Parrais, but if you go back to Caer Glaem, I know Healer Asaia always needs extra nurses. You can tell her I sent you, but she takes just about any volunteer, especially if they have experience, even just a little bit.

I shall look into it. Thank you. Though, honestly, is Caer Glaem safe?

[Fleeing from it in the middle of the night left a bad taste in her mouth.]

Is Parrais? You're right next to Daonna and an Unseelie holding up in Redgate. [ hrfhhf that was rude, oops. ]

It's safer now — the Jabberwock was... kind of extreme circumstances.

I should hope so. I would hate to think that the Seelie monarchs would knowingly bring guests into a dangerous place.

[Mary would hate to think it but she does think it. Her esteem of these monarchs has gone down since the Jabberwock incident. Granted emergencies cannot helped, but this land is not safe.]

So Daonna and Redgate are not places that you would recommend?

It's kind of a given that you're going to be in danger, no matter where you are here. If you're not in danger from the war, there's everything else, spirits, monsters, other people. They put you in danger by bringing you to this place in the first place, but at least their castle is where their powers are strongest.

Not without a group, or someone who's already familiar with it.

[She nods, conceding. Of course this place isn't safe She should have known better than to follow fairies.]

I shall heed your advice about those places and I thank you for your honesty.

002 ☙ [video] | OTA

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