eachdraidh | 002 ☙ [video]

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002 ☙ [video] | OTA

[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

Yeah it. They go through some hard times, they're fall for the cunning words of a terrible leader, it goes downhill pretty quickly. But we do pull it together, in the end.

I'm glad of that, at least.

[She sighs. The last thing she wants to talk about is war.]

Anyway, I've met people from all times and places here. I actually think you are one of the closest to my own.

(Neither does he, yes, let's talk about other things.)

Twenty-three, twenty-three. I'm trying to remember what was big that year, other than me starting school. What's the latest great world event?

[It's weird to think that they were alive at the same time, though he was just a boy.]

We have a Labour government for the first time in history.

(Weird, but comforting, too. Technically he has Steve and James, but they're a world apart at the same time.)

Congratulations?

Not if you ask PaPa. But so be it. The world must march on. It doesn't bother me nearly so much.

I don't care about your PaPa's opinion. Who did you vote for? That's more important. It sounds like you voted for them.

Funny, I care very much for my PaPa's opinion.

I didn't vote for anyone as unfortunately I don't meet the requirements. They're rather complicated for a woman in my time.

Children usually do for their parents, but I don't know him -- I'm talking to you.

...what are the requirements?

A woman must be thirty years of age and meet a minimum property requirement. I technically do not own any land.

[She does meet the thirty years old requirement but ladies don't reveal their age.]

No man save my late husband has asked my political opinion before.

[Mind you, that doesn't mean she doesn't have them or hasn't shared them openly without provocation.]

Honestly, I tend to be more of a Tory and can't say I'm a Socialist, but I don't think all of Labour's ideas are bad. A bit of change is good every now and then.

Those seem kind of outrageous, I gotta say. I didn't think a lot of women owned property themselves back then. (It might be recent history, but it's history nonetheless.) That sure does narrow down the potential pool of voters.

(And here Howard's not even very political. Indeed, generally speaking he prefers to avoid all that, but he does strongly believe that if someone wants to be involved, they should be allowed to. They can take his vote if they want.)

Really? I guess they probably don't think it's important since you can't do anything about it.

(His brow crinkles all thoughtfully.)

Tory. Those are the conservatives, aren't they? Churchill's one, I like him. He was a good leader during the war.

I believe their intention is to narrow down the pool of voters. And I think men don't ask me my opinion because they don't believe that I have one. They are wrong.

[She's not going to rallies like Sybil did, but she definitely has an opinion. On everything.]

Yes. So you know of Winston Churchill?

I think everyone should be able to vote as long as they're citizens. Whoever takes the helm, and everything that they decide will effect them, so why shouldn't they be allowed to vote on it? (HUFF) How stupid of them. One of the most passionate people I know is a woman.

(grin.)

I worked closely with him.

Hopefully that change won't be too long in coming. I agree that it's a bit ridiculous that men can vote at 21, but women must wait until they're 30. It's as if they don't realize who actually reaches maturity faster.

Oh? [Well, that's interesting.] In what capacity?

And that's women? (He gives her a small, gentle little smile.)

Aforementioned war.

What do you think?

[Careful, that one is loaded.]

Right. I suppose he's still in politics in the 1940s then?

Probably. I don't consider myself mature and I'm nearly 30, but that could just be me.

(he nods.) PM, actually. He was just succeeded by Attlee. I think. Something like that.

It's not just you. But you're one of the first men to admit it.

[Color her impressed.]

I see. He's well-suited for the job. My father knows him, as they served in the Boer War together.

I'm mature in my professional life, but I like to have fun when I'm off. I don't need to be both.

Oh, what's your Pop's name? I wonder if I would have met him. Is he involved in politics much?

And what is your profession, Mr. Stark?

Robert Crawley. His involvement in politics on a national scale is limited - as much as he must do as an Earl. He's more interested in local Yorkshire politics.

I was a lot of things. Still am. An engineer, first and foremost.

Ah...no idea. But then again, I met a lot of people during that time.

I presume you mean the type that invents things, not the type that drives trains.

Quite honestly, I doubt he would still be alive in the 1940s. Even if he were, he'd surely have retired from any type of politics to putter around his garden like Granny does.

Invents and builds, although I could probably drive a train if I wanted to. I'm also a pilot, and I run a little business on the side.

(look at him being "humble". it's humblebragging though, she can probably tell there's more to it.

he laughs at the mental picture that forms at the idea of him puttering around the garden.)

Is that where old brits go to whither away? I would much rather go out with a bang.

[Mary is smiling though because she likes his humblebragging. She'd like it even better if he outright bragged. Confident men don't intimidate her.]

Are you one who would prefer to die young and never reach old age, then?

No. I don't want to die at all.