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

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.

If you're after immortality then you've probably come to the correct place. The Elves are immortal, though I believe that they were so before they came here.

I'm pretty sure I'm already immortal back home, but I'll take what I can here, too. (He's going to go down in history books, at least, and that's what mattes most.) What about you? Do you want to go out with a bang, a slow, sad fizzle, or not at all?

Have they discovered immortality in the twenty years difference between us?

[Her tone is skeptical.]

I don't know... I don't think I should like to live forever. I imagine it would get dreadfully boring after a while. So I do think I would want to die eventually... but I wouldn't want to age. I'd prefer to look the same and then one day decide that I'm ready to move on.

[You've gotten her to talk philosophy, Howard.]

Not yet, but I'm working on that.

(Isn't that sexy?

He listens to her intently, humming it over as he thinks, too.)

Mhm, that'd be a big thing, wouldn't it? Maybe that's what I'd rather do, postpone ageing, and when I felt that I'd played my part, then I could step away and fade into non-existence. But I feel like I have too many ideas I want to see done for one lifetime.

Are you sure you're not an elf? I'm still skeptical myself.

[It's a little bit sexy. And she's definitely intrigued.]

It would be nice to be young forever, to not have to deal with the aches and pains of growing older.

[She smiles and there might even be a hint of a blush as Mary turns her head.]

If you'd care to inspect my ears, you can see that they are not pointed.

(everything he does is sexy, lbr.)

Luckily for me, I haven't started having them yet, so I will continue to look to avoid them.

(well well well.)

You could just be using magic to hide them.

[Mary's not sure about everything but give it time.]

Mr. Stark, are you accusing me of being dishonest?

A little white lie never hurt anyone.

Would hiding elven status from you be a white lie?

When we eventually meet in person, you will see that I am no elf.

Of course. And if you can shield yourself now, you might be able to do it then, too.

(A quick smirk.)

Until then, my lady. I look forward to inspecting your ears properly.

I am prepared to let you do so if it will convince you that I'm not a liar.

[She returns his smirk with one of her own.]

Good day, Mr. Stark.

002 ☙ [video] | OTA

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