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[demonicbeauty]

((ooc: CW for a brief mention of recreational drugs.))

[For two months, more or less, she's been in mourning. She hasn't shown her face much. And there's been a lot of crying.

But sentimental though Ariadne can be, she's also practical. Which means she recognizes when it's time to try moving forward.

So behold. Not Padmé, not Jane. Just a sad Ariadne, her hair in a loose braid, with a few tendrils curling around her face.]

I've decided it's time to clean through the rubble that was the Winchester cottage. The ground needs to be cleared so someone else can build there. And I'm sure a few things survived the fire which need to be sorted and placed.

I guess...I mean, I'll do it myself. But if anyone would like to help I would...appreciate it. I can pay you in fruit or herbs from the orchard.

[Her face is like porcelain. She's not letting a single crack show, even though it still hurts.]

I'll be there for the next week or so. Please let me know if you'd be willing to join me. At the very least, I think some of his--some of Dean's--marijuana plants survived. I'd like to try to replant them in my garden.

I can pay you with that, if you like.

Comments

[givetheslip]

How many are you acquainted with?

[demonicbeauty]

Well...

[She considers it.]

Princess Tranns Harkin ran away from home when she was seventeen and ended up in a militia.

But she eventually came back home.

[givetheslip]

That's hard to believe — that a princess would want to leave her luxuries or that she'd be able to.

[Not that she thinks it's a lie. It just sounds so unlike anything she's ever observed.]

Why did she return?

[demonicbeauty]

Everyone else in the militia was killed...

[Which doesn't sound very nice, when she says it out loud.]

[givetheslip]

Did they face a particularly brutal enemy force or was it a spectacularly incompetent militia?

[Which sounds even less nice.]

[demonicbeauty]

Oh, well.

[She winces a little.]

Maybe both? Their leaders were great military strategists. But their members...weren't exactly soldiers.

[givetheslip]

I see.

[Her expression softens a little at that. She can hardly expect to render professional judgment upon those who had no business fighting in the first place.]

Then that's a great shame.

[demonicbeauty]

It is.

[And that's really all there is to it.

Sometimes, Ariadne watches Princess Tranns and Prince Aden--mostly when they don't think she's looking, which is all the time--and she can sense the sadness draped over them like a blanket.]

Unfortunately, there have been a lot of shames back home. But...we're going to fix it someday.

[givetheslip]

Then I suppose all I can do is wish you luck.

[Even if she privately has her doubts about how easy it is to turn around such a loss.]

[demonicbeauty]

That's very kind of you, my lady.

[She bows her head.]