![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_kingsleyBenjy, Caradoc, Victor, Danny and me have been whiling away the long winter nights by making a careful study of that book I mentioned, The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. It's hard sometimes not to get distracted by the historical entries on minutiae about the history of a dance called the Sailor's Hornpipe or the disgusting things that eighteenth century sailors used to have to eat during the Napoleonic Wars. Much more useful for our purposes are the diagrams and technical information. And now we're putting what we've been learning into practice, trying to build and outfit a larger and more seaworthy boat that we can use for breaching the wards at the next Solstice. We want to have the hold space to stash a load of wands. The biggest challenge for us, as I've said, is the scarcity of usable wood on the island, but we've stepped up our scavenging expeditions. There are a number of derelict boats on the island. Most are in mighty poor shape after so many years with no maintenance or protection from the elements, with weather beaten, broken hulls, fraying ropes (which sailors call 'sheets') and the like. We can salvage planks and boards from them, though, and we think with some judicious transfiguration work, we'll make do. The children, of course, are following our experimentation with keen interest, not to mention a lot of jokes about the Players' ignorantly lubberly questions. Lively arguments have been breaking out all week about what our new vessel should be named. I believe 'Black's Bounty' is in the front-running, although Caradoc keeps trying to convince people that christening it 'The Firebolt' would be a really good idea.
The other project preoccupying us here at Moddey Dhoo is the planned memorial garden. Colin and Felicia been designing the layout, with Laura's help, as well as Stephen's input about which plants to use. It's been interesting to see their sketches and hear the discussion. Colin's more concerned with the physical shape of the garden, so to speak, whereas Felicia's been paying more attention to colour. Colin jokes that it's because he likes to sketch with charcoal or quill and ink, unlike Felicia, who likes to mess around more with fingerpainting or water colours. While the Sanctuary already grows herbs in one of the greenhouses, Stephen had the idea of adding an herb knot garden in the center of the memorial garden, specifically ones used in healing potions. Emmeline and Dorcas will be doing some day trip expeditions to bring back seeds and seedlings. I'll let you know, Bill, when you can come to plant a tree for Archer.
I did my usual beginning of the month visit to the Sherwood Band. This time, I took John Turner along. Frank says that the change in his job duties to acting as Arabella's assistant has wrought a miraculous change in John's attitude, and he was simply a-brim with ideas that he wanted to talk about with Davidson. I was a mite doubtful, and Davidson was a little wary too when I introduced them, but soon they were getting along like a cauldron on fire. The Band is doing much better than I feared they would be. The wands have helped enormously, of course, but surprisingly, another reason is the epidemic. So many muggles have died, leaving empty and abandoned buildings, that they've managed to improvise some very comfortable shelter, out of the cold and wet. Davidson always surprises me every time I go see him with his resourcefulness and ambition, and John's ideas dovetailed with them surprisingly neatly.
Once they thawed out with each other and got to talking, it became clear that they've been thinking along the same lines: they want to create another Moddey Dhoo really, a sanctuary for adults. Muggles and Muggleborns, with any assistance from Order wizards that we can give. They want a place where they can be safe, even a place, Davidson hints, where they can begin to train to fight. Of course, to be safe, they mustn't let the group get too big, and that's where Davidson's ambition surprised me. As more people join them, he wants to send them out across the country, to quietly attach themselves to other camps and begin to liberate more people elsewhere, a few at the time. Eventually, he and John think they might have five other Sherwood bands going, then twenty, then...who knows? Perhaps some might eventually leave the country, crossing the ward by boat at the Solstices, in order to help Sirius set up a smuggling network across Europe that can help us bring more goods in. I left them talking like old friends as Jackie Porter took me on a tour of the house they've been using as a barracks, so that I could give her a hand with some spellwork to fix a few leaks in the roof.
We left on the best of terms, with me and John handing over a supply of rubberised wellies we'd transfigured for the Band members and promises to send more of Stephen's potions. When we got back to Moddey Dhoo, John made an announcement that I thought would surprise everyone, but I guess Frank, Alice, and Arabella knew about it in advance: he and Lucinda are leaving Moddey Dhoo to join the Band, at Davis' invitation, to help them start the changes that he and Davidson discussed. Victor's pretty broken up at the idea of his daughter leaving, but having Jacinda here now to help in the nursery frees Lucinda to go. She and John are clearly a pair, now, and she's determined that she wants to be with him.
That's about all the news for now. Oh, except that I've got a suspicion that Jacinda's caught Benjy's eye, and he's been going around grinning fatuously to himself like a young fool in love. It's very entertaining.
The other project preoccupying us here at Moddey Dhoo is the planned memorial garden. Colin and Felicia been designing the layout, with Laura's help, as well as Stephen's input about which plants to use. It's been interesting to see their sketches and hear the discussion. Colin's more concerned with the physical shape of the garden, so to speak, whereas Felicia's been paying more attention to colour. Colin jokes that it's because he likes to sketch with charcoal or quill and ink, unlike Felicia, who likes to mess around more with fingerpainting or water colours. While the Sanctuary already grows herbs in one of the greenhouses, Stephen had the idea of adding an herb knot garden in the center of the memorial garden, specifically ones used in healing potions. Emmeline and Dorcas will be doing some day trip expeditions to bring back seeds and seedlings. I'll let you know, Bill, when you can come to plant a tree for Archer.
I did my usual beginning of the month visit to the Sherwood Band. This time, I took John Turner along. Frank says that the change in his job duties to acting as Arabella's assistant has wrought a miraculous change in John's attitude, and he was simply a-brim with ideas that he wanted to talk about with Davidson. I was a mite doubtful, and Davidson was a little wary too when I introduced them, but soon they were getting along like a cauldron on fire. The Band is doing much better than I feared they would be. The wands have helped enormously, of course, but surprisingly, another reason is the epidemic. So many muggles have died, leaving empty and abandoned buildings, that they've managed to improvise some very comfortable shelter, out of the cold and wet. Davidson always surprises me every time I go see him with his resourcefulness and ambition, and John's ideas dovetailed with them surprisingly neatly.
Once they thawed out with each other and got to talking, it became clear that they've been thinking along the same lines: they want to create another Moddey Dhoo really, a sanctuary for adults. Muggles and Muggleborns, with any assistance from Order wizards that we can give. They want a place where they can be safe, even a place, Davidson hints, where they can begin to train to fight. Of course, to be safe, they mustn't let the group get too big, and that's where Davidson's ambition surprised me. As more people join them, he wants to send them out across the country, to quietly attach themselves to other camps and begin to liberate more people elsewhere, a few at the time. Eventually, he and John think they might have five other Sherwood bands going, then twenty, then...who knows? Perhaps some might eventually leave the country, crossing the ward by boat at the Solstices, in order to help Sirius set up a smuggling network across Europe that can help us bring more goods in. I left them talking like old friends as Jackie Porter took me on a tour of the house they've been using as a barracks, so that I could give her a hand with some spellwork to fix a few leaks in the roof.
We left on the best of terms, with me and John handing over a supply of rubberised wellies we'd transfigured for the Band members and promises to send more of Stephen's potions. When we got back to Moddey Dhoo, John made an announcement that I thought would surprise everyone, but I guess Frank, Alice, and Arabella knew about it in advance: he and Lucinda are leaving Moddey Dhoo to join the Band, at Davis' invitation, to help them start the changes that he and Davidson discussed. Victor's pretty broken up at the idea of his daughter leaving, but having Jacinda here now to help in the nursery frees Lucinda to go. She and John are clearly a pair, now, and she's determined that she wants to be with him.
That's about all the news for now. Oh, except that I've got a suspicion that Jacinda's caught Benjy's eye, and he's been going around grinning fatuously to himself like a young fool in love. It's very entertaining.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 03:56 am (UTC)Danny will miss her very much, I think. They've been close friends since he was little.
I have no doubt that both John and Lucinda will both be invaluable to Davidson. Lucinda helped build Moddey Dhoo to what it is today, and John has been learning so much during his tenure here.
And I honestly think this will make them both happy. Right from the start, I knew John had a fire in him that wouldn't be contained by Moddey Dhoo forever, and he's always been so passionate about making connections with the Muggle camps, and bridging that gap. He's been talking about it since he came here, and now he has a real chance to make that come true. During his time here, he's learned how to listen, how to lead, and how to take orders.
And Lucinda -- she's grown leaps and bounds from the teenager I once knew. She's ready to take her next step with John at her side, and I admire her so very much.
We had a nice long talk after the announcement, John and Lucinda and Frank and myself. Both of them know it's going to be a long hard road, but I think they will be that much more successful together. And if Davidson wants to make a real effort to connect with the Muggle population, this is certainly an excellent way to start.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 04:03 am (UTC)I think I might actually miss him.
definitely going to miss Luce though. the nursery just won't be the same. and I know pretty much every kid here feels the same way.
they did have the good sense to ask Jacinda first, though, so good on them for that.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 04:46 am (UTC)I wonder...
It depends on what people show up with the Sherwood Band as more and more get liberated. But maybe some of them have talents we could use, and perhaps the cross-assistance might go both ways? Would one of those people be a good prospect to come help at Moddey Dhoo for awhile, give Arabella a hand, see how we run things?
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 04:47 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 04:49 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 04:51 am (UTC)It's an interesting idea, Bill. Frank, maybe you and Alice and Arabella and the rest should talk it over.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 05:40 am (UTC)And we could definitely help with defensive training -- Frank's got his obstacle course he's been using to drill Stephen and John and the older children.
I do agree with Arthur, we'd have to be cautious, but I'd trust Davidson to send along someone he trusts.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 04:12 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 04:21 am (UTC)We're going to be offering an awful lot of support to John and Lucinda during their first year as they set up a more permanent centre for the resistance -- so we'll be seeing a lot of him. And he's promised Victor that he'll bring Lucinda back with him as often as he can.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 04:13 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 05:13 am (UTC)I'm surprised that John's willing to leave Alec, but I agree with Allie - I only met him for a few minutes that one night, but it was clear he was going to stop at nothing to cast himself as the hero in the coming battle, and he'd have been happy to fight it then and there. Speaking as one who's been known to be brash now and again, I recognised the type. It's hard to believe he could have settled so quickly, but good: we need wizards who can also be warriors. We just need them to all lead with their heads, not their hearts.
I've also been thinking more aboutI know I've said this before, but I think Reg is in troubleWith this quarantine on the school and the Ministry shouting 'Black's Poison' anytime anyone catches cold, it's good to get good news now and then.
(Which reminds me: Black's Bounty? You've got to be joking. If anyone spotted you you'd be swarmed with Death Eaters in half a heartbeat. How about this - in honour of John: Tide Turner.)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 05:17 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 05:18 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 05:19 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 05:20 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 05:21 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 05:53 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 05:58 am (UTC)we have to save some for a toast, after all.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 06:08 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 06:20 am (UTC)pour away.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 06:21 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 06:32 am (UTC)haha.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 06:34 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 06:35 am (UTC)Pillock.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 06:45 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 05:35 am (UTC)(And I'm sorry about your brother. Wish the Players were more free to move around, so we could see if we could learn a bit about what he's up to, if it would ease your mind. Dorcas has offered, anyway. She's about the best of us at covert reconnaissance.)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 06:05 am (UTC)I don't know if I want to know what he's up to, Kingsley. Honestly, I'm not sure what good it would do, anyway. He's already proven, time and again, that he's not willing to draw the line where that murdering maniac is concerned. he's already shown he still believes their line of tripe about purity and magic over Muggle. He's my brother, but I lost him to them a long time ago.
I've just had to have the rather dubious pleasure of watching him torture himself into oblivion over the last couple years. Before, I could at least pretend he was as cold-hearted and vicious as the rest of them, including my cousin Bellatrix. Now I'm merely confronted with what a coward he is on top of everything else.
Don't let Dorcas trouble herself. It's probably better if I just leave him to it.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 05:53 am (UTC)I think in the coming months, we'll be working a lot closer with Sherwood -- between John and Lucinda and our (hopeful) ability to get folks over to France, we will certainly have our fingers on the pulse of things.
And I think he really knows that Alec has a home here, where he'll be safe, and that helps.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 05:55 am (UTC)I know you've had close calls before, and it's always a risk, but I hope things get sorted out without having to resort to putting you in the line of fire.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 05:56 am (UTC)Archer showed us all that lesson, poor fellow.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 06:03 am (UTC)And I certainly hope your form of preparedness is not quite so drastic.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-14 06:20 am (UTC)I've a wish to throttle my fool of a brother, but that's something entirely different. No doubt brought on by one pint too many, at that.