Closed Post: Meticulous Planning

[sporesprouter]

Dark is thankfully over and the mansion is slowly returning back to normal, and it's honestly not a moment too soon. They'd gotten through it, because clearly the mansion spirits didn't want everyone dead, but since everything had happened without any real warning, and in the middle of winter at that, there hadn't been a real way to know to be ready for it.

Clearly, though, that wouldn't be the case next time.

Tress did still have her notebook that she'd brought from home, full of her original notes on sprouting, as well as a bunch of notes she'd added since arriving here, but it seemed to her that a long term project that's going to be quite as wide-ranging as preparing for next Dark would probably need one of its own, so she had found another notebook in her closet. (And she had smiled so brightly upon discovering it, with its charcoal gray cover and pristine pages. It was another sign that things were going back to how they had been.) She had then proceeded to jot down what ideas she had this early on on the first few pages.

She also knows, though, that this isn't a one-person project, and it absolutely can't be. Obviously not everyone here is going to be interested in the extremely early planning stages, but not everyone really has to be involved in those, either. She knows exactly who will be, though.

So she's off to find Susan.

Comments

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"What have you got so far?"

[sporesprouter]

She looks down at her notes, paging through thoughtfully. "A very loose schedule. The year being so long helps get things in place and find sufficient storage space, but everyone's going to have their own individual needs and wants as Dark approaches again, which makes the time a bit of a disadvantage, so I think also as it gets closer, we post periodic reminders for people to make a bit extra of the things they might need not for general use. Maybe something in the middle of fall, and then more, a bit more frequently, as winter starts.

"But as far as general supplies, it will help to have a timeline of what to store when. Obviously canned goods and other preserved things, we can start to accumulate early, and then keep in mind shelf lives of other things to generate as it gets very close. Compile a list of people's biggest wants for general supplies, and maybe coordinate with Magnus for greenhouse space for a supply of fresh produce through the season."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I agree. I also wonder if we oughtn't create our own preserved foods -- harvested and grown, and the like. Perhaps there's less likely to be new foolishness if we're not relying on canned items from the Mansion itself."

[sporesprouter]

She nods. "It's a good idea. I had considered it for a bit before wondering if that might just be overpreparing, but you make a good point to put as much in our control as we can. In case next Dark tries to rise to meet the challenge."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Between you and me, I can't see a single thing wrong with overpreparing," Susan says. "If we've got surplus, then that's just more set aside for a rainy day."

[sporesprouter]

She nods and writes in her notebook. "I wonder if it would also be worth putting together storage rooms of non-food items that might break down or something else when the mansion won't provide. The smaller appliances and things."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Appliances! That's such a good idea," Susan says, warmly. "I'd thought, also to compose more first aid kits. We've got healers in our midst, I suppose, but as we soundly learned this month, when the healers are the ones injured it does leave us in a bit of a lurch." She pauses, then adds. "I expect the first aid kits will be useful year-round, I believe."

[sporesprouter]

"That would be helpful, yes. Maybe put kits in some of the most used public rooms in addition to storing more. Also, maybe gathering a collection of some basic clothes, in case someone arrives during Dark and can't build up anything to start off with."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Kitchen, bars, and the cafe, at the very least," Susan agrees. "Doesn't the strange man in the attic collect clothes? Perhaps we might loop him in on that front."

[sporesprouter]

"Oh, yes, that would be a good idea, too." She looks thoughtful. "Also supplies for the animals, especially since there's going to be a third horse by next Dark, not to mention any others that might emerge over the next year."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"A third horse!"

[sporesprouter]

"Oh! Yes, Fenyes is going to be having a foal. When Rivelin first arrived, he was put in the same stall with her, and, well..."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"My goodness. Lancelot never said."

[sporesprouter]

"It's not going to be for a while yet, so it probably just slipped his mind."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"An entire foal! Perhaps..."

[sporesprouter]

She shrugs. "But it definitely changes the supply situation a bit."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh, it assuredly does." Susan pauses, then gives Tress a frank look. "Whatever we do must be publicized, of course, so that people know what's available to them. Do you know, Laertes hadn't the first idea all month that someone found dog food in that tower?"

[sporesprouter]

Tress's eyes widen just a bit. "... Someone found dog food?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I've got no idea who; two bags were with some of the other dry goods." Susan sighs. "I just assumed they knew and had another bag in their rooms."

[sporesprouter]

"Oh, poor Szarka." She nods. "You're absolutely right about publicizing, then. Especially for things like that."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I suppose it's too much to ask everyone to maintain up-to-date inventory logs," Susan says, thoughtfully. "And I shouldn't want to put anyone in the position of having to maintain them." She'd done it, of course, but it hadn't exactly been a joyous task.

[sporesprouter]

She nods. "Especially if we manage to compile as much as we're intending to. Maybe a more general inventory overall, but a more detailed account of specialty items that aren't as useful to everyone."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Such as the appliances," Susan says, thoughtfully.

[sporesprouter]

Tress nods. "Those would only really be needed in rare circumstances."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Were you thinking of any other sorts of specialty items?"