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

[sporesprouter]

"Oh, yes, maybe. She's very good at that. I'm sure there are plenty of people who'd like to help if they know about it."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Perhaps we might organize... a meeting," Susan says, with the faintest hint of irony to her voice. "Perhaps with the first of spring? So that we might lay out our thoughts and see who is interested in various sorts of tasks."

[sporesprouter]

"It would make sense. Let people have some time to recover from Dark but still leave plenty of time left to get things settled for the next one."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan fishes her teabag out of her mug, takes a sip, and nods. She turns a page in her notebook. "In the meantime," she says. "I believe the categories are foods, necessary supplies - clothing, medications, soap, things of that nature - and appliances. Yes?"

[sporesprouter]

"That sounds right. I'd probably add things for recreation. Even when basic survival needs are taken care of, it's good to keep spirits up."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh, indeed. Hopefully by next year some of my new initiatives will have taken hold."

[sporesprouter]

"A long year means more time for that to happen, too."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Too true," Susan says, sipping her tea. "Let's see. What next?"

[sporesprouter]

Tress pulls her own teabag out and pauses, considering. "I'm not sure if I can think of much else as far as big categories right now."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Me neither," Susan admits. "Surely things shall occur to us as the year wears on."

[sporesprouter]

She nods and takes a sip of her tea. "Another good reason to start early. Not as much chance to have things occur to you if you only have two weeks or something."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Indeed." Susan gives Tress her sharp assessing look. "How was Dark for you? Did you make it through all right?"

[sporesprouter]

"Me? Oh, I was fine. Honestly, I'm more used to cooking without an abundance of ingredients, so the kitchens felt a little bit more like home than usual."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I came here from postwar rationing. I can relate."

[sporesprouter]

She nods. "We just couldn't afford much. Or after I went to sea... well, you can only bring so many ingredients."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Yes, I do remember that about sailing."

[sporesprouter]

She nods. "So I'm not really happy that it happened, because it was miserable for a lot of people, but I at least appreciated the challenge a little bit."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Next time, the challenge shall be more enjoyable."

[sporesprouter]

"If it isn't, it won't be because we didn't try, anyway."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Very true."

[sporesprouter]

"Oh, the tea is very good, by the way. Thank you." She has another sip.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Of course."