a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted

[managexcolo.livejournal.com]

Saturday, early morning; the road to Excolo

These two-three years have rolled round as a cheese, smooth as silk. Our road has been twisting and straight, hard and soft, and oh, we have had adventures, our family, have we not? Haha, indeed.

And now the season turns to bring us to Excolo, to pluck up that which was planted. We brought us by strange roads, so that the way was hidden; and now we are here like the miracle of morning, dew gleaming on the grass. Back to where things began, and where they end.

Come, reap.

Saturday, 2nd June

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

Outside the General Store, ready to go to market

I feel terribly lazy, sitting on the porch of the store as customers go in and out. But Amanda and Sarah are both working today, and Amanda's been with me long enough that she can manage the store entirely on her own if need be, even on the busiest days. Saturday is always a rush, with the market - if people are out to do their shopping, they may as well drop in on my store and pick up a ball of twine or a book of needles.

It's a beautiful day, and the market's bustling, and scenes like this always make me smile. Today, though, I'm feeling a little - raw, I suppose, because it was a year ago that Tess finally packed up her things and left. She's not even in town any more. Sometimes I lie awake at night and try to figure out exactly when things went wrong. There was no one problem, but I do think a lot of it went back to that terrible spell that turned the world upside down, made her break my heart and leave me for a man. It hurt us both, that spell, in different ways. Tess felt violated, and I could just... never get over thinking how it might really happen. It wasn't fair of me, but I didn't know how to let it go. And Tess was so angry so often after that. So we drifted apart until there was nothing left to say, and then she was gone.

Most days I'm alright with it, now. But today I feel sad. At least I'll soon have company to cheer me up. I'm sure Dorian will annoy me out of my mood; he's good at that. He was so very kind to me when Tess left, though he hates it when I say that. He always has to brush it off with some joke. But he is... very dear to me now. A very dear friend, yes.

[Open to Dorian]