Ramble

I try to make it a rule not to harp too long about work or any project that I want to succeed; there's such a thing as talking the energy out of it, magically it's a no-no.

Still, I have mentioned this project I am working on before, and so...

We have some things to sort out today, a couple of meetings.. One of our number has a cold, and though I know she's a mindful sort of person, I really don't want to catch it, because of something else I am doing next week.

I find myself better at the theoretical, always.

Then there's the double booking. I could be woeful about this because we were meant to be at this https://cathtice.wixsite.com/thegoblinball2022
but R forgot the dates and booked us in for this
https://eden-court.co.uk/event/monsterfest-2022?fbclid=IwAR1HpbGsiO-GUIVts4j_gKk_FKuJs15slI1v6BVm6xg-IzDP2h7gYhvS9fw

As the latter's about 600 non-refundable pounds, we may as well go and enjoy it. It would have been good to see mates; a few really suit the dreamlight of the Labyrinth, a proper Goblin Ball, and yet it is a LARP so something was bound to make me grit my teeth. Weirdly, I had no firm idea for a character til I couldn't go.

See? Always better in theory.

Anyway, because she will never see the light of day, here she is:

Lady Mercy, also named Madame Glove or She of the Red and White  is a soft spoken goblin of the Winter Court, who brings a special gift to those she finds dying in the cold. Always gloved, she will uncover her left hand, the skin upon it scarlet as a rose or a burn, for those struggling at the last, the ones  with no way back. At her touch, their blood vessels expand in one last attempt to stop the freeze of tissue, and they will feel warm as a summer's day, warm as an island in the sun. Alas, this kindness holds a lie within,  for Lady Mercy's touch does not return life; indeed, it is the surest sign that the victim is dying, but by then they will not mind that.

Her detractors say that the mercy of the red hand  would not be needed if she but withheld the cruelty of the white; for rumour has it that she stalks wanderers in the frozen places, and touches them with her pallid fingers so gently, so slowly, they do not realise  when she has them by the throat; that she is, in fact, nothing more than the spirit of hypothermia in a pretty gown.

Among Goblins, she is considered a traditionalist, following the ancient ways. Certainly she observes the Winter Court's geas of hospitality; indeed it is thought to have led her into a trap created by the firebeing from whom she stole the dream of warmth, but as she still has the power of the red hand, it can only be assumed that she escaped or defeated her captor. Keen observers have noted an occasional limp to her gait, assumed to be a wound from that meeting. Whatever the truth of the story, her manners remain impeccable and she will always dance when asked politely... though tis best to be sure that, even among a gathering of Goblins, she keeps her gloves on.

I am aware that this character is better written than played, costume was already difficult because everything comes from China and I worry about Uyghurs being enslaved to make my toy, so to a certain extent the Inverness Festival would be easier to enjoy, being just music, no effort and no guilt. But I'm a bit wistful about missing friends!

Anyway, the festival will be great, so will the Goblin Ball. So, Goodbye Prince Jackalope,my earlier choice and a much stronger story. Maybe you'll pop up out of the snows some other wintertide. And Goodbye Lady Mercy, you're a bit Gaiman but that's in right now.