From e396ade1715bf5c28760f246d8713adb24d6ae5f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Madison Scott-Clary Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2024 10:25:10 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] update from sparkleup --- writing/post-self/marsh/018.html | 4 ++-- 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-) diff --git a/writing/post-self/marsh/018.html b/writing/post-self/marsh/018.html index 07b00d2cd..bcf5c951e 100644 --- a/writing/post-self/marsh/018.html +++ b/writing/post-self/marsh/018.html @@ -83,7 +83,7 @@

I looked down at the paper, just as I had done for much of the day already.

“I would like to hear how you feel, Reed,” Dry Grass said. “We all have our thoughts on the matter — we are Odists, of course we do — I am sure, but before we taint yours, tell us how you feel.”

I sighed, eventually folding up the letter and returning it to my pocket. The physicality of it made it feel more real, focused my mind in one particular spot. Getting it out of my hands gave me, somehow, permission to look up and speak directly to the others.

-

“I’m feeling torn,” I admitted. “I like Anubias. They’ve quickly found a place in our clade. They aren’t Marsh, though, and I’ve been…I don’t know.” I took a moment to reclaim my train of thought as my speech stumbled to a stop. “I guess I’m well into grieving now, and even if Vos hasn’t reopened communication, I’m sitting with her in that loss of someone important. Whether or not it’s important that they were the root instance varies from day to day. Today, it feels pretty important.”

+

“I’m feeling torn,” I admitted. “I like Anubias. They’ve quickly found a place in our clade. They aren’t Marsh, though. Whatever thoughts I had of reconstruction in that particular sense evaporated almost immediately, and we all leaned into this reconciliation as soon as they picked their name. I’ve been…I don’t know.” I took a moment to reclaim my train of thought as my speech stumbled to a stop. “I guess I’m well into grieving now, and even if Vos hasn’t reopened communication, I’m sitting with her in that loss of someone important. Whether or not it’s important that they were the root instance varies from day to day. Today, it feels pretty important.”

Dry Grass nodded. “There were times throughout our history that Michelle felt more like a friend or sister than our down-tree instance. It hurt either way, but the mechanical aspects, the sundering of the ten stanzas, lingered often in our thoughts.”

“It seemed rather more symbolic, for my part, that particular note,” A Finger Pointing commented. “We seldom merged with her after those first few years. What really bothered me was the implication that we were all doomed to quit, that what happened to her was a premonition of what was to come.”

Beholden looked suddenly away, mastering some intense emotion that washed over her face. She seemed to want to speak, though, so we all remained in silence.

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“Oh, it is,” she mused, before turning her gaze on me once more. “So let that be my request to you, Reed. I want you and Lily to talk about this, to consult with Anubias, and to tell me how that goes. I am sure Dear would have a heyday if it were here to explore cross-tree merging, but seeing as it went the Ansible — I am very much stealing that turn of phrase — I think I would like to collaborate with you three on this.”