2022-11-19 Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
Location: Meg's Trailer in South L.A.
Date and Time: November 19, 2022- 10:00 pm
Summary: Meg shows Alaska how to help find what she's looking for.
==== Meg's Trailer - Shady Oaks(#7033RDsU[c]) - South L.A. =====
<< Plan: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/model-940--547609635913619062/ >>
Single-Wide Mobile Home (14' x 60'; appx. 800 sq. ft.) 2 BR; 2 BA
Kitchen / Dining Room: Small, but clean. White tile floor, grouted. Electric stove, dishwasher, and fridge appear useable, but well-loved. Kitchenette table with two plastic chairs, all of which have a lot of mileage. Cupboards look newly-replaced; hinges generally work. White wipeboard on fridge with odd markings on it.
Living Room: Converted workspace for a crafter or carpenter. An old Singer machine on a card table, with a metallic chair by it. A wooden workbench with tools hanging from its edges: a hammer; a set of screw drivers; a handsaw, etc. Baubles, trinkets, and other somewhat-worthless items are packed into a trio of plastic drawer organizers, all of which are placed on a long board under a window, propped up from the carpet with cinder blocks. A futon with blankets on top make the area feel a bit cramped.
Master Bath: Toilet, sink, and bathtub with shower. Cheap plastic curtain suspended by rings threaded by an extendable rod; all probably from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Curtain design is a periodic table. Conspicuous lack of hair product. Mashed toothbrush head. Generally clean, but aged.
Hall Bath: Very much like the Master Bath, except the curtain has many rubber ducks.
Master Bedroom: A wooden table and chair; there are notebooks, pads, and pencils on the table. Boards for shelves which line all the walls, save for the closet's. On the shelves are books, some old and some new, of various genres and subjects, in no particular order. No bed; only a large pile of cushions that form a comfy nest, on which there is a king-sized comforter.
Second Bedroom: This looks like an actual bedroom, save for a white sheet on the floor and a slightly-charred piece of wood nearby. Smells like sage and smoke, which, along with the flecks of ash in the carpet, suggests that someone's regularly burning incense in here. King-sized bed with sheets; a table with a small T.V. on it; this is probably the place where people Netflix and chill. As it goes.
--
The trailer door is shut and the porch light is turned off.
Meg likes to do her rituals at night. She also likes to do it skyclad. Propriety has her making sure the drapes are closed and the other doors are shut, so that no one is disturbed by what she wants to show Alaska tonight. The other night, she showed her how to Greet the North Star, but there are so many other things she can teach. So, she clears out a space in the living room, lights up a few candles to illuminate the area, and sits down on the carpet.
"So, you want to learn something else that'll help with directions?" she asks.
--
Having arrived a little bit ago, Alaska has come out, undressed as her instructor. There is wisdom in greeting spirits in the way we stand naturally. "I would, yes. Do you have something in mind?" Stopping by the fridge, she pulls out two bottles of water from the bottom and returns, offering one to the Fury. "I am open to anything really, but I do feel those would help the most."
--
"Well, sure."
Meg takes the bottle of water, but sets it aside. "There is a rite called the Questing Stone. Like the other rite I showed you, this is pretty simple. It is, however, very important, especially for a scout." Reaching to the side, she pulls her pack closer to her, searching through it. Finally, she pulls out a small item: an earring. "You can use it to get a general idea of someone you know and want to find." She then pulls out something else, which looks like rock on a string. "Now, if you have something of theirs -- " She points to the earring. " -- it helps the spirits who want to help you point you in the right direction."
"Are you ready?" she then asks.
--
Alaska considers and nods. "That makes sense, sure. I have questions already." Shaking her head, she waves her hand. "Nevermind, I'll wait and listen. I rush to understand." Taking in a long breath, she moves closer. "I am ready." She opens her mouth as if about to ask another then closes it, chastising herself to trust the process, trust the wisdom of the Fury.
--
The Darkling just gives Alaska a look.
"I haven't even started." She ties the string to two of the fingers on her left hand, and then holds the earring in her right. "This earring belongs to Joan. I'm going to now focus on her in my heart." She closes her eyes for a moment to concentrate. The stone at the end of the string then starts to move in one direction, as if being pulled by an unseen force. Meg's eyes open after, and look down at the string. "There." And then, she explains. "Our connection to the Mother and our predator natures manifest like this. Just as wild animals instinctively sense when the forces in the world threaten them, so can we instinctively find what we seek." Beat. "Well, maybe not instinctively, but with practice." And she, of course, has had a lot of practice. The stone eventually lowers itself down again.
"Would you like to try?" she offers.
--
Alaska gives a wry smile, "I know you hadn't. I was trying to see if, like do you have to know the person or just have something of theirs. Is there a range ... how about if they are umbral." She counts off on her fingers then pauses. "I would like to try, yes. I know Joan, so I can use this earing as well?" She holds out her hand, a little uncertain but eager. Perhaps too eager.
--
Eagerness is always good.
"There is a different rite for that," Meg explains quietly. "It's something that you should probably find a Theurge for. This, however, can really help you, especially since people are going to want you to hunt things down." She passes over the string with the rock, and also passes over the earring. "So, remember: you have to keep Joan in your heart and focus. You may feel a little pull inside, but you may not. Be patient and concentrate on Joan." She puts her hands in her lap, and lets Alaska give it a try.
That's all the instruction she gives.
--
Thinking, she pulls her hair back then loops the string on the earring, tying the string on two fingers. Focusing, she puts her hand to her chest. Furrowing deeper, she breathes slower then smiles. "I think I feel ... the pull." One eye opens, looking at the string as the earing just lays there. Looking a little disappointed. "Hmmm, maybe the sprits don’t trust me. Do they consider intent?"
--
"Not really."
Meg smiles, despite the failure. "It's just a matter of practice. Sometimes, it's a matter of how well you focus on the person or object -- or how you hold them in your heart. One ritualist told me that it is about how vivid your thoughts and desires are." Shrug. "But I've heard that it comes to some ritualists instinctively, almost without thought." She holds out her hands. "Let's keep trying it this week. We'll give it another shot tomorrow, okay? Maybe if you get something of River's, we can try to use the rite to find him."
"Kinship is another strong connection."
--
Considering the process. "It makes sense. Yeah." Leaning in to look at the earring, she considers it then hands both back to Meg. "I can always try you too, from home. I mean, at least fondness would work there. But kinship too. Sooo, would like my gifts protect from this if someone were looking for me?" Sitting back a little, she splays her hands behind her. "River has concerns spirals will find us. Could they use this?"
--
"Maybe."
Meg thinks on the question, which requires her to consider what she knows of Spirals and what gifts New Moons often show. "Let's presume they use it." She holds up the string and the rock. "This isn't exactly precise. It points in a direction, and not for a long time, if one stops concentrating." She lowers the item, and then shrugs. "You can use this to get an idea of which way to go, but it won't help you to find someone that's concealed. And if it moves about, you'd have to stop and perform the rite again, something which takes time." At least a few minutes. "So, it's not efficient. But it's a good start to get close enough to use other senses. And that's when your gifts will make it hard to find you."
Because what you can't see or smell is hard to locate without direct sight.
<< END >>
