(Winter Open) Unfit and Ill-Fitting

[i_didnt_mean_to]

Who: Mary Dahl and ANYONE
What: General Open Prompts
When: the month of December
Where: all around town
Warning(s): None at the moment


(The Only One Doing This Group Assignment)
Mary has been assigned to the radio project by Agent Jean. While she knows how to construct crystal radio receivers, since those were a popular activity for kids when she really was a kid, her knowledge on radio transmitters is limited.

She approached Comrade Cecil on Jean's recommendation, but he doesn't know about building radios. She may still recruit him as the face of the project, since he's more likely to be taken seriously by the people she needs to talk to.

As it is, Mary can be found in the library going over the science-related books -- still trying to find out if any information known in this world can fill in the gaps in her own knowledge. She scribbles away in her notebook, often flipping back to earlier sections to consult the information there.

(Overqualified but Surviving)
Mary's current job is working as an assistant in a shop that sells things like perfume and cosmetics. It doesn't pay particularly well, but it covers the rent for her room and cost of her groceries so far.

{OOC: Retail drudgery chosen to explain why she wasn't seen between test drive memes.}

She has other skills. She's just had very bad experiences in trying to branch out from the light comedy that she was known for as "Baby Doll". Dr. West is trying to get Mary to change her mind, and pursue a more fulfilling career as some form of entertainer. But maybe more voices in support of the idea are needed...

Wildcard
Other than the Oak and Iron or the Greymare Library, Mary can be found at Tawny Beach on the days that she isn't working her shop assistant job. Maybe you might catch her doing a dramatic recitation to herself. Or maybe she's quietly exploring the town. Come say hi?

Comments

[i_didnt_mean_to]

"It's also called an 'arc transmitter' or an 'arc converter'. I know how to construct a type of radio receiver, but without a radio transmitter, they'd be useless."

And just in case Dahlia hasn't heard of the project, Mary elaborates, "Radio will allow us to transmit sound waves, and thus messages, to anyone with a receiver. It could be used for emergencies, like telling people to avoid a dangerous scene, among other things. Sharing news, or even entertainment."

[thethirteenthchild]

Dahlia's brows raise, and she blinks in surprise. "Oh! That's--- amazing, I've never heard of anything like that. Is it magical or electrical?"

[i_didnt_mean_to]

"Ah, it's electrical." Mary says, "There's only a few people back home who can use magic. Most of us don't, so there's nothing large-scale that depends on magic."

[thethirteenthchild]

"I see. That's a shame--- I don't know magic, myself, as it takes a lot of skill, but it's done a lot for societal advancements." Still, she starts looking for books on non-magical inventors of electrical technologies and hauls a stack over to the same table as Mary, apparently intending on contributing. "I'm Dahlia, by the way. You?"

[i_didnt_mean_to]

"Oh!" Mary watches her efficiently going through the shelves and stacking other books onto the table. "Thank you, Dahlia."

Mary smiles warmly. "My name is Mary. Mary Dahl. I want to help the town, and physical contributions are beyond me, so... it's my brain and my time on offer."

[thethirteenthchild]

"A pleasure to meet you, Mary. And I understand." Dahlia sits beside her at the table. "I'm much the same way. I run the Historical Society, and that's kind of what we do, is research for the benefit of the town."

She pauses a moment, thinking about something. "If you're having trouble getting around town, I have something I can give you. If it's not too presumptuous of me."

[i_didnt_mean_to]

"History is important. Back home, there's a saying, 'Those who don't know the past are doomed to repeat it'. We should take lessons from history so we don't suffer the same pitfalls."

Mary's expression is more cautious at the mention of being given something. "I get around all right on my own. If I pace myself. But what are you thinking of?"

[thethirteenthchild]

Dahlia opens her mouth to speak but falters a moment as she decides how to word it.

"Well, I have a few things that belonged to my brother Jonah, including his pony and saddle. He... unfortunately passed away some years ago, but he had dwarfism and was a bit of an adventurer. Buster allowed him to go further and stay out longer. The saddle was customized for Jonah, so I can't really use it, and I just don't have the time to exercise Buster like he deserves. I thought maybe you might be able to use him, as well as some of Jonah's other custom mobility things." She pauses. "I know that's probably a lot coming from a stranger, I just... really loved my brother, and I know he wouldn't want his things to collect dust. He hated wasting things."

[i_didnt_mean_to]

Mary considers that in silence for a while, twisting her hands together.

"I don't have a lot of experience with ponies. But I do have some. Maybe it would be better for me to meet Buster first?"

[thethirteenthchild]

"Sure! He's a real sweetheart, and well-trained. You're welcome to drop by my home anytime. I apologize that it's such a hike." Dahlia's gushing--- it's no secret that out of her many siblings, she was closest to Jonah.

[i_didnt_mean_to]

"I'm sure I can catch a ride with someone," Mary says. She smiles briefly, politely, and pulls a book closer to her. "I appreciate the offer."

She's a little nervous about Dahlia's offer. Mary doesn't trust easily, and is used to people acting friendly and having an ulterior motive. (Side effect of growing up largely within Hollywood and its weird culture.) But it could be entirely innocent, so she doesn't want to be rude.

"I planned my day around spending time in the library, and you've been so helpful with the books... but I'll visit when I have another free day. Will that... be okay?"

[thethirteenthchild]

Dahlia's well-aware that she's coming on strong, and knows how it might look. She's happy to let Mary do this however she likes.

"Sounds just fine to me," Dahlia agrees readily. "Like I said, anytime you like. There's no rush. I've just got a house full of my siblings' things and it'd be nice to see some of them be used again. I think in that way, I get to see a little piece of them come back to life. If that makes any sense."

[i_didnt_mean_to]

"It does make sense...." especially for someone dealing with a lot of grief, Mary thinks. Aloud, she continues, "better for things to be used than to collect dust. But... is that a thing that can happen?"

She twists her fingers together a bit more as she elaborates, "Since... since magic is a larger influence in this world. Do people leave... imprints of themselves, on items they treasured?"

[thethirteenthchild]

"Sometimes. But I wouldn't give away those things." Dahlia smiles, hopefully reassuringly. "It's been six years, I think if Jonah was haunting his pony, I would've noticed by now. If his spirit's anywhere, it's on that boat of his. Or at the top of Crane's Ridge."

[i_didnt_mean_to]

"Forgive me. It's a silly worry, I suppose... but I wouldn't want to make anyone angry with me here. Even if he's... otherwise gone."

[thethirteenthchild]

"Not at all! I can understand the logic behind it. But I wouldn't give away anything my siblings wouldn't want shared, spiritual energy or no."

Dahlia can certainly think of a few of her siblings (and other family members besides) that were not particularly generous people. Jonah was not among them.

"I apologize if I come off as pushy, though. It's not--- I hope I don't seem like I think of you as a charity case or something. I'm just familiar with how certain things about Pumpkin Hollow and life in general probably impact you. In a bigger city, there'd be way more diverse options for all manner of people. Here, not so much."

[i_didnt_mean_to]

"And I don't want to seem ungrateful!" Mary hastens to assure Dahlia, "It did surprise me some, you offering me an entire horse! But I appreciate the thought behind it, and if it will benefit Buster too, then I see no reason to refuse."

She smiles and says in a wry voice, "Well, unless he doesn't like me. But we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, right?"

Maybe big cities are different in this world -- maybe people are better at getting resources to others to help toward equality of outcome. Mary lived in a big city and the number of times that handicap access wasn't well maintained... or there were half-hearted attempts at offering adaptive measures... if she had a nickle for each, she'd be so well off that a life of crime would have no incentives.