[Open] All the Leaves are Brown

[sunshinesally]

Who: Sally Boyle and you!
What: Arrival, opening up shop, a few odds and ends.
When: From now until it is no longer useful!
Where: Jack's Marina and around town.
Warning(s): Illicit substances, references to the death of a child, possibly more. Will update as needed!




-I've Been for a Walk-

To Yorick's credit, he did his best to lead Sally through the motions of getting settled in Pumpkin Hollow. He was kind and patient and a silly old thing. And yes, the town is cursed, room at the inn, work options, food vouchers, blah blah, that's all well and good but the whole time Sally had only one thing on her mind.

Where is Gwen?

The very minute that Yorick and Mayor Poe turn her loose again, she forgoes the tavern entirely and makes a beeline straight for the beach. Huddled in the sand, she sits and watches the docks with her rail-thin legs hugged tightly to her chest, hoping to see the ferryman return with her infant daughter.

Part of her hopes he doesn't. Because that would mean...

But if she isn't here, then what happened to her? If Sally didn't survive the crash, where does that leave Gwen? At least if she was here, they wouldn't have to be apart. Sally could find a way back... for both of them. Or maybe make a new life for the pair of them here. But what if little Gwen didn't get that chance?

It will be a while before the ferryman returns, but he will bring Guinevere Boyle with him. However, Sally doesn't know that. So she will wait here on the beach even as night falls.


-He Knows I'm Gonna Stay-

It takes a few days, but once Gwen arrives and Sally signs up for work as a physician, the pair are finally settled in. (Sally makes it clear to Mayor Poe that her expertise is in pharmaceuticals and she is, first and foremost, a chemist, but that she's got a lot of experience with first aid as well.) It's a small place, but it's theirs. A small drugstore and simple clinic with a small apartment on the upper floor. It has a study, but Sally converts it to a nursery.

Thus, the Blackberry Apothecary is born.

Basic clinic services and injury treatment is available here, along with all manner of helpful medicines made from local herbs.

And maybe some more interesting things if you ask the right questions. She does, after all, remember the recipe for Joy.


-California Dreamin'-

With Gwen strapped to her chest and a bag slung over her back, Sally ventures out into the woodlands to collect necessary herbs and flowers for her apothecary before the chill kills them off. Sage and rosemary, ginseng and yarrow, foxglove and poppy. If anyone approaches her while she's out foraging, she'll spit out a customary Wellington Wells greeting like a reflex.

"Lovely day for it!"


-Wildcard-
Always open to ideas!

Comments

[mister_morgan]

Surely do! I been plantin' anything back that I take parts of, so its lookin' like its startin' to overrun the place.

[ Okay, her likelihood of being some sort of monster illusion is going down. There's hope! He still keeps his distance, though, kneeling down to pick at some herbs at the other edge of the small clearing. ]

Got some ginseng and burdock root a little ways back, too, if'n that's somethin' you're after. Makin' medicine for you or the little one, or just keepin' it on hand in case?

[sunshinesally]

Oooh, perfect. I'll take a look! Andddd I actually am the owner of the new apothecary in town. I'm making it to sell and use in medical practice.

[mister_morgan]

That so? Well, that's awfully appreciated, I imagine. The doctor in town is an old gal, and I think she's just workin' herself to death, gettin' right back up, and doin' it all over again.

...Now, I hope you don't mind my askin', but what's got you bringin' the little one with you out here? These woods ain't exactly safe.

[ Not that he has much room to talk, considering the young boy that was housed with the gang, but that was neither here nor there. ]

[sunshinesally]

Oh, ah--- Well, sadly I don't have anyone else to watch her. I'm new, so I don't know anyone. I figure she's safer with me than all alone...

[mister_morgan]

[ Oh, what a familiar situation that was. Not that this one was his problem, of course. And he needed to make as few things his problem here as--- ]

I understand that, miss, I do. I ain't been here long, myself. ...If you need someone to watch 'er while you go lookin', you're just about in my backyard, and I been told I'm decent with mindin' folks' kids. Though I ain't against just lendin' some intimidation against anything that might come hasslin' you.

[ ...Possible. He couldn't help himself, really - even in life, when stakes were so high, it was hard to avoid lending a hand wherever he could. And here, without a gang to ride with to dangerous lengths, and a community that seemingly wanted him to be a part of it... his altruistic streak didn't seem any easier to shake. ]

[sunshinesally]

[ She laughed sheepishly. He's too kind. Which means he's either a complete bleeding heart, trying to get into her pants, or both. Probably both. Men, eh? ]

I'll tell you what. You use a lot of these herbs as well, so... maybe we should just forage together. Then if anything spooky comes jumping out of the trees to eat me, you can... I don't know, wrestle it or shoot it or whatever it is you big strong American men do.

[mister_morgan]

{ this man fucks astonishingly little for how much he can get it. so sorry miss sally 💔 }

[ That got a bark of a laugh out of him, clearly catching him off guard. ]

Well, I don't know 'bout all that, but I can surely try to do somethin'. Just don't want to see neither of you gettin' ate, is all. Death ain't... permanent, here, I'm sure you heard, but that don't make it any more pleasant.

[sunshinesally]

Yes, I remember! I had to do it once already just to get here. Can't say it was too much fun. But... thank you. I do try to look after myself, and I'm a fast runner, even with a baby in hand! But a little backup never hurt anyone.

[ She offered a handshake. ]

Sally Boyle. And my plus-one, Gwen Boyle.

[mister_morgan]

[ He gladly met the handshake, offering her a smile. This may be the most pleasant he's ever been in his life. Who knew how long that streak would last. ]

Arthur Morgan. Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Boyle. You n' Gwen both, of course.

[sunshinesally]

[ She paused for a long moment, then let out an absolutely horrified laugh. ]

Your name is Arthur?

[mister_morgan]

[ Well, of all the reactions he'd ever gotten to sharing his name, that one was certainly the most unique. ]

Yes, ma'am, I am afraid so.

[sunshinesally]

[ Murmured: ] Oh, fuck in a bucket, of course it is.

[ Normal volume: ] I'm so sorry, there's just--- there was someone else in my life that I had a rather, eh. Sordid history with. But that's got nothing to do with you, it's just my luck.

[mister_morgan]

Well, I'm surely sorry to hear that. It is a name with... often unfortunate relations to other folks. Suppose my ma didn't think 'bout that too much.

[sunshinesally]

I won't hold it against you. Promise. [ She's already back to smiling. Nothing is wrong! She'll get over it. Probably. ] It's a good name. Like King Arthur! Gwen's full name is actually Guinevere, from the King Arthur legends.

[mister_morgan]

[ He's not totally buying that smile just yet--- he'd had his fair share of run-ins with people with painful memories attached to names, after all--- but he'd let it go, at least for now. Prying never did anybody any good, especially not when they first met. ]

That so? Maybe she'll wind up bein' the scholarly sort. Not that that meant nothin' for me n' the life I led, 'course, but you seem like you'll be givin' a good example, at least.

[sunshinesally]

[ Regardless of what she feels about Arthur Hastings, it's not this Arthur's fault. ]

Oh, pff. I'm a terrible example. I'm a drug dealer.

[ It's not illegal here yet! ]

[mister_morgan]

Apothecaries are awfully respectable, ma'am! If that makes you a bad example, I may be the worst influence possible, just by bein' within a hundred miles of 'er.

[ Don't worry, Sally, drug restrictions in the 1890's didn't exist! His opinion of her remains thoroughly and fundamentally unaltered. She may as well have just told him she was a "grocery dealer," really, and it would've rolled off just the same. ]

[sunshinesally]

[ That has Sally laughing brightly. ] No, no, not like that! I mean narcotics! Goodness, what year are you from?

[mister_morgan]

[ That gave him a huff of a surprised laugh, looking equal parts surprised and profoundly puzzled. ]

1899! And I figured you'd sell opium, ma'am, don't most drug stores do?

[sunshinesally]

Oh good lord, that explains it. [ She chuckles, shaking her head. ] I'm from 1964. By then, a lot of things like opium and cocaine are illegal because they are destructively addictive. Some opioids are still used to treat severe pain, but they're highly regulated and people still get really addicted.

[mister_morgan]

Well I'll be damned. Can't imagine folks tryin' to get a handle on it back where I came from, society would'a been ground to a halt, knowin' how many folks are usin' that as coal in their fires.

[sunshinesally]

Good lord, I know. But trust me, it's for the best. Long term cocaine use can cause all sorts of awful things. Psychosis, muscular atrophy, heart problems--- you ever heard of a pulmonary embolism before?

[mister_morgan]

[ His expression grows a little blank. Sorry, Sally, you lost him. ]

Can't say that I have. Folks used it in... gum, for a lil' pick-me-up. Soda-pop, too. Hell, ain't much they didn't use it for. Folks started learnin' to stay off too much of the morphine, at least. Wasn't illegal, but it wasn't polite, if you get my meaning.

[sunshinesally]

Yes, I'm aware of how bad cocaine use was during your time. That's the thing, it's fine at first. Especially in small doses, it's basically harmless. It took the better part of a generation--- your generation--- to find out the effects of long term use. Then they made it illegal, to keep companies from killing people for a profit.

Anyway, there's no coca plant here, so it can't be made on this island. If you need anything for the withdrawal, let me know. It's going to be a little uncomfortable.

[mister_morgan]

Hm... ain't thought of that. Didn't realize somethin' like withdrawal would follow me all the way here. Nothin' can be too simple, I s'pose.