That's not me. I'm the sane, mature, low-key, stable and perennially upbeat Scadian.
So, here's the condensed version:
We had a Coronet, there was low-level drama and we managed it without a problem.
We had some minor differences in style with King Mark and Queen Patricia, that may have influenced Miach's chances of Knighthood - and then again, maybe totally not.
We went to Twelfth Night, and it was fine.
We went to Oertha, and had a great time. Yay Oertha!
We stepped down. That's us, getting our Viscounties, up there.
We continued to serve, as cooks for Royals at Estrella. We almost lost Monty there.
There was Kingdom-wide bullshit involving Violante, which made me incredibly sad. There was personal bullshit involving Gunther, Juliana, Miach and me which made me angry and paranoid.
Miach was NOT offered a white belt. Three or four other people have been offered since we stepped down. Again - nothing about our personal bullshit has been in any way negative towards the Kingdom or the populace, and we have not done anything remotely un-worthy of decent human beings - much less of Royal Peers. We're golden.
Miach declares he will train to win Crown, with a goal of 2015.
And aside from the emotional and interpersonal Knight/Squire bullshit:
Miach was hit in the mouth during a Pas d'Arms after the tournament was officially over, while playing a game to 'entertain the gallery' in which helms were removed and fighters were using what they thought were boffer swords. Turns out, not so much. About 3K of dental work, and two months not fighting, and he's still unable to bite well.
We continued to cook for King Conor and Queen Isa, and Prince Walerich and Princess Catriona, only at this point they began to reimburse us at the King's insistence. Yay King Conor!! (but really - we would have done it anyway, and we have always fed people at events - not Royals, true, just regular hungry people).
We go to June Crown, cook for Royals, and due to proximity of our Celtic roundhouse and kitchen to the Royal Pav, we overhear one of the Knights in Knight's Counsel saying that Miach doesn't use advanced techniques, and that if HE had been fighting in the Coronet that Miach won - well, maybe Miach wouldn't have won. This is actually not news to us, as he has said it often. It's very uncomfortable to have to listen to it, and pretend you didn't hear it being said in Council, though. Again: not shocking, because we know who supports us and who doesn't. Just aggravating.
We went to West/An Tir War, We almost lost Monty again. Miach won the Squire's Tourney in a field of 72 fighters, possibly proving that he actually DOES use advanced techniques (just in case winning Coronet was not already evidence of that), more loose talk by Peers of possible offers of white belt. No offers.
Miach re-iterates his declaration of winning Crown in 2015.
We were given the Cynaguan Crusader honor by the Prince and Princess (we created that honor) for our service. It's weird how much that honor means to me, how very much that touched me.
Miach stepped up as Deputy Sable Swan Herald.
We cooked Investiture Feast. Other than a last-minute problem with servers, it seemed to go well. Food was served hot, people were done and out of the hall before 9 pm, and there was Court towards the end of it - so, fairly typical so far as I could tell, and the food was reported to be good, and plentiful.
More bullshit ensued, likely aggravated if not instigated by Juliana, in an ambush by two Pelicans, 1 Laurel, two Knights (and an innocent bystander spouse who kept his head low and his mouth closed) that was presented as an invitation to dinner with ONE couple. Instead, it was a surprise Peerage critique of Investiture Feast, and we were totally taken aback and unprepared to discuss it. The only inkling that we had of this was a remark made to me by Roz, that Juliana had been seeking information from her on the Feast and that she seemed to want to hear things that had been bad. At the time, her remark barely registered, as it is no great secret that Julian likes to stir up shit. Only in retrospect did I see how significant it was.
Reassurances given by non-involved Peers that we sought counsel from, and other populace, that there was nothing wrong with Investiture Feast and they are flabbergasted that anyone thought there was or would presume to actually plan such "help" without giving us the memo.
Again: Miach decides that the only solution to this aggravation is to win Crown in 2015, and for the third time since March he and I discuss issues we're having with trust and fealty, and whether he needs to give back his Squire's belt.
Miach attended Purgatorio, and was a court Herald; I stayed home with dogs and went to Roz's to visit. We were given the Queen's Cypher award by Isa for our service at Purgatorio; I am positive that I would have teared up at that, too, but I was home with the dogs. Miach was there on his own.
No offers.
We attended Ducal. One Knight attended. So few fighters that there were no heavy events on Sunday. My grandson, Connor, went and had a great time. Miach helped set up and tear down the Cynaguan Pav, and was Court Herald. He tore down Gwenifer's camp for her, and tore down our three pav's.
Miach became ill, still coughing but will likely survive.
Tomorrow is Kingdom Championships for EQ, archery and rapier. Miach is insisting we go, and I'm sure that I will go, but my heart is just not in it. It could be burn-out: we kept on ticking, going to two Wars, two Crowns, Coronet in Mists and in Cynagua, and countless small events after we stepped down. We wanted to show that we weren't going to do the typical thing and disappear for months, or years. Maybe we tried too hard to persevere. Because that's the only thing: perseverance. Decency and honor, chivalry and fealty, service and support - if we show up, that stuff is not hard. That's who we are (no, I am NOT this angry, bitter, paranoid creature that has shown up lately, that is NOT me!!) So you keep going, keep going, keep going. You concentrate on the people you love. You concentrate on the skills you've been given and that which fascinates you and enriches you. You keep going, and hope that it isn't too late, that you're not too old, that there is still time. That maybe - just maybe - this community will finally see you for what you are.
Tick.
Tock.
