So, that thing that was fifth in priority has been bumped up to first because I’ve become careless. What thing? Never you mind. Nothing to see here.
Sir Nathaniel is still gone. After some insight from a friend, I’m going to just chill and wait to see what happens.
Cleaning out the inbox and consolidating questions.
An Anon said: “You let Jack break his promise. You should have made him stay!” No. I’m not one of the Furies, punishing those that break their oaths. My offer to all the wandering dead is the same. No revenge. No judgement. No spite. My hand is open. I offer rest. In Benefé’s case, final rest was to be reunited with the rest of his slaughtered family. They could not move on without him. I don’t know why he couldn’t hear them until I became involved. But he did. Who am I to hold Benefé back because of a living child’s wish?
Another Anon said: “You should have forced Sir Nathaniel to the Boneyard when Benefe moved on. To let him stay behind is cruel.” The whole matter was cruel. I can only offer my hand, I can’t force the wandering dead to take it. The spirits I’ve destroyed were in self defense. (So I tell myself.) Sir Nathaniel knows what I offer. And he has chosen not to take me up on it. I do not have the right or the mandate to force him to move on.
A character tracking Anon asked: “Where is Horatio? And did you find spirits to fill the other two trinkets with?” Horatio is where he needs to be right now. I have my hands too full to deal with him right away. There are things I need to learn, and hang ups I need to get over, before you’ll hear of him again. The other two trinkets are still empty. I need to be self-sufficient again.
A worried Anon asked: “You shouldn’t joke about suicide like that.” Who was joking? Last year, it took threats from a solar deity and a soul-oath to a Brother to keep me here long enough to get through the bullshit that is the holiday season. I don’t have SAD. I have an abusive family that I can’t fully escape. Yet. So. Who’s joking? Not me.
Though, I must say, having a literal flame war with the solar deity was pretty damn interesting.
A curious Anon asked: “What about the rest of the Regulars? Are they dead people to? What are their stories? Some have the wandering dead feel. Some just wander. They are not interested in any relationship with me beyond “house guardian”. Most did note Benefé was gone, but the information was more background noise than any. Once I cleared the Bastards from the attic, the Regulars have settled into a quiet abiding. They know what I offer and have chosen not to take me up on it.
Inbox empty again. Y’all know where to drop further questions.