Connections

Maia is well. Kerem is talking. Ulf is angsting. I'm longing for an absent lover. Situation back to normal.

It's good breathing the same air with kin again.

The gathering is huge.

Last night it rained. I have a pile of bandannas originally in Atamahara red and gold which are now swirls of orange. One of the outworkers got keen and commissioned a batch of them from some generic supplier. I've been coordinating a recall and replacing them with clan-made sashes which use stable dyes.

We need to talk with our outworkers more. The bandannas are a small sign.

Officially, we're in the phase of puzzle-contests, story-telling and dance performances. I'm one of the judges of the fire dance. Win it one year: judge it forever.

Unofficially... the discussions are under way. At least I'm still on the fringe, but being fast-tracked. I wish I felt the confidence I show.

Ulf lives in apprehension of being married off. He's smitten with Carinelle, and mostly happy. He still doesn't seem to realise that it'd take something big for it to be worth it for Atamahara to marry him away.

The problem -- potentially, for him -- is that some of the discussions are big.