#ruthie;task

[ruthiesalenger]

THE MARVELOUS STORY OF RUTH MILLICENT SALENGER (FLORY)

While the Flory family tree has many twists, Ruthie Salenger’s own is a small one, tucked under a mighty branch. Some notable stops along the way include:

🌻 HILDA FLORY Ruthie’s mother, stubborn and flighty and a witch with a spoon (literally). Married young and left the valley young, too, abandoning her daughter and her second husband. Hilda is not often mentioned, and certainly not kindly. Ruthie inherited her wickedness.

🌾 PRUNE FLORY-DASCOMB Trailing along a branch, adjoining her own but split, and bearing a different sort of flower, reveals the name Prune -- Ruthie’s cousin, and very nearly her birthday twin. Born the day before, Prune and Ruthie have always lived in strict competition (and one that Ruthie is notably losing) -- especially as Prune is now married, has her own farm, and may well be a viable candidate to take on the Flory seat on the Council.

🌹 DELANEY FLORY One of the most prolific roses on the main branch represents Delaney Flory, the current family head and owner of Flory’s bakery. Though her rose has begun to darken on the edges, fading into the sepia that has swept the lower branches of the tree (those departed, though always with us), Delaney is smart, sensible, and scant for patience.

🌳 CHRISTOPHER FLORY Swinging to the other side of the tree, Christopher Flory’s branch has only grown stronger over time. Where it used to be a junior branch to the main line, the Lower Midland Flory’s have made a name for themselves in fire-kits. They own several dozen acres in the southwest of the valley, harvesting trees, logging for sale, and casting magic into firelight sparks that fade into the summer night.

🌷 ANNABELLE FLORY “The most annoying of us by far,” says Ruthie, though she is alone in her opinion. Annabelle remains one of the friendliest, most glowing young women in the valley. While she studies to obtain her teaching certificate, her chocolate oat cookies are developing a reputation all of their own. It is no small secret that Delaney hopes she’ll take the leap, abandon teaching, and pick up the family trade.

[ruthiesalenger]

TASK | HOME

55 Green Street has new windows and waxed wood floors, a fireplace with an iron grate, and intricate woodwork. What it does not have, it seems, is furniture. Ruthie's evasive about this -- too busy or haven’t decided. Perhaps she likes the spaciousness of it -- four rooms, all her own -- and doesn’t want to clutter it with things. Perhaps she likes the way the light reflects from the firebox and the candles in the window, and that’s enough for her. Or perhaps it’s something more sinister.

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PRIMARY ELEMENT: FIRE Fires have the natural ability to pull other elements out of stubbornness, darkness, depression, boredom, and worry into the land of the living. Their energy, laughter and high spirits are contagious. They laugh easily and seem to be bubbling over with excitement even if others don’t see anything about which to get excited. 

Ruthie’s own fire may be more muted and contemplative, though it’s an ever-present undercurrent. Her mind is constantly alight with schemes (or plans, as she calls them), eager and ready to jump at the next. She attempts to coach herself into temperance at times, wanting to be as prim and demure as the Valley demands. But she isn’t. But -- she hasn’t picked up a stirring spoon yet.

SECONDARY ELEMENT: WOOD Woods are fearless. They are like the sudden expansive growth of spring after a long, slow winter, and like the power of tree roots that push through solid concrete. Woods lead with a determination and will that surpasses all limits. At the same time, Wood people see the bigger picture, find solutions, seek out the best in things, and make changes. They are strong, sturdy, stable, fearless, logical, reasonable, bold, independent, and unapologetic. They are also very fair-minded, and nothing upsets them more than injustices. This makes them powerful.

One of the longest-burning fires in Ruthie is the injustice that was done to her when she left the valley -- and in this way, her secondary element is at its best. She is a bit lost right now, struggling to find her place, and feels disconnected (or uprooted 🥁) from a lot of the better qualities of her secondary element. Still, she cherishes the wood mouldings in her new home, often running her hands along a doorframe as she passes by.

[ruthiesalenger]

RUTHIE ✨ TASK ONE

01. Her suitcase, leather with once-handsome corners. The code has not worked in some time, though she lays a strand of gold thread across it when she sleeps, so she’ll know if it’s disturbed. 02. Measuring spoons, copper. Never tarnished. The third spoon, 1/2 tsp, has a dent in the handle, from years ago. 03. Violet. Ageless, wise, perfection. Demands a sunny pillow, and if not, a feast. 04. Her favorite dress, red with white flowers. One of the few dresses that Ruthie has not worn out the seams on. It lays pressed at the bottom of her suitcase. 05. Her journal -- and recipe book -- inscribed with wards on the cover. The pages are more stained than not: by coffee, by spilled sugar left to melt. 06. The last slip whose lace hasn’t tattered.