Nell's Fandom Friends

There was an old school TV and VCR/DVD set up in the room today in addition to the coffee and breakfast goodies spread, and Leda, looking only slightly less frazzled than she had in previous classes.

"I had intended...well a lot of things but you know what they say about the Fates, they're assholes. Well that's not the actual phrase but laughing at someone because you know their plans are gonna get derailed is an asshole thing to do.

"I was going to intersperse movie days as a metaphor? for the Zero Day. When you just take a break and don't log any miles. Zero miles, zero day. See I know the slang. But every movie I thought of showing, because they're about hiking, had something that hit me a little harder than I expected, so I wanted to check with you guys first.

"I've a questionaire for you to fill out in private if you like, but in the meantime let's talk more about why someone would do something as seemingly insane as walking thousands of miles in some cases, for seemingly no concrete purpose."

She perched on the desk, like a cool adult.

"The protagonists in the movies we may or may not watch are doing it for a variety of reasons, but it seemed like using the journey as a mourning ritual is a common theme. Three of them...okay one of the movies is about the van life, not hiking but it still seemed relevant, had lost a loved one. One of them lost their home. Two of them were trying to get clean.

"The Way of St. James, is that right, I'm always thinking I'm naming it wrong..." she double checked her notes, "Yeah that's the English translation. In Spanish it's the Camino De Santiago, is literally a pilgrimage, but it's not always hiked by believers.

"As I think I told you when we all first met, I myself am at a big ol' Midlife Crisis Point. I was doing a job...that was a hereditary position, for most of my life. I didn't want it, I'd hoped to retire someday but again, those fucking Fates. By Elven standards I was still a child when I got the job. I hadn't really gotten a chance to know who I could be if it was left up to me. Now it is. So if I go, I'm hoping that the time out in the wilderness, with only my family and maybe the occasional wild animal for company, will help me figure stuff out.

"Anyone else want to share a vague personal reason for maybe going on such a journey? Or not so vague, this is a safe space."

The Questionaire:( content warnings )