Tales From The Myst Update: Touching Grass

This is a short resolution to a story that started months ago, but I played it out several ways, and like this one the best. Please excuse the lower picture resolution. I had to move my whole game to a new save due to a corruption and forgot to reset the graphics before doing the play through.

Guidry gingerly made his way through the thick brush to a long-forgotten section of the Mooncrest Havens Cemetery. This was the original graveyard, now abandoned, ancient and crumbling. As Guidry drifted through the remains of Mooncrest's history, he was mindful of the damaged and broken memorials of long forgotten citizens scattered through the brambles and vines that twisted and wound through the fenced in sections. There was a sadness here, a sense of sorrow and lost potential that made even the usually chipper Guidry feel a bit blue. Guidry shuddered a little, hoping he would always be able to maintain a connection with the living that would keep him relevant to the new world. Death was one thing. Being forgotten was something else, entirely.

Guidry paused at the door of the ancient mausoleum. His friend and partner in the Guidry-Albert Plan for Spirit's Rights, George Albert, had recently moved his family from the modern section of the cemetery to this old, decaying portion. It was a move that baffled Guidry, especially as the Guidry-Albert Plan had been successfully presented in the Mystic Assembly and was able to secure better living options for all non-corporeal residents of The Myst. It was a point that George had been intensely adamant about, and yet, his response to the additional housing choices seemed to have been to actively seek out a decided downgrade. With a shrug, Guidry knocked on the door.

“Come in!” George's jovial voice boomed from inside.

Guidry let himself into the mausoleum and, finding the stairs to the basement level, drifted down to meet his friend. He had to admit that the Albert's new home was much less crowded and much better appointed than the previous home in the main cemetery chapel. There were more rooms, better furniture, and a nice baby grand piano sat in the middle of the parlor. But, he thought, even with all the niceties, it's still just a crypt. Why not take this opportunity to move into a real home? After a few minutes of small talk, the friends got to the point of Guidry's visit.

“So,” George said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation as they settled onto a sofa. “Tell me all about it!”

“You should have been there. You're the co-author of the bill.”

“Yeah. Well, I don't like to get out much. Besides, I knew you'd do fine. Did you get pictures?”

“Of course!”

“Show me!” George was beside himself as he broke out a dusty bottle of something fizzy and passed a glass to his friend. Guidry took out his phone and flipped through the photos. He hoped George could at least share some secondhand joy of seeing the Guidry-Albert plan go to the Mystic Assembly. As George studied the pictures, Guidry kept up a running commentary.

“I was pretty nervous,” Guidry admitted. “I spent a long time practicing that speech.

“I'll bet!”

“But, on the day of the vote, I met with Morgyn Ember beforehand. He assured me that the Council of All Magic was backing the plan.”

“Great!” George enthused. “So, they were in agreement? No changes?”

“Not many. Of course, then I had to make my speech to the Assembly.”

“How'd you do?”

“Not too bad. I guess. I don't think I looked too frightened.”

George leaned in to look at the picture. “Nah. You look great! I read that the vote was greatly in our favor.”

“It was. Several proposals were presented. Ours passed. Unfortunately for Forgotten Hollow, their petition for an alliance didn't.”

'Oooh,” George mused. “Is that a problem?”

Guidry shrugged. “I guess we'll find out.”

Guidry started to put his phone away, then abruptly remembered something else.

“How could I forget. This is the plaque that was made to commemorate our full inclusion in The Myst. Morgyn says it will remain in the main lobby for a while.”

“You should go see it,” Guidry encouraged.

“Yeah,” George said, nodding. “I really should. The kids would like this.”

Guidry switched off the phone and, leaning back on the sofa, gave his friend a long look. “I don't get it, George. You pushed so hard for equality, especially in housing, and now that we have it, you're still just hanging out in the graveyard. Why?”

George shrugged. “I like it here.”

“But, you could have a house.”

“I don't want a house. I just don't want others telling me I can't have a house, see?”

Guidry nodded, unsure. The rest of the day was spent in celebratory beverages, pleasant small talk and excited plans for the future. Noting that the hour had grown late, Guidry finally said his goodbyes and headed back toward his nicely appointed house.

Sitting in the dusk on a bench in the overgrown remnants of the Mooncrest cemetery, Guidry reflected on his visit. George knew what he wanted. He was content with the existence he now had. Guidry had been content until he moved to The Myst, but had been restless ever since. Until this. Until the Guidry-Albert plan. He had been having a hard time putting his feelings about all of this into words. But, now he knew why he had uncharacteristically gotten involved in the politics of The Myst and what the Guidry-Albert plan actually represented. For him, it was about having a meaningful existence. But, as George pointed out, it was also about freedom. Because, as Guidry was beginning to realize, none are free until we're all free.