“Well, that’s a relief,” Mirabel/i>Esme moves to settle on to one of the pillows, lifting her hand to wave to Mercy when she comes in

Mercy shakes herself off like a dog at the entryway, for all the good it really does.

Kaelyn hesitates for a long moment before settling down onto the floor, stealing a pillow

Dovie smiles to Ava, nodding before she informs Mirabel, “Highgate is technically an outer borough.” She waves to Mercy. “Hello, please make yourself comfortable, everyone. We’ll just begin in three minutes!”

“Yes, well, I’m sure you could find a nice place in the Ivory Quarter or some other respectable part of the city,” Mirabel tells Dovie and takes her glasses off to polish them.

Mercy upnods Esme and steps into the room, her gaze pausing on Dovie for a few seconds. “Oh, so yer Doobie.” She states before moving along, no further questions, comments or context to follow.

“Well, it’s by the water. And it’s not Redstone,” the Fairchild points out to Mirabel as Dovie settles onto the soft carpet. A glance is given to Mercy, and a smile. “Yes! We’ve met before. Mercy, yes?”

Kaelyn frowns a little bit, “Highgate is nice enough. If you don’t mind the mists and it’s cheap.”

“The outer boroughs are gorgeous when the mists are clear enough to enjoy what they have to offer,” Arachne opines lightly as she steps forward, finding a large pillow to serve as her throne as she settles in, drawing her feet into the Lotus position. “You must me Ava… Washington?” she smiles aside at Ava. “I’m Arachne Fairchild-Montrose.”

Esme says, in agreement, “Highgate’s plenty nice. At least it ain’t Killgrove where the Mist is always tryna fuck it. “

Amber slinks into the shop, soaked and trailing water. She doesn’t interrupt, just finding herself a corner of the carpet to herself as best she can.

Mercy swings her gaze back to Dovie with just a touch of hesitation prior to shrugging her shoulders. “Ain’ sure, maybe.”

Arachne turns around, scanning over faces before she spots Amber. Automatically, the wallflower is invited into the Montrose’s space with a quiet beckon of fingers.

Ava perks up as she seemed to be jotting tidbits down during the conversation, but her name draws her attention to Arachne “Ms Fairchild-Montrose, it’s nice to meet you.” she says cheerfully, moving to place the tablet in her left hand, but having to let go of the stylus, which she transfers to her right. This process leaves her no free hands however, so she puts the stylus behind her ear, grasps the tablet with her knees, freeing up TWO hands! More than she needed, but always good to have a spare. She extends her right hand to Arachne “Ava Washington!”

Amber is beckoned, trailing her way closer to Arachne now that she’s been spotted. She lifts a hand and gives a quiet, “Hey.” Since Ava and Arachne are speaking, she gives a nod over that way, too.

Mercy finds an unattended spot to drop down onto unceremoniously, rubbing at the weary shadows under her eyes.

Dovie’s phone chimes a reminder that it’s ten after and she reaches over to silence the thing before she launches into the greeting. “Thank you everyone for coming to Guided Meditation! I’m sorry the weather didn’t allow for us to be in the Flower Garden, but I am very glad we can still all be here together.”

She looks around at the various faces. “The impetus of this was to take some time out of our busy lives to really stop and reflect, and understand how we are feeling, and how to process those feelings, in order for us to live our best lives.”

The Fairchild sits crosslegged at the back of the room, facing the others. “Now, everyone, please close your eyes. Find a position that is comfortable for you. And I want you to breathe in, and breathe out. Breathe in… annnnd breathe out… Inhale slowly and exhale gently. I invite all of you to share one word that reflects how you feel arriving here today… to give an example, I’ll start us off, and once everyone has answered, we’ll move on.” Dovie clears her throat, “My word is: stressed.”

“Hello again,” Mirabel says and smiles blithely at Mercy. “You didn’t walk here, did you? Goodness gracious.”

Ava nods to Amber with a little awkwardly cheerful smile “Hey.” she mirrors the greeting, using her free hand to brush a lock of red from her eyes. She’s standing on the carpet rather than seated.

Mercy brushes some damp hair out of her face and shakes her head to Mirabel’s question after acknowledging the woman with another upnod. “Nah, drove my bike. Remind me to get yer MyHaven thing before all’s done here though.”

Mirabel shuts up and listens to Dovie. Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. She lays her hands on her knees and lets her shoulders slouch a little.

Distance makes it a touch difficult for Arachne to extend an arm out to catch Ava’s offered hand, so the monarch merely extends a gorgeous smile to complement her congenial exchange with the young redhead. “It’s a genuine pleasure to finally place a face to the name. I’d been wondering when I might see more of the Washingtons at play. I’ve been a fan of some of the civil rights works and how integral Dr. Washington’s work has been in paving the way for men of color, like my cousin Matthew, and some of my clients, to have a platform in media with the ease that we do these days.” The twice-born media influencer quiets down, content to give her attention to Dovie as she addresses the gathered group.

“Overwhelmed,” she chooses her own word without hesitation.

Mercy puts the phone away and closes her eyes as instructed, though getting into a comfortable position proves to be a lengthy process as she shifts around amidst the pillows.

As Dovie begins the meditation segment, Esme stows her phone and shifts into a slightly more upright position, assuming more a meditative posture. She draws in and exhales slowly those meditative breaths, letting her mind wander a little so she can answer the posed question after a beat. “Resigned.”

Ava smiles ands nods quickly to Arachne, seeming about to reply, but as the session starts in earnest she instead turns her gaze to Dovie first, then lets it wander across others in the room.

Dovie nods along as some begin to offer up their one-words. She makes a reassuring sound as she reminds the group, gently. “Do make sure we can all hear, I know it’s a big room, but this is a space of connection… once we’ve all shared, we’ll dig in together.”

Amber spends a moment looking a bit out of her depth, whether from nearby conversation or the instructions given. She does settle down into a seat on a pillow, though, crossing her legs. “Tired,” she gives, easily enough after Arachne.

Ava stands to the side of the gathering, her attention shifting amongst all those present, one to the next, then back to Dovie before she jots down a few items into her tablet. Presumably at least.

“Understaffed,” Mirabel ventures after a little while.

Arachne leans forward, arms draped across the tops of her knees, slowly deepening the stretch of her lotus position while she listens in silence to the slowly burgeoning responses after her own. Her gaze falls briefly on Esme from beneath her lashes, curious for a short time, before sliding over to Amber, then Mirabel as they speak as well.

Kaelyn closes her eyes taking a small breath in and releasing it as she does as she is told. One leg stretches out and the folded underneath her. Uncertain on the exact order she hesitated. A few beats and with others speaking she finally she speaks, “Curiosity.”

Mercy finally settles right back into the cross-legged sit she started in, offering her word up after thinking it over. “Confined.”

Dovie nods along with each answer, giving acknowledgement and eye contact with each individual before looking to Ava with a smile. “Would you like to join us with a word, Miss Washington?”

Ava looks up to Dovie, seeming flummoxed “Oh I was just, uh, uhm…” blue eyes flick about rapidly. “Umbrella.” she says finally.

Mercy can be heard snorting at that.

Mirabel opens an eye halfway and peers curiously at Ava, but she makes no remark. Another deep, cleansing breath comes in and out in her search for relaxation.

Dovie takes in the random word for what it is, and nods amicably at Ava. She takes a deep inhale, and a slow exhale, her back straightening as she sits cross-legged. “Thank you everyone for your contributions. Now that we have a baseline, let’s wake up our bodies a little, hm?”

The Fairchild continues in a soothing tone, rolling her shoulders backwards a few times, giving instruction while showing with her own body. “Let’s start with the shoulders. Roll them back… then forward. Then back… then forward. Let’s release the tension that’s there…

“Now, raise your arms above your head, fingers interlaced, reaching for the sky. Fell that length in your spine…” Dovie follows her own words, reaching for the ceiling even as she remains in that cross-legged position. “Now… feel that length and release, gently folding forward… Let’s do this two more times…”

Smiling placidly, Mirabel rolls her shoulders and brings her arms up as instructed, giving off a soft grunt. “Every year, I promise myself I’ll get back into yoga again,” she mentions. “I never miss a year.”

Esme keeps her eyes closed, shoulders rolling as instructed. There’s a subtle grimace as she hears a few things crackling as that tension’s released between the shoulder rolling and stretching upward. She sighs quietly, but more in that was one does when something is helping rather than anything else.

Mercy tries to follow Dovie’s guided motions, already so relaxed and limber by default however that the effort to mirror everyone just makes her look stiffer and more awkward than ever.

Esme keeps her eyes closed, shoulders rolling as instructed. There’s a subtle grimace as she hears a few things crackling as that tension’s released between the shoulder rolling and stretching upward. She sighs quietly, but more in that was one does when something is helping rather than anything else.

Amber straightens up a bit, trying to follow the motions being made by the others nearer to the instructor, though she looks a bit oblivious like she may have missed something.

“Now, feel free to close your eyes. I want you to imagine yourself rooted to this place. Imagine that roots are extending from the soles of your feet, deep into the soil. Each time you inhale, draw some calm energy upwards. And with each exhale, release whatever stresses you have back into the ground… Release that weight of whatever you do not need.”

“Now, imagine there is a winding path opening before you. Flowers leaning against you as you walk, petals brushing your fingertips.” And while they are inside and it’s raining outside, there is a fresh scent of foliage that wafts in from the outside. “You come to a still pond. When you look down, you see not only your reflection, but your best self…” Dovie pauses a moment, letting that thought marinate. “At the pond’s edge there is something waiting for you. Pick it up, and let’s share what we find here, and how it makes us feel.”

The Fairchild lets out a hum. “I see a potted succulent. And it feels… heavy.”

Mirabel purses her lips pensively and lets her head tip to the side. After a little while, she says, “I find a book with blank pages. It feels… impatient.”

Esme lets her mind wander toward the imagined scenario, brow furrowing ever so slightly and a twitch of her nose betraying that whatever she might be imagining isn’t exactly idea. “I see…a Polaroid torn in half…and it feels…” Her voice trails as she tries to place the word. “Uncertain.”

Arachne softens her posture in her cross-legged seat at the edge of the circle, keeping her lotus loose. She listens to the rain’s hush beyond the windows behind Dovie’s voice guiding them through meditation, slowly letting her breathing fall to a deeper, soothed cadence. “I see a silver key at the edge of the forest,” she murmurs, gray eyes half-lidded and unfocused. “It feels cold in my hand, but promising. LIke it’s meant to open something I’ve not yet dared to approach… or want to.”

Amber shifts a bit in her seat, closing her eyes and breathing slowly, stiffly. There’s a flicker of a frown at some of the instructions passed from up front, but she continues breathing. “Uh… I see a shoe. Feels like garbage,” she admits, a bit more quietly and uncertain.

Mercy skews her face into an expression of vague confusion, trying to think of something to offer up that sounds relevant to the exercise. “Find a half-empty bag of hot cheetos and it feels.. uh, conflicted.”

Kaelyn had not realized she was still lagged out.

Dovie murmurs gently to Kaelyn, who may have fallen asleep, “We are imagining that we are at a pond. And in this pond, you see your best self reflected back to you. And at the edge of the pond, you see an item. What do you see there, and how does it make you feel, Kaelyn? Ava?” The thunder strikes down, but Dovie doesn’t flinch. She does, however, open her eyes and motion for an employee to close the door.

Obadiah walks up and flicks Gabriel’s ear. “That’s Walking away like that.” Before moving to sit near Esme

Ava smiles, gaze popping up as blue eyes fixate on someone with the mention of her name. She’s not quite as suprised this time, and doesn’t stammer “I found my keys, and I’m so relieved.” she says cheerfully to Dovie.

Ava smiles, gaze popping up as blue eyes fixate on someone the mention of her name. She’s not quite as suprised this time, and doesn’t stammer “I found my keys, and I’m so relieved.” she says cheerfully to Dovie.

Ava smiles, gaze popping up as blue eyes fixate on Dovie with the mention of her name. She’s not quite as suprised this time, and doesn’t stammer “I found my keys, and I’m so relieved.” she says cheerfully to Dovie.

Mercy opens her eyes when she hears Obadiah’s voice, sliding a glance his way then noting Gabriel’s presence as well. She doesn’t close them again afterwards but they do go back to watching Dovie.

Kaelyn frowns chewing her lip, what was even her best self? She didn’t even know… flinching a little at the thought she decided against answering aloud. Or at least truthfully, “It’s a picture of my family. It makes me happy.” That had to sound good enough.

Dovie continues in that same soothing voice, nodding to those who newly enter to join the group. “Now, beyond the pond is an ancient tree. Its trunk is wide and the branches heavy. It’s been here, since the dawn of time, and as you step closer, you can hear faint whispers. In order to hear the message the tree has for you, you must first tell it what’s been on your mind, or in your heart.”

The Fairchild lets that thought sit there, a good measure of silence ensuing. “I won’t ask what you spoke to it, but I do ask that you put into the world, silently, what has been weighing on you, and as you think those words, know that you can let them go…”

She doesn’t ask a question for now, though in the ensuing silence, she murmurs. “If any wish to share how you feel in letting this out, you may.”

Amber speaks quietly to those near her, eyes shut all the while, before she takes some time in silence and contemplation. Keen vision might reveal the hint of motion in her lips, but no full words and not enough to guess what the full words might be. She does not speak aloud to share on this step, having been given the option not to.

Esme keeps her eyes closed throughout, focused on the meditation and unraveling things in her mind. There’s a subtle sag to her shoulders as she lets those thoughts into the ether, but she doesn’t give voice any of them.

Late to the party, Obadiah has to calm his mind from the beginning but manages to find his way through to this part, but he isn’t as settled. At the request from Dovie he takes a deep breath and lets it out through his nose, sitting in silence with his own thoughts.

Mercy stays silent, lest anyone start to suspect she is, in fact, capable of introspective thought.

Kaelyn does not speak, simply continues to breathe in and out. She has a frown on her face though.

“As we move on past the tree, there is a bridge crossing a stream. You step onto it, and standing at the highest point of the bridge, you can see where you’ve been. Where you have come from. Things you have carried. And ahead of you is a new world of potential. What pushes you to walk forward towards your new path? Is it something new? Or something old you’re walking away from?”

There is no pressure given to answers now, the words seeming to not be rhetorical in purpose, not yet anyway.

“When your feet lead you to the other side of that bridge, take another few deep breaths, and speak one word for what you want this land on the other side to look or feel like.”

Dovie follows her own directions, leading off with a singular word: “Inspired.”

“You may open your eyes afterwards, and stretch or rest or commune as needed,” Dovie adds in that same calming tone.

Mercy uses that permission to simply flop down onto her back, letting the scattered pillows take her weight while she indulges in a couple minutes of seemingly much-needed rest.

Mirabel lets out a long puff of breath and opens her eyes. “Determined,” she says and smiles earnestly at Dovie. “That was surprisingly effective, Miss Fairchild. Thank you for that.”

Obadiah doesn’t say anything, at least not loud enough anyone can hear, but does take the deep breath, letting them out through his nose before opening his eyes and resting his hands on his thighs, looking around passively for a moment.

Mercy pipes up once she’s comfortable. “Driven.”

Amber draws her attention back to the front as a few of the others seem to relax. Her gaze lingers on Dovie, listening for more instruction with mild confusion on her face.

Ava scribbles some things down on her tablet with her stylus, not in particular accordance to people’s words though. Instead her gaze wanders the room for a bit before turning back to others at the fringe of the event.

Kaelyn opens her eyes, stretching out. Once more she didn’t say anything and instead rubbed the side of her neck like something was missing. Looking around she watched everyone’s faces.

“I’d love to stay longer, but I’m afraid I have something to see to,” Mirabel says and clambers to her feet with a soft grunt. “If you have another of these, I’ll be sure to show up again.”

Dovie offers Mirabel a smile and a soft nod of her head. “Thank you, ma’am. And thank you everyone for attending. I hope you got something out of this. It’s important sometimes when a lot is going on to just stop and touch base with your feelings, and slow down the crazy world around us. If you didn’t feel you got something out of this, that’s fine too. Getting to know your community is never a loss or a bad thing,” She clasps her hands together, palms flat against each other in a Namaste motion. “As I said before, please feel free to hang out. Help yourselves to some fruit and cucumber water.”

Obadiah pulls out his phone to respond to a message or two

Dovie stands and moves to get a glass of water from the tray.

Mercy lets out a long yawn then starts rallying herself to get up off the comforts of the plush floor.

Arachne slips away, but not without a proud smile flashed toward Dovie on her way out, careful not to interrupt the other meditators.

Esme lingers in her eyes closed spot for several minutes after Dovie calls an end to things before quietly exhales and letting her eyes open, focused on the carpet beneath her. After a beat she pulls herself together and puts on a smile as she tells Dovie, “Very helpful.” She nods genuinely, giving Obadiah a little nudge of greeting before she gets up to get some water herself.

Mercy sits up and rolls forward to smoothly get to her feet, carefully stepping around all the pillows on her way off the carpet.

Mercy sniffs at the cucumber water.

Obadiah nudges Esme back when she nudges him before giving Dovie a supportive smile from the backish part of the room before rising to get a glass and stand near Gabriel

Kaelyn moves to stand offering a smile to Dovie, “Thank you. It was… nice.” She shakes her head, “What I mean to say is that it was- I actually don’t know but enjoyable.”

Annabelle flops down, for the moment being just left of a cushion while she dries off.

Esme waves to Annabelle from near the table where she’s drinking one of the waters. “How’s it goin’ Anna?” She also seems to be trying to decide if she likes cucumber water.

Dovie smiles to someone before moving towards Obadiah to ask, “How is Miss Lawson? Is she okay?” She waves towards Annabelle. “Welcome! We just wrapped up but please feel free to hang out and help yourself to some fruit and water.”

Dovie smiles to Kaelyn before moving towards Obadiah to ask, “How is Miss Lawson? Is she okay?” She waves towards Annabelle. “Welcome! We just wrapped up but please feel free to hang out and help yourself to some fruit and water.”

Mercy slurps at the cucumber water, catching on to everyone offering thanks to Dovie and opting to take a hint and do the same, “Thanks fer the session, Doobie.”

“It’s SO okay -” Annabelle surrenders socially before anything has even begun, almost prepared for her apology. “Mist and like. Hit a curb.. And-and, jeeze I NEED a raincoat.”

“Hhhnngh..” She responds to Esme, at last.

Dovie turns to Annabelle. “Did you crash too?”

Obadiah looks up at Dovie, “She is fine. Gabe and I got her and then was promptly bitched out by other members of the order.” He sighs and takes a pull of water, “I am sorry I missed most of it. Gabe and I got operated.”

Obadiah says “Separated, even “

Esme gives Annabelle a sympathetic smile. “Mist fuckin’ sucks.” She nods in solidarity.

Annabelle bobs her helmeted head, wiping the visor with a sleeve. “Broke the trucks on something root-y. I just ran out.”

Esme says “Rain makes it worse“

Obadiah nods to Gabriel when he looks at his phone

“Tegan Lawson,” Dovie tells Mercy. “She’s a very talented musician. I hired her to play classical music for this event, but she got into an accident in the mists right before this,” she turns back to Obadiah, blinking. “Wait, what? Why would you be yelled at for rescuing her?”

“How was the meditation!” Annabelle forays into a new topic with energy, pulling her helmet off to feel dryish. “It was just a communication thing. I don’t think there’s anything to be mad about.”

“Because I wasn’t quick enough on the comm button,” Obadiah says after a small sigh glancing briefly to Annabelle before nodding, “I wasn’t mad. Preston and Ambrose came after me but all is forgiven.”

Dovie nods at Annabelle and Mercy. “If Tegan is safe, that’s the important thing.”

“Meditation was good. Lil bit ah soul searching with some nice like foresty-nature imagery Dovie described.” Esme tells Annabelle.

Mercy comments quietly to herself, “Fuckin’ hell this veggie water’s good..”

Mercy offers Gabriel a little swipe of her hand through the air and a faint, knowing smirk.

Annabelle pats her stomach and makes a circle. “I think it’s in here.”

Gabriel flicks a quick wave to familiar faces and slips out quietly.

Mercy scoffs quietly.

Dovie smiles at Esme.