The last time, it was summer--June, I think, the end of June or so, because Edmund was gone and I was still trying to sort out the Blue Light and all--and now it's autumn and everyone's come back again. That's how it goes, you know, in seasons. Once in the summer, once in the winter, once in the fall or spring, but not often both. Sometimes it happens on Halloween, even--I remember there was once when everyone came, and that was the silver lining to an awful October, getting to see everyone and...

It's just, one does this enough and one grows to expect...well.

Edmund, are you here? Please, I hope you are--and Blue, if you are too, I'd...and I know Alexander was here last, and sometimes Mother comes, and Daddy, and...

Um.

That is, it's very nice to see all of you visiting today, both the people that have come back and the ones that are here for the first time. Just as before, we'll have the Blue Light open late tonight and tomorrow, for anyone to come and sit and have something to eat and visit awhile, and that's where I'll be should anyone come looking for me.

And if you're here, too, you awful dog, you keep away from me--you haven't gotten me yet, and I won't let you, I won't--


[OOC: As per usual, she's canonically from just after the end of Perils of Rosella, and with some very disjointed and vague knowledge of Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder. Not that that really means anything to anyone, but. If something comes up that I don't want her to know, I'll just have her forget it, so have a party--anything goes! HIT HER WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT. Troll, threadjack, have a ball!

And of course, because RL has shown an unfortunate trend of eating me alive lately, I am totally okay with backdating. ♥]


(COMMENTS)

Mm. It's August 2nd again, isn't it.

Thinking back on it, I remember I first started this journal because we have a certain tradition in my family, that every time one of us goes on a grand adventure, the first thing we do once we've gotten back and hugged everyone and all that is to sit right down with the court chronicler and tell the whole story as clearly as we can remember it, so he can take it down and save it with the other tales of adventure in our library. And everything was so new to me then, and there was so much to see, that I thought I'd better write it all down as I went along, or I'd never be able to remember it all once I finally did get home. Looking back on it now, I'm rather glad I did; back then, I had no idea I'd be away for years, instead of weeks or even months. And I'm sure I wouldn't remember nearly so much of it as I ought to if I didn't have this journal to remind me.

But there is a story I'll never forget, and it's the one I tell every year on August 2nd: the one about the princess with the six brothers that were turned into swans, and how she spent six years in silence sewing shirts for them out of thistles, because the only way to break the curse was to go the whole time without ever smiling or laughing as she worked to make the shirts that would change them back. And every year I think of that princess, and how long of a time six years really is--it's only a few lines in a story, but living it out is something very different entirely, isn't it? I certainly don't think I could've managed it myself.

After all, just four years already seems like a terribly long time, and that's with being able to smile and laugh and speak with my friends every day.

I do wonder sometimes, on August 2nd, what I'll do if I manage to run out six years, just the same as that princess with her swan brothers did. I'm more than halfway to it, now. What story will I tell on my anniversary if I should finally outlast her with my own time in the City?

Though I suppose by that point, perhaps, I could always start retelling a few of my own, instead.


[OOC: And with August 2nd comes Rosella's Polyversary--today marks four years she's been in the City, and I am still baffled by it. Thank you all for all the wonderful years of gameplay, Polyites! I'm hoping for many more still to come. ♥]


(COMMENTS)

[Accidental Audio | Open Action]

--o, you can't come in here looking like--well, I should think it'd be rather quite apparent why not, my goodness! I certainly won't have--

[A pause, filled with some muffled background chatter.]

No, I'm really very sorry, but I don't care if it's a curse, that doesn't mean I'm about to--

[More muffled chatter.]

--I will not turn around, and I'll not come out from behind the door, either! Oh, drat it all, where's that sign--

[And to the sound of another burst of chatter, the audio ends.

People passing by the Blue Light today, however, may notice a freshly-made sign prominently displayed in the window: NO SHIRT, NO SHOES, NO SERVICE.]


[OOC: FAIRY-TALE SENSIBILITIES. Rosella (who is not cursed today, thankfully) will just be over here at the Blue Light being scandalized by your flagrant displays of nudity, thank you. Please feel free to save/bother her as you will. :D]


(COMMENTS)

[Accidental Voice Post]

--addy, it's not a tavern, it's a perfectly nice place with music and dancing and really, it's more than respectable enough for me to manage it. You remember how much you liked Blue, and he was the one who founded it, and since then everyone who's owned it has been a king anyway, so there can't possibly be--

[A pause.]

Oh. No, he's...they're not here anymore. None of them are.

[Another pause.]

That's just how it goes, isn't it? When you think of how long I've spent here. I'm sure plenty would change at home, too, in that much time.

[A longer, more drawn-out pause.]

No, no, some are, still! And plenty of new friends, too, but--oh, speaking of which, we really ought to hurry and be on our way, because of course if you're here then that means everyone else's father might be, too, and--oh, drat it all, this must've switched on when I bum--

[Click.]


( Private to Neil | Unhackable )


(COMMENTS)

[Accidental Voice Post]

--ust going to go on the Network and ask. That, er. Isn't that how it's done?

No, here, turn that off and grab a napkin, and I'll sho--

~
[Text Post, Shortly Thereafter]

HELP WANTED
The Blue Light is now seeking qualified applicants for positions in bartending, food preparation, and table service. Prior experience helpful but not necessary, so long as applicants are hardworking and willing to learn. Engaging personality and a fondness for blues music a plus. Please inquire within for more details.

Entertainers interested in performing for live audiences are also encouraged to inquire within for associated opportunities.


[OOC: So, as promised, here is the Blue Light hiring post! People on the payroll, if you've already checked in with me on the roundup post, then I've got you and you're fine; people currently on the payroll who haven't yet checked in, please do so! People who have already discussed hiring opportunities with me, this is your IC post for it; feel free to thread or handwave at your convenience.

For people who would like to work at the Blue Light but missed the roundup post, feel free to drop me an OOC line over there and we'll get you hired!

Also, as is probably obvious, pink text is Rosella and green text is a friendly NPC at the bar. o/]


(COMMENTS)

( Private || Hackable by Friends )

[Filtered from Known DELILAH Members | Blue's Codes | Unhackable]

I'd rather not spoil a perfectly nice day by dwelling on an ugly one, but I will say that I'm certainly glad that curse we had yesterday is done and over with, and I certainly hope it's not one we see again anytime soon, and that's quite enough of that.

But it's lovely out today, and there's no curse, and it's the first day of spring! This is the fourth one to go past, now, since I came to the City; I remember it was just coming up on the first of spring back home in Daventry, too, before I left, but then when I came here it was August and I had to wait another whole seven months before the dates lined up the way they ought to. It's so strange to think that I was seventeen, then; an old friend of mine once told me that the first year here seems to take the longest, but then every other year after seems to fly past a bit quicker. She was right about that, I think. But then, she was usually right about most things.

She always knew when I was keeping secrets, that friend, and I usually do keep one around this time of year. You see, it's my brother's birthday today, the first of spring. And...we're twins, so that makes it my birthday, too. Though it's a bit strange to think of a pair of twins separated by four years in age, isn't it? Alexander's still seventeen, just as he's been four times around now, but today I'm turning twenty-one. It doesn't feel so different than twenty, really, and I'm glad for that. And for all of the friends I've made in all this time, too.

But speaking of friends, I have a promise to keep before the day is out, so I'd better not linger too much longer or I'll never make it! Happy first of spring, everyone! I hope it's as wonderful for you as it's always been for me.


[OOC: Yup, it's her birthday today--the fourth she's had in the City so far. WHEN DID SHE GET TO BE TWENTY-ONE. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS. And her 300th post, too! It's an exciting day. She's got a visit to make to Ellington before the day is out, but I know there were some Sekrit Party Planz™ in the works, so feel free to action her up, divert her, whatever! She'll be out and about basically all day, and I'll roll with whatever. o/]


(COMMENTS)

[Accidental Voice Post]

Goodness, just look at it...it really is all of glass.

[There are very soft footsteps, faint and careful, like someone faced with the prospect of walking on eggshells and gingerly trying to keep them all from cracking as she goes.

(It's lucky she's a princess, really. If she can dance in shoes of glass, then she can certainly walk along a floor of it.)

But then there is rustling, too, like leaves, and the rhythmic sound of something falling may be too soft for all but the trained ear to hear--but it's there, keeping time, tink tink tink. Whatever could it be?]

Oh, drat, this again--?! Of all the times to--

[Evidently, Rosella knows.]


[OOC: Not five minutes back in the Glass City and already she's slapped with a curse. Such is Rosella's life. She's drawn What's In A Name for Grab Bag today, which means that in true and proper fairytale form, she's dripping roses with every step. Just a little extra fancy for a princess in a land of glass!]


(COMMENTS)

[Voice Post]

I, er...yes, hello again, everyone, it's so very nice to see you again! My, it's that time of the year again, isn't it? This must be our visit for the winter season, since the last one we had was, er, in the fall. It's, um, been quite some time since then, hasn't it?

...Yes, well, um. Yes. Er...

...Oh, honestly, this is ridiculous, I've never had such trouble with the visitors before--er, mostly, anyway, since there was that one time when--well, but that's beside the point. Um. It's just that there's someone here and I think he's been following me and I can't for the life of me puzzle out why, since every time I turn around he just up and disappears again! Honestly, I've never seen anything like it; normally the people who come to call are so eager to say hello. They don't usually sneak around in the shadows and turn up in nothing but glimpses wherever I go.

But, er, in any case, I am eager to say hello to people, and so please do stop by if you have a moment, since I'd like very much to visit with you if you have the time. And, er, I suppose if the person following me--or even if you aren't following me, but simply happening to turn up wherever I go on coincidence--can see this, too, then please do come out and say hello, yourself? I can't imagine why you wouldn't...

I'll be looking forward to it, very much so!


[OOC: As per usual, she's canonically from just after the end of Perils of Rosella, and with some very disjointed and vague knowledge of Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder. Not that that really means anything to anyone, but. If something comes up that I don't want her to know, I'll just have her forget it, so have a party--anything goes! HIT HER WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT. Troll, threadjack, have a ball!

And of course, I am totally okay with backdating. ♥]


(COMMENTS)