primrosella | Entries tagged with high society

( Private || Hackable by Friends )

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

This Year's Resolutions
1. I resolve to keep doing my best to be happy, no matter what new tricks the City may play.
2. I resolve to find more ways to spend money helping people, since I'm sure there are plenty of better uses for it than just sitting around with me.
3. I resolve to puzzle out how in the world that one bakery manages to get little pies inside their cakes, and make them myself when I do.
4. I resolve to throw a party that Mother would be proud of. Even if it's not quite as elaborate as one of Mr. Stark's.
5. I resolve to give my blood to the hospital again, to help someone who needs it.
6. I resolve to visit Ellington at least once a week so he doesn't get lonely.
7. I resolve to stop threatening to feed certain people to Ellington when those certain people are behaving particularly insufferably, because if I keep doing it he might take me seriously again, and that would be a terrible mess. Er, again.
8. I resolve to listen to more of Sam's music. Even the ones that don't sound like music.
9. I resolve to learn a new skill, whatever it may be.
10. I resolve to stop wondering when it'll at last be my turn to go home, and simply make the best of things here for as long as it lasts.

There, that's a fine list, isn't it? Quite a few people were making them the other day, I know, so I suppose I'm a bit behind in that respect, but I did still get them all set out before the start of the New Year, which is really the most important part of it all, I think.

And to think, another year gone already! My goodness, it seems like only yesterday that we were starting this year fresh and new, and here it is coming to an end before our eyes. A dear friend of mine once told me that it's the first year here that seems to take the longest, and then all the other ones after that go faster and faster all the time. I think she must have been right, because it certainly feels as though this one went by fast. Even with all the things that happened in it.

It's strange, really. When I first started keeping this journal of mine, it was because I'd just embarked on this new adventure here in the City, and I thought I'd better write down an account of all the things I saw and did, so that when I went home again I could tell it all to our court chronicler and my family. That's what's meant to be done after adventures, in my family; we get back and we all hug each other and then we sit right down and tell the whole tale so everyone can hear it, and so Gerwain can put it in the chronicle for everyone else to read later, too. But my goodness, after almost three and a half years here, I'm certainly going to have quite a bit to retell, aren't I? And that's not even counting my adventure in Tamir, the one I had before this one that I never did get to sit down and tell everyone about. Goodness, to think that that was three and a half years ago, too, now...

Things just keep going on and on, don't they? And they always get better. I've lost count of how many times I've said that by now, after Sam first told it to me all those years ago. But I think he was right, and it's a good thing to remember at the beginning of a new year, too.

Current Mood: reflective

( Written Correspondence: Sir Mal Heymer )

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( Written Correspondence: Sir Zuko Flamel )

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( Written Correspondence: The Most Honble. The Marquis of Cloverfeld, Nigel Colbie )

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[Video | Open Action]

[It's far more pleasant to spend time in the garden at Versailles; the palace itself is cramped and stifling, and such enclosed spaces have never sat well with Rosella, who much prefers open spaces and clear air. So at the moment she can be found lingering near the marvel that is the fountains, admiring the sculptures and the scenes they depict, and carefully calculating her plans for the evening.

Any passerby who stop for a word and a moment of her time will be received with her most charming smile and her full attentions; she's not about to waste any opportunity to gain advantage that may arise, no matter how slight, and the more she impresses, the better.]

[OOC: See HERE for the details! TL;DR, Rosella de Brus, Princesse Royale of Daventry, is large and in charge in your Versailles! Muns of her entourage, I hope the names and titles I've randomly bestowed here are cool with you; if there's a problem with any of it, let me know and I'll fix it right away! Let's have some shenanigans. o/]

Current Mood: busy

( Chatlog | Hackable )

[Audio Recording]

[A click of a keyboard heralds the beginning of the recording, followed by another few rapid tapping noises; a few moments later, an unfinished audio track begins to play softly through the speakers. After playing through about twenty seconds, it stops, the keyboard clicks again, and the clip replays--this time with a murmured voice quietly singing along.]

Sing for me, little mockingbird, your voice, my whim, never speak a word--

[No, no good. The clip rewinds; the voice tries again.]

Bird within an iron cage...gilded cage...golden cage...

[No, still not quite. It rewinds again and plays through alone, with no voice in accompaniment, and then stops. There is a rustle of fabric as someone slumps a little lower in her chair, and her fingers tap lightly against the keys in thought.]

And the emperor said, go fetch the nightingale and bring it to sing for my son, and the servants traveled far and wide and caught it, and put it into a cage, and brought it back for the little prince...but it stayed silent in its golden cage, and never sang a single note.

[The music rewinds once more.]

Nightingale in a golden cage, that's me, never free, tethered fast to my stage...

[Hm. Better. And after another few clicks of the keys, the audio ends.]

[OOC: Rockstar Rosella, ahoy! AU details are here; feel free to hit me up in that thread if you want to plot something out! I'll roll with pretty much anything. She's hanging out in a cafe in the Square, puttering around on her laptop, so feel free to chat with her via the Network or action her up to say hello!

Also, for people who want to hear the melody she's singing, it's here. :D]

Current Mood: busy

( Private || Hackable by Friends )

"And the prince came to rescue his princess, and with a kiss, the two of them set out together, off to his kingdom to live happily ever after."

That's a fine ending to a story, isn't it? One thing I've pondered many times over is whether or not there really is such a thing as living happily forever after, since most stories end that way but most lives don't. Lives tend to be more like a storybook full of chapters, with each one ending so another one can begin, on and on with no ending in sight; sometimes, it seems as though it'd be more proper to say that they all lived happily ever after until the next adventure began.

But sometimes it's nice to have things end neatly with a "happily ever after", too.

Yesterday's curse was a terribly odd one, wasn't it? But I do think we managed all right, just the same, even if we never did make it to...er, wherever we were headed. And I'm sure my grandfather would be pleased to know that his advice came in handy yet again, even when traveling around in wagons like gypsies in search of parts unknown. One never knows when a dead fish might come in handy, after all, though it's certainly never pleasant to carry one around in one's pockets.

But today is the seventh of March, and that means it's only two more weeks until the first day of spring! In past years, we've usually had some sort of event for it--two years ago, Blair held a very lovely garden party, and last year Penny had one down by the lake with the ducks. This year...perhaps I'll try my hand at one, myself. I've never been much at planning parties--that was always my mother's area of expertise, not mine--but it's something I really ought to learn sooner or later, and there's no way of improving unless I start to try in the first place. So...once I give it a bit of thought, shall we have a party for the twenty-first? I suppose I'm a bit biased, but I think it'd be a fine day for a party, really.

It is, after all, only fourteen days away.

[OOC: Spoilers: March 21 is also Rosella's birthday, hence the obligatory countdown. Party, anyone? I'm thinking party. :D]

Current Mood: reminiscent

[Video Post | Open Action]

[Well, hello there, Network-viewers. What's that you see on your screens? Why, it's Rosella's device switching on, offering a quick glimpse of her face as the video engages. Oddly enough, though, she seems to be looking past the video, rather than into it; her attention is more on the device itself than on the fact that she's currently broadcasting to the Network at large.

Then, abruptly, the video sweeps as the device is shifted, offering a brief glimpse of what appears to be a few scattered couples moving to the beat of a song in three-quarter time before settling on a blank stretch of wall, as the device is positioned upright against something or other. (A stack of books, perhaps, knowing Rosella.) Then, a moment later, a hand appears, propping a carefully-lettered card against the wall for the video's viewing pleasure: ]

[And the video holds on that image for about a minute more, broadcasting the announcement to the Network, before the feed times out and shuts itself off with a soft click.]

[OOC: Dance lessons, ho! This is an OPEN ACTION POST for anyone interested in having their character learn to dance prior to the Valentine's Ball; if you'd like to thread an encounter out, feel free, and if you'd rather just drop in a note and arrange to handwave some lessons, that works, too! For anyone not actioning, feel free to consider this a VIDEO POST and respond via Network; Rosella will be back to pick up her device soon enough, and will be around to answer any messages.

And speaking of being around, Rosella won't be the only dance instructor in this post--

misterblackbird,

wandbreaker, and

fatespoken will also be on the scene to chat, observe, and practice. Feel free to mark threads accordingly--open to anyone, request a specific encounter, whatever! I wholeheartedly encourage you to threadjack everywhere and have fun with it. ♥]

Current Mood: content

( Private || Hackable by Friends )

...That's odd, how did that get there? And it doesn't seem to want to come down, at any rate, so I suppose it will have to stay. It's a bit odd to think of a cat dancing, isn't it? And especially so when his partner has turned herself invisible; one would think she'd want to be the center of attention if she could help it, and show off her lovely dress for all to see. Though perhaps she's invisible because she's shy, or was made to feel ashamed of the dress she had, like Cinderella. Poor dear, I'm sure it was very lovely. After all, fur never does go out of fashion, does it?

Well, in any case, it seems I'm not the only one with dancing on my mind, if these cats are any indication. And how could anyone not, with a ball like Tamaki's on the horizon? And I must admit, I'm quite excited about the theme--I like all the parties we have here, of course, but the formal balls are really my favorites. They feel the most like home, and it's always such fun to see all the lovely ladies in dresses and their dapper partners dancing the night away.

And speaking of dancing, is it true that most people in modern times never learn how to waltz properly? Really, it's such a shame to hear. But there's still a few weeks until the ball, and that's certainly more than enough time for lessons, if anyone should like to learn how. After all, "practice every day has made / Pangur perfect in his trade", as the rhyme goes. And I'm sure there are enough of us around who do know how to dance, that we ought to be able to offer lessons for anyone interested in learning.

[OOC: She's in ur City makin ur lolcats relevant. Link is OOC and there for player reference, but she's definitely advertising for the ball--and yes, she's serious about offering dancing lessons for anyone who wants to learn how. After all, the more people dancing, the merrier! And if anybody else wants to get in on helping teach, feel free to chat Rosella up about it; she'd be more than pleased for the help. ♥]

Current Mood: cheerful

( Private || Hackable by Friends )

This Year's Resolutions
1. I resolve to make peace with friends leaving, and learn to remember them without missing them.
2. I resolve to keep being happy and hopeful as best I can, since it's what I know my friends would want.
3. I resolve to make at least one new friend this year!
4. I resolve to try wearing modern clothes at least once a ~~week~~ month.
5. I resolve to keep learning about magic, and to make sure I don't forget everything I've learned already.
6. I resolve to continue beating Cain at things, because it's really quite fun when I do.
7. I resolve to be better about telling people when I need help, even if I feel as though I'm bothering them when I do.
8. I resolve to get enough rest every night, even when it's difficult to sleep.
9. I resolve to beat Edmund in a sparring match. At least once.
10. I resolve to stop fretting about turning twenty this spring, even if it does make me a spinster to do so.

I suppose it's still a bit early for resolutions, since we have another two days left before the end of the year, but I've been thinking about them for a bit and I had some time to write them out this afternoon, so I thought I might as well get them out of the way and have one more thing set. Especially since it seems I did quite well with my resolutions last year, looking back on it! I managed to keep all of them, and I even fulfilled one from two years ago that I didn't quite get to until the beginning of this past August. But it's better late than never, I should think, and managing eleven resolutions in one year is an even better record than last year's nine, so I'm already improving in that respect.

Oh, and thank you again for such a lovely Christmas! I had a lovely time with everyone I saw that day, and all of the gifts were just beautiful. I think I'll try Miss Saya's red coat one of these days, rather than my usual red cloak, since it seems we're back to snow and ice rather than sun and warmth. And all of the jewelry is so lovely that it really makes me a bit sorry I only have one neck to wear it on! Oh, and Percy, thank you especially for such a lovely time, and if you'd like to meet Ellington someday in the same way, I'd be very pleased to introduce you.

I do wonder if we'll see anything special on New Year's Eve, though. I seem to recall we've had fireworks before, which are always quite lovely to watch, even if they are a bit fearsome in the way they roar when they go off. And I think we've had a celebration in the Square before, too. So perhaps that will be something else to look forward to, as well.

But of course, that's the proper thing to do at the end of a year, isn't it? Looking forward? So that's just what I'll do.

Current Mood: contemplative

( Private || Hackable by Friends )

If there's one thing I've learned in more than two years of living here in the City, it's that one of the few things as constant as the curses is the need to apologize for them when they're over. I know I've mentioned time and again how important it is to be understanding with other people when they're cursed, and to take care not to hold a person's cursed actions against them when it's over, since oftentimes they couldn't help it when they were and feel just as terrible about it afterward. But it's the sort of thing that bears repeating, I think--just as apologies bear repeating, even when you're lucky enough to have the sort of friends that have already forgiven you for the things you did while cursed, before you even say them.

I'm not cursed now, but I certainly was a few days ago, and I really am so very sorry for the way I was acting. I was feeling terribly proud of myself that day, as I'm sure the whole Network could tell, but I'm certainly not proud of the way I was acting now. So I do apologize for that.

And really, if I ought to have been praising the virtues of anything that day, it should've been the lovely new clothes that a wonderful fashion designer named Cinna made for me. If there's anyone deserving of laud and honor, it's him; he's a simply marvelous designer and tailor, and the dresses he made for me are absolutely perfect. They're as comfortable as they are beautiful, and they're so wonderfully practical, too--exactly right to suit my needs. Which is especially lovely for adventuring, and goodness knows I put my dresses through rather a lot of those.

With so many lovely holidays coming up in the next few months--Giving-Thanks, and Christmas, and even Halloween at the end of this month, besides--I'm sure that there will be plenty of occasions perfect for new and pretty clothes, and I'd absolutely recommend Cinna to anyone interested in them. He's kind and clever and wonderfully talented, and I'm certain that any other customer of his will be just as happy with their things as I am with mine.

Oh, but speaking of getting dressed up--has anyone started thinking yet of what they want to go as for Halloween? I remember two years ago I was a lady knight, and last year I went as Persephone, but I haven't thought of anything for this year yet, and there are only three weeks left until it comes.

Current Mood: contemplative

[Accidental Video Post]

[The device fades in to the sight of Rosella, standing in front of a full-length mirror and gazing at herself as she turns and poses a few times, admiring the view from all angles. After a few moments, her eyes flicker over to the Network device, but they quickly return to the image in the mirror; when she speaks, her voice sounds vaguely preoccupied, as though it requires great effort to focus on anything except the sight of herself, and that the fact that her device has switched on by accident is somehow unworthy of her concern. As it is, the quiet loftiness of her voice makes it difficult to tell whether she's addressing the Network as a whole, or just talking to herself.]

I really am quite beautiful, you know.

[She runs her fingers through her hair, arranging it prettily over her shoulders, and leans forward to admire the effect a bit more closely.]

I suppose it's only natural that I would be, though. I am a princess, after all. Which isn't to say that all princesses are beautiful simply because they're princesses, of course, because I've known quite a lot of ugly ones, too. But that sort of thing does seem to go hand in hand, being beautiful and being a princess.

[She pauses, half-turning to the side, and admires the rippling movement of the train of her skirt as it follows.]

It's really no wonder Edgar fell in love at first sight when he saw me. And to think, I wasn't even wearing a pretty gown then, either. Not at all like this one. But of course, even the prettiest gown can't make an ugly person beautiful. The whole point of a lovely outfit is to complement the beauty that's already there in the person. Cinderella's wicked stepsisters were ugly no matter what pretty things they wore, and Cinderella was beautiful even when all she had to wear were rags.

[She reaches over as she speaks, retrieving a crown from somewhere off-camera and placing it daintily on her head, tilting her chin this way and that to take in the view from all angles before removing it again.]

It's more than just being lovely, though. Real beauty is the sort of thing that comes from within, you know--that's how it always goes in the stories. The youngest princess isn't just the fairest of them all because she's pretty, but because she's good and kind and sweet as well. So it's really no wonder that I'm as lovely as I am, since I'm as good as they come. I'm clever and sweet and wonderfully self-sacrificing--how many of those other princesses would willingly go to their own certain doom for the sake of saving their kingdom? And how many would rush off to save their father's life without a second thought for their own well-being? Anyone can sit around in a tower being dainty and fragile and never lifting a finger to help another person. And even when I'm getting into trouble, it's always because I'm trying to do the right thing.

[She slides her hands through her hair once more, pulling it away from her face and tilting her head to admire her face in profile, then lets it fall in golden curls around her face as she grins her prettiest smile yet.]

So I suppose it's no wonder I'm as lovely as I am, really.

[And after showcasing another minute or two of preening, the video fades out.]

[OOC: SO CURSED. Which really just means her usual slight superficiality is now in full force. >> Also, she's wearing one of the dresses Cinna made for her, with the noted alterations from the picture provided--the train isn't as long and the belt has pouches, not gears. Please feel free to remark on it! It's brand-new, and she's about as pleased with it as she is with herself, today. Which is a lot..]

Current Mood: proud

( E-mail | Totally Hackable )

( E-mail | Totally Hackable )

( E-mail | Deleted )

TO-DO LIST:
~~--Write home~~
--Finish unpacking

~~o Dust shelves~~
o Sort clothes
o ~~AUGH I HATE UNPACKING~~ Everything else

--Start AP English assignment from Mr. Pevensie
~~--Buy any last materials for Figure Drawing~~
--Match notebooks to textbooks

o Color-coded, of course

--Eat NO MORE THAN ~~ONE QUARTER~~ HALF of the leftover chocolate cake
--Call Ed
--Treat myself to a new pair of shoes
--Go walk around the club fair
--Pick a club to join

o Debate team?
o Music?
o Fencing? (As though Grandmother would approve of that.)
o "DPS", whatever that is?

Ugh, we're not back three days and already I'm behind. Though I suppose the club fair ought to be next on my list, really, since I'm sick to death of unpacking and I'm certainly not going to get any homework done when there's so much interesting commotion outside. Coffee and a walk sounds heavenly right about now. Besides, then if I take the long way home, I can knock another item off the list--getting those shoes I want.

Oh, which reminds me--does anyone actually know if Ohtori has an equestrian team? You'd think this is something I would've figured out by my senior year, but all I ever get are ambiguous shrugs and noncommittal murmurs when I ask about it. Which is really too bad, because it sounds like fun.

Right, then. Coffee and club fair now. I really need to get outside.

[So here we have an AU!Rosella, carrying on much where she left off after last year's High School AU curse. Feel free to hit me up over here to read a summary of her backstory or if you want to prearrange anything with her, and feel free to pretend she knows you from class/around school if you go to Ohtori! ♥]

Current Mood: satisfied

Well, all this business has made for quite a spectacle on the Network today, hasn't it?

I'm not entirely certain I approve of the idea of people selling themselves--or each other, my goodness--to the highest bidder, but I must admit, it's not the first time I've heard of such a thing. I recall Blair doing much of the same thing last year for a charity event, and so despite the silliness of the...er, donation process, I suppose one might call it, all the money still went to a good cause. I do hope that's what it's all going toward today. Or, at least, that it's due to something more than just simple greed.

And I haven't seen myself featured in any such proclamations today, so that's something to be thankful for, at least. Or rather, I haven't seen myself featured in any of them so far. I do hope it stays that way; I really do think it's all a bit ridiculous, and I shouldn't like to give anyone the wrong impression because of all this silliness.

I will, however, point out that for anyone looking for a nice place to go to spend time with a friend--however that time might have, er, been acquired--the Turnabout Cafe and the Blue Light are both very fine and respectable establishments, and I'd recommend them both to anyone.

My, the City has just been full of commotion recently, hasn't it? All the bidding on the Network today, and yesterday night there was all that--whatever that was in the middle of the night, when the lights went out and all the noise started. I wonder if the City chose to repair itself from that, or if it's still all a mess? Regardless, I do hope that we'll manage to find out what happened and get things all resolved soon.

And Neil, thank you for the lovely walk yesterday. It was nice to see you in such a good mood, and I had a marvelous time. And I haven't forgotten about that story for you; with any luck, I'll have it ready soon.

[OOC: Sneaky princess is on ur Network, watchin' ur biddings! And she's not particularly interested in buying anyone for her own sake, but she's certainly not against dropping into bidding wars for her friends and ratcheting them up a little so they get a more worthy price, or buying someone to save them from a bidder they don't want. Bwahahaha. She's also not up for bid herself, but feel free to make offers anyway, if you want to see her sputter a little.]

Current Mood: curious

It's been a remarkably peaceful day today, hasn't it? But then, that's really not much of a surprise, considering that we've just finished our weekend of random curses for the month. It really is one of those things that we can always seem to count on around here. Ever since those weekends of random curses started--and goodness, it's been over a year now, since they did--they've always come once a month, they've always lasted only the two days of the weekend, and they've always been over by the time Monday arrived. And, generally, I always find myself reflecting back on them come Monday, too, so it seems today is no exception.

Yesterday I found myself turned into a little girl again, and so I do apologize to anyone I might've talked to while I was cursed that way. I rather always find myself offering apologies after that curse, but then, I remember all too well what a pest I could be as a little girl, and I'm always grateful to the people who have the patience to tolerate me when I'm cursed into it. I used to run my father's chief advisor positively ragged when I was younger, I know, and so I do hope I didn't cause the same trouble for any of you yesterday.

And Saturday I was a bird again, which is another curse I've drawn quite often on those days. I never have been able to tell why I always seem to end up as a parrot, of all things. I remember being a lion once or twice, but that was long ago. These days, it always seems to be a parrot. But it's nice, in its own way, to have wings and go flying about for a day. I spent the better part of Saturday ~~avoiding the Carousel~~ exploring around the mountain, and that was a rather nice little adventure, even though I didn't find much of anything there.

And today, the Monday after our weekend of random curses, has been quiet as always. No rain, no cake falling from the sky, no mad sheep growing on plants or carousels turning into machines or anything like that; it's been a calm, peaceful day. And we all deserve it, too. So I do hope things stay this way for a while longer.

[Filtered AWAY From Penny | Unhackable]

Also, to everyone who knows her, it's Penny's birthday this coming Thursday. She did mention to me that she'd prefer to have a quiet sort of birthday, so a great big party is a bit out of the question, but I don't see why we couldn't do something small and nice for it. Perhaps just a little dinner and cake after?

In any case, I'm sure it would mean a great deal to her to see and hear from her friends when it comes, and especially since her first-year anniversary in the City was a week ago today. There wasn't much chance to celebrate that, what with all the trouble with the sheep plants, so I think it's all the more important that we try to make sure that her birthday is as nice as it can be.

Current Mood: calm

( Letter Home | Viewable to All )

Ugh, fashions and lessons and entertainments are all well and good, but what's the fun of coming to a City like this if I never manage to get out and see any of it? Cousin Lotte would have me stay where she can keep an eye on me, I think, or at least where Edgar can do it for her, when she can't manage it herself. And they've shown me all manner of pretty things, it's true--all the right things for a pretty girl, albeit one just a bit out of fashion, visiting from so far away. But only ever in their own time and their own way, and according to their own designs.

I think she must not like me very much, Cousin Lotte. Or at least, she only likes my presence for the novelty of having a foreign relation staying in her household, which makes for one more thing to chat about with her ladies.

But I'm not here for Cousin Lotte's guidance, either. I came because wanted to get away from home and see all the wonders of the city for a change, and here I am. I should be happy enough with that, shouldn't I? The bits and snippets I've managed to glimpse through the carriage windows are better than nothing at all, and yet...no, it's not enough. It's not, because I want to hear the music, to see the lights, to meet the people and hear their stories and talk with them for hours about anything at all--or even nothing at all, just the same. I want to be here because here is an adventure, and it's anything other than home.

Now if only I could convince Cousin Lotte to let me out to see it.

I'd sneak away, if I thought I could manage it, but the chance is too great that I might get lost or get caught. My French is still awful and other than parading me around in front of a whirlwind of matrons, Cousin Lotte seems content to keep me chained to Edgar, so I haven't much practice with knowing where I'm going, or how to find my way home again if I go. And he won't take me to the places I want to go. He'll only do as Cousin Lotte tells him to. And besides, if I'm to get myself in trouble, I'd rather not be responsible for getting him into it as well.

What I need is a plan. Or a confidant. And at the moment, I have a rather unfortunate lack of both. So until I come up with one or the other, I suppose my adventure will just have to wait.

[OOC: So Rosella is cursed to be a young lady of the nobility, visiting a distant relative here in the City in the hopes of Getting Culture and Having Adventures. Unfortunately, her relative's idea of culture and adventures aren't quite what she had in mind. So what's an enterprising young lady do to? Why, take matters into her own hands, of course.

Dibs on busting her out goes to Ferris (

la_vie_rapide), so her replies will either come before she's made her escape or after she's out in the City. Feel free to action her up if you want to run into her somewhere; she'll be hitting the town in general tonight. =D]

Current Mood: bored

( Private//Hackable by Friends )

My, that was an interesting curse yesterday, wasn't it? It's odd--that's two rather nice curses in a row, the one with the compliments and now this past one. And the one before that was the one where everyone ended up stuck to whatever they touched, which isn't exactly a nice curse, but at least it's not a terribly harmful one. I almost wonder if we ought to be worried, what with how well things have been going lately...but really, there's no sense in worrying. If anything, we ought to be enjoying the lull. And so I will.

And speaking of enjoying things, I really must say thank you to--well, whoever left all the lovely gifts for me yesterday! I know who at least one of them came from, but I'm afraid I'm a bit stumped as to the rest! Still, I suppose it might ruin some of the fun to learn your identity, whoever you are, but please do know that I'm terribly grateful and I think they're all just lovely.

Unfortunately, that one I know of happened to be a parting gift, as well. But that's...all right, isn't it? It's something to remember a dear friend by, and there's nothing wrong with that. ~~And he'll be all right, wherever he is. I'm sure of it.~~

...Kanda, how is your coat working out for you?

[OOC: So yeah, I regrettably had to miss Secret Admirer yesterday, but if you want to claim one of the nonspecific gifts she got as being from you, be my guest and I'll roll with it! If not, she'll have just gotten harassed by amorous NPCs, which works, too.]

Current Mood: pensive

( Private//Hackable by Friends )

This Year's Resolutions
1. I resolve to stop tormenting Blue with puns. Well, at least some of the time.
2. I resolve to continue to be better than Sam at Mario Kart.
3. I resolve to listen carefully to my friends when they give me good advice, because I usually need it when they offer it, whether or not I realize it at the time.
4. I resolve to be more modern in some things, and to stay properly old-fashioned in others.
5. I resolve to trust the people who want to protect me, without immediately insisting that I don't need it.
6. I resolve to find ways to protect myself, so I can occasionally insist that I don't need it.
7. I resolve to be truthful. Especially to myself.
8. I resolve to learn how to drive the car, at least enough to get someone to the hospital if there's an~~other~~ emergency.
9. I resolve to stop worrying about love. Well, at least some of the time.
10. I resolve to make my father proud of me.

Well, last year I made ten resolutions and I ended up keeping all but one of them, so with any luck, this year will be the same. I think those are fine resolutions to have, though, aren't they? Even if some are ~~considerably~~ easier than others to keep.

Still, the point of resolutions is to give us something to think about and to strive for, so it only makes sense that some ought to be more difficult than others. There wouldn't be any point if they were all easy, would there? And if they were all impossibly difficult, one might get discouraged and never complete any at all, and then there'd be no point to that, either. So I think these are just fine, the way they are.

~~There's still a day and a half left, though. I might still--no. No, I think not. It'll just have to wait. And that's all right, too, isn't it?~~

Now then, other than setting resolutions, how does everyone plan to celebrate the coming of the new year?

Current Mood: determined

( Action for Sam Witwicky | Backdated to Midnight )

Oh, it's Christmas at last! And isn't it lovely out, with all the snow? It's just enough to be pretty, without causing a great mess. ~~And not a curse in sight...~~

Goodness, I'd thought I'd gotten most everything ready for tonight's dinner yesterday, but it seems as though there's still a hundred little things to do! But it'll get done, and everyone will be here for dinner, and we have a great big tree and all sorts of decorations--and no mistletoe, don't worry, unless Sam's put up some that I don't know about--and oh, what a wonderful time we're all going to have. And that's just how it should be, isn't it?

Merry Christmas, everyone! Merry Christmas!

( OOC: Gift List )

[OOC: Gift list is under the cut...aaaand I can't quite shake the feeling that I'm forgetting someone. ~~Sob, Rosella, why do you have so many friends?~~ Also, friends and acquaintances will all be getting a basket of home-baked cookies. Merry Christmas, Poly!]

Current Mood: ecstatic

( Private//Hackable by Friends )

( Private to Asano Rin//Unhackable )

Well, my necklace is off to be fixed, Miss Alice is back at home with Blue, and I'm still successfully unmarried. I suppose that means things are getting back to normal around here, after all.

That was a funny curse yesterday, though, wasn't it? Which is not to say that marriage is a laughing matter, of course, but it was a silly sort of curse, just the same. I doubt that anyone really intends to keep for today any marriage that they might've ended up in yesterday, and I do hope that no matter what happened yesterday, no one holds those actions against each other. Curses that change our thoughts and play with our emotions are never easy, and especially not in the aftermath, but that's what makes it all the more important to forgive each other once they're over.

Kaname, thank you for the recommendation of the jeweler; I do appreciate it, and perhaps we can reschedule our plans for tea once again, if it's not too much trouble? We seem to have rather bad luck with finding a good day to meet, don't we? But I'm sure if we keep after it, we'll manage it eventually.

...Am I just imagining things, or has there rather been a lack of new arrivals lately? ~~Speaking with Rin made me think of it--~~ It seems as though a great deal of people have been leaving, but other than the weekend when all the visitors came back at the beginning of the month, it seems as though there haven't been many new people arriving. Or perhaps I just haven't been paying close enough attention, I suppose...

And let's see, Blair's birthday party is on this Tuesday coming up, and I still have yet to see about finding something to wear to it. It's a pity I couldn't trade colors with Sam, and wear that orange dress I had for Valentine's Day this year, but then that would leave Sam with pink and I think it'd be rather improper if I broke the rules and switched, so a pink dress it'll be, after all. That makes things a bit easier, at least, since it leaves out the trouble of picking a color.

~~My, I'm accumulating a lot of dresses, aren't I? At home, I'd only have had to pick from a few, but here it's color this and style that and improper to wear the same thing more than once...~~

And of course, Tristan and Yvaine, I do hope the two of you are feeling better now?

[OOC: Rin-mun, the link itself is OOC, but the conversation and some of the information in it is what Rosella would've sent along. Enjoy!]