misterblackbird | Entry 406; Day 532

Yesterday, I saw a man sitting the cafe for the whole of the afternoon, putting milk into his tea over and over and over. The cup never overflowed, and he never stopped adding the milk. He was hardly the first person I saw doing something over and over, unceasing--and not in any sort of peculiar way, the way I've know some people to check the locks at their doors far too many times. It was rather like seeing something in a recording on the Network being played over and over again. It must have been maddening for the people caught in those cycles, and I'll count myself fortunate not to have been one of them. It was eerie enough to see them--on the Network, of course, but moreso in person.

Yes, it was a curse, but it suggests something that we've already suspected: the 'deities' seem quite content and quite able to control time and our actions in it. I remember Merry coming into the City from an 'earlier' time--there's no better way to put it--than Riff and I. I know others have seen the same thing happen. Of course it would make sense that the 'deities' could snatch us from any time in our lives that they pleased--which means we'll never really be free of this place, even if we don't remember it in between the times that we spend here.

But to be able to set us on a circuit like that, to force us into repeating useless motions over and over until it drove us mad--that proves something more, I daresay.

Is it reason to fear them? I say no, but then I'm the one who refuses to even call them gods, because I say there's an explanation for it all, if it can be found. But they've some ability or skill to make these things happen, even maddening nightmares like that: to be putting milk into one's tea forever.

It's rather like it always being teatime, isn't it? Isn't that how it followed, that mad tea party? It was always teatime, forever, ever since the clock had stopped.

And, yes, I do see the strains of irony in all that. I won't give them credit or power over time. But it is interesting.

That hardly seems to matter now, though, since there seemed to be far more interesting things going on last night, and no sooner than the curse had ended.

What happened last night? I'm quite aware that there was something like a declaration of war--that's hardly the first time I've seen such a thing thrown on the Network. I suppose that proves the one responsible, and he hardly seems to care.

Another one, I suppose, who hates humans and would kill himself if it meant destroying us as well.

I certainly heard a great deal going on in the streets, and saw a few flashes of light--a few, since it seemed like the lights went out in that part of the City shortly thereafter. What the fight was, I couldn't see, though I tried for it. And nothing turned up on the Network thereafter either. I suppose the police found out about it soon enough.

I suppose the first question is whether anyone is hurt. The second question is what happened?

Can anyone answer me that?

[Private to Megumi || Unhackable]
Of course I felt some of what was going on. Are you all right? I know you were there somewhere--and I know it was nearby the hospital. What was going on?
[//end private filter]

Miss Reinette, I have not forgotten my promise to you, but this hardly seems like the time to discuss plans in that regard.

Rosella, I hope you're still bearing up as well as possible.

~C.

[ooc: Geeze--haven't posted in an age. Yeah, Alice-y types, he's referencing your mad tea party--it's basically canon that he knows it. lol, I'd wanted this to be a short post. Fail. Also, let's talk war~]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...Ah.

[ A pause. ]

It was something that Nuada fellow said...

I'm not sure why he thought he was justified declaring war in a place like this City, when whatever had happened with him had... happened in his own world from my understanding.

Even if a lot of the things he said... really hit a little too close to home.

So that's where this vengeance comes from? Rosella and I had been betting it came from the recent attacks on certain people in the City and the slaughter of a unicorn. He seems more supportive of magical types and, so far as I know, the attacks were carried out against magical people but by mundane means.

What did he say?

~~Rosella and-- hm.~~

[ It's a small thing, really-- but let's let that go for now, they're talking about Nuada, not how Cain's been occupied outside of their own time. ]

I'd assume as much. He did mention it-- I couldn't get much out of him until the whole mess started.

But he said that-- humans had betrayed a long-standing treaty with his kind. And that they were all the same everywhere...

I can't say he wasn't wrong, but that kind of behaviour doesn't limit itself to just humans, and any anger for it definitely doesn't need to be taken out on innocents. It's why I helped Kanda and Lavi at all.

You spoke to him? I'm surprised you could get anything out of him.

I see.

I did. He wasn't entirely forthcoming, but-- I felt like I knew what he was talking about.

Anyway, it's all over now... though...

[ A chuckle. ]

I can't say I didn't have some fun.

Yes, I suppose it's over--although I still want to know the reasons for it all. I still think those attacks are connected to this attack--or war, rather.

Did you indeed? Doing what, may I ask?

I'm sure the answers will be revealed in time. Though as for that-- no offence to the time period you're from, but Kanda and Lavi seriously not knowing how electricity was managed was both-- troubling and entertaining, all the same.

Having to use my powers on the run, now-- that was fun, if just a little exhilarating. Almost reminded me of home, a bit.

They may be, but I'd like to hurry them along if I could. I'd rather like to know, since I pulled one of the victims of the first attacks out of a tank of water when she was half-dead.

I had heard they're from around my time, but, honestly, you can't expect us to understand it. [He's not offended, he's just pouting.] That would explain why the lights went out, though.

Really? Well, I suppose then I should be glad you had a bit of excitement in all of it.

Oh, pooh, it's not all that hard once you've had some time with it all, right? And anyway! You've been here long enough to at least have an understanding of how things work.

[ Teeeeasing. She loves your pouts, Cain. ]

I just want people to be safe. It's already heavy on us when we can't save people, only to have others have to go through the same. But that's probably wishful thinking at this point, isn't it?

Yes, well, I've had three years to learn these things. I doubt they've had that long.

I don't know. I think you've made enough of a difference in the time you've been here that it's far from wishful thinking. Yes, I know how heavy it can be, but you've such a greater chance to save someone than I do.

Entry 406; Day 532

Private || Cain

Private || Megumi

Private || Cain 1/2

Private || Cain

Private || Megumi

Private || Cain

Private || Megumi

Private || Cain

Private || Megumi

Private || Cain [1/2]

Private || Cain

Private || Megumi