Entry 456; Day 739

[misterblackbird]

As though it hasn't been said enough already, that was hardly what I would consider an ordinary Christmas. I'm scarcely surprised by snow in summer, nor especially surprised by heat in winter, but to have that summer warmth strike on Christmas itself was quite different. I had expected something worse when the weather began to warm on the 24^th--perhaps we'd all be miserable and overheated by Christmas, as has happened before--but instead it was all rather remarkably pleasant. I won't deny it: I certainly did try to enjoy the weather while it lasted. And I think more than a few people--younger ones, especially--were quite excited to try out some new Christmas gift in the better weather. Unfortunately, I had to hold back on one of mine as it happens to be a scarf, and I could hardly wear it on Christmas Day as I should have liked.

So, despite that peculiarity, it was quite a splendid holiday. That was my fourth Christmas in the City, I believe, and I have yet to see what I might call an 'ordinary' Christmas, I think. But at least the curses that strike at Christmas tend to be milder. There's some mercy in that. If there isn't, there's a darker cruelty than I should like to imagine. It was a splendid Christmas, either way. And I shall take it for that.

And now, as ever after Christmas--and especially in the City, it would seem--I'm quite flooded with letters to write thanking I think quite everyone I know for their gifts. I admit, I may have thanked someone here or there on the Network, but it seems quite rude not to send a proper note. So I think I know what I'll be doing this afternoon, especially now that the weather is as cold as it ever has been. Although I can wear my new scarf if I should need it or if I should go out--if I happen to run out of ink, for example, which seems to be a very real risk.

But perhaps I ought to be paying more attention to the Network than I have already. Confessions of love aren't exactly what one might call rare on the Network--perhaps moreso lately than in years past, but they're not gone altogether--but there seem to be a few such confessions flying about. And a few other revelations have gone flying with them. It is quite interesting.

Now, certainly, we've seen instances in which curses will compel a person to admit to something, to tell only the truth, or to shout confessions to whomever will hear. But, as ever, there's a subtle difference here that I don't seem to recall seeing in some of these other instances. These are such revelations, such sudden understandings--or so the handful I've seen so far seem to be--that the confession seems almost to oneself.

And, as it happens, a great many of these realisations seem to have appeared on the Network. I shall see to my letters, but I think I should keep one eye turned towards the Network, all the same.

I'm not one for gossip, but I do like to keep myself informed.

~C.

[ooc: Eh, no, not cursed. Cain likes his secrets to stay secret anyway. So please no revelations about him if you do know something ;; He'll just be observing for the time being. Herp a derp--feels good to post again. Christmas kept me busy irl.]

Comments

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Do you know, for never having been there myself, I certainly do happen to know quite a lot of people from London? It's the strangest thing, and it only just occurred to me today. I don't know why I never noticed it before, really.

And I'm glad you had a merry Christmas, Cain. Oh, but let me guess--did Merry give you the scarf you're so proud of?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Is that so? Well, there are quite a few of us here in the City, but I often think that our Londons are all rather different. It's the same place, but in different worlds, which is an even stranger thing to think about.

Yes, she did, but she not only gave it to me, but she made it herself. It's quite nice, really.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Yes, and isn't that odd? It must be a very popular place, your London, since I've certainly never met anyone else from Daventry here, different Daventries or not. Well, except on the days when the visitors come, of course, but that's a bit different.

Did she really! How very thoughtful of her. And no wonder you're so proud of it, too.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I suppose it is. But, really, where I come from, London is fairly the centre of the world, so I don't think I was so surprised as perhaps I should have been.

I quite intend to wear it all winter, if that says anything.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it's the center of a lot of worlds, then, if so many people seem to be so fond of it.

And likely the cold weather will hold out from now on, as well, since we've already had our bit of summer weather for this winter. So you'll have plenty of opportunity to need one, I should think!

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Perhaps so. I wonder if I'm not at some sort of advantage for that, somehow. It is strange that there should be many Londons and only one Daventry. But perhaps that says something about Daventry more than it does about London.

Yes, I feel quite sure I'll be glad of it sooner or later.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Well, it makes me special, certainly.

Did she show you the gift she made for me, as well?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

That was rather my point.

No, I don't believe she did. What was it?

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

And one of a kind, as well?

It's an album of pictures, actually. Of places in the City, and a few of the people in it.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

And that too.

Is it? What an unusual sort of gift--but an interesting one.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's very interesting. And quite lovely to look at, too; it's clear she put quite a bit of time and care into putting it together for me.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

What sorts of places did she put in it? I suppose I really ought to ask what people appear it, for that matter.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Do you recall the path in Xanadu where it's always warm and covered in roses? There are a few very pretty ones of that, and some rather nice ones of the carousel and fountain, as well. And there's one of you at the Turnabout, too, which I'm really rather fond of.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

One of me at the Turnabout? How did she get that one?

I hope I don't look completely foolish in it.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Oh, I wouldn't say you look foolish at all. It's a very nice picture.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

She must have got in there with a camera when I wasn't paying attention. That's rather like her.

I'm glad it's a decent picture, despite all that.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

It shows as much, in the picture. You look very natural, and quite pleased with yourself, too.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I wonder what I was doing when she took it, then.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I'll show you sometime.

...Or perhaps I'll keep it to myself. It is my Christmas present, after all.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

That hardly seems fair. After all, you're bound to see the scarf Merry gave me sooner or later. And that is my Christmas present, after all.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Well, when I do, then I'll certainly think about showing you my album. I think she must've had help with it, you know. Perhaps from Riff, since there are a few pictures of herself in here, as well.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Very well then.

And perhaps she did. The two of them have conspired against me in the past.

[doujin-dork.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's at that point where we start expecting the weather change curses.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

It really is, I'm afraid.

[doujin-dork.livejournal.com]

So you think that this is a confession curse. Do you think it's all true? It seems pretty suspicious.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I've no idea if it's true yet, but there does seem a compulsion to admit to things on the Network.

[doujin-dork.livejournal.com]

Yeah . . .

I guess that you're not affected?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Not so far as I can see.

Are you?

[doujin-dork.livejournal.com]

I'm- uh, not sure. I mean, most people are confessing, but I don't- I mean, they keep saying that it's something that they've realized. I realized something, but it's not anything like that.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if you're cursed either, not by the sound of that.

[doujin-dork.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Maybe not. Maybe it is a love curse!

They usually save that sort of curse for around Valentine's day, but I guess this is a nice season for it, too.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

A love curse?

I admit, I have seen quite a few confessions of love, though I'm not sure that's the only confession I've seen.

[doujin-dork.livejournal.com]

Well, at least a confession curse.

Oh, really? What other kinds of things have you seen?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Rosella seemed quite surprised to have realised how many people here are from London, to take one example.

[doujin-dork.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah? Huh. Well, that's definitely different.

Was she sure that she was cursed?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I don't know that she thought she was, but it does seem to fit the pattern.

[doujin-dork.livejournal.com]

So, maybe it's more of a discoveries curse?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Perhaps so.