misterblackbird | Entry 489; Day 858

Current Location: Turnabout Cafe

Entry 489; Day 858

The Turnabout Cafe is rather a sight to see this afternoon. I think there are twice as many people as would ordinarily be here, but only half of them actually want to be here. As often as there are two people at a table, it seems that one is there for the cafe and the other is here to be at the beck and call of the first--even going so far as to order another them another cup of tea.

I don't know that I entirely understand why the one can't make the request as well as the other. Yes, I understand it as an idea, perhaps, but, really, there's a time and a place for this sort of thing, and a way it's done. And this is hardly that way. I suppose it's sort of a novelty--at least to everyone who's found they can give orders that will be obeyed.

But, to my mind, everyone who's giving orders sound a bit like children who've realised they can demand things of the household, and everyone who's being ordered about sound a bit like overworked servants. It does one well to be a little considerate of one's household, or else one won't have it for long. Try saying 'thank you' now and then, if you dare.

Either way, given the faces of some of the people who seem obliged to obey these orders, I think either half the City is somehow in the debt of the other half of the City or there's a curse. I rather think it's the latter more than the former. And it would be like the City to set us against each other, with half commanding at their leisure and the other half forced to obey.

I think I've been quite missed by this one, since I ignored a few orders that were tossed my way earlier today. And Merry and Riff seems all right, despite all this--and, even though Riff will still do as I request, as ever, I think if he were somehow caught up in this curse, I'd still be able to tell that he was cursed. ~~I should like to think so, at least--~~ And reports of being cursed or not seem to be popping up on the Network left and right, as usual--I suppose anyone I don't hear from might be cursed and being kept away from the Network, so no news is news after all.

Rosella, I've not heard from you as yet, though. Have you be struck by this particular ordeal? Come by the cafe, if you've a minute. You might like to see all of this, and I know that I am always glad to see you.

~C.

[ooc: Beginning the inevitable spirals here, Cain's going to be giving Rosella orders today ._.v Suddenly things like the innocuous "have a nice day" become commands--! Otherwise, really, Cain would like you Citizens to know that you clearly have no idea about how to handle servants.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[And here's Rosella staring intently at a clock in the Library, watching the second hand go around--twenty-four, twenty-five, twenty-six seconds--until the silence is broken at thirty-two, and someone calls out, "Oh, it's over--hey! Grab that blue book for me, will you?"

Teeth gritted, she darts out of the camera's view, then returns again a few moments later to resume watching the second hand of the clock.

One, two, three, four seconds...

And the instant the second hand completes one full circle around the clock face, she snatches up the device and is off like a shot.]

[Hopefully he can catch her while she's, um, mid-run--? Well, he'll send a video message anyway:]

Rosella, what was that all about?

[If the return message is a bit jarring and shaky, it's only because she's recording while she's running.]

I'm coming! I'm on my way right now!

All right--but I'm not really going anywhere, so I don't think you need hurry quite so much as all that.

Is everything all right?

Yes, of course! I'm just being quick about things, that's all.

Yes, quite clearly, you are.

And how are you? Is everything well?

I'm all right--I've been missed by this curse, it would seem, so I only have to put up with the people who weren't so fortunate. It's tedious, but I think being cursed today would be worse.

Besides being quick, are you all right?