Entry 239; Day 578

Dear Father Christmas,

If I'm to ask you for things I'd like to be given for Christmas, then I think the thing I'd like most would be to see my own house and my own city and my own world again. I'd like most to finally be able to go home. Instead of opening my door into the hallway I've seen every morning for a year and a half, let it open into my own house and my own time and my own world.

But since every time I've hoped to leave, I've been made to stay, and it would be difficult to hang such a gift on the Christmas Tree, the least you might do would be to bring Riff and Merry here again. I'd even endure Oscar, if he really must come with them. I admit, I did see them when the visitors flooded the City, but they left as soon as they arrived. I've been without them for too long, and I realised that when they visited. I don't wish the City upon anyone, but Riff is breaking his promises to me. If I'm not to go home, then he is to come back to me. Let me find them Christmas morning, perhaps running up the stairs in the opera house again, or if we're to have a Christmas Tree, let me find them standing beside it.

And if it isn't excessive to ask it of you, if you could send them here, and send my enemies elsewhere, that would be best of all. If I'm to be trapped here until my death--and resurrection, and death again--I might at least be given some familiar faces and have some threats taken from me. Riff, Merry, and I might live here fairly comfortably, if we're forced to be trapped here. There are worse prisons in the world.

Failing that, perhaps something new for my collection. That would be simpler than anything else I've asked for. I know I could seek it all out myself, and I've sought out a great deal, and as much as I do enjoy that, something unexpected would be a delight. Perhaps one of the older ones that I had to inherit rather than find, the ones I've missed having around. That might prove simpler than either sending me home or sending Riff and Merry here, if you're really at a loss.

Wishing you a splendid Christmas likewise, though you will certainly be busy,

Yours very sincerely,
Cain Hargreaves

[Filtered from Known Enemies || Unhackable]
Do I post this up the chimney now? I've never written a letter to Father Christmas before, and I'm not sure what possessed me to write one now, let alone post it to the Network rather than to Father Christmas directly.

Merry wrote to him, though, I think perhaps to please me--I'm not sure she believed in him at all--. I doubt that even he could get me out of the City. And if he punishes wicked children, I'd certainly not get out of the City.

I don't think any of that letter would come as a surprise to anyone who knows me well. If this is a curse, it's another merciful one as compared to many. Thusfar all the curses have been mild. Perhaps it's the kindness of Christmas, or some mercy from the 'deities' because of the holiday coming.

I suppose Christmas is coming upon us very quickly. I'd not given it much thought as yet, at least not until today. I suppose I've some things to do for it yet.

~C.

[ooc: Only a Hargreaves asks Santa for poison for Christmas. Seriously. Cain's letter is not filtered and I don't think he realizes it--quirk of the curse.]