Entry 157; Day 363

[misterblackbird]

The Network is fascinating today: it seems people are saying too much again. At least the zombies are gone, but we've been hit immediately afterwards with a curse. That's City timing for you, yet again. I think this one, or some variation on it, has come around before. It's one of the more tiresome ones, and requires far more mopping up after the fact than some others. That is, if things go wrong.

There's a lot to be said for tact and politeness--two of my favourite tools, or weapons, as the case may be. One can say nearly anything without lying if one knows how to go about it. But from what I've seen of the residents of the City, it seems tact is a lost art in most worlds. Granted, a curse could make one blunt, but it seems like some citizens are like that most every day. And the ones who aren't are invariably schemers.

I suppose there's a difference between being blunt and being honest. One may be a blunt liar, or one may be blunt and still keep secrets. Still, there's a fine art to simply not saying something while still being perfectly honest. It's a shame it's not a better practiced art here.

For example, I can say to you quite honestly that I have done extensive, though not entirely scientific, experiments in chemistry. I'm no chemist, but I've dabbled in it. I've also assisted the medical community of the City on a few occasions with that chemistry.

In my own world I had quite the reputation and I'm both relieved and saddened that it hasn't followed me here. I am truly and sincerely concerned for both Merry and Riff and thoughts of them occupy my mind most of the day. I am likewise concerned for the other residents of the Opera Abandoned, but mostly that they should not get themselves entangled in my confused affairs: they are my concerns and I don't want anyone else harmed by them--which makes me consider moving out of the opera house quite a bit, but the barricades and protection we've arranged for one another are far better than I could establish in a flat of my own. I miss London, but in part because I miss the amount of power I could wield there--reputations do wonders, as much as tact can. I miss the things reputation could garner me.

I have greater concerns than petty day-to-day City business. I am bound and determined to kill my father in City and trap him here. Then Merry, Riff, and I will escape back to London and abandon him here. I've had this plan for the better part of a year now. Perhaps the final battle is getting closer. I still hate the smell of roses.

I also like getting the last word, better if it's a witty one.

~C.

[ooc: He's reading the Network, hoping for an opening. Maybe someone will drop some information. Oh wait, he's cursed too, and doesn't quite realize it yet! Come ask him embarrassing questions :3 Work demands my soul soon, but I will tag as much as I can before, (during,) and after.]

Comments

[so-very-greedy.livejournal.com]

So what's the deal with you and Riff, anyway?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I should have known you'd ask something like that.

The 'deal' with Riff and me is that he's my manservant and has been with me, in my employ for seven years. He's the one who took care of me when I was younger. We've always been close, ever since we first met.

[so-very-greedy.livejournal.com]

I meant whether you guys were just master and servant, or if maybe there was something else there.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

For example, I could easily call him my best friend. Yes, I think it would be safe to say there's something else there.

[freakyfanboy.livejournal.com]

You'd actually kill your father?!

((OOC: ...Someone is very behind on City gossip.))

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Yes, I absolutely would.

[freakyfanboy.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine that...even when my father and I disagreed, I never wanted to kill him.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I can't believe you didn't already know it. Things are a good deal more complicated in my family than I suspect they were in yours.

[princess-crow.livejournal.com]

What's your problem?

[freakyfanboy.livejournal.com]

I just...can't imagine killing my own father.

[princess-crow.livejournal.com]

I can...

[objectedly.livejournal.com]

I'm not very surprised that we would address similar matters on the subject of this curse, Lord Cain. Truly people would find that not addressing a certain matter would be a far better alternative to bringing the subject up at all when it isn't required.

Unfortunately, it seems many see fit to entrust certain details of their lives to those they have just met. It's a shame, really.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I'm somehow not surprised that we should feel similarly about it. Either one might not address it, or one might find a way to gracefully avoid it. There are those who are innocent in such a way, or perhaps they truly don't have anything to hide. I'm envious of them in some ways.

It's been quite some time since we last spoke, Mr. Edgeworth. Have you been well?

[objectedly.livejournal.com]

Somehow it is not surprising, with the kinds of people we encounter in a place like this. Though the curse has proven a little more than beneficial to me.

And indeed, it has been a while. I have only recently recovered from a terrible fever brought upon by the curse on the Titanic. You were not affected then, I hope? All that suffering was certainly harsh on my emotions.

[ So cursed~ Not realizing he's blabbing xD \o/ ]

Someone is avoiding you <3

[ruined-arcana.livejournal.com]

...

Someone else will be looking for you ;.;

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

...

[ourdenouement.livejournal.com]

How silly, Earl.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

What's silly? I'm called many things, but 'silly' is not often one of them.

[ourdenouement.livejournal.com]

Having the reputation of a heartbreaker is rather sad. Silly.

[princess-crow.livejournal.com]

Don't be so selfish, Earl. We have all dangerous enemies out there, outside these walls. But we will all be weaker apart.

Chemistry? Mm, I didn't know this.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I know we would be weaker, but I'm not inclined to let others get entangled in these dangerous affairs of mine. In the past, most everyone associated with me met with horrid ends. I do not wish to repeat that here.

Yes, just a bit, here and there. It's old hobby, of sorts, that I carried over from home.

[princess-crow.livejournal.com]

And you will not. We have our dangerous foes, too. Don't think us as victims after everything we have fought against.

It's an unusual pastime. I never imagined you would be interested.

[soeur-malheur.livejournal.com]

... Cain, are you cursed?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure, Merry. I believe I might be.

[ooc: Oh please, let's! Sorry this is so late--work made some demands on me ;.;]

[soeur-malheur.livejournal.com]

... did you lock that at all?