You know, for all that I complain about having to shut myself up in my room every few days because of a curse, sometimes it really is the best solution. I might have been chased in the streets a few days ago, but a door and lock seemed to put an end to all of that. And I'm quite glad of that.

I don't think I could say I was truly affected by that curse. Yes, I did see some of the effects of it--I was chased a bit, after all--but I certainly wasn't one of the chasers, nor was I chased all that ferociously. I think there were some who had it far worse than I did.

I only mention that because it seems like, once again, there is a curse rolling across the City like a bad storm and I don't seem to have been struck by it at all.

It's a subtle one, too. From what I've seen things are as they should be, but with something of a twist. There's something about it that reminds me of the curse when one is made to go about bearing out one's name's literal meaning. I was trapped in a foggy grove of trees all that day because, apparently, that's the real meaning of my surname. It seems to suit the house in Cornwall, as I think about it. Perhaps there is a reason for it.

But this one isn't quite the same. It's subtle, as many curses have been of late, in that it isn't immediately obvious what's different--at least, not in all cases. It seems to take some aspect of a person and distort it--almost as though he were from a different world or a different situation. If a man is a soldier in his own world, he becomes a soldier for a different world today. Or if a woman is healer in her own world, she becomes a witch from a different world today. It's difficult to explain, but quite clear when one sees it.

This sort of thing happens so often in curses: the City--or the 'deities' or whomever one should choose to blame for it all--takes some part of the ones affected by the curses and twists and distorts it into something different. It's interesting to see, really, because things are both as they were and as they have never been. It's like a dream in that regard, where ordinary things are both themselves and terrifically distorted. When one isn't being struck by the curse itself, it is rather interesting to watch.

Perhaps that's one pattern for the group of curse researchers to consider: what patterns do the effects of the curses themselves fall into? I've mentioned this one, where one aspect of a person is distorted but remains the same, thereby distorting the person in the same way. There are curses when we are made to reveal aspects of ourselves, such as when our dreams are broadcast across the Network or are made to speak only the truth. There are curses when the whole of the City is changed and we're all changed with it, and made to play different roles, such as the times the City has become like something out of The Arabian Nights. And then there are those curses that only seem ridiculous, such as when we're turned into animals or are made to crave ice cream or chocolate. Although, some of those ridiculous curses may be more telling than we realise. And I've not mentioned the curses that tend to strike in October that seem meant only to torment us. But perhaps those reveal us as well. I don't want to give the City or the 'deities' any credit for these things, but perhaps they both want for our misery and our revelations. No, no secret is safe in the City. Not forever, at least. But I'll fight to keep mine hidden--

Although that pattern isn't perfect, but there does seem to be some truth in it. We're not cursed in any simple way. We're supposedly used for our misery, but our misery seems to stem from our being made to reveal our own secrets. I can think of few things more wretched than that. So perhaps there's the truth to curses.

I won't be keeping myself locked in my room this time, though. There's quite a bit of madness in the streets, but it doesn't seem like it's any worse than usual. That's life in the City, of course, even on a day when there isn't a curse. I've not been attending to the cafe as I should, so expect to see me there this afternoon and this evening.

Riff, I'll be home late. Keep supper for me, and go on and eat for yourself if you're hungry before I get home. Unless you'd prefer to come to the cafe with me. I've no objections either way.

I'll watch the Network a moment more, just for the novelty of the puzzle it presents today, but I'll be there in a moment. I know I've other obligations than my own entertainment.

~C.

[ooc: O hai. Still here. Just...being eaten alive by school. Sob. Please forgive my super-late and super-slow responses to that relationships meme. I will get to them! ...after this next essay ;3; Cain is not affected by this curse because...I couldn't figure out what his genre really is--! So I have no idea how he could blend over into something else. Okay, I thought about Sherlock Holmes, but having played Holmes...it seemed a bit repetitive. So no curse for Cain, but he will be lolin' it up at you :D]

Percival-sama, where do you live?

This is like a recurring dream! Anyway--



Catchy enough?

givesushope
It's that glorious time of year when we reunite with loved ones (we neglected all year), stuff our faces to excess, and pass out in front of the TV. Perhaps a recalibration of the thanksometer is in order. A spin-off of the popular GivesMeHope.com site, this community invites you to document moments of kindness, generosity, and pure human love in 350 words or less.

veggieslackers
Despite its mainstream appeal, Thanksgiving is not for everyone. There are those struggling with food disorders, for whom this day causes endless conflict. There are the cash-challenged, who can't afford the gluttony we've grown to expect. There are the lonely, who don't have loved ones nearby. And let's not forget the vegetarians, who decry the animal cruelty. But there's one more group we often overlook: the terminally lazy! This community of lazy vegetarians offers easy recipes for an animal-friendly feast.

fashin
Just in time for holiday shopping season, this fashionista community brings you the world of haute couture in the form of sumptuous photos, video clips, and candid commentary. There's also a sugary sprinkle of mainstream movie discussions and debates on such pressing social issues as manicure styles and celebrity colonics. If you need a break from the daily grind to indulge your girlie side, this is twinkly pink on steroids.

If I were a newer arrival to this City, and not one who had been here for more than three years, I might be more disconcerted over the fact that my zanpakutou has... become... what I believe is commonly referred to as a "weed whacker".

Thankfully, I am not.

"Speaking of" new arrivals, to use the common turn of phrase, it is confirmed fact at this point in time that the usually observed cycle of arrivals has been, it seems, interrupted. However, this is not something that has never occurred before. If this proceeds as it has in the past, it will resume soon enough in to regular pattern. On occassion, I almost believe the deities choose to do this in order to force me to change my notes. ... if I were to believe such a self-centered thought.

... Ishida Uryu. Lockon Stratos. Might I consult with you regarding a trivial issue?

[ooc; ... pff Kuroshitsuji canon shinigami all wield... gardening tool death scythes stfu]

Starting tonight and lasting possibly until the end of the month I'm going to be taking Kitty out of the City. During that time I'm going to think about what exactly I want to do with her. Feel free to notice she's gone whenever if you think your character would.

20-24; The Architect – Act I (Boxes)
Plain boxes containing a single red button have appeared at the doorsteps of many citizens. Each box contains a set of very important instructions pitting curses against souvenirs from home or maybe even a chance to go home all together. What will your citizen do when faced with such an opportunity? [Stay tuned for a mod post concerning this event! It will require some moderately intense player-to-player involvement in that characters will be given a chance to inflict curses upon each other. The results of this event will tie into another event in December, however players do not have to participate in both events. They may have their character involved in one or the other, both, or none.]

As laid out here, characters who choose to push the button on the box they receive will be condemning another player character to being cursed. While it's still possible to assume this with npcs, this post here is for those who want to pair up- and therefore have the possibility to play off consequences if button-pressers and their victims are ever revealed (though of course, here, too, you have the opportunity to choose not to have your character's identity revealed).

Pair up, ladies and gentlemen, and push the button~

*start*


Fade-in to early morning within a section of mausoleums. Slow pan over the masonry followed by tight close-up of mourner statue. Slow pull back reveals and stops on a blond's head, face hidden by the long golden hair, resting in her lap.

The camera lingers lovingly on the peaceful scene for several minutes, then continues pull back...

Deserter, traitor~! Millennium's unfinished business! Did you truly think I'd forget about this?

Floor of a slaughter house would look pristine in comparison. Viscera, bone and other things are artfully arranged around the large red symbol gleaming wetly in the autumn sun.


*end*

Hello! Kestrel here, probably better known as Florian-mun, bringing in Luc from Suikoden! He's a 13-year-old apprentice mage who's young and proud and antisocial and has lived most of his life isolated from society. Maybe the City will beat some social skills into him. Oh, and he's also the living vessel of the True Wind Rune, but he's not going to mention that anytime soon.

Anyway! Please friend add wind_magic or hover! Whichever you prefer.

Between being horribly sick and getting hit with all sorts of things IRL over the past several weeks, I've been so drained that I've been doing pretty much nothing but work and sleep lately and haven't been feeling the motivation to turn on the computer, let alone RP. x-x

I'm sorry for the extremely late notice, but I've decided that it would be best to go on hiatus until I can come back strong instead of continuing to struggle with writer's block. I'm going to plan on coming back during early December, and to give myself a little creative boost, Ennis will be canon updated! So, while she'll be missing from the city for a few weeks, the upside is that she'll be much happier in general when she comes back. \o/

See you then, Poly!
~Nin

Kay here~ Off hiatus and bringing Leon back into the City. He has now been canon updated to his first appearance in Tales of Destiny 2.

Some differences you might notice;

-Wardrobe change
-Badass Cubone mask
-Dual wields swords as opposed to wielding a dagger and a sword.
-New artes
-Alive and breathing

I'll have him re-intro'd in a few minutes~

You didn't see that image fail.

OH GOD. OKAY.

I'm sure people have noticed my fail with Sakura here. Yeah, I'm really sorry. Her muse is fading on me and I think it's becoming more and more obvious.

SO! In my last effort to save her Sakura is leaving the City until December 1st for a canon update! This is WAY over due and I'm really sorry for failing with the character for so long. I will hopefully amend this with the update and get her more active. So feel free to notice she's missing and whatnot.

I'm also using this as an excuse to call a semi-hiatus until December 1st. School + Thanksgiving + my birthday + roommate/family issues = AAAAAAHHHHHHHASDFKHGFGHSSDLGKADLHKJRHSHAFDGA squared. Yeah. You'll probably still see me around because I fail epically at the whole "not actively RPing" thing. BUT I need to take it to cover myself in case I have to disappear for a long period of time, which I inevitably will on Thanksgiving week and next week due to all my schoolwork. So Sakura will be gone but consider Enki, Shoukei and C.C. around doing whatever it is they do. And expect slower tags.

Annnnd that is all. /keeps rollin' on.

((ooc: This entry takes place yesterday morning. I was just fail and late.))

( Private//hackable entry )

The decorations are so pretty, I've never seen anything quite like this before in my life. I wish I had an opportunity to go out and enjoy it. I'll live vicariously through all of you people, how about that?

GOD I SWEAR I'M GOING TO COME BACK EVENTUALLY but lmao just found out a few days ago that SURPRISE my roommate is suddenly selling the house so I HAVE TO MOVE FOUR MONTHS EARLY. So even though I think I've got a place lined up I'm... kind of stressed out and will likely continue to have really horrible activity for the next two weeks or so while I gradually move my stuff over there and get set up and hopefully go to Anime USA for a day.

So basically continued hiatus for Ion and Nanami and lol Dist will get here eventually. I will try to post for my characters and figure out what's been happening soon though because I really do want to stick around here;;; fffff thank you for being patient with me, guys 8(

So I can't run. I can hide though. Especially from that nurse at the hospital.

[ooc; This whole post is backdated to earlier today.)

Since I've been a part of the police force, I've gotten to see just how much work people have to do, that a lot of people don't even know about. There are a lot of procedures, and there's always more work to be done.

I want to help them out however I can. I went to the library and found that some places have laws about performing a "Citizen's arrest." Through this, I think a lot of people who aren't police trained, but still want to help make things safer, could help out. If we set up patrols, or even set up a headquarters where people could come if they need help, that would help lighten the load for the police. We could even do things like train self-defense, and I could help people with magic a little, just like Nanoha-mama used to.

I wouldn't be able to pay anybody, but... maybe there are other people like me, who are too young to be official police members, who could help out. We don't need money to live here anyway, so that's not a problem.

Would anybody be interested?