07 | audio

[implying]

Do you know, I've been here for a year now. Oh, how the time flies, or whatever other cliches you might like! But then with all of this time flying, I'll get straight to business and stop wasting it.

I'd like to suggest a celebration. I personally will be celebrating a year here, but I'm certain we can find a good handful of other causes, if you're in need of one to allow yourself a little food, drink, and dancing!

Ah, let's see… we might celebrate that the Initiative has finally come to its senses and realized the value of a therapeutic trip to the beach. Yes? Lovely, that one. I'm sorry to any of our new arrivals who've missed it! Or if you're not a fan, for some reason, of sun, water, and half-naked people, then maybe we might celebrate a favorite holiday from home. Calendars between here and our collective homes hardly match up, so it shouldn't be any trouble at all if it isn't the right time of year for it. Or if you're of a grimmer persuasion, perhaps we might simply celebrate the fact that, despite the United Earth's occasional brutal efforts, most of us are still alive.

So then. What do you think? Shall it have a theme? I've already done a masquerade in Versailles, it would be unsightly to do a repeat performance. I don't suppose there are any suggestions? Food requests may be delivered to Adrasteius, who I'm quite certain won't mind at all managing the banquet again. He's very agreeable like that.

Comments

[heartsink]

Oh? Something like that must be rare.

[implying]

Considering my track record of a yearlong stay and only one visitor from Cittágazze, I'd have to agree. But, such is life!

[heartsink]

One whole year, huh? But befre that, how long were you involved with Cittágazze?

[implying]

Oh, near to 8 months, perhaps? Something of the sort. Why do you ask?

[heartsink]

[ amateur ]

Curiosity, mostly. A few others I've met, and heard about here, have had experiences like that. But very few seem to be the same sort, even so. It's strange, to me, trying to consider all those possibilities.

[implying]

[ w o w not everyone can grow into an old woman in the city, ok ]

It does rather make you wonder, doesn't it? Apparently it's not so unusual a concept to have a central location pull many people from different worlds.

Have you spoken with Rin yet?

[heartsink]

[ maybe so but u still gotta step up ur game if you want any commiseration. rookie. ]

Mmm... Once, I think? She mentioned something about between-worlds, so I'm presuming that we mean the same one.

[implying]

That would be the one! I've lost count of how many worlds she's been to by now. Not, of course, in the style in which I've visited many worlds, but the "trapped" version that Exsilium favors. It could be an interesting conversation, if you're looking for more angles on it.

[heartsink]

Sounds like something of a curse, to me.

[implying]

Oh, that's a bit overdramatic.

[heartsink]

Is it? If it's as you say, then it sounds like being dragged from prison to prison for years on end. Seems pretty miserable to me.

[implying]

Now, you're going to start to sound like Fenris at that rate! Who's to say this world is any more a prison than the world you started out in? You chose to be in neither of them, and both are supposedly inescapable. At least the Initiative promises to work on that after the war is past, and so if anything, it's slightly less restrictive.

[heartsink]

I don't care much about the rest of this world. I'm sure parts of it are lovely, but that's pretty useless to us, isn't it? We can't *go* to them. We're here, on this miserable island, with no way off or out that doesn't require chaperones or would result in death.

On top of that, this place is the most miserable combination you could make between London and Alcatraz, and I've visited both. The only thing that would make this more of a prison than it already is would be matching outfits.

[implying]

I certainly won't debate the misery of this island, that's true enough. But don't you find it the slightest bit novel that we're given the chance to see a multitude of times and places throughout this world's history?

[heartsink]

You mean the ones that could easily be nothing but facsimiles and technological constructs? I wouldn't put it past them.

[implying]

My, suspicious! I suppose it's certainly true they may be constructs, as might any of this. But it's all very amusing and engaging, if that's the case.

[heartsink]

Why shouldn't I be suspicious? You put it like that, it sounds like I'm not supposed to question the circumstances around my kidnapping.

Either way, something like this, it's not my preferred form of entertainment, I suppose you could say.

[implying]

Oh, suspect away, if that's what keeps you happy. For myself, it's good company and interesting experiences that keep me happy. Both of which the Initiative is providing, truthfully or not!

[heartsink]

Mmm.

I wonder if that's really the sort of person you are.

[implying]

Do you doubt me? Why, I'm offended!

[heartsink]

It's nothing personal; I doubt everyone.

[implying]

It sounds like you have quite the hobby there.

[heartsink]

Thanks. It keeps the mind sharp.

[implying]

You know, there's this thing humans of this world have invented -- I believe they call it "sudoku".

[heartsink]

They barely count as puzzles.