[Look whose going to pull ninja cat move on a certain somebody.]

Not too surprising I would return during a curse.

Little seems to have changed during my absence from this world. Few more holiday decorations have been added - how festive.

( (Private to Road) )

So that's the curse today? To talk about families?

Hn. It doesn't do much good to talk about them when they're all dead.

[ooc; Not cursed. He's just reminiscing a bit, he hates these type of curses-- he doesn't realize it recorded either, and well since this is a very touchy subject with him, just a warning that he might not even respond~]

My family is a very old one, stretching back hundreds if not thousands of years. We've a castle, after all, in Cornwall, and lands there too, though I don't visit any of the lands my family holds often. We've a crest too, if that carries any weight in the City: a griffin. From our very origins, we've a reputation not all that unlike the Borgias, if you follow my meaning. I shouldn't be at all surprised if some of the family came and went to Italy more than once. It seems entirely plausible to me, knowing what I know. We were known for our reputation. Whether the rank of Earl came before, after, or with that reputation, I don't know. I only know that the title is almost as old as the family.

( [Public Post || Viewable to All] )

I've aunts and uncles in droves, but I've not a care for them. My father is a madman, as is my half-brother; my mother is dead, as is my beloved cousin--no matter what that creature might claim. For all that my family seems vast, those are only blood ties. Of them all, perhaps only Uncle Neil comes closest to being a real uncle. I am related to them, yes, but my family is small: Merry and Riff and me. If I can keep them near me, I could be happy forever.

There is something between us that is deeper than blood ties. And I think no one but the three of us can understand that.

~C.

[ooc: And...it's all canon ._.v I may have missed a few uncles or aunts mentioned in passing, but I tried my best! I hit the big ones, I think. I may edit this as I go through the canon again ah ha ha ha but nothing big will change in this post. I just might...add a bit.]

Christmas time all over again, huh? Of course. Practically everyone with a mouth has been talking about it. As if we could ever fucking forget. Then the brand spanking new year comes on after. I wonder if we're going to get more world ending signs when it gets closer to New Year's Eve. I seen it happen. Who the fuck really knows.

Santa packs a punch for an old guy. Goes to show you better watch out for them.

I think the 'deities' have very contentedly settled back into their routine of cursing us every few days. And it almost seems like October, when the curses alternated between the stupid and the terrifying. Although I rather think the curse from earlier this week was both stupid and terrifying. I can hardly imagine Father Christmas wielding axes and swords. Sometimes the 'deities' surprise even me, even if the pattern of curses is familiar.

I'll still count myself fortunate that I didn't encounter that monstrous Father Christmas in the City on Sunday. After I saw a few posts on the Network, it seemed wiser to defend myself and prepare in case I did encounter him than not. Once again, I've just barricaded myself in my room and waited for midnight.

Although some would say it's a shame that I didn't feel an urge to explain my good and bad deeds during the past year. It's like gossip, and I don't know of many people in the City who don't like gossip. I let the anniversary of my return to the City slip by entirely--it's been a bit more than a year that I've last seen home and I've certainly done enough in the City--though whether good or bad I shall leave unanswered. The real Father Christmas, if there were one, would know.

Christmas is this Friday and today is already Tuesday. As I recall, yesterday was supposedly the shortest day of the year--if the City follows those same rules of the seasons. It certainly seems to, though we've not yet had any real snow. Yes, there was a curse that divided the City into those who liked warmth and those who liked cold, and there was a bit of ice and snow then, but hardly the snowstorms we've had here in the past.

Perhaps we'll have some snow by Christmas. So long as it isn't an absolute storm, I think it would be rather enjoyable. There's no curse today, nor was there one yesterday. The odds are best that there will be one tomorrow. And that means that there may also be one on Christmas, or the day after.

If the 'deities' have any mercy in them, they won't set down a curse on Christmas Day. I've had enough holidays cursed this year and I don't think I'll stand for Christmas Day to be cursed.

( [Private to Sam Witwicky & Princess Rosella || Unhackable] )

( [Private to Opera House Residents || Unhackable] )

Riff, I think we could easily finish with Christmas preparations today, especially since there doesn't seem to be any kind of curse at all today. We've certainly had enough problems keeping us from preparing much for Christmas so far this month, but we've not much left to do. I think we could finish it all today and we'd do best to take advantage of a day without a curse as must as we can.

And you are taking Christmas Day off, of course.

Now if only I knew what to give you for Christmas--I can't just give you a Christmas box here--That would just be disgraceful--I'll have to think of something better--

~C.

[ooc: Blah blah blah. Sorry for my lack of updates of late. I'm still recovering from final projects and things. ;; Cain didn't encounter the crazy Santa, but he certainly saw everyone else crossing his path. Cain, Cain, Cain, you've got to learn to live a little more dangerously...]

This has become extremely old.

No offense intended, Buffy-san.

If anyone knows how to get this thread off, I'm sure we'd both greatly appreciate the insight.

EDIT: That had better not be it.

Down one.

It seems like a repetitive cycle.

It's always hard to keep people in one place, isn't it? It's better this way, as it always is.

Riff, given everything that's gone on this month, we've not had time to plan for anything--not even Christmas--and here it is the 17^th of December. I suppose the chance, however false it might be, to go home and the risk, however real that was, of the City's destruction could distract anyone.

I've been invited to Christmas dinner, too, though we may have one for ourselves amongst the opera house residents too. I suppose I'll have to decide which invitation to accept. I'd rather like to bring you along--

For those who might find themselves wondering, I did manage to survive those ordeals the 'deities' or that Architect threw us into. I found myself trapped in my room, then a grave, and then I was made to dig myself out of it and into the cemetery. It was hardly an easy task, or need I say so?

Never mind the curses that came after, as exhausted and injured as I already way, both having to endure a glowing, red nose, and having mistletoe sprouting everywhere. That seems to happen most every year. I know I've endured that curse at least twice. And, really, the next time mistletoe starts sprouting everywhere, the best thing to do is to keep inside and keep to yourself. I didn't have any trouble with it. Then again, I still wasn't feeling quite well, but I wasn't so badly affected by it all. Admittedly, yes, it was tiresome to endure the mistletoe growing from my ceiling, but nothing came of it, fortunately. I doubt anyone would have wanted to kiss me in that state anyway.

As I recall, though, it was around this time last year that there was at attack of zombies. I wasn't in the City at the time, for good or ill, but I did hear about it when I returned. I almost think that December should be dreaded as much as October. There's usually at least one week that's as wretched as that. And, as I recall, the 'Stewards' came in January. Perhaps January will be quiet this year.

But first there's Christmas. And if it's the 17^th of December, that means tomorrow is the 18^th and my birthday. It's a very strange thing to realise that I'll be turning eighteen for the second time in the City. At least, that's the best I've managed to figure out about it.

I was seventeen when I arrived in the City for the first time, and I stayed here through my eighteenth birthday. I could have been here through my ninteenth birthday as well, but the City saw fit to show mercy enough to send me home for a fortnight of my time and a week of the City's time. So I was seventeen again while I was at home, of course, and I didn't remember anything about the City. And that would mean that I was seventeen again when the City drew me back in--unless, of course, I gained that year back with my memories, but I somehow doubt that. So that means I'm turning eighteen for the second time in the City.

I suppose I could be turning either eighteen or nineteen or even twenty. But I rather think I'm turning eighteen. I feel, more or less, as I did when I turned eighteen before, even if it is strange to have even one's own age stopped, to some degree, by the City. Time stops in our worlds while we're here, even our own lives.

Either way, some would say I've reached my majority. Not that I haven't already been living independently for years now, of course. And I don't know that I'll really have come of age at home until I'm twenty-one, but I've already inherited both my title and my fortune--I will have had those for ten years by then.

Perhaps it doesn't matter at all, really. After all, the City is a separate thing from home. After all, it also means that I've been here for another year. It's been almost exactly a year, from my count, since the City brought me back in.

That time I was fortunate. I suppose that's some of why I hoped that tear in the sky really did lead home.

I should have really learnt from my past years here, as long as I've been here.

Although, I suppose I've learnt enough to only ask what was going on at the edge of the forest today. I heard a few rumours on the Network and I saw a little of what was going on. If it was a curse, it was a small one. I watched what I could as one might a storm, but nothing came of it.

And that's just as well.

Riff, I've a few plans for tomorrow evening, as I'm sure you expected.

~C.

[ooc: LOL UNANNOUNCED HIATUS~!! School tried to eat me there at the end of the semester and I just couldn't spare the time to play like I wanted to--and when I did have time, I was beat and had no inspiration. I'm working on the last pages of my last paper right now. So, um, hi! My excuse is that Cain was recovering from his injuries (from Yuri, from the carousel tiger, and from digging himself out of his own grave), recovering mentally, and maybe he had a fever. Also, for the record, Cain doesn't have a canon birthday, so I've claimed Kaori Yuki's birthday for his birthday. And that would be tomorrow, December 18^th (Cain seems like he would have been born in winter). He's turning 18...again!]

The rage of nature.
Mm. It suits this season.

Mister Four Wings. I have moved with Sara Mudou back into th Firehouse.

(ooc; Pretend was earlier! Link ooc!).

[The feed comes on, showing Kenshin from the side in his living room on a couch with his giant orange cat sprawled across his lap. His right arm is still in the sling and he's awkwardly switched it on with his left--the device likely sitting on the arm of he couch.]

[He looks a bit down--big surprise.]

This unworthy one has been in this apartment almost his entire time in this City... [scratches Orenji under the chin--the cat looks pleased at least.]

He thinks... he is ready to move... but... [Moves the slung arm a bit.] he isn't entirely capable of doing it himself this time...

...

Would anyone be willing to help him?

...

This unworthy one... would like to be elsewhere by the 19th...




[ooc; Yeeeeeeeah... 19th is his anniversary of marrying Kaoru the FIRST time... and she's gone. Again. Emo!boy is emo :/]

I think I deserve a drink.

I'm glad to hear things have finally settled down out there. It seems this place is very good at dealing out harsh lessons in common sense. I'm tempted to go home before I can see what happens next.

Here's to better weather.

... I remember curse this from last year.

Hn. It was fairly easy to avoid last time, so this time shouldn't be any different.

[ooc; I missed out on this last time, so I'm affecting him this time around. He's just out walking if you want to run into him!]

[The feed comes on--the device clearly on the ground, picking up a familiar face. Kenshin is standing a few feet away with his right arm in a sling and bandages visible around both hands and going up his arms under his kimono. His eyes are closed and he was speaking before the feed even came on--and probably hasn't noticed anything has happened yet.]

--ame as Kaoru-dono. "Thank you." That, and "Sorry..."

And "Goodbye..."

[He shifts, turning toward the feed and starts to speak again, reaching out with his un-slung left hand with a soft smile.]

Shall we be going s--

[and right about then he takes note of his surroundings.]

--oro!?

[Blinks widely, taking a step back and glancing around dumbly.]

Kaoru-dono?

[It takes him a moment. A long moment, manages to turn all the way in a circle a couple of times--before stopping to plainly stare right at the carousel behind him, his back to the feed.]

...................................................

[After a good minute of just staring he starts patting himself down, focusing on his sleeves and inner pockets of his kimono, then glances around until he spots the device, a mildly sour look on his face in comparison to calm expression from before. He leans down, picks up the devices, notes it's already recording of course, gives an exasperated sigh and speaks.]

How long was this unworthy one gone this time?



[ooc; he's back! updated to chapter 251, post Jinchuu arc--pretty much fully updated now. And I fibbed a bit, he had his eyes open in the second part of that scene I just wanted him to get the whole line out before going buh-zuh.]