Quest 324

[primrosella]

Mm. It's August 2nd again, isn't it.

There's a story I tell every year on August 2nd, you know: the one about the princess with the six brothers that were turned into swans, and how she spent six years in silence sewing shirts for them out of thistles, because the only way to break the curse was to go the whole time without ever smiling or laughing as she worked to make the shirts that would change them back. This is the fifth time now that I've found myself thinking of that story. And every year when I do, I think of how long of a time six years really is--it's only a few lines in a story, but living it out is something very different entirely, isn't it? I certainly don't think I could've managed it myself.

A dear friend of mine once told me, during her stay here, that the first year seems the longest of all, and every year after that seems to come faster and faster. On days like today, I do wish she were here, almost, just so that I could tell her she was right. Well, and because I miss her, of course. Five years certainly means a great deal of goodbyes, too.

Every year on this day, I find myself wondering what it is I'll do if I manage to run out six years, just the same as that princess with her swan brothers did. To think it's just one more year, now. What story will I tell on my anniversary if I should finally outlast her with my own time in the City?

Though I suppose by that point, perhaps, I could always start retelling a few of my own, instead. With all the changes we've seen lately, goodness knows there'll certainly be plenty of them.


[OOC: And with August 2nd comes Rosella's Polyversary--today marks five years she's been in the City! Thank you all for all the wonderful years of gameplay, Polyites! I'm hoping for many more still to come. ♥]

Comments

audio ]

[affectioning]

Who cursed them?

[ Because, his first priority in the story is the origin. Why were they cursed? Who did it? He's curious. Then he'll have other questions. He's used to being up at an ungodly hour as a werewolf, saving people, hunting things. Or, hell, before that, just hanging out with Stiles. He's never been an early to bed kid. Maybe that has to do with late night fights when his parents were together or the collective influence of Stiles Stilinski and junk food.

Either way, it's translated well into the City. Pretty much the same. ]

Have you made it six years?

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[primrosella]

Oh, have you not heard that story? It's really a fun one to tell, I think--though, er, perhaps not much fun for the princess and her brothers to experience! It was their stepmother, actually. Their father the king had married her after a bit of trouble he had with a walk in the woods, and she never liked her stepchildren at all.

Though really, I suppose it'd make a bit more sense to just start from the beginning and tell it properly, if you'd really like to hear it! I certainly wouldn't mind--it's an anniversary tale, after all.

And no, not quite yet! But it's only just one more year, now, and I will have. To think it's been all this time...

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[affectioning]

[ He shakes his head, settling back to listen. ]

It is a long time. [ Five years. Crazy. Absolutely crazy. ] Yeah, sure. I've never heard it before. If you don't mind.

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[primrosella]

[Fortunately, she really likes telling stories. Especially fairy tales. Especially significant ones. And especially on her anniversary.]

Well, the story goes that once upon a time in a faraway kingdom, an adventuresome king found himself lost in a dark wood. He walked and walked, but he was terribly turned-around by the end of it, and things were getting dark and it was so deep into the wood that trying to find a way out alone was really just a bit hopeless. And when he realized that, the king began to despair a bit, because he was a widower and had seven beloved children waiting for him at home, and the thought of never seeing them again and leaving them without a father was simply too dreadful to bear.

But he kept walking, determined to find a way free somehow, and after some time he came across an old woman waiting by the path. He greeted her with grace and poise, because he was a mannerly king even in the worst of moments, and when he did the old woman asked if he was lost in the wood. When he said he was, she offered to show him the way out, on the condition that he would take her daughter for his wife.

And what do you suppose he did?

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[affectioning]

He was a good guy, right? And this was back then. So, he asked her to show him the way out? He'd get back to his kids. [ Right? It sounds right. ]

[misterblackbird]

I wonder how such a princess would fair in the City. Certainly, there's quite a lot of misery here. The center of town is even named for it, you know. But there's quite a bit that makes one smile here too, surprisingly.

Are you well, Rosella?

[primrosella]

You know, every year I think about how hard it really must be, to go six years without a single smile or a laugh, or speaking a single word either. When you put it in writing, it sounds as though it would go by quickly--but then I think of all the things I've done and people I've seen here, and to think it's only been five for me, besides. Goodness, that puts a different angle on things, doesn't it?

And I'm quite well, thank you! Or as well as anyone can be in the City, really--but of course, that's what we always say, isn't it?

[misterblackbird]

Nor rolling about on skates either, I should think. Or would that follow with not smiling? They do seem connected, so far as you're concerned.

It's certainly what I always say, I know that much.

[primrosella]

I don't think I could manage to go rolling about without smiling or laughing, no. I'm sure I'd slip and then it'd all be quite the mess.

[misterblackbird]

Meanwhile, I'd have to be quite grave and serious while trying to go rolling about. I'm sure I'd slip and then it'd be quite the mess if I started to laugh and ceased to pay attention my balance.

[hexuality]

Happy anniversary, Rosella. I mean, I know we're stuck, but... It's nice to still have a few familiar faces around.

[primrosella]

Thank you, Ginny! Goodness, did you ever think we'd make it this long? The few of us who have made it this long, that is.

[hexuality]

I never imagined it, no. Always thought I'd go home with the rest of my world, they seem to come and go in waves. [WHICH SUCKS. But, you know. Part and parcel of being here.] I'll be at five years in December if I'm still around. How's it feel?

[primrosella]

A bit strange, really! It's just, when I started telling that story about the princess and her brothers, I never thought I might honestly make it to six years! It was just a funny little tradition to keep--but now it doesn't seem so far off at all.

[hexuality]

I haven't got any traditions, really. Not for my anniversary, anyway. At first I wasn't sure if I should even celebrate them.

[othersdie]

Do you want to leave?

[primrosella]

The City? Goodness...you know, I really don't know, honestly. Of course I miss home, and I'd like very much to see it again, and my family and my subjects and all that, but...well, after so long away, I suppose in its way the City has become my home now, too. And I have a feeling I'd miss it terribly if I were to leave, just the same.

[othersdie]

I can't imagine that--going home, reliving five years. Even if no one remembers the City when they leave, there must be something left over. Something subconscious.

[primrosella]

I think there must be, too. I do think about that sometimes, you know--how strange it would be to end up seventeen again, looking forward to an eighteenth birthday that somewhere else, I'd already had. It makes me feel a bit old when I do, really.

[othersdie]

You are a bit old compared to when you first came here. Five years in the City... that will age you more than five years anywhere else.

That moment when you thought you tagged something and realize you failed >>

[had_not_lived]

Isn't it strange to think of all the things we've seen here, all the things we knew about the way it worked, and know that some new arrivals won't ever have to? No deals with the Deities, that sort of thing.

We are here together now and that is what matters.

[primrosella]

Goodness, that is odd to think of, isn't it? I suppose in a way it still hasn't quite sunk in yet that things have changed from it, either. One just gets used to things being a certain way, I suppose.

Do you think we're better off for it, though?

/slathers with affection

[had_not_lived]

I don't know. I'd like to think so, and people do seem to be a little more comfortable, but... Well, the curses are still trouble, and for me, that's the worst part of the City, since I'm not looking for a way to leave.

/becomes buttered with your love

[primrosella]

Yes, I suppose that's true. But of course, if we were right all along that the curses are made to run the clock, then in a way, trouble or not, they're doing what's best, aren't they? Honestly, I'd like nothing more than to see the great awful thing destroyed--as much as anyone would, and then some--but if that's simply how the City is, and stopping it means worse things in exchange...well, at least we know how to deal with the curses, already.

Goodness, just listen to me. I really must be old, thinking of things that way!

That sounds so greasy I am sorry

[had_not_lived]

I guess we're too used to it. I'd rather have curses than have the City fall apart, I just... Well, I guess I wish we'd be sure there weren't going to be any really bad ones. Sometimes they're fun, even! But the ones where you end up in danger or people are in pain... If we could get rid of those I'd be happier.