Entry 556; Day 1185

[misterblackbird]

[Filtered from Known DELILAH Members || Unhackable]
[Filtered to the City Police || Unhackable]
It isn't my usual habit to run to the police when something peculiar happens, but the police in the City are quite unlike those in my world, so perhaps something more and better can come out of this than would in my world. I suppose that remains to be seen, though.

Some months ago, just after the new year, I was attacked and kidnapped and held against my will by some person unknown to me. I know I was kept for some days in the basement of a building in the City--though it smelled more like a mausoleum--and that I was kept blindfolded for the whole of that time. So, in short, I never saw my captor's face, though I certainly did hear him.

I should like to hope this case would still be considered open. To my knowledge no one was ever captured or even suspected in it.

I remind you of it now because I have heard his voice on the Network today. I do not make these accusations lightly; I am more than certain that it's he. The sound of his voice and even the words themselves are unmistakable.

I'm not entirely seeking revenge for what was done to me, but if he is still at large in the City, it would be wise to know of him and his whereabouts. I wouldn't be surprised if he does or has done the same to others as he did to me.

I'm not above looking into such things myself, either. I suppose it's only fair to give you warning of that.
[//end private filter]

[Filtered from Princess Rosella || Unhackable]
We may yet be fortunate enough to avoid a curse on Rosella's birthday itself. We had a curse yesterday, we've not had one today, so the likelihood is that we'll have one either tomorrow or the day after. The day after, of course, is the 20^th of March, which should mean that the 21^st will be without a curse. It's a little futile to try and predict the curses, but the pattern does seem to hold that, more often than not, there are two or even three 'ordinary' days in between the curses.

I only mention it because I do think it would be more enjoyable to have her birthday celebration on her birthday proper.

We've at least one among us who's seeking out pies baked inside cakes for her--since she seemed quite taken with the idea before. Meanwhile, I've seen to arranging for some tents and pavilions to be borrowed and set up in Xanadu that afternoon. It should seem more like some of the drawings in my sister's storybooks, where kings and queens of one fairytale kingdom or another seem to always set up pavilions for themselves when they go for a walk in the forest. Anyway--that does still yet leave the business of flowers, which we will be in need of and which I'd ordinarily leave to Rosella herself--if that were at all possible. If anyone does feel especially intent on sorting that out, do make yourself known.

Beyond that, I've no idea what else we need, besides to arrive in Xanadu that afternoon. Perhaps at 2 o'clock. I'll see to the invitations, I suppose. Most everyone who's invited already knows, but Riff might insist on doing things properly.

My point, then, is that we've most everything sorted--thanks in no small part to Neil and Todd, among others. Even on such short notice, we should yet be able to host this celebration come Wednesday.

If I am needed, I can, as ever, be reached at the Opera Abandoned, the Turnabout Cafe, or the Network itself.
[//end filter]

I won't proceed to speculate on the curse yesterday. The story of treasures to be found at the end of a rainbow is nothing but superstition and daydreams--the sort of thing one hears from children and old nannies. It's a charming story, perhaps--as charming as any promise of treasure or paradise to be found in one place or another. And perhaps such a story is fitting of rainbows, which are equally charming. But it's still nonsense.

Of course, I realised long ago that reason is of no use in the face of curses because curses are rather like madness or dreams, where nothing makes sense nor can reason reach anyone in the midst of the ordeal. Everything impossible and unreasonable makes perfect sense in a dream.

I mention dreams in particular because I did cross paths with more than a few people who seemed in the midst of them yesterday as they went wandering across the City, seeking out rainbows. I tried to speak to a lady among them, but she accused me of being the 'Prince of the Blackbirds' and of thwarting her quest and she tried very hard to throw some handful of powdered makeup at me because, she said, that 'magic powder' would drive me away and let her continue on to the 'Kingdom of the Dolls' where living dolls made of pearls and rubies danced at the end of the rainbow.

I'm certain it made sense to her at the time and I certainly don't hold it against her. I'm more glad that I didn't have to encounter to many others who were so set on their quests--although I do think a few of the people who came into the cafe were seeking 'elixirs of life' more than tea.

As ever, a curse and the madness of it can never be separated. And we have certainly seen worse.

At least we weren't made to endure green beer in place of water all day. I will say that much. I've endured that before and I am glad to have avoided it once again this year. Although remembering that makes me think of Autor, as he said he fell into the fountain in the midst of that curse, which is a strange thing to think of now--

~C.

[//end filter]

[ooc: Dun dun duuuuun. City Police Force, for background, please see here and here (some of these posts go back to LJ, just so you know). Cain has just heard the voice of his kidnapper on the Network. And shit got real, &c.]

Comments

[ voice ]

[the_dawnster]

I was kind of scared there might be lepruchans here and there. Cause with everyone following rainbows and the pot of gold that's supposed to be there... lepruchans. They're creep-tastic. I mean I've seen all kinds of scary things to the point of growing kind of immune to the scary. But I've never seen lepruchans... yet.

[ voice ]

[misterblackbird]

Are they as bad as all that? We certainly don't have them in my world--as I've said before, more or less.

[ voice ]

[the_dawnster]

Think about it. I'm from a world where I've seen all the scary. And even though I know from someone I trust that lepruchans are real, I've never seen them. They're like that monster in the closet or under the bed that you know is there but you can never see or touch or anything... creepy right? It's creepy.

[ voice ]

[misterblackbird]

I still don't quite see how they're so creepy as that--I don't doubt you, but it still seems a bit abstract to me. Aren't they supposed to guard pots of gold and so on?

[ voice ]

[the_dawnster]

Most of our holiday lore has roots in the demon world. Like Santa Clause? He eats babies. Totally ruined Christmas for me when I found that out. Pretty sure lepruchans are gonna come with some sort of baby eating origin or something equally ew.

[he_who_kills]

Phaah! City magic make village idiots.

[misterblackbird]

Quite so, He-Who-Kills. I know I've not always escaped it, but it's still true: curses make fools of us all.

[ police filter ]

[ex_bloodcakedarmor707]

I was just talking to Dean about this case the other day, about how the guy who did this to you could do it to others. Guess he didn't get around to talking to you. Can you give us a name? Maybe tell us what he looked like?

[ police filter ]

[misterblackbird]

No, not as yet, at least. Perhaps this all came about before he had a chance.

He had me blindfolded and I didn't see him when he first attacked me, and he certainly didn't tell me his name. So, no, I can't tell you any of that, but I do know that I heard him on the Network today. I can point you to the very entry.

[ police filter ]

[ex_bloodcakedarmor707]

Well that would be helpful. You don't have to press charges on him or anything unless you want to. I would though. We have some cells at the station that we can keep him in for awhile. But we need to know who he is so we can keep an eye on him and let him know we are. Sometimes even just knowing they're being watched is a big incentive for someone to stay in line.

[ police filter ]

[misterblackbird]

He's here. I'm quite sure of it.

I don't know that I care so much about having him arrested and charged as I do about his being kept from doing to someone else what he did to me. If he is the sort to keep in line simply by being watched, I wouldn't object at all.

[ooc: Link is ic! For once lol...]

[ police filter ]

[ex_bloodcakedarmor707]

Alright. I'll check with Dean, pass on the information, and see what he wants to do. [Since Dean is in charge of the Police Force at the moment, it's probably best for Derek to defer to him and see where he wants to go with this.]

If nothing else, it's good for us to know. I think initially he was a little bit at a loss since you didn't seem to remember very much and never saw your abductor. But this will help a lot. We'll probably talk to the guy and let him know we know. See what he says.

Voice; police fiter

[dudeimbatman]

Case is definitely still open. We'll check into this and get back to you on what happens.

Voice; police fiter

[misterblackbird]

I had wondered, but I thought as much. Thank you. I would appreciate hearing what comes of it.

Voice; police fiter

[dudeimbatman]

No problem. Thanks for being understanding about the whole mess.

Voice; police fiter

[misterblackbird]

It's all I think I can be in such a situation--'understanding'.

Voice; police fiter

[dudeimbatman]

Nah, you could demand a lot of crap that we can't do anything about in this place. Trust me, I've deal with it and I get it. I ought to be able to offer you justice and retribution and all that shit, but pretty much all I can do is try to make sure it doesn't happen to someone else. [Does he sound frustrated, fed up and exhausted? Yup, because he is.]

[Video | Filtered from Rosella]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

I'm not sure how much I know about flowers, but I could try? What exactly are they for? Decorations, I presume?

[Video | Filtered from Rosella]

[misterblackbird]

Yes, mostly just for decorations. With a name like 'Rosella' it seems appropriate--well, a name like 'Rosella' and a fondness for spring, both.

[Video | Filtered from Rosella]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

Fondness for spring, huh? Anything else she likes? Some colour, or particular flower, or...?

[Video | Filtered from Rosella]

[misterblackbird]

Roses, I think. Most likely pink ones. But, besides that, I think she'd like any sort of garden flower.

[filtered from Rosella] sorry for being laaate ;_; i hope it's ok

[had_not_lived]

Is everything covered, then?

[filtered from Rosella] le DUH it is okay :3c

[misterblackbird]

I believe it is, yes. All that's left is to come to the party itself.

[filtered from Rosella]

[had_not_lived]

Well, that's the easy part.

[filtered from Rosella]

[misterblackbird]

It is, rather. Although it may be a trick getting Rosella there. I'll see what I can do.