Quest 310

[primrosella]

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

Thinking back on it, I remember I first started this journal because we have a certain tradition in my family, that every time one of us goes on a grand adventure, the first thing we do once we've gotten back and hugged everyone and all that is to sit right down with the court chronicler and tell the whole story as clearly as we can remember it, so he can take it down and save it with the other tales of adventure in our library. And everything was so new to me then, and there was so much to see, that I thought I'd better write it all down as I went along, or I'd never be able to remember it all once I finally did get home. Looking back on it now, I'm rather glad I did; back then, I had no idea I'd be away for years, instead of weeks or even months. And I'm sure I wouldn't remember nearly so much of it as I ought to if I didn't have this journal to remind me.

But there is a story I'll never forget, and it's the one I tell every year on August 2nd: 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. And every year I think of that princess, and 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.

After all, just four years already seems like a terribly long time, and that's with being able to smile and laugh and speak with my friends every day.

I do wonder sometimes, on August 2nd, what I'll do if I manage to run out six years, just the same as that princess with her swan brothers did. I'm more than halfway to it, 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.


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

Comments

[had_not_lived]

That makes it sound as if you don't have stories to tell already.

[primrosella]

Oh, but I don't know if any of them are nearly so interesting as the one about the princess with the swan brothers! However will I choose one to tell?

[had_not_lived]

I don't think you need to worry about them being interesting, but I could see how it would be tough to choose.

[primrosella]

I'm trying to think, now, of some of the rather exciting ones. Do you remember the time we all had the party at the Blue Light--I think it was for Blue's birthday, actually--and there was so much commotion that the roof fell in?

[misterblackbird]

Is this the sort of anniversary that is due a celebration?

[primrosella]

I almost feel as though I ought to ask you to tell me yourself, you know. It's one you've already beaten me to.

But I've already had my customary leap into the Fountain, so whatever celebration it is, it'll have to be something other than that. I'd rather not be soaked through twice in the same day, if I can help it.

[misterblackbird]

I'm not one to celebrate it, myself, but I thought perhaps that you might be.

I don't know why you'd willingly jump into the fountain, though--I mean, I do know, of course, but I don't understand it.

[primrosella]

I think it's just a matter of how one looks at it, really. Four years away from home may not be something to celebrate, but having the chance to do all the things I've done and meet all the people I have...I think that's certainly something worth it.

And I know it's silly, but I think it's important that I don't forget the feeling, the way things were on my first day. The more clearly I remember how I ended up here in the first place, the more I can appreciate how well I'm doing for myself now.

[synanthrope]

Happy anniversary, I suppose.

[primrosella]

That's very kind of you, Miss Saya, thank you! It's quite a long time, isn't it?

[synanthrope]

Four years? It can be a long time. But then one day you'll go home and be young again.

[primrosella]

Yes, and sometimes I think that's the strangest part of it, really. With every day that goes by, I get a bit further away from being seventeen again, but sooner or later that's where I'll end up and I'll have to live out these years all over again.

text;

[flensing]

That is a very sweet story.

[And about five minutes later...]

I'm sorry, Miss Rosella, I won't be able to come to work, for a few days.

text;

[primrosella]

It's quite all right, Anna, really. Take all the time you need.

[She's really very sorry she missed your distress earlier; she was busy, er, jumping into the Fountain. >> ]

...Is everything all right?

text;

[flensing]

[Nope. Nope it is not.]

I am all right. I just need some time.

text;

[primrosella]

[Well, she may not have a functioning sociopath radar, but she makes up for it with one that spots when people are injured and hiding it.]

It's no trouble at all, believe me. Is there anything else I can do for you?

video

[zipperbent]

I heard four years in there, somewhere, and I'm kind of hoping my brain had a momentary glitch and I got it wrong.

video

[primrosella]

No, I'm afraid your brain is just fine! Er--that is, you did hear that correctly, yes. Today is my four-year anniversary in the City.

video

[zipperbent]

Four years...straight? I've heard people go home and come back, sometimes. Which seems kinda weird, to be honest. Not that there aren't already a lot of weird things about this city.

[hexuality]

I'd do that for my six brothers. [Five.] I'd never heard that story before, really. It's from your world?

[primrosella]

And I imagine you'd have better luck at it than she did, Ginny. I doubt you'd forget the last sleeve on the sixth shirt.

It's a story I've heard in my world, but I think it's one of the ones that's only a story, there. That is, I've never met any princesses like that, myself.

[hexuality]

It wouldn't be too out of place in my world, too. Maybe a bit more about magic in the shirts, but it'd be right in Beedle the Bard's stuff, I'm sure.

Why'd she forget the last sleeve? If you've made five perfectly good ones before.

so... late... ;;

[mumbled_truth]

It really is a long time, isn't it? I mean, it doesn't always feel that way, but when you look back and think about it...

you are never too late /embraces

[primrosella]

And it's all in how you say it, really! Just saying "four years" doesn't always seem so long, but when you say that I was seventeen when I arrived and now I'm twenty-one already...goodness, that makes things quite a bit different.

<3

[mumbled_truth]

It does sound a lot longer that way. Or when you really think about everything we've seen happen here.