audio; un: loveless

[limbical]

I suppose there's no reason to put this off any longer.

Recall a month ago I said that someone stole a book from me. To be more forthcoming, it's known as a skin bible from my world. About as charming as you can expect. I was concerned that the person in question would use a ritual instructed in the book.

If you experienced a series of wretched rooms, the replaying of your memories, that sort of thing -- that was the result of the ritual, at least in its limited form.

[He says with a sneer:] And you can thank Fearne for the lovely time you had. I'd exercise some caution with your belongings around her, suffice it to say.

...Though I will also bear the responsibility of being the owner of that book. I had no intention of ever using it myself, but it seems some people can't fucking help themselves.

That'll be all. Please try not to get yourselves sick or injured, I'm tired.

Comments

[limbical]

...Thanks, Angela. That's about all I could ask. Not for a witch hunt, but just to be careful.

Mm, I'd borrow another book on poetry, if you have one you'd suggest.

[worldexecute]

( hmmm... one he might like... )

I might have a one in mind. It's primarily a collection of poems on seasons, if you aren't opposed to that. I think the way the authors described the world... and what the song of a bird means to be rather beautiful.

[limbical]

That sounds nice. You got one to share, so I can sample it?

[worldexecute]

"To the plum tree’s branches
The warbler has come.
That spring is here
He sings, although
Still the snow is falling."

( there are too many "books" in the kokinshu she is taking these one at a time. )

The warbler, from what I understand, typically signals the arrival of spring. Admittedly, I have no concept of what "spring" is outside of what I've read about it, but it's interesting there's a bird assigned to it.

[limbical]

Hm. That's a good one. Pretty good way to sell me on the collection.

[It's simple, but it's lovely.]

Oh, you haven't experienced it outside of this place? Well... I can try to describe it, if you want. I spent a lot of time outside when I was a kid.

[worldexecute]

( great! she'll get that one and slip in a list of "places to hide your books" in it. for him. )

I'd appreciate that. Being trapped inside for the better part of eleven years was not, as you may expect, conducive to my knowledge of the outside world.

[limbical]

Shit. Well, I'd imagine so. Let me think, then...

My parents used to travel and drag me along. Mostly, we spent our time in the woods, camping and the like. It was worse during the winter.

But spring... even to me offered some kind of relief. Watching the snow and ice melt. You'd start seeing buds on trees. The sounds of animals becoming more active. It's like the whole world is starting to wake up, after a long time of just getting by in the cold.

...I have no idea if that helps paint a picture or not. But spring's probably the best time of the year. It's the only time that made me feel like maybe things weren't so bad.

[worldexecute]

( angela pauses in her work to close her eyes, imagining it. it's only recently, here, that she's been able to feel and understand temperature changes. to see flowers blooming effortlessly, to see them die just as quickly and quietly. how soft their petals are. how easy it is to hurt them, fresh buds and old blossoms alike. )

It did. ( in some small way, she can almost imagine what it might be like. she came i on what she guesses would be the tail end of summer, closer to fall. something warmer, more vibrant than that... ) I suppose I'm looking forward to experiencing it myself in the coming months. Thank you for indulging me.

[limbical]

No problem. I hope you end up liking spring when it finally comes along here. Hopefully things won't be too fucked up when we get there.

You mind if I ask you something?

[worldexecute]

( yeah, hopefully. )

Go on. What is it?

[limbical]

...Why were you trapped for all those years? What happened?

[worldexecute]

( oh.




mm. )

For the first ten years or so years of my life, I was the acting-manager, then assistant, in a project dedicated to the betterment of the City I lived in. ( this is said matter-of-fact—not in a way that would imply any fondness or belief in it. ) A short time after that, the Library that I and the others began our work in was created, and... I'm not sure how long that took before we reached an... end point, you could say. I'm merely guesstimating on how long it must have taken based on the number of guests and the trials we dealt with during its operation.

[limbical]

I see. I only know a little bit about that Library. But something about all those places... they kept you from being able to leave?

...And you can feel free to ask me something else, to kind of even this out, for the record. I don't like an uneven interaction.

[worldexecute]

I'll think on what I'd like to ask then, but for now... ( ...she pauses, choosing her words carefully. ) I couldn't leave the first place because the only reason I was created was to oversee the project to its completion, for however long that took. I never left the Library because I was attempting to achieve my goal as quickly as possible.

( and... she was scared. even now, she's scared, thinking of stepping out of there without... )