At last everything seems to be thawing out -- not a moment too soon, I must say. I'd forgotten this was a country where winter lingered.

Just from casual observance, it seems many people have had positive things happening to them. It's good to see, and yet...

( Screened to Miho )

( Screened to Hermos and Alekto )

This is going to sound very strange, but I am requesting advice.

Cris' birthday is upcoming, and yet I am not familiar with what would be considered appropriate gifts for this era, for a child.

Would anyone...?

( Screened to Siegfried and Ryuuzaki )

( Private )

...

... I feel I should apologize to you three in advance.

In light of recent events in my home, I'm wondering if I shouldn't be looking into getting a bigger manor. This one... seems to be quite filling up!

Never could understand how the main celebration for this time of year got kicked up four days. The solstice has been the same day for thousands of years, it makes sense to have it then.

... I'm just being old and sentimental, I suppose.

Iona loved the balls we used to have, the feast and the dancing all night...

( Screened to Ryuuzaki )

It's hard to believe it's almost the solstice again. I thought this time of year was supposed to encourage people to spend time with others, but everyone seems to be secluding themselves all over again. It feels like days go by when I don't hardly hear a sound from my Knights or my staff.

It's supposed to snow tonight. Cris is so excited, it makes me glad. It's good to remember that such simple things still make people smile.

I... am without words.

No, that is not entirely true. But that hold was broken on me, so why does it feel so believable? I would never believe my Knights to be traitors... nor would I ever have my daughter used in such a manner!

And it seems upon snooping further reading, I am not the only one to experience such a... disorientation.

( Screened for Miho )

Things are going very well. Nine more souls have been added to the Orichalcos in the last week. My daughter is almost more adept at this than I am, and it's been a blessing to have her working for our cause so diligently. Whole towns taken between the two of us... I heard the news call it an epidemic the other day. How foolish... epidemic implies there might yet be a cure to be found.

Those Knights are still in this world, somewhere, I can feel them. How dare they think they can go on living blithely as though nothing occured? Betrayers, all three of them, treason of the highest degree. Do they remember that used to be punishable by death? I'll make sure they remember...

Perhaps they resisted the power of the Orichalcos once before, but not this time, not with Crissandya and I powering it together.

I wonder if they know how short their time left is...

I haven't had a chance to update this recently, have I? There isn't too much to report, I suppose, other than the events of the last few days. Miss Miho came over quite early the other day, and we had a discussion then breakfast and she met my Knights. Then she, Cris and I headed to Kyoto. It was a pleasant day out, and I'd like to do something similar again soon.

Later that night, however, the evening was interrupted by Yakou on my doorstep. He wanted to apologize for some of the things he'd said previously. Thanks to Cris' unique timing He ended up staying for a cup of tea before leaving. It was... awkward. But not entirely displeasing.

Critias ran into a bit of trouble on his date with Miss Kisara, and was injured. I healed his ankle as best I could (I am so terribly out of practise using that magic anymore...) and kept an eye on him until he woke. Thankfully, his injuries are not lasting, and he'll be back to his usual stoic self in no time.

Timaeus has the most unusual luck -- it seems he ran into one Hikami Atemu, when the latter was in need of some aid. Am I the only one who finds this ironic? Yet that encounter, too, turned out favourably. It's nice to see things going well for a change.

( Private )

Siegfried has developed an interesting new fashion sense, I think someone should take pictures.

It's a little disappointing to see the storms move out of the area, but I suppose we wouldn't want the city to get drowned out. Hopefully the rain will continue to clean out some of the dour attitudes that seem to be going around lately.

I suppose there's been a number of interesting things to note lately. Cris and I visited Miss Miho and got her aqquainted with the birds. It was nice to see Cris that excited about something again.

However, on another day while we were out, we encountered Mai, Varon, and Amelda. That coversation was a little disconcerting, I admit, and first and foremost I was worried about what they might do upon discovering that Cris had been returned to me. But the experience was a bit... anti-climatic.

To attempt to curb any ill feelings, I attempted to mend fences with Haga as I have with Ryuuzaki, but the endeavor was not met with success.

( Screened from Haga )

I also had a bit of a verbal skirmish with Tenma Yakou. It was nothing too serious, but for some reason, it got me a little downcast. I'm not sure why...

( Private )

Tomorrow, Cris and I are taking Miss Miho to Kyoto. We're going to visit Nijo Castle, and I'm looking forward to the outing.

[OOC: In reference to this.]

It has been a tumultuous few days, but things have settled down rather well now. That dreadful heatwave has finally abated -- though not before putting a few people in the hospital for heat stroke, if the news is to be believed -- and now has moved onto storms. I think this is much preferable, since the storms are familiar.

( Private )

It's also a relief pleasure to say that all misunderstandings have been resolved between Miss Miho and myself. No thanks to Rafael, certainly.

( Screened from Miho )

[Not viewable to Doma-tachi]

Critias has arrived in usual style. Now I can stop worrying.

It feels so strange to have such a full house, but not unpleasant. I daresay if I'd known I'd be gaining more occupants, I would have purchased a larger manor. As it stands right now, I believe there is a little bit of dissension between my Knights and my staff... the former seem quite affronted by the staff's 'casual' behaviour, and the latter seem baffled by the Knight's deferences.

Right now I think the household is held together by Satonori's pancakes and Cris' laughter.

( Screened from the Knights )

I also took Cris to the park to meet Ryuuzaki and I must say the two of them certainly seemed to hit it off. The visit involved potentially hazardous playground equipment and chocolate ice cream. even I had some

I wanted my daughter to meet Miss Miho as well, and so we met at a cafe. Understandably, she was quite surprised by Cris, but aside from a few questions (which I did my best to answer) all was well.

( Screened from Miho )

The Gazette has made its reappearance, as humourous as ever, yet I anticipate a number of raised tempers over the whole thing. Honestly, I wish some of the people in this city would, as they say, lighten up! They even printed something about me this time around, but you don't see me hiding at Paradius or skipping town.

( Private )

[OOC: Takes place after this and this.]

[Not viewable to Doma-tachi: Rafael, Varon, Amelda, Mai]

... but not for lack of things to say.

My daughter has come home to me. After my last meeting with Yuugi, I had thought there were no other options available... yet my Knights appeared later that night, and with them brought a most precious gift. ( Private )

If this were not fortuitous enough, there have been two recent intruders on my property. But who would think intruders to be so desirable of company? Two of my Knights, Timaeus and then Hermos, have been summoned to this time and place. Of Critias, we have had no word yet, but I have confidence that he will not linger away long. He was never the tardy one, and I shall have to point this out to him, in jest.

My child and my Knights... I didn't realize how isolated I felt before. It is a sad thing, being the sole of something.

( Screened from Miho )

[OOC: Takes place August 2, several hours after this RP. The edit takes place after this RP and the strikeout text isn't readable to anyone.]

...

I was too angry to admit it to Yuugi, but he was right. I won't take souls solely for my own gain, no matter how much the Orichalcos desires it. We are at a classic impasse, it and I.

But that brings me no peace. We may both desire the impossible, but it feels no sorrow.

Edit: I am without words, but only because my heart tonight is lightened.

( Private to Yuugi )

[OOC: Takes place after this RP.]

I suppose you could say I was lured out this afternoon. I had to correct a business transaction that wasn't going as smoothly as I had hoped. I didn't want to leave the house attend, but my presence was somewhat necessary. On a positive note, I believe I just protected about 300 people's jobs.

( Private )

That's all.

Be silent in that solitude,

Which is not loneliness- for then

The spirits of the dead, who stood

In life before thee, are again

In death around thee, and their will

Shall overshadow thee; be still.

- Edgar Allan Poe

...

( Private )

( Screened for Dartz's household )

[OOC: Takes place after this section of this RP.]