[[half interlude/half open post + entropy manipulation: a fatalistic warning]]

[forgethertoo]

FOR EVERYONE

Aornis is mildly irritated. For all everyone in this place talks about fresh starts and second chances, she doles out some measly nightmares and eradicates a few non-essential memories and all of a sudden, everyone is acting as though they've discovered a grand villainous conspiracy. It's irritating because she should feel flattered that she's caused this much trouble with so little action. After all, she can sense it. Every mention, every ping.

The problem is, the current situation doesn't feel evil enough. Would her brother Acheron be proud of her for what she's done so far? No. It's not quite as bad as her brother Styx's "evil deeds" but it all feels rather pathetic. She's well aware that she's the villain of this place, in terms of the narrative. That particular narrative intent is so strong, it's nearly hitting her over the head with it. Although she can't tell who the hero is supposed to be, it is perhaps time to fully step into that role. She is a Hades, after all.

At the moment, she's debating her options. She could just wipe everyone's memory and start fresh. That would be the easiest way to handle this situation. It's a distinct possibility. There's a slight issue with that plan... but she's taking care of it. Aornis is currently rolling over these issues with a Moscow mule somewhere public, if anybody would like to speak with her...


FOR SOMEONE IN PARTICULAR

It's a small coincidence. Very small in the grand scheme of things. In a hallway off to the side of the main area of the mansion, a sheet of paper sits on the floor, undiscovered and unnoticed up until now. Perhaps it was dropped by Susan and Lancelot when they were moving the boxes of papers inside. It's an application for a library card; very nondescript in nature. Name (William Jones), DOB (January 13th), Sex (M), City and State (Boston, MA). The rest is blank as if whoever started filling it out had been interrupted.

Comments

[vineleaves]

"Oh that sounds miserable! At least you don't have to worry about a war here. Silver linings?"

[forgethertoo]

"The war isn't too terrible. In the past one hundred and thirty years, there's only been seven years of active conflict. Fascinating peace talks in Paris, though."

[vineleaves]

"Still, wars are never fun, even when they're cold." He takes a sip of his wine. "But let's not talk of that, as I said, it's no fun. What hobbies do you have, when you're not in Mallorca partying? Get out to the theater much?"

[forgethertoo]

"Sometimes, on the West End," she replies. "I also love shopping." Mostly, shop-lifting.

[vineleaves]

Despite whatever concerns he may have had going in to this conversation, he starts to relax a little. She's definitely not a goddess, and honestly they seem to have several things in common. "If your world is so different from mine, there's probably a whole host of plays that exist for you, but not for me. That's... honestly a little wild to think about. I know every play, you see, from my universe, anyway. What have you seen when you've gone? Maybe if they don't exist for me, whenever the library decides to cooperate again I could talk it into getting me a copy of the scripts."

[forgethertoo]

"I went and saw Cardenio a while back -- or at least, what the playwrights thought was Cardenio." The lost Shakespeare play. Aornis had heard a rumor that someone had discovered the actual manuscript and that Thursday Next was involved in the whole ordeal, but she never heard what actually came of it.

[vineleaves]

"Cardenio! Oh, what I'd give to see that one again! I asked Will if he would type up another copy of it for me sometime and he said he didn't want to. More or less. His actual response was... longer than that. Not important now. How was the production you saw?"

[forgethertoo]

"Middling," she says, tone mildly disappointed. "Luscinda was nuanced and heart-wrenching but Don Fernando was like a bull in a china shop with the lines he had."

[vineleaves]

"That's too bad. At least it wasn't a total loss though! I find there's usually at least one good thing in any production, no matter how otherwise terrible." He's also incredibly biased.

[forgethertoo]

"Oh, I've seen plenty of good plays as well. My world is obsessed with all things Shakespeare."

[vineleaves]

"...When you say your whole world is obsessed with him, how do you mean? Because he's incredibly popular in my world too, but I'm not sure that's how I would describe it."

[forgethertoo]

"There's a Shakespeare theme park and merchandise everywhere. His plays are performed as they're written -- but for the more casual audience, there's a call and response version as well. I've learned that this isn't... typical."

[vineleaves]

“That sounds so fun! I wish I could visit!”

[forgethertoo]

"Maybe if we ever figure out how to get out of here."

[vineleaves]

"So far I haven't been able to figure out any sort of way for any of us to get away, I don't guess you've had any other luck?" To be fair he hasn't tried, he's sort of just taken everyone's word on it. "You could come to my world and meet the man. He's been living in New York for the past however many years it's been since I brought him back."

[forgethertoo]

Aornis gives him a wry little smile. "Believe me, if I knew how to leave here and travel, I would."

[vineleaves]

“I cannot believe we have lived in this house together for so long and I had no clue I was missing out on such lovely conversation! Oh I do wish we had spoken sooner!” It certainly would have helped his conversation with Laertes from the other day if he could have simply let him know not to worry. There’s clearly nothing menacing about her at all.

[forgethertoo]

"I'm always around for a chat," she says, slightly bemused by his enthusiasm. "Travel, fashion, drinks. I was in Paris for a fashion show when I was pulled here."

[vineleaves]

"I was in Arizona, visiting with some friends. Woke up the morning after a party and there was snow everywhere and I was not dressed for the cold, it was terrible."

[forgethertoo]

"I arrived when the weather was still mild, but it's nothing compared to the Canary Islands or Bali."

[vineleaves]

"A trip to the beach sounds perfect right about now. Taking a nice nap in the sand while everything's warm... that's what I need right now, I think."

[forgethertoo]

"Well, according to the calendar, there's only four and a half months until summer." That does sound terrible.

[vineleaves]

“Ugh! Don’t remind me! It ought to be spring by now, I should be meeting my sister¹ for our annual catch up parties, instead it’s snowing and there’s limited food and no grocery store to restock from.”

1. sister/cousin/aunt

[forgethertoo]

"If this place has a specific genre, it must be a tragedy."

[vineleaves]

"Oh, no, don't say all that. If we don't admit it out loud we can still pretend this is a comedy. We're just in that usual point of act two when things slow down a bit so the actors can catch their breaths before the big happy showstopping finale. Don't worry, I'm sure we're all going to be fine." He offers a smile.