Once Upon a Time...

I think this is the first time I'm ever had to wonder why I have so many cleaning products. I mean, the answer is fairly obvious... I tend to clean a good deal. However, there are bottles everywhere of the stuff.

Windex seems particularly unpleasant, today. The smell is awful, isn't it?

I hesitate to get rid of them all, though. I don't suppose somebody would mind holding them for me..? Just for today.

All of my tools have rhinestone-covered handles, it seems. That's sort of funny, I guess... I don't really get it, but that's okay. It's fine as long as they still work, and it's not as silly as some other things that are going on today.

Kay, are you settling back in alright? I'm sorry that I'm not sure how to address it, this time. Nothing much has changed here in a few days, of course, but if you need anything you can always let me know.

I think I'd like to go fishing soon. The weather seems right for it and I haven't been in a long while. I'm not sure about the waters around here, however. The tales of something unsavory in the pond...

Well, I've been swimming there, too, and nothing happened. I suppose that fishing wouldn't be any more risky than swimming. Guess I'll just have to try it and see.

This apartment might also be subject to a mid-season cleaning, soon. I've been here long enough so that I've accumulated more than I need. Yes, I'll add that to my list of projects.

Well. We're going to need a lot of Drano, aren't we?

Well, it's most usually best to tell the truth, anyway. The occasional masking might not do much harm, but it's likely better to be honest when you can.

Perhaps we can use it as a day to break a bad habit or two, at least those of you who make a habit of fibbing. It also wouldn't be a bad day for questions and answers, for people with curiosities.

Do be careful though, everyone.

That was rather rattling, wasn't it? I had quite a time cleaning up after it, here. Perhaps attending to the Palace, as well, will prove further distraction. It's not so bad, in that sense.

Lancelot, now that I rightfully owe you a day of my time, I'm afraid I should say that I'm not sure when I'll be able to follow through with that. There are matters that I must see to before I'll be even remotely decent company. That you for the donation, however. I wasn't sure about being a part of an auction for Miss Waldorf's funds, but I suppose it worked out well enough.

Now, there are still problems to be solved.

Photographs. I've never really had any, now that I think about it. I suppose I never caught on. It's fascinating, though, to see things just standing still like that. Maybe unsettling, because I don't know that I ever got used to the idea.

I've found a couple I'd like to keep, though. I hope that I can. ( I think they're rather lovely, at least. )

Oh, but I hope I don't run into anything too embarrassing! I guess that's happened today, too. I wouldn't want to keep those, now would I?

[[ooc; Cut not IC, apologies for the word bubble. He's already abandoned this, and it mostly blabbing to forget about it. Feel free to find. <3]]

Oh. In all of the fuss, I'd nearly forgotten... Of course I'd return here, wouldn't I?

Could anybody tell me what day it is? I know I said I'd only be gone a few days, but these things are hard to judge from one place to another.

Apart from that, I think I might like to sleep for a bit.

[[ooc; Back from update, fresh from a funeral.]]

Oh, my. Look at the time. It's very odd, but I can't help but think that I've somewhere I need to be or something I need to do. I suppose it deserves a look-see, either way.

Kay, I suppose I'll be stepping out for a few days, and I hope that's no too inconvenient for you. Do be careful, won't you? I cleaned up this morning, so everything ought to be in its proper place.

Pinocchio, I hope you'll stay well-behaved while we're out.

And now... To whatever may happen.

Well, I suppose that was interesting. Even as someone familiar with goblins, trolls, dragons and the like, dinosaurs are a new one on me. It's sort of odd to think about, but there are lives perpetuated by stories. A lot of things that you wouldn't believe to be real exist because there are people who, in a sense, do believe in them.

But there aren't stories about dinosaurs, you know, because there was nobody around to start them. So, maybe they're really more fantastic than anything from a story. They're certainly very mysterious and interesting.

I always liked the exhibits at the Natural History Museum, anyway. I wasn't ever much for books or science or any of that, but looking at those giant skeletons and figurines was pretty cool.

Our suspect, so to speak, has be found and retrieved. The Corinthian has been brought to the Palace, as per Prince Charming's suggestion for a holding cell.

I'd like to know a why, but I'm not sure he has much in the way of reasoning or remorse for his crimes. Perhaps I'm not to one to say, however. Do think about how you treat him, however, and take care. If you do anything terrible, don't tell me. To think that I'd have...

I try to make Haven a justly-named place. I think that I've succeeded, but I know that I will have to work to maintain this, no doubt. There are very particular lines that set this kingdom apart from what it was very, very long ago, and there are times when the two places blur in my mind. (But then, who would I be to deny that things in my mind tend to do an especial amount of blurring at times?)

Haven as it was was just as beautiful, and far more uniform. The name slips, and I'm not completely sure what it might've been, but it was my father's kingdom. I remember that our people were most usually gentle, and were wildly known throughout the lands as having a good work ethic. Even as the son of a king, my father took care to make me realize the value in hard work. Henry was my most constant companion and a good friend, and we attended to our own affairs for so much as we were allowed. He was a brilliant shot. We went hunting a good deal, and Henry was way better at it than I ever was. Then there's the wood, and the pond, and I felt water-logged even for some time after my marriage. My girls loved the gardens and my boys the forests, and they were all given fair warning about witches.

That is what I remember, anyway.

Haven as it is is a bit more rag-tag. We are the living and the dead, ghosts and gobs, and it's not nearly as scary as that may sound. The castle is built up from where my father's fell, amazingly restored by Weyland Smith. The city and the fields are growing. The houses and crops and families are a sight to behold. It's built from the ground-up, and every citizen has contributed a vast amount, more that I ought to have asked of anyone. There are baseball and soccer leagues for the children, provision for everyone, and lovely rose gardens. Apparently, if I should every host any important guests or provide holiday celebrations, I've got that covered for me, as well. I'd like to have a proper Christmas, and I'd like to have a band of some sort. I was given a task to accomplish, in the beginning, and I hope that I've done it well.

Oh. Oh, my.

... I suppose I'm counted among the affected.

How uncomfortable. No offense meant.

I'm reminded of-- Well, no. I don't know if I'm remembering properly.

Kay? I seem to have gotten a deal shorter. Would you happen to have anything that may fit me that I could borrow. I'll wash it, of course.

My sincerest apologies to anyone I may have bothered the other day. I was among the cursed, as it goes. I should probably thank everyone, as well, for not swashing me flat.

But we move on to bigger and better things, don't we? Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope that you find the holiday enjoyable.

( ooc; )

Hey! Riiib! Who took my pond!? Here I am, just minding my own business and waiting for my fortune, and *poof*! Completely new location.

... Have I mentioned, ribbit, how much I dislike when things go *poof*?

The good news is: I'm around people. And about half of people, if you didn't know, are girls! And at least half of them must be (ribbit!) beautiful girls, specifically.

So... Somebody out of that percentage must be willing to donate a kiss to a cursed prince, right?

C'mooon! I can make your life wonderful, you know!

Kay went out visiting a couple of nights ago, and he hasn't come back. I didn't think of that much of his staying out for a night, but after this has happened... He didn't even tell me who he went to go and see, or where, and so I don't have much of a way to check and see if they're alright.

I hope that they are. I'll probably go out and look, anyway, because I don't think I'll be able to stay here much longer. They aren't magic, and so even the places I've established won't hold them back or stop them. I can, however, make rather quick escapes.

I hope everyone's managing. This is sort of... Distressing, after all. I'd appreciate hearing from you, of course, and do tell me if you need help. I'm free to provide.

I think that, in the end, it's really best to look forward.

Which isn't to say that memories should not be dear, or that bad memories should be disregarded. They are all very important. It's reasonable to have regrets and for your thoughts to linger on whatever you may have lost, but I wouldn't count it best to wallow in that regret. (In fact, the last time I tried it, I got quite the scolding.) One must always try to push forward, I suppose, to preserver despite circumstances.

Oh, yes. That's all very easy to say. The truth is, though, that days like this rather hurt my feelings, as well.

I do believe in the above now, however. The best I can offer anyone who may be distressed today is that encouragement.

Thank goodness the street are navigable again, and I prevented any horrific messes from happening where they ought not to, at least when it comes to my own spaces.

Maybe I wouldn't have thought it, not too long ago, but I have very much to be thankful for. To list it all would probably take forever, and I probably couldn't even comprehend all of the reasons. For having good friends, for having a good, comfortable home, for the end of the war, for Haven and her citizens, for our farmlands and gardens and houses and families... See? I'd only be tiresome if I listed them all.

I do hope that the people who've earned my thanks know who they are, though.

Kay, I'm afraid I'm not a very good cook at all, so I've taken the liberty of ordering a smaller dinner. Anyone at all is welcome to join us, of course. I can always order more.

Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn.
The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn.
Where is the boy that looks after the sheep?
He's under the haystack, fast asleep.
Will you wake him? No, not I
For if I do, he will surely cry.

In case you hadn't heard it. Just so everyone's aware.

[[ooc: Because of this. Oh dear.]]

Oh, here we are! I finally found something to wear out trick-or-treating! The goggles might be a bit much after dark, but the hat's swell. Not too complicated, but it gets the point across.

I'll remember to keep an eye out for the sort of sweets you're after, Kay. I'm sure I'll be able to bring back plenty.

The decorations today are lovely, too. How exciting!

Have fun everyone, whatever you do, and please be safe about it.