Diary
See disclaimer in Entry #1
:The Promised Land:
Summers are warm here in Riviera.
I like the lazy days more than I would have expected. I usually suffer from a complex of always having to be doing something, but even the somethings worth doing are far between now, though they very well aren't few. But being able to live life as if I'm more or less normal is new, and I'll enjoy it for as long as it's something to enjoy.
Besides, inactivity can only last me for so long.
Cierra's on the verge of a breakthrough down at Nelde; she hasn't been home in weeks, but she wants me to come down to see her as soon as I can. It's so typical. It's not just her being clingy, though—I know she's worried that she'll mess up an experiment unless she has supervision of some sort. She needs to build up her self-esteem, but we both laugh about it, so I doubt it's anything that critical. She'll learn one day, she can do anything she puts her mind to, mishaps or not. After all, she is the Scarlet Witch who saved Riviera.
Fia's setting up to drag me on another of her whirlwind tours of Riviera's shrines, too. She likes the travel as much as she likes the peace of prayer itself, but why exactly this requires me is something I don't really understand. Oh, well. I like journeys, too—the uneventful kind. I still don't want any more excitement, though—saving the world and the aftereffects of doing so have supplied as much of that as I'll ever need.
Then, there's Lina and her treasure fetish. She's just caught wind of some new rumors of legendary items stashed away in a local forest, and she's all set to haul the rest of us along with her. It's so characteristic of her—she can't sit still for a minute, even now. She's so madly in love with her own case of wanderlust that she's blind to our disinterest. Still, she wouldn't be Lina if she did take notice, and she's a comfort in herself these days.
It's not like Serene particularly enjoys sitting still, either, although I've had to work to avoid getting forced onto her crusade to reclaim Lacrima and Rosalina from the demons who (despite everything) still have a comfortable hold on it. If there's one thing I know I'm sick of, it's fighting—still, I suppose I owe Serene for all her support during my darkest days, so I'll have to face up to her someday soon.
And then there's Rose. She'd told me once or twice that she'd been thinking of writing something about our little quest—and she's halfway through her grotesquely extensive chronicle of our travels, as well as Riviera's history and the stories of Asgard that are entwined with its history. Right now she's researching a group of the old Grim Angels who died defending Heaven's Gate from the demon armies, and she keeps trying to prod me into helping her out, in part because one of the Grim Angels was also called Ecthel and she thinks that should hold my interest, and in part because—well, because she's Rose, and she wouldn't get any enjoyment out of life without torturing me.
In between all these insane girls who are trying to run my life, I've found time to help the Sprites of Elendia strengthen and expand their small village. I like that kind of work more than I'd ever have expected—building homes, plowing fields, just doing the simple, ordinary, everyday things that everyone does. It's still a novelty to me, and I truly do cherish being able to put my back into some kind of work other than fighting all the time.
And I also have to find the time to look back over what we've—what I've done, and the ones who were lost along the way. Ursula. Seth, even. Malice. …And Ledah, of course. I have to remember those who didn't make it, who maybe should've, or could've even if I'd chosen some different path. I have to think back on how important life is to us all, and be grateful for their sacrifices. And every time I do… the pain becomes easier to deal with, to the point where I'll be able to live with this burden someday—and live the share of life that they deserved for them.
Summers are warm here in the Promised Land.
I think I like it that way.
:owari:
THANK YOU
Readers, for putting up with my long hiatuses while working on other things. Okay, that's one less excuse I have for not getting my butt going on The Tainted. Heheh. Well, you've borne with me and my laziness for this long, so maybe you'll bear with me on that, too.
Muses—all nine of you—for "inspiring" me and managing me with whip and chair. Specifically to Sephy, Stroud, Ghaleon and Karst, whose jurisdiction this fic fell under… and to Envy, for keeping back the irritable readers demanding updates. I love you, even if you are crazy Nazgûl bent on driving me entirely insane before I turn twenty.
Everybody at LCN, for being infatuated with Riviera (though maybe not as much as I am…) and for putting up with me and my "yaoi monster"-ness for so long. You're all great. Now start submitting to my Icontests before I have to hurt you. Grrr.
And everyone else who I should be mentioning but for whatever reason am not. It only took me the entire school year for me to finish this, and it's… what… twenty-seven chapters long, including the interlude? Not too bad, considering my past records of keeping things ongoing for years at a time with no end in sight (coughShadowedHeart, coughKokoronoHanashi). Read my other stuff while you're waiting for me to update, or read some of the other fine fiction on this site. But don't attack me, because MY BISHIE HAS A GUNDAM AND I'M NOT AFRAID TO USE IT.
He'll tell me how to get the lock off the OS if I ask him nicely. ;D