Γ 18

[silk_for_calde]

It's odd to watch the weather grow cold here. It was winter when I left Viron-- although admittedly an unseasonably warm winter-- and summer when I arrived here. Have I lost half a year, or gained it? Certainly it's unusual to have to ask such a question.

I have been reading a little about this upcoming holiday. It seems that there is a vast difference-- not only with Christmas, but with the other holidays I've seen celebrated here-- between the religious aspect of the festival and the way in which it is celebrated. Which is not necessarily a criticism; although as I understand it, it is often cited as one. We've less celebrations in my whorl, it seems; and generally there is less of a... secular celebration. Only special services in the manteion, usually.

I've been thinking of writing a book about my whorl, though I doubt I'd be any better as an author than as a speaker. I haven't been able to find any in the Library; not even a copy of the Chrasmologic Writings. At least... not a whole copy. I find pieces, passages, that seem to be too close for coincidence...

Well; that is a mystery to keep in mind, I suppose. I wonder whether anyone would read such a book, were I to write it; but perhaps the act of writing it would be good for me.

Comments

[letslip.livejournal.com]

... you never know, right? Maybe someone will. Read it.

[silk_for_calde]

Perhaps... If nothing else it might serve to sate someone's curiosity in the future. I am sure I am not the only one to whom the City seems a unique opportunity to learn of other whorls.

[letslip.livejournal.com]

I assume whorls is your word for world? Surely not, then.

[silk_for_calde]

It is; I'm sorry, it's a difficult habit to break.

[letslip.livejournal.com]

It's no problem, I just wanted to make sure.

[silk_for_calde]

The language we speak in Viron is nearly the same as the language spoken here, but the occasional points of difference can be... confusing.

[letslip.livejournal.com]

Of course! It's interesting enough, just thinking that other worlds exist!

[silk_for_calde]

It is-- that is something I wouldn't have dreamed of, before I came here.

Have we spoken before? I can't recall; if not I ought to introduce myself. My name is Silk.

[letslip.livejournal.com]

No, we haven't- I'm sorry.

Pleasure to meet you, Silk. I'm... Carmine.

[doujin-dork.livejournal.com]

I probably wouldn't be able to understand any of it. What's Christmas like where you're from?

[silk_for_calde]

Actually, we don't have it. Nor most of the holidays people have referred to in the City, really.

[doujin-dork.livejournal.com]

Ah- really?

So . . . this would be your first Christmas, then?

[silk_for_calde]

Indeed, it will be. Though curiously, it marks a day when I received a great gift from the Outsider; I would have celebrated it anyway, were it not a holy day, here.

[doujin-dork.livejournal.com]

It's really great! I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

[doujin-dork.livejournal.com]

What kind of gift?

[silk_for_calde]

I'm rather looking forward to it. I enjoyed Halloween and Thanksgiving immensely.

The Outsider-- a god of my whorl, if I have not mentioned-- spoke to me on the twenty-fifth of Nemesis, as we call the month.

[doujin-dork.livejournal.com]

Mm, that's good.

Ah- Really? That's really impressive! What did they say?

[silk_for_calde]

It was... as though the world had stopped, and in the time past time, I heard his voice. That he had always been speaking to me, but that I finally heard it.

He told me to save my manteion; among a great many things. But in a sense my task may be the most important among them.

[doujin-dork.livejournal.com]

Woah! That's pretty impressive!

What's a manteion? Did you finish the task, then?

[silk_for_calde]

It was an indescribable honor.

A manteion is-- I cannot remember the nearest word, if there is one. As an augur it is where I reside, where I offer sermons and sacrifices to the gods. A man was looking to buy it-- had bought it already, in fact-- for the price of the taxes we owed to the Juzgado.

I haven't yet accomplished my task; I ended up here in the midst of everything.

[doujin-dork.livejournal.com]

[Aaaaand that description probably just made everything worse, because what?!] Ah, well, I'm sure you'll do fine when you go back home.

[livingmyths.livejournal.com]

I would read it!!!

[silk_for_calde]

I'm always happy to tell you stories of my whorl, whether I write them out or not.

[livingmyths.livejournal.com]

And I'm always happy to listen or read!

[silk_for_calde]

It is good that I have such a willing audience!

Do you celebrate Christmas where you are from, Rain?

[livingmyths.livejournal.com]

Not... not me so much. But yes, my world does.

Just street kids don't really get to so much.

But I like the lights and stuff.

[silk_for_calde]

I understand. I'm sorry, I don't mean to bring up unpleasant memories...

The decorations are striking, aren't they? I'm not sure if I would want to put a tree in my home-- it seems a little excessive somehow-- but it is pretty to look at.

[livingmyths.livejournal.com]

It's okay. They're not exactly bad. Just not good or special really.

Tony said he'd help me decorate a live tree in the woods - but not with lights and things, with stuff for the animals and birds!

[silk_for_calde]

That's a lovely idea, and certainly less wasteful than cutting one down would be. May I come see the decorations?

[livingmyths.livejournal.com]

Yes, I didn't want a tree to die for me.

And of course you can come see! You can even help if you want!