PARADISA

A rather belated happy vernal equinox, to those here for whom it is a celebration. I was a bit caught up in work myself, but it's good to know at least the weather will be warming up. And we still have May Day, eh? Nice and traditional, that one. [If you are slowly gaining the sense that Clow is fond of celebrations - well, you'd be right. Parties are great]

And speaking of work, the Upper Crust is now open again, although the lighting remains somewhat more... intimate than previously. If you have suggestions for pastries or related baked goods you'd like to see sold, I'm more than welcome to ideas. Always good to try new things~

恭喜發財

[Clow's calligraphy is immaculate, and he follows it up with a translation out loud.]

Congratulations and be prosperous. And it's good to see the Castle has decided to be a little less.... Euro-centric, this year. I'll have fireworks on the roof again tonight, like last year.

[OOC: Open for fireworks action!]

It's one thing to know that places have changed in your absence - that time moves on without you, and that particularly in the castle, 'time' is a loose construct at best - and another to actually see it with your own eyes.

To me, the last time I was in Tokyo proper was perhaps six months ago, and the year was, by the Western calendar, 1920. Suffice to say it seems quite a bit has changed since then.

[There's a smear of what is very obviously blood as Clow opens the journal, and begins to talk. He sounds... calm. Just like his usual self even.]

Everyone has at least some idea of the power and the beauty in blood - life-blood, heart-blood, what keeps us alive. Makes us walk, makes us talk. Blood-red - we call it that, but I've never seen anything else which quite matches it's hue, it's vibrancy.

[As he talks, he's tracing magical symbols, both Chinese and Western, onto the page, in the blood on his finger tips. They form a rough circle, and he starts connecting them with lines, simpler sigils]

Only mages know the true power blood offers, though - the power to make, the power to break - that lies within every person. With blood -

[There's a sudden jerk, his hand smearing part of the circle he'd been drawing, and his voice changes to angry, and maybe, just a little fearful]

No, I won't let you take me, you monsters. I'd rather die before giving false confession to you

[Clow has found a nice little section of the long hallway to... redecorate. Though it's hard to see the symbols and the circle inscribed on the ground in blood. What is clear, however, is the blood on his hands and the marks he's drawn on his face in it. You can't be sure who's it is, though given that he's carved some of the symbols into his own skin, there's a decent chance, at least, that it's his. He's spending his time shouting at people who aren't there, and... waiting.]

[There's a smudge of ash on the journal, where Clow opens it, and then he speaks, a certain cold irritation underlying his tone.]

It looks like the Castle is trying to give us a scare. Wonderful.

[He sighs, and then when he continues, he sounds a little more like himself]

For the time being, the pie shop is closed due to the damage from the earthquake the other day. I'm not quite sure for how long, though I suppose I may as well take the time and do some redecorating as well. I'll make an announcement when we're ready to re-open.

[Filtered to employees at the pie shop]

If you help with clean-up, I'll pay you your normal wage. At the shop or around town - we're not the worst-damaged building there.

I very nearly let this slip my mind, with the lack of reminders around here, but a conversation with someone tripped my memory.

Happy lunar new year, everyone. Even if I doubt we could all agree on what year it is.

I'll be up on the roof just after dusk with fireworks, if anyone wants to join me.

[open for evening fireworks action on the roof]

There are handmade chocolate truffles in the kitchen, for those who like such things. A few different flavors, too, though I may have forgotten to label the plates.

[He didn't forget, it's just more amusing this way. None of them are particularly hideous, but not everyone like espresso]

[Filtered to adults]

The ones with alcohol in them are in the cabinets above the second stove.

[/Filter]

Merry Christmas, everyone.

It's always a little irritating to only understand a divination in hindsight, though I suppose that's the nature of the beast. For what it's worth - I would advise against scrying on the castle, if you have the ability. And I think our losses are going to prove near-impossible to retrieve.

( [Filtered to Howl] )

( [Filtered to Felix] )

[Clow's script is very nearly as elegant as that on the invitations. Just because he feels like being fancy about this. Though the ink is plain black, at least]

To the Kings of Fall and Summer,

Whomever you may be, your invitation is most gracious, and most delightfully accepted.

-Clow Reed

( [Vanyel] )