Musings

Oh boy, here goes

Dear Miss Hartwig,

We've not spoken before but my name is Jim Whitmire. You might have seen my abuse of forum posts before, concerning the theater that I run. The Magic Store happens to be an eclectic collection of Creations who work together to put on the best entertainment they can. We're known for our skits, situational comedy, and our ghost. Or two, considering what happened to a recent - bad idea Jim Recently we hosted a guest act and found our numbers rising. I know you're in high demand, even though you've recently gone on hiatus, but I was wondering if you'd be interesting in participating at the Magic Store?

Thanks for your time,

Jim Whitmire

in between the walls and the walls have pain. she said but she didn't say, she spent a lot of time here. you can see it. there are stains, worn places for the fingers to find, places on the edges of the bed. you touch them and you know what she was like

meeting places, gathering places.

1. they bring together

2. they separate. inside you there is a magnet, and we all hold one. some of them have opposing polarities, they snap together like they were meant to be connected. some of them are too much they same, and they repel. these are forces of nature. they are not to be argued with. they don't compromise.

3. sometimes you have no magnet and they put one under the skin. acupuncture. they stick the needles in and the needles are supposed to fix or improve upon various connected parts of the body, and sometimes the needles are filled with fluid and the fluid has no name and the fluid burns

4. speakers. you listen. everyone's speakers are connected to their magnets, to their natures. and when the sound flows out you know the truth.

the truth is simple. the woman knew her truth, and her truth was to jump. i couldn't save her. i could say nothing. they tell you to hush and you hush because these are the ones that bind you and these are the ones with needles and these are the ones that improve you. improvement by breakage. like the binding of feet. they shape the break into what they want to see.

Ink and carpets. They go together extremely well! They enjoy one another's company, in fact it is incredibly difficult to separate them again. Which is ...sort of my point. How do you cut the inseparability of them and get ink out of carpet that I probably shouldn't have got ink on in the first place?

It wouldn't matter much but I can't remember if that carpet belongs to me.

I also can't remember when the last time I used the forums was. Hi! I'm Will. Help?

[He skulked into the city on a stealthy scavenger hunt, sensed what he was looking for was enticingly near, and with the toothiest of grins used what little cash he had to set up shop. Wolf's arrival at Hamartia is punctuated by a merry tune as he whistles his way down the second floor. When he finds the proper apartment, there's silence. Twenty minutes or so, then the walls and floor of #204 shake: A box of something heavy is dropped. Silence again, shorter this time. Another heavy thump, then another, then another. It stops after the fourth thump.

Hamartia goes quiet (as it ever is) again. Wolf familiarizes himself with the lay of the land. Then:]

Tea shops! Stores! Cafes? No, that's coffee. Where's a body get a scone in this neck of the woods? And books! The discerning kind, what about those?

[Ring]

A head's up to people here but the Magic Store is going dark for the next week. We'll be open again next Monday. A recent influx of funds has allowed for some much needed repairs. Don't worry, we'll be back better then ever soon!

To the person responsible - on behalf of us all - thank you very much. Why did you go anonymous-?

[Locked to J. Poole & J. Wilson]

If I don't come back to my apartment for more than three nights in a row, then you worry, not before. Alright?

[Backdated to this morning]

Ring.

[Locked to M. Main]

MAX I SAW THE ARTICLES AND THEY WERE AMAZING OUR NUMBERS ARE ALREADY UP AND Miss Main, I just saw the articles - thanks for writing them. I've got a good feeling about this, but thanks again. We really needed it.

[Locked to G. Dailey]

PLEASE TELL ME YOU READ NEWSPAPERS IN THAT APARTMENT OF YOURS

[Locked to V. Graves]

Hey, erm are you still on for tonight? At the Magic Store?

[Posted in the Seattle Times on page 3, with no mention of Creations. A separate version, which uses Max's byline as a guest columnist, is posted to page 1 of the Creations Times on the same day.]

( The Seattle Times: A CRAZY THEATER GETS TOGETHER TO PUT UP A NEW SHOW EACH NIGHT, SAYS WHITMIRE )

Weapon of choice, forum: words or actions?

Why do we feel the need to be responsible for everyone's well being all at once? We have vigilantes killing people for what they think is the common good, and we have people opening Academies for the training of Creations youth, and we have people trying to be heroes and de facto kings. What is the point? What do they want to achieve, in fighting tirelessly to save a world that does not care to be saved?

Philosophical questions out of the way, since the internet can't seem to help me and no one else I've asked has been qualified to do much more than operate simple machinery and be paid minimum wage for the rest of their lives, can anyone tell me where I can find a decent rare book store in the area?

You know, once upon a time I used to love eating out. Working in a restaurant kind of ruined it for me, though; who wants to work a twelve-hour shift, and then go back to said establishment or one that's similar all over again? Plus, I'd never actually eat there; the food isn't that great The worst part is that I'm not even big on bars anymore, since I work my fair of late shifts too. Yes, I'm a waitress and a bartender - you can't survive with just one talent anymore.

Anyway, the whole point of that was to throw you off to start finding out what kind of other Creations are around to lead into this question: does anyone know of a good place to get Chinese takeout? I haven't been here too long, and since every place in the phone book claims that 'they're the best', I figured I'd try for a more unbiased opinion.

Hey JP. Remember that Varian guy I kept trying to book?

[...]

Well I did it. Can you let it slip?

Goodness, so many advertisements and things to buy and see and to do! We are springing up everywhere and doubtless there are more of us than care to use the forums and live in the same buildings or drink coffee at Verimisiltude. I have nothing to sell, nothing exciting to give for perusal, I'm afraid -- I could offer a nice line in spider-plants? Mine seem quite set on breeding and I think the dirty coffee cups are some sort of hybrid thereof. Or perhaps there's something I don't consider valuable that someone else might! There are books, of course -- but I don't really have much to do with the selling. Once I send them off, they're quite gone and it's very odd to me to see them back again in different clothes.

But the point was not to sell but to ask -- what do you all dream of? I feel as though I I'm exploring a new idea and there's always the possibility I haven't thought the way another might think and I've lost something in the doing.

[Posted late Thursday night]

Haven't heard from you in a bit, BUT GWEN YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED.

[ Private to both J. Poole and J. Whitmore ]

Peej and Jimmy~

I don't have to work tonight. At all. And it's a Saturday. Do either of you have plans? Because if you do, they've just expanded to include me because there's no way I'm staying home like a house hermit tonight.


[ Private to Z. Ramey ]

My friends suck, Zinny. One of them is being quiet and the other is going to get himself set on fire.

So I say to my manager, "Don't book me in one of these bumfuck little nowhere towns again sweetheart, or I'll pull your eyes out of your head with my nails." And he says, "Get the fuck over yourself V, it's just a show in bumfuck nowhere." And I kindly inform him that if the place doesn't have anything resembling civilization or coffee shops or nightclubs, I'm simply not interested. But he schedules us in bumfuck, nowhere anyway, and we kill, of course, because what else is there to do aside from coming to see us play the devil's music? Count corn in the fields? Stare lustfully at one's sister? Please.

My point being, the manager might be right in the sense that they like us, but not in the sense that bumfuck, nowhere is a place I want to be. Is that so difficult to understand? The fans do get cute though, like gleeful little puppies. I sort of love that.

Where was I going with this? Ah, yes.

Sweets, you can call me V. Treat me kingly and don't be unkind and we shan't have problems.

Compliments and respects to all my fellow Creations, familiar faces and otherwise -- I hope that you are faring well! Whether or not that be the case, I would like to suggest a visit to my fine establishment, where our exquisite meals and exemplary service will not disappoint you. Within Seattle’s fine dining industry, Centro remains an icon. In operation since 1986, the restaurant has undergone a complete overhaul since I took over as owner and general manager a mere eighteen months ago. If you will allow me to boast for a moment, the consistency of Centro’s new management and loyal employees has led to the cultivation of ongoing relationships with our faithful customers and remarkable recognition within the community.

Glance over our new menu! Today, we’re making special efforts to live up to our place amongst the great culinary institutions in this city. We are proud to unveil an updated, modern look in our recently renovated dining room. We have also hired an exciting new chef, a celebrated talent who shares in our commitment to pride and professionalism. Our veteran employees proudly uphold our uncompromising service orientation, and our renowned wine list has a maximum markup of 125% in our efforts to bring you the highest quality at the greatest value.

Through what we’ve changed and what we’ve kept the same, Centro continues to serve our loyal customer base while also attracting first-time patrons who are attracted to the finest culinary experience Seattle has to offer, at affordable menu prices.

Reservations granted, but not necessary! Oh, and we are always hiring.

Yours,
B. Mercer

Aliens are real.

( I have proof this time. )

Where can a girl find an old fashioned good time in this little city of ours? (Can't say I think much of sharing where it is I rest my head with an entire gaggle of you -- girl's got to think of her personal safety and all that jazz, so let's stick with drinking-hole recommendations)