For me the year ended yesterday. And what a year it was. One which was filled with many firsts and unexpected encounters, some good, some nearly fatal. But I would do it all again if it meant the same outcome… For the first time in many, I look toward the new year with an unusual peace of mind.

It should not surprise me so much to realise the tasks I give myself to aid this town are similar in nature to my time as ambassador. 700 or so years is a long time to build a habit. These things are not so easy to move on from wanting to do.

Now that I’ve had time to settle back in from it all… It may have been too soon for such a lengthy excursion. Though my health has endured, it’s my stamina that is somewhat still lacking after the events of earlier this year.

And now the reports of higher-class Shushu wreaking havoc elsewhere… An agitating coincidence, this timing. Just this once, let it be someone else’s problem.

Ah… Cameron is no more. Left behind is only an empty thing. Can’t even take pictures anymore… I was responsible for him, so I feel a sense of regret. But perhaps it was like adopting an ancient bow-meow, and providing them a comfortable place to expire. I knew him when even I was young.

But with each passing year, I find I’ve gotten more sentimental in my great age. Too often the end of the year brings up a lot of those old memories.

The cold season has arrived. I’ve found myself spending most of my free time helping with the community pantry. It brings to mind the days tending to that bunch of at-the-time nameless orphans and the shelter later constructed for them.

The mayor of this town has enlisted my help to cook for a community event of sorts. I can only guess what led to this…

…800 or so years, and only now am I beginning to understand how sleep deprived I may have been for a majority of that long life. But when you live with something for long enough, it becomes your normal condition.

A tiny kid asked for my help today to carry his groceries home. His only parent is at the end of life, too weak to move from bed, and so he was out alone, responsible and determined and much too young to have to be. In him I saw myself.

This fridge in which nothing spoils has been such a boon in my life. It can be difficult to make portions just for myself. Habit sees me preparing enough for three all too often…

It has been some time since I’ve seen a rooftop sunrise. Such a simple pleasure.

So ends a month of hardships and recovery. I feel as though a greater sense of normality has been restored to me.

It’s a relief to be back to normal meals again. As much as I can appreciate the reasoning, I wasn’t built for eating only fruit and light things…

Where to begin…

More and more I find this house to be unbearable. No amount of personalisation or any such courtesy can make it into a home. Perhaps it’s too big, too empty, too haunted. I find myself wishing to sleep anywhere else lately.

…I could do without the multiverse pulling pranks on me on this day. Or any other day, for that matter.

A constant truth of this world is there will always be battles, and there will always be wreckage left behind and pieces to pick up afterwards. There will be soldiers wounded and reaching for comfort but too far gone to receive it, and regular civilians in disarray.

The kids were sad to see me go, but less so with a home-cooked meal in their bellies and promises of treats next time I visit, hopefully.

I’ve spent the majority of this week helping out with an orphanage overseen by the same group who helped establish mine in Bonta back in the day. I didn’t intend to stay for long, but when these tiny Ecaflip kittens are pawing at my sleeves begging me to, how can I refuse?

With age comes an inescapable grief. For people, for places, for experiences. To tell you it ever stops would be to make myself a liar. The pain doesn’t go away, no. It simply changes, day to day. But slowly, eventually, you learn to live with it.

There is nothing quite as satisfying as the feel of a freshly sharpened chef’s knife.

Busy, busy… Running around for the king at this pace, you would think I never retired.

To think I expected to have time to tell stories… Bonta calls.

I spent so much time away from this place, now I wonder what’s worth saying here. I could tell stories, perhaps. There was the recent encounter with a brigand mage, or the similar incident with a giant made of stone and magic encased in a spelled gem…

I didn’t know how much I had come to rely on this device until after it was broken. But one durable replacement and some backups later, and we are back to business.

Old Bonta is no more. Though I saw it begin to flood with my own eyes, confirmation of its total collapse reached me but recently. Some will mourn it. Many more will forget it. But hardly any will remember it as I did.

@peta-star.bsky.social Perhaps you would be interested in becoming my personal tailor? I’m afraid my usual one is closing up shop. And I’ve just had a difficult encounter with a certain dragon.

And there you go, back to operational. The problem with spending a week underground is that this communication device couldn’t charge. But what a fine voyage this detour turned into. It will take many more visits to see it all, but what I did see of that world was impressive.

But isn’t that an unexpected change of plans. The teleportation device sent me… somewhere other than where I intended to go, and now it is unresponsive. It needs only to recharge, so it doesn’t worry me. But this is not a place I recognise.

Enough time has passed since I moved in. Perhaps it’s time for a new adventure, and soon. See how it feels to return to the house once all is said and done.

In grief there are things that will be painful. But you need to do them.

It’s no Luis, but it’s at least a house. After three years without one, it’s about time.

// Exploring themes of immortality and overcoming grief. ► Carrd: liminalstasis.carrd.co [ #DofusRP | #WakfuRP | #MVRP ]

// more formal starter call for descriptive format threads!

Vacations weren’t something I was afforded often in my work. And now without work in my way, I thought them unnecessary. But maybe this one was exactly what I needed. It’s only a shame it’s almost over.

// why not!

[starter for @samsonegypt.bsky.social ] Joris is not one to be caught off guard, but when he catches glimpse of the stranger’s impressive physique from afar, he jolts in the slightest. To say he doesn’t recognise the towering individual would be an understatement, but neither is he intimidated.

[starter for @theravenette.bsky.social ] It doesn’t matter how he got there, but Joris stands now, out of place in a world such as this, looking in at a book storefront window. His head just barely clears the sill, and he holds his arms folded behind his back as he assesses what’s on display.

// starter call; like for an interaction! these will be in descriptive format

Ah, of course. Much to do. Always much to do.

In any case, the experience of trying new foods is what I’ve come to enjoy the most about this multiverse.

This time of year, give or take a few months, always brings to mind going on prolonged quests. Too many of my grandest adventures took place in the colder months.

After 800 years, a sunset is just a sunset. But sometimes there are things that make them special again.

Ah, Brakmar humbles me with reminders that even after more than 120 years, a retired ambassador of Bonta is still recognisable and not welcome.

So troublesome, these minor Shushu. Driving their peddlers mad enough to sell them for only a few kamas just to escape their heckling. This little treasure chest was not the Shushu I came looking for, but still it’s a familiar face. And now I’m stuck bringing him along to find the other. Superb.

And finally there is a new lead. But this time it’s a Shushu I’m after and not a regular item. Compared to the last few things I retrieved, this may just be easy.

// Exploring themes of immortality and overcoming grief. ► Canon-divergent timeskip AU of Joris Jurgen. 600 → 810 years old ► Retired diplomat turned multiverse wanderer ► Reserved, earnest, complex ► Posts are IC ► Muse and writer are adults [ #DofusRP | #WakfuRP | #MVRP ] liminalstasis.carrd.co

@aegless.bsky.social So, what do you say to a meeting today?

It feels as though it was only recently that I complained of the heat, and now there is a chill in the air. How quickly the seasons change when you travel.