The Journal of Bashir Khatara

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Qdim 20th

I helped Meadow with her makeup, which was an absolute delight. Though I do have to admit that it is surprisingly difficult to instruct someone else on how to do something that you've been doing for most of your life. Another surprising fact is that she's into Dustwink, of all people. I mean... He's odd, but out of all the Astronomers that she could've picked... Yeah, probably the most sane choice. If they go out together, I do have to wonder if he'll schedule the affair on some extremely specific date, due to his divination skills. I'm assuming divination is the reason for why he does that, anyway. "Oh, I foresee that come Tesrin Hray 17th, the Gloom of Love shall be upon us. I'll come by your place to pick you up on my magic carpet, honey."

Also, there was a tremor or something like that. Thankfully I was not applying my own kohl during that. Never did find out what caused it. I hate not knowing. Maybe it's a giant sandworm? Like a colossal one?  So many people go down to the gutters, that there's bound to be some sandworm that gets a bigger share of meals than the rest. Or maybe it's the Qa'immi, digging into the Well inside one of their strange contraptions. Or maybe it was one of the Astronomers, testing out their thesis about how "earthquakes are good, actually". In any event, I should know what happened, damn it.

Map leading to the Dakhwar? I don't buy it. That map probably belonged to Bruno, and it's going to lead to the greatest treasure of them all... Ten more issues of the Mermaid's Tale. Personally pressed by Bruno, after a bout of some night time drinking... His drink of choice? Some enchanted rum, granting him temporary divination powers. Half of the issues will be about things that have already happened after his death... The other half? Well, it's some spooky shit. All of this is more believable than whatever it is that Mevura said, I wasn't paying much attention.

Leander Nifkil was the Upstanding Gentleman all along? I suspected the man with the puns... I mean, it's the perfect cover. You make everyone think that you're just an awkward father with terrible jokes, and nobody will be the wiser if you work as an assassin in your free time. In any case, that guy is suspicious, and certainly up to no good.

Mizzar makes me too whimsical.

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

[This entry is hastily written. Ash, coffee and wine stains cover the paper, mixed into a unpleasant slurry that seems to have trailed alongside the quill's movements.]

Qdim 21st

Years of forced silence, only being allowed to speak when told to do so. Yet when I gain the freedom to do that whenever I want, every single mistake, every single misunderstanding, every single "gotcha" moment, all of them make me wish that I had been born a mute. After making something out of nothing, how can I at times wish that I had that nothing instead of what I have now? How can nothing be more comforting than something?

Yet despite my pettiness and aversion to embarassment, I won't make a vow of silence, if only because I know that I cannot commit to anything.

If being a slave is all that you know, then they'll treat you like a slave. Do this. Do that. An exchange of meaningless words, of meaningless dinari, that I won't ever spend because there is nothing meaningful to spend it on. No friendship. No affection. No meaning. "You're doing a good job." Thanks. You'll forget about it tomorrow.

His fingers bled. Blood, mixed with wine and glass. A disgusting substance to begin with, made even worse by such a haphazard mixture. Yet I did not mind. I did not want to see him hurt. Did anyone else care? Too busy barking at each other, finding someone to blame for something unrelated. More time spent on condemnations than on solutions. If any innocence resided in that room, it was stained by their bloodlust and cowardice.

Tea for four. Conversation for three. If I had embarassed myself there, they would have not cared. Yet the fear was more present than the truth. An exchange of meaningful words. Actual appreciation. For my small effort? I wish I had done more. Both on the field, and in that lovely abode. Why do I spend too much effort on those that I hate, and too little on those whose company I actually care for?

How do you begin anew?

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

[This entry marks a striking change of style. The lettering is more elaborate and stylized, as if it were written by a more practised hand than the ones preceding it.]

Qdim 22nd

I thanked Azimi. Stranger things have happened. But I can't think of many.

Oh, yeah. A coconut fell on my head. After I wished for one! It hit my head so hard that for a moment I thought that it came from a wishing palm. Or maybe I'm just really stupid. Anyhow, that coconut gave me a surge of inspiration. 

Coconut, coconut
Ripe and round
With a thrust and a cut
Tasty water is found

I don't know how pentameters work. That coconut certainly didn't make me a poet. Good, I don't want to live in squalor. More squalor. I don't want to live in more squalor.

I did practise my calligraphy during that episode of inspiration, though. Let's see here...

Scribe Bashir Khatara

Impressive. Very nice... Let's see Narwen Alendiel's quill...

Scribe Bashir Khatara

Well, that's interesting. The aspectral energies within the quill seem to be coloring my ink. I'll save Narwen's gift for fancier occasions.

What was this entry about, anyway?

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Qdim 23rd

What a boring day yesterday was. I guess Zain did invent a lighter cauldron. That's useful, but it's kind of the boring kind of useful. Although... I guess it's kind of a good thing that some things are boring? Also, Lucrecia brought me some coffee, which was a pleasant surprise. Didn't even want anything in return. She seems nice. Can't handle the heat very well, though, apparently.

Also, I think I've been messing up by giving these entries the date of the day that I'm writing them on, rather than the day that these things happened on... Who cares, nobody else reads these, thankfully. I could just die if someone did. So many embarassing things. Especially some of the entries from my youth. Knowing some here, they would inadvertently admit to reading my journal by complaining about the graphic details!

Actually... Going through some of these really old entries is rather confusing. I don't remember most of these events. I've been to Myratma, apparently? I think that's a place. Thinking of the name doesn't invite in even a residual mental image of what sort of place it could be, though. A port? I think it's a port. Yeah, it must be a port. Other than that, I don't know. Who gives a shit. I'm stuck here now.

One of the earliest entries

7th Flamerule

Watch out, Myratma! You're not ready for Bashir!

Guys

"Jinkles": Half-elf. Redhead. Gorgeous, lush hair. Running your hands through those locks feels just incredible... Amazing abs and pecs. Swims a lot, so that explains that. His last name is Inkle, hence the stupid nickname. Cute butt.

Elaris: Elf. Shoulder-length white hair. The most beautiful emerald eyes. A smile that could melt your heart... Slender. Great dancer. Helped that he isn't too tall. Nobody told me that elves could be so... gifted. Why is it always the slim guys?

Kumar: D'hin'ni. Bald. Extremely muscular. Too much is too much. I guess that's the djinni heritage showing? Maybe? Also, he's an utter asshole who does not know how to treat a boy right. He bought me whiskey! Then he laughed at me when I couldn't handle one sip! I hope I never run into him again!

Alkas(?): Half-elf(?). I just remember the name. Kind of. I think he had black hair? Maybe dark blue? Sorcerer? Would explain the blue hair? I was really drunk. I see a giant question mark in my head when I'm trying to picture him. I guess even that is better than some men, though.

[close]

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Qdim 24th

Today, so much happened that I can barely fit it into this page. Great. Now I'm going to have a backlog for my diary.

Formalizing laws is an extremely pedantic affair. So many different scenarios have to be considered, all of the relevant details have to be there without reaching excess, and no loopholes can be present. A pity that one of the laws can't simply be "use your common sense", for a plethora of reasons, one of them being that it is the resource most commonly lacking in the Well. Thankfully there is a rather easy to follow syntax.

Dickweeditude: A person found guilty of ignoring the emotional needs of others, treating other people like objects, and being, overall, an utter asshole, has committed Dickweeditude. Capital.

This law would not pass scrutiny at an assembly, simply because it would offend all the self-professed assholes and dickweeds in the city. Also, there probably is some plant that is actually called a dickweed, no doubt named by some overtly lascivious Astronomer who wrote their thesis on the matter. So, some natural philosopher would be offended too.

Oh, and I got Zain his Aspectral Prism! I can't wait to see his finished Loom! Except if he "shatters into a thousand pieces", or turns into an aspect himself! Then I'll be extremely disappointed! I don't want an "Aspect of the Zain", I want Zain! For a friend! I don't know why anyone would think I wanted something else! Even though he is cute! A cute friend! I just don't know what to say to – or about – friends because I've never really had one. Which is obvious when I actually read what I just wrote. No wonder so many seem to think there's something else going on...

A quite pleasant conversation with Alejandro, though admittedly it transformed into quite the crowd over time. I had hoped for a more private occasion. Some topics are not suitable for public consumption... At least Meadow was there. She is simply wonderful. And Alejandro did give me a book recommendation... "Men of the Legion". I certainly hope that the Inquisitor did not burn any extra copies of it... As no additional chapters to the Velan Volandis stories have been coming, I've been craving some titillating reading.

Hekatomb is dead. I spent some moments seeking someone or something to blame, but I suppose he wouldn't have wanted such himself. I guess he wouldn't have wanted anyone to be sad for too long, either. Just to live. That's difficult enough for me to begin with, because I keep getting distracted by just about anything that comes along. Does that count as living? Maybe it does. I think I'm going to be reminded of him every now and then when I light a candle. Though most of time that isn't to mourn... Rest well, Hekatomb, you are in the Martyrs' embrace now.

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Qdim 25th

Seeing people go on caravans to Izdu knows where certainly tends to awaken my inquisitiveness. Where are they going? What do they talk about during the trek? Do they actually bring along people whose only duty is to spray water at everyone? I certainly wouldn't want to be such a... waterboy, unless it involved well-proportioned men. And then you could just forget about the stupid adventure anyway.

I've been doing some light accounting. With my wages, I really should forget about buying a home. With the down payment, furniture and taxes I could only retain an abode for only a few months. A room at the Krak, on the other hand, could be maintained for a few years. Even after the additional furniture. I've noticed that I can't really sleep without having some sort of commotion going around me, which is strange, admittedly. A few months spent sleeping in the office has made me accustomed to such, surely. So the hustle and bustle of the Krak perhaps wouldn't be such an irritant as I previously thought.

Speaking of accounting, a certain Nadiri has so much debt that it truly must be a record of some sort. A true achievement in financial incompetence. Now they are a quivering ball of anxiety, for obvious reasons. I don't think I have ever had any debt, other than my debt to society, for the crime of being dangerously beautiful. Admittedly, my current hobbies – jogging, reading trashy novels, drunken dancing – are on the cheaper side, so perhaps such is not surprising. That reminds me... The fact that you can't really go swimming here is truly awful. I have a figure to maintain.

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Qdim 26th

I got the room. I don't own it, but maybe that's for the best, considering how strange it feels to own just the furniture. I've never really owned anything other than what I have on my person. And even that is relatively new. I made a mistake while ordering the furniture, and now I have a gigantic bookcase that's about four times taller than me. Filling it would take a few centuries. Getting it inside was such a hassle that I'm just going to give it away if I have to move away some day.

A man told me a joke about cigarettes, and I wasn't sure if the punchline was meant to be flirtation, since he told me it in the middle of the Plaza. In my experience such vagueness is best treated as everyday banter, unless one wants to risk a fist to the face. Now if I had been seated at the Krak, then it would have been obvious that he was coming on to me. Much like most adventurers here, he was fully clad in armor, so I have no clue what he looks like... Which means that I haven't the faintest whether I should care about his potential advances or not.

One moment a woman is telling me that I look "weak", the next she's apologizing to me in such a profuse manner that it was starting to get awkward for the both of us. Either her mood swings are as rapid as mine, or someone told her that I'm capable of finding out her entire life story, and spreading it throughout the Well due to mere spite. Do I really look like a mage, though? Everyone always asks...

I'm getting closer to fifty licenses sold. I wonder if they'll give me a medal for such? Of course they won't, nobody else will even notice. I don't even care, really. My list is getting too long though, and I'm dreading the possibility that the adhesive is going to weaken, and the whole thing will fall apart. Next time I need a list of such length, I'm just going to custom order a really long sheet of paper.

The very first entry of the journal.

16th Uktar

Ruins of Teshyll.

What are you supposed to write in these, anyway? I'll just write whatever comes to mind. A slack-jawed gnome. Standing near me. Not because he's surprised, either, his jaw is just stuck like that. He keeps drooling. Disgusting prick. He keeps it up long enough, his tiny brain is going to leak out amidst his disgusting saliva.

The caravan leader. A tall human, with a beard so thick that you can barely see his mouth. Talks so little that he might as well not have one. Some men will do anything to hide their weak chin. Amiable enough. Greedy enough. Maybe the lump sum for this caravan did buy his silence, but in a rather literal manner.

One of the guards. A half-elf. Really cute. Keeps staring at me. Not certain what for. Maybe he's into me, maybe he hates pretty boys, maybe he thinks I'm suspicious. Who knows. Who cares. He'll have to approach me first, if he wants anything. Granted, he is the only one of the guards to have some actual taste, sporting rather dashing leather armor... So, perhaps there is a chance for the sort of romance that dissolves on contact with sunlight.

The ruins themselves. A monument to opulence. A reminder of how it all started. Don't know if that djinni brought my ancestors here, don't care. Why name the country after that motherfucker? Would've preferred Harakhshan. But history couldn't be so kind. Some chains extend through time, never truly releasing their grip... What pretentious bullshit.

I need a smoke.

A budget on the next page.

Weekly Budget

Income:
    • Turmish Emergency Fund: 500 bicenta
    • Street Work: 126 bicenta

Expenses:
    • Caravan, "No Questions Asked" Package: 500 bicenta
    • Pipeweed: 50 bicenta
    • Bottle of Trika: 10 bicenta
    • Barleycake, 10 portions: 10 bicenta
    • Date Cake, 10 portions: 10 bicenta
    • Jhasinni Journals #37, Explorers of the Ginger Trail: 5 bicenta

Total income: 626 bicenta
Total expenses: 585 bicenta
Total savings: 41 bicenta

[close]

[close]

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Qdim 27th

I'm laying on the couch, tossing my lucky coconut around, and just wondering if it was a mistake to get this room. Well, I'm not doing all that right now, I'm not that good at multitasking. Anyhow, maybe I should have kept saving up for Baz'eel. But then I wouldn't have any place where I could think in peace. One problem involving this room is the fact I'm now conscious about bringing any men here, because everyone can see that. Then again some of the guys I've been seeing have pretty nice homes, so... Temporary abodes for temporary romance, since they all have atrocious personalities.

In truth, I'm just trying to keep my thoughts away from the fact that I nearly died in that quake... And it's just business as usual after that, like nothing happened... Can't my workplace be safe, at the very least? Why don't we get paid extra to work in hazardous conditions? Well, we haven't been paid at all, recently... And I still show up, every day, anyway. Starting to feel like old times, but at least nobody's yelling or throwing objects at me. Not yet, anyway.

Should think about something lighter... Lucrecia gave me a muffin. It was very tasty. I'm kind of worried about her, though. The Krak's not even that hot, and she was still sweating. I think she might have hyperhidrosis... I had to look that up in an encyclopedia. I think that's all you would need to work as a physician here. Just flip through a book, find something that matches their symptoms, and tell them they have that. I would do that if I didn't have a conscience now.

Spending this much time in my room makes me realize just how much I hate my work voice. Everything about the act I put on while working, really... I can't be relaxed and catty... Or epicene... Thanks, dictionary... Admittedly all of these events make it hard to maintain the act. I've been dropping my "sirs" and "madames" more, even with people I don't really like, and they don't seem to care. I wonder how people would react to someone as blatantly bubbly as Boops working as a Scribe? "Hellooo, the Legate will seeee you nooow about your doooomsday weapon! Byeeee!"

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Qdim 28th

Meadow gave me a rose! One of those everlasting ones, too! I'm not sure if I should put it in a vase on my coffee table, or attach it to a brooch... Maybe I should start collecting them... Or just hide this one in my secret lockbox... Well, its contents are secret, not its location. Though I guess I should hide it under the bed, at least... But then I'd probably forget about it. Actually, I should look under my bed and see if the Banda hid someone they didn't like there...

I do want more decorations for my room, but all I can find is statues... Which would be a very tacky look for what is in effect a mere room at an inn. Besides, I think having a sculpture of some naked man would just be too obvious, right? People would just look at it, roll their eyes and go "oh, of course" when they step into my room. Now, if it was a statue of some hussy with her bags of sand bared for all to see, then it would be a conversation piece. "Why does he have that?"

I also had another meal with Zain... His familiar is adorable. Though I am worried that the hen eats better than he does... But who am I to judge? I mostly eat salads... Anyhow, I love conversing with him, but it's quite obvious that there are certain topics that I should avoid due to my past. Unless I want to start lying again. And I really don't... It's just that I don't want anyone to know, either. Even if they did not judge, or laugh, they would just treat me like a victim... I don't want any "I know how you feel", I don't want any awkward compassion, and I certainly don't want it to be the first thing that people mention when they talk about me behind my back...

And considering that yet another election looms on the horizon, and the very first question that the members of the Gold set before one of their prospective candidates is about whether mercandise made by slaves should be allowed or not... With the implication being that it very much should be... It is very evident how some in the Well view slavery. Anything for a dinar. Fucking idiots. I hope they keep losing forever.

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Qdim 29th

I find out that we have a new Scribe, and within five minutes of that discovery, he is promptly fired for threatening to kill Soliana... After which he proceeded to assault Maddicus, who simply wanted to know who he was... And after a prompt trial, he was made a conscript of the Fourth... Until he didn't show up, and now he's an exile with a bounty on his head, and sure to die in a few days. When some people fuck up, they sure like making a streak of it, don't they? Maddicus was recovering at the Temple... We're not the closest colleagues, but I was still extremely worried about him. He seems fine now, thankfully. Still, a stark reminder that at least half of the Well's refugees are utterly insane.

Some music at the Krak, for once. The bard playing, the man with the many jokes, was very talented with his banjo. He got down on the floor on his back to play it! Quite the wordsmith, too. Art should be entertaining, so that definitely was art... And anyone who says otherwise is a boring snob. Also, he does seem to fancy me... Well, at least some parts of me. Pity that he is a musician, though, as they make such unreliable spouses... And watching someone tune their instrument all day gets irritating rather quickly. Especially if they're vocalists.

I know that we're in the middle of a desert, and the world is dying, but it's still too damn difficult to find a potted plant of some sort! I'd take anything to spruce up my room... An agave, a yucca, a cactus... Now I want some prickly pears. I'm guessing that even those are easier to find. At least I know what I want for breakfast. Anyhow, someone will probably find the dakhwar before I find my flowerpot, as I certainly am not going to steal one from the Almshouse, unlike a certain someone... I'll rather worry about this than today's Assembly! 

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Qdim 30th

I hate my life. Everything is po█

[The writing ceases abruptly. It appears as if the journal was slammed shut before the ink could dry properly, as there is a small splotch found on both pages of the spread, placed in a symmetrical fashion. The text soon continues, written with a more steady hand.]

Thank you, Domhnall, for being the only one that seemed to actually care. Thank you, Aaisha, for seeing potential in me, even when I can't. And thank you, whichever vintner it is that makes Baz'eel Blue, because its sweetness makes for a far more palatable nightcap than the saltiness of my tears.

If some are going to treat my job like a joke, then I am going to stop taking them seriously, in return. I will direct them to the Legates' offices, but I won't talk to them, or transcribe the meeting. I won't greet them in the Pyramid, or outside it. I will stop pretending that I'm interested in anything that they have to say. They won't get anything beyond the bare minimum. When it comes to the attention that they so desire, they can simply starve. As a side benefit, the risk of being set ablaze by some lunatic is greatly reduced.

I was also permitted to refrain from attending further Assemblies, at least temporarily. So the degenerates shall have at least one spectator less for their perverted tendencies.

I was going to stop writing there, and sleep longer than usual, but... Gale is dead. I am not unfamiliar with the more, well, "roguish" men showing kindness to me, but I am still surprised that he had subjugated himself to a djinni. I don't know what to feel. Brooking brings misery, but he never brought any of it to me. I'm just confused.

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Qdim 31st

Wajeeb sold me a plant. It doesn█ seem to need any light, so I'm keeping it in my lockbox for now. Is it a magical plant? Or blessed by Kula? I don't think it's going to grow much though, since Wajeeb seems to have owned it for some time, and it's still tiny. Anyhow, I was kind of worried when he started talking about ideas for policy, but his idea was actually rather smart, and shouldn't be too difficult to execute. Usually the ideas we're given are like, I don't know, "you should knit a giant tuque for the Pilgrim to keep it warm", or "every refugee should get free swimming lessons".

Alejandro sent me a letter! I got so excited that I jumped out of my chair, which fell on its back...  Thankfully only Martin was there. He – Alejandro, that is, not Martin – wishes to have to have some wine and light conversation with me! I can't wait! There's so much I want to talk with him about! Some of it isn't even gossip! But... Now my mind is stuck on imagining what a date with Martin would be like... If we went for some falafel, he'd probably manage to set his uniform on fire, and run around the Souk like that... 

Someone told me that floral patterns aren't in style! They're wrong! And if they aren't, I'll force them back into style! I'll take up tailoring and fill the market with such stylish haberdashery that they can't refuse! Wait, that'll just cause oversaturation and it'll become passé... But it'll be stylish for a moment! I also have an idea for some braies with a zebra stripe pattern, dyed in a tasteful powder blue. Admittedly, that idea is kind of wild, actually... I think I say "tasteful" a lot when I just really like the thing that I'm describing... My scarf is tasteful... This couch is tasteful... The salad I'm eating is tasteful... Describing a person as tasteful seems a bit lewd, on the other hand. I should avoid doing that.

AND EVERYONE KNOWS THAT I CRIED AT THE ASSEMBLY!

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Tesrin Hray 1st

Conversing with Alejandro was perhaps the most pleasant occasion I've had in months. Wait, I've only been here for months, haven't I? So, it's the most pleasant occasion I've had here. Not only does he have great taste in attire, he also has great taste in men. I wonder if their love will bloom? I can't wait to see. Anyhow, apparently there was a trial about riddles and butts, before my time here. I wonder if there has ever been a crime where the only identifying characteristic was someone's butt? And there was a lineup of butts at the garrison? How much Blue did I drink before beginning to write this?

Three bottles. That's how many there are next to the couch, anyway.

I also got to see the Ecstatic Terrace! What a wondrous place! Such a stunning assortment of splendid flowers... The masterfully crafted fountains, with so many fine details... Even the uniforms of the Sixth were quite tasteful. I wish I could live in such a place, but there are no princes to seduce there. Which is something that I could achieve easily, by the way. Well, if they were handsome, anyway. Although... In the end, all that exquisiteness is a bit much, isn't it? I think I'd prefer living somewhere a bit more rustic, after all.

I wanted to buy a parasol... But then Anais dragged me around the Plaza, and acted like she was going to beat up people in order to steal one for me... I think that was her idea of a joke. Anyway, I got really angry at her and yelled something really embarassing, like usual... And then, after that, a bunch of people crowded around me, and it was really interesting at first, with Narwen explaining how blessed bronze is made... Then it devolved into politics... Then Mr. Mouse stole a coin pouch containing thousands of dinari from some League of Gold member, and bought his Voice with it... I can't fault him for doing that. In fact, it makes me like him more.

People keep bringing up my crying! Complete strangers, too! They could at least mention the fact that I look extremely cute when I'm crying! And I should know, because I look at my reflection a lot when I'm doing that... And then I cry more because the sight is so beautiful... Or maybe it's just because it's fucking depressing and I shouldn't be doing that.

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Tesrin Hray 2nd

Why are there so many shirtless adventurers lately?! Their illustrious pectorals keep distracting me from my work! I mean, it's great that you have a good routine and diet going, but do you have to put the results on display at all times!? Especially that guy with the cloak... You had the energy to put the cloak on! Put a damn shirt on as well! At least when I'm working, I don't care what you do at the Krak... They should have waiters dressed like that, actually...

Padua sold me some dirty, smelly rags! That scoundrel! I'd direct some of our complaints to his mail, but he'd probably think they're more bills and have a heart attack... And I suppose he's cute enough that I don't want that to happen to him. Also, he bought me some wine, so I suppose I can forgive him... People keep mistaking him for Zain, for some reason. It's such an obvious difference! I only mistook them for each other once! First of all, Zain's hair is rather short, while Padua's reaches his neck! Second, Zain has a meticulously clean appearance, while Padua perpetually looks like he just came off a week-long mizzar binge! Third, Zain doesn't go around begging for money from random strangers!

Mr. Mouse broke Hekatomb's board, just so that he could rob everyone who came to gawk at the commotion. That's really desperate. It made Lucrecia so mad that she got drunk off her arse, which somehow managed to be funny and worrisome simultaneously. During her drunken stupor, she made a startling revelation! My diagnosis of hyperhidrosis was incorrect... She has bashirmania instead! A most devious ailment of the soul, common among women of faith, who are often oblivious to the fact that some men are avid jousters. I guess I need to have the talk with her...

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Tesrin Hray 3rd

Why's the sky red?! If it starts raining blood, I'm staying in my room until it stops. I'll just make it my temporary office. I can do that, right? It isn't like anyone ever yells after me while I spend most of my day at the Krak, looking for prospective licensees... Well, there was that one time... Who cares where I work from, as long as I'm working, right? I don't like having to adjust my makeup because of this omen, though... Well, I do, but it's still a lot of work. More pleasant than my day job, though...

I went on an archaeological trek! With Alejandro, Fia, Meadow and Sebastian! There was a forest! An actual forest! Well, it was tiny, but it was pretty enough anyway. We found a bowl, tablets, shattered blades... And some rags...? Oh yeah, there was a giant skeleton! The skull wasn't anywhere to be seen. Someone really strong must've carried it away. Archaeology seems entertaining enough... And I wasn't even scared. Must've been the pleasant company. That ancient city, though... What an astoundingly beautiful sight. Meadow was far too interested in certain parts of the statues there... Admittedly I would've taken a look too if I had been there alone.

Mr. Mouse's trial was some of the best entertainment I've had in ages, even if Magistrate Kleene is a disgusting pig of a manlike creature... I guess the Krak doesn't have many shows because there's no way they can compete with such nonsense? I was mad at him for stealing my cigarette money, but then he gave me a full pack of smokes after the trial! I guess there's some truth to the tales of gentleman thieves. I wish he'd buy some new apparel, though... What a drab brown.

[The rest of the entry is difficult to read, merely a collection of clumsy dabs of ink that just barely manage to arrange into letters. It is as if it had been written under the influence of copious amounts of different substances.]

WHY THE FUCK DOES EVERY THING HERE HAVE TO INVOLVE BLOOD GEE MIGHT AS WEL GO TO ASSWAYS TO SEE IT FUCK THAT CHASED BY DEAD FOLKS MIGHT BE CURSED OR NOT BUT WHO CARE ALL GOES TO SHIT ANYWAY WISH I HAD SOME MUHAMARA WANT TO SLEP NOT THINK WRITE WHO KEPS BREWING THIS FUCKING HOUR FUCK YOU