Once I thought London a constant. Its great beastly workings growled with organic mechanism which seemed unstoppable, a perfect matrimony to the great march of onslaughting technology. Its inhabitants, minor as they were on individual reckoning, became en-masse the veins and blood vessels of this magnificent creature, the City. London in all it harboured beneath its great wings and in the sputtering underbelly of industry glowed with the bright light of immortality.
Its changes were subtle, but many, fusing into a perfect timeline of indistinguishable events from which a lifeline could not be untangled. Does a flea, surrounded by the dog-fur on which it lives, notice that the dog has grown old? Does it see that its coat is now greyer than the days of yore? Does it spot these things among the impenetrable forest of hairs in which it has made its home? A flea can no more see the hulking mass of that canine grow weak and alter than can a Londoner, wrapped up in her mother's streets and bustling activities, see the land upon which she stands sink a little further into the dark chasm which has already swallowed up the cobbles of Vikings, Romans, Elizabethans, civilizations which once thought themselves as unending as the ones we find ourselves in now.
London is not the same as I remember it. I confess, as every young person I found it immeasurable, unable even to consider its presence as a concrete abstract, let alone its absence in a theoretical world of future intent, under a society which would care nothing for what we had once endured. We are now, or were, mere eccentricities of the past. My London and my people are lost to an unnoticed death, a silent slipping sideways to join the layers of those before us. It lives now unrecognisable but for the worn features of its faces, Big Ben chiming mournfully for a grave it does not know it grieves, Grosvenor Square now embittered to newer residents in the teeth of its borders.
I thought my time a constant. I thought there would never come a moment when I did not feel at home in my city. Upon occasion, I linger my hand on a well-hewn wall with its years of servitude and I feel the echoes of that creature I found so familiar, whispering up unto me from its burial, calling me back to my remembrances and twisting something deep and naive in my heart. 'Oh, London,' I whisper, with the only reverence left in my black soul, and I feel it hum back, weaker still than even the shadows of ghosts.
We stand a moment still; myself, and the London of my memories that once cradled me in its cruel and unforgiving mistressy, and we give a thought to the tubes of smoke and clacking hoofbeats that christened daily the heart of Queen Victoria's capital. I weep dry for the home I cannot return to.
Its changes were subtle, but many, fusing into a perfect timeline of indistinguishable events from which a lifeline could not be untangled. Does a flea, surrounded by the dog-fur on which it lives, notice that the dog has grown old? Does it see that its coat is now greyer than the days of yore? Does it spot these things among the impenetrable forest of hairs in which it has made its home? A flea can no more see the hulking mass of that canine grow weak and alter than can a Londoner, wrapped up in her mother's streets and bustling activities, see the land upon which she stands sink a little further into the dark chasm which has already swallowed up the cobbles of Vikings, Romans, Elizabethans, civilizations which once thought themselves as unending as the ones we find ourselves in now.
London is not the same as I remember it. I confess, as every young person I found it immeasurable, unable even to consider its presence as a concrete abstract, let alone its absence in a theoretical world of future intent, under a society which would care nothing for what we had once endured. We are now, or were, mere eccentricities of the past. My London and my people are lost to an unnoticed death, a silent slipping sideways to join the layers of those before us. It lives now unrecognisable but for the worn features of its faces, Big Ben chiming mournfully for a grave it does not know it grieves, Grosvenor Square now embittered to newer residents in the teeth of its borders.
I thought my time a constant. I thought there would never come a moment when I did not feel at home in my city. Upon occasion, I linger my hand on a well-hewn wall with its years of servitude and I feel the echoes of that creature I found so familiar, whispering up unto me from its burial, calling me back to my remembrances and twisting something deep and naive in my heart. 'Oh, London,' I whisper, with the only reverence left in my black soul, and I feel it hum back, weaker still than even the shadows of ghosts.
We stand a moment still; myself, and the London of my memories that once cradled me in its cruel and unforgiving mistressy, and we give a thought to the tubes of smoke and clacking hoofbeats that christened daily the heart of Queen Victoria's capital. I weep dry for the home I cannot return to.
(no subject)
Sep. 29th, 2014 02:43 pmDo you know what bothers me? When people blithely assume that because you have not spoken to them in many months, that you have somehow ceased to be. My dear woman, if you wished to speak with me so much all you need do is ask. After all, I yet live. What bemuses me all the further is that she has barely spoken to Julian in that time so to assert the assumption that Julian - or even worse, that one of our newer members - has become Top Dog simply because... Because, is insulting beyond all belief.
I still live. Frankly I'd be damned well sure that no-one could push me out before my time, thank you very much. And for what concern it is, I've been talking with many people, merely not people who are you.
Eugh. I just hate it when I am constantly dismissed, shrugged off as one would shrug off an unfashionable jacket. For God's sake, don't doubt my spirit to live. I hate this stupid fictional business continually creating an artificial sense that my acquaintances ought to assume I should vanish at a moment's notice. If anything, I am a greater presence here than both our newer members. I have been here for years without disappearing. I probably could not leave even if I wanted to.
Disgusting.
I still live. Frankly I'd be damned well sure that no-one could push me out before my time, thank you very much. And for what concern it is, I've been talking with many people, merely not people who are you.
Eugh. I just hate it when I am constantly dismissed, shrugged off as one would shrug off an unfashionable jacket. For God's sake, don't doubt my spirit to live. I hate this stupid fictional business continually creating an artificial sense that my acquaintances ought to assume I should vanish at a moment's notice. If anything, I am a greater presence here than both our newer members. I have been here for years without disappearing. I probably could not leave even if I wanted to.
Disgusting.
Pro Patria
Aug. 13th, 2014 12:00 pmEngland, in this great fight to which you go
Because, where Honour calls you, go you must,
Be glad, whatever comes, at least to know
You have your quarrel just.
Peace was your care; before the nations’ bar
Her cause you pleaded and her ends you sought;
But not for her sake, being what you are,
Could you be bribed and bought.
Others may spurn the pledge of land to land,
May with the brute sword stain a gallant past;
But by the seal to which you set your hand,
Thank God, you still stand fast!
Forth, then, to front that peril of the deep
With smiling lips and in your eyes the light,
Steadfast and confident, of those who keep
Their storied ’scutcheon bright.
And we, whose burden is to watch and wait,—
High-hearted ever, strong in faith and prayer,—
We ask what offering we may consecrate,
What humble service share.
To steel our souls against the lust of ease;
To bear in silence though our hearts may bleed;
To spend ourselves, and never count the cost,
For others’ greater need;—
To go our quiet ways, subdued and sane;
To hush all vulgar clamour of the street;
With level calm to face alike the strain
Of triumph or defeat;
This be our part, for so we serve you best,
So best confirm their prowess and their pride,
Your warrior sons, to whom in this high test
Our fortunes we confide.
(Owen Seaman. August 12, 1914.)
This spoke words to me.
Because, where Honour calls you, go you must,
Be glad, whatever comes, at least to know
You have your quarrel just.
Peace was your care; before the nations’ bar
Her cause you pleaded and her ends you sought;
But not for her sake, being what you are,
Could you be bribed and bought.
Others may spurn the pledge of land to land,
May with the brute sword stain a gallant past;
But by the seal to which you set your hand,
Thank God, you still stand fast!
Forth, then, to front that peril of the deep
With smiling lips and in your eyes the light,
Steadfast and confident, of those who keep
Their storied ’scutcheon bright.
And we, whose burden is to watch and wait,—
High-hearted ever, strong in faith and prayer,—
We ask what offering we may consecrate,
What humble service share.
To steel our souls against the lust of ease;
To bear in silence though our hearts may bleed;
To spend ourselves, and never count the cost,
For others’ greater need;—
To go our quiet ways, subdued and sane;
To hush all vulgar clamour of the street;
With level calm to face alike the strain
Of triumph or defeat;
This be our part, for so we serve you best,
So best confirm their prowess and their pride,
Your warrior sons, to whom in this high test
Our fortunes we confide.
(Owen Seaman. August 12, 1914.)
This spoke words to me.
Awful, awful, awful, the way my book goes on about me so-- I mean, that is the point of it, yes, but the way it phrases me is so dreadful I can barely stand to read it (or to listen to it, as in this case Julian has acquired an audiobook of it). Ugh, and, it's all things that haven't happened to me and never will do, I suspect,- it's all very odd but I think, these days, that accessing my own world is behind me. Oh, I don't know, if you're going to follow the psychological explanation for plurality anyway you might as well realise that the world I thought of as "mine" isn't actually real but is a product of my (our) imagination. I can't really bear to think of it that way, because I miss Harry so much. I'm sure-- the way it works- that he could very well be conjured up by our brain in a similar manner to how I was once conjured up, but... Well, I don't know. I'm going to stop thinking about it now before I hurt my head. Suffice to say Harry was the best friend I ever had.
Carrying on, we went to see an adaptation of Swan Lake to-day. Excellent stuff, although Julian only remembered to wake me up for it some 10 minutes after it had already begun, but I've been told I didn't miss much. It was some sort of modern adaptation and nothing like what I recall; Yes, Tchaikovsky's works were all as untouched, but the play (ballet) in itself was much altered, they'd done a sort of homosexual take on the whole thing. The Prince was a very dashing young man who fell in love with an equally dashing (albeit somewhat unusual) swan-man who, I think, was just called The Swan. It was very good, I must say, and not only because there were half-naked dancers running around in swan outfits looking very attractive. Julian enjoyed it too, I think. Well, it's always nice to see something that takes a classic and reinvents it to be something a little more "queer" (ha ha ha). It's one thing I like about modernity- there's an awful lot of freedom to be had in regards to being a man in love with other men!
Finally, I suppose I might as well mention what else has been happening in my life. Not much, that is hardly a surprise, but I have sent off a few letters to people whom I hoped would become my penpals. No replies as of yet; hardly surprised about that, either. I will say that I find it incredibly frustrating - not to mention a little depressing - to be so willfully ignored; not necessarily by those who cannot access front to actually reply to my letters, but rather those who have easy and absolute access to front but still find it unimportant to respond to me. Just because I live in someone else's head (ha ha) does not mean I'm going to take willingly to being ignored; d'you know, I'm probably much more likely to kick up a fuss about it than Julian is, and I'm the imaginary one here! It does rather piss me off, I will say that much, to be viewed so lowly simply because I do not "exist", or I, at least, do not "exist" on a similar level of importance to Julian who - blessed be to God - couldn't really care less about being treated as more important than I. That's something! If only it applied to others!
Largely I'm upset about not having my own friends, and not being able to speak to people- really speak to people. No one cares about me. I'm a damn well more worth caring about than I currently am cared about, if that makes sense to you. And I'm not satisfied with speaking to headmates; that not only gets so very boring, but I don't even get to experience anything fun. Oh, sure, Julian would very happily let me do things if it weren't for the fact that-- being a rather social creature-- I've no-one to do it with (again, let's simply ignore the headmate; it's so boring to spend all my time with just one person regardless). Agh!!!!!! One must express their frustration somehow; I suppose doing it through an online medium is better than nothing. Ha.
I've rambled a little, and for that I can't even apologise. I just wish that someone would, for God's sake, spend time with me in some way.-- And not say they are going to and then decide I'm not worth the effort. If it's something I can't stand it's when others disagree with my ego which claims - rather rightly - that I am at least deserving of some attention!
Edit: Oh, and before I say anything else I will mention that I have no clue where N is and it is not my responsibility to take care of the guests. Thank you, Jules, that's enough. He can bloody well sod off for all I care.
Carrying on, we went to see an adaptation of Swan Lake to-day. Excellent stuff, although Julian only remembered to wake me up for it some 10 minutes after it had already begun, but I've been told I didn't miss much. It was some sort of modern adaptation and nothing like what I recall; Yes, Tchaikovsky's works were all as untouched, but the play (ballet) in itself was much altered, they'd done a sort of homosexual take on the whole thing. The Prince was a very dashing young man who fell in love with an equally dashing (albeit somewhat unusual) swan-man who, I think, was just called The Swan. It was very good, I must say, and not only because there were half-naked dancers running around in swan outfits looking very attractive. Julian enjoyed it too, I think. Well, it's always nice to see something that takes a classic and reinvents it to be something a little more "queer" (ha ha ha). It's one thing I like about modernity- there's an awful lot of freedom to be had in regards to being a man in love with other men!
Finally, I suppose I might as well mention what else has been happening in my life. Not much, that is hardly a surprise, but I have sent off a few letters to people whom I hoped would become my penpals. No replies as of yet; hardly surprised about that, either. I will say that I find it incredibly frustrating - not to mention a little depressing - to be so willfully ignored; not necessarily by those who cannot access front to actually reply to my letters, but rather those who have easy and absolute access to front but still find it unimportant to respond to me. Just because I live in someone else's head (ha ha) does not mean I'm going to take willingly to being ignored; d'you know, I'm probably much more likely to kick up a fuss about it than Julian is, and I'm the imaginary one here! It does rather piss me off, I will say that much, to be viewed so lowly simply because I do not "exist", or I, at least, do not "exist" on a similar level of importance to Julian who - blessed be to God - couldn't really care less about being treated as more important than I. That's something! If only it applied to others!
Largely I'm upset about not having my own friends, and not being able to speak to people- really speak to people. No one cares about me. I'm a damn well more worth caring about than I currently am cared about, if that makes sense to you. And I'm not satisfied with speaking to headmates; that not only gets so very boring, but I don't even get to experience anything fun. Oh, sure, Julian would very happily let me do things if it weren't for the fact that-- being a rather social creature-- I've no-one to do it with (again, let's simply ignore the headmate; it's so boring to spend all my time with just one person regardless). Agh!!!!!! One must express their frustration somehow; I suppose doing it through an online medium is better than nothing. Ha.
I've rambled a little, and for that I can't even apologise. I just wish that someone would, for God's sake, spend time with me in some way.-- And not say they are going to and then decide I'm not worth the effort. If it's something I can't stand it's when others disagree with my ego which claims - rather rightly - that I am at least deserving of some attention!
Edit: Oh, and before I say anything else I will mention that I have no clue where N is and it is not my responsibility to take care of the guests. Thank you, Jules, that's enough. He can bloody well sod off for all I care.
(no subject)
Sep. 3rd, 2013 02:57 pmMust all my friends disappear without a trace?
Imaginary, then, is as imaginary does. Men who are not imaginary are at least required to stay in their bodies and so are - by all means - trackable if one tries hard enough. And, yet, when you're imaginary, you disappear, you disappear, and then how can I find them again?
Hm. What philosophical thoughts. It's too early in the day for such things.
Imaginary, then, is as imaginary does. Men who are not imaginary are at least required to stay in their bodies and so are - by all means - trackable if one tries hard enough. And, yet, when you're imaginary, you disappear, you disappear, and then how can I find them again?
Hm. What philosophical thoughts. It's too early in the day for such things.
(no subject)
Apr. 8th, 2013 07:40 pmIt angers me. To be in this state- desperate for passion, interaction, invigoration in my life. To think it is something better to be speaking to someone "out-world" than any one from my Victorian London; to be dissatisfied with it. Why? I ask myself, has my existence corrupted itself so far that I am no longer contented with what I once was?
Perhaps that is merely the story I am doomed to tell. Condemned to discontentment with every new thing I encounter; condemned to find myself disillusioned, discarding piece after piece of my skin away, until I can but hope I am naught but a shining angel underneath. Ha! If at best, a dark shadow of some devil.
I wish. I plea in my mind that someone will grant me their attention, someone besides whom I am used to. That I will be allowed to frollick amongst the people I so desire, able to charm and flatter and laugh. I am, instead, alone - lonely, without the socialisation I need. And am I to complain? Perhaps, I am over-entitled. After all, there is nothing to stop me attending parties in my own world, but now, they are nothing to me. Nothing.
Perhaps that is merely the story I am doomed to tell. Condemned to discontentment with every new thing I encounter; condemned to find myself disillusioned, discarding piece after piece of my skin away, until I can but hope I am naught but a shining angel underneath. Ha! If at best, a dark shadow of some devil.
I wish. I plea in my mind that someone will grant me their attention, someone besides whom I am used to. That I will be allowed to frollick amongst the people I so desire, able to charm and flatter and laugh. I am, instead, alone - lonely, without the socialisation I need. And am I to complain? Perhaps, I am over-entitled. After all, there is nothing to stop me attending parties in my own world, but now, they are nothing to me. Nothing.
Mozart later. Well sexed, in the meantime. Hurrah.
In all seriousness, there seems little wrong with my life at present, which in itself is novel. Cannot say the same for dear Julian's life, but I suppose luck is how it is. Either way, I am not allowed to interfere too much as isolation breeds contempt, or something. I don't quite know; vaguely frustrating, I suppose, but there is little to be done about it. Meanwhile, I sit in the middle of the headspace, bored to tears.
In all seriousness, there seems little wrong with my life at present, which in itself is novel. Cannot say the same for dear Julian's life, but I suppose luck is how it is. Either way, I am not allowed to interfere too much as isolation breeds contempt, or something. I don't quite know; vaguely frustrating, I suppose, but there is little to be done about it. Meanwhile, I sit in the middle of the headspace, bored to tears.