[Today the house of the garden's resident-non-evil-Lamia can be seen quite clearly to be decorated in a rather festive manner. There are balloons tied to the dwellings door front, streamers trailing around the frame of it's windows, and a banner hanging over the front door reads, though written in rather rough English, "Welcome Friends!". For those in the area, the smell of soup and stew can be smelled through out the area surrounding Rumia's abode. The snake-girl herself can be found sitting upon a rock not far from her home, a welcoming smile plastered across her rosy face.]

Hello everyone! The day has finally arrived and that means it is time for my house warming party! Everyone's invited, even those I haven't talked to yet. Because the more the merrier, right? My house is the one covered in decorations, so it shouldn't be hard to find. Oh, and before I forget, I would really appreciate it if every one coming could bring a little bit of food.

See you all soon!

[ The image in the mirror is unclear, wavering faintly, as if viewed through water or a heat haze. And for a few moments there's nothing to see, only featureless gray. The sound of a woman's singing can be distantly heard, almost chanting, in a language that's almost but not quite familiar. The very astute may recognize it as the voice of the Queen.

Eventually, the singing stops, and the mirror clears... somewhat. The Queen is visible in it, but there's still that heat-haze waver overlaid on her image. The look in her eyes is worried and perhaps a little lost. ]

It's almost spring, isn't it, my dears?

[ Her expression seems to brighten slightly, for just a moment, but then falls again, and her gaze drifts away from the mirror. ]

Yes, it is. I can tell. I can always tell. Something doesn't feel right...

I'm forgetting something again. I forgot it before. A word. A name?

What was it?

[ She frowns, intensely distraught, and there's nothing at all comical in her expression. ]

Help me remember, darlings. It's very important.

[ And she seems quite certain of this fact -- though a moment later, she shakes her head, looks back to the mirror. ]

But not as important as keeping you here with me. Bringing more of you to help me make this place real.

Otherwise...


Otherwise I'd be so lonely.

[ She smiles, tremulously, and touches the mirror fondly. ]

You're all such good company. I don't know what I'd do without you...

[ And after a few moments, her attention drifts again, and the singing begins anew just before the recording ends. ]



[ OOC: March's plot is officially beginning. For more details, see this post. The Queen will be responding to comments here only sporadically. ]