āGodsbreath, what was that?ā
{OoC - Um⦠an ask that was in queue for almost a decade?}
āHeavens, C⦠what have you been doing all this time away? Our inbox is full to bursting, this page of ours is derelict, and many of our good followers havenāt heard a word from you in years. Explain yourself.ā
{OoC - Yeah, about that: I found an extremely fulfilling career as a clinician, moved to a completely new city, fell in love, and also became a leader in a local organising group. Itās been exhausting, but Iām pretty happy with the direction of my life to date.}
āOh! Well, that certainly is good news. I had feared you dead after all this time away.ā
{OoC - Not yet, but that isnāt for any lack of trying. Our world is⦠kind of going to hell right now.}
āGods⦠fell dragon? Wicked cult? Mad king?ā
{OoC - Huh⦠I guess you could say itās the latter two. And a global pandemic. Itās been a really long time, hasnāt it? Man, Iām sorry, Frederick. And I apologise to you too, readers. Part of whatās been keeping me away has been life catching up with me. I donāt even write for pleasure anymore; itās all committee resolutions and clinical reports these days.}
āHm. What are you doing to keep yourself together? Surely youāve not been at this through sheer force of will.ā
{OoC - That would be your department, Frederick. Iām not the kind of freak who can cure a cold with a single sneeze. I do what I can, but I definitely do need an outlet.ā
āMight I recommend an end to your hiatus?ā
{OoC - No. You, this blog, and this little corner of Tumblr was a wonderful part of my life for a very long time, but I canāt commit to helping you answer an ask a day anymore. I can barely commit to exercising as much as I should.}
āBut you are keeping up with your fitness regimen, are you not? Heavens forbid, C, must I write you a Frederickās Fanatical Fitness Hour routine to follow? If youāve not been keeping up with your running, thenāā
{OoC - NOT NECESSARY! I can still run a faster than most men my age and Iāve actually gained a bit of muscle since I was on here last.}
āSplendid. Then youāll not object to returning here on an occasional basis? Perhaps once a week?ā
āOnce every other week? You do have a considerable amount of asks to help me through, and you missed our tenth anniversary.ā
{OoC - Fine. One ask on the second and fourth Sunday of every month. Take it or leave it.ā
āGiven the life you lead now, Iād say that is a fair offer. Consider it a deal. I shall hold you to this.ā
{OoC - Geez, what am I getting myself into? Yāknow what? I do want to get back into writing for the sheer pleasure of it again. Letās give it a shot, Frederick! Friends, for whatever itās worth, I guess Iām back!}