paradisa | XXXVI.

[For anyone who got excited about how long baby Hellboy (or Hellbaby, if you like) stuck around, hopefully they won't be too disappointed to see the familiar tall, red figure carefully picking his way through the snow around the castle.

Or to hear his deep voice coming over the journals, for that matter. He pauses in the gardens, carefully brushing snow off the stone bench, though he's not really going to sit down. But it's something to do, as he dictates to the pages.]

I almost forgot yesterday was Ash Wednesday. It's a little weird without a priest, but we didn't have one before for a long time, either. It's hard to keep track of time, here. It'll be Easter again pretty soon, but the last one seems like it was just a short time ago.

[A pause, as he thinks about what happened last year.

Probably he shouldn't dwell on it, so he continues.]

Anyway, for those of you who are new to the way the castle likes to celebrate holidays, I'd stay away from eating anything festive for the next few days. Just a heads up.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Remember that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return.

There. Feel better?

[CROWLEY...]

It's not the same if nobody smears ash all over your face.

[Everyone's a critic]

I can do that if you like, but it'd have to be something other than a cross. How do you feel about unicorns?

Are you asking if I'd be okay with putting burnt unicorn on my forehead?

Yes. Yes I am.

That's pretty close, but it's not really the same. Plus, what kind of Easter would that give us?

You're talking about a holiday in Paradisa. Generally, you should consider yourself lucky if it doesn't do anything that mentally or emotionally scars you for the rest of your time here.