034 || written;

[workaphilic]

[It's some ungodly hour of the morning when a note appears in the journal, for fellow insomniacs or information gluttons who like to read new entries first thing. There's barely any ambient sound recorded; just faint bubbling from a nearby experiment, and the scratch of pen on paper.

(Whether that's out of respect for sleeping residents or something else, well. It's not that hard to say, with him.)]

What are you getting out of this arrangement?

If your first instinct is to say 'nothing,' don't bother. You obviously haven't been paying attention, and I'm not interested in being subjected to your blather. Keep your ignorant bliss to yourself.

The rest of you: there must be something. Paradisa wouldn't bother with you otherwise. If a portal appeared in the lobby tomorrow, ready to whisk you back to your world, your time, your life -- what would be the thing that kept you from stepping through it?

Don't be boring.

SH

((Tags will be slow! Thanks for your patience, everyone.))

Comments

dictated;

[panicswitched]

[ this response is dripping with sarcasm. enjoy. ]

Oh let's see. There was one thing. It's on the tip of my tongue. Right! I'm not dead here. Real winner, that one.

written;

[workaphilic]

[not to worry, he gives as good as he gets.]

Join the club.

Too easy, try again.

dictated;

[panicswitched]

Wow, you're heartless. Not even going to save people a lot of pain. Good one.

written;

[ofhope]

[ Why would he lie? Who the heck cares? ]

Maybe you should ask what would make us hesitate. I'd go through no matter what, unless my sister was here.

written;

[workaphilic]

A gift like that, from an entity as finicky as this? A second's hesitation is as good as an outright refusal.

Please, enlighten me.

[wilder]

Well for one thing my world doesn't have the journal or internet, so I'd be without these late night philosophical-introspection hours.

written;

[workaphilic]

If your world is struggling to introspect, I doubt it's the methods of communication that are the problem.

Might want to toss a few books through the portal instead.

[toobravehearted]

The people here, and my own curiosity.

written;

[workaphilic]

[Oh. There's a brief pause in the writing.]

Curiosity for?

[He knew Five well enough before that he can hazard at an answer. But residents are never 100% the same on the second, third, fourth go -- it's worth it to ask.]

[last_rat_standing]

[There's someone else still awake, Sherlock. Of course it's difficult to tell what time it is... in space... sigh.

At any rate he lifts a pen to write "Nothing" partially because it's true and partially to be an obstinate bastard... when he realizes that there IS one thing that may keep him here, as loathe as he is to admit it.

He writes one word:]

Protection

[Now whether he means his own or his desire to protect someone else is anyone's guess]

[workaphilic]

You've something more threatening at home than your inanimate, magic, nigh-sociopathic captor?

/written & disguised

[savethedarkness]

[she writes in block print, as opposed to her normal script. the man said "don't be boring", and death is boring. it's not like that's what she fears, anyway. it's ... well. it's the means of it. who she knows is on her heels to ensure that it happens.

she's had a lot of time to think about this during her convalescence in the clinic, after all. a lot of time for it to twist through her dreams]

The broken egg from a very fine omelet.

[workaphilic]

Not quite fine enough, from the sound of it.

[solowingpixy]

[He can't help but smirk a little when reading this, managing to keep back a dry laugh. There was really only one answer for him in this case. Like several before him, he takes a pen and writes his answer.]

I'd rather not be hunted like a dog.

written;

[workaphilic]

And being caged like one is better?

[kethedammit]

Room'n board, and folks I know nearby. Ain't that the common answer?

[workaphilic]

Judging from the ones I've gotten, apparently not.

Can't be this hard to find a decent flat, can it?

[whistles_the_blues]

Being able to function here is reason enough.

written;

[workaphilic]

There's a euphemism I hadn't heard before.

[truestsciences]

i dont fall apart evverytime i remember howw i died so i suppose thats reason enough to not wwant to go back to the dreambubbles

written;

[workaphilic]

Not many who can say the castle had a positive effect on their psyche.

Written;

[whichwayyoulean]

[This is a question that's plagued the Once-ler's mind since the first time Ted arrived, and told him what lay ahead of him in his future. He knows, as terrifying as it is, if there came a point he would have to choose, he would still go home.

If he didn't, no one would be there to tell Ted the story. Give him the seed. All the damage he had done would never be fixed, and he can't allow that to happen. He won't allow that to happen.

Still, there's still one thing that he has here that he won't have back home. Not for a very, very long time. So, he'll write his answer:]

Companionship.

written;

[workaphilic]

[He taps his pen for a moment. It leaves a lopsided spot of ink on the page.]

That simple?

Written

[cyan_maid]

[The blue letters are kind of wobbly and messy. The writer must be tired.]

I think I might be too ashamed to go back on my own.

written;

[workaphilic]

What does that make the castle, then? Your reparations?