0001 [Dictated/Action]

[iaimtomisbehave]

[Mal appears in the castle lobby. He stumbles slightly, looking around. He's more than a bit irritated.]

Zoe! What the good gorram is this? [He makes a disgusted sound at the journal.]

Y'all want to be explainin' to me what the hell is goin' on here? Where's my ship? Where's my crew, come to that? Wouldn't mind knowing where the ruttin hell I am in the meantime as well. I'm lost, I'm angry, I'm armed, and I expect an explanation right about now.

[A pause as he realizes his coat and gun are nowhere to be found.]

Now that's just about two steps too far. You take a man's coat and gun, least you can do is introduce yourself to my face, make it a fair fight.

[ooc: Feel free to freak Mal out through the journal, or if you're feeling brave, approach him in the lobby.]

Comments

[thebestseller]

Oh, my God. Oh, my GOD.

WE HAVE ENTERED THE TWILIGHT ZONE.

[Castle begins humming the theme.]

hover for translation!

[iaimtomisbehave]

[Mal spins around to see...himself. Older. Oh no.]

Ching-wah tsao duh liou mahng. What in the ruttin' hell is this?

[thebestseller]

It's the coolest thing ever, is what is is!

[Castle sounds genuinely delighted and is practically bouncing up and down.]

I have met my clone!

[iaimtomisbehave]

Not exactly clone, I reckon.

[Mal crosses his arms and looks Castle up and down.]

You look a mite longer in the tooth than me.

[thebestseller]

[Castle then pouted.]

Hey now, that's a bit harsh. Then again, fatherhood does tend to age one a little.

[iaimtomisbehave]

Fatherhood? Who are you, exactly? I know you're not me.

[thebestseller]

I'm Castle. See, Paradisa was all, yo, we heard you like castles so let's put Castle inside your castle. I'm a writer.

[iaimtomisbehave]

Well that sure was some fancy talk, mister writer. But the answer I was more going for was why do you have my face?

[thebestseller]

[Castle shrugged at that.]

I could ask you the same question. Or offer one of my infamous wacky theories, just in case "I have no idea" doesn't suffice.

[iaimtomisbehave]

Wacky theory, you say?

[thebestseller]

Well, my first thought, of course, was clone. The age thing rules out you being my twin, evil or otherwise. So... ... you're not a robot, are you?

[iaimtomisbehave]

Uh. No. Best you start researching other theories.

[thebestseller]

Hmmm... I got nothin', then. Except maybe "Paradisa did it". That's always a handy explanation.

[iaimtomisbehave]

Always? This kinda thing happen often?

[thebestseller]

Doubles of people appearing... not so much, admittedly. Other weird stuff, though. Like people turning into animals, the whole place suddenly turning into an entirely different world... it's oodles of fun.

[He's not being sarcastic with that last bit, either.]

[iaimtomisbehave]

Sure sounds like it.

[Mal is, unfortunately, being very sarcastic.]

Nothin' I love more than not knowin' what's around the corner.

[thebestseller]

[Castle picks up on the sarcasm, being used to hearing it from every corner, and so offers some in return.]

Keeps life interesting, at least.

[iaimtomisbehave]

Seems you and I got real different views of interestin', writer.

[thebestseller]

Your view of "interesting" tend to change here. Case in point. [He gestures to both of them.]

[iaimtomisbehave]

Understood. In that case, I'm Captain Malcolm Reynolds. Might as well introduce myself proper-like.

[thebestseller]

Good to meet you, Captain. Richard Castle is my full name, though most people just call me Castle.

[iaimtomisbehave]

Don't that get a mite confusing in this place?