XXXVII.

[hellshaped]

[private]
[written] Two years is a long time. I spent two years under the ocean. I spent two years trapped here.

When I left the ocean, I went to that island. And after that, England.

When I leave this place, I'll go back to England. I wonder if there's some other horrible island waiting for me in the meantime.
[/filter]

[Hellboy dictates thoughtfully into the journal, meanwhile scribbling out a Tic-Tac-Toe board to the side, in the margin, in case anyone is as bored as he is -- though he probably shouldn't think that way.]

I don't even know what's considered a long time to be here anymore. But I feel like the longer I'm here, the more complacent I get about everything. The harder it is to keep track of what's happened. The harder it is to be surprised by anything that gets thrown at us.

Sometimes I really wonder what it is that makes us so special to this place. And why it keeps people here even when they just don't care anymore.

[He has some more to say on this, some thoughts he's been brooding about, but he doesn't like being this negative publicly. So whatever. He switches tacks.]

We should have nice weather pretty soon, right? Last year we had that whole Spring festival thing, but it looks like the castle doesn't really like to repeat itself with that kind of thing. I don't know.

It would be nice to see some change, anyway.

Comments

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

I usually bring Spring with my holiday, but this is a different world. I don't think I've got that sort of power here.

[The lack of millions of believers doesn't help him any]

[hellshaped]

That's funny. You don't sound like a Persephone.

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

That's because I'm not, mate. I'm the Easter Bunny.

Close, but no cigar.

[hellshaped]

[Well, that's... a thing. He's met various mythological figures through his long career as a paranormal investigator, but that particular entity...]

I didn't think you'd be Australian.

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

Yeah, I get that one that a lot.

[hellshaped]

So are you actually a bunny, or is it more of a Mother Goose situation?

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[He very carefully and methodically takes a moment of silence to hide away the slight twang at the mention of HER name. Nope. Not having any feelings on that matter]

I'm a pooka, actually. But yeah, I look like a giant rabbit.

These two need more CR. Trufax.

[kid_apocalypse]

I've heard there're people who've been here for 5 years or so. I can't even imagine spending that much time in a place I didn't wanna be in.

But yeah, this cold's getting kind of annoying. Where I grew up, it never stayed cold for long, so this is starting to feel weird for me.

yes good

[hellshaped]

[Oh... this voice is familiar. Hellboy's pretty sure he met this person when he was a kid. But he doesn't really feel like going through the whole I'm-really-not-that-small-normally right away, so he lets it slide for now.]

There are. But mostly if you last the year mark, you tend to stick around...

[Anyway.] I'm from New England, so the cold doesn't really bother me. Two years ago, Fall lasted a really long time, so it was just like being back home.

[kid_apocalypse]

Really? Guess I should hope I can last the year then. I kinda like this place, weird as things are sometimes.

So the seasons don't stay consistent? That's kinda weird. I grew up in Kansas, so the winters were cold, but we never got as much snow as we've gotten here.

[hellshaped]

[That's sad, but he doesn't really want to comment on that either. Some people liked it here for whatever reason, and he wasn't going to judge.]

Here? No, not really. The time I'm talking about, the leaves just never stopped falling... so there'd be like 'drifts' of leaves a couple feet high.

[kid_apocalypse]

[Considering where he came from before coming here, pretty much anything is better.]

Wow, so it was like it was snowing leaves? I'd ask where they all came from, but even I know better than that, heh.

[hellshaped]

Pretty much. They'd fall even where there were no trees.

[shenunigans]

so how long exactly do you have to be here to be able to do melancholy posts of reflection

[Which is to say, he wants to know how long he's been there but can't ask like a normal person.]

[hellshaped]

[wow, don't be so sassy!!!]

It varies from person to person.

[shenunigans]

[He was born this way!!]

how long did it take you?

[hellshaped]

About a year. It happens.

[shenunigans]

huh
yeah i guess i can see how a year might bring out the drama student in you
shit sucks
really need to start making 'sorry you're stuck here' cards

[hellshaped]

I've been here for two. So I guess that means I get a free pass altogether.

[bustered]

[hellshaped]

[aw yeah]

[bustered]

[Eventually, they'll have to communicate. But for now, doodle games!]

[hellshaped]

[You'll have to try harder than that, mysterious stranger!]

[bustered]

[Hey now, it wouldn't be fun if there wasn't at least a little bit of challenge.]

[hellshaped]

[Oh no... this is probably just going to end in a stalemate!]