Journal the Tenth - written

[theabjectauthor]

[Lemony had had a rather rude awakening, that morning, helping Jane cope with recent developments, and once they had determined that she wasn't going to die, it was short work to open the journal and realize what was happening. now back in his room, he opens his journal and begins to write - and as he does, droplets of ink spatter the page. nothing as intrusive or drastic as blood, but there, nonetheless - telling, hovering around his every word]

Good afternoon, everyone,

I know that we are all being forced to deal with our pasts, today, in one form or another, and some have offered words of comfort ... but when we are left feeling uncomfortable, sometimes only truth remains.

One of the most difficult things to think about in life is one's regrets. Something will happen to you, and you will do the wrong thing, and for years afterward you will wish you had done something different. But occasionally, events in one's life become clearer through the prism of experience, a phrase which simply means that things tend to become clearer as time goes on. For instance, when a person is just born, they usually have no idea what curtains are and spend a great deal of their first months wondering why on earth Mommy and Daddy have hung large pieces of cloth over each window in the nursery. But as the person grows older, the idea of curtains becomes clearer through the prism of experience. The person will learn the word "curtains" and notice that they are actually quite handy for keeping a room dark when it is time to sleep, and for decorating an otherwise boring window area. Eventually, they will entirely accept the idea of curtains, and may even purchase some curtains of their own, or venetian blinds, and it is all due to the prism of experience. So with this in mind, if the events which have stained you transpired - a word which here means "took place, causing great distress, trauma, and regret" - quite a long time ago, you may want to try and view them through your own prism of experience and see if they look a little less troublesome. If they do not, then I am sorry, but I cannot make the world any less of a horrible place than it already is, and some horrible things will remain horrible until the end of time, much in the same way that some sweetened processed foodstuffs will remain sweetened processed foodstuffs even while buried under refuse in a landfill, at which point they would no longer be appetizing anyway. Really, it's just as well you leave them alone, at that point, and find something more pleasant to digest.

That being said, I have discovered Raine Sage's notes upon the world of Paradisa and its phenomenon, and am studying them in anticipation of our upcoming expedition. I would appreciate input from anyone who has been on past trips beyond the Dead Zone, as your own prism of experience would help me give a little more depth and breadth to the information. The Professor was very thorough in her writing, and the notes seem to be organized by location, and then broken down into the following topics: Flora and Fauna, Architectural Styles, and Magic and Mana. In addition, she notes someplace called "Paradisa Town" as a potential spot for replenishing supplies, so if we shall be passing by in our travels, it is something to keep in mind - at least, for those of you who enjoy peaches and fish. I am currently researching several pleasant recipes involving both, so that we might be prepared. If any of you are allergic to either thing, please let me know so that I can bring the means for some form of alternative dish.

I will be in my room preparing for the expedition, if any of you wish to speak with me - and I will completely understand if you would rather not do so in person. We have many questions to answer, some raised over the course of the past week, and I would like to be prepared for the journey ahead. After all, there are times to stay put, and what you want will come to you, and there are times to go out into the world and find such a thing for yourself.

With all due respect,




((A/N: A few of the lines in this post were respectfully requisitioned from the pages of Horseradish. If they seemed familiar, now you know why. ;D))

Comments

[wilder]

[!!!]

You found her notes?

Great!

[theabjectauthor]

I did! And thankfully, they were not in that strange alphabet you were so kind as to provide me a sample of. Otherwise, I would need a great deal more assistance in sorting them out.

[wilder]

Ahaha, oh that's a real relief. [since that'd take foreeever with his skill level]

I've only been on two of the expeditions myself and I'm working in the city today, but I can try to help sort things out.

[theabjectauthor]

I expect everyone's going to be quite busy - this horrible epidemic of visible regret is very inconvenient. But I appreciate whatever help you can give me. I need it most with the notes on magic and mana - I'm considering simply giving them all to Mr. Harrowgate.

[courageous_wit]

Oh, wonderful! I'm so glad someone found her notes. I'd love to look over them with you.

[theabjectauthor]

Thank you, Hermione. ... As a matter of fact, could I ask a favor of you?

[courageous_wit]

Of course you may. What is it?

[theabjectauthor]

I have a few other people interested in assisting me ... is there any way that you could make duplicates of Professor Sage's notes? Perhaps a spell of some sort?

[heal_theworld]

[That was...an interesting story, Lemony.]

...I can help with the magical notes, if you would like.

[theabjectauthor]

Thank you, Martel. That would be greatly appreciated... and I'm quite glad to hear that you made it through the quake unscathed, as well.

[heal_theworld]

I did. I've been helping down at the town.

[theabjectauthor]

I'm sure that is greatly appreciated, as well. You have a good, noble heart. I've volunteered to help bring refreshments down for the aid volunteers and the townspeople ... it's very likely I'll see you around.

[kungfuwitch]

That's very sage advice. I've long since come to grips with the things these stains are reminding me of... at least I thought I had. Everything happens for a reason, though.

[She pauses, dwelling on the events currently painted across her face and body. At one of them is something she's only told one person in the castle... the one thing she's always reluctant to mention whenever the subject of Cole comes up. It's still a part of her, whether she likes it or not, and that's something she has to remember. It's nothing to be ashamed of, after all.]

I've only been to the Dead Zone a couple of times but I'm happy to give you any information you'd like. [she pauses] I'd go on this expedition but I have too much work to do here. And someone needs to stay behind to help protect the castle while all of you are gone.

[theabjectauthor]

I'm glad to hear you're well, Phoebe. [he takes in the rest of what she says slowly]

There is a reason some stains never fade. If you spill wine on a white tablecloth, every time you set the table, you are reminded that you should not do so again... or perhaps it can remind you of the person who made you laugh and spill the wine. Or it could make you weep at the proposed cost you were quoted to dry-clean the tablecloth at a reputable Chinese laundry. I suppose it is all a matter of perspective...

I'm sorry to hear you won't be joining us, but I understand your reasons completely. Any information you'd be able to lend would be most appreciated.

[kungfuwitch]

Each of mine bring back different memories. Regret, pain, fear, guilt... loss. I think the bottom line for me is I need to take my own advice and not let the past haunt me. I've... been talking about it more here than I ever did at home. Mostly because there are more people I can talk to about it here. I think I really just need to find a way to let go for good.

[She sighs softly]

Or at least let go enough to free myself from some of this.

[She pauses]

I'm sorry, I'm still just rambling on about my own issues. Is there anything in particular you were looking for more information on? If I don't know I might have ideas on who would.

[theabjectauthor]

Unfortunately, our memories never truly leave us - unless, of course, we contract some sort of memory-debilitating disease, and I would personally not wish Alzheimer's on anyone, except perhaps people whose lives were particularly riddled with terrible tortures and malignant mishaps ... Perhaps a symbolic sort of purging could be useful? Unfortunately, the only example that comes to mind is the overly trite cliche of burning the letters and tokens of unfaithful or otherwise ill-fated love affairs.

dictated;

[gottaknockhard]

[He's never met someone who likes to hear himself talk as much as this guy. How many pages did he take to say... what...

He's lost. And while he's general fine with being lost, he doesn't have anything else handy to read right now.]

Prism of experience, huh?

[theabjectauthor]

Hello, Spike. ... Yes, precisely. And there are quite a number of different experiences to draw from, here - even before considering those gained in our own worlds.

[gottaknockhard]

You could have probably left it at that.

[onlyanapple]

Too long. Didn't read. [Maybe he's a little more bitchy than usual. Oh well]

[theabjectauthor]

I'm afraid I don't come with Cliff Notes, Nahash.

[onlyanapple]

Then you should. It's only considerate for everyone else.

Dictated

[princelyspirit]

[She's not going to comment on the recent events in the castle, or his words on it; not that she didn't read them, she did. And his words helped, they really did. But, that doesn't make talking about her own stains any easier. So, instead, she's going to focus on the expedition. Like someone else said, they should focus on more productive things right now.]

So, you're on the expedition, too? I've heard a few people talking about it, and... well, count me in. I'm still pretty new around here, though, so is there anything I should know before I join the bandwagon?

well hello lovely new cr! welcome. :D

[theabjectauthor]

Oh, there are several things, but it depends on how much you've already learned. Have you heard of the Dead Zone, yet, madam?

Well hello to you too!

[princelyspirit]

No, I can't say I have. Though, I haven't heard much of anything yet, to be honest. All I know about so far is the castle and the town outside.