[Dictated]

[schrodingersghost]

[It had been a rough month for Danny. Actually make that a rough couple of years. A rough life.

Just... the last month had reached new depths of misery for him. It wasn't enough that the castle had made keeping his secret identity nearly impossible by taking away his ability to lie. It wasn't enough that he'd been trapped here for months going stir crazy with no ghosts to fight.

No, on top of all that he just had to gain all these new nightmares courtesy of the Event Horizon. He had to deal with memories of actually being tortured. Not just the nightmares he'd always had of being dissected.  This was worse, because it had come so close to happening for real.  And some part of his mind had thought his parents would approve of it.

How did you deal with something like that?

Danny had tried. Oh, he had tried. He'd stopped sleeping. He'd picked fights and blasted trees with ice and ecto energy until he couldn't stand up any more. But nothing helped.

And after a few weeks of this?  Danny just couldn't bring himself to care any more. He was exhausted, and he was so tired of being angry all the time.  He was tired of being scared. He was tired of people telling him that he had nothing to worry about.

He just wanted all of it to be over.

And so he finally grabs his journal and dictates a rambling and only slightly coherent challenge, the sort of announcement that could only be made while under the influence of sleep deprivation and complete emotional exhaustion.]

You know what? I don't care any more. All the people going on about how nice and understanding everyone in this castle is about people with freakish powers? Fine. You win. The castle and its stupid no lies curse and its thing against secret identities wins.

And when someone shows up to drag me off for lots and lots and painful experiments, maybe I won't even say I told you so.

I'll just say it right now.  I'm a ghost!  Happy?  I'll say it again. Ghost, ghost, ghost, ghost, GHOST! And I'm human. And no I don't know how it works, so don't even ask.

[And with that he trails off into mutterings too soft for the journal to pick up.]

Comments

[toobravehearted]

A long time to bear a burden that really isn't one. It's Danny, isn't it? The boy that can fly.

[schrodingersghost]

It isn't a fake burden! This is important!

...Yeah, that's me.

[toobravehearted]

[Eyebrows going up...] I never said that it wasn't important. How long have you been at Paradisa for, those two years or longer?

[schrodingersghost]

I don't even know. A year, maybe?

[toobravehearted]

All right. And during that time have you met people very different to the world you have come from, Danny? People that look different, or can do things not immediately explainable by science or nature in your own world?

[schrodingersghost]

Some, I guess. Ghosts can get pretty weird, so I haven't seen too much that wasn't possible in my world.

[toobravehearted]

With all the diversity here and the rich experiences that people have brought from their own worlds, the stories of the things they have done and seen, a tale of a boy that can fly or that sounds like a paradox isn't so shocking. I guarantee that you've already spoken with people that are not human.

People are tolerant here because they've seen so much from their own timelines. Outside of your world Danny, you are with friends. If anyone tries to drag you off anywhere, they can have me to answer to and I should guess at a long list of other people that have volunteered the same.

I don't wish to dilute any of your frustration because you seem quite entitled to it, but put yourself in other's shoes also Danny. There are worse things to be.

[schrodingersghost]

Yeah, see, that's what I have issues with. Everyone keeps saying that its safe here. Evil soul stealing castle aside.

But I can't believe that. I mean, there are what, 300 people here? From almost as many worlds? How is it possible that none of them have issues with ghosts?

And you don't know me. None of you guys do. Why are so many people so willing to throw themselves into my problems? I don't get it.

[toobravehearted]

[Looking at the journal, he lets a out a sigh very. very. slowly. Patience and a soft hand he feels are required.]

One hundred and seventy two at my last count in fact, not anywhere near what you think of in terms of numbers, but that is by the by. And do you know, you're absolutely right. I don't know you. This really is none of my business and I'm sorry to intrude on you. I do, however, know and can hear in someone's voice their frustration and unhappiness. I'm sorry, but, I cannot ignore that. Anyone with an ounce of concern of compassion would not ignore it either.

People in close quarters look after each other. Because of the 'soul stealing castle' I think even more so.

[schrodingersghost]

[He blows out his breath in a loud sigh.]

I really don't get this place at all.

[toobravehearted]

Then one day you might, in time. [Everything always comes down to time, doesn't it?]

Don't people care for each other where you come from? It's not unusual for a stranger to offer a lending hand. In fact, there's times that I rather have to count on it.

[schrodingersghost]

[He snorts.]

Now you sound like Clockwork.

Not when you're a ghost.

[toobravehearted]

[He makes a small chuckle.] Now, who is that? Sounds like someone you would do well to listen to their advice.

You're not just a ghost though, are you. There was nothing corporeal about you when we met.

[schrodingersghost]

The master of time. He's a ghost I know.

...I'm half-ghost.

[toobravehearted]

[Silence for a moment, then in a rush of words,] Excuse me, who?

I think I guessed as much from your earlier description. But what does that mean for you, if I might ask? You seemed very much alive and well when I saw you.

[schrodingersghost]

Well, I guess technically his title is the master of all time. He's kind of personally responsible for my timeline or something. I wasn't really listening.

It means I'm both. And I'm neither. I don't really understand all of it. I mean, its not like there's a lot of us walking around.