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[wizard_redfive]

[The journal picks up a scratching sound, a little like a cat, if its claws were made of metal. Soon a mechanical voice starts to speak, quiet and dry with dread.]

Uh oh. Uh oh. Uh oh.

[Then Dairine's voice can be heard, getting progressively louder as she approaches the journal.]

Spot? What are you doing with my-?

Uh oh.

[Dairine freezes.]

Ohhh boy... That can't be a good sign.

((Regular type is Dairine. Code is her Wizard Manual, Spot.))

Comments

[radiantwingedone]

... that doesn't sound like the sort of noise of "I made a mess on the floor."

[wizard_redfive]

No, Spot doesn't make messes.

That is the sound of my life going to heck.

[radiantwingedone]

... Ah.

[ .... He doesn't understand. ]

[wizard_redfive]

Uh oh.

[There's a long deep sigh, as Dairine rubs her face.]

I thought we fixed this. Why now... [She only got back a week ago.]

[radiantwingedone]

Because the castle is a rather rude structure?

[ Yes. Problem? Probably the castle did it. ]

... Will leave you to figure it out... whatever it is.

[wizard_redfive]

[Spot suddenly goes quiet, giving the journal a piercing stare before turning towards Dairine for some silent chatter. (Which looks rather odd to an outsider, but no stranger than having a laptop "stare" at anything.)]

Spot says you shouldn't be so quick to blame the castle for every unusual occurance. There are too many unknown variables to assume as such.

Sure. If Spot can't figure it out though... [What hope does she have? She doesn't have access to the Motherboard, so how would she get ahold of another update?] Well, we'll see.

[radiantwingedone]

Regardless of whether it is the castles doing or not, the castle itself has severely impaired my ability to tell. [ The castle took his sight, he's just a bit pissed about that still. ] While other residents, or those that are being constantly filtered away from, it can also be said the castle is the root - it brought those here, didn't it? Except for whatever it is that 'collectors' references.

[ There's a clicking sound as he just.. shuts his mouth a little harder than necessary. He could go on, but... Being a grumpy old man also doesn't do anything. ]

[wizard_redfive]

[Spot gives the journal a dry look. Really? He intentionally didn't use any blind references, and this is the response he gets? The manual scuttles off, leaving Dairine with the journal.]

Aah, Spot left. I think you frustrated him.

Maybe, maybe not. While it does seem true that the castle causes most of our troubles, Spot does bring up a good point. There are other castles besides Paradisa, and that's not even taking into account the people who were around before the castles were formed. We still don't know what's become of them.

That's not even including the various beings that can normally travel between worlds. Who knows? Maybe some could get through without the castle's permission.

[radiantwingedone]

I tend to do that. [ Frustrate people. Sometimes its on purpose. ] .... It wasn't intentional, if it helps.

... Although my experience would lead me to a response that would likely cause more arguing at this point. [ If it isn't this particular castle, then its People - humans. ] I have none with things that traverse worlds - the only thing that came to ours was something born of it.

[wizard_redfive]

That's nice to hear, though I doubt he'll come back out. He's usually pretty shy around other people.

It is admittedly more common for troubles to come from more local causes, with the exception of the Lone One, of course. [But That is a tricky subject when it comes to Its location. Or anything else about It.] But considering the Collectors that recently dropped by, it wouldn't surprise me if the local worldwalls were thinning, which would make us susceptible to even more unwanted visitors.

[radiantwingedone]

It is perhaps unsurprising to you that I have no idea what this 'Lone One' is, nor the idea of 'worldwalls', local or not.

[wizard_redfive]

A little. I'm fairly sure you've heard of the Lone One, though you might not have realized it. Most people have. That Power has a nasty habit of sneaking into folk lore and different religious tales.

Worldwalls are basically what they sound like: invisible walls that separate different versions of a location. It's not to difficult to grasp if you have an idea of parallel worlds or the multiverse. Have you hear of those?

[radiantwingedone]

... Then there is perhaps a problem in that there is no 'religion'.

[ There is silence, and Duke can't think of more to explain quickly. ]

The idea of branching paths - a choice made could have been made differently, and alter everything - is vaguely familiar. As is the notion of 'Fate', that one can do anything and still end up with the same results down the line, or something that draws people together.

[ Distasteful, at the second agreement. ]

[schrodingersghost]

What can't be a good sign?

[wizard_redfive]

Uh oh.

[Spot supplies helpfully, and Dairine points towards the manual (for what good it does).]

That.

[schrodingersghost]

Sorry? What's that?

[wizard_redfive]

The "uh oh"-ing. Spot keeps repeating it. Again.

[There's a layer of annoyance but mostly worry, since Spot's "uh ohs" usually came before bad things happened.]

[schrodingersghost]

Does he usually do things like this?

[wizard_redfive]

No, he hasn't done this since we arrived here.

[schrodingersghost]

Does it mean something?

[wizard_redfive]

It means something bad is about to happen.

Dictated

[the_effect_she_has]

What's happening, Dair?

Dictated

[wizard_redfive]

[There's more "Uh oh"s in the background as Dairine picks up the journal.]

Spot's nervous, which probably means I'm in trouble or we all are.

Re: Dictated

[the_effect_she_has]

Does Spot know what we should be doing to protect ourselves?

[Don't question anymore, just ask smarter ones.]

Dictated

[wizard_redfive]

Dunno. Do you? [She looks down at Spot. The computer stops "uh oh"-ing and goes quiet. They stare awkwardly at each other until Spot distantly mutters.]

They're coming.

...Ooookay. But what is coming?

The Gentlemen are coming by.

Re: Dictated

[the_effect_she_has]

[Katniss sat, gnawing on her bottom lip, before she frowned at what Spot was saying.]

...who, or what, are The Gentlemen? [Because if the computer was warning them, then it couldn't be good.]

Dictated

[wizard_redfive]

[A pause.]

Undetermined. More research will be necessary.

[Dairine sighs.]

Well, I know where I'll be for the rest of the day. Spot, run a search for "Gentlemen." Make it thorough.

As you wish.

Re: Dictated

[the_effect_she_has]

I'll ... start sharpening the weapons now.

Re: Dictated

[wizard_redfive]

Probably a good idea. We'll need to be prepared for any possiblity.

[hard_talker]

... Uh, Dair? Spot? ... What's he "uh oh"-ing about?

[wizard_redfive]

No idea, but it can't be good. The last time he did this, the universe was being torn apart.

[The time before she was about to be grounded, but that didn't have the same weight as universal demise.]

[hard_talker]

... Yeah, I'd definitely call that "not good". Should we start heading for the hills?

[wizard_redfive]

Difficult to say. I don't even know what the problem is, let alone where it's coming from.

But we should prepare for the worst.

[hard_talker]

I'll put the call out, see what we've got for plans. ... Thanks for the warning, whatever this is all about.

[wizard_redfive]

Thanks, Mark. I'll try to set something up, see if I can get any more information on what might be coming.

No problem. You stay safe, you hear?