♞ 005 | dictated

[fearbringer]

[Before any actual words, there's the sound of a body flopping down heavily onto a mattress, and a long, exhausted sigh-- and when he does talk, he doesn't sound like he's addressing the people in the castle.]

I'm used to the "silent observer" type. I'm even used to interference from them. You already are in my better graces simply because you don't seem to see me as useless-- and because you haven't brought the Guardians here.

But when I talk to you, you never respond. I assume you can hear me-- you hear our wishes, after all. One of the demons has said he's heard you whispering, but I've never been granted that. I wonder, is it because I'm new here? Or do you just not consider me worthy?

[There's an intake of breath as if he's about to continue, but then he notices the journal sitting open. Oops. Well, okay; he'll roll with it.]

And as for the rest of you, did any of you notice what made various people people react differently to the spirals? Some seemed enthralled, some seemed terrified-- which I unfortunately couldn't enjoy at the time-- and a few seemed to be unaffected completely. I'm curious about whether there was a pattern to it all, or if it was simply random.

... Beyond that, I have nothing more to say at this time. I'm very tired.

[And so he shuts the journal.]

Comments

[defyingfrigidity]

From what I've been able to tell during my time here, there doesn't seem to be any sort of pattern to the strange happenings that often befall this place. I could be wrong, though.

[ voice ]

[wishmadeinfire]

I like to think it is random, based on us as individuals. The Castle having that much control, that much interest in us is... unsettling.

[ voice ]

[fearbringer]

But not surprising.

[At least, not to him. But he's a little biased.]

[fearbringer]

And is there a pattern in who's affected? That's really what I'm asking.

[defyingfrigidity]

No, none that I've been able to notice. I doubt that there is a pattern; after all, if there was, then those who are affected by certain things would be better able to defend themselves, correct? I don't think the powers-at-be here would want that.

[fearbringer]

It might. None of us really know what it wants.

[defyingfrigidity]

Good point.

But whatever it wants with us, it can't be good.

[fearbringer]

More assumptions.

Re: [ voice ]

[wishmadeinfire]

After as many years here as I have seen? No, it is not. It does not mean it is not unsettling though. Every now and then I think it enjoys reminding us of its hold over our lives here.

[ voice ]

[fearbringer]

That's a possibility, but not definite-- at least, not that I've heard.

Re: [ voice ]

[wishmadeinfire]

That it can make us do things? Oh, I have no doubt that it can make us, if it really tries. It can take us from our own worlds and it can shift itself into new worlds. Somehow, controlling us seems trivial in comparison.

[ voice ]

[fearbringer]

No, that's not what I meant-- of course it can make us do things. This entire past week was proof enough of that.

But we don't know its motives. As far as I can tell, we don't know for sure that it enjoys mocking us or reminding us of its power.

Re: [ voice ]

[wishmadeinfire]

Oh, that. Yes, I suppose that is true. Perhaps it has no motives at all. It is simply doing what its nature demands of it. I, for one, think it is at least partially sentient in some way.

Dictated

[wizard_redfive]

I didn't realize you could get tired.

[ voice ]

[fearbringer]

So do I. But sentience doesn't rule out just "doing what its nature demands of it".

Dictated

[fearbringer]

It just tends to take a lot more to tire me out.

Re: [ voice ]

[wishmadeinfire]

It does not. But it means that it can, if it wants, be cruel about it. It does not always give us trying times, after all.

[ voice ]

[fearbringer]

That doesn't mean cruelty is its motive.

Re: [ voice ]

[wishmadeinfire]

Again, I suppose that is true. It might have no motive at all. But I think that it leans itself towards the crueler times more than the happy. The happy times are short, but the cruel ones... Those can be drawn out and left more than a few of us with bad dreams.

[ voice ]

[fearbringer]

Oh, I'm very much aware of those bad dreams.

But you're making a fundamental mistake here. Beings that make bad things happen don't always do it just to be cruel. Granted, they do sometimes, and the castle may very well fit into that category. But you really shouldn't assume that not making everything happy all the time means that it has cruel intentions.

Dictated

[preformthisneigh]

I stayed in my room and didn't get involved. It was like something Discord would do, and I don't want to touch that stuff with a ten foot pole. No thank you.

Who do you want to talk to you?

Dictated

[fearbringer]

The Castle.

Dictated

[preformthisneigh]

...You do know that castles don't talk, right?

Dictated

[fearbringer]

You do know this one isn't an ordinary castle, right?

Dictated

[preformthisneigh]

Of course I do, but I'm not sure about it talking.