035 - My Voice Is My Weapon of Choice

[silentrunning]

[Chell's endlessly glad she rescued the DJ equipment she'd found in Mark and Nora's old room before the Castle started all this stupidness with changing everything around. Sure, it'd taken the help of a friend to get the courage to go up there, but it'd been worth it. The key had been left for a reason. But now she's standing there, on a bright, chilly autumn afternoon, staring at it all sitting on her desk, and at the small piece of paper she'd found taped down amidst the seemingly infinite stacks of CDS, records and cassettes. Talk hard, he'd said. How was she supposed to do that when everything was changing around her? Well, he'd left this to her, hadn't he? She'd have to try. And it wasn't like he'd not taught her to use the equipment.

So, taking a deep, steadying breath, she sits down in her chair, flips on the equipment and begins to speak. She doesn't even bother to disguise her voice. If you recognize her, that's all right. If you don't, that's okay too. Her voice starts off soft and uncertain, but grows in confidence as she speaks.]

Good afternoon, Wonderfuck. This is your one-stop source for news and bitching. No, I'm not Hard Harry, obviously, and I'm not trying to take his place. I couldn't even if I did want to try. But there're some things that are bothering me, so I'm going to speak up. Maybe they bother some of you too.

Firstly, this room assignment change crap. I mean, I don't mind where I am. I'm next-door to somebody I know. But still. That was a heaping load of shit, just dumping us outside the Castle like that. What the hell was that all about?

But I know WHY the room change. The Castle has sent so many people home lately. And that's the crux of what's worrying me. I've lived here over a year. I've seen this place send people home a lot. A lot of my friends got sent home that way. But usually, if the Castle sends a lot of people home, it gets a lot of new residents. And that isn't happening this time. But that hasn't happened this time. And if the theories in the world notes are correct, then what can that mean? I don't know. Does anyone have any ideas?

While I'm on the subject of Wonderfuck's ever-present fuckery, could you please send me a message if you're still here? So many people are gone, that I kind of want to know who's left, if for no other reason than to keep an eye on things, to see if I can find a pattern in who has gotten sent home. Also, if anybody has noticed anything newsworthy, let me know.

And one last thing. People, keep fighting. If we stop fighting, even with everything going to hell like this, we're only giving this place what it wants. And I for one won't be backing down. But then, the other person broadcasting said that way better than me, and I owe them a thank you.

[And with that, she snaps off her equipment, and idly pets the head of one of the three cats which had once belonged to her friend Django, and tries to wipe away the tears prickling at the back of her eyes.]

Here's to you, Mark and Nora.

[She muttered to herself, and to all the animals who'd crowded around her]

I hope I did justice to your legacy.

thirty-eight detention slips

[delincuente]

[The benefits of being brutally murdered are few and far between - nearly nonexistent - but this is one of them: on a cold Thursday night, Alex is actually sprawled on the library floor with a small collection of spell books around her. She's tried this before, the sudden and uncharacteristic attempt to learn something for once, but there's more motivation behind it this time. Most of the magic she uses on a daily basis is for fun or her own personal ease. What she needs now is defense. Something to ensure that never happens again.

She pulls at the scratchy collar of her sweater, and wrinkles her brow, reminded of something.]

So, what's the most losses anyone here has? 'Cause I think the castle slapped me with another. Like getting sliced open isn't enough, I can't even emotionally recover in pajamas. It keeps sticking me in ugly sweaters instead.

[There's a pause. She's trying to keep her voice light and humorous, as per her usual, but even after a few weeks it's a bit listless and grim. She keeps thinking about New York, and her family, for the first time in what seems like ages. And how, for a few months, she had them again, before being returned promptly to Paradisa.]

... Next time this place sends me home I'd better not come back. Four losses would just be great. What a joke.

[Dictated/Action] How to expect the unexpected.

[unexpected_adventures]

Room changes? People going missing and leaving without any warning? Are these going to be events which will keep on happening? I must say I was lucky in not having my hobbit hole moved. Thank you very much. I would rather have my home right where it is, thank you. The castle doesn't have any right to move people's home about, as it is not funny in the least. [He'd heard about people spending the night in the castle grounds of all places! Whatever next.]

It's rather worrying, don't you think? What else might happen that we can't stop? I mean- [He paused and sighed. He was thinking about bad things that may not even come to pass. Stop worrying, Bilbo.]

-well, things should just stay the same. [So there.] That aside, does anyone know if there is somewhere I can grow some vegetables? I've been pondering on the idea for some time now. My hobbit hole isn't really the right environment for outside plants and I suppose we're not allowed to plant vegetables in the castle grounds, are we? [A shame.] I'm a keen gardener, so if anyone knows, please let me know.

Thank you.