001

[paradisamods]

[And, quite suddenly...

You're holding your journal. If you already were holding it, congratulations. If you weren't... you are now! Somebody wants your attention.

And get this: it's empty.

The old one's kicking around somewhere, but for now, look at what Paradisa gave you!]

Comments

{Written}

[bootsweremadeforcasting]

'My journal appears to have either been switched or tampered with.'

/dictated

[cricketycricket]

You're not the only one, madam. It seems to be rather uniform, from what I'm seeing.

{Written

[bootsweremadeforcasting]

[His handwriting seems to have gotten effeminate. However, he's going to ignore that for the moment.]

'I assume this is the castle's doing. For what, I can't be sure.'

[cricketycricket]

((sd;lkfahlkdsjfhlakdjfh mun's fault for not checking further. why you have a girly name to go with your long hair, man. ;_;))

Yes, I'm about ninety-nine percent certain that's exactly what it is. I had a feeling it was due for a trick of this magnitude.

[bootsweremadeforcasting]

((For world-record trololol obviously |D And don't worry 'bout it bro! I laugh pretty hard whenever people mistake him for a girl!))

'I'm surprised it wasn't something more impacting. It seems to like mass confusion and some panic.'

[cricketycricket]

That it does. You should have been here two years ago when we tore it all to the ground, and it rebuilt itself overnight.

[bootsweremadeforcasting]

'That sounds like quite a sight to behold. Was there a reason for destroying it?'

[cricketycricket]

Yes, actually. It was manipulating several of the residents into thinking that they'd always been there - and that their imagined lives out in the town were more important than the bonds they'd forged during their time in the castle. Pulling off something on that large a scale weakened its resources ... and, well, one of the residents lost her temper and fired a cannon at the wall. When the damage didn't immediately start to repair itself, and it became clear that it held ... well ... everyone just sort of pitched in of their own volition.

I don't know that there was any one specific reason for the demolition, beyond simple catharsis, when you get right down to it. [there's the briefest of pauses] I'm the Doctor, by the way.

[bootsweremadeforcasting]

'I'm sure there are some who would rather repeat the action.'

[Much as there's humor meant behind that, he's sure it doesn't translate well through text. At the offered name/title, Jade offers the same back.]

'Colonel Jade Curtiss. A pleasure to meet you.'

[cricketycricket]

Oh, I'm close personal friends with quite a few of them, myself. Pleased to meet you, as well, Colonel. How long have you been in Paradisa?

[bootsweremadeforcasting]

'The pleasure is all mine, Doctor.

As for time, it's been a few months now. You sound as though you've been here quite a while.'

[cricketycricket]

Oh, I have. Nearly three years, now, as a matter of fact!

[bootsweremadeforcasting]

'That's quite a lot of time to be away from home.'

[cricketycricket]

Oh, I'm a traveler - it's not the distance that bothers me so much as that I've more or less stayed in the same place.

[bootsweremadeforcasting]

'You would rather continue your travels, I take it?

Is Paradisa not entertaining enough?'

[cricketycricket]

Oh, it's certainly interesting. I've more questions about it now than I had when I arrived, actually. ... It's more that I've spent centuries moving from place to place, constant motion, constant running--!

... And now it's more of a meandering back and forth. Not quite a pacing of the cage, so to speak, we've a lot more freedom here than some realize - just ... idle wanderings.

[bootsweremadeforcasting]

'Disconcerting for those of us trying to find out more about it. No matter.

You life sounds quite exciting. That kind of moving is quite a lot for a boring old soldier like myself.'

[Jade had the idea the poor man would die in his job. No wars meant Jade spent his time behind a desk. The most exciting things were new recruits and their attempts to get through the courses.]