o1 | dictated;

[bustered]

[At first, there's silence -- not absolute, but nearly so. It's punctuated, for those with ears sensitive enough to hear it, by faint (if slightly labored) breathing and the ta-ta-ta-tap, ta-ta-ta-tap of fingertips against a surface. Eventually that second noise slows -- tap, tap, tap, tap -- and stops altogether.]

Just supposed to talk, right? Feels like I'm talking to myself. Suppose I'll get used to it. Weird castle, weird things... Suppose I'll get used to that too.

I... [An exasperated sigh, followed by a muttered statement:] Geez self, it's just like talking into your PHS, okay?

I guess I'll skip the "is anyone out there" and the "how did I get here." Probably doesn't much matter in the long run, huh? But I do want to say thanks to whoever found me, brought me up to... well, wherever this room is. Wish you'd stuck around so I could say it in person, but. Well, I understand it, I guess.

Anyway, thanks.

[Pause, maybe he's done? Nope, not quite--]

Oh, and I'm looking for a guy, blond, muscular. Goes by the name of Cloud. Dunno if he's here but... if anyone does, anyone talks to him, tell him a friend's looking for him. I just... I need to know if he's okay.

Comments

[courageous_wit]

I know Cloud! I've spoken to him quite recently so he should be here.

[bustered]

[OH HELLO SIGH OF RELIEF. Really, that's just about the best news anyone could give him.

Well, aside the whole waking-up-alive thing.]

You do? He is?

...this isn't a trick to get my hopes up, is it?

[courageous_wit]

No, I promise that he should be here. I can check his door to make sure if you like.

[bustered]

His door?

...Yeah, you know what, sure. If it's no trouble.

[courageous_wit]

We all have a door in the castle with our name on it. If his name is still on his door, that means he's here in Paradisa somewhere.

[bustered]

I'm still not convinced that I'm not hallucinating all of this. Maybe I should check my own, see if it's really my name out there.

1/2

[shrugs_a_lot]

[PHS... Hmm? Guy, check, blond, check... Muscular? Definitely check! Okay, yes, they are looking for him.]

[shrugs_a_lot]

Why wouldn't he be?

[bustered]

If he's not, I need to go find him.

[courageous_wit]

It is a lot to absorb... I hope you find your room soon.

[shrugs_a_lot]

What are you, a fan?

[bustered]

Well, no one's come to kick me out yet, so I'm assuming I'm allowed here...

[bustered]

[snort]

Nothing so exotic.

[heal_theworld]

[She can hear the tapping, and the breathing quite easily. And now she's concerned.] ...Are you all right?

And no, I haven't heard of him, sorry.

[shrugs_a_lot]

Then who are you?

[bustered]

I'm alive. [Translation: "no."]

It's okay, someone else said they have.

[bustered]

A friend.

[courageous_wit]

If you do run into any problems, I'd be happy to help. My name is Hermione.

[heal_theworld]

[She's very good at reading between those lines.] Well, if you weren't, you wouldn't be talking to me. [Pause.] Are you hurt?

That's good, at least, that they're here.

[shrugs_a_lot]

A name might be useful, pal... [Why so secretive!?]

[bustered]

Hermione, huh? Exotic.

Zack. Zack Fair.

[bustered]

[Because.]

Zack.

1/2

[shrugs_a_lot]

[Zack...? Waaaait...]

[bustered]

Hey, you never know. I've seen some weird deaths. [Mirroring that pause, but... oh, what the hell.] Yeah.

Just gotta find him now, but it's a start.

2/3 i lied

[shrugs_a_lot]

It's you!