XXV.

[hellshaped]

[Hellboy's outside in the garden today, sitting on a stone bench. And also cleaning his gun. Because now that he actually has one again (that he's not renting from the shooting range ...), he should probably take care of it so it doesn't explode again.

Not that this was his fault, for reals.

A lot of people have been leaving lately, people he knows, and it's making him nervous -- why does the castle continue to hold him here, when so many have left?

He opens his journal after awhile and flips to a blank page.]

There have been a lot of departures in the past few months. Or maybe I'm just more aware of them because I've been here this long.

[Long enough to build friendships to the point where it's distressing when they leave, despite this meaning they're escaping the castle.]

The number of people returning has been dwindling, too. It seems like the castle's developed a really particular taste lately.

[He pauses, not really sure if he wants to voice this next bit. But --] I wonder if it's possible for the castle to starve itself by being so choosy. And what'll happen to those of us still here if it does.

[ooc. open in person or over the journal!! i'll be at work until the evening so tags will be scarce until then.]

Comments

[arealwoman]

I don't think less people returning is a bad thing.

[hellshaped]

It just makes me wonder why the castle bothered in the first place.

[arealwoman]

You'll probably never get an answer to that, unless it grows a voice.

[hellshaped]

[A pause.] You never heard before?

[arealwoman]

What, the castle talk?

[hellshaped]

Well, now I'm not so sure.

[If she's never heard it, does that just mean he's going nuts ...]

[arealwoman]

I don't think I've heard it mentioned before. Why, do you hear something else?

[hellshaped]

I've heard some of the older residents mention it before. And I've heard it from time to time too, in those sort of half-asleep moments right when you wake up.

But I've been here a year and some change, so that might have something to do with it. How long have you been here?

[arealwoman]

I think I'm just a little too asleep to notice that when I wake up.

I got here [ Oh gosh let her think ] the end of January.

[hellshaped]

Huh. Well, it could be you just haven't been here long enough ... [Sure ... that's why ...]

[arealwoman]

I hope I don't stay here any longer then. [ She didn't want to hear it ]

[hellshaped]

I don't blame you.