24 (forward dated slightly)

[takethat]

[In the early morning hours of Sunday, there are some smudged words appearing in the journals, written in blue ink and a sloppy hand. For once, he's heeding the possibility that most of the castle residents are likely still sleeping--and he's trying to be quiet.]

It's November 11.

I've been here for a year today.

[He pauses, considering how far he's come in that past year, contemplating what he does and doesn't want to list out for the whole castle to see. In the end, he settles on a very brief little written list, more for the benefit of his own memory than anything else.]


In November, I got here.
In December, I kissed Maya Fey and Geoffrey Chaucer, and I went to Paris.
January brought Miles.
In February, I gained my voice back again.
March saw some really amazing birthday gifts.
In April, Sunflower found me.
In May, I was a mermaid, a phoenix, and a father.
In June everything started to make a lot more sense.
July took away my closest friend in this place, and also gave me something more.
In August, I tried to lead artists.
In September, I met my daughter.
And in October, I broke my leg, lost my arm, became a pony, and existed in others' nightmares.

Let's see what you've got to throw at me for this next year, castle.


[And then, because it's been far too long coming, he scribbles in a filter.]


[ Maya Fey ]

Maya. I need to tell you something.

Comments

written;

[sawadeertoday]

[ There's something pretty familiar about some of the latest events. GLaDOS ponders, silently, before writing neatly under his list. ]

You've been here awhile.
I'm not sure if congratulations is in order. Considering this castle is dumb.

[ She has a hunch that this might be Phoenix, but she's not sure enough to divulge anything else. ]

written

[takethat]

[He writes back, not trusting himself to stay quiet enough otherwise.]

Congratulate me for surviving, if you want!

written

[sawadeertoday]

[ She wasn't expecting that. The slightest snort might have gone over the journal, but it was quiet- it was way too early in the morning to wake everyone up. ]

Congratulations for surviving.

[ There might be a doodle of cake appearing next to that. It's not really good, but it gets the point across.

She was pretty darned sure this was Phoenix, by now. ]

[magicalwright]

And after all that time you still don't look a day over 33! [ She's funny. ]

[takethat]

Gee, thanks. Daughter. How kind.

Dictated forever

[whichwayyoulean]

...You were a mermaid? [Yep, that's the part he's going to focus on]

dictated forever too

[takethat]

...I'm not proud of that fact, but yes. Yes I was.

[holyrabies]

Wow, that is like, the craziest year ever.

[takethat]

I'm sure others had it even worse!

[wheatdos]

H-hey! I didn't know you had a daughter, mate!

[He laughs. Yep. It didn't click.]

[takethat]

...you didn't? Really? Have you met her?

[silentrunning]

[Have a familiar scrawl]

I wouldn't tempt it.

[And then...]

Tell me a story, Nick. How'd Sunflower find you? I like her.

[Yes. Someone's up this early.]

[takethat]

[He smiles, speaking his response.]

I wish I had a story to tell! She was just there with me the day we all ended up in that weird world with all the other creatures like her.

[ninjainviolet]

That's a lot to happen in one year.

And, uh, a mermaid? A phoenix I can understand. But a mermaid?

[ooc: Okay to handwave knowing each other? They spoke over the journal a while ago.]

works for me :D

[takethat]

Yeah, that one was a little unexpected for me, too...

[not_mafia]

One year... [Tsuna almost sounds like he's memorized. He'd heard, many times, that most people left only after a few months. But it seemed Phoenix wasn't most people, and it's starting to occur to Tsuna that he might not be, either.]

Well, happy anniversary for coming to the magic castle, I guess?

[takethat]

Thanks. I think. [He laughs softly.] Might as well celebrate it, right?

Nick

[optimystic]

Okay! [well that's sudden, but sure! If nick wants to talk, Maya wants to listen! so her tone is a happy one as she replies]

Where do you want to meet up?

Maya

[takethat]

Oh--wherever? I'm... we could meet outside?

Dictated

[wizard_redfive]

Oh. [Dairine says, as though she's just had a revelation.]

That's right. It is around that time.

Dictated

[takethat]

Kind of took me by surprise when I first realized it, too.

Dictated

[cantacquityou]

[Tap. Tap, tap, tap.]

Dictated

[takethat]

...hel-lo?

dictated (and fashionably late xD)

[makethemguilty]

I see that your buffoonery has yet to cease, Mister Wright. Really, what purpose do you intend this balderdash to serve?

It is as plain and as tacky as that atrocious blue suit you wear in court. Tell me...Attorney, you claim to have been here an entire year. How is it then that you've not found the source of these happenings and found a way out?

You mean to say that your ragtag team of cheerleaders have not been supplying any helpful hints?

dictated

[takethat]

...while I don't really see the need in answering you, I'll humor you...

The purpose of writing that list was for my own benefit. It wasn't for you... and you didn't have to read it.

["Or nag me about it," he'd like to add.]

Before you question me for not finding a way home in a year, why don't you talk to some of the folks who've been here for more than three?