paradisa | 24 (forward dated slightly)

[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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Of course. She hesitated, pressing the end of the pen to her lips as she thought. GLaDOS had once been connected to every single thing in her facility- she had felt the architecture... ]

It isn't very advanced, technologically, but there is still an energy in it- it's unsettling.

That, I'd believe.

[He circles the word "energy" in her last sentence.]

I don't trust this place. Even after a year, I can't figure it out.

I would have to run tests on it to make sure. I haven't had a lot of time as of late.

[Oh. Well then.]

Run tests?

[He laughs again.]

GLaDOS?

[ A slight sound of surprise. ]

Hello, Phoenix.

[ she writes in despite it all, a little flushed. How did he tell? Maybe it was the mention of tests. ]

Didn't think I'd ever get a clue who I was talking to!

[He draws a smiley face. No hard feelings.]

[ Hm. She isn't sure, but she finds herself a bit... happy... that he didn't seem disturbed by knowing he was talking to her. And so she wrote back. ]

There are other scientists and humans that like to test in this castle, you know.

Yeah.

But I can't name one. You talk about it the most!

[Now he's just having fun teasing her.]

[ She raises an eyebrow, before replying. ]

Do you get out often? I've easily met a handful of them.