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

[takethat]

Everyone else in this whole place accepts that as the entire truth. I'm assuming you've gotten some kind of special secret information that gives you a reason to think otherwise?

[makethemguilty]

You cannot see why I remain skeptical? Then you are a fool.

[Duped just like all the others.]

I am not required to answer to you. If I have more information it is more than I shall tell you.

[takethat]

I think you're the fool, if you are more willing to stick to your own baseless beliefs than to listen to what a castle full of people has to say. You've been here, what, a couple of weeks? Some people have been here longer than four years.

Give their experience some credit.

[makethemguilty]

My dear Attorney, my beliefs are hardly "baseless" as you claim. I do not blindly trust testimony that has no evidence or logic to base itself on. That is all. If it is as you say then truly I will find the answer. Hearsay bears no merit. Have you forgotten that so easily in this single year you've been here?

Now stop wasting my time.

[takethat]

Four years' worth of witness testimony is plenty of evidence to me.

...and you're the one who's wasting my time, you know.