031 || written/dictated;

[workaphilic]

[ Anyone Who Has Left and Returned with Memories ]

[He thinks on this filter for a long time. (Whether he should keep himself anonymous or not, whether it's even worthwhile in the grand scheme of things.) But eventually, he writes:]

I have questions, if you're willing to answer.

SH

----

[ Anyone Who Has Experienced a 'Trip Home', excluding John Watson ]

I'd like to compare notes, as it were. Provided you're amenable.

SH

----

[Some time later, he'll dictate to the castle at large. There's not much energy in him today; he sounds worn out.]

Give me recipes, residents. Your favorites from your home world, I don't care.

Unless you're from Earth, in which case, don't bother.

Comments

[workaphilic]

[impatiently:]

Obviously. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about changes that stick.

[signedlefthanded]

Like scars and things?

[workaphilic]

Exactly like that.

It's something to look into, in any case.

[signedlefthanded]

You can test it.

[workaphilic]

In a sense. Testing it directly would be ideal, but Paradisa is fussy at best and finding a willing candidate might be a struggle.

But then, we do have lots of residents.

[signedlefthanded]

Ask if anyone has any scars. Document it, and if they ever come back, see if it's still there, if they noticed any scars back home.

[workaphilic]

That's the indirect way to do it, yes. Relies on a lot of waiting and puts a lot of faith in memories that aren't mine.

[signedlefthanded]

Ask about scars, document it, and keep track if they go home or not. [This isn't rocket science.]

[workaphilic]

[No, but it is boring.]

It's an option.

[He really won't budge on this.]

[signedlefthanded]

What else do you have?

[workaphilic]

There's always a more hands on approach.

[signedlefthanded]

Like?

[workaphilic]

I have a hunch you'd disapprove, Miss Baudelaire.

[signedlefthanded]

You want to give people scars.

[workaphilic]

It's more direct, you have to admit.

[signedlefthanded]

Yes, but you'll need to actually ask people.

[workaphilic]

Will I?

[signedlefthanded]

How else would you keep track of them?

[workaphilic]

I'm told I'm clever.

[signedlefthanded]

It'd be much easier to ask over the journals about who has sustained injuries. Record their name and where, and follow up to see if any left and came back.

[workaphilic]

But that's so much less fun.

[signedlefthanded]

And less accurate.