105.3 - make sure we keep talking

[hard_talker]

[as a familiar song spins, the soft scratch of vinyl undercutting Leonard Cohen's deep rumble and the pulse of the music, a list of written names starts appearing in the journal. North, Reborn, Asuna, Sugar, Jackie, Alvin, Jake, Nanako, Hugo, Dextera, Colonnello, Kirito, Jade, Mitsuru, Sollux, Drift, Sunny ... the list curls around the edges of the pages in varying types of handwriting. block, cursive, funky 3D-shaded letters, aLtErNaTiNg cApItAlS ... you name it. this week, Mark got as creative as he could with it. once he's done writing, he dials down the music and raises his voice]

So, Paradisa, this month it looks like we're surrounded by new people. Feel free to give 'em a welcome, so they don't end up stuck asking a billion questions. As for yours truly, I know some of you are probably scratchin' your heads wondering, "Jesus Christ, Harry, where the hell ya been? Some of us miss our Monday night music fix!"

Truth be told, I've been keeping an eye on Nora, since she's still stuck in her loss. It's been almost a month, now, and I'm gettin' a little weirded out. But since she already asked about it, I'm not gonna bore you all. I'm just gonna spin you a quick little story about what else I've been up to - and what the rest of us have been up to, too.

Last couple weeks, I got to thinking about how I've been here just a little over two years, now. Two years. Dammit, back home, I'd be in college right now, if not for the dear old FCC. That really blows my fuckin' mind, the more I think about it. But I can't help but feel like I've gotten my share of higher learnin' here, too. And it's not the kind you get out of textbooks and syllabi and all that fancy ivy-league bullshit, it's the real kind of learning, getting to know the world and what makes it tick. Even if it ain't my world, there are a lot of things that are ultimately the same - and I'm pretty sure everyone here would agree with me on that, even if it's over small stuff. So what I did, mostly, was listen. I mean, I really opened my ears and eyes and I read. I read as much of it as I could, and ... yeah, sure, everything goes in cycles here, just the same as the four seasons and almost as predictably.

People come, people go, people turn into weird shit and back to themselves again ... but they're still people. People who hold on to determination even when you'd think they've been kicked down too much. People who still try to solve the mysteries that won't be solved. And some people still remember how to play, while others get bored as all hell. [he starts to get a little louder, his voice bright and excited, fired up, high on the life he's rediscovered, page by page] And it's all happening at once, this great big melting pot of crazy and creepy and cool and crude, every minute of every single day, and it never changes, and it ALL changes, constantly, and ... and ...

[just as abruptly as he started, he stops, flopping into his chair with a sigh that's just as frustrated as it is sympathetic. his voice softens] And I know that everyone has their moments when they figure that, with a great big magic journal like this, you're gonna get drowned out under the other voices. That what you say doesn't matter. But I guess, what I'm tryin' to say is ... it does. It does, because you're a piece of something big and ridiculous and beautiful and so unique that it hurts in a good way, like eating a whole ice cream sundae in the middle of August under a blue sky. Hang in there, and bear with the brain freeze. You'll get heard, I promise. There'll always be somebody listening. All you gotta do is follow the advice of a friend of mine named Pink Floyd ... and keep talking.

[with that, he'll set the music for the week spinning. enjoy it, folks]

Comments

[quadro_dent]

Ylniv

[Which means, of course, "It's nice to meet you, Harry. I've never heard music like that before. It's certainly interesting."]

[hard_talker]

[he frowns, wondering what the hell kind of language that was. he squints at the page, then rubs at his eyes]

Funny, this thing usually translates stuff. Or at least, seems like everyone usually speaks and writes English...

[quadro_dent]

snartonital [She sighs. This roughly means "I'm not speaking a different language. You just can't understand me. It's okay, most people can't."

Dictated

[wilder]

[Wow that was a nice feel good speech. But he'll give a soft amused noise]

Don't worry, you really aren't missing much from college.

[hard_talker]

[he is gaining levels in shounen, didn't you know?]

Yeah? I dunno, some of it seemed like it had the potential to be at least marginally cool.

[wilder]

[It's true you're learning well!]

Well, it's better 'cause you're on your own more. Some of the classes are cool and the parties can be fun.

Buuut overall it was a pretty big waste of time. Least for me.

Dictated

[sugarwaffo]

[Her name in the journal catches Sugar's attention. Oh? Does this person know her? He doesn't sound familiar...

A lot of Mark's words go over her head.

...Okay, most of it went over her head, but it sounded nice.]

Wow... You sure talk a lot. [It's not condoning, but rather more honestly curious. Look alive, Mark. Child in da house.]

[hard_talker]

You know it. ... New to the castle?

[sugarwaffo]

I think so. I've been here a few days. [More like a few weeks, but the Wonderland trip threw her counting off.]

[delincuente]

Dude. I guess I'd be in college too. I never thought about it.

[It's a little unnerving, actually. She's nearing nineteen. A year away from twenty. Jesus]

... That last part was nice.

[hard_talker]

We should get ourselves rings and jackets or some shit. [he says it like he's not sure if he's serious or joking, himself]

... Thanks. I dunno, it just ... the thought came to me, and I was lucky enough that the words were actually there, this time. Sometimes they're not.

[courageous_wit]

[she can hardly believe she's saying this, but...] I think I've learned more here than I ever would at school.

[hard_talker]

I'll take Words I Never Thought I'd Hear Hermione Granger Say for $500, Alex.

Dictated

[cyan_maid]

It certainly is good to hear from you again.

[hard_talker]

Hey, thanks, Jane. How's it goin', you doin' alright?

[sword_redemption]

Is that what you think we're here for? To learn things?

[hard_talker]

I don't know if it's why we're brought here - last I checked, we were brought here to be giant emotional batteries for whatever runs this place. But it's definitely what I figure we should do while we're here. At least part of it.

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[You, Mark, have grown up to be a fine, intelligent young man, and he's proud of you. It's there in his tone when he speaks]

Nicely said, you really have been paying attention. Life teaches you more lessons than you can ever guess. And you never stop learning them, soon as you think you've got it all figured out, something new comes up and you get to learn about that, too.

[hard_talker]

[BUNNYMUND. AAAAH. his heart's stopping before he has any idea it's even happening. praise from nowhere will do that to you, especially when it's from someone you hadn't expected to still actually exist. he lets out a breathy, nervous laugh]

Yeah, tell me about it. That was kind of Lesson Number One of Castle Wonderfuck. "Okay, you were able to handle giant rats? TRY THIS ONE ON FOR SIZE, BUDDY". It definitely never fuckin' ends.

[silentrunning]

[Chell has her journal open when the names start curling around the pages. She watches each name whirl in, staring at the absolute beauty of watching all this unfold... And when Mark speaks up, she keeps listening. There's not a word from her at all, not a single one, until he's done talking, and the week's music has spun out into silence and memory. And then she speaks.]

"Thank you...Thank you for reminding me. Sometimes it does feel pointless, like the Castle swallows our words like it swallows people we care about. Thanks for the reminder that we leave our marks on people while we are here. And yeah. I missed you. A lot."

[And a few minutes later, there'll be an insistent tapping on your door. If you open it, there'll be a ghost outside, with an ice cream sundae and a mug of hot cocoa on a tray with a sign that simply says, "From one of your loyal listeners." Hope you like chocolate with a cherry on top]

[hard_talker]

[he does indeed, though he likes the message that preceded it a lot better. he reads it over again as he starts in on the ice cream, shaking his head and smiling. she's come so far, and yet she's still the same old Chell. it makes his heart warm in ways he used to think were reserved for Christmas specials. he wipes some sauce from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand]

You don't hafta send me anything, y'know. Your words.... They're what really matter. And you don't even hafta share 'em with me. Just.... Share 'em. Get it out there.

[luxe_can_kill]

A radio show in a castle? Just when I thought this place could not get any stranger. But also makes me feel more at home, as odd as that may sound.

[hard_talker]

You're one of our esteemed newcomers, then, I take it. How's the shell shock treating you?

[man, wait until he finds out she knows Akihiko....]

Dictated always

[the_effect_she_has]

[....There is silence for a long, long moment, before Katniss writes slowly, and heavily.]

Thank you, Harry.

[hard_talker]

Hey, anytime. .... You doin' okay, Katniss? [at the risk of sounding heavy handed, some of her usual fire seems missing]