PARADISA

[There's a muffled groan over the journal, then a rustling noise before a groggy-sounding voice can be heard]

I must have hit my head...

[But no, that's not quite right. There's a sudden flurry of flipping pages, and suddenly he sounds far less groggy and far more alarmed.]

Oh, dear.

It's more than a little disconcerting to look back and find oneself rambling on about nonsense--I suppose the castle likes tricks like that. But our little bout of mass amnesia, mercifully short though it was, has piqued my curiosity.

Now, I like to think that, despite the interminably long time I've been here, I haven't let a castle with a mind of its own change who I am. But does everyone feel that way? Can we really even be certain how we feel about these things when they could just as easily be conjured up by this pile of stone and tricky magic? I'm not so sure I like that thought...

I wonder if the Castle has just decided to import objects to terrorize us with now? It must be easier than doing it all on its own. At least it cleaned up after itself this time.

[Because, really. It feels like he just finished cleaning up after that whole spiral mess]

No one got eaten by the lion, I hope.

[There's no real preamble to the message, just a tapping of a pen, or finger, or something, against the page before Howl speaks]

I don't think anyone's mentioned it yet, so I might as well. Anyone looking for the resident gathering of wizards will find us in the Satis tower now, all the way up at the top. While I quite like the view, there are quite a few stairs. I may have to set up a shortcut again, if the castle is quite done rearranging itself. I suppose it decided we were better off isolated.

And speaking of the castle, and by extension, the city, has anyone made a list of all the changes? There seems to be quite a few, but I can't claim to have a perfect memory of what was there before, so I'm sure I've missed a few thing. Perhaps we should all band together and take inventory, as it were. Thoughts?

[There's the pop and sizzle of something cooking in a frying pan, though at least the journal seems far enough away to not be spattered in the grease of whatever is merrily cooking away]

First our ever esteemed castle manipulates me into cleaning for days, and then it goes about turning my room into some weird fantasy version of itself for a romantic holiday. It's all back to the way I like it, but now I'm concerned that one of you out there will have some holiday where you nail everything to the ceiling in the worship of some deity, and we'll all be sleeping on bare floor. Try not to encourage the place, if you do, I'm quite tired of having everything rearranged.

[There's a pause, and a muffled bit of grumbling as the cooking noises stop]

Anyone fancy a bacon sandwich? I seem to have made too much.


[Open over the journal/in person in the kitchen]

Oh, this is very clever.

[And the level of sarcasm in that statement could take down an elephant]

I suppose this is my punishment for not leaving well enough alone? Point taken. I'll stop meddling. Now if you could just make me resemble the housekeeping staff a little less, I'd be grateful.

[There's a pause, and then a muffled curse as he realizes that was public]

I suppose pleading with vaguely malevolent magic castles doesn't work, does it?

Certainly glad that's over, hm?

[If his usual casual manner sounds a bit forced, well. It's hard to be cheerful when you feel like you failed to protect someone properly]

I'll be in the library, tidying up. It's a bit of a mess in there.

[Filtered away from First Gens, etc.]

I was wondering how long this lull was going to last. Not long, it seems, though I can't say I'm surprised.

I'd say have fun on your trip, but I'm sure we all know how silly that sentiment would be.

[And if Howl sounds terribly bored by it all, it's because he's trying very hard to. No gallivanting off for him, even if he weren't an irredeemable coward]

You know, I don't mind a change of scenery now and again, especially when it's as entertaining as this one has been so far...

[He has sort of missed television, even if he can't understand a word of it, and Tokyo fashion is right up his ally, really]

But I do wish I could keep my magic intact. Do you have any idea how long it takes to do one's hair the old-fashioned way?

[Hello, Aquanet, goodbye ozone layer]

Anyone care to go shopping?