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[boltalicious]

[Black Bolt sits on the roof of the castle, legs crossed and back straight, and it would look as though he were deep in meditation if not for the journal in his lap. He's been silently studying it for several hours, listening and reading. Finally an open page is chosen and he makes his own marks in it. …Not terribly exciting marks, as far as marks

Comments

written!;

[priestish]

Mr./Ms. Black Bolt,

I'm afraid that your earlier assumptions were correct - that at this time, none of the residents possess a way to return home as things stand. However, your kingdom will not move forward without you; they will, in fact, not even notice that you are missing. Time in Paradisa functions differently then it does in most worlds - so, while we may spend months or even years here, not even a second goes by in the worlds we're taken from.

If you have any questions, I'd be happy to help you. We were all new once! Please don't be discouraged.

- Father Abel Nightroad

[boltalicious]

[kind of... smiling at how formal that is to match, and he circles 'Mr'.]

Time freezes? I must have missed that. It makes things considerably easier, though; thank you.

[priestish]

Yes - or, our experiences in Paradisa happen at such a slow rate in our world it isn't even noticeable. Either way, it's believed we don't retain any knowledge of what happens here when we go back home, regardless - and nothing is changed.

So... you could say that our time here is like a vacation from our real lives with no bearing on it whatsoever. Both depressing and liberating, depending on how you look at it, hm?

[boltalicious]

[a pause, a few thoughtful pen taps]

Fascinating. My word of choice would probably be 'unnerving', though.

How is it these theories have been formed? Is there a way to contact the outside world, or those that return to it?

[priestish]

'Unnerving' is a good fit. 'Awe-inspiring,' 'gracious' and 'cruel' are also fitting adjectives. This is a strange place, Mr. Black Bolt.

[...]

There are occasionally times when people return to their lives for a time - usually after suffering some sort of head trauma, being knocked unconscious or the like. They'll wake up with memories of days, months... even years passing at home. And they won't have remembered anything of Paradisa while they were there.

There's also the fact that people can arrive from your future or past - and won't ever have missed you. And you won't have missed them. So, you could say it's a relatively sound theory, unless we're being misled.

[boltalicious]

Stranger things have happened, although I can't think of many. Thank you for your information, Father Nightroad, it's most helpful. I have only one more question for you, for the time being.

How certain are you that things are as they appear?

[priestish]

It's not a problem! Information is currency, in a world where money doesn't matter. Is it not a man of God's job to help a fellow in need? I couldn't leave you broke and in the cold, could I? [lawd does his humor transfer via pen...]

...Ah. Regarding that... I suppose it depends what, exactly, you're referring to.

[boltalicious]

I'm glad the men of God take up the task; I've noticed the rest of men often shirk it.

I refer to the entire situation. "Unless we're being misled." Would you consider it possible that everything is a fabrication?

[priestish]

In regards to time in our worlds... I don't think so. There really wouldn't be a reason to deceive us.

As for Paradisa in whole... most of it seems like a pretty veneer to hide the truth beneath. When people arrive, it's often in times of peace or quiet - and the impression is given you get anything you want for no cost. There's no responsibility or consequences...

But the reality of things is that very terrible things can happen. Or, very wonderful things could happen - but there are two sides to the coin. It isn't all rose bushes and flower petals...

[boltalicious]

[He underlines 'anything you want for no cost' and adds, "Refers to the wishes?" in the margin]

Reading back in this journal gives me only so many answers, and reference to past events are often obscure and confused. Do you have any concrete examples of terrible or wonderful things?

[a pause]

Please feel free to dictate to the page, if you find it any easier.

[priestish]

[he circles up to his doodle in the margin, and draws a quick... thumbs up wlkjer. then he'll switch to dictation, because.. okay. page flipping time.]

Ah. Well...

[...]

For example -- perhaps you've read back on the events of last month that were occuring around this time. The world changed to resmeble a medieval time period... and during this occasion, many people were seriously injured. Their powers were tampered with if not stripped completely... and some were even made to turn on one another, helpless but to attack friend and foe alike.

It was not a pleasant experience.

Yet... in the same breath...

[a little pause... and some more page flipping] Ah.Paradisa is capable of bringing anyone here. Friends... family... as well as perfect strangers. This is a world in which anything is possible. You could find your soulmate, here... or be reunited with someone you'd lost and never thought you'd see again. You could be given second chances you never thought you'd have. And for many, Paradisa is a place of tranquility when their

[boltalicious]

[it takes him a while to write again, while he absorbs all that]

I can see the appeal, then. As for the darker side of our coin, do you have any idea what causes it? Whether such things can be stopped? It seems unlikely that one side could be removed without the other, if we're sticking with your example, but I've found that life is often more complex than a simple metaphor will allow.

[priestish]

Aside from laying the blame at the proverbial feet of the castle... I'm afraid I don't have much more to offer you than that about the 'how' or 'why.'

But I can tell you we're getting closer to figuring it out.

[boltalicious]

I see. I understand that I've only just arrived, and I assume that you're likely to have many more you would trust over me, but if I can help in any way, I would like to.

[priestish]

Of course. We all have a common goal... so, learning about this world is in all of our best interests.

I'd suggest getting in touch with Miss Raine Sage. She has a great deal of information about Paradisa and the exploration expeditions that have taken place. She'll definitely be able to give you more details than I could, Mr. Bolt.

[boltalicious]

Just Bolt, if you plan to shorten it. 'Mr' is a human accessory.

I'll remember the name. Thank you for your patience.