(Untitled)

[exanimatus]

[dictated, but he sounds... well, completely devoid of any malice or smugness, which is hardly Zelman sounding at all.]

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel like everyone is just a little off?

I've been getting that all day. It's like deja vu, but less nagging. Maybe more like the feeling you get when you're forgetting something.

[

Comments

[sonofpaladin]

Are we supposed to write in here?

[GASP. It's like homework you didn't know you had!]

[exanimatus]

Oh... I don't think so. It's just a nice habit to get into, you know?

[it's just extra credit, Pippin. ;;]

[sonofpaladin]

Whatever for, though? Especially since it's nice enough to write it for us?

[exanimatus]

Where I'm from, writing is considered a sign of intelligence... and worldly people are well-practiced in that sort of thing. [...] And it never hurts to be practiced with the weird things that the castle does.

[sonofpaladin]

Well, I suppose that's true. The writing part, I mean, but I'm not sure how that can help me with the things the castle does.

[exanimatus]

Actually, the castle made us write an essay about our experiences once.

So it could help.

[sonofpaladin]

Maybe you are right.

The castle does terribly odd things sometimes, doesn't it?

[exanimatus]

It does. But at least it's not all bad, or anything.

[sonofpaladin]

Oh definitely! I'm still not sure what everyone is so worried about all the time. Sure we can't leave, but Paradisa is a pretty nice place from what I've seen of it so far.

[Ah, naivete...]

[exanimatus]

Ah, well. I hope you enjoy it for a very long time.

--or a short time, if you'd rather go home. [a laugh.] I think you know what I meant.

[sonofpaladin]

I'm honestly not quite sure about that, but I do know what you mean in any case --- thank you.

[exanimatus]

Of course.

If you're still kind of new here... what's your name?

[sonofpaladin]

Peregrin Took, son of Paladin, those most just call me Pippin.

[exanimatus]

[fdjskld he laughs.] They're both good names.

I'm Zelman Clock. Nice to meet you.

[sonofpaladin]

Pleasure to meet you too.

By the sounds of it, you've been here awhile.

[exanimatus]

Oh, yeah. A little over three years now.