001 || written;
[The first thing he did was flip through the book on the side table. Which seemed like the most obvious course of action, but clearly not to everyone, going by some of the entries in here. Twenty minutes of sifting later, and he has the basics more or less down pat (welcome to Paradisa, you've lost something precious, here's a filter, here's a wish, kitchen's on the first floor.)
Simple. Obvious. Fascinating.
He has (six) working ideas, but he's not willing to commit to any of them without more evidence. The journal is only so helpful; it's cluttered with irrelevant, social rubbish. He studies it a while longer, marking down page numbers as he stumbles across them.
Hearsay only takes him so far, though. He sets up the private filter to record, and wishes for an armchair. He sits in it with his knees to his chin, stares at a spot on the floor, and starts collecting his own data.]
Castle. Apple.
[McIntosh! It pops into existence and rolls across the floor.]
16th century Safavid carpet. Eight by eleven.
[You betcha. (But it kind of clashes with the chair.)]
10 milliliters of ninhydrin solution.
[Yeah, okay. It materializes out of the air and splashes on the carpet.
He sighs impatiently, but honestly he's a little delighted.]
Hmm. Cute. 10 milliliters of ninhydrin solution in a glass bottle, if you please.
[It lands right in the center of the stain, as requested. He considers it for a second, then goes for something new:]
Fully constructed A33 Excelsior Heavy Assault Tank. Outside on the grass under my window, may as well not ruin the carpet any more than you already have.
[He goes to the window and waits. He may or may not be grinning when nothing happens.]
No? Interesting.
---
[He can't say he's not completely intrigued by the journal (he is), but it's woefully antiquated. He prefers text and email. If the next best thing is writing, well.... It's better than talking.
The following blooms across the page in crisp, precise letters:]
I require information. About the castle, this "world." Anything that isn't in the journal already.
Kindly skip the welcome speech. I imagine you are all as sick of giving it as I am of reading it.
SH