[Locked Against Malnosso]

[malnosso]

Well, first of all, I expect you're all a bit cross with me given the past two weeks. No doubt there's more than just a few of you who wished you had got a piece of me while you had the chance, aha! I shan't apologize for it. I suspect it won't make much of a difference and I'm afraid it was quite necessary.

But I shall give you an explanation of sorts! To put it quite simply, I've moved in! There's been a bit of trouble with the organization, I'm afraid. I'm afraid with the war effort going so poorly, the renegades have been becoming more daring and the security forces continue to do whatever they please. I'm afraid you have all felt the brunt of that in the recent battles you've been called into. I'm reluctant to say that it will happen again and I won't be involved at all. I won't be able to speak on your behalf.

As for myself, I've become a bit unpopular. So before someone attempts to take my place, I've decided I might lie low a bit. And as everyone knows, there's nowhere in this world quite as peaceful and secure as Luceti! I did use some deception getting in using the latest experiment, but I'm afraid it was the only way I could ever safely arrive in the village without risk to my life. An old man like myself wouldn't have lasted long against you all. Oh! I do hope none of you mess about with those nasty beasts about. They weren't after any of you, they were just looking for me.

You may also have noticed I brought an assistant with me. I have some contacts in the organization who will gladly supply those various conveniences you enjoy so much. She'll be assisting in these transfers, so please, don't be shocked if you hear her lovely young voice answering you. Molly's a bit shy, but she means well. Aha, I'm afraid she's even a little taken to all of you. She's not very happy with how I do things at all.

Nevertheless, take heart! I don't plan to be here forever. I will return to head the company again in due time. It may start to look a bit grim, like your early days, but it's always darkest before the dawn. Or is it the other way around?

[Filtered to John]

Oh, Great One, I do hope you'll forgive me for that bit of fun with the festival. But you do deserve it! I only wish you would have come out to enjoy it!

But I'm afraid I must ask something of you. I've scrambled the journal system's signal to prevent real time monitoring by the Organization, but I suspect it won't be long before they catch on. I thought, perhaps, you might be able to come up with something a bit more permanent?

Comments

[byakkoyagirl.livejournal.com]

Goodness you unpopular? Heaven forbid, I cannot imagine why!

[Detecting the obvious sarcasm there? She's so close to just lashing out, but she knows that won't do good for a guy like him. He's starting to remind her a lot of another old guy she once knew however. And not the nice one.

Even so, she notices he missed something in his explanation. Something that's been in the back of her mind since they snapped out.]

Okay so you explained the festival, your arrival, the beasts and all that. So, what about the dreams our 'alternate' selves had? If you were aiming for deception, putting them in as part of everything seems against the point, doesn't it?

[malnosso]

Oh, aha. That was me shutting down the experiment. It was scheduled to go on for... quite a bit longer.

[byakkoyagirl.livejournal.com]

What, ten days not enough time for you to sneak in? You were already there four days into it if I recall correctly. By your reasoning as to why it was necessary, it should have been shorter not longer.

[malnosso]

Aha, well, it was originally schedule for an entire month. They had hoped to incorporate the next new wave on residents into the scenario.

[byakkoyagirl.livejournal.com]

[...Oh god Paprika do not snap. Do not snap at this lunatic who thought it would be a good idea to merge a new feather wave with that alternate reality he created. Being in a new world alone is jarring enough, but putting them in an alternate version of the new world right from the start? And he wonders why he's unpopular.]

So, if I have this correct, you shifted our minds to make us believe we were related to one another and when you had to pull the plug early it caused our subconscious mind to react violently and draw us back to reality.

[malnosso]

Yes, that's exactly it! I suppose I should have said it as such in my original message.

[byakkoyagirl.livejournal.com]

[For a moment she wonders if he's really telling the truth. After all, he did lie to everyone for ten days straight and doesn't show any remorse toward it.]

One mystery solved I guess.

[...]

Don't push her too hard. [Molly that is. Paprika worries about the intern more than she would like to admit.]

[malnosso]

... P-P-P-P-Paprika.

[ Molly is here.

She is listening. All the anger, the hurt, the sorrow, the wretched grief, she hears all of it.

"She's not very happy with how I do things at all" is the understatement of the century. Molly has never, ever been so furious, but her voice is carefully controlled. ]

I'll b-b-b-be fine.

[byakkoyagirl.livejournal.com]

[Paprika is fairly shocked when she hears Molly suddenly. She knows he said she would be answering and doing things, but she just didn't expect it. She doesn't like this. She knows Molly doesn't like it. ...But, that doesn't matter now. If Molly is safe then that's good enough for Paprika. Even if the circumstances are just awful.]

...Take care, Molly.

[malnosso]

[ There is a long silence. Long enough to possibly make you think she is not going to respond. But then her voice comes, tiny and impossibly sad. ]

I'm s-s-s-s-so s-s-sorry.

[ And that is the end of that. She wonders, idly, if she'll get in trouble... for caring so much. But right now she doesn't really care. ]