I wish for things that I don't need, and what I chase won't set me free

I'd almost forgotten what that was like...

[A long pause, a few pen taps.]

I found out who the man I swapped with was, and it's left me with a lot to think about. Sometimes first impressions can be deceiving, and second impressions can just leave you even more confused.

Hey, Ghost. Does the name "Commander Cruger" ring a bell to you?

... hey Scales.

You bastard.

Going and disappearing on us like that? After you were going to reform the Guard with us? And came down into the cloudy Wilderness to help me? We were starting to get along. I really liked you. Lots of us liked you, even though you seemed to think nobody did.

[Scribbles.]

I respected you. I respected

[A teardrop smudges the ink.]

Yeah, he's really gone. Bastet checked for me.

I can't deal with this right now. I need to be by myself- or maybe I need someone- I don't know

[The writing is very slow and careful, and he hesitates several times in mid-sentence.]

I've been doing a lot of thinking ever since my evil double captured me. Just about my attitude and the way I treat people in general.

I confess... I know I can be a jerk. I know I can be judgmental and too serious and a general pain to live with. I've vowed to work on that. But first.

... If I've ever hurt someone, intentionally or not or... treated them badly in any way...

I apologize.

[There is a long pause before the next words appear.]

Life here is too short and impermanent to not live it to the fullest.

It's strange how your priorities can change in the blink of an eye. For most of yesterday the only thing I was worried about was getting back to the tree, seeing how much damage had been done, and starting to rebuild.

Then... this happens. Two messages... questions being inked away. A group of "exiles" proclaiming that they know the truth, telling us to stop being complacent, that this isn't our true home, that our life here is a lie, that we must ask questions. I've tried ignoring the fact that I have a past life, figuring that the cost to find out more about it was too much after people began to die. I've tried ignoring it, and living my life here as best I can, and even starting to enjoy it. I should've known that was a mistake.

Everything comes with a price. If they do come back, and they do tell us what they know, what price must we pay? Do we even have a choice?

Can we afford their truth?

[OOC: The writing is shakier than usual, but still quite legible, and there might be a teardrop or two smudging the ink. The scratched-out portions are well-blotted out soon after being written and impossible to read.]

I've apparently been trapped on the elevator for the past few days, though it didn't really feel like too long. Sorry if I worried anyone.

The elevator ride... is something I'd rather forget.

But as soon as we got off, somehow, we saw one of my memories. It felt very real. As though I were standing there, watching everything happen. I saw my father die. I saw him die... and I let a criminal escape... I found out a few things about myself, but otherwise, I don't really want to talk about it yet.

I'm not so sure I want to get my memories back now.