Wonderland: Day One

[wonderlandian]

The residents of Paradisa who ventured into the lobby on the 13th would find something new there; a mirror spanning an entire wall. Given recent happenings, who can blame them if they're cautious? Trouble is, this mirror seems to really want to bring people in, because you don't have to get too close before you're through the looking glass.

Once you've gone, you may find that you're not quite yourself.

[Directory:
Mirror|Queen's Courtyard|Queen's Castle|Tulgey Wood
FAQ|Sign-Up List]

[Notes/Reminders: Type 1 and Type 2 characters will believe they are Wonderland natives. All characters, including those not entering Wonderland, will be able to use their journals; Wonderland "natives" will think it is a communication device exclusive to Wonderland, although communication between Paradisa and Wonderland through the journals is absolutely possible. You may NPC any number of Tulgey Wood creatures, except for the Jabberwocky.]

Comments

[solowingpixy]

[He hears that squeaky voice and frowns.] And none of them answer me.

[... Wait a second. That fairy that's buzzing right in front of his face. He knows those damn pigtails anywhere.]

...Rise?

[therealrisette]

Oh? Have we met?

[She flies a bit further away to get a better look at the man.]

I'm sure I'd remember someone like you. Are you a fan of my work?!

[Her art is all over this courtyard, after all. It would make sense someone visiting would be familiar with it!]

[solowingpixy]

... you must be joking.

[Such words weren't directed at what she said, just more in a fashion of talking to himself as he partially turns around and shakes his head. He wasn't sure what he was expecting, but he wasn't expecting having to get re-introduced to Rise, who was in a much smaller form. And yet he's the guy with the nickname 'Pixy'.

He'll sigh and turn around again.]

Let me guess. You don't remember a thing about that absurd magic castle that we just came from?

[He's not even gonna START on the fairy thing.]

[therealrisette]

Magic castle?

[A light dawns, or seems to, but Pixy is likely to be disappointed with the results.]

Oh, the Queen's castle? It does seem magical sometimes, doesn't it!

[She seems satisfied that she understands this strange man, though she still can't imagine how he thinks they just came from the Queen's castle.]

You must have me confused with some other fairy, though. I've been out in the courtyard all day, preparing things!

[More like shirking what duties she supposedly has, but he doesn't need to know that.]

[solowingpixy]

[Queen's castle. Really.]

How many magic castles can there be?

[He sighs, crossing his arms and looking at her with mild annoyance.]

You don't remember the whole "Paradisa" thing you tried getting me to believe thirteen days ago? That's the only castle we just came from.

[therealrisette]

[What a grumpy guest. Rise's sure the Queen would not be thrilled with this one. Not that she often is. Thrilled, that is.

She crosses her arms and returns his mildly-annoyed glare. Trying not to crack a smile and ruin it.]

If I were with you in this Castle Paradisa thirteen days ago, then how did the leaves get so perfectly folded?

[She flies over to the hedge, and points out a bunch of leaves. Which look like any other leaves.]

See? Aren't they pretty?

[She seems very proud of them for some reason.]

[solowingpixy]

They look like leaves.

[He'll roll his eyes.] I'm almost preferring that annoying little idol girl over this fairy.

[Purposely tacking on 'annoying' to see if it gets a reaction, of course. He'll narrow an eye then.]

If you're so bent on making me believe yet another ridiculous story - which I won't even question how you became a fairy now - then how about you tell me where I am and how I got here?

[therealrisette]

Exactly! They're all perfect leaves in every way, thanks to me and the other fairies.

[Her pride gives way to confusion at the mention of this idol girl. Or was that "idle girl"? Whatever. Her level of activity notwithstanding, she obviously has nothing to do with Rise herself.]

"Became" a fairy? Was I something else before I was born?

[It's an intriguing question, but she's been given another question to answer by this strange man. And it would be rude of her to ignore him.]

You're in the Queen's courtyard, of course! Didn't you come in through the entrance like everyone else?

[solowingpixy]

[There was absolutely no way to talk sense into this girl... fairy... thing.]

Alright, since you won't listen even when I would tell you that we came through a mirror from Paradisa... how about you give me the up-to-date sitrep and tell me where the Queen's courtyard is?

[therealrisette]

[The upsy-daisy what now? She looks even more confused than she did at the mention of that idol or whatever.

And his last question is just silly.]

It's here. Duh.

[solowingpixy]

[For once, Pixy may be losing his patience. At a rather rapid rate. He almost wishes he could have a fly swatter right now.]

I mean the location of this place. Since you're obviously delusional enough to say that we aren't in Paradisa anymore, what is this place?

[therealrisette]

[Wait, he really doesn't know?]

Wonderland, of course.

[Curiouser and curiouser. That sounds familiar, actually. Odd.]

How did you get here without knowing where here is?

[solowingpixy]

Wonder--

[He just stops and sighs then.]

I imagine it had something to do with that mirror back in the castle that we came from.

[therealrisette]

[She crosses her arms at that, looking quite indignant.]

I don't know what you're going on about. I've never seen you before, so you obviously don't come from this castle. And I've never been to this Castle Paradisa or whatever.

[solowingpixy]

[EYE ROLL.]

Keep telling yourself that, kid. If we get back, I better not hear about this from you.

[SO DONE WITH YOU, RISE. SO DONE.]