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
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[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

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[He'll turn his head to offer her a reassuring smile]

You never know, they might just yet.

[wolfchild]

Hoping is just setting yourself up for disappointment.

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

Not at all. It's the most powerful force in the world. If you let it be.

[wolfchild]

I hoped my father would be saved. I watched them cut his head off. I hoped to get home. My home was sacked and burned. I hoped to make it to my mother and my brother. I don't know if I do and it doesn't matter anyway because they're both murdered. And I hoped someone would help me and there was never anyone to help me but me. Hoping hasn't done anything. It just makes everything hurt more.

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

But it kept you moving to the next day. Yeah, when it didn't turn out, it hurt. But it's not about how it turns out. It's about looking ahead, to tomorrow, actually thinking tomorrow will even be a thing. It's something to pull you forward, even when everything is darkest.

[He's quiet for a moment, because boy does he sure not like talking about this ever]

I know what it's like. To lose everything. I think that's why he made me the Guardian of Hope. Because I know what it's like not to have any.

[wolfchild]

Did monsters take it from you too?

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[He doesn't reply right away, his ears folding back on his head, trying to put away memories he'd locked up millennia ago]

Just one monster. That's all it took.

[wolfchild]

It was the same for me. But then more came. The scariest one looked so average...I might have never remembered his face.

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

I'll never forget the one that took mine.

[Lord knows he tried. He'd been doing fine with burying everything, cutting himself from the world. Not getting involved in what Pitch was doing to everyone and everything else. Just trying to FORGET. And then North and Katherine showed up and...everything changed. For the better, certainly, even if he hadn't felt that way at the time]

He was that monster I told you about. The one that used to be a man.

[wolfchild]

[ There are some she'll never forget. Not Joffrey. Not Cersei. Ser Gregor and Sandor Clegane. But the Tickler had always had a forgettable face. One of a hundred, looking a man like any other. It had only made him scarier when the tickling began. She could smell the blood and shit and seared skin again. She could hear the shrieks. And the questions. Is there gold hidden in the village? Silver, gems? Is there food? Where is Lord Beric? Which of you village folk helped him? Where did he go? How many men did he have with him? How many knights? How many bowmen? How many horsed? How many wounded?

No one made it to nightfall, but the sounds and the smells would linger long after the body was thrown.

Arya strokes one long ear. She hesitates before hugging him around the neck. ]

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[He's surprised by the display, that said he's not all that used to people coming up and hugging him ANYWAY. Still, he smiles softly, returning the hug, before ruffling her hair gently]

We'll be okay, little brumby. You and me. We'll be fine.

[wolfchild]

I guess.

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

I don't guess. I know so.

[wolfchild]

All right, smart rabbit. What else do you know?

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[He laughs]

A lot of things, I've been alive for a long time.

[wolfchild]

[ Forever convinced that's a fate worse than death. ]

What's your favorite thing you've seen?

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[It sucked balls for a while, before he got a new purpose. Or rather, a new purpose thrust upon him]

The very first Easter. I remember this youngster, finding the first egg I'd hidden. The joy and hope it brought, I'll never forget that. The look on her face as they picked it up. It made everything worth it.

[wolfchild]

Are you going to hide them here too?

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

Deadset, come Easter, I'll have my little googies hidden all over this place. In cupboards, shoe boxes, bushes and windowsills. Everywhere you could imagine.

[Except under the bed. NEVER under the bed]

[wolfchild]

I'm going to find the most.

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[That gets a laugh]

Ripper, I bet you will, too.

[wolfchild]

I'll keep some for me, but I think I'll share the rest. Can anyone find them?

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

Dead set, they're hidden so anyone who goes looking can find some.

And that's good of you, sharing them.

[wolfchild]

Well, I don't think I'll eat them all. And everything's better anyway when you share it with someone. Food tastes better.

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

It does, it's because you know you've helped someone else along the way, too.