oo1 | video

[grewuphuman]

[The feed cuts on to reveal a young boy. His curly blonde hair seems to have an almost ethereal glow about it and he's wearing a look that, while innocent in appearance, clearly hides something mischievous as made evident by the gleam in his bright blue eyes. His accent is English and, despite the fact that he's clearly somewhere in the preteen age range, it's obvious when he starts speaking that things like proper grammar and pronunciation are not important concerns of his.

He also sounds ridiculously casual given the circumstances.]

So I reckon I ought to start with an introduction. Seems only polite. [a bit of shuffling] My name's Adam. That's Adam Young, to be 'spific. [a pause as he absently scratches the side of his nose] And any other time I'd have my dog with me but for some reason he's not here. [there's a hint of a frown at that and he mutters a little under his breath] Which ain't all that right, if you ask me. If you ask me, you can't just up and kidnap a boy and not bring his dog, too. [a pause and he clarifies] Not saying they should bring Dog here, 'course. Just saying it's not right, is all.

[A shake of his head and he smiles sweetly for the camera once more.] Still, suppose it's likely for the best and there's no real changing it no how. [Well, there is, but he's only just arrived. Probably best he not start changing things up too much.]

What I really want to talk about is this place and what you lot know about it. Anything'll do. I just figured I ought to get some facts sorted before I start working things out on my own, is all. [A slight pause.] Uh… and that's it for now. Thanks!

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[manicuredangel]

[Aziraphale stares at the communication device for a long time as the boy speaks. Adam Young... Here?! He is at once elated and horrified to see the boy. He fumbles with the device, finally getting it to respond.]

Goodness gracious! I did not expect to see your face here, my dear boy!

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[grewuphuman]

[At the sight of Aziraphale, Adam's expression shifts from general congeniality to amused affection.]

No, I don't s'pose you did. I didn't much expect it either. [He pauses to consider that statement for a moment.] Huh. Not sure how I feel about that just yet. Not all that used to something messing me about.

[With a shrug, the thought vanishes and he refocuses on Aziraphale with a curious look.]

Don't guess it much matters. An adventure's an adventure no matter how you come about it. How're things with you?

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[manicuredangel]

This place has ensnared both Crowley and myself from home and also some angels and demons from another world that is... Well, it's a bit crueler than our own. We wary, my lad. Wonderland can be very dangerous at times.

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[grewuphuman]

[The boy's forehead creases. He's sensed the others about, of course, but another world?] Huh. [He blinks, returning his attention to the other part of what's been said.] Dangerous how? [And yes, he very much looks intrigued, possibly even excited, at that.]

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[manicuredangel]

Ah, well... [There's no use beating around the bush with Adam, he knows.]

There are... Events. Different things happen during them, but it is important to note that they have the ability to change us. Crowley and I have been made human during one of these events and I... I died. I died only to be brought back in a day.

And there are the mirrors... We can't see them from this side, but they can see us. They can be dangerous. Mine is... Mine is quite mad, a fallen angel named Zirah. And Crowley's... He is a ruthless, cruel demon... I loathe to think what your mirror would be like... [Though perhaps he is just a boy. If only they would be so lucky.]

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[jivitadana]

[If Minato was only another SMT protagonist who has met Lucifer, but alas, he is not. But ridiculously casual is probably the best way to approach things at this rate.]

This place is called Wonderland.

[It was true. It might not have been too helpful at this point, but Minato could elaborate.]

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[grewuphuman]

[Adam grins.] Wonderland, huh? Sounds int'resting. Know anything else about it?

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[jivitadana]

[A nod.]

It eats our memories one word at a time through replaying an event from someone's life for all of us to live through.

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[grewuphuman]

[Huh. Adam's not sure what to make of that just yet.]

Eats our memories? Now that's just dumb. Why would it go and do something like that? Folks aren't who they are without what they know and do and stuff to make 'em who they are to start with. Everybody knows that.

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[seekinghome]

::A kid? At least this one didn't show up during an event with bad stuff going down.::

Place is called Wonderland, like the books. The characters from the books sometimes show up. Not often though. Just long enough to announce when things are going to get weird.

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[grewuphuman]

[Yeah, Adam's passingly aware of the Wonderland stories but, frankly, never took much time to read them. They didn't even have aliens in them, for crying out loud. He still nods knowingly, though.]

So they can come and go as they want but we're stuck? [His brow furrows a little.] Seems to me that's not so fair.

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[seekinghome]

Well, I imagine they can't get out either, but since they're from here, I doubt they really want to.

::He makes a face.::

Most of us, on the other hand, would rather go home. And have some control over it so we can keep our memories of people we meet here.

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[grewuphuman]

[Adam considers this idea for a moment.] I don't reckon it'd be all that hard, letting folks keep memories when they go back home. Seems to me it might be good for some of 'em. [A pause before he clarifies.] Not saying that is has to happen, course. Just that it's not a bad idea, is all.

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[thepointisdolphins]

[BWUH. Now there is one face he never expected to see here. This is at once both a really good thing and a really bad thing. Really bad because, well, it proves Wonderland isn't done snatching people from their universe, which means others could show up--others less pleasant than Adam.]

[Really good, though, because now there's much less chance of literal actual Apocalypse happening around here. Even the Jabberwock won't be a match for Adam Young. Maybe.]

Er, uh. Hullo. [Yeah, Adam still intimidates the fuck out of Crowley.] You're looking...oddly young. [Shouldn't the kid be well into his teens by now? Maybe he's from earlier in the Nineties.] You're a long way from Lower Tadfield.

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[grewuphuman]

[Much like with Aziraphale, Adam's expression immediately goes from general pleasantness to a mixture of amusement and affection.]

Oh, I don't know. I think I look 'round the age I oughta look. It's this place doing funny stuff with time. Not me. [His grin turns impish.] For now, least.

[A pause as he shuffles around a bit then focuses back on the camera.]

Seems a funny place, so far. M'not sure if I like it yet or not but I reckon it's a good thing I'm here, what with Aziraphale managing to die already. [He pins Crowley with a displeased look for a split second before grinning once more.] 'Sides. Lower Tadfield's the best and all but a holiday's always nice.

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[thepointisdolphins]

Ah, well. [Can't argue with that. Man, the Antichrist can look however he wants to look, Crowley ain't gonna judge.]

[His expression immediately falls at the mention of Aziraphale dying. Of course the kid would pick up on that. Of course he'd just know. And of course he'd know Crowley's role in the whole thing. He doesn't really bring it up with the angel anymore, and he keeps it stuffed away in the back of his mind most days, because demons aren't supposed to feel guilty. But he can't help it. It's Aziraphale, after all.]

[To hear the angel tell it, it's no one's fault, but Crowley knows better.]

Er. Right. [A beat.] This place, ah, likes to "mess about" with people, as you like to put it. There's never much to be done when it happens. The rest of the time, it's pleasant enough. [Another pause as he chews his lip a little.] I suppose the angel's told you all the ins and outs by now.

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[grewuphuman]

[There's no judgment from Adam about Crowley's feelings of guilt. If anything, it's that Crowley isn't very good at being a demon that makes Adam like him so much. So he lets the subject drop and just nods his head.]

Yeah, he's told me most of it. All about mirrors and funny stuff happening and losing powers. Other folks've offered up stuff, too. [He shrugs.] I still think I oughta have a chat with those in charge around here about messing everybody about, but I'm not gonna say it has to happen. [Yet.]

[A bit more shifting around because, seriously, what eleven-year-old sits perfectly still even when talking to someone? Then he's looking back to Crowley once more, curiosity shining in his eyes.] So tell me 'bout the other angels and demons and stuff here. The ones from other places. Anybody I should know about?

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[freewill]

[This isn't the sort of transmission that Castiel would generally reply to. So many new arrivals come each week, and he generally expects some of the more sociable people here to handle the process of educating them about where they are.

But there's something about this boy. Maybe it's the slight glow to his hair, or the fact that he's so young and yet facing this head-on without any fear. Whatever the reason may be, Castiel's drawn to him, and before he's thought it through he's started to send a reply.]

Hello, Adam. [That's one more person with that name in this place, though this boy seems far more well-adjusted than the third Winchester.] I'm Castiel. You're in a place called Wonderland, which is impossible for any of us to leave unless the mansion itself deems it so.

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[grewuphuman]

[Adam doesn't particularly like to use his supernatural charm to get folks to respond to him but, well, between learning about the presence of other angels (and demons) in this place, and not wanting to cheat and simply know all about Wonderland without anyone talking to him, he couldn't resist. Besides, it's not like he's saying folks have to reply. Yes, it's skating a thin line between free will and not, but it's one he's comfortable with given the situation.

He studies Castiel for a few seconds before nodding his head slightly.]

Yeah, I reckoned it was something like that. Never heard of a place keeping folks stuck before, though. Seems a little funny, if you ask my opinion. [Not that anyone is asking him but he's hardly letting that stop him. But moving on.] So how long've you been here, Castiel?

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[freewill]

[Had Castiel realized that he'd been influenced into this, he definitely would have taken issue with it. As someone who does fight for free will, yet manages to get used and manipulated despite that, suffice to say it counts as a sore spot.

It's not exactly a common situation, the one they've ended up in, but Castiel wouldn't say he finds it "funny" in any sense of the word.]

I've been here... [He takes a moment to think it through.] About six months. Though there are others who've been here much longer. [In other words, Adam should be prepared to be trapped for quite some time.]

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[grewuphuman]

[Adam tilts his head slightly as he considers being stuck in one place for so long. He won't say he's pleased at the thought, but he reasons it could be worse. At least the place seems interesting. Finally he gives a partial shrug of one thin shoulder, absently rubs at his eye with one small, dirty fist, then gives Castiel a brilliant smile.]

Well, far as takin' trips away from home go, I reckon it could've been worse.

[He pauses, considers the angel for a moment, then decides to satiate his curiosity about him a little bit more.]

Where was it you were, 'fore you came here? [He means whether Castiel was on Earth, Above, or even one of his trips to Below or that odd place In Between, but he doesn't explain that fact. He's much more interested in letting the angel answer however he sees fit.]

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[usskickass]

[Beiste's...pretty sure this kid is the youngest she's seen here. Unless you count Quinn's-- but, well, it's hard to count her, really. She's quiet for a moment, not sure if she's going to come on too strong or something, but...]

You mind if I ask how old you are? You, uh. You seem pretty okay with all this.

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[grewuphuman]

[Adam's grin is as friendly as ever. He isn't bothered by a grown up acting like, well, a grown up.]

I reckon that's on account of I am pretty okay with this. It's just a bit of an adventure, s'all. [A pause; the next bit is spoken with pride.] And I'm eleven. Only just turned it, in fact, not more than a few weeks 'go.

[usskickass]

[God. Eleven. Just off for Hogwarts, if he's from that world. She gets the feeling he's not, though.]

You normally go on adventures that feel like you've been kidnapped?

[She winces, realizing belatedly that that might not be the best thing to ask. If this kid's been messed up by fighting parents or something...well, she's just gonna hope that ain't the case.]

[grewuphuman]

[He can't help but chuckle a bit because, okay, fair question. Most adults aren't that forward with kids. He's almost impressed.]

No, this is my first kidnapped one. [His grin grows.] But me an' my friends, we have adventures all the time! And Aziraphale and Crowley are both here and I know them from back home, too. [Sort of.] So, way I see it, if I really need somethin', they'll be about.

[He pauses, considers her for a minute, and his grin turns into a positively brilliant smile.]

Thanks for checkin', though. That's awful nice of you. Most folks wouldn't've bothered, I don't suppose.