entranceway | Smiled and said 'yes, I think we've met before'...

[Ladies and gentlemen of the fifth floor, viewers of this accidental video feed, meet Philip! He was just enjoying the lovely landscapes of Greenland on a, well, rather unique vacation of sorts when Wonderland called him back.

Appearing today the man in his very late twenties is wearing an ensemble from the Spontaneous Adventurer collection; dirty and ripped clothing that carries a distinct smell of sewer, blood and gasoline. He is clutching his left arm where his sweater soaks up blood and an axe wound causes him some considerable discomfort.

But to him none of that will matter in a moment. Because in a moment he will step through a door and meet the woman he's fought hell to find, he will meet the woman who has all the answers he needs.

So he swallows, ignores the shivering cold and braces himself, pushing the door in front of him open to-- ]

Um, hello? Am...

[ --to find himself alone in a corridor much nicer and warmer than the derelict room in the icy wastelands he anticipated. ]

...abel?

[ A corridor which he knows. A corridor which he knows well. A corridor which, in itself, should be an incredible improvement to his previous situation and yet... ]

...No. No! This--

[ And yet he really doesn't seem too thrilled to be here. ]

This is a joke.

[ Why, in fact he seems to be clutching his head, pacing back and forth in front of the door he just transported through, all the while his expression is becoming more and more pained and desperate. ]

This is a bloody joke!

{ Funny, could've sworn I didn't catch you laughin'. Home sweet home, eh, monkey? }

[ One last outcry and Philip falls against the wall, gradually slumping to the floor and burying his face in his hands. ]

Not again, I can't... I can't believe this...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Are you okay?

[ That's a really good question. He'll have to think about the actual answer sometime. ]

...Yeah.

[ Seeing the old faces again is nice, at any rate. ]

Yeah, I just, um... I was back- [ Let's paraphrase: ] home and, uh... I guess I've been gone longer than I thought.

A few weeks, I think. Was it long at home?

Not even a few hours.

[ He shakes his head. ]

I thought it was supposed to be the other way around.

[ Years passing for people who return after one week or less. ]

...Yeah. That definitely sounds backwards. [Making a mental note to think more about that later.]

I'm... sort of glad everyone's still here. Maybe I shouldn't say that, but I guess it makes coming back easier.

[ And he definitely needs something to distract himself from the opportunity that slipped through his fingers. ]

If you have to be stuck here, it's easier if there are people you know.

But they might not all want to be stuck here with me.

[ Philip chuckles. That much said jokingly, but he knows that there are plenty of residents who prefer their own homes to this. Anyway, not a subject that deserves too much attention right now... ]

Did I miss much?

There was an event. Everything was chaotic for a few days.

Just the usual then.

Pretty much. You didn't miss anything big.

[ He never thought of Wonderland as one episode of craziness after another, it's strange to think he could be gone for so long and not feel like he missed anything important. Guess you get used to everything eventually. ]

So how've you been?

...Normal. [That's probably the best word for it.]

That's, um--

[ Practically an antonym to Wonderland. ]

Good, that's good.

[ Subtext: At least Philip hopes it is. ]

Yeah. But it makes me worry some.

Worry? How come?

[ A calm before the storm thing? Philip can almost see it. ]

It probably won't last.

Things being normal or you worrying about it?

[ The former seems sadly evident, but the latter means there is still a reason now. ]

...Both. [He puts his fingers to his temple, like he's adjusting a pair of glasses he's not wearing.] I try not to worry too much.

But there's something you're worried about? Apart from things going back to their normal state of not normal at all?

[ A beat. ]

Just if you want to talk about it, I mean.

[ God knows Philip usually doesn't. ]

[A wry smile.] That's usually my line.

[ The same smile. And usually Philip gets asked the question. ]

I just came back. I thought I'd try mixing it up a bit.

[Souji decides to relent and express his own worries for once.] I'm just glad me and my friends got through the last event okay. But I don't know how many more times it will turn out that way.

[ Philip frowns. ]

I know what you mean.

[ He really does. And he's wondering just how much detail is needed here. Or wanted. ]

...My friends made it through some events okay. But not all of them, we--

[ He stops. Thinks. ]

I guess... I guess there isn't all that much we can do, apart from waiting.

[ In a way that realisation was liberating for Philip, but it's not the most profound and certainly not everyone's cup of tea. ]

[Souji nods. He's used to that, somewhat.]

We should enjoy the times we can.

(no subject)

sadfreezingbrit - 2012-02-20 01:13 (UTC) - Expand

eatsyourscience - 2012-02-20 03:57 (UTC) - Expand

sadfreezingbrit - 2012-02-27 20:27 (UTC) - Expand

eatsyourscience - 2012-02-27 20:47 (UTC) - Expand