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[there's a clatter and a shake of the video as it's set down on a teetering column of books. then this strange young man in a ridiculous bow tie stands back and spreads his arms theatrically. as he speaks in an English accent, he waves his hands about]

Helloooooo there, Wonderland! I've a lovely message to impart to whomever happens to be presiding over this mucked up fairytale this time 'round, but I'll save that for later, FIRST!

I'm the Doctor, you may have heard of me. Time traveler, alien, wizard with any tech, I've even got my own magic wand. [he whips out his sonic screwdriver from his inside jacket pocket. it pulses with a green glow and a strange buzz before it switches off and he tucks it away.

his expression sobers seriously] I know you've been trapped here a long while. I know you may be scared, or lost hope, or even accepted your lot in life. Made the most of a pretty prison, because that's what humanity does, makes the most of what they have, no matter how little or how strange.

But now the Doctor is In. And I'm here to help. [he flips back to speaking quickly, excited] I'll be wandering about asking only slightly invasive questions on whatever isn't covered on this LAN network of yours, if you want to drop by and speed up the process of your escape, then please! Give a shout.

[the transmission ends, allowing the Doctor to march about the manor and grounds. you can find him nearly anywhere, waving his "wand" at walls, hedges, and people, muttering to himself, talking to flowers, you know. general sane inspecting activity]

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[ It's the time traveler portion that catches Brennan's attention, although really the whole message is quite... well. Quite. The man's certainly excitable, isn't he? Although Brennan's a little wary because he's had very bad experiences with time travel and it makes him a little uncomfortable in general to find it being used elsewhere. Don't people know how dangerous that is? Perhaps this one's had ample opportunity to study it, however. And isn't working for a crazy immortal out to kill him. That would be a nice change. ]

Mages use staffs more than wands, I believe. [ Yes, that's totally what he's opening with here. Where's Dorian when he needs him? Then again, he suspects if he got those two talking, no one would ever get a word in edgewise. ] You know a way out of this place?

[the Doctor flashes a grin, eyes glinting with amusement] Staffs aren't for me, too Tolkien, not nearly enough J.K., of which you . . . clearly haven't read. We should fix that. --Right, but first, escape! Knowing one!

[he swings an arm high in the air, pointing, pause! then he brings it down and points at the screen] Not just yet. [his smile drops away] I've barely started, give me a moment! I have all of Wonderland to investigate yet.

[ Neither of those names mean anything to Brennan. He wonders if Varric would know them? ] I haven't had much time for reading of late, I admit. I'm a little behind the times. [ In more ways than one.

The man's answer has him holding his hands up in surrender and sheepish apology. ] Sorry, sorry. You're just the first person that I've encountered here who has said anything of the sort. Everyone else has been all 'get comfortable; you could be here a while - or not' and seemed quite content to be cryptic about anything else. Or maybe just as clueless. My bet's on the latter, personally.

And mine, though much more clueless than I. People displaced from all of time and space, then thrown into a "magical" world. Give 'em free food, fear, and a dash of healthy pragmatism that morphs to cynicism-- Humans are so quick to accept the status quo. No offense. [he waves a hand offhandedly, as if he doesn't expect anyone to take offense to such a true statement]

Me, I like cryptic, but I'll give you blunt just this once. [his tone softens, a reassuring call to arms] I've saved billions of planets in millions of galaxies. Some of them were farms much like this one. And sometimes, I can save everyone. This is what I do.

You can certainly get comfortable, but don't sacrifice your future. Fight for it. Because here, d'joo notice? There is no future.

None taken. I know that as well as anyone, I suppose. I've seen it far too often.

[ He looks thoughtful as he takes in those words, head cocked just slightly to the side as he considers the man in his video. ] That's probably because here there is no time. Or so I'm told. I messed with that once and it was terrible, so yes, I tend to make a habit of fighting for a great many things to keep it from happening again.

You called this place a farm. That's the first I've heard it referred to it as such. I'm not disagreeing, mind, I'm just curious as to your point of view. What is it you see when you look at this place. I've heard others call it a prison, or a haven, or a vacation. Some even think of it as home.

Home. [the Doctor glances away, off screen, thoughtful] Oh, that'll make things difficult.

[he looks back to the camera feed. prepare for a History Lesson, Brennan] Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and the sequel, Through the Looking-Glass, were published in England on Earth in 1865 and '71. Likely the level of technology you're used to, from the look of you. Sure, plenty of discoveries in physics, philosophy, and the world finally realised the existence of germs, but nothing like this. [he spreads his arms, gesturing to the hallway in the background, a mirror hanging on the wall behind him]

This technology is a far cry from the Wonderland of lore, and it certainly did not have one-directional portals to another dimension disguised as mirrors. [he twirls and raps a cheery knuckle on the frame and swirls back front] No boy bands, though, bit disappointing. And scouring your network, I happened to find many lose memories here. Disappear, then pop back missing a year of time.

[as he prattles on, the Doctor's exuberance transforms into anger and disgust. he loves solving the mystery, but he hates the answer]

I'd wager this land . . . is an intentional replica of a beloved children's novel, meant to lure in the dreamers of the universe. And why else? To farm what it wants. Memories, desires, dreams. Their futures. [the Doctor spits out,] It's a people farm.

Well you didn't think it would be easy, did you? [ Brennan looks bemused at the notion. Nothing's ever easy. If it is, it's probably a trap. ] Although I've heard at least one person reference that they have no home or life to return to, so that could be why.

[ Oh Maker, it's a Solas with hair. And less pointy ears.

He squints when the Doctor motions at his surroundings, trying to follow the explanation. ] What part of that is a germ, exactly? [ Was he meant to get that reference? He's proving terrible at this game in Wonderland. ]

So we're here pretty much as livestock, is what you're speculating. That sounds... unpleasant. [ Potentially a gross understatement, but there you have it. ] At least it doesn't.... seem to harm anyone? At least not like it could. Other than the confusion about memories and time, it seems.

[he waves a dismissive hand, not in the mood to explain germ theory. there are far more important things than Brennan's personal hygiene.

like thinking anyone is safe]

Yes, no harm to anyone, taking your memories and brainwashing you lot to fight amongst yourselves, introducing new baddies to the environment to feast upon your flesh, you're all perfectly fine.

[uh oh prepare your slaps people the Doctor did his homework and he's being s a r c a s t i c]

[ There's nothing wrong with his hygiene, he's dating a prissy Tevinter.

Lucky for you, he's also very accustomed to sarcasm. ]

Yes, but those are temporary annoyances at best. Very lively, at least. We could all be hooked up to some archaic device that's draining the life out of us or bound in a ward by blood mages and invaded by demons. Or stuck in nightmares with giant spiders. I'm just saying, all things considered, their farming methods are rather inspired in comparison. They give us magical replicating closet and a giant house instead.

Although the Mirror-portal things are rather worrisome. There are some nasty pieces of work over there.

[the Doctor stares, so blown by what he sees as stupidity, he hasn't got the words. give him a moment, enjoy the brief silence]

Temporary annoyances. Tell me, how often do these temporary annoyances kill someone? Injure them, even? Are the closets and food and warm beds worth that, because really, that's what your royal farmers count on. Bribes. I know a species that clings to its victim's face as it slowly digests the brain, but they're kind enough to feed their victim pretty dreams. 'Cos why suffer a struggling meal when you can please it and take your sweet time? Oh, but at least they're inspired. The absolute--

Hold on, you mentioned mirrors, over there, what do you know about "over there?"

Edited 2015-09-12 16:12 (UTC)

[ Brennan holds up his hands at the explosion. ] I'm not defending what they're doing, I'm just saying we could be in much more dire straights. And why some might prefer this to... wherever they come from. Trust me, I've important things at home I'd much prefer to get back to, as soon as possible. I've only just arrived myself, and I'm less than pleased about it. But for some... for some, the closets and the food and warm beds probably are a comparable trade. I've seen what people will do in exchange for something as simple as that.

[ He lets the topic float to the Other Side, however, although he's quick to shake his head. ] Not a lot. New, mind. But there was an event recently where holes opened up between this place and there. People crossed through. I've a companion here for home, who came the same time as me. He accidentally stumbled through one, found himself stuck over there. Apparently we all have doubles, dopplegangers, opposite. Makes sense for a backwards mirror reflection, I suppose. His ended up over here when he landed over there. He ran into the other me and I ran into the other him and.... they were both... wrong. Different. Much, much different.

[it's lucky the Doctor placed the communicator on a stack of books, because he's now pacing]

Looking-Glass selves. Opposites of who we are, our very selves, our shadows. Ohhh, someone's been reading too much Joseph Campbell. [he rounds on the camera feed] And these doppelgangers, they're autonomous? Wants, thoughts, feelings, their own motives?

Well, the one I met certainly did. [ Brennan still looks less than pleased about the entire encounter. It hadn't been pleasant. ] So did the alternate version of me, from what my companion told me of it. Although I've been told that most of the Mirrors are fully loyal to their Queen of Hearts? They serve her whims over their own motives, supposedly.

Hearts, not Red. Right, then. [he gives a nod. much, much worse than the Red Queen, he had hoped for her. but that's fine, he's not worried at all, he can work with this]

So the Queen scans us somehow, reads our personalities, then creates whole beings based upon those personalities put on high contrast. But they're people. [which means he doesn't want to hurt them]

What happened to the other version of your friend?

Edited 2015-09-21 09:49 (UTC)

Well, I suppose her hearts are red? [ Brennan squints for a moment because that reference went completely over his head. ]

The Mirror that crossed here, do you mean? He stole something out of my room before fleeing back through one of the portals. Although from how he was talking, I think he was very much annoyed at being forced to leave me breathing as he left. Also he had a lot of misconceptions about me to begin with, it seems my own Mirror is very much an asshole and yet Dorian's Mirror still expected me to be the same.

[ Not that a Venatori Magister made for a pleasant encounter with anyone. ]

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I am so sorry for this rambling idiot

I AM NOT I already love this CR :D

ahaha OH GOOD me too 8D

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