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[ By now, she's already had a relatively thorough look around the mansion and its grounds, investigating and exploring. She's overheard conversations, watched some people from afar, and has the gist of what this place is about. She's pretty sure she has, anyway. Wonderland, it's called. They're all "prisoners", all from different worlds or universes or whatever, blah blah blah, some magic junk, etc. It's only then, when she feels like she understands the situation, that she finally makes an appearance on the network, a wry smile on her face as she broadcasts. ]

So, I've heard this place be referred to as a prison, but you know what? It ain't so bad. I mean, there're rooms for each of us, free food--as much as you can eat--and we're free to come and go as we please. I don't see what's so bad about all that.

[ She kicks her feet up from her sitting position and gives the camera a look. ]

I think I could get used to this, actually. Loads better than anywhere I've ever lived before. Sure, we're trapped here or whatever, but is it really so bad? Could be a lot worse, you know. I'd rather be trapped somewhere comfortable if I'm going to be trapped at all.

[ With that, she shrugs, and cuts the feed. ]

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[Alistair's finally getting used to the phone and it only takes him two tries before he successfully responds to the new person talking on it.]

Ah-ha! Got it!

[Oh wait, she can see and hear him now, can't she?]

Got you, I mean. On this thing. [Brilliant recovery Alistair. Just brilliant. Never mind, he'd had something to say, hadn't he.]

You say that it's OK now but just wait till everything gets weird and people you've never seen before are telling you they know you. I've seen it happen.

[He did get it right, didn't he? He's not just talking to himself again, thinking he's gotten the thing working is he?]

[ Unimpressed, mildly confused stare into the camera. ]

Things are already weird.

[ She's in a strange place suddenly with no explanation as to why, and it magically produces food and things out of the closets in the bedroom. Yeah, things are already weird without the addition of his little input. ]

You've seen it happen. Does that mean it happened to you? [ Eyebrow raise. ] Man, I don't think you've got your priorities straight if you think that's the weirdest thing about this place.

[ But she's amused by this, all the same. The fact that something so little is seemingly at the top of his "weird" list. ]

It might have.

[As though it's not plainly obvious that it did.]

My priorities are just fine, thank you! Why don't you try it if you think it's not weird having someone you've never seen before tell you they're someone you know only not. [And knowing enough about things that happened to prove it.] I'm not saying the rest isn't weird. [He's talking to someone in another part of the mansion with a box. Weird is putting it mildly.] Just that that part is weird and personal. Which is worse.

So it did.

[ A wry smile joins her raised brow. This guy's amusing. ]

I never said that wasn't weird, I just said I don't think it's the weirdest thing, that's all. But I guess I can see your point on the weird/personal combination that makes it a little worse.

[ She shrugs. She hasn't run into that kind of an issue before, and kind of doubts she will. But then again, who knows with all she's heard about this place.

Smirking, she continues;]

So, how'd it happen with you?

Well if it happens to you then you can tell me if you still think it's not that weird.

[If it's not just one of those things that only happen to him so the Maker can have a good laugh. And on the subject, he's being laughed at now, isn't he? But he can't get that upset at someone who's younger than him and a girl having a laugh at his expense.

Heaving a put-upon sigh he grins, perfectly happy to laugh at himself too as he answers-] If you must know, I was just walking around and she came up to me and was 'Alistair is that you' when I'd never seen her before in my life. And then she told me she's someone I know but not him - the person she said she was - and I think it's the truth which is just weird.

[And he kind of hopes the person in question doesn't see this. That would be awkward. Can people eavesdrop with these things? He has no idea.]

So not something you can avoid unless you want to be a hermit. Which I wouldn't recommend.

Sure, I'll keep that in mind.

[ It's semi-sarcastic, but in a playful sort of way. And she's still laughing at him, though most of it is still internalized.

Listening to his story though, her brow furrows slightly. It's more confusing than she expected, actually. Maybe she's got him on it being weirder than she gave him credit for. She doesn't want to admit it, but fair's fair. ]

Wait, wait--so they're this person you know, but you know them as a guy? Except this one's not? All right, I'll give you that one. That's pretty damn weird.

[ The smile comes back to her face though. ]

Nah, being a hermit isn't my style. But I don't think I've got to worry about people I know randomly switching genders on me here. Or anywhere, I should hope.

See? What did I tell you? Weird and personal.

[So he's totally in the right here and wins this argument so all laughing at his expense is hereby forgiven.]

You say that now but just wait, next thing you know it'll happen to you and everyone will be all switched around! [He probably shouldn't be saying that kind of thing to someone new though. Even if she doesn't seem at all put off by the place he shouldn't try and make her worried.]

But besides that it doesn't seem too bad here. I don't want to stay myself but nothing's tried to kill me the whole time I've been here. So it could be worse.

[No matter what anyone else told him to expect, there's been way less murder attempts than he's used to. Which is admittedly a plus.]

Yeah, yeah, you win.

[ She raises her hand in mock-surrender and rolls her eyes. This is followed by a snort of a laugh at his next comment and another quirked eyebrow. ]

Even if this is Wonderland, I don't think that's the kind of thing that happens often. [ ...Not that she's one that can actually say that. She's been here all of maybe a few hours, so she's no expert on how often people switch genders and whatever. ]

That's what I'm saying! It doesn't seem too bad at all, so I sure don't mind staying. It's better than what I'm dealing with back home, even if we have to handle all this stuff these other people are telling me about. I'll take these events for free food and shelter over going back home every time.

That's fair. Lots of people told me it's dangerous here when I arrived. [And so he still carries a weapon with him wherever he goes, just in case.] But like I said, nothing's happened so. [A shrug.] I haven't been here long though.

[So who knows? Maybe something worse than strangers knowing him will happen or maybe not.]

I guess there's no one back home waiting for you?

[If she doesn't want to go back he's got to assume she doesn't have any family waiting for her that she might miss. And the way she talks about it she doesn't think her home is that great either. Besides, a weird mansion isn't the worst place to be so who's he to judge?]

Well, trust me, I can handle danger, anyway. I'm not to worried about these events, whenever the next one decides to start. I'll be able to deal with it.

[ She'd fold her arms for emphasis here if she could, but with one holding her communicator... Settling her free hand on her hip will have to do.

His next question has her quiet for a second--just a second, not long enough for it to be noticeable, but not exactly short enough to go completely unnoticed. Pursing her lips, she shakes her head. ]

Nope. No one's gonna miss me back there. But that's cool, this place is still miles better than that shithole anyway.

Right, I can tell you've got everything under control.

[And maybe she does. For all he knows she can defend herself well enough - he'd been younger than her when he was sent to the Chantry, as were many of the Templar recruits. She could have combat training. It wouldn't matter anyway, unless they did all come under attack from something.

And now he feels a little bad. He hadn't meant to upset her or bring back any unpleasant memories, if that was why she'd hesitated.]

No one at all? You don't even have any friends? That's just sad.

[Probably not the thing to say if he didn't want to upset her, come to think of it.]

Don't sound so sarcastic. I do have everything under control.

[ Alright, that might be a bit boastful. She hasn't got everything under control, not by a longshot. If she did, she wouldn't still have questions about this place, wouldn't have this lost feeling in her gut that she's been busy hiding from everyone she's talking to.

Her hackles raise a little at his comment, even if it's unintentional in upsetting her. The wording of it, "that's just sad" makes it sound like her life is sad, pathetic, like it's worth nothing if she hasn't got friends and family. Eyes narrowing, her voice cools down. ]

I do just fine on my own, thanks. Never liked other people, anyway. Hard to trust.

Sarcastic? Me? I'd never!

[Yup. But hey, she does seem to have it more in hand than he did on arrival, what with having no understanding of half the technology here. And again, no signs of trouble so far so it might not even matter if she doesn't.

At the abrupt shift in demeanor Alistair holds up his hands in surrender, the gesture rather undermined by his smirk.] Hey now, no need to be like that! [Pausing he lowers his hands, arching an eyebrow questioningly.] Did you ever think that's why you don't have any friends? Not trusting anyone?

[ Selina remains unamused by his antics. By his mock surrender. By the smirk on his face. He was amusing before, but now that she's taken offence to one of his comments, it may be hard to win her back.

Cats are complicated creatures. ]

Did you ever think that having friends is what made me not trust anyone?

[ Her voice is somewhat mocking now, her head bobbing from one side to the other. He's just like other adults, thinking they understand everything when they really have no clue what you're about or what your life experience has been like. ]

Don't act like you know me or my situation just because you're older. I'm not just some kid you can patronize.

Oooh, pardon me my lady.

[He rolls his eyes in exasperation at her sudden snippiness. He should really be more sympathetic, given he knows what it's like to feel betrayed someone you thought you could trust or who you expected to care about you, particularly when young. But he never pulled a 'I don't trust people' or a 'how dare you act like you know me' so he feels completely justified in responding mockingly himself.]

How dare I speak of things beyond my understanding. Surely no one else's life has ever been as hard as yours.

[Which one of them is the child here again?]

That's not what I'm saying.

[ She's annoyed and it seems like she's staying that way. It doesn't help that his responses are...well, only making things worse. Selina huffs irritably at the implication of his words and, if she could, she'd be folding her arms over her chest defensively right now. ]

I'm just saying that you don't know me. You can't judge me because of that, so stop trying to.

[ The fact that adults always tend to take this act with her and other kids in her situation drives her to irritation so quickly, it's not even funny. It's always them being the ones overreacting, never reacting within reason, and they're always supposedly saying their lives are harder than everyone else's. God, she kind of wants to punch him in the face. ]

And stop patronizing me. I don't appreciate it.

Funny because it sounds to me like you do plenty of judging yourself. But you're right, I'm just patronising you by saying so.

[They're both annoyed now, Alistair glaring at her just as irritably. Though it lacks a certain something when he can only see her on the small screen of his device. As lucky as it may be for him that they're not face-to-face.]

Judging? Me?

[ She laughs rudely and nods in a sarcastic manner. Oh yeah, she's the one being judgemental here. Right. She doesn't believe that for a second. It's him, all him in her eyes, because it's always the adults. They're the ones who're so close-minded that they're judgemental of everything! ]

And just how am I judging?

You have to ask? You're sounding all judgy right now.

[How can she even think that he's the only one being judgy here? She's totally being judgy! And he's certain he hadn't even done anything to deserve it. Definitely not been patronising - well, alright, maybe a little but not enough to warrant this reaction, right?]

That's all you've been doing this whole time!

[ She huffs in frustration--maybe she has been a little judgy, but it's not unwarranted in her mind! ]

Yeah, well-- Same with you!

[ This conversation is only getting more and more mature. She's all out of clever responses and falling back on blaming him for the same thing. ]

If I've been, then so have you!

[Alistair snorts with amusement and smirks at her.]

Is that the best argument you have? 'So have you'?

[Never mind that was exactly what he'd said just a moment ago. He'd said it first so that was different.]

What, are we going to start with the personal insults next?

[If they were going to be immature about this and all.]

You made the same argument.

[ She's obviously going to point that out. However, he's got a point. They are getting pretty immature here. ]

...No. As tempting as it is right now. [ Huff. ] I'm not gonna apologize, but I can probably stop arguing. Unless you say something really stupid.

[Oh, well that was almost disappointingly reasonable.... But maybe she has a point and he can let it go as well. Not that he's going to apologise if she's not.]

Are you sure? Because I can definitely come up with something if you want to keep going. Like... Your breath smells.

[Look she'd wanted stupid.]

...Are you serious?

[ She didn't want stupid. She just made a comment about it. ]

Is this what we're at now? You can't even smell my breath.

[ And she can't tell if he's just joking at this point or not. ]

[Maybe the joke hadn't been well-timed given they'd been arguing but he had been (sort-of-maybe) trying to smooth things over.]

That was- Never mind.

[And he's annoyed again. Still.]

You know what, forget it. I'll just leave you to enjoy yourself, shall I?

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