entranceway | ( action | text ) here's to all the hearts that didn't make it home

[ it is (was?) the season to be jolly, and iris west~~-allen~~ is a terrible gift-giver.

she could probably do worse if she made the effort, but that's not saying much. thankfully, she won't realize the full extent of how lacking her gift is in comparison to barry's. he is currently ushering her through a door, asking that she cover her eyes to keep the surprise intact. she can hear the boyish excitement in his voice, and as always, it's infectious. a flutter rises in her stomach as she waits. ] Open your eyes ... now!

[ and open her eyes she does.

barry is no longer anywhere to be found, and instead of a newly leased apartment, iris finds herself in wonderland again. at least the rabbit hole was thoughtful this time around: it's let her to the mansion steps. it's snowing. it wasn't snowing before when she — when she what?

a light shiver creeps up her spine as iris finds her way inside.

it takes several minutes, perhaps longer than that, for the full weight of her memories to return to her. they come back in pieces, and confusion soon gives way to apprehension. she's been here before. but that doesn't make sense, she was home and how could she possibly forget in the interim?

the click-clack of high heels signals her arrival, her eyes taking everything in. old memories coalesce with new ones, and she almost sways to the side at the impact. this isn't the wonderland she remembers. not exactly. and everything is so quiet, as if the whole world is sleeping. iris takes off her coat, the red velvet dress she wears underneath it suggesting she'd been having a celebration of her own. it's winter in wonderland: how much has she missed?

her steps quicken, iris now in full search mode. she won't stop until she sees a familiar face. ]

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[ iris west is a reporter back in her home world, and it's a shame she has not taken advantage of the network as much as she should. tends to happen when you lose yourself digging up info within the network. ten years worth of it. her notes went missing the day she did, so she'll have to start from the ground up.

let us tell you, it won't be easy. but it's also not impossible.

to iris west, impossible is nothing.

once she is more or less settled in and let those closest to her know she has returned, she reaches out to the network. ]

I've got a few questions for you, Wonderland.

Specifically, I have questions for those of you who've been sent home and were brought back. Note: I won't turn down information even if this technically doesn't apply to you. I'll take everything you've got.

1. Were you able to remember anything about Wonderland while you were home?
2. How long were you gone Wonderland-wise, and were all your Wonderland memories intact when you returned?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Do my eyes deceive me or did a certain brownie aficionado by the name of Iris West send this message?

_{[Just can't stay away, can you? It's okay, the best of us get re-imprisoned at least a few times. And by "best" he means himself, of course.]}

Your eyes are not deceiving you. Seems like Wonderland isn't through with me just yet.

How've you been, Anders?

[ pls tell her you've been eating all the brownies in her absence. ]

Someone's going to be very happy to see you. You may have just saved us from a long and gruelling peanut shortage.

I mean, there's me, too. If you had to return, I'm happy it was in one piece and with memories intact. It's been the same old, same old here.

I can safely say I'm in one piece and my memories of our brownie encounters are intact.

[ besides, anders is pretty damn memorable as it is. ]

Back up a little, though. I'm going to need to hear more about this peanut shortage.

That's a relief to hear. Not many people go missing that long and come back remembering their stay. That's one fashionably late return, Ms. West.

_{[Teasing is his way of saying "welcome back."]}

One word: Barry Allen. I guess that's two words.

[ oh, anders.

your winning personality and your charming sense of humor is just what iris needed. he can't see it, but she is smiling, and very quickly connecting the dots. ]

Two very big words. [ for a very big personality. ]

Thank you for keeping him company when I couldn't.

In the tall way, not so much the wide way. He might be skinnier than me and that's a feat.

_{[Yes, a very big personality. And a very big Iris-shaped hole.]}

Just keeping your seat warm. Maybe you can convince him to stop eating all of the peanuts in sight.

[ anders can't see her, obviously, but iris grins wide enough to finally release a laugh. ]

I'll do my best, but I have to say, I'm not sure how I feel about my odds.

When it comes to Barry and food, I'm not sure anyone can get in between them.

What if we double team? You distract him, and I'll get the peanut dish. He can't take the both of us.

_{[The Flash, maybe. But the normal, unassuming Barry Allen hiding the Flash seems like the type to go down at a stiff wind.]}

You might be the better cure for what ails him, besides. Don't tell him I told you, but I think he missed you.

You sure you won't be distracted by the peanut dish yourself?

[ we all are our own worst enemies, anders. then again, as long as no cat is around, they might be in the clear. ]

My lips are sealed. I'm very good at keeping secrets. If Wonderland had allowed me to remember, I know without question I'd have missed you guys, too. This place always seems to have other plans.

Oh, don't worry. When I go to a tavern it's to day drink with the rest of the vagrants, not to eat the snacks.

_{[That's reassuring, right? Right?]}

Well, that answers both of the questions you posed. Was it a good trip home, at least?

[ completely reassuring, anders.

something tells iris that he has many a colorful story involving these taverns. ]

Some of it was. I got to see my dad and my brother again. I missed them while I was here.

Strange as it is to go back and live like none of this happened, there's something to be said for having a chance to see your loved ones' faces again and remember who you're trying to get back to.

_{[Or so he figures, anyway. He has no family to miss, and he hasn't been back to Ferelden since he arrived here almost a year ago, but to have those memories fresh in your mind must be some kind of relief. Just to feel close to home again in a small way.]}

That's exactly what it is.

[ when iris first met anders, he was sort of a goofball, in a lovable kind of way. charming to a fault, and never one to turn down stimulating conversation. but every now and then his answers carry a lot of insight, and iris can't help but wonder just how much depth is hidden in those waters. ]

I don't think I've ever asked about your home world. Have you ever been sent back, Anders?

Ideally the next time you'll leave by choice.

Sorry, I can't be of much help with your survey. I've been here the entire time.

( action | text ) here's to all the hearts that didn't make it home

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