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[ When Sarah comes into view, she's sitting with her elbows on a table, fingers steepled, and she actually looks Very Serious™ while contemplating how best to phrase her question. The conversation has come up privately, and she needs to have a full understanding of one of the parts of Wonderland she's never bothered with - the Vendors. ]

Hey. I know everyone's kind of consumed with what the dormouse had to say or...didn't say. But I really want to see where everyone falls regarding opinions on the Vendors.

Since we can't pick the memory they want, that means somehow they can rifle through our minds to pick the thing they want to take. And it'd probably have to be something meaningful or impactful. If I ever, for whatever reason, had no option but to use the Vendors, I could lose something like the birth of my son. I'd have no choice or say in the matter.

[ Her reason for using the Vendors would have to be extraordinary. Something involving Kurt or Ray and dire circumstances. ]

Anyway, my actual question is...how do we know, if the Vendors can access our minds and memories, that they or someone or something else doesn't do that all the time, on a constant basis? If Wonderland does actually use our memories to fuel the things that happen here, does that mean our brains are constantly being...I don't know. Monitored???

I'd really like some opinions on this.

[ Sarah isn't paranoid at all usually, and she'd say this is more concerned than paranoid, but it feels like such a violation of privacy that she can't help asking the community at large. ]

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[A couple things here...]

The vendors don't only take memories. If you had to go to them, you could trade something else.

[With that out of the way, onto the more serious matter.]

I think you're right--I think Wonderland could access our memories at any time if it had the power to do so.

I wonder if anyone knows what the percentage rate is of the vendors accepting what you have to offer or rejecting it and wanting a memory instead?

[ Because what this place wants are memories right? She doesn't get what tangible objects would do for Wonderland. ]

I get there's probably nothing anyone could do about it. But this is the most unnerving aspect of this place for me.

I doubt anyone knows. But I think it just depends on what you're trying to trade for. The trade has to be comparable, I mean.

[He cants his head to one side, considering the topic.]

I think...Wonderland can't do everything we think it can do.

I don't even know what kind of thing you could actually know you're guaranteed to get. I mean, say you ask for something, they take the payment upfront, and then what you get back isn't what you asked for? Maybe it's like some bullshit genie in a magic bottle wish. Like...you wish for 'peace on earth' and the entire human population is blinked out of existence or something. Technically what you asked for but not right.

[ Yes, Sarah did just reference an episode of The X-Files to make a point. She pauses, wetting her lips, trying to focus instead on what Souji just said. ]

What do you mean?

I've never run into a problem like that with the vendors, but I can't say it's not possible.

[Other than the fact that they don't seem to have real faces, Souji's never thought there was anything particularly sinister about the vendors. Then again, after so long, he's been desensitized to a lot of things in Wonderland.]

I think if Wonderland could take memories any time, it would be doing it more often. Events happen pretty regularly, but not constantly, and Wonderland probably expends a lot of energy on each event, considering it has to make us or everything around us change.

[He's had a long time to think about this, okay.]

Okay, fair point, good point. But the logistics of this place...I mean if it uses memories to fuel itself, then it must take a ton of fuel and effort to make us go through events. So...why not just take the memories. Why force them on us?

[ She pauses, and it's not like she actually expects real answers, but. ]

....Unless it's just a side effect. Like the mansion can't help it or something.

That's kind of how I feel about it. That it's not really in control of this stuff.

[He glances to the side, thinking. After a second, he adds:]

The Core seems to work automatically. Just getting near it, you lose a memory.

Wait, really? Have you seen it? I mean, I'm assuming it's over there, on the other side.

[ If the Core just sucks up memories, then...huh. There's an idea forming in her mind but she hasn't figured out the words yet to say it out loud.

I've seen it, and I know I lost something when I did. I don't know what I lost, though.

[But wait there's the second part of what she said.]

You're right, it's on the other side. I'm not sure if it stays in the same place, though. It wouldn't surprise me if it moved around.

Like the island on LOST.

[ Wow, two pop culture references in one conversation. Someone has a hobby. ]

Self-preservation, I mean. Not staying in one place just to be sure it can't be tampered with. Although, even if it could be, getting too close for too long could ruin someone completely.

[He doesn't get the reference, but he can tell they're on the same page.]

It's possible. It makes you wonder how the Mirrors live near it.

Well, if they're created - and destroyed - by the Queen, then I assume nothing is using their memories for anything. Maybe it can tell somehow what's real and what's a clone. If they have our memories but never actually experienced it themselves, then whatever is looking for fuel might be able to tell the difference somehow.

That would mean their memories have no substance.

[He hadn't thought of it that way before, but it makes sense, certainly.]

Before I came here, I'd have said no memories have substance, but events kind of prove otherwise.

Memories are important. Memories drive us, make us relive happiness, make us sink into pain. Make us brave or weak, depending. I think that's why they're important. Why they can be fuel for this place.

[ Memories shape people, so maybe it makes sense. ]

[He nods slowly. A year before his arrival, he wouldn't have agreed with her. Now he knows better.]

But I wonder why memories specifically. It could steal emotions. It could steal our will power. It could just kill us and steal our lives.

Well, what's the fun in that? I'm sure someone out there is thoroughly entertained and when they're bored, time for a new event.

You really think so?

[He has his doubts. After so long, the idea that there's some mastermind seems pretty distant.]

I do. Things happen way too regularly. Like scheduled programming. Although maybe that's just feeding time for the Core.

That's what I think it is.

[Buuuut....]

That doesn't mean I'm right, though. There's too much we don't know to be sure.

All of us are probably wrong in some way. Maybe we all have bits and pieces figured out. Either way, in the grand scheme of things, I don't know if it even matters. Asking these questions never gets anyone anywhere, seems like.

[ Which doesn't mean she isn't curious, and no one should be, but they all always wind up talking in theory circles. ]

Possible answers seem to turn into more questions, too. I think it's good that we keep asking them, but you're right. And it gets frustrating.

[Complacency is easier, really.]

Maybe one day we'll have some answers. Or, hey, we'll forget everything anyway and none of this will matter anyway.

Sadly, I think the latter is more likely.

You're probably right. And on that bummer of a note, I should go. But thanks for talking it out with me.

[ She really appreciates it; talking to people - especially those she's never met before - always lends itself to new insights and things to think about. ]

Yeah, anytime. Take care.

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