video & action ⪢

[achomp]

Sup, fellow captives? Name's Claudia.

[ two purple-gloved hands throw up finger guns in front of the camera. claudia's curled red hair is interrupted only by a single strand of white, and her ratty denim vest is covered in an obnoxious amount of flair. anyone versed in teen can probably tell this cool front is pretty forced. ]

So! I did the reading, aced the pop quiz, made frenemies with the magical internet, et cetera et cetera... [ shrug! if she pretends it's no big deal it won't be, right? this is fine everything's fine. ] Who do I talk to about that member's club jacket fitting? Or like, should I expect a card or a button or something? Maybe a secret handshake? Oh, right one other thing-- anyone got a twenty on Alice? Figure it's only polite to introduce myself to the lady of the house, you know?

[ and until then, she'll keep checking mirrors in hopes that this is some weird artifact thing on steroids. as the day wears on, claudia only gets crankier-- she's starting to feel helpless and alone. she can do alone, she just-- well she thought she didn't have to anymore. ]

Comments

[tobelieve]

( So, unlike some people, Helena isn't glued to her device otherwise she may have known about Claudia's arrival a few hours ago.

It happens to be by chance when she sees that particular bob of hair down the corridor. There's a certain style to Claudia that's unmistakable, and the sound of her footsteps also fit.

How? When? Why?

Even though Helena had come to acknowledge that they were frozen in time there was also the possibility that Claudia was from after her event, that she would know if Myka was alright. If they all were.

And yet, when Helena finally pulls herself from the surprise all she can say is: ) Claudia?

( Oh darling, say it's so )

[achomp]

[ her fight instinct is usually the one claudia defaults to, but neither it nor flight move her. claudia freezes in place, shocked by that very unmistakable voice behind her. it takes her a moment to turn, slow and cautious. hg's proved herself one of the most dangerous people claudia has ever met. she can't help the scowl that pushes her eyebrows down. ]

What...

[ she swallows, looking to move past fear and into anger. anger she can work with. if hg's somehow responsible for this, claudia's chances at getting home are bad. and what does that mean for the others? she fumbles at her side, pulling the tesla out to level it in a shaky hand. ]

What the hell did you do?

[tobelieve]

( Oh, Helena knows that look. It's a familiar expression that she's seen not only in Claudia, though to see it now...

Her expression drops a little, and though Helena does raise her hands she takes a step towards the girl, taking the bet that she wouldn't just shoot her. She's hoping that she'd figured her out just enough to be right.

Claudia wasn't from ahead of her but the past. She has no answers, and the ones that Helena does have will be harder to give )

Nothing. This wasn't my doing, Claudia.

( She knows that Claudia won't believe her, or won't want to. She's scared as much as she is angry, but it won't stop Helena trying )

But I can explain it.

[achomp]

No.

[ she starts shaking her head even though she's already had her bluff called. she doesn't shoot, and for a moment, the tesla droops in her hand. she knows she's been soft on hg in the past-- she doesn't know she'll do it again in her future. ]

You want to explain something, you can start with yourself. [ she's struggling to keep it together, struggling to stay angry. she knows the pain helena's been through. ] You came into my home. You nearly killed Mrs. Frederic!

[tobelieve]

( She doesn't have a right to feel hurt by Claudia's words, not when they're the truth, but it still stings a little. Helena knows that she'd hurt people and though she can say it hadn't been her intention she hadn't really thought about it. She hadn't cared, simply wanting her revenge )

Alright.

( If it enabled Claudia to listen to her explanation... well, they had time, and if it didn't come up now it would at some point. It was also a story that she hadn't offered Claudia in her holographic form )

Do you remember what I told you-- about Christina?

[achomp]

[ it's enough to make claudia's arm drop entirely. she doesn't want to feel empathy or sympathy or any other athy's right now. she wants to not be trapped in some mansion with a woman who's comfortable ending the world. ]

Yeah, you read me your sob story. [ she regrets the words even as she's saying them, but claudia puts force behind them anyway. ] As if none of us has ever lost family. You're gonna have to do better than that right now because I'm not sure you aren't standing between me and mine right now.

[tobelieve]

( Helena takes the words in, not letting them sway her from what she needs to tell Claudia. The girl might no longer be certain that she wants to hear it but she had asked for Helena's explanation )

I was angry. I was so angry.

( Her hands shift down as she speaks, punctuating the words )

It isn't an excuse. I wanted revenge -- the people that had murdered my daughter were already dead, but the world seemed no better.

( And don't even get her started on regret. Oh, how she wished that the anger hadn't settled in her as it had, how she hadn't become bitter and hateful from it. Helena still felt that pain, and that anger, but she pushed it into other solutions now )

I was wrong. I was ignoring the wonderful people that I'd met. People like you, Claudia. And Myka.

( The two that are dearest to her now, and that she would kill to protect )

[achomp]

[ it's almost more frightening, the way hg's saying just the right things. it's too much for claudia to process right now, having this fear compound on itself like that. her fingers tighten around the grip of the gun in her hand, like some freaky security blanket of a weapon.

she tries to hold off the sympathy again, tries to deny that she cares about hg and looks up to her. hero worship is a dangerous thing. ]

You weren't just ignoring us. You were lying to us. You used me.

[ normally, claudia wouldn't even bother getting this far into it. she should be storming away. why isn't she just walking away? ]

Is that why you saved my life? And Artie's? Myka quit because of you.

[tobelieve]

I didn't want you to die.

( Part of it, of course, had been an act, and Helena couldn't deny that. She'd had to help Claudia to gain Myka's trust, and that of the Warehouse, but at the same time she'd recognised the brilliance that was in Claudia. She couldn't let that die. Even if, ironically, starting the end of world would likely have killed her. She just hadn't thought of that then, so blinded. So stupid )

I know what my actions caused, and what they cost.

( If only Myka had been able to get through to her soon, but at the same time that wouldn't have been possible. It had been faced in that moment when, despite how angry and determined Helena had been, a part of her realised that she didn't actually want to do this. Without that Myka wouldn't have been able to stop her -- help her )

And I am so sorry for that, and for hurting you.

( Because, for Helena, she's already apologised to Myka -- already made it right. Myka also wasn't here, and thus it made no sense in apologising to or for her now )

[achomp]

Not forgiven. You suck. A lot.

[ another weak attempt to keep the anger burning. claudia thinks it's important to keep that fire lit for now, even if she wants to trust hg again. it's all too fresh for her. the cuts are too close to bone to start healing yet.

she'd almost faced something she might consider worse than death because of warehouse 12's awakening. but helena explained herself. and apologized. and claudia wants to be not in this conversation anymore because she's tired and in some pocket dimension and she doesn't know how to get out. ]

And I don't trust you. But I'm asking you so that if you lie to me and I find out later I won't hesitate to zap your posh ass: Are the others here?

[tobelieve]

( Her gaze dips a few seconds and this time Helena doesn't cover the sting that those words caused. She knew that Claudia was angry, and had every reason to be, but before when that anger had been fresh Helena had missed it. She'd been in Warehouse prison, not there to face the girl's wrath )

They're not. ( Her head raises again, gaze firmly back on Claudia ) I've been here for months -- alone.

( The only one from their world at least, as Claudia will quickly discover that others were in Wonderland )

[achomp]

Aww. We can have a pity party for you later. Invite all the friends you didn't make.

[ claudia mock-pouts, if only to combat the pull of sympathy she feels at hg's situation. claudia herself had only just thought she was alone here. it had been the most difficult fear to ignore.

but the fact of the matter is that she hasn't pointed her tesla hg's way again. her shoulders have relaxed, and while she refuses to let up on that scowl she can't deny that deep down hg's presence provides some semblance of comfort. ugh. ]

If you've been here months, then... [ double ugh. ] Portal plus time whammy artifact?

[tobelieve]

( Oh, she'll do one better. Whilst Helena knows that the tesla has stayed down, and whilst she'd love to have the conversation a little closer, she's not risking moving, not risking the slight truce that seems to have slipped in )

Wonderland. Though from appearances, it isn't the same as the artifact.

( No crazy mirror Alice around.

Well.... not the same as what Claudia's mind is no doubt jumping to. As much as this place is Wonderland in name, and has several of the people Carroll wrote about, it's also not the same Wonderland -- or, apparently, the same Alice.

The latter part is the only plus side in all of this )

[achomp]

[ claudia's curiosity is nearly always stronger than her other motivations. the anger seems to hit the pause button while her inner sleuth takes over. she takes a few steps forward, momentum driving her physically in with the promise of more knowledge. ]

Wait. You know about Alice's mirror? Are you sure this isn't the same? I mean, it could've interacted with another artifact or something, right?

[tobelieve]

( And there it is. As much as Claudia now really listening, and actually asking for her knowledge comforts Helena she makes certain not to feel, or look too comforted, not wanting to lose it )

What did you see in the mirror?

( She knows what you were doing )

[achomp]

Just my own stupid face. Even with the light flash trigger.

[ after mirror #53 claudia had maybe gotten a little desperate. she stops herself from moving any further, casting a sidelong glance at the space between them. it seems to be enough. the tesla gets holstered. ]

What have you tried?

[ said with the trademark defensive/sullen teen tone, yes. ]

[Video]

[kid_flash_found]

[Bart can't help being amused by her intro, and quickly responds.]

Well, you could always ask the closets, they're good for that.

[He pans out a little to show him reaching into the closet in his room and pulling out a straight-jacket that prominently states that it belongs to Arkham Asylum.]

I've only been here a few weeks, myself. Good things so far are the kitchens and dining rooms, as well as magic closets that give you what you're looking for, at least most of the time. Bad things can probably wait.

Oh, and I'm Bart.

[tobelieve]

( In terms of actual escape attempts... nothing that Claudia would be proud of. But she also hadn't been idle )

I've learned where we are, and what others have already tried.

( And what to definitely never do again )

[achomp]

Not what I asked. Also? Way too cryptic for comfort.

[ she has to reach for more acid and anger, and it's probably not her best effort but darn it nobody can say claudia didn't try. ]

Try again.

[achomp]

Bad things don't wait for me, I'm not about to wait on them. C'mon, Bart. Have a cow for once and lay it on me.

[ poor guy. he's probably heard a thousand simpsons references but she's too tired for originality, unfortunately. ]

[kid_flash_found]

I'm not a Simpson.

[Bart doesn't really enjoy the references, but seriously...]

The alternative was Barry, and that's my grandpa. An alternate version of whom is here. Which, I guess, is kinda the bad news. People come from all kinds of worlds and times to be here. Even when you recognize someone from back home, they could be from before or after what you remember. And that's not even going into the Events. Nothing like waking up and realizing for days you believed you were somebody not quite you.

[achomp]

Whoa, whoa. Rewind the track. People from before or after what you remember-- like, from my future?

[ #relevant! ]

[kid_flash_found]

Could be. I'm from further along than my two best friends. I'm just glad we got past all the Alvin Draper nonsense. I mean, seriously, who in their right mind chooses to have an alias named after a chipmunk?

[achomp]

You got a thing with names, huh? Focus up, Not-Barry. [ snap-snap! attention here, buddy. ] Is there any way to tell? Like, if I wanted to know but I wasn't on speaking terms with the jackass from maybe my future?

[kid_flash_found]

Besides comparing notes? Not really. It's a bit of a mess. I mean, I guess you could ask other people, or maybe see what got saved on the network and what they've done.

This place is kinda a multiversal nexus. That never really spells happy, fun-times. Not that I've ever seen. And, apparently, people don't actually age or grow up in Wonderland, either. No matter how long you stay, and some folks have been around for years.