entranceway | [VIDEO] Wonderland Death Watch ☠

[VIDEO] Wonderland Death Watch ☠

[Replies to this are CLOSED, please see OOC note at the bottom of the post!]

In the wake of our most recent event and regarding the fate of those who lose their fifth life, I would like to propose a new series of data collection on mansion residents. It is my opinion that the instatement of a “death watch” - that is, an archival record of extant resident deaths that have occurred - should be created and maintained, and would serve as a valuable resource for the protection of those who are at risk.

[This is the difficult part: persuading people to share this sort of thing about themselves, knowing what it does to others and how it can hurt, is no easy task. She believed as much when she first spoke with Shepard on the subject, and believes the same now. Evelyn herself does not like to offer personal information unless asked, but knows the burden of carrying that suffering on one's own and how easily an environment can fall to fear.]

I understand that this is very private, very personal information. I understand it is traumatic, and not something that many people want to share. Therefore it is incumbent upon me to stress the critical severity of this situation, and assure you that you are not alone.

I myself have lost four lives here.

In disclosing as much, I hope that others can be swayed to believe in the efficacy of this database, and would urge residents to volunteer their respective death tolls to build the record. Residents who submit information to the watch on their numbers may do so to me privately, if there is concern about embarrassment or persecution from peers.

[It is a valid concern, and one which she has agonised over.]

Commander Shepard’s confirmation from the Queen of Hearts that those who are remade after their last demise are conscripted as spies is extremely troubling. Regardless of the veracity of the information given its source, we as unwilling residents do not have the luxury of allowing for that liability. For those concerned about their safety, I will be actively working with the commander, who is well-equipped to establish and manage security procedures once the record has been transcribed and analysed. This is a living document, and is expected to require additions over time.

I am aware that this is a drastic measure, but a measure worth taking. Please feel free to direct all responses and queries to myself and Commander Shepard.

[OOC NOTE: I realize this is a hot button issue as has generated a lot of replies, which is great! In order to keep myself sane, I'm going to have to cut it off here and request that no one else respond in this post. Messaging Evelyn's inbox is cool if you want to drop a line there instead, but replies will be slower there.

Anyone who did not get to respond in here before the cut-off, I'd really like you to at least drop a comment HERE if you believe your character would still share their information with her. Thank you for understanding!]

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You certainly wouldn't be the first.

[She smiles wryly, but her heart isn't quite in the expression.]

Myself and a resident named Souji Seta arrived a couple of days apart. I believe we're the oldest in the mansion at present.

You 'believe,' but you're not certain?

[ -- someone had said something about alice, once. that perhaps she counts as the oldest resident. but peggy doesn't press that question. rather, she waits to see what information will come to her. ]

I'm sorry, I should have been more clear. It's been a very long morning. We are the oldest residents. One of my dearest friends was the oldest remaining resident before me, but he disappeared several months ago.

[Evelyn tries to count people unaffiliated with Lewis Carroll's text, or she would mention all those from Wonderland originally.]

[ wait a tick. something fitz said bubbles to the surface of her thoughts. ]

You're the librarian, aren't you?

[ fitz has never named her -- merely mentioned her vocation, here, and the tidbit that she was among the longest residing souls within the mansion. ]

I am.

[It is not uncommon that her reputation precedes her, as many residents will refer others to the stacks for information, but it still comes across as something of a novelty.]

Evelyn O'Connell. You're Peggy Carter.

...I am growing so very vexed with being recognized at every corner. [ she wets her lips. ] But I take it you've met me during some other sojourn here. Because the fellow who told me about the librarian would have mentioned it if you were from home.

[ like the others who have recognized her. ]

I've met another version of you, yes. Although I was first introduced to you through conversations with Steve.

[Someone else Evelyn has not seen around these past couple of weeks. He manages to leave items with her and then disappears.

If it's permanent, she'll have to take another note down.]

[ there is a twitch of pain in her expression. quickly recovered, however. the announcement had gone out a day earlier -- and although the two hadn't been on ideal speaking terms, peggy can't ignore the scrape of regret and grief it had left on her heart.

but she can bury it under another coat of professionalism. ]

Another long-time resident. [ but not so long as six years. good god. ] You're the first person I've met here, Ms. O'Connell, who's known me from here rather than from home. Which makes me half-inclined to apologize for whatever impression I must have made.

[ she knows she's not always the friendliest creature. ]

Nothing onerous, I promise.

[There is an open wound there, and one she feels obliged to patch up, for both their sakes. Steve once told her that he believed they'd get on famously.]

But we can be introduced again. I...run the library, as you seem to know. Back home I'm an archaeologist. Most of my work is in Egypt.

Egypt! [ she echoes in that way people have of buying themselves a spare second before gathering their better wits about them. ] And archaeology. I imagine the two go hand-in-hand.

[ the job and the place. peggy presses her lips together. now would be a good time to reply with her vocation, only... ]

I'm afraid it's not so simple for me to reply in kind. [ ... ] How much did Captain Rogers tell you?

[ she puts that distance between them. ]

Enough, if that's what you're worried about. He wasn't excessively specific, but I am aware of the general outlines of your profession.

[Evelyn notices the difference, and has to wonder what happened between them to forego familiarity.]

[ evidently, it's news she doesn't want to hear -- if the storminess in her expression suggests anything. bad enough she needs must juggle the fact that there are people from some seventy years down the road who know who she is, but now it seems steve has gone and sold her secrets to strangers.

strangers to her at least. it makes her skin crawl; she feels the rope of the official secrets act tightening around her neck. ]

No. I suppose he couldn't be specific even if he wanted to. [ there's a great deal steve never learned. precautionary, of course. ]

I don't believe he was willfully trying to breach clauses of confidentiality.

[The tension suddenly ratchets up past the dial of comfort, and Evelyn can tell Steve made a grave personal error in sharing the boundaries of what Peggy Carter does for a living - not that it matters here, where these sorts of politics lines do not exist, but the sentiment is apparent.]

And while I understand your professional reservations, I hope it isn't too forward to say that the nature of your job is not exactly a high priority here. [A beat, and she tries to better soften her explanation.] ...what I mean to say, is that the disclosure won't put you or your organisation in danger.

[ the argument does not land well. peggy's considered it already -- been confronted with it, actually, given the nature of her 'future publicity,' but nevertheless there is an instinctive yearning to be as unknown here as she had been back home. her tetchy mood on the topic has been nursed and nurtured thanks to those who would too readily recognize her.

it's created a bruise, of sorts. and it's got nothing to do with the integrity of her organization's clauses of confidentiality. but peggy doesn't go out on a limb to explain that just now. after all, the woman is a stranger to her. ]

A yet it remains a priority to me. [ one wherein she'd rather not spread it around for personal reasons as well as professional ones. ]

[Evelyn can tell she's had a misstep almost immediately, judging by the tension she can pick up in Peggy's face. Evelyn herself isn't making a point of going out and throwing people's information hither and yon, but this is clearly a sore subject and she's trod all over it.]

I'm sorry.

[She states candidly, not wanting to be mistaken.]

I can't conveniently forget what he told me. But neither is this something I have any intention of sharing. I realise you have no reason to trust me, but I hope that someone as shrewd as you can tell I'm sincere.

Someone as 'shrewd as me,' as you've so flatteringly put it, also knows how easily sincerity can be faked. [ she's done it often enough herself. however! ]

But I'm prepared to take you at your word.

Edited 2017-10-21 01:58 (UTC)

[Fair point. But Evelyn can't lie to save her life, so...]

...thank you. [She thinks.] If...you do have any questions in the future, you know where to find me.

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[VIDEO] Wonderland Death Watch ☠

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