M e s s a g e 3 8

[curiousher]

[The first thing anyone sees, even before the person posting...is a little pig, in one of the tea rooms. It snuffles and sniffles and sweeps the room for signs of danger, and once it is satisfied it trots away.

Then in a blink, Alice is standing in the middle of the room, pig cradled in her arms. And for the first time ever on the network, her face has wide blue eyes. She's a bit frantic, but otherwise unharmed.]

I think I'm starting to get used to doing that on purpose... Ah, hello everyone! It's...been some time, hasn't it?

[Even Alice can't seem to hide the fact that it's rather awkward to suddenly have eyes when she did not before. The pig squirms and she lets it down, as she's discovered it's wisest to listen to what the Duchess' pig wants.]

I'm so sorry to interrupt everything, but I need to warn you all! Something-- something terrible is going to happen soon! I don't want to cause anyone alarm, but it may very well be the worst thing that's ever happened to you.

[It's all distressing, and Alice crouches down to the pig's level so she can play with it's ears absently as she talks. It lets her.]

I'm afraid I still can't explain how I know, and the details are...rather distressing. But I promise, I'd never lie to all of you! I could never!

[She's adamant about that much at least. Even if her message isn't clear, there's more clarity in the way she speaks about it - she understands the importance of these messages now, in a way she'd forgotten for so long.]

Please, everyone. Take care of yourselves this weekend. I think it may be all you can do.

Comments

video

[bravejemma]

[Jemma is pretty sure this might not be the worst thing that's ever happened to her, but she won't go so far to say that out loud. It could probably crack the top three, she wouldn't put it past whomever runs the show around here.

Oh well. At least the pig is cute.]

That's not terribly helpful advise.

video

[curiousher]

[The piglet is very, very cute. Perhaps that's what will help most in these trying times.]

I'm afraid I really haven't got better advice than that. It's the absolute best thing I can think to do at the moment.

Video

[didntknowbest]

I assume then, that you cannot share any of those details?

Well. Thank you for the warning anyway, at least. I will do my best to keep my family close and protect them any way that I can.

Video

[curiousher]

I...suspect they wouldn't be as useful as you think they might. It's rather complicated, and varied.

You're quite welcome though. I really do think that's the best thing you can do. Keep them close and be there for them. Perhaps there's something you can do to keep their minds off the horrible!

video.

[dramatic]

( normally mj deals with these announcements the way she deals with most things: a carefree, cheerful attitude that's borderline aggressive, a healthy dose of denial, and some sass to boot. but then the last event happened, and there was also the event after that, and now mj just sounds kind of tired and sad.

besides, peter helped alice with the whole eyes thing. she'd like to think not everyone here is evil. )

Are my friends just going to keep dying here? ( is that the level of terrible they need to prepare for? again? how does one prepare for that? )

video.

[curiousher]

[Alice understands, actually. She's been rather tired and sad lately too, and looks so when she replies.]

I'm afraid I can't make promises about that. Sometimes I think an event won't be so bad, and more people die than I ever would have guessed...but, sometimes events seem terrible and awful, and everyone pulls through somehow. But...I want to believe this won't be the sort where people die. It's a different sort of terrible, if that helps.

private;

[ofletters]

[ Sam wonders if this pig is one of the Duchess'... but, there's something more important on his mind at the moment. ]

Alice - is this about what we all talked about when we last saw you? ... In person?

[ Better to be vague, right? ]

private;

[curiousher]

Not quite, though thank you very much for asking. I've been...laying low since then, but I had a thought and had to come to you all with it. Something struck me, like things always do and...well. I wanted to make sure you got a proper warning this time, especially since so many of you helped me.

[She glances down at her shoes, a bit ashamed.]

I know I wasn't always the best at those before.

video

[postictal]

[The worst thing that's ever happened? Maybe it's memories. Maybe it's something - tailor-made, specifically, to hurt them. At least Alice remembers the point of giving warnings again. She's got a pig, though. And eyes.]

[That's new.]

Isn't that the, uh...Duchess's pig?

video

[curiousher]

It is! You've got two very good eyes!

[She scoops up the piglet again and kisses it on the back of the head.]

She gave me this lovely fellow for safe-keeping - my safe-keeping, specifically. And he's done such a good job so far!

[voice]

[scoutsniper]

[Yeah, keep your freaky eyes to yourself. ]

Worst thing that's ever happened?

Already fucking happened. Gonna have to try pretty fucking hard to top that.

[voice]

[curiousher]

[Wow, rude.]

Wonderland doesn't have to, you know. It isn't beyond making things happen a second time, or a third, or a dozenth. That isn't a threat by the way; it's simply the way things are. Things happen over and over and over and over and over again.

[Video]

[shslliar]

[He was just settling in, and now there's a big concern on the network.]

Uh, you know... We might be better off if we had some kinda clue of what we're dealing with here.

[He can't be sure this stranger is lying, but... This sounds dire.]

Can you say anything about it?

[Video]

[curiousher]

This is a clue! I know it's difficult to see it right now, but I'm actually being as direct as I can. I know it isn't a very specific clue, but I promise it is very much a good clue. My other clues, in retrospect, were not very good at all. This clue is a very, very helpful one though.

Or...at least it will be. It's rather difficult to explain.

( video )

[trabryu]

[ From the beginning of the transmission, Mondo's attention has been grabbed ー he's got to stay to the end and see what this little girl has to say. More than anything, the familiarity he feels towards those blue eyes bugs him so. Where has he seen them? More like, where has he seen her? Announcement of an upcoming event is usually done by the Queen's underlings, he assumes, so is she one of them?

The announcement, by far, is the least convoluted, the most straightforward, the kind that makes him feel a sense of discomfort, as well as resignation. They have always been pretty darned terrible, but to hear it being said to be the worst kind... It's hard to feel hope.

And yet it feels pretty different to the rest ー there's some kind of empathy in it, a tinge of concern. Mondo feels the need to start up a response, and so he does. ]

Who are you?

( video )

[curiousher]

[Often, she gives a playful answer to this question. "I'm not so sure today" or "I'm Alice, until I think of someone else I'd like to be". But in recent weeks Alice has realized, much to her horror, that she has not much been her self at all the last few years.

Not until her eyes were given back.]

I'm...I'm Alice. It's nice to meet you.

[not here.]

[theothermrgray]

[Dorian saw the message, but he didn't dare respond. This girl had all her senses now, it seemed... But what does that mean for the rest of us?]

[At least the cheshire cat was telling the truth.]

video.

[poppycock]

( it only takes short consideration of their last event to spark klaus' temper. his fist comes down on his table quite violently before he deigns to reply.

he usually doesn't, content to take in the messages, questions, and discussions quietly, knowing what little can be gleaned isn't worth his personal effort. today, however. ) Quite frankly I think we're all a bit tired of you and your fellows' incumbent excuses, vagaries, and barely contained glee at our distresses. ( klaus lifts a finger to alice. ) I suggest you find a detail or two to impart if you'd truly like to help, Alice.

[curiousher]

[The angry display actually scares Alice a little, and she startles. For a moment, she's at a loss for words.]

You...do you really think I'm happy that these things happen to us?! That everyone suffers so much and Wonderland doesn't care even the slightest about it? That we're forced to endure horrible things over and over again? Do you really think that I'm-- that I'm gleeful?

[Her voice tightens with every sentence, until she's sobbing outright by the end of it. She certainly doesn't look gleeful at the moment]

I don't want this. I don't want it for anyone...

video

[seasonforpeaches]

[taylor's been in wonderland for about a week now, and while a good handful of her questions have been accompanied with some vague answers, a good handful of questions is barely the tip of the iceberg for her.

and here she finds herself with several more:]

What's going on? Who are you...?

video

[curiousher]

[It's a much more loaded question for her than it ever was before, but Alice manages somehow.

(So long ago now, but Alice finally remembers what it's like to be New).]

I'm...Alice. Err, how long have you been here? Have you-- have any events happened since you got here?

[morethan084]

For not wanting to cause alarm, that's pretty much exactly what you're doing right now.

[curiousher]

I'm terribly sorry. I know it's all worrisome, and I'm sorry to break the peace, but...I think it's better to bring a warning than to let it surprise everyone.

video;

[choosetruth]

[Georgia had heard Alice had her eyes back, but there's hearing it, and then there's actually seeing it, and more, seeing the personality changes that come along side it.

This... could be a very interesting opportunity.]

I assume you can't be more direct than you're being about the event. That's all right. I've dealt with terrible things before, and I have no doubt I will again. I'm much more interested in what you may know about Wonderland. Do you have time to answer a few questions?

video;

[curiousher]

[She appreciates the understanding, and even though she's nervous it helps ease her just a little.]

I...I don't have much, but I could answer a few, I think. I'm not sure how much help I'll be, but I can try.

[Uncertainty comes not from unwillingness to answer, but time constraints. She's rather restless about that lately.]

video

[beardman]

["The worst thing that's every happened to you", she says.

Well shit.]

I'm no stranger to cryptic messages and the need for secrecy, but it's a bit easier to take care of yourself when you know what you're in for. There's nothin' else you can say?

video

[curiousher]

[She shakes her head.]

I really do wish there were more, but it varies so much, sir.

[video forever]

[mydude]

Oh my God. Why can't you people just tell us shit? What good is telling us it's gonna be the worst thing that's happened to us? Everything that happens here is the worst thing!

[Taako drags his hands over his face. Ughhhhh.]

[video]

[curiousher]

I don't know why everyone's so upset! I have told you. And not everything can be the worst thing or else it wouldn't be the worst!

[Some of these people are acting more like children than her!]

[Video]

[mypartnerintime]

You're a lot more like the Alice in the book now. [Max actually manages to look Alice straight in the face for once.] I'm so glad you have your eyes back.

[Video]

[curiousher]

Oh! I've heard some people say that before. I'm not sure if we're one and the same, but...thank you?

[It seems like a compliment anyway.]

And thank you again. I'm very glad as well, and very grateful.

[video]

[burntvideocassette]

[Oh! Eyes. Those are things she has now. Jay isn't sure he's seen her without them, but it sounded like Alphys had a hand or claw or whatever in getting them back to her.]

[She's a hell of a lot more coherent than the other residents he's heard so far.]

Is there anything you can tell us about how we're supposed to, uh...'take care of ourselves'?

[Well, that came out harsher than he intended. He's legitimately curious.]

I mean-- [Dial it down. She's just a kid.] Before it--it hits, 's there anything we can do? I mean, like, supplies, that sort of thing.

[video]

[curiousher]

[It's a good question, and she thinks about it for a moment.]

Not traditional supplies, I think. It's not the sort of dangerous you're thinking of. I meant take care of yourselves up here.

[She taps her temple.]

It's different for everyone. I like coloring for example, but someone else might spend some time in the library, or cook some food that makes them feel better. Maybe they spend time with people they care about, or maybe they need some time by themselves.

[video]

[deadshapes]

Hey there. You must be Alice, huh? I don't think I've had a chance to say hi before, so uh hi! Congrats on getting your eyes back.

[video]

[curiousher]

Thank you! And congratulations on keeping yours. Apparently that's more difficult than I imagined it would be!

[At least she has a sense of humor about it?]

ACTION;; 1/2

[powerofmabel]

[MABEL IS RUNNING LIKE HECK TO THAT TEA ROOM AS SOON AS ALICE STARTS BROADCASTING. It's possible that she barely listened to what WAS ACTUALLY BEING SAID, but that's why Dipper is here thudding right behind her. Also in attendance is Boris the boar, because of course this should be a Pig Party.]

Alice! [Mabel immediately tacklehugs her.] You're back! Where did you go? Are you okay? Is that the Duchess's pig?

[...Hi.]

ACTION;; 2/2

[krmvgivv]

Mabel! Mabel!

[Dipper is not as fast as Mabel and has to pause in the doorway to breathe for a moment before straightening and smiling at Alice.]

Hey, Alice.

[He has more questions, as always, but he can wait until Mabel's done with her reunion.]

video

[normandysbest]

[She just whispers something that sounds like 'motherfucker', but it's a testament that she's trying really hard not to swear in front of a kid that it's muffled at all.]

And you can't give us details... why?

video

[curiousher]

Because I've given you the most details I can. I know it seems hard to believe, but this is actually very specific.

[She sounds very certain of that much.]

I know it sounds suspicious, but...I promise, I wouldn't lie about this. I want to help.

video

[sciencelizard]

Alice!!!!

[Alphys is pressed like, way too close to the camera, so Alice can only see half her snout and one of her eyes, but she's obviously very excited.]

YOU'RE OKAY!!!

video

[curiousher]

Alphys!!!

[Alice does the same and presses her face right up to the camera.]

I am! And I've still got both my eyes, see?

[She shows one and then the other, just in case Alphys hadn't gotten a good look.]

[video]

[voidfished]

[Who... is this. Why is there an actual child on here she's never seen before, trying to warn her.

Her journal is already out when she answers, writing a headline for the day.]

What terrible thing? How do you know this?

[video]

[curiousher]

I'm afraid I'm not sure on either account. It's the most specific I can be, but...thoughts come to me sometimes, about Wonderland. I never used to make much sense of them, though I always felt compelled to come talk about them...this time, I wanted-- I need to be truthful about it, now that I can be.

[She folds her hands in front of her, lacing her fingers - polite, but determined.]

I want to do what I can to help, even if it isn't much.

Video

[moraloutrage]

Are you... Alice-kun?! [From what he's read and heard, it certainly seems to be her! But it's hard to focus on her when there's also the message she bears.]

Th-the worst thing that's ever happened to me?! Ah... I trust in your word, Alice-kun, even as I wish that a warning like that could be wrong! Is... is there anything else that you can tell us about this??

Video

[curiousher]

Ooo! I haven't heard "-kun" in a long time! It's sort of refreshing.

[She's been around a long, long time. This is hardly her first exposure to Japanese suffixes.]

I wish there were more I could tell you, though I think knowing that it's the worst might be the best thing I can say. It...might be good to find another place to stay, for a few days.

video;

[nomorules]

You're--Alice? The Alice?

<sub>[Ryuji had arrived in Wonderland a little too late to witness her in all her eyeless glory the last time she'd addressed the network, so to see the Alice in person throws off his intention to bawl some inventive cusses at that pig should it have started speaking.

He blinks, irritation forgotten in his wonder.]</sub>

You look like you fell right outta the books. _{[Or the books accurately depicted her, either/or.]} Wait up, what's the deal with all this doom and gloom?

video;

[curiousher]

I suppose I am, though I haven't much felt like it until now...

[How could she say she was truly herself before without any of the memories that made her her?]

I saw something. I...see things sometimes, about Wonderland. I didn't used to, but...I want to be able to help. It would be bad to lie about these things and hide them.

[fancylad]

[Take your time. Breathe. Talk with her as if she is a client. You know how to be professional. How to be polite. You know how not to panic. Or you're learning, now.

Breathe. And speak. Angus opens his eyes and addresses the camera primly.]

Hello, Miss Alice. My name is Angus McDonald, world's greatest detective. I've wanted to meet you for some time now. I'd like to ask you a few questions about your warning. Thank you, foremost, for letting everyone know. First, does it involve another resident in Wonderland? Or... I'm not sure resident may be the correct term. I mean, someone like, say, the Queen of Hearts, or... the Jabberwock.

[If his voice cracks when he says the latter's name, she probably didn't notice. He hopes she didn't notice.]

[curiousher]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Angus.

[And even with her restlessness, she curtsies. It's polite, after all.

The rest of his inquiry trips her up though. Color drains from her face in a way he might be familiar with lately.]

It...it doesn't, but. I don't think you've been here long. ...How do you know of the Jabberwocky?

[He speaks of it the way only people who have been trapped in Wonderland a long time speak of the Jabberwock. They speak in a haunted way, as though they've seen the beast and know its terrors. They learn to fear the creature.]

Has it returned?