entranceway | M e s s a g e 3 8

M e s s a g e 3 8

[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.

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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.]

[Alice isn't quite as quick at hiding herself just yet, though to be fair she wouldn't want to from Mabel anyway. She's startled when Mabel pounces her, but she hugs right back.]

I'm okay! I'm alright; I'm sorry I left so suddenly. And yes! yes, she let me borrow him for my safe-keeping.

[The piglet immediately goes over to sniff at all of the intruders in turn, including Boris. They're okay though, so it just sort of huffs about their secret place being invaded.]

Hello to both of you!

[Boris sniffs back and tries to look haughty and UNPERTURBED. ~~but why don't you like him pig-sempai.~~]

That's awesome! I knew anyone who liked pigs couldn't be as bad as everyone thought. [The Duchess is officially good people. And when she finds out this was Sam's doing, he'll be even better people than he already was.] Getting your eyes back must've really helped you- you're the first event announcement we've had that wasn't a riddle!

Why would the Duchess give you her pig? She doesn't seem like she's all that generous.

[He has so many questions.]

How did you leave? Not that we need a demonstration! [He waves his hands hurriedly before she can get ideas. He doesn't want Alice to leave Mabel like that again.] I guess this means you're still one of them, not one of us, huh?

She promised the Duke would keep me safe, and so far he's done an excellent job of it!

[Alice scritches the piglet's ears to calm him down a bit - it's okay! They're friends!]

I...I'm still not sure how to best answer that myself. It's all rather complicated and I haven't been able to make much sense of it.

[She gracefully flops to sit on the floor, and scoops up the Duchess' piglet into her arms. She is distressed, and distress is always good cause to sit on floors.]

When I lost my eyes...I hadn't noticed, but something happened to me. I became more connected to Wonderland somehow, and I didn't think anything of it at the time because I thought I'd always been that way. I could sense things that were coming, and I could make myself appear and disappear whenever I felt like it. Or, whenever it felt right, I suppose. There were plenty of times I wanted to but the moment simply wasn't right. It's difficult to explain.

[So difficult that sitting down just isn't enough and she flops onto her back, letting the Duke rest on her stomach.]

I don't want to be one of them, but I'm not sure I can be anything else anymore. Which is a shame, since I've finally started feeling like myself again, except now I've got this odd piece that doesn't quite fit into the Alice puzzle...

[Mabel joins her on the floor and pulls Boris into her lap so they're just two girls with baby pigs, talking about things.]

Wonderland craziness. [She nods sagely, though her expression grows a bit sad. It means Alice can't stay for very long and they'll still have to wait until she's able to come back.] I'm sorry, Alice. I wish we could just shove that piece that doesn't fit in somewhere, but that doesn't really make the puzzle look better. Believe me- I've tried.

[But they're getting a lot of valuable information here- Dipper can handle that part. Mabel is here to comfort her friend. She even reaches over to pat her leg.] The good news is, we won't let you forget yourself again.

We won't.

[Dipper's here for the information, but he's not going to forget that Alice is their friend. He sits on her other side, nodding stubbornly.]

Do you and the others... hang out? When you're not telling us we're all doomed?

It's alright. I know you would if you could. I really do appreciate everything you've done.

[She pats Mabel right back, and reaches over to awkwardly tap Dipper as well.]

Hm...not usually, though sometimes it happens. That's how I was given the Duke here after all!

[A pause though, as she considers his wording.]

I don't think you're doomed exactly. Whatever's coming will be the worst, certainly, but once you know what it is you can avoid it and ride it out until its over. But that's why it was so important to come tell everyone!

Maybe that's what all the announcements have always been so far... I mean, if you think about it- a lot of events are avoidable if we know what to expect. It's just sometimes we don't get the riddles.

[While she's talking, she awkwardly curtsies in front of the Duke and then kneels down to offer a hand for him to sniff. She's always wanted to touch the Duchess's pig. What did anyone expect?]

I don't know if I'd call them riddles exactly. Riddles generally have solutions.

[He isn't as pig-crazy as Mabel, so he just leans back, watching her.]

So... what do you do?

They could make more sense though...so many of them are mysterious for mystery's sake and that's just unnecessary.

[The Duke sniffs Mabel's hand and eventually concedes that she's not dangerous. Since she's not, he steps closer to demand scritches from her. Since Mabel's playing with the Duke, Alice decides this would be a good time to pet Boris - pig swap!]

Do you mean between events? [She has to think a bit, oddly enough.] Well. I spent a lot of time coloring while my eyes were gone, but...things are a bit different now. I have to keep away from Her Majesty as best as I can - she'll be furious when she realizes I've gotten my eyes back.

[THE BEST SWAP. Mabel is so delighted that she's scritching THE DUCHESS'S PIG AT LONG LAST that she can't help but make keening noises, while Boris is just happy to get attention.

She only stops making that noise when Alice mentions Her Majesty. That's one way to get her attention. There aren't many people in the universe that Mabel hates, but she is... second only to Bill.] She doesn't know yet? Hah! She doesn't look so smart now!

How long do you think you'll be able to avoid her?

[Dipper would like to believe it could be forever, but he knows better than to think that's going to happen. Sooner or later, there'll be a reckoning, and he just has to hope they'll be able to protect Alice when the time comes.]

I'm not sure....I avoided her on Mirror Side for nearly five years before she found me, but I lived inside the vents and I'd really rather not do that again if I can avoid it. It's not a very fun life.

[She certainly got very stealthy in those years though, so perhaps it wasn't all cobwebs and crippling loneliness.]

Yeah, I've gotten stuck in a few vents in my life, and I gotta say... Not as fun as the tunnels in restaurant play areas. Lesson learned.

[She shudders.] I just wish we could hide you under my bed or something. Then you wouldn't be lonely, and there's always stuffed animals and markers under there.

You sure you can't at least stop by and visit sometimes? [Dipper glances over at Mabel.] It'd be kind of nice to see you more than a couple times a year.

I do like stuffed animals and markers...

[She sighs heavily and sits up, finally letting Boris go back to Mabel.]

I'm really sorry. I wish I could, I really do. But...I'm still very much in danger, and if Her Majesty finds out you've been harboring me she'll have your heads too. You've been so kind to me, and I don't want that for you. Even staying this long is a risk right now.

[She clearly doesn't like it, but she tries to force a smile anyway.]

But...maybe that will change someday.

[Mabel abandons the Duke and throws her arms around Alice, knowing that she's probably going to have to go soon. She wants a proper goodbye this time.] It will change. We'll make sure of it. Wonderland's never had anyone like my brother and me.

[Dipper hesitates, then throws himself into the hug as well.]

We got your eyes back, didn't we? We don't give up.

[Alice hugs them both back, squeezing them tight.]

Then I won't give up either! Not that I would have, but-- it's good to know I've got friends to help me.

[She lets the hug go on a beat longer then she probably should, and then she finally stands up and brushes off her dress, and beckons the Duke over.]

We should go, I think. I'll try not to be too much of a stranger though, okay?

Thanks, Alice. We'll keep trying to figure out what's going on here- you just focus on staying safe.

[Mabel rubs at her eyes, trying not to cry. It's always hard to send a friend off- especially when it's to an uncertain fate.]

[Dipper puts a supportive hand on Mabel's shoulder, giving Alice an only slightly forced smile.] It's good to see you're doing so well, though. Be safe.

You too. Take care, both of you. I'll see you soon!

[Her control is getting a bit better, as she manages not to vanish mid-sentence this time just because she had the thought she needed to go. She smiles a little sadly and waves at them, with the Duke tucked in one arm, and then she's gone without a trace.]

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M e s s a g e 3 8

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