entranceway | 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

They really can be. I've met a hundred and fifty years' worth of boys here, and they usually are.

[Sigh. If only they were as sensible as girls.]

He did mention that you're wonderful though, and that seems a bit less silly to me.

( true dat, alice.

a tiny smile finds its way across mj's lips all the same. )

I guess he does have his moments. And it is kind of interesting that he was the one to end up with your crayons.

( wonderland seems to know he's pretty special, too. )

It is! I'm very grateful though. I know I used to be rather hard to find, so I'm glad they went to him. Everything worked out quite nicely.

[Now that she has her eyes back she wouldn't want it any other way.]

I hope so.

( mj worries about what happens backstage, but it doesn't make her any less relieved alice has her eyes back. it reminds her of her conversation with maggie, when she asked what mj would write about if she could. )

Hey, Alice -- I know stuff is going to go down, but do you think we could talk later? I'd like to learn more about you, if that's cool.

I'd like that very much, MJ. We'll certainly meet again, and you can tell me all about your spider monarchy - or, the real you I suppose. I'd like to hear about that too.

[She really does seem as wonderful as Peter described, so Alice is sure she'd love to get to know her.]

Awesome. My room is on the sixth floor, 28. Next time you get a chance, just come on by. I'll have cookies.

( it's surreal to her that she's having this conversation with alice. alice in wonderland. mj in wonderland.

what a trip.

worrying her bottom lip with a blunt row of teeth, she adds. )

And be careful.

Thank you very much - and don't worry. I'll be the most careful anyone's ever been, I promise.

[She has to be, after all.]

M e s s a g e 3 8

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