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.

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Not even a Spider King?

[She has no way of knowing his secrets, not anymore - it's just a gentle tease about his clear crush on the lovely Spider Queen.]

He's very adorable, and the most helpful! I'm sorry to have worried you though. I'm...okay for now, but I won't be able to stay long, I'm afraid. I still don't want to be caught - not ever!

....not even that, no. She's the Spider Queen, and I'm- I'm not.

( Not in that same way at all. He doesn't see himself in the way he sees Mary Jane who is amazing and incredible. )

No, don't be sorry. I'm glad you're okay for now. I want you to keep being okay. I'm- I have super powers, but I know it's not- it's not anything against the strength of this place. I'd just do my best to keep you safe if you needed it, Alice.

Oh, thank you, Peter. I know you would, and it means a lot to me. I don't think there's much that can be done, but...I really do appreciate it.

[He's been nothing but kind to her, and he would be risking so much in protecting her. It's a very meaningful offer.]

I'll do my best too. To keep being safe, I mean.

That's the- that's the theme around this place. Not much that can be done.

( Being powerless. Peter doesn't like it. The lesson he learned when his uncle died was that if he'd just- if he'd just been responsible and acted, his uncle would have survived. There's no amount of acting in Wonderland that seems to change- change much of anything for anyone. )

I know you will. Just wish you weren't in so much danger, but I get that's nothing we can change.

Mm. I'm afraid so.

[Still, she forces up a smile anyway.]

It just means we've got to do our best in this nonsense world, that's all! Maybe things will change one day.

[She certainly hopes so.]

If you had the power to change things in Wonderland, what would you do?

( It's asked curiously with a little smile, hoping to cheer her up a bit. )

I think I'd give everyone a pet tarantula. ( He's joking. )

[She giggles at his suggestion, and wrinkles her nose a little bit. Tarantulas are nice enough, but she wouldn't want one.]

Hm...well first of all, Wonderland wouldn't take anyone's memories, no matter what. There's no good reason for that and it should be rather ashamed of itself. That, and...I think I'd make it so people could come and go as they pleased. Lots of people want to go back to their worlds, but some people don't have good worlds to go back to, or maybe they'd like to visit old friends.

( Peter smiles as she describes it all. He even laughs when she says Wonderland should be ashamed of itself. Heh. )

That does sound like it would be a much better Wonderland than the one we currently have. No losing memories, getting to choose to come and go. I'd love staying in your version.

M e s s a g e 3 8

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