( one; voice )

[cursebreaking]

[Emma has read what information has been made available, she’s walked the grounds and the corridors of some of the mansion’s ground floor, and she’s combed through what public postings she could find to look through on the device she’d found in the pocket opposite of where she kept her own phone. She’s been digging for evidence since she got here, but what she’s found?

She’s not buying it. The message that comes through is voice only, not wanting to reveal her face or her exact location right away-- though she’s pretty damn sure that whoever’s responsible for this is watching her and has a good idea of where she is, if not who.]

Look. I know someone is out there listening.

[She doesn’t know exactly who, but someone.]

This game of yours? I’m not interested. I don’t know how you got me here, or how you set all this up. Maybe it’s some messed-up alternate reality game, but I didn’t opt in for any of this. I don’t care how elaborate it is, or how much work went into it-- my kid is at home waiting for me, and I am not screwing around.

[Her tone is hard, angry rather than anxious, determination winning out over uncertainty.]

‘Wonderland.’ Cute, but I’m not impressed. All I want is for you to point me towards the exit. You can do me a solid and we can do this the easy way-- or we can do it the hard way. Trust me, whatever weird stuff you might be into, I can promise you won’t be happy if we go that route.

[She stays on the line, just to wait for any kind of possible response-- but she doesn’t really know what to expect. This entire thing has her out of her depth, even if she’s not willing to admit it.]

Comments

Re: voice

[directed]

Oh, certainly. I felt much the same skepticism when I heard of it all, and I learned it from someone whom I trusted.

[Rip hasn't forgotten that first day, even long after--and given that in terms of Wonderland itself, the anniversary is coming up, it's been on his mind a fair bit lately.

Still, he's been through the explanation enough times now to understand that however impossible it seems, time and experience would prove the seeming truth of it. So it's gone with near every discovery in history, including that of time travel itself.]

Agreed, but as I said, those of us imprisoned here currently lack the means to control it. For now, I'm afraid we are all of us trapped here.

[cursebreaking]

[She grimaces. 'Someone he trusted'-- was that even possible in a situation like this? They've all been kidnapped, elaborate as it is. How can any of them know who to trust?

She's never been great with offer her trust in the first place, to be perfectly honest.]

Forgive me if I don't take your word for it. I appreciate the attempt to help and all, but that's just not how I operate.

[directed]

[Difficultly when it comes to trust is something they do indeed have in common--and it makes Rip's next reply a rather easy one to offer.]

Oh, there's nothing to forgive. By all means--do what you need to in order to satisfy your suspicions. [It would be all the better if this woman did stumble across something. After all, Rip's got no idea what she's ultimately capable of.] Although I would pay attention to the warnings you're going to be offered. Whether you believe them or not, there's wisdom in being prepared.

[And Wonderland would prove itself. This woman may be capable of great things indeed--but Rip has seen all too well just how the world they're now in can trump even the most powerful among them.]

[cursebreaking]

That much, we can agree on.

[She's stubborn, but she's not necessarily reckless. She gets things done, but she knows how to take care of herself in the process, and she's not interested in making herself easy pickings for whoever is in charge here. They may have dragged her this far, but as far as she's concerned, their luck had run out.]

So far, you're one of the few sensible people who's responded.

[directed]

Perhaps--but as insistent as most others are on what they're trying to tell you, their intentions are no doubt good. You'll find the vast majority of those trapped here are quite willing to offer help and aid when the time calls for it.

[Certainly Rip has seen as much, even if the motivations and the brand of assistance put forward may vary from person to person.]

Plus, most people don't tend to appreciate being threatened, although yours was quite a bit more subtle than some. We've had more than one person threaten to burn down the place in recent memory. Or blow it up.

[cursebreaking]

I'm not about to set anyone on fire, but I find being firm tends to get results.

[Her threats hadn't been immediately violent, but there was certainly potential for that if it turned out that Henry's safety truly had been jeopardized.]

All I want at the moment is to know that my kid is alright, but trusting the crazy stuff that people are trying to sell me on? Sorry, that's just not happening right now. It's not enough.

[directed]

An understandable position, to say the least.

[He knows it all too well: the pain of loss that this woman hopes to avoid. It’s why he answered, and equally why Rip does not begrudge her that sense of distrust.]

And I am sorry. I’m rather afraid that “crazy stuff” is going to be the consistent answer you receive.

[It won’t satisfy any more than it makes sense—but Emma has no more choice about it than any of the rest of them have had.]

[cursebreaking]

In that case, maybe I'll just stop answering.

[She feels like that may be the best way to go, here.]

I'm kind of at capacity for that today.

[directed]

It might not be unwise.

[A touch rude, maybe, but Rip's not the sort of person to be overmuch concerned with that.]

As a final note, contrary to any rational or healthy coping mechanisms, there are numerous bars in the mansion. I rather like the one on the fifth floor myself; it's got a quieter atmosphere than the other two, generally speaking.

[cursebreaking]

Depending on where the rest of my day takes me, I may very well end up there before the night is through.

[But not until she's scoured every inch of this place for her son.]

Appreciated.