( 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

[cursebreaking]

[Hey, it's sketchy, but it's mostly above board and it pays the bills.

She exhales slowly.]

He's twelve.

[Old enough to be independent in some ways, but not old enough to be on his own.]

[scathefires]

[Jason remembers all too clearly being twelve and entirely on his own, fending for himself on the streets of Crime Alley. No kid should have to do that.]

He's lucky to have a mom who cares. Which makes the assholes running this place pretty unlucky.

[cursebreaking]

I'd say that sums it up pretty damn well.

[She's a pissed off single mom who's not afraid to get her hands a little dirty. Whoever is responsible for this? They have no idea the kind of fight they just picked for themselves.]

I'm Emma.

[scathefires]

John. [Even though he's been thoroughly outed on his own network intro, Jason's stubbornly sticking with the alias.] If you do happen to track down who's behind this, I'd be happy to lend a fist or two. I hear they're real hard to find, though.

[cursebreaking]

John.

[She echoes his name, confirming, committing it to memory.]

If I do find them, I'll put you on my list of people to call for backup. I know I'm not the only one who wants to take a swing at them. They might be hard to find, but finding people is what I do best.

[scathefires]

Well, Emma, you're in luck, because hitting really hard is one of the things I do best.

[Right up there with setting explosives, making incredibly poor life choices, and never letting anything go. Ever.]

[cursebreaking]

Sounds to me like we're gonna get along great.

[If she has to be stuck here, at least it's with someone else who knows how to throw a punch.]