entranceway | [VIDEO]

[ She'd spent her first couple of days lingering in the shadows. Not hiding or lurking, really, and maybe there's a chance you've seen her around, but she did her best to play observer -- to get a feel for the place and the people here. She goes into this skeptically, and by nature it's just hard not to, but it isn't long until she realizes Wonderland's residents are a lot like her.

It becomes a series of questions she needs to answer: who are they? Where are they from and what have they left behind? (And most importantly, because of what she's left behind, why are they here and how do they get back? She isn't satisfied with anything she is finding on that particular subject.)

For a moment, she is out of frame, cursing silently under her breath as she checks the device in her hand to make sure the video feed is on. Lois adjusts the device, holding it out so that her face is now in frame. ]

Okay. Okay. Here we go.

[ She coughs, clearing her throat, and runs her fingers quickly through her hair to tuck her hair behind her ears. Lois manages a pretty impressive "on air" presence, even if she's always been a little more interested in seeing her byline on the front page than she was in being on camera. ]

Hello, Wonderland. From the looks of things, you've all had a... rough week.

My name is Lois Lane and it looks like I will be joining you for the interim. I was hoping there would be a few of you willing to... share your experiences. Maybe help me fill in some blanks here?

We can communicate through... uh, this -- [ She shakes the device a bit, the video going a bit Blair Witch Project for a second. ] -- thing, but I am open to meeting in person for a cup of tea or something, if you'd prefer.

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Ms. Lane. Come in.

[Georgia stands up, closing her laptop and holding it to her chest with both hands. It seems like the most likely way to avoid a handshake.]

Would you like something caffeinated? We've got coffee, tea, and Coke.

[The office is messy in that clearly in use sort of way. There's a couch, a few desks, a minifridge, and many, many servers. Just because they don't have an actual functioning blog to maintain doesn't mean they're willing to give up any processing power.

The other thing to note is that there are a lot of weapons lying around. There's a crossbow lying unloaded on the couch. Georgia has a pistol on her desk in easy reach. More weapons are in the open closet, along with some sets of heavy duty body armor. They're very clearly prepared to fight.]

[ She takes in the room as she enters and while the weapons raise a few questions, she's heard enough about Wonderland's little zombie problem to make just as many assumptions. This place isn't always magic closets and convenient tea rooms, after all.

Lois crosses the room to meet Georgia, arms folding over her chest. At the question, she pauses for a moment with a hum, considering her options and then smiles. ]

Uh, a Coke would be great, actually. [ And then, with another quick glance around the room: ] This is a pretty impressive set-up you've got going here. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but with everything I've already seen I probably shouldn't be surprised.

[ It's not the Daily Planet, obviously, but these kids clearly mean business. ]

Woman after my own heart.

[She smirks very slightly, then pushes open the mini-fridge by her desk with her foot. There's enough Coke in there to satisfy a small army. Or a single journalist. She pulls one out and offers it to Lois.]

We've been doing this a long time. Our site's one of the top rated of our world.

[ She steps forward, reaching out to take the can offered to her, and pops the tab. Lois brings the can to her mouth and takes a big sip. ]

Very impressive. [ Props where props are due, after all. ] You'll have to tell me all about it.

Happy to. But we can start with Wonderland before we venture into my extremely interesting world.

[She snags her own Coke, then takes a seat on the desk.]

I have articles going back a little over a year. I can fill you in on some stuff that happened before I showed up, but there was no regular news staff. Notes are... less than consistent.

Sounds good to me.

[ Lois takes a seat in one of the near by chairs, her legs crossed and the can of Coke in her lap next to a notepad she'd brought along with her. ]

Let's start with the beginning, then, hmm? Tell me what you know about this place and what you know of before your arrival.

Weird being on this side of the notebook for once.

[Then again, she'll probably have to get used to it if she ever gets back to her world. She takes a sip of her Coke as she considers her response.]

Like I said, I know a lot, but I doubt a timeline of events is what you want, especially when I've got written ones already available. What do you know already? Anyone given you the brochures?

[ There's just a hint of a smile as she flips though the notes she'd taken over the last few days, stopping on a page with an empty spot for her to fill. ] Oh, I'm sure. Personally, I prefer staying on this side of the notebook. I've always been much better at asking the questions than I am at answering them.

I've read a brochure. It helped me navigate things a little my first couple days here, but I guess I'm still trying to figure out what you can and can't trust around here

Some of the kids put together a slightly more in depth guide as well. It's surprisingly thorough.

[She opens a desk drawer and pulls out a copy.]

As for what you can and can't trust... that's a hard one. I'd say don't trust anything, but it's honestly not practical. Take everything with a grain of salt, but use what seems useful, I suppose.

The residents, though -- I just sort of assume everyone's looking out for themselves, and I'd get that, we all do it to some extent -- you've all become a community. It doesn't always work out that way.

[ Lois flips through the less formal, far more colorful "Guide to Wonderland." She skims through it, mostly, for the sake of keeping the conversation going. There's something charming about it, but that's just the kind of shit you come to appreciate when you have kids. She holds it up again. ]

Do you mind if I hold onto this?

Be my guest. I'm more interested in digital anyway.

[She just is aware that not all of her audience here feels the same.]

You really find that surprising? A lot of people have been here years. If we didn't build a community, we'd go insane.

[VIDEO]

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