entranceway | say it ain't so (video)

say it ain't so (video)

[ When Liv appears on the screen, she's in a nice off-white sweater with a hint of gold sparkle to it, full face of makeup and nervously smiling. She gives a wave, then lets out a breath she's been holding. ]

I have a confession. And some of you know. Some of you who know me don't know, and everyone else...

[ She pauses, looking down a little. Is this the right thing? Hell if she knows. It's not like she's in a place the size of Seattle. Maybe now's the time to just come clean. ]

The rest of you don't need to know but uh...at this point if someone found out by word of mouth I feel like it'd suck more, so.

My name is Liv. I've been living here since the summer. And...I'm a zombie.

[ She pauses for a beat. ]

Obviously from a different zombie world than the rest of you. I'll answer your questions now: Yes, I eat what you think I eat but the closet provides it for me. I only act like the maniac you'd expect when I'm hurt unexpectedly and then I'm super strong and just kind of...grunty. But I can help, I do help. I've saved people. I've died here. Yes, I'm technically dead right now, but I still look great?

I guess those are the hard-hitting questions. If you have any others I'll be here to answer them.

Please don't try to kill me. I'll just come back.

So I guess that's it. Now you all know, and I can breathe easier. Ish. Well, not breathe. Whatever, you know what I mean.

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[And that is exactly where he was going to go next with the hundreds of questions running through his head right now.]

How did you know? That you were... you know... I can't imagine that would have been an easy thing to accept.

Great question. Uh, I woke up in something called a body bag, not sure if you have those where you're from, but it's when a medical professional finds your body and you aren't breathing and have no pulse. They don't put you into those bags just for fun. It's so the body is contained while you carry it away.

[ She clears her throat. ]

And what really clenched it was staying up for a month straight without sleeping, having no heartbeat, and never needing to breathe. Like, those were all pretty big clues.

[ She should be less blase about it, probably and she takes his last few words a bit more seriously. ]

It wasn't. And I convinced myself I was a monster. I lost my fiance, my mom, my brother. My job. I didn't really know what to do for a while. Being dead really blows, I don't recommend it.

I figured that.

[He would very much like to avoid being dead at all costs, thank you very much. So far, he's managed to escape the minor scrapes with death that he's had and he'd like to keep it that way.]

Did your family know? That you were alive, I mean. It must not have been an easy thing, if it were the case.

[ Liv actually goes quiet at that and looks down, clearing her throat. ]

Uh, no. We don't really talk anymore. I mean, they thought I survived the accident I was in. But I didn't want to tell them I was...this. [ A monster. ]

Then my brother got hurt and needed blood from someone to live. I was the only match but my blood would have made him turn into this, too. So I refused and now no one in my family wants anything to do with me anymore.

[ So, there's that. ]

But I do have really good friends. It makes it easier to deal with.

[Killian is curious to ask more, especially that part about her brother. What had happened to him after she couldn't give blood? Did they find someone else, or did they have to say goodbye to him, too?

Those are the questions he won't ask.]

I'd lost my family, too. A long time ago. Not quite in the same manner, but...

[That sad sentiment is there. This is his attempt at making her feel better about it.]

How's the saying? Friends are the family you choose.

But you understand what it's like to lose people.

[ Her face is sympathetic, and for a second she casts her eyes downward. It does help, to know other people get it, even if it's not exactly the same. When she looks back up, she smiles softly. ]

Seems like you're not in short supply of that here. General you, not specifically you. Although, I know you do have people here. Are they family yet?

[He mirrors her expression with a returned sympathetic and gentle smile. If he was the reason for hers, then he knows he at least did something right. He's trying. Liv's question takes him a bit by surprise, though.]

Not quite. I suppose it'll take a lot more than Wonderland to bring together a princess, an evil queen, and a pirate. I'm afraid it's not so simple.

You realize, all on its own, that sentence is more incredible than almost every other story in this place?

[ Now, her smile is a little brighter. ]

At least you're not enemies, right? I mean, I don't know if you are or not but it'd be nice, at least, if you had people you could count on even if they aren't family.

I probably sound bloody mad to anyone else.

[When he puts it that way, surely. He can't imagine how Henry would explain his family tree for a school project... and there's that joke in there somewhere about complicated Thanksgiving dinners ~~even though he has no idea what that is~~.]

I suppose you're right, although settling our differences is a more apt description. Past relationships tend to complicate things a bit.

[A beat for a laugh.]

Have your friends had the fortune of being Wonderland guests of honour as well?

Honestly, everyone here has a weird story. I promise there's one here weirder than your own.

[ Hers, maybe? But there's definitely even weirder than that. ]

Friends from home haven't made it here for me yet. It's been almost a year, so I'm trying to distract myself by meeting as many people here as I can. And lying by omissions, hiding it, was starting to get exhausting.

That certainly is something to get off one's chest, I'll give you that. Least you're making the best of your time here.

[He's not sure what he would do in a situation like that – being stuck alone in a Wonderland he isn't familiar with. Even the one he is acquainted with would have been dreadful, no word of a lie.]

I hope that people aren't taking the news so harshly?

It's actually going a lot better than I thought it would. Only one person casually mentioned he'd stock up on weapons, but even he relaxed a little by the end, so I'm feeling okay about things. And some people have offered to protect me, so that's nice, too.

[ She honestly didn't realize so many people would care, leaning toward the positive interaction side of things. ]

Glad to hear it.

[He chuckles under his breath, and he mulls over an answer.]

There isn't much I can offer in the way of protection, or weapons, but if you ever feel like getting away for a while, I can offer up my ship. It's doing me no good sitting docked collecting dust. I've yet to take it out to see how she fares on Wonderland's... open waters.

[He uses the term 'open' pretty loosely...]

Are you offering to let me on board your ship to see how far you can sail? Are you asking me to be your prettier, younger Smee?

[ She's assuming there's a Smee somewhere even in this Captain Hook's life and if not, she'll just explain. ]

Because, if so Captain Killian, I'm totally in.

[ She should probably have some fear of water and boats-slash-ships considering how she died, but it's not like that combination of events is likely to happen again. And if they do, well, lucky for her she's already dead. ]

I'd refrain from calling yourself that if you can help it.

[She doesn't want to be a Smee, trust him on that one.]

But it's an offer that you shouldn't pass up. It won't last for long. Although, I'm not sure I'm as inclined to find out how far I can sail away from land. A few conversations have given me reason for concern.

I totally want to go on the Jolly Roger. Just tell me when to be there.

[ She looks excited, already planning outfits appropriate for being on the open water. ]

Aye, you'll be hearing from me soon!

[She better be dressed for the occasion! If she wants to be a pirate, she'll have to look the part! He gives her one final salute with his fingers, and the call ends there. He's getting better at ending it when he says his farewells... there's less of a delay compared to his last attempts!]

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say it ain't so (video)

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