entranceway | ✥ video .005

[ Chloe is sitting at her desk with the camera propped up in front of her, and she looks wholly uncomfortable, which is par for the course whenever she addresses the network. She takes a deep breath, speaking with an even tone, clearly having rehearsed what she's about to say quite a few times. ]

Hi, everyone. If you don't know me, my name is Chloe Decker. I've been in Wonderland for almost two years, and before I came here I was a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. For the last few months I've been running the Deux Lux bar and nightclub, so if you don't know me personally, maybe you've seen me there. That's, uh, not really the point of this, though.

[ She clears her throat and pushes her hair over her shoulder, trying to get back on track. ]

I'm not closing down Lux or anything, but I've come to terms pretty recently with the fact that I'm always going to be a cop. About a year or so ago someone put together a guard to help protect people who had died multiple times in Wonderland. That person has since gone home but I always thought it was a good idea, and even though our relationship with the Mirrorside has seemed to change a little since last year, I think the concept is still applicable. So what I'd like to do is talk about reforming something similar, a group of people who have experience that might be able to offer resources or even protection for those who need it, especially during the more chaotic events.

And even outside of them, when necessary. Some of you are probably aware of an incident that occurred last year involving one of our own being murdered, and I don't think I'm the only one who felt helpless to do anything during that situation. I don't plan on laying down any law here... For the most part, I've learned we take care of each other as best we can. But I do think there is a basic code that needs to be upheld and that is one of decency towards each other, and for me, that means letting the people I care about know that they have somewhere to turn when they need help. I think this idea could help with that, whether it be organizing rescues or safe areas during events, or developing some kind of due process when someone is doing active harm to our community.

[ The part of the script she's more or less memorized is over at that point, so she presses her lips together and nods at the camera. ]

I'm open to suggestions, and volunteers.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'd, uh, I'd love any help that you could offer. What kind of experience do you have?

Intelligence. [It's the stock answer. Not a lie—Natasha certainly has the bona fides between her KGB training and her time at SHIELD. It's also comfortably vague and doesn't touch on the Avengers or the fact she's currently a criminal. Technically.]

Natasha Romanoff. Nice to meet you.

[ Chloe has enough experience to know that 'intelligence' is a code for very secret things, and a skill set that might prove to be useful. She doesn't see much of a point in being secretive in Wonderland, but she's not going to push it, either. ]

Nice to meet you, too. Intelligence could be more useful than you think. [ Mainly, when they are dealing with people who don't want to be caught. ]

Well, I wouldn't have commented if I didn't think they'd be at least a little useful. [Dealing with people who don't want to be caught. Uncovering information. And she's pretty good at hurting people all things considered, when it comes up.]

[ Her and Maze seriously need to be friends. ]

Fair point. Well, I'll make sure I find a place for you, uh, once I have any idea about how I'm going to organize all of this.

[They've done all right so far. Friends is a strong word, though.]

Have you had many volunteers? Seems like there's a lot of people around here with skills that would be useful.

And the personality.

I've had more volunteers than I've had people who need some protection. Which isn't a bad thing. The more capable people we can get on this, the better I'll feel about it.

So you're off to a good start. [It's an optimistic spin. Natasha doesn't envy the task of trying to organize those volunteers. Seems like it would be herding cats.] Though it's not surprising. Figure there's a lot of people who might need help who'll only know them once the event starts.

[ Chloe is definitely a little in over her head with this, but luckily she has just enough confidence to convince herself she can pull it off. ]

Exactly. The events here are so varied, there's been a few even I didn't feel exactly secure during. [ Probably not the best thing for her to admit, but she's not going to lie, either. ] If we can even out our expertise and have some kind of system, we might be able to get a leg up on events before they do too much damage.

Sounds good when you put it that way. [It's easy to picture problems in execution, though. Ways creating systems could fall apart or be subverted in events. Natasha considers the complications briefly.

In the end, it doesn't have to be perfect though.] It would have to be flexible. If we have a system for making safe spaces they can't be tied too much to the mansion itself, because we could end up in a prison or a bathhouse... who knows where else.

Still, if there was a way to advertise protection, it could go a long way.

That is definitely a logistic issue we'll have to get past. Hopefully, with enough people on board, we can get some ideas.

[ Her mouth twitches into a smile. ]

What are you thinking? A PSA?

Wouldn't be a terrible way to start. You could give people an idea how to find people who'll protect them.

[Which could make things difficult when the people who might protect them could also be the biggest danger depending on the situation, but it's still a start.]

Get things off the ground.

When you put it that way, it sounds like a great idea.

[ And at this point, she's open to anything. ]

I guess we'll have to take a look at who signs up and determine who might be the best public liaison officer.

Not up for the job yourself? [Chloe does seem like a fairly good face for an organization, but if she has reasons not to want that...] Are you looking for something in particular in your spokesperson?

I have the experience, but my days of being in the limelight are kind of behind me.

[ It's a little too close to acting for comfort, and Chloe moved on from that a long time ago. ]

Someone more well known around Wonderland would be a good start. Someone that people would be willing to trust. Likable, but still willing to be professional. You have any ideas?

I might know someone who fits that description. You'd have to convince him to do it through—could be tricky.

I can be pretty convincing when I want to be. And if it's a friend of yours, maybe that will work in our favor.

You may have a point there. [Well... they could all use something to do.] You know Steve Rogers?

Seen him around, but we haven't met personally. [ She raises her eyebrows. ] You think he could pull it off?

If anyone could, it's probably him. The real challenge would be getting him to agree to it.

[Because he would have other ideas, she's sure. Still, it's not unprecedented.]

Do you know him well enough to bribe him?

[ She's only kind of joking. ]

Oh, he's unbribeable. No blackmailing him, either.

But it's worse than that—hes'a friend.

That's worse?

[ Having friends is awesome, Nat, what are you talking about. ]

Maybe we could just say 'please.'

That just might work.

Let me know if it sways him.

✥ video .005

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