Video - Day 6

[curiousher]

Excuse me! Excuse me, everyone! This is very important and I need everyone's attention!

[Alice waves both of her hands, as though she's trying to attract a crowd on a street instead of record a message. For those who've just returned, her eyes have been restored.]

Has anyone else received one of these? This is what was in my calendar today and, hold on--

[She fumbles a bit, but she grabs a jar with a glowing, swirling light inside and holds it up so it can be seen easily.]

These jars, I haven't seen many of them before. If you open one up, it's got-- there's a memory in there! I wanted to make sure everyone knew, because I know I'm not the only one missing things. I can't believe Wonderland would just give them away like this!

[There is absolutely no way to contain her excitement whatsoever. She knows exactly the value of what she's received, and her message quickly turns from helpful information to absolute giddiness.]

I wonder what's in here? Maybe I've got parents! Or another cat! Maybe I grew up on an island, or a tall mountain! What if my name isn't Alice? What if I've got a memory of being a Henrietta, or an Eloise?

[Even so, she hesitates. She doesn't know what's in this jar, what she's going to get back. Is it a good thing? What if it's something terrible?

Still, she has to know. So, in front of the entire network, she opens her memory jar. A bright light is captured by the camera, blinding the scene for a moment. Something shatters, presumably the glass jar hitting the floor.

And then it dims, slowly, slowly, and Alice is there again. Crying, with her hands covering her mouth from the shock.

At that moment, the camera abruptly flickers off.]

Comments

[agemofchange]

[Steven watches the feed as it's live, while chewing on some candy!

The message had seemed innocent enough at first. If also concerning, because mysterious presents like that from Wonderland are inherently concerning on some level.

He was prepared to advise her to... maybe not open it right away. No need to rush to it! But then, It happens. He watches as Pandora's bottle is opened and recoils at the blinding light. Some pieces of candy are spit out as Steven grips his device in the atfermath.]

Alice??! What happened? Are you alright?!

[curiousher]

[It's several minutes until a reply comes. Her face is still wet and she still looks shaken, and she's elected to sit on the ground against her bed, but she's on the screen at least.]

I-- I think so. I think I am.

[She says it twice, as if trying to convince herself.]

Something came back to me, and...it's a lot to think about so suddenly.

[agemofchange]

[When her reply comes, Steven is still looking into his screen and gripping his device tightly, his features etched with concern.

"I think I am." She doesn't sound too convincing.]

You remembered something? ...If it's a lot, then just... just take a deep breath and make it a little. Take it a little at a time. [Whatever it is, it must be overwhelming. He tries to be calm in guiding her through this... whatever this is.]

[curiousher]

A little at a time. ...Okay.

[Her voice is tiny, but she does as she's told. She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. It helps her hold onto the picture in her mind, so she can paint it for him.]

I was...on a boat, on a river. A rowboat. I think it might have been in the summertime? It was nice. I remember it was nice...

[She trails off, and then peeks her eyes open so she can count something on her fingers.]

I think there were five of us? Some parts are still fuzzy. There was a man rowing; I can't remember who. Then me, and two other girls? I...I know I knew them, but I still can't quite think of how or who they are. So them, myself, the rower, and...and Mr. Dodgson!

[agemofchange]

[Steven might have read the original Alice stories when learning about Wonderland, but he never actually read or learned about the history behind them. So what she describes all sounds new to Steven. Either way, he listens patiently, but with full attentiveness, trying to absorb every detail.]

Sounds like a full boat! [He chimes a little lightly in response. He wonders who any of them could be.] ...Mr. Dodgson? [That's a new name for him, only being familiar with the name's pseudonym. But if that's a name that sticks out to Alice, then it may be something important.]

[brainmeme]

[UHHHHHHHHHHHH?????? That looks similar-ish to the jar Peridot had, which immediately sets off about twenty alarm bells in Amethyst's head, but the actual opening of it is way more immediately dramatic.]

Hey, wait! What did you remember? Is it a Wonderland thing or a, uh, home thing?? Also, you have lovely eyes!?

[curiousher]

[The eyes comment is unexpected, but it helps. It catches her by surprise, and makes her laugh a little bit.]

Um, thank you?

[She wipes her face, trying to dry her tears with her arm.]

It was from home. ...Something I haven't thought about in a long, long time. Or, someone I suppose? Someone and something.

[brainmeme]

[She didn't really expect that to help, but, hey, looks like Amethyst can do things right sometimes!? Mostly on accident. She's still learning.]

Oh. Uhh. Glad it... worked like you wanted, sorta.

Do you... wanna talk about it?

[curiousher]

It's a bit silly, but...I think I'd forgot what it's like to remember things? I've only remembered my cat Dinah for so long, but this struck me! Right in the face!

[She punches her palm, for emphasis!]

Except this time it wasn't a cat, it was an entire person!

[brainmeme]

Oh. Well, at least it didn't break anything.

...You really didn't remember anything else at all, huh?

[video]

[adaptiveimmunities]

[Shaun's eyes are wide as he watches this.]

...Hey, Alice. You okay?

[video]

[curiousher]

I think so.

[A pause, as she considers reconsidering. It did leave her crying, and now sitting on her floor, so maybe she's not? But ultimately, she nods.]

...Mm, I think I am. The muchness was much-ier than I thought it might be.

[video]

[adaptiveimmunities]

[That was an especially "Alice" way of putting things.]

Yeah. Sometimes the past can be pretty overwhelming, even when we think we're ready for it.

[video]

[curiousher]

It really can.

[She frowns, trying to think of a clearer way to say her words.]

It wasn't...bad though? It wasn't. It was a good memory of a very good person at home. Oh, I think I made everyone worry from crying so much though...

[She wipes her eyes and laughs a little, but it doesn't quite stop it altogether. at the very least, she's trying!]

[video]

[adaptiveimmunities]

Yeah, well, happy things can make us cry sometimes, too. And it's okay that we were a little worried. I'm just glad you're okay.

ACTION 1/2

[krmvgivv]

[If you think the Pines twins are gonna sit idly by when their girl Alice is crying, you have another think coming.]

ALICE?

[Dipper's voice is followed by a thump as he attempts to kick down the door to get to her and fails utterly.]

Ow.

2/2

[powerofmabel]

MOVE OVER, BROTHER.

[Mabel literally just goes full Jackie Chan on that damn door, taking a running leap and just kicking it so hard, the frame cracks and it falls inwards awkwardly Mabel just keeps going.] Alice?? What happened?!

[curiousher]

[Alice is on her bed and crying some more, now that the camera is off and no one else can see, when a thump on the door startles her. Perhaps she should have expected the door crashing to the floor after that, but she still looks a bit shocked when it happens.]

Mabel! Dipper!

[She tries to wipe her eyes, but it doesn't really hide what she's been doing, and just the fact that they ran to check on her makes more tears well up.]

I-I remembered something! Or someone rather, someone really important from home! I can't believe I forgot him for so long...

[krmvgivv]

[Dipper follows Mabel and takes a seat on one side of Alice, putting a hand on her shoulder.]

Wanna talk about it?

[powerofmabel]

[Mabel takes the other side and just clings to her.] It's not your fault. Wonderland took your memories, but, hey. Now you remember, and if we gotta scrapbook this guy to immortalize him forever, we'll do it.

[mothmansplaining]

That's what that is?!

...Alice, are you -- are you going to be all right?

[curiousher]

[Alice has been adjusting to the new information, and more than a bit weepy, but she manages up a smile.]

That's what it is! And oh, I'll be alright once all the tears come out. I'm-- there can only be so many in here, right? Otherwise I might cry for days!

[She'll just ignore that that's not how biology works at all. But it sparks a thought that makes her giggle, though with the tears it's more of a choked noise.]

Mr. Dodgson would tease me for it. He's such a literal man. If he could see me now he'd...he'd say "Cry for days! Now Alice, that's simply not possible! If you cried for days you'd fill this entire room up with tears and wash out to sea!"

[By the sound of it though, it wouldn't bother her. She'd love to hear his voice again.]

[mothmansplaining]

[On the one hand: he likes Alice. She's important to the family, Dipper and Mabel especially, and she's remembered something important to her. On the other, he needs to get to Stan. He doesn't know if he'll lose his chance if he delays.]

Have Dipper and Mabel been to see you?

[curiousher]

Not yet, but...I'm sure they will. They're very kind like that. I've probably gone and worried them with all this crying!

[They are literally on their way. They will be knocking down her door at any moment.]

[mothmansplaining]

....

[hrrrrf]

I'll be back to check on you. But first, there's something I need to do.