entranceway | I. video/action (dated to the dawn of July 23rd)

[ The video opens in darkness, the only sound to be heard the gentle movement of waves lapping against the shore. However, the very moment a tinge of light begins to creep over the horizon, a Voice begins to sing.

It is a Song the likes of which few have ever heard before. It rises as the light grows stronger, swelling with the tide and soaring as a bird may fly. It resonates in the air as well as the earth, a happy sound that could make even the most solemn of men dance to its melody.

The brightness of the morning spills over the waves, glistening with the newness of day. The Song crescendos finally as the sun peaks in the sky, only to diminish and fade into the sounds of the sea.

A few moments pass before the Singer finally appears. Great paws, golden and velveted all, appear first as he steps into view. A large, shaggy lion pads silently to the water edge, the breeze rustling its mane.

He stands there for a little while before turning and walking down the beach. ]

[ ooc: Please have a look at Aslan's PERMISSIONS POST before tagging! Aslan will be wandering around the beach as well as the outside part of the grounds all day. Feel free to run into him! He will respond to this video as well. Also, if you think your character might be able to detect/discern Aslan's true nature, feel free to have them do so! ]

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[ A low, thoughtful hum, almost a rumble, sounds over the device. ]

We shall see.

[ There will always be someone who wants to complain so more than likely, he shall do as he pleases anyhow. ]

[Susan, like all people who had ever heard the phrase 'we shall see' knew that, roughly translated, it amounted to: 'I intend to ignore whatever you just requested entirely.' She arched a brow, but now that she was more awake, she settled for bristling slightly rather than making continued demands. When she spoke again, her voice was deadpan.]

I'll certainly appreciate any effort.

[Which was to say: I expect you are going to be contrary for the sake of it and I will react accordingly. Whether that reaction involved ignoring the Song of Everything on a regular basis or glaring at a lion until one of them snapped, it was hard to say.

Ironically, she would have to see.

Unfortunately, now she was awake and since there was no undoing that, there was no sense continuing to harp on it. They were already chatting, so she might as well keep on until she felt motivated to dress and find a cup of tea.]

Given that I've not heard that in Wonder Land before, I assume you've just arrived. Has anyone given you the pamphlet or explained things?

[ Aslan is never contrary for the sake of being contrary! He simply does what he thinks and feels to be right, regardless of the perception of others. He isn't a tame lion, after all. ]

No explanation has yet been offered.

[ Though there are things he can discern by virtue of being what he is, his tone says he'll not object to such. ]

My exploration of this world is not yet complete.

[Well, that was a cryptic and comfortingly passive way to say: 'No'. Susan wasn't fond of roundabout conversations, but she resigned herself to more of the same and forced her expression even. Apart from waking her up and being generally cryptic, he'd done nothing to deserve contempt. If he kept up with the early-morning renditions of Creation Song, then it would be another manner, but until then, a talking lion was hardly the strangest or most abrasive thing she'd ever encountered.]

Well, if you explore with any speed, it'll be complete soon enough. This Reality is rather limited in size.

[The video jarred slightly as Susan sat up properly. Her default posture was ramrod straight and unyielding, it explained quite a lot about her. She didn't bother to smooth out her hair (for a great array of reasons, not the least of which being that she was talking to a lion), but it seemed intent on arranging itself into a bun, with or without her help. She ignored it as she continued.]

You've arrived in a Magical pocket dimension...of sorts. There are information pamphlets lying about, if you can find them, but the most common questions all have very dismal answers.

There is no escape, no contact with the places beyond this Reality, and on a semi-regular basis this place inflicts some sort of Magical Inconvenience on the lot of us, just because it can.

[ He listens, quite intently in fact, to what Susan tells him. Some of it he can discern for himself if for no other reason than before he is here and (at present) unable to leave.

Or at least, he has found no readily available means to do so besides attempting to tear the fabric of this reality. That isn't something he intends to risk.

He rumbles softly -- a thoughtful hum. ]

A curious construct.

[ Indeed, even in his many years, he's not seen its like. Or at least, nothing so grand in scope or powerful enough to hold him. ]

What do you make of it thus far?

[Susan thought about her answer for a moment. The abrupt silence would have been somewhat rude, and she would have avoided it, had she been talking to a normal person. Seeing as she was talking to a Lion (and probably a Mythical one, at that), she didn't see the point in worrying about awkward silences.]

I don't like it.

Apart from the Events and the local Monarchy, it's all too Magical to be as Real as it is. Whatever's made this Wonder Land has got control over far too many vital forces. Certainly, the rooms are comfortable enough, and the food is alright, but I don't like it when someone else can go about playing silly buggers with death.

[Susan shook her head, in the way of curmudgeonly nannies everywhere.]

It's got too much Power, and anything that can manage all this and still goes about snatching people up? Well, it's up to Something.

[She just barely caught herself before she appended that with: Mark my words.]

[ He listens, and overall, he finds her evaluation sound. Narnia was not without its more magical, mysterious places, but there has always been order there -- an order designed by himself and the word of the Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea.

There is much less of that here, and he finds it odd. ]

It may very well be so.

[ Whether it's true or not, it bears investigating. ]

Have you explored the matter?

[If there was one thing that Susan knew, down to the very core of her being, it was that conversations involving the phrase 'explore the matter' were bound to go in one direction, and only one direction, and were best dealt with as soon as they cropped up.]

No.

[Her answer was polite, firm, and brooked no argument or commentary. It was exactly the sort of 'no' that carried the unspoken rider: '...and I don't intend to do it just because you've asked, but if I do, it will be on my own time, so don't bother hinting that I ought to.'

Oddly enough, despite the length and relative specificity of that subtext, this was probably the most common flavor of the word 'no.' ]

Others may have. I suggest you ask around.

I. video/action (dated to the dawn of July 23rd)

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