[ VIDEO | TEXT ] FIRST FORGE

[embellishing]

[VIDEO]

[The camera focuses on an amused looking Eames, who is standing in a hallway, looking over both of his shoulders at the mirrors behind him. He opens his mouth to say something, censors himself, then tries again.]

I’ve never been one to mind mirrors, but this might be a bit much, even for me. Is this the work of someone with uncontrollable vanity or is the wallpaper really so terrible?

[He would have thought he was dreaming, but his totem was shockingly real in his hands. He had ruled out kidnapping seeing as how there had been no one to gloat about his predicament when he had awoken nor did he believe he had managed to be killed and sent to some weird after life. But he wasn’t ruling out that this was some sort of elaborate prank. Whatever the case, the reasoning would sort itself out and until then he was going to enjoy the free food and board.

Then, having made his decision, he shrugged, smiling faintly at the camera.]

Well, I won’t kick up too much of a fuss if there’s a decent drink in this place.


[TEXT]

So far I've seen a fair share of the interesting aspects of this place, but I'd rather not experience the bad. Any words of warning? Other than standing too close to the closet and thinking of pole vault poles. Got me square in the gut, that.

Comments

[onsilksheets]

Before uttering another word she picks up her glass to take a sip from it, letting the whiskey burn. It was glorious. Definitely what she needed.

"You can die here." She lets that hang there for a moment. "Only it isn't permanent. You come back a day or so later."

[embellishing]

It would be odd if he didn't have any reaction to that, so Eames raised an eyebrow at her statement, especially the part about coming back. He took a slow drink, trying to reign in a succinct question that would get to the root of the matter, before setting his glass down gently.

"And that's that? No ill effects? No repercussions?" He had thought whatever had brought them here would want to keep them alive, to the point where they were unable to die.

[onsilksheets]

At least he wasn't claiming that she was crazy. Bela just had to be as tactful as possible when it came to discussing death in the context of wonderland. And honest too. Both of which were things she didn't do very often, if at all.

"Apparently, you only get five deaths. After that, I don't know what happens." She thinks about the time she died, but only for a moment- it wasn't nice to reflect upon. "I'd avoid death at all costs if you can."

[embellishing]

He took another swig of his whiskey, frowning slightly over the rim of his glass. While he would have said he wanted to avoid death at any rate, he didn't like the idea of there being a limit and that no one knew what happened afterwards.

"Is it that easy to die here?" There had been children he had seen, after all. With how spacious and unpredictable this place was, it was difficult to see how one could stay alive here if this place wanted to kill you.

[onsilksheets]

"It depends on the event really. The mansion was overrun with zombies a while ago and there was a serial killer on the loose not long after that. If you're smart and ally yourself with the right people, you've got a strong chance of surviving."

Which is what Bela had soon learned during her first event.

Down went another sip of her whiskey. "You seem like a smart man to me."

[embellishing]

This was just getting better and better. Eames could help but groan at the events she described, quirking an eyebrow as he looked at her. "A serial killer, really? Were they caught?" Perhaps a better question would be what happened to people here who did kill others. So far as he could tell, there didn't seem to be any sort of police force or prison.

The compliment, however, made him smile slightly, and he tilted his head to the side. "I only play one, every once in a while. Though I'm guessing you're one of the right people to ally with?" She seemed rather capable, at least.

[onsilksheets]

Her words weren't exactly painting a nice picture of Wonderland, but if Bela were to do the opposite, then she would be lying to him. Giving Eames a heads up of what to expect may be the one thing that would keep him alive. "He was, yes. Something brought out the serial killer side out of him and we had to board ourselves away in our rooms until he was caught."

A slow smile spread across her face. "I'm good with a gun and at giving people the slip. Might not have any magical abilities but I've survived this long. That should be a clear indicator."

[embellishing]

Honestly, Eames would rather be told the truth even if it wasn't pretty. He's not one to wail or cry out against the injustice of things, and instead would rather be informed instead of coddled. He appreciated her frankness, even if he didn't quite enjoy what she was conveying. "What happened to him after he was caught? He can't still be living amongst you, can he?"

The confidence does make him laugh, mostly because it's good to hear that he hadn't pegged her incorrectly. "I imagine this can't be any worse than raiding tombs. I'm sure the zombies were nothing new." Mostly, he's teasing. "Though if you don't mind then, I'll be sticking close to you."

He took another drink, putting the bottle between them in case she'd like to fill hers up at her leisure. "Though how long have you been here?"

[onsilksheets]

"Unfortunately, he is. God only knows if it will happen again but at least we know who to look out for." If it does happen, Bela was going to barricade herself in her room like she did before and not come out until it was over. Self-preservation was at the top of her priority list.

Being confident is something that Bela is incredibly good at, even when she had to fake it. There was a hidden layer to her that not many people got to see and she liked to keep it that way as much as possible. "It would nice to have someone to drink whiskey with and reminisce about England." She's teasing a little too.

"About eight months now." Bela does in fact top up her glass. "It's somewhat disconcerting to say that out loud. Knowing that I've been here for the better part of a year."

[embellishing]

"... So he's not normally a killer then? This place made him act that way?" That, in itself is disconcerting. It's one thing for a serial killer to kill, but for a normal human being to start, that just makes him anxious. And a bit angry. He likes being in control of his facilities, and likes to be able to formulate how others act. If it's so easily wound up and changed by this place...

At her mention of their shared home, Eames raised his glass as a sort of toast, grinning. "That I can do in return for protection. Where are you from?" It never hurt to start with that question.

He whistled when she revealed how long she had been trapped her, frowning. Eight months was a long time, topside. Eames couldn't remember the last time he'd been somewhere for months on end. "Just a testament then, to your skill."

[onsilksheets]

"This place can make people do a lot of things." Bela knows that it sounds somewhat vague but it was definitely the truth; a truth that wasn't exactly easy to hear. Eames had to be made aware of the situation he had found himself in and that included the gory details.

She took a swig from her whiskey, then answered his query. "Just outside of London. But I don't live there anymore; I've an apartment in New York."

Bela lacked the ability to remain in one place for a very long time so being here had been a test of sorts. "Or sheer dumb luck." She replied with a shake of her head. "It helps to make friends here, Eames. Trust me."

[embellishing]

Eames will drink to that silently, not liking the sound of it, but figuring there was little worth in trying to question it further. If people understood this place, that pamphlet would have been far more helpful.

"New York, really? What made you move?" London was a crazy place, undoubtedly, but so was New York.

"I appreciate the advice. I'm always of the mindset that friends are better than enemies." He gave her a grateful nod of his head, pouring more whiskey into his glass. "Though most of us would have a common goal of getting back home, right? Isn't that enough for us to band together?" It was for him, at least.

[onsilksheets]

London, and England in general carried too many bad memories is the reply that is left unsaid. It's a subject that Bela was reluctant to touch upon with a relative stranger.

"I suppose I was going all with my sense of adventure. Seeking out an exciting opportunity and being happy with what I found." There. That was believable enough.

Bela topped up her glass with some more whiskey after Eames was finished and took another drink, slowly this time. "Most people I have spoken to are eager to find a way back to their homes." In one piece. "So, yes. It would be enough. Provided everyones egos are kept in check."

[embellishing]

Eames knew the feeling of needing a bit of excitement very well, and he nodded in agreement at her reasoning. It sounded like it had been a good move over all. "How long have you lived in the Big Apple?"

He couldn't help but snort in amusement at the mention of people and egos, quirking a brow at her over his glass. "A lot of egomaniacs here then?"

[onsilksheets]

"Not long. Just a few years." She had made a life for herself there and for the most part, it was good. Everything had worked out the way that Bela wanted to.

Until it didn't.

Bela laughed along with Eames. "Oh, plenty of them. But it's probably like that just about anywhere." Down went another swig of whiskey. "Please tell me you're not one of them, sweetie."

[embellishing]

"No, never. I'm not so much of a masochist that I could take all the constant blows to my pride most egomaniacs do." He said with a chuckle, topping off his glass.

"Though what about yourself? How much is boasting and how much is true about you being the best tomb raider?" He was half teasing, but he was also a bit curious. If he was going to stick with her, it would be helpful to know what she could or couldn't do, and just how good her judgement was, even when it came to herself.

[onsilksheets]

"Good to know."

The only untrue part was that she really wasn't a tomb raider. But Bela was indeed the best at what she did do for a living.

"Well, I probably boast a little but I am very good at what I do. Believe me." Bela had yet to steal anything here (mainly because the closets provided everything) and she missed it; no one seemed to have anything of value here either.

"You should see me shoot. I'm incredible."

[embellishing]

"Oh?" He leaned forward in interest. There were few tings as exciting as watching a beautiful girl who knew how to handle a gun, and it would be interesting to see how much of it was boasting and how much was actual skill.

"Is there a shooting range here? If you wouldn't mind showing me, I wouldn't mind watching."

[onsilksheets]

"There is actually. I set one up for myself when I found a need to use it." Bela replied, sipping from her drink afterwards.

"I wouldn't mind you watching. It's nice to have an audience sometimes." But this time, Bela won't be so pushy about showing off to another person. An event had made her like that. "Just not tonight. I'm too tipsy."

[embellishing]

At the admission, Eames couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head. "Guns and alcohol definitely sounds like a terrible combination, so I'll take that rain check."

He leaned forward in his chair, setting his glass down so he could fold his hands in his lap. "But I could go for some of your adventure stories, if you're so inclined."

[onsilksheets]

It pleased Bela that he was so interested in her skills as well as learning more about her. "Yeah? Not many people have asked me about them."

A slow smile formed on her lips. "Then again, not everyone actually knows what I do for a living."

[embellishing]

"I'm honored then that you decided to share your profession with me then." Eames raised his glass up, as if to toast her, grinning over his glass.

"So what's your most harrowing story?" It seemed appropriate, considering they had been talking about her skills. Nothing could show them off more than relating a death defying experience.

[onsilksheets]

"Harrowing story? That's a bit gloomy, isn't it?"

While it may have been relevant to what they had discussed, Bela doesn't want her mood to go south. She's got plenty of harrowing stories, none of which she wanted to share.

"I wouldn't want to spoil the mood."

[embellishing]

"You're right." Perhaps this place didn't need any more harrowing stories, considering all the events. He eyed her thoughtfully, swirling his drink lazily.

"All right then, how about your favorite story to tell?" The adventurous sort usually had something of the sort to share.

[onsilksheets]

"Favourite story?" Bela couldn't really think of just one to tell him. The reality was, she never had the opportunity to share any of them. Until now.

She topped up her glass again. "No one else knows this apart from the people involved but I once eluded being caught by these two idiots who had a grudge against me. I sent the authorities after them to keep them busy while I escaped. Rather genius of me, considering that they didn't expect it."