001 ☆ | [audio]

[smileslie]

[Mandy's actually very used to waking up in strange places without having much memory of how she got there, and Wonderland has a leg up on some in that she's still fully dressed. The phone's confusing as all hell, she's not used to one that one can do more than talk on, but she figured that out after punching a few buttons. She really is much more clever than the airhead act she'd been putting on most of the last three years.

Still, the act--The Divine Miss Mandy Slade--doesn't die as easily as she would like. She should have known that it would take far more than a pile of legal mumbo jumbo to get Brian Slade out from under her skin, to stop performing every bloody second of her life. So, what the citizens of Wonderland will hear is certainly not her real voice--which would come out very flat, tired, and American. Instead, they'll hear an almost coyingly-sweet accent anyone with half a brain will know is a very fake British]

Right, since it appears I actually haven't gone completely off my rocker just yet after all, I've just a few questions for all you boys and girls and....whomever else may be inhabiting this lovely little estate. The first being that there are two men I am quite curious to know the whereabouts of. One might be a bit harder to spot, a Mr. Curt Wild. Although, if he's been here for any length of time without access to an electric guitar or certain other--indulgences, I suspect he may have made his presence a bit better known. The other may be going by any number of names, although the most likely would be Mistah Brian Slade. You'd know him by his shockingly blue hair and--

[half a dozen of Brian's other body parts go through her mind, and it hurts, remembering how beautiful he was once upon a time. How beautiful it all was, for a moment.

She clears her throat, before she actually starts crying again. She's done enough of that, and she swears that giving Brian the satisfaction of seeing it as he laughed her out of his life will be the last time it happens. The accent drops, suddenly, and if anyone could see her face they could almost see the mask she'd plastered on fall as well. It was easier to talk about Curt; she doesn't fear what being in his presence might make her do]

My other question is, does anyone happen to have any smokes?

Comments

[smileslie]

Miss, actually. At least, providing Mistah Slade remembers to sign the papers.

[it's a small thing, a technicality, but it will mean that in at least one way she'll free of him.

She hums a little around her cigarette, letting out a loud exhale of smoke] Well, I am all that I suppose. You can't really be all that bothered by nonsense when brilliant, amazing husband begins calling himself Maxwell Demon, after all.

[it is so very surreal to have to explain that, though]

Oh, you haven't the foggiest idea, darling. I'm sure I will be taking this back very shortly, from the little I'm gathering, but you've no idea how bloody thrilled I am to be out of London right now.

[undealt]

Miss Slade. [Far be it for him to not call someone by their preferred name, given his strong feelings on the importance of names, which is why he doesn't really scoff at the moniker her former husband picked for himself. You can't throw stones when your given name is Rumplestiltskin, after all.]

Give it time. Once the true nonsense starts, I think even the worst of atrocities can be endured to be free of Wonderland. But I'm certainly not going to begrudge you a moment to enjoy yourself. Liberation can be quite rewarding, regardless of the cost.

[smileslie]

Hmm. I'll drink to that. [she's not going to get into what happened this afternoon, even if she considers that about as bad as it can possibly get. She has a tiny scrap of dignity left and she's holding onto it, but she's gave up fighting for half a fortune that belonged to her just to get out, so those words do hit close]

So tell me then, darling, what sorts of atrocities should a girl start steeling herself for?

[undealt]

Curses, mostly. I don't suppose you're familiar with magic?

[It's a bit split on who has dealt with magic before and who thinks it's nonsense. She seems to be the type to be in the middle category who are at least open to the possibility it exists.]

[smileslie]

I've known a handful of people who claimed to be witches in my time, but any otherwordly effects from their brews was far more likely to be due to the button they put into the glass when they thought no one was looking. But I'm certainly willing to suspend my disbelief a little farther, given the current circumstances.

[undealt]

Oh, it's quite real. And for those from worlds without real magic, it can be quite startling. One moment you're going about your day and the next you're a child or an animal or singing at random.

[smileslie]

[well, that does sound a bit trippy, to say the least. Still, Mandy actually chuckles]

Well, living with a pop idol finds one doing at least the latter fairly often, although the first two would be rather novel experiences. And--well, it's been quite a long time since I could say it was my first time doing anything.

How long does this business tend to last? Because I can't say I terribly fancy the idea of being a knobbly teenager again for any considerable length of time.

[undealt]

A few days, if you're fortunate. A bit longer, if you're not. I've never heard of any curse being permanent or difficult to break. They simply... wear off after a time. Terribly convenient for us, but it does make one wonder what precisely was the point.

[smileslie]

Sounds a bit like shoddy performance art. All rather shocking, but no real impact. [she chuckles, and there's no small amount of bitterness in it]

Seems it's my lot to be stuck with artists who think they're god. Or gods who think they're artists, take your pick. I'll probably be cursing myself quite soundly for saying this later, but it seems it could be a great deal worse.

[undealt]

Someone is playing with us, that much is certainly a fact, but I think you'll do just fine. You certainly have the temperament for it.

[smileslie]

I'm not quite certain whether I'm meant to take that as a compliment or an insult, but I'll say thank you all the same.