second ➛ video

[backpacking]

Okay, short and sweet. I've got some questions. ... And one comment, which is fuck that last trip. You think you're home free from whatever crap you've got back home, and then... bam. It's in your face. What's that about?

[ huff ]

Name's Ellie. I spent a lot of time reading back home and now that we're not in the trenches anymore, I need some reading material. Suggestions? The library's huge here and I don't even know where to start!

Uh... [ What else... She scrunches up her nose, thinking. ] Anyone up to teaching a kid to swim? Because that's something long overdue that I haven't gotten around to. And -

[ She looks a little more meekly at the camera, then glances away, chewing on the inside of her cheek. ]

There any way to get in touch with someone back home? Like... I dunno, a magic mirror so we can see they're okay? It's important. Thanks.

Comments

video

[backpacking]

But - why? Why does this stuff happen and why's it to us? I've seen a lot, but I don't buy into the "it's all magic" blanket excuse. It's too easy! Like, yeah, maybe some of it's magic, that's fine, but then... where did it come from? Or who's pulling the strings and what the fuck for? 'Cause bringing people with normal lives to this nuthouse and then throwing zombies at them? Not cool. More like, insane.

[ hUFF ]

What? ... Oh. Right. [ That. ] It's just, I'm not sure I can fix it back there.

Re: video

[belovedson]

[Neal lets the kid get it out, mostly because he already knows he’s not going to have any answers that she likes.] Believe me, I’ve asked myself the same thing a lot—and I come from a world where magic is pretty prominent. [While he’s not a practitioner, Neal’s got experience enough to realize that there’s got to be a cost for all this, along with a few theories. Nothing solid though, and definitely nothing optimistic.] But if someone or some group is in charge, they’ve got to be crazy powerful to do what they do. And it’s pretty clear they don’t think enough of us to feel a need to justify themselves. I don’t know if we’ll ever know why all this happens; not really.

[Sorry Ellie.

He gives her a sympathetic grin when she talks about her own world though.] Well whether you can or you can’t, you definitely don’t strike me as the type of kid who gives up. Those the types who usually figure things out, even if it seems impossible.

video

[backpacking]

You think? [ She perks up, looking almost hopeful. ] ... Thanks. It was pretty bad. This... guy I'm traveling with, he got really hurt. Impaled, actually.

[ Sounds good, right?? ]

And these guys were shooting at us the whole time and it was getting cold. I don't know what I'm gonna do.

Re: video

[belovedson]

[And this is why Neal should probably find out exactly what the circumstances are before he goes around trying to offer hope. When Ellie describes what she’s going back to, it’s hard not to wince. From the sounds of it, that guy she’s traveling with really might not have a chance, no matter how brave Ellie’s spirit.]

Unfortunately, right now all you can do is focus on Wonderland. [Easier said than done, but it’s the best advice he’s got left.] Even if someone tried to help you figure it out, you won’t remember when you get sent back. Just—try and trust that you two will get somewhere safe.

[As unlikely as it’s probably going to be.]

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[backpacking]

Nowhere's "safe."

[ She mumbles, a shadow falling over her expression. It's pretty hopeless, after all. ]

Thanks. I'll remember all that. ... Now, I mean, not later, like you said.