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[Oh, she has no idea she's being lead on. Damn texts not relaying tones anyway. But she isn't dumb enough to give away all of HYDRA's secrets.]

You seem pretty certain that there will be someone like that? Why would someone pass up an offer to be part of unified peace?

We have very powerful ways of convincing those reluctant to embrace our ideals. It has worked well in the past. Many of our numbers once rejected the offer but they've seen the light now.

Tell me, why would someone resist? Why do you resist? Say you're lost in a desert, dying of thirst and a man approaches to give you a glass of water. You wouldn't turn that down, would you?

They're here. Unfortunately, I think some of them may be compromised.

[ Oh. Oh, we're doing-- Christ, all right then. Are you sure you wouldn't just want to find a comfortable hiding spot with a tv set? No? Okay... ]

Names?

What do you intend to do with them? I don't know that I can trust you, either.

I intend to keep them in mind, so that if I come across anybody you suspect might be compromised I can take stern measures by turning around and briskly walking away in the opposite direction.

Granted, I don't intend to do much walking in the next few days to begin with, so keep them to yourself if you'd rather.

[ The horse Philip had in this race never quite made it past the starting line to begin with, and is instead lazily chewing hay in the mansion's cave system. The more you know the better, but this is knowledge he can forgive himself for not pursuing with more dedication. ]

[It takes her a few moments, but she decides, for now, that that's good enough.]

Billy Kaplan. Perhaps Steve Rogers.

[She can't know for sure with the second, not yet, but he's been elusive, and that makes her worry.]

i promote you to deputy philip of the bees for this addition to my army

It doesn't help to have a self-defeating attitude about it.

Really, what better excuse can you get for having terrorist group propaganda?

I meant residents in general, I suppose. I didn't have anything to do with it either.

Just thought it was a bit funny that you mentioned it.

If nothing else, you should be able to break their concentration.

[ Which is a pretty decent advantage, as far as James is concerned. ]

It's all science or pseudoscience, no magic. It looks like here, they can just strap you in and flip the switch. The chair does all the work. That's probably why the programming is so unstable. It doesn't hold as well while you're capable of fighting it. [ Texting is a great advantage here. It's a lot easier to compartmentalize and get his thoughts in order when he doesn't have to say any of this aloud. ]

Do you have some kind of experience with this? [ By 'this' he means 'this technology' but he leaves it a little ambiguous; he's curious about how the man will take the question. ]

But it does help to have a plan of action. Haven't heard much in that direction from your people.

I wouldn't know, I'm more into traditional landscape paintings myself.

[ Something like...? Like, well. Philip isn't quite sure about the question, but his answer is probably the same, no matter the intent. ]

The technology? Nothing like it, no. Might've seen a cheap sci-fi movie or two about it, but that's about as close as it gets. I've heard of HYDRA before, during a different event, but they never made an appearance before, not that I recall.

[ And what else is there? ]

I've run into similar effects a few times, but I can chalk those up entirely to Wonderland's events. From what I gather my own world seems staggeringly tame, compared to most people's here.

[ Except the small corner of it that killed him, but who is really keeping count these days? ]

That the logo looked bloody good on a t-shirt?

[ Well, but enough of that for a second. ]

So I take it you've got your doubts about signing up as well?

I'm utterly flattered. From this day on I solemnly vow to disturb our enemies with loud buzzing noises whenever the fight calls for it.

[ Well, that was distressingly easy. Somebody could really use a lesson in paranoia, though maybe he'll save that advice for another day. Cheers for the information and all, wouldn't want to throw that back in her face right away. ]

Can't put a face to the first name, but I know Steve Rogers. In passing, anyway.

[ Most notably, as irony would have it, from the lingering in the corridors of their House, and the suspicions towards all of them. Suspicions towards people connected to HYDRA, at least he remembered them that way. Sounds like that's gonna be a fun ride for him when the event is over... ]

So. Any plans for the next few days? I've already told you my elaborate strategy. I'd recommend it, too, but you sound more invested in this than I am.

[ ...Right. Right, because of the-- Right. Right, okay. ]

Credit where credit's due, I'm not entirely convinced Wonderland passes the pure evil test.

More, perhaps, Violently Chaotic Neutral.

Which ones ARE the fun parts?

[ See, if he had a coloured brochure, then he'd already know. ]

Really, are you sure? Because I was completely prepared to put on a friendly autumn sweater and find people to hug things out with.

Though I suppose the gun WOULD dramatically reduce the risk of unwanted brainwashing.

[ Hah. There's a comforting thought. But it's... odd, that curiosity still. That half-baked thought of escaping trouble by signing up. What's a few days gone mad after everything else he's been through here? If that- if that was his choice, then the Once-ler probably ought to be the one to get credit for the signing bonus, though there's a standing question whether that would tilt the scales towards Even or Worse... ]

Sounds a bit too much like the start of everything you told me about your world.

[ And this? Philip isn't quite sure yet, but he thinks he's glad he doesn't have to watch it go down with a face and voice attached. ]

[ It's not... entirely that. Worryingly for Philip it's not entirely a ruse at all. Far from convinced, sure, but he's... curious. ]

Well, quite frankly I'd probably be wondering what anybody would be doing alone in the desert with a glass of water, that just sounds entirely impractical. I could just assume he had a flask instead, a very big one, and that he was in a staggeringly generous mood, or perhaps he had a camp with more people and more water nearby, but you didn't ask about any of that, and the devil with those things is usually in the details.

Long story short, I'd be concerned a benefactor at a time and place like that would be too good to be true, though I reckon if my head had been frying in the sun long enough before I might not bother to question anymore, either way.

[ Which, from what he's heard, sounds quite up HYDRA's alley, metaphorically speaking. ]

Keep up it and you'll be crowned the Archbeeshop.

How much violence can one get away with without being deemed evil?

RIGHT, RIGHT. THE ONLY ART YOU REALLY KNOW HOW TO APPRECIATE. I FORGOT.

FOR A GUY WHO ONCE CARRIED A HEAD AROUND IN HIS BACKPACK, I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED.

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