M e s s a g e 3 4

[curiousher]

[When Alice appears on the screen today, she's bobbing up and down in excitement with the widest smile – even without eyes to accompany it. Curiously, for those who have never met Alice before, her gaze always goes to the camera somehow, even though by all accounts she should not be able to see it.]

Everyone! I've thought of the most marvelous riddle and simply had to share it immediately! So many of you are much smarter than I am, and I'm certain you'll come up with an answer easily.

Hm... [She brings a hand to her chin and frowns in thought.] Now, how did it go again? I think it was..."If there's something in the forest, and no one's ever seen it, how do they know it's—" --no, that's not quite right, is it? Someone who's seen it obviously told them and that isn't much of a riddle at all. Maybe it was...maybe it was "If everyone's scared of a beast in the forest, but no one's ever seen the beast, is it truly a beast at all"? Hmm...I don't think it was.

[Alice scratches her temple, frustrated that she's lost the correct wording to her absolutely fantastic riddle.]

Perhaps it wasn't so marvelous after all. [She shrugs. Eh. Over it.] Oh well. Everyone knows who you are is much more important than the sort of riddles you tell. So, let's do that instead!

Tell me Wonderland - who are all of you today? That ought to be much more curious than some riddle.

[She rests her chin in her hands, waiting for answers, and then the video feed flickers off.]

Comments

[curiousher]

[Alice pouts childishly.]

If someone did then they should have told it better, so I would remember it correctly!

[But hmmm. That's an interesting riddle. She thinks as hard as she can on it and then eventually she snaps her fingers.]

Oh! I've got it! It must be a name! And then when you add the letters J and R at the end you get someone much shorter! Am I right?

[ofletters]

[ He actually seems surprised at her answer and admits a laugh. ]

Uh- That's actually not what I was gonna say, but that one works, too. You're pretty sharp, Alice.

[curiousher]

[She beams, proud that he liked her clever answer.]

Thank you! If that wasn't the answer though, then what was it?

[ofletters]

I was thinking "short." Get it? You add more letters to make it "shorter".

[ But her answer wasn't bad. Clever girl. ]

[curiousher]

...Oh! Oh, I see! That's very clever!

[However, she smiles wide, clearly proud of herself.]

I think I still like my answer better though.

[ofletters]

I like yours, too. It was a surprise.

[ beat ]

So, should we be worrying about some beast in the woods?

[curiousher]

[Alice shrugs.]

Only if you truly think there is one.

[ofletters]

So, if we don't think there's anything there, it really won't be there?

[ Other people might be more dubious, but he's faced monsters like that before. Spirits and figures of myth that change and adapt based on what you believe. ]

[curiousher]

Well, it's only logical, isn't it? If something's there it might be dangerous, but if it isn't then it probably won't be.

[Alice, that doesn't make nearly as much sense as you think it does.]

[ofletters]

Makes sense.

[ No, no it doesn't. ]

Well, better to be prepared, whether something's gonna be out or not. Right?

[curiousher]

It sounds reasonable enough to me. Though, I can't say I know very much about reason, really.

[But it makes sense to her, at least!]

[ofletters]

Guess not, in Wonderland. It's hard to say what's close to reality around here.

[ ... ]

I'm gonna head out, but I'm sure we'll talk again soon, alright, Alice?

[curiousher]

I'm certain we will! Take care!

[With that, she lets him go and the feed cuts out.]