First* Video/Action

[decadentdecade]

Video
[Bela is standing in front of the camera, dressed in pants and shirt and a brown leather jacket-rather common clothing considering the eclectic pile of clothes behind her. If anyone cares for those kind of details they'll see a wide arrangement of clothing, from suits to cocktail dresses to waitress uniforms and even a maid costume.]

So. The closet? It's a very nice touch, I have to admit. I certainly wouldn't mind having one back home. Though seemingly free food, board, and clothing just means there's a hidden cost. So what is our benevolent caretaker charging us?

And what becomes valuable in a place like this? Is there a currency in particular items? Favors? Souls? [And there's a wry smile there to indicate that might possibly be a joke.]

Or does everyone here work on altruism?

Action A: Wandering Wonderland
[Not one to idly sit when her surroundings are so undiscovered, and therefore a little bit threatening, Bela takes to exploring the grounds with a casual step that belies just how uncomfortable she really feels. She can be found idly touching decor along the walls of the mansion, or grabbing something to eat in the dining room, or eyeing the titles of books in the library even if she doesn’t actually reach for any right now.

[ooc: This is your find her wandering anywhere you want to option.]

Action B: An unlocked room is an invitation.
[After exploring the more open grounds, Bela can be found roaming the hallways. It’s a seemingly innocent gesture by itself, except for the subtle jiggle of a handle here and there as she moves about. Just her way of...well, casing the place. Not that she’s planning on stealing anything quite yet, but she’ll feel more comfortable once she’s got a good map of the surroundings and people around her since it doesn’t seem like she’ll be leaving very soon.

Occasionally, when she finds an unlocked door, she casually opens it just to get a good idea of the room-and on the occasion that someone is actually in their room without bothering to lock the door, well, she smiles sheepishly and offers an embarrassed apology.]

Oh, I’m sorry. I have the wrong room. [Ignore the subtle sweep around the room before she tries to retreat.]

Action C: A locked one is just a challenge.
[She’s good. For a while. But after finding so many empty and unlocked rooms, she’s a little curious to see what’s inside a locked one. And just as curious to see how easy it is to pick a lock on these particular doors.

So she chooses a random one in a rather quiet hallway, listens near the door for any tell-tale sign of shuffling, and when she thinks she’s in the clear, she kneels down and jimmies the lock, before pushing the door open. If there’s no immediate reaction, she’ll take a step inside. Just a quick scouting mission, don’t worry, she’s not here to steal anything.]

Comments

[decadentdecade]

[That...is rather interesting actually. And in some ways she's thankful for it.]

They've filled in some, but everyone seems vague on the specifics. I prefer knowing what kind of threat I'm facing, but as far as I can tell...there are sometimes things to shoot at, sometimes not. Some people enjoy being here, others want to get home. It's impossible to get any good grasp on anything.

[Sorry Victor for the mini-rant, but it's starting to grate on a nerve. Adding to it that apparently the entire place can change through a nap doesn't help. She likes having her solid ground.

At least that last one is something familiar.] Residents are not all human? [And she pauses to glance him over one more time.] Are you?

[lifeskills]

I can't speak for anyone else, but the reason specifics are... problematic... is because it's in Wonderland's nature to change its rules as a chameleon changes colors. _{[Victor's world-weary demeanor makes it quite clear he knows how unsatisfying that is to consider.]} You've been warned about the events, as they're colloquially known?

_{[Ah, but that's an interesting question. It dislodges another smile.]}

Yes and yes. Quite human. However, I've encountered all manner of creature that appeared as I do--it's good to be cautious. Yourself?

[decadentdecade]

[She can indeed understand the frustration that follows a place that won't stay the same. Having some solid footing and knowing where to hide is important.] Perhaps. Are these the "sometimes something dangerous happens and other times it's not dangerous at all" comments I've heard?

[Though she has to snort when he suggests she be cautious of supernatural creatures. Apparently she hadn't told him much if he's still making that kind of comment.]

I am fairly sure I know how to handle that kind of situation. And no. I'm very human. Do you have your creature here?

[lifeskills]

Events? Yes. Many days are days like this one--stable. Inactive. Others before us coined the term "events" for sporadic transformations that come on that drastically alter the landscape, sometimes our perception. Common belief is that they're based on memories. Memories that take shape and we, the actors who populate them until they expire.

<sub>[It sounds mad, and it is. He doesn't worry about the illogical-sounding premise; he expects she'll hear quite a bit about it from anyone who sits still long enough to be pumped for information. Neither does he try to question her expertise on the matter of supernatural creatures in the guise of humans. To each their own in that regard.

But at the obvious reference to Caliban, Victor's eyes narrow sharply. Your. It echoes an unpleasant note in his ears.]</sub>

Some stories are just stories.

[decadentdecade]

Lovely. [When there's nothing clever to say, a sarcastic retort is second best. At that's all she has at the moment, because she' not sure what to do with that information except store it until she sees it herself. Maybe then she can come back to him with more questions.

So for now she'll settle on the other topic.]

Oh? You're aware of the story that shares your name? It's all fable, is it?

[lifeskills]

Isn't it, though.

<sub>[Victor's response is bone dry. That's Wonderland--exceptionally lovely and not at all psychologically distressing on just about every level.

Even so, he'd rather talk about Wonderland than talk about himself, if he must talk at all. The Frankenstein novel and its assorted reproductions are even more disturbing for how they put his sense of self into question.]</sub>

I'm aware. You're not the first to remark upon the connection. _{[His gaze, fixed on her chair leg, is flat even after he lifts it to meet hers again.]} Does it matter? Mary Shelley passed away long before I was born. I can't explain how it exists anymore than I can explain how Wonderland exists.

_{[And maybe, just maybe, he's still a little put out by it. This isn't how he'd ever wanted to acquire fame.]}