video;

[hypoxic]

[There's some fumbling with the camera then, the usual motion blur that can be associated with a newcomer exploring unfamiliar technology.]

Right, so that's the camera there. And the microphone is... Oh, well that's a bit on the nose isn't it? I suppose that would make it easier for the lay user.

[A bit more shifting then, until he sets his device on a flat surface. The image is a small, softbodied man with a pointed intensity in his eyes. He speaks softly, in a thick Scottish brogue.]

H-hello -- to whomever might be listening. I apologize for this interruption, but I'm searching for someone in particular. I have reason to believe that Jemma Simmons has been staying among you. If you know her, it's imperative that I make contact with her. My name is Leo Fitz -- I followed her here.

[He doesn't mention SHIELD or their duties, though. The agency is such a touchy issue in the public eye, it might be a condemnation to draw unnecessary attention to it. There was no telling what kind of people lived here.]

Oh, I hope languages won't be an issue. Though I suppose it should be fine if we utilize this text function...

[His stare shifts pensively from the display to the camera and back again. His instinct is to pull apart this hardware and improve upon the flaws, but that would be entirely counterproductive to his means.]

Comments

[deathlessness]

Not exactly. From what I've been told, Wonderland needs memories for sustenance. The longer you stay here, the more you forget.

[hypoxic]

The idea of "eating" memories seems a bit suspect, honestly... It wouldn't surprise me if that explanation turned out to be a cover for something less innocuous.

[He comes from spy culture. Memories are information, and information is everything. It's too powerful to just be digested and erased.]

[deathlessness]

I wouldn't be so sure of that. As far as the stories go, "you are what you eat" takes on a quite literal meaning. I wouldn't be surprised if Wonderland follows the same rules.

[hypoxic]

Given the fiction, I'd be surprised to learn Wonderland follows any rules at all. Perhaps the residents simply don't have the full story available to them.

[deathlessness]

All power has rules, even if it doesn't seem inherently obvious at first glance. Learning them is often how you can test the limits of something.

[hypoxic]

That's a remarkably scientific way to go about experimenting.

[deathlessness]

[She smirks a bit at that.]

And here I've been told I lack a scientific min.

[hypoxic]

Those kinds of insults are usually thrown about by people who don't understand real science.

[real scientists have much better insults, honestly.]

[deathlessness]

Perhaps. But they also are usually offended by the fact that I consider myself a practitioner of magic.

[hypoxic]

[That's more hilarious than it is offensive, honestly.]

Magic as in therapy and self-help? Or -- the other kind?

[deathlessness]

If by the other kind, you mean the kind that witches use, then I will have to say the latter.

[Because, you know, she is one.]

[hypoxic]

[that makes him bite down on the inside of his cheek. Don't laugh about how magic isn't real. Don't laugh about how magic isn't real.]

I find it interesting to study the uniqueness of powered people, actually. There's much that can be learned from it.

[Like the actual science behind whatever abilities she's calling "magic." ]

[deathlessness]

[There's a soft hum of consideration, as she knows that he's holding back, but part of her really wants to see how far she can push him.]

Is that what they call them where you're from? "Powered" people?

[hypoxic]

There are a great number of ways for people to acquire abilities. "Witch" is one of several possibilities.

[deathlessness]

Well, mine are genetic and have run in my family line for more than a thousand years.

[hypoxic]

There's some remarkable genealogy to be able to trace things back for such a distance. [He himself has no idea about where his family came from before his gransparents. Probably Scots. Something something annoyed with Irish people not being able to hold liquor.]

A wealthy family, then?

[deathlessness]

[There's a soft hum of agreement.]

Since spells are passed down from generation to generation, we tend to keep very detailed family records.

[hypoxic]

Spells as in the sorts with recipes? I've had some theories about the way those work... Can't say I've known many self-identified "witches" to practice, though.

[deathlessness]

A bit like that, yes. It's an easy enough analogy to call a grimoire a witch's cook book.

[but that being said:]

What is your theory, exactly?

[hypoxic]

There's quite a lot of extraneous material in those writeups. It's my hypothesis that very specific chemical reactions are taking place during those proceedings, and that much of what we consider to be "magic" might actually have a firm reproducible root in the sciences.

[Because magic isn't a real thing.]

[deathlessness]

Mmmm-hmmm.

[There's a pause as she considers.]

Well, if you ever would like to put that theory into practice, I would be more than happy to offer my assistance.

[Because she's fairly curious herself.]