002 ⧗ video/action

[araneidal]

[ Natasha's sitting at a table with a stack of black rectangular objects about the size of a palm. She holds up one close to the camera. ]

These are emergency radios in case our network goes down. They come with an inbuilt tracker [ a small hiss ] and three different types of lockpicks, which work for every door in the mansion assuming they haven't been altered. The button here [ she turns it over to demonstrate ] is a torch. No battery needed.

[ She gives it a quick shake, and the torch shines on the table. ]

If you want one, I'll be in the dining room.

Comments

[suicidemission]

[ He's looking particularly cheerful as he approaches, peering wide eyed at the table. ]

I'm alright. How've you been?

[heroica]

What determines who returns and who stays? Has anyone been able to identify a pattern?

[ Because, honestly, it seems to happen... a lot. ]

[araneidal]

There're a few. They send scientists home quickly. Fighters or soldiers, they keep.

[araneidal]

At least part of it is purposeful. The rest, I can't say.

[circlejerked]

The talking animals could probably say for sure, but if they have insight, they're not talking. Not talking in a way that doesn't involve cryptic riddles, anyway.

_{[A flippant wave of his hand. Riddles, riddles, and more riddles. Seems to be Wonderland's specialty.]}

But I'd be interested in having a look at that thing--it never hurts to learn a new trick or two. If you'd be up for showing an amateur how to work it, that is.

[araneidal]

Of course. I'll be here all afternoon.

[heroica]

[ Well, that explains why she's been here for... nine months. ]

To protect itself, maybe? [ She muses. ] And... scientists may be more likely to figure out how to undo some of its workings? Though-- I should think it would want to rid itself of mages and other magic-users, but there are a number here.

[circlejerked]

I'll be sure to drop in!

_{[It's not as though he has anything more pressing to do with his time aside from continuing to run magical tests.]}

I'm Anders, by the way.

[araneidal]

Natasha. A pleasure.

[circlejerked]

Natasha.

_{[He repeats it with another smile. That's a fun-sounding name--exotic and full of vowels. It suits the vibrant red hair.]}

To me as well. _{[He lifts his hand in a brief way.]} I'll let you get back to network messages, but I'd love to talk strategy again.

_{[Few are more motivated than Anders to get to the bottom of Wonderland and get out, and she has a brisk, intellectual manner that tells him she's not one to kick back at the beach and take the punches as they come.]}

Re: [Action]

[voiceinthedark]

England.

In the middle of a global zombie apocalypse.