video;

[graphis]

[A young woman's face appears, framed by bright red hair, her green eyes both confused and tinted with anger as she starts to speak.]

Alright, first of all, to those of you that aren’t totally crazy, my name’s Clary, and I’m new around here. [She’s aware that she’s not the only person here against their will at least, so they should probably work together. She’s screwed if she doesn’t make some allies or friends.] If someone could let me in on what exactly is going on around here, I’d really appreciate it.

Second of all, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to deal with this alternate-dimension thing. [She’s trying to sound ultra-confident about this, and she’s mostly successful, though there’s still a sense that she’s agitated and confused.] So whoever’s responsible for this? I’m not just going to sit around and take it. You can’t keep me here, not when the people I love need me.

And third, if you think giving me a bunch of free clothes and a nice room is going to make everything okay, you’re out of your mind. [Her attempt at being intimidating falls slightly short, considering she doesn’t even know who exactly she’s supposed to be addressing in regards to all this.] This is still kidnapping, no matter how you try to spin it. I’m not about to thank you and turn into some Stockholm Syndrome case.

Comments

[graphis]

Only one and not for very long. It was exactly like mine, just...[without all the demons]...different. This is a little stranger than that, honestly.

Well, a Seelie friend of ours opened a portal on the edges of his people's territory. After that, all I had to do was walk through it.

[deathlessness]

Seelie. Like faerie?

[They're not exactly prominent creatures in her world, if they exist at all, but she's certainly been alive long enough to hear the stories.]

[graphis]

Yeah, like faeries. They're not little or anything, though. And no wings. At least...not that I've seen.

[She's not sure how much she's supposed to even...talk about this. But considering the circumstances, it's not like anyone here is hidden from magic or anything else crazy, so she's not exactly protecting anyone from anything.]

[deathlessness]

They're nothing but stories where I'm from, unfortunately. Though nothing is ever really as it appears in the stories, I've found.

[She pauses as she considers.]

I believe this alternate reality runs on something entirely different, but it's certainly something to pursue.

[graphis]

Same. If there's a story about something, it seems to always end up being at least partially real.

[It was a damn hard lesson, too.]

Considering there wasn't any portal or anything, I'm pretty sure you're right. It took something stronger than a Seelie to make this happen.

[deathlessness]

Some who have been here a long time theorize that Wonderland is a power unto itself. That it is a lot more sentient than we realize. But I haven't been here long enough to determine how much truth there is to that.

[graphis]

You mean it actually can think and act for itself? But it's a place. How would that even be possible?

[deathlessness]

Give something enough magic, and it can do anything. But from what I can tell, it's as much of a living thing as any of us here.

[graphis]

Sounds like magic is something you know a thing or two about.

[Just saying.]

[deathlessness]

I've been around it for a very long time. I'm a practicing witch.

[It's easier to just say it and juggle the disbelief or recognition that comes with it when you just put it out there. She's not really one for keeping secrets.]