ƒ 004 [voice/action] open } { i can’t promise to obey you, i can’t swear i won’t betray you

[deathlessness]

[The ambient sounds of Lux Deux is prominent in the background as the feed starts up again, and for a long time it is the only sound aside from the clink of the glass being moved against the bar while Freya tries to get her words in order. She’s ascertained from her siblings at this point that she’s been gone far longer than would be considered “normal” for Wonderland – if there ever was such a thing.

She could simply announce that she’s returned and leave it at that, let those who wish to seek her out come find her, but that has never been her way, and while she doesn’t wish to talk about herself, she’s curious about something else.]

A question for you, Wonderland, though it is a rather specific one.

[Her words are slow and deliberate, likely indicating the amount she’s had to drink at this point – enough to dull the events of the last few months spent home, but not enough to make her sloppy – and the sound of her placing the glass back down on the bar can be heard before she continues.]

At this point, I’m sure we’re all aware of the … complications, involving those of us arriving from different points in the same timeline. For those of us who have come here and then learned of our future before actually going home to live through it, what do you think was worse? The speculation of what was to come, or the events themselves?

[There’s a small scrape as the glass is lifted again.]

Would you prefer to have remained ignorant, or do you feel at peace having lived the truth for yourself?

[And she’ll have the device with her to answer replies, though if you would prefer to visit her in person, she would not say no to company either. She’s probably going to be at the bar for a while.]

Comments

[deathlessness]

[She nods, considering for a moment.]

Do you find it frustrating when there's nothing you can do to change it? We leave this place and all the warnings we receive mean nothing in the end, for we can't remember them.

[madehervows]

Who wouldn't? [It's... not as flippant as one might expect. More tired than anything.] Every time it feels like I'm getting over the last set of bad news I can do nothing about, something new comes up. Half the time it feels like Wonderland feeds on our suffering more than our memories.

[deathlessness]

[She laughs sharply at that.]

Perhaps for those of us who's memories are more suffering than joy, that is the case. Though I would still prefer it's general mayhem to the kind of suffering that targets my family specifically.

[madehervows]

I can't say you're wrong about that. At least we get some kind of warning here, even if we can't figure it out half the time.

[Regina sighs.]

I take it you didn't ask out of mere curiosity.

[deathlessness]

Mmm, unfortunately not.

[She finishes off the drink in front of her before she continues.]

I just came back from a ... complicated trip home.

[madehervows]

Most trips home usually are.

[Speaking from experience.]

So what's your answer to the question posed?

[deathlessness]

To be determined.

[There's a beat.]

Though I certainly didn't feel the weight of it, when I was only aware in the abstract.

[madehervows]

That's the other part of it, isn't it? As much as we might worry about what's to come, we can't know how it will affect us until we live through it.

[Regina sighs.]

At least the bar is staffed by people who know what they're doing.

[deathlessness]

That it is.

[She sighs with a small smile.]

I'm not sure Wonderland would survive without it, to be honest.

[madehervows]

You aren't wrong. After all, drinking alone in your room doesn't have quite the same mystique.

[deathlessness]

That it does not.

[and also happens to be infinitely more depressing, but she's not going to bring that up now.]

You're welcome to join me, if you like.

[madehervows]

[Regina considers it for a moment.]

I think I will. Order me a glass of wine, will you?

[deathlessness]

Of course.

[And with that they will have drinks together and hopefully talk about non-depressing things. /scene]