action/video } from Ace of Spades, the Wonderland blog of Georgia Mason, entry #6

[choosetruth]

Action

Georgia steps out of the wood, barefoot, ready to make what excuses she needs to and… stops. Dr. Thomas is nowhere in sight, and this definitely isn't the CDC biodome she was in before. Anyone observing would find it hard to recognize her. She looks so different from the girl she was before. Skinny to the point of malnourished, dressed in white, CDC-issued pajamas, her hair, short again at least, thank fuck, is streaked patchy with bleach instead of dyed back to her natural color. And then there are her eyes, clear brown instead of flat and black, unprotected by sunglasses even in the afternoon sunlight, and she's not flinching from the brightness. Still, there's a certain determination to her scowl that's familiar enough, even if the rest is wrong.

A mix of emotions lance through her as she looks around. An initial burst of fear of what they'll do to her if they catch her not where she's supposed to be. Annoyance at the fear. She's Georgia Mason, dammit, being where she's not supposed to be is something she's good at. Relief at the thought that maybe, no matter how impossible it seems, she's somehow managed to escape. Confusion, since people don't just turn around and find themselves escaped from secure facilities.

And over all of those a creeping, almost disturbing sense of familiarity. She knows this place. She didn't seconds before, but all the memories are rushing back to her in a burst of almost confusing intensity. Wonderland. Her heart starts hammering, the impossibility of the situation melting away in the face of a far more important realization. Shaun's here.

She pulls the tiny ceramic gun from her waistband. It fits into her hand like it was made for her, which it likely was, as she stalks purposefully towards the mansion. She misses her fucked up eyes more than she ever thought possible, and more than that, misses her sunglasses. It's so much harder to mask her emotions, to keep herself from looking wide-eyed with the fear still racing through her veins, with her face naked and her eyes so fucking expressive. She marches forward, gun pointed down, but ready to raise it at a moment's notice. She has to get to the mansion. She has to get to Shaun. She has to warn him.

Video

[Georgia doesn't address the network until later, when she's had a chance to clean up. Her hair's dyed back to its usual dark brown. She has a black blazer over a white shirt, a few sizes smaller than she's used to, but they look like her clothes. She has shoes and she's seriously debating sleeping in them. And she has sunglasses, wrapping the world back in its usual comforting monotone and hiding her far too normal eyes. She looks like herself again. She nods as the recording starts.]

My name is Georgia Mason, and I can tell you for a fact that I have never been here before in my life.

[She shakes her head, holding up a hand.]

I have never been here before, and yet I remember everything. I remember space. I remember wizard school. I remember paintball and New Year's parties and writing op-eds that pissed people off and actually starting a print publication.

[It's almost comforting that she feels the same amount of disdain for print. Anything that's the same about her is something to cling to. She takes a deep breath before continuing.]

I remember a lot of things that didn't happen to me. Up to and including, my brother holding a gun to the base of my skull and shooting me before I could turn into a zombie. I know that didn't happen to me because that's not the sort of thing you live through. Those are all things that happened to Georgia Mason and I--

[She smiles shallowly, almost sadly, and forces herself to keep looking at the camera. Not like anyone can see where her eyes are pointing through the sunglasses, but it's important to her that she stays strong.]

I'm the closest thing you're gonna get. I'm a genetically identical clone with 97% of her memories, and how the fuck that can include Wonderland when I didn't remember it at the time of my death is one of many things about this place that will never make sense to me. It's up to you to decide if I still count as her. I don't know how to be anyone else.

[She adjusts her sunglasses, leaning in towards the camera and adds, in an entirely pleasant and matter-of-fact tone:]

Now. Can anyone tell me where the fuck my brother wound up? His stuff's still here, but he's not answering his phone. If Wonderland was seriously enough of an asshole to take him away before I got back, I'm going to start setting things on fire until I get him back.

[She reaches to turn off the camera, then hesitates. Nothing matters as much as finding Shaun, but that doesn't mean nothing else matters. She's Georgia Mason, for better or for worse, and she has a paper to run.]

Until I find him, address all queries about The Shattered Mirror to me. Thank you.

[She cuts the feed. Now she gets to wait. She's held herself together this long. She can manage another week. Fuck she hopes it's not more than a week.]

Comments

Text;

[screwedontight]

Wait, what? Shaun is gone now too? What the fuck is with this place? I saw him the day you vanished, but he may have that flamethrower we talked about so that could help.

So you're really a clone? Like George bit it and someone brought you back to the world of the living to be her clone? Not that there's others, but just new one on me.

Also, try digging into those memories about the types of things you can live through in Wonderland because I'm told bullet to the skull isn't long term fatal.

Text;

[choosetruth]

No, I just said all that crap to mess with people. Because claiming you're a clone and your brother is missing is hilarious.

[It's been a long few months. No one's threatening to decommission her if she doesn't cooperate. That means she doesn't have to be nice.]

Yeah, too bad I died back home and not in Wonderland. It would have been way cheaper and less of a hassle to bring me back that way.

action;

[beatupgrass]

[one minute you're minding your own business, shooting targets, and yelling impotently at the phone when the latest nonsensical event notification pops up, and then there's a smell on the wind. one that makes you snort and tense up and want to either run the opposite direction or run towards it guns blazing.

Rocket has never taken the former option when he can help it. there's a lot that passes for cover this far out from the mansion and he keeps his guard up, trying to get a good luck at this newcomer. Gun drawn- she means business. Weird pajamas- probably an escapee, not one of the actual workers, which lowers his guard somewhat. it takes him a second with the eyes and the patchy hair to put two and two together, but once he does...

holy krutack...] Hey, Georgie! [he takes a step out from behind the tree he's been observing her from. sneaking up behind someone armed is a bad plan, but, eh, Rocket lives dangerously.] You're lookin' pretty spry for a dead broad.

[he snorts and rubs his nose with his arm.] Also you stink. I almost shot you on principle.

action;

[choosetruth]

[She still whips around with her gun, but she doesn't shoot when she sees who it is. She just stares for a moment as half a year of memories click into place.

Not her memories. Georgia's. She swallows and lowers the gun. It's still in her hand. She's not letting go of it until she feels safe, but she's not pointing it at him.]

You're not so great-smelling yourself. When's the last time you showered?

[Video]

[mrsarcastic003]

Welcome back, Ms. Mason.

It's nice to see you alive and well. As for your brother, the last time I saw him he was taking his temper out on the hedge maze. [He doesn't have anyone here who is to him what Shaun and George are to each other, but he can definitely understand the sentiment. If Cissie or Kon vanished, he's not sure he'd be in a great mood either. He certainly wasn't thrilled when Bruce vanished, and he'd barely known the one here in Wonderland.] But since I doubt anything would stop him from answering you if he were able, he's probably making his own trip home. I hope he returns quickly.

[Video]

[choosetruth]

Back isn't exactly the right word. Like I said, I've never been here before.

[It's also not exactly the wrong word, but she's going to be as contrary as she wants until she figures out exactly who she is.]

Any chance you have a timeline on when you saw him? [If it was long enough ago, he could be coming back soon. She really hopes he's coming back soon.]

[video]

[jivitadana]

[It wasn't that long ago that Minato talked to her. He didn't notice the physical change as much as what she was broadcasting to the network. There was that announcement that she had left--and that shouldn't have surprised him, though he had to admit that it did since really, it seemed like they just spoke--and now she was back.]

It counts.

[Why shouldn't it? She was who she was right here and now.]

I can help you look for him, if you want.

[video]

[choosetruth]

[She gives a sad smile.]

As much as I'd love to think an extra pair of eyes would make him suddenly appear, he would have smashed through walls if meant getting to me faster. He's not here.

[He knew the rules of Wonderland as well as she did. Even though the odds weren't good that she even had a future to return to, he would have been looking for her. Just in case. If there was even the slimmest chance she'd be there, he'd cling to it. He'd be counting down the minutes. Just like she will be now.]

action

[postictal]

[See, he recognizes her, even from a distance, but something's definitely different. The hair, the apparel, the eyes - even if her expression is just as stern and uncompromising as always. He only stepped outside for a brief smoke when he catches sight of her, looking for all the world as dead-set purposeful as usual.]

George?

[He drops the cigarette and grinds it out with his heel before moving to intercept.]

Shit. You're - you okay?

action

[choosetruth]

[She raises the gun when she sees movement, meeting Tim's eyes as the details filter back into her brain. Tim Wright. Sometimes friend. Liar. But it's not like she can claim she's never lied anymore, is it? Sure, she could say she didn't have a choice, but that would be a lie too. There's always a choice. She chose to stay alive by any means possible.

She lowers the gun, but keeps it in her hand.]

No, not particularly.

[Saying she's okay has been the only lie she's generally allowed herself, but right now it'd be so obviously untrue as to be laughable. She looks like--and is--an escaped lab experiment. Pretending otherwise is just ridiculous.]

I need to find Shaun. You have a phone on you? Presumably mine's still in my room.

[action]

[shorthair]

[There are certain truths.

Clementine's been worried since Shaun's post: truth. She perfectly visualized what Georgia had described to her before. She knew would happen to someone she cares about so much, and she's seen Michonne return, bruised and beaten. It's left her shaken, hard to rest, hard to focus. There's just so much nothing to do in Wonderland sometimes. It'd drive her crazy.

She's used to surviving, fighting for every moment: another truth.

Georgia was supposed to die when she went back to her own world: truth. She was moments away from it. Her stuff remained in Wonderland so Clementine again counts down the days until a week happens. She figures Wonderland has to heal people from mortal wounds, but it's still got to be traumatizing as fuck to die and come back.

But she can't find Shaun anywhere: truth number 2. She tried to check in on him throughout the week even if he didn't want to see anyone, and she can't blame him.

It takes her longer than she wants to find Georgia but she does find her. She thinks she finds her. There are differences as clear as day. She seems thinner, weird clothing, and her hair's different, which should be impossible because she was dead. Her hands tighten as she prepares for- for something. Her voice finds remarkable steadiness. Ordinarily, there might be more of an edge to it, but whoever this is seems scared, and she has a gun, which means she's dangerous.]

...Georgia?

[action]

[choosetruth]

[Up goes the gun, but Clementine's face is one that swims out of her damaged memories faster than most. The kid was important to her. She lowers the gun almost immediately and puts a hand over her mouth, blinking back tears. Oh, how she misses not being capable of crying. Her fucked up eyes made her life hell, but they were her fucked up eyes.]

Clementine. I... [She swallows. Get ahold of yourself, Georgia. This is not the weirdest thing that's happened to you.

Well, actually, maybe it is. But still. She can handle it.]

[Video]

[cisskabob]

Welcome back, Georgia. [Yes. She's using your name, because you are Georgia. If nothing else, the Wonderland memories and the attitude are convincing enough for Cissie.]

I think--you've probably figured out where Shaun is, so I can't help much more on that front. But I am really glad to see you.

And for what it's worth... If you consider yourself Georgia, then that's who you are.

[Video]

[choosetruth]

[It means more to George than she's willing to let on to hear it. She just nods. She has sunglasses again. She can keep her emotions hidden.]

I am and I'm not. But I'm more her than anyone else is.

[It's complicated.]

video.

[demonstrate]

( iris doesn't understand.

there is so much she has successfully wrapped her head around, however impossible it's seemed. meta-humans, breaches that lead to other worlds, pocket dimensions inspired by children's books, magic unlike she's ever seen: she can accept all of this, even if she has to strain harder for some than others. she can believe it, because those around her believe it, too. because she is a reporter, and she clings to the facts, and she trusts her gut and those facts to lead her to the truth.

but this? this she does not understand. it's georgia and it isn't. she always will be, and never was. she's only now setting foot in wonderland and hasn't met iris, but somehow remembers her. and some piece of iris has to grieve for the woman who left and didn't come back. the woman who was her friend.

the one cold comfort iris had to give her is gone, too: shaun has disappeared, and the world must seem so off balance.

what does she say in a situation like this one? it all seems too small. welcome back doesn't fit, either.

in a very quiet voice: ) Please don't set things on fire. He'll be back.

video.

[choosetruth]

[Georgia... really wasn't kidding about her threat, though Iris is the first person who seems to have realized that it was even a possibility. She is past the point of caring about anything except getting Shaun back.

Still, she offers a small, tired smile.]

I give it a week. Then no promises. It's good to see you again, Iris.

[video]

[punful]

[He's gonna just. Not comment on 90% of that, because he can barely even process it. Nor is he going to ask if she's okay because that's a stupidass question.]

he's, uh, gotta be around somewhere. he was just looking for you a few days ago. i think he kinda...thought you weren't coming back.

[video]

[choosetruth]

Considering I'm dead as far as he knows, that's not surprising. But no, unfortunately, I'm no better at lying to myself than anyone else. He'd have found me by now. My stuff's all still here, which meant there was a chance, no matter how unlikely it seemed, that I'd be back. He would have been waiting.

[Shaun's gone. All she can hope is that he comes back soon.]

[video]

[wriggedywrecked]

God, fucking typical. You come back and you're the thing that's the word I-I-I can't even f-fucking say anymore. That's so just, that's just fucking typical.

D-Do you at least have 100% of her smarts?

[video]

[choosetruth]

You... can't say the word clone? Is that a Wonderland thing?

[Or just a him being 100% done with clones after his event thing? She could understand it. She's pretty done with clones and she is one.]

I sure as fuck hope so. World's not about to get easier anytime soon. If anything, I'll have to be smarter.

video;

[circlejerked]

<sub>[Okay, she is definitely Georgia Mason. No one else has strong opening lines like that.

He watches. He listens. He even takes a few long minutes to carefully consider what he's watched and listened to, turning his head first one way and then the other. Finally, Anders picks up his device and turns on the camera.]</sub>

... A clone?

_{[So like... a twin of Georgia? He's vaguely familiar with the scientific concept, but they're not exactly inundated with cloning laboratories in medieval fantasy land.}

video;

[choosetruth]

[Ah yes. High fantasy people don't know about their sciencey concepts.]

Genetic duplicate. Remember that event in the lab with all the kids? Sort of like that, except they grew my body to the age I remember being.

[voiceinthedark]

Oh god, Georgia!!! you're... Okay, that's really messed up and confusing but messed up and confusing is sort of what we do so...

Welcome back. And also nice to meet you.

[choosetruth]

I'm still me. We've already met.

[Only if he'd insisted on having already known her, she'd point out that she wasn't exactly the same. But. Messed up and confusing. He's not wrong. And she's still working out exactly who she is.]

[watchmaker]

Man, you two are non-stop.

[choosetruth]

I stopped pretty hard when I died. It wasn't great.