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[ When Sarah comes into view, she's sitting with her elbows on a table, fingers steepled, and she actually looks Very Serious™ while contemplating how best to phrase her question. The conversation has come up privately, and she needs to have a full understanding of one of the parts of Wonderland she's never bothered with - the Vendors. ]

Hey. I know everyone's kind of consumed with what the dormouse had to say or...didn't say. But I really want to see where everyone falls regarding opinions on the Vendors.

Since we can't pick the memory they want, that means somehow they can rifle through our minds to pick the thing they want to take. And it'd probably have to be something meaningful or impactful. If I ever, for whatever reason, had no option but to use the Vendors, I could lose something like the birth of my son. I'd have no choice or say in the matter.

[ Her reason for using the Vendors would have to be extraordinary. Something involving Kurt or Ray and dire circumstances. ]

Anyway, my actual question is...how do we know, if the Vendors can access our minds and memories, that they or someone or something else doesn't do that all the time, on a constant basis? If Wonderland does actually use our memories to fuel the things that happen here, does that mean our brains are constantly being...I don't know. Monitored???

I'd really like some opinions on this.

[ Sarah isn't paranoid at all usually, and she'd say this is more concerned than paranoid, but it feels like such a violation of privacy that she can't help asking the community at large. ]

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I've seen it, and I know I lost something when I did. I don't know what I lost, though.

[But wait there's the second part of what she said.]

You're right, it's on the other side. I'm not sure if it stays in the same place, though. It wouldn't surprise me if it moved around.

Like the island on LOST.

[ Wow, two pop culture references in one conversation. Someone has a hobby. ]

Self-preservation, I mean. Not staying in one place just to be sure it can't be tampered with. Although, even if it could be, getting too close for too long could ruin someone completely.

[He doesn't get the reference, but he can tell they're on the same page.]

It's possible. It makes you wonder how the Mirrors live near it.

Well, if they're created - and destroyed - by the Queen, then I assume nothing is using their memories for anything. Maybe it can tell somehow what's real and what's a clone. If they have our memories but never actually experienced it themselves, then whatever is looking for fuel might be able to tell the difference somehow.

That would mean their memories have no substance.

[He hadn't thought of it that way before, but it makes sense, certainly.]

Before I came here, I'd have said no memories have substance, but events kind of prove otherwise.

Memories are important. Memories drive us, make us relive happiness, make us sink into pain. Make us brave or weak, depending. I think that's why they're important. Why they can be fuel for this place.

[ Memories shape people, so maybe it makes sense. ]

[He nods slowly. A year before his arrival, he wouldn't have agreed with her. Now he knows better.]

But I wonder why memories specifically. It could steal emotions. It could steal our will power. It could just kill us and steal our lives.

Well, what's the fun in that? I'm sure someone out there is thoroughly entertained and when they're bored, time for a new event.

You really think so?

[He has his doubts. After so long, the idea that there's some mastermind seems pretty distant.]

I do. Things happen way too regularly. Like scheduled programming. Although maybe that's just feeding time for the Core.

That's what I think it is.

[Buuuut....]

That doesn't mean I'm right, though. There's too much we don't know to be sure.

All of us are probably wrong in some way. Maybe we all have bits and pieces figured out. Either way, in the grand scheme of things, I don't know if it even matters. Asking these questions never gets anyone anywhere, seems like.

[ Which doesn't mean she isn't curious, and no one should be, but they all always wind up talking in theory circles. ]

Possible answers seem to turn into more questions, too. I think it's good that we keep asking them, but you're right. And it gets frustrating.

[Complacency is easier, really.]

Maybe one day we'll have some answers. Or, hey, we'll forget everything anyway and none of this will matter anyway.

Sadly, I think the latter is more likely.

You're probably right. And on that bummer of a note, I should go. But thanks for talking it out with me.

[ She really appreciates it; talking to people - especially those she's never met before - always lends itself to new insights and things to think about. ]

Yeah, anytime. Take care.