video;

[blackbirdsing]

[ 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. ]

Comments

[blackbirdsing]

Except here, magic is what brings us food. So. Unless there's enough in that garden outside to sustain all of us long term, I feel like we'd be sort of screwed.

[tobelieve]

Perhaps that's a question we need to make certain we have an answer to.

[blackbirdsing]

Since this place doesn't seem to care about giving us actual answers, I wouldn't hold my breath in anticipation of finding out.

[tobelieve]

It's not a question we need Wonderland to answer. We can find it ourselves.

[blackbirdsing]

Can we? I mean, I'm definitely not trying to be anti-go-getter here, but. There are people who've been here for a really long time and haven't found the answers. Which isn't to say the answers aren't there, somewhere, Wonderland just doesn't want us to get there.

[tobelieve]

If the question is of finding food then we make our own. Plant crops, fish.

[blackbirdsing]

[ She knows she's playing devil's advocate, she really does, but if they're going to ever need to sustain themselves because the magic is gone, they're going to need to think of everything. ]

True. So, in order to plant anything, we need seeds. And to get seeds, we need magic.

[ Sometimes things stockpiled from the closets go 'poof' when events happen. ]

I know there's a greenhouse here. I've never been in it, though, so I'm not sure what's there.

[tobelieve]

Then let's go. I'll meet you at the entrance.

[blackbirdsing]

Oh!

[ Cool, okay, spur of the moment exploration, she's down. ]

See you in five.

[ And sure enough, five minutes later, Sarah's ready to go, giving a little wave. ]

Hey, I don't think I even got your name before. I'm Sarah.

[tobelieve]

Helena.

( She'll even offer her hand )

It is lovely to meet you. I'm glad you weren't too put off by the idea of figuring something out for yourself.

[blackbirdsing]

Likewise. And I'm all for getting to know this place a little better.

[ Sarah shakes her hand before they're off to wherever the greenhouse is. ]

I always think I've seen everything the mansion has to offer, and then someone else pops up to say they found another thing. Have you ever been in the attic?

[tobelieve]

No, though I haven't seen nearly enough of this place.

( And she is all up for exploring as much of it as possible )

What did you find there?

[blackbirdsing]

Remnants of old events, mostly. It has a very 'lost and abandoned-slash-haunted feel to it. I wouldn't go back alone, for sure. But I'd go with a friend.

[ She smiles at Helena, always glad to make a new buddy in Wonderland. ]

I've also heard there's something in the forest that could kill us all.

[tobelieve]

That definitely sounds like somewhere worth exploring. It's a lot of history, and there could be something useful there. Perhaps even something against whatever's in the forest.

[blackbirdsing]

Oh, and I've heard rumors of something living in the ocean, but I don't know how true that is. Kind of a Loch Ness situation, I think.

[ As they walk together outside, Sarah glances over at Helena. ]

So, where do you fall on the whole 'being here is better than home' spectrum?

[tobelieve]

Considering I was rather rudely pulled from the middle of something-- ( Nothing big, just saving someone's life... ) --I'm rather hoping we can find a way out of here. And soon, whether or not time actually affects us here.

( Because that's what people say, that time is frozen around them )

What about you?

[blackbirdsing]

I have mixed feelings, I think. Not everything has been terrible. I met my boyfriend here. My brother and sister-in-law are here. But I miss my kid, a lot, and I wouldn't want him here.

[ If Sawyer ever showed up she'd have a panic attack. She knows there are other children but she'd rather her own not go through any of the things in Wonderland. ]

[tobelieve]

Then it sounds like you've been here considerably longer than I have. Though I can agree that I wouldn't want anyone that I know to be here.

( She's the only person here from her world, and as yet hasn't really made any friends here. Not anyone close )

[blackbirdsing]

It's been over a year. I keep...waiting for some shoe to drop in my life. My ex showing up to screw with my relationship or something. I probably shouldn't even say it out loud. Don't they say that's like...willing something into existence?

[ This isn't Harry Potter, Sarah. And your ex isn't He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. But still. ]

[tobelieve]

I think being thankful that he's not here sounds like what you should focus on.

( Not that Helena's really a prime example of 'not focusing on the past' )

Then you can't will him into existence if that does happen.

[blackbirdsing]

Good idea.

[ Sarah can't help but agree, and as they get to the greenhouse, she looks around a little. ]

I wonder if anyone actively uses this thing. It looks a little maintained, at least.

[tobelieve]

( There's a small nod at first as Helena steps inside, taking a look at the rows in the greenhouse )

If it is it'll make it easier to begin growing things, and find people that can help. We might be able to get something set up quickly.

[blackbirdsing]

So, what kind of crops are you thinking about? Tomatoes, cucumbers? Things like that?

[tobelieve]

They'd make a good start. If they're viable we could think about expanding.

[blackbirdsing]

There should be some kind of grain, too, if a big enough area can be cleared out somewhere. Potatoes, too maybe?

[ If a guy on Mars can grow potatoes and survive off of them, surely they can do it in Wonderland. ]