entrancelogs | everybody dies but not everybody lives

Who: Michonne and You
Where: The Gardens
When: Approximately nowish
Rating: PG, will rate higher if needed
Summary: Michonne wants to make a nice spot for people. Well, for her. But others are invited, too.
Notes: Will match brackets or prose!
The Story:

[ Michonne isn't and has never been the type to cling to things. She didn't keep anything from the ravaged camp that took her son away from her. She didn't take anything to keep at the prison after a few good months there. She didn't keep her room here in Wonderland decorated with the touches Andrea added before she disappeared. That's not who she is. She'd rather close her eyes and think about the memories, the moments she spent at places that were no longer, or of people who were gone. But there's something about right now that feels different.

In the gardens, she looks around, finding an area that seems like it's somewhat removed from the rest of the space while still obviously being a part of the well-manicured landscape. After a few brief trips back and forth between an empty first-floor closet and this pretty spot, she begins gardening. She learned a lot from Herschel when they made a good go of farming at the prison, and now she's planting a big cluster of different colored Dahlias. They're the kind of flower that needs to be free from others, that only thrive in their isolation. They'll die in the winter and come back in the spring and they represent, in a fact not lost on Michonne - instability.

They represent Wonderland and the people who've left perfectly.

She's out for hours gardening, working up a sweat, but she's used to being out in the heat for long stretches at a time. Though, if someone brought her water she'd be grateful because she forgot, and she's too stubborn to stop what she's doing to go back inside. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ People come and go in Wonderland: that's just how it is. After more than four years here, Sam has seen a half-dozen Deans, along with John, Mary, Castiel, Jo, and more than a handful of other people from their world that he'd never thought they'd see again. There were, too, those who he'd met and grown close to in Wonderland itself: Blake (before he'd come back without his memories), Philip, Cami, Clara, River, James, Charlie, Simon. Countless other people.

It's a miracle Wonderland and its grounds aren't full of memorials. But they aren't. ]

Taking up gardening?

[ Sam doesn't know, of course, how close to his brother's quip his own opening statement is. He just walks up with his hands in his pockets, offering a weak smile. ]

... You alright?

I'm...

[ She lets out a breath and pats down a handful of dirt before looking up at Sam, actually managing a little smile. ]

I'm good. Just doin' some remembering today. Figured I might as well spread a little color. The flowers reminded me of Wonderland. They die but come back.

[ Morbid parallels for the win? ]

[ Sam doesn't know anything about flowers, but he believes her. He nods vaguely, lost in thought as he stares down at the different colors, thinking about the people who'd lost. About the ones who'd come back, but hadn't remembered. ]

I'm sorry about your friends. [ Whether from her world or not. ] I know what that's like.

[ Everyone's experiences are different, but they're all painful. ]

It never does get easier. And it used to be, knowing I was still here felt like a joke. Even in Wonderland. I know your brother has come and gone a hell of a lot, just since I've been here. My family shows up too. Six months at a time, three, a few weeks. They all leave and never come back. But me? Two and a half years of this.

[ It's not the length of time, it's that she seems to be static, not counting the random times she's left and returned in short order without forgetting anything. ]

Now it just feels like I should be doing something with my time here. Something that means somethin'. Even if it's planting flowers.

Yeah. [ He won't talk much about that, though. About Dean (and 'the Deans'). ] Same here.

[ Well, four years, but who's counting?? ]

I think this is fine. It definitely means something. ... If it helps you stay grounded, then it's more than worth it.

[ At least nobody (that he knows of) has taken up killing to pass the time. ]

Honestly? I'm surprised we haven't all gone crazy.

Shit, how would we know if we had? What's the sliding scale on crazy in Wonderland, anyway?

[ She arches an eyebrow and there's a bit of a smirk behind it. ]

I think it's officially "we're all mad here," but I say you're fine until you can take off your own head.

[ See: the Cheshire Cat, movie-verse. And the Duchess, obviously, here. ]

[ Michonne lets out a huff of laughter at that, shaking her head a little. ]

Good point. Guess if we're here long enough, it won't matter anyway.

[ Once they forget home then these will just be pretty flowers planted for no reason at all. ]

... What d'you mean?

[ Sam's smile falls a little as he glances to Michonne. ]

These are for people here, probably won't forget them. But people from home? Don't we all forget that eventually, like Alice? Think we've been here forever?

[ She didn't necessarily want to bring him down, so she shakes her head. ]

There's probably a long way to go, right? I've been here this long, still remember everything about home.

Yeah... it's definitely possible. [ He doesn't seem bummed out, and instead just frowns, considering it. ] Philip and James are gone, so we can't ask, but they seemed to remember everything from home. The other long-term people - Souji and Evie - might be good to ask.

[ Though he's almost positive Evelyn, at least, hasn't forgotten anything from her home world. ]

Maybe nobody's hit the magic number mark of years, yet.

[ Yet. ]

Maybe this place is full of shit.

[ I mean, it's a possibility, right? ]

I know there's Alice, and word of mouth. If the stories are based on Wonderland and knowing about its existence somehow, that means Alice is from the early 19th century. Somewhere around there. That's a hell of a long time in Wonderland.

"Maybe?" [ That draws out a laugh. ] I think it definitely is.

[ To say the least. ]

You're assuming we're in Wonderland in our present. But, for some people, they came here from before the 19th century. I'm pretty sure, anyway. So... I don't think it's as simple as assigning a year that we're familiar with to a place that doesn't tend to make sense.

[ He's not wrong. It absolutely is. And then her eyes widen for a second before she shakes her head and closes them. ]

You know what? It's easier to just plant flowers. Nothin' makes sense and everything's made up. That's what I've decided about this place.

[ She's smiling though, not frustrated by it or the lack of collective understanding. They don't have all the answers, and she'd rather not feel frustrated by being someone constantly trying to unravel this mystery. ]

[ Sam... laughs. That's unexpected, and funny, and so he laughs. ]

Alright. Fair. [ Better to not think about it, or so she says. ] ... You must get along pretty well with Dean, huh?

[ Sounds like something he'd say, anyway. ]

[ Michonne raises one eyebrow before nodding. ]

Yeah. He's one of the good ones. Looked after me after I died little while back.

[ It'd been a one-two-punch with her death and then Andrea leaving. Add in that Clementine had been the one to put down Michonne when she'd turned into a walker, and that'd been a hell of a bender. But Dean kept her upright and aired her out when she was ready to start trying to be okay again. ]

I owe him.

Think I remember that. [ In passing. Dean hadn't talked about it in detail. ] I'm glad he did.

[ He offers a fleeting smile, then glances up at the mansion. ]

I won't bug you anymore. But, if you need anything, you know where to find me.

everybody dies but not everybody lives

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