entrancelogs | [not as closed as jay intended] we've got us a map (a map!)

Who: Jay, Tim, Georgia, Shaun and eventually Alphys
Where: The Network
When: ~~September 16~~ September 17, because chaos! anarchy! maps!
Rating: PG
Summary: Jay puts together a locked group chat with Tim, Shaun, and George to talk about the map he received. Master Hacker Alphys McSciencelizard crashes the party. For science.

The Story:

[Jay starts with a video. He's in his room, with scraps of red tissue paper scattered across the desk.]

So it...looks like this isn't just me. That got a present, I mean. Did you guys, uh...what did you get?

[He should have worked out what he was going to say ahead of time, he really should have, but he's been too busy thinking about the fact that he got a map. A map that leads somewhere. Somewhere inside the mansion.]

I got this.

[He unrolls the map and holds it up to the screen. It's recognizably a depiction of the mansion, but upon closer inspection, the image is reversed. There's a red "X" on the fifth floor.]

I've been looking at it, and I tried matching it up with where I've been, but then I got a look at the entrance hall. [He points, crinkling the paper.] The kitchen's...it's on the wrong side, right? And the library's not supposed to be there, either.

I mean...maybe this isn't our mansion. Maybe it's, y'know. [He gestures vaguely toward his bedroom mirror, half-covered with a sheet.] Theirs.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Better question.

[Maybe not better, but certainly a question that warrants asking.]

How the hell do we get over there? Mirrorside isn't exactly easy to cross over to, right?

It's just as hard for... [Jay grimaces.] ...for the Mirrors to cross over to this side, right? 'Cause, I mean, if not, maybe we can talk one of ours into switching with us.

[Not a great idea, but it's an idea! Maybe!]

[She relaxes very slightly at Shaun's touch, though she still doesn't look happy. It lets her put aside her annoyance with the whole situation and focus on the actual practicalities of getting to the Mirrorside.]

They can crossover at will, actually. The problem is, if the Queen hasn't given permission, she'll get angry and punish them, which could include entirely unmaking them. That was part of the issue with Fitz and Cisco's portal. Mirrors used it to cross over, and the Queen decided to punish everyone.

So it's very unlikely we can talk one of them into switching. The risk is greater than any reward we could offer.

Yeah, uh, w-what she said-- they'd definitely be killed.

[She puzzles over her options, tapping a little claw against her chin.]

Maybe someone has an item that w-will let them do this. Or... we could try to find the Rabbit Hole. But it's always moving. And even if we did get over there, s-someone would have to be back here to make sure our mirrors don't cross over again immediately, because then it'd all be for nothing.

[A small pause.]

Also, why are you going to the Core a-anyway?? What's the point of all this?

Yeah. I mean, sure, the map's probably of the Core, and there's clearly something going on, but maybe going in person isn't the next step.

[Jay pauses.]

I mean, we'll probably end up checking it out regardless, but...

If we have a map that gives us the location to the Core - [And he nods at Jay's map, since the Queen's room seems to be out due to how much it moves around.] - that probably means we have to go there. Or...someone has to.

[He holds up his chess piece for all parties to examine once more.]

If this belongs to the Red Queen, we might be able to find her there.

And much like Shaun and his constant temptation to Drink Me, we are not going to run off half-cocked just because a map is telling us to.

[Georgia leans forward.]

For one thing, you two are not going to the Mirrorside unarmed. At least take a fucking taser or pepper spray or something. If we find the Red Queen, we might be finding the Jabberwocky as well. We need more information.

[Hhhh this is going so fast, thank god Georgia is here to stop them because she is Not At All Good At Stopping.]

No, uhm, s-she's right, we shouldn't just-- we can't just r-run in there!!! The Core is incredibly dangerous and I don't think nearly anyone's ever been there and just, uh, walked out okay. Especially if we're trying to do something important.

... Wait, w-what's the Jabberwocky?

[Someone hasn't done their Wonderland required reading.]

[Someone didn't do their required reading. Though, when pressed, Shaun couldn't actually describe it himself. The poem is full of nonsense terms that don't make sense.]

Terrifying Wonderland monster. Pretty sure it's one of the last things we want to find when we open the door.

[Georgia's done her reading, of course, and more importantly, done her notes on Wonderland past reading. Which, in this case, is a lot more useful than the poem.]

It's attacked Wonderland a few times in the past. Most recently, the Red Queen used the Vorpal Shield to trap it and herself in the Core. That was a few years ago.

So...she might still be down there.

[Maybe her memories have been polished away, but...they've got a map to the Mirrorside and a whole lot of Wonderland-related shit cropping up at unbridled speeds.]

So maybe we all stick together. Safety in numbers - 'specially if there's something still alive down there.

[It sounds like the backstory to some corny fantasy story. Yet, here they all are, potentially right about to walk right into the dragon's jaws.]

[It's not an unfamiliar feeling.]

Yeah. Safety in numbers, and if we have to run, we at least...try to stay together.

[Jay knows that's harder than it sounds.]

[She immediately looks, like, much more scared.]

Okay, so, uh, n-now we're also dealing with gigantic animals, this is fine.

[Thiiis is fine. She knows she kind of... invited herself to this party, and the prospect of something that could eat her isn't fantastic, but...]

If-- If y-you're all going to the Core, I want to come. I'm not, uhm, much of a fighter, but, I-- I'm one of the only people who's ever studied it. I can help.

[Georgia shrugs. She doesn't really expect anyone but her and Shaun to be able to actually defend themselves, but they'll have to be enough.]

If you know things that can help us, we'd be happy to have you. [Besides, she imagines Alphys is just as eager to get some actual in person data on the Core while they're there, and she's certainly not opposed to that. Maybe she can learn something.] You're still bringing some sort of weapon. Just in case.

[Might as well. If Alphys knows about the Core, she might be the only chance they have at knowing what to expect. The remark is no less pointed than what he'd expect from George, which is what has him scowling.]

Fine.

[It'll be a flip-knife. That counts, right?]

As long as we can figure out how to cross over. And...what to do with our Mirrors once we do.

[Jay has...a camera. And he's good at running. Neither of those are weapons, but they're something. Maybe he can get one of the closets to give him a knife.]

[And oh god, the Mirrors.]

I'm guessing we'll need outside help, if that's an option. People to keep them from crossing back over and kicking us out.

[She pales a little at the mention of Mirrors. Oh. RIght. They can't be on the same side. Oh jeez. Her mirror is nothing short of awful, and incredibly dangerous; she can't give her free reign to go after Sans again.]

Yeah, uh-- we're g-going to need help. But remember they can't hurt them, either.

[Who's even gone against her mirror and won? Mettaton, maybe, but she can't put him in that danger.]

Maybe we can, uh, lock them in a room s-somewhere? For a while?

[Shaun glances at George. Their science correspondent is a superhero, right?]

We probably have some people we can call to help keep them wherever we want to put them.