+ The Time Has Come, the Time Is Now +

[vitaelamorte]

Who: Everyone in Wonderland!
Where: The chessboard hills
When: Monday, June 11, all day starting at 10:00 AM
Rating: R for (sometimes excessive) violence
Summary: The Queen of Hearts has declared war and the time for battle has come.
The Story:
♥ ICly, the Real Things who will act as pieces volunteered and are led by the Red Queen. The Mirrors were chosen by the Queen of Hearts without being given a choice. The Queen of Hearts announced her choices to her Mirrors very directly, with an order to show up at 10:00 AM on the chessboard, ready to fight. The Red Queen announced her choices more politely, but just as firmly, with a text message sent out over the network listing her pieces and requesting their assistance to protect their fellow Real Things. Characters were not ICly able to respond to this message.

♥ Those pieces who choose to obey the summons will have time to gather any items or weapons they might want to have with them, within reason. Those who don't heed the summons will find themselves suddenly and instantly transported to their square on the chessboard when 10:00 AM rolls around. They will arrive with anything that was on their person at the time, as well as one weapon (whatever it would be normal for them to use). Likewise, any spectators who are not in or around the stands by 10:00 AM will find themselves transported there.

♥ Each player sports an armband, white for the Real Things and Black for the Mirrors, with the shape of their assigned chess piece embroidered in the opposite color. Royalty pieces wear crowns indicative of their status. Should a pawn be promoted to queen, a crown will appear on their head.

♥ Pieces will find that they can't leave their assigned spots until they're told what square to move to by either the Queen of Hearts or the Red Queen. And if they refuse to move, after a couple of moments, an unseen force will scoot them along to their new space.

♥ When threading moves on the board, please find the appropriate top-level under which to comment! It might be helpful to label your thread with which move/encounter you're playing out.

♥ Players on the board can not communicate with those in the stands and vice versa (other than by jumping around and flailing, I guess). However, players on the board can communicate directly with those in squares adjacent to them or with any challenger whose square they share. Since some pieces have a lot of down time, feel free to have them chat with others on the board while they're waiting around.

♥ Directions from the Queens can be assumed. Go ahead and play out moves without waiting for a comment to officially announce them.

♥ The plotting and info post for this log is here.

♥ For your convenience, here are links to the thread headers:

The Donation Box
Pre-Game
The Game - Moves 1-20
The Game - Moves 21-40
The Game - Moves 41-60
The Game - Moves 61-80
The Game - Moves 81-100
The Game - Moves 101-117
The Holding Area
The Stands

Have fun!

Comments

[alsoagirl]

[ Jessica startles at the contact. Her mama had held her like this sometimes, sure, but it seemed more like she was going through the motions, doing what was expected of her. This, though--this feels entirely different. There's something behind it, something warm and real with no feeling of an invisible wall keeping them apart.

She bites her lip and wipes away the blood as best she can, taking a moment to calm down. When she does, she gradually allows herself to enjoy the comfort. ]

I don't expect it from anybody. [ She scoffs. ] And even when I get it, I go and fuck it up somehow. Feels like it's easier to expect things to go to shit than try and bother lettin' people in.

[beautifullies]

[ That's devasating to Claire, and she wonders, for a second, if she made Brianna feel that way. She certainly didn't make as much time for her own daughter as she could have, not until after Frank died and truths unraveled. But those are her own shortcomings, and if she can never make it up with her own child, maybe she can be there for someone else who desperately needs it. ]

Listen to me, Jessica. It's always easier for bad things to happen than good. But the people who want good to happen don't stop fighting for it. People screw up, that's what we do. It's what we'll always do. But you don't deserve to be treated as any less because of it. I promise, whatever you didn't have at home, whatever led to you thinking that way, won't happen as long as I'm here. All right?

[alsoagirl]

[ Jessica gives a trembling smile then suddenly wraps her up in a tight hug. She may not be in the sun right now, but it feels like it's bathing her in warmth.

When she pulls back, her smile's stronger. She hasn't felt this cared for since she was in Dallas a few months ago. Not that she wants to think about that. ]

Thanks, Miss Claire. Like, so much. You're gonna make bein' here so much easier. I'm glad you found me when I first came. I'd prolly be goin' nuts by now if you hadn't.

It's, uh... [ It feels weird saying this, but whatever. ] It feels nice havin' somebody around like you. Somebody that's a real lady.

[ An adult, she's trying to say, but not really say because that'd be uncool. ]

[beautifullies]

[ Claire's hug in return is welcome and warm, and she rests a head on the back of Jessica's until she pulls back. Smiling, she pats her hand. ]

You've nothing to thank me for. Someone helped me when I arrived, and I couldn't ignore that someone new needed help when you showed up. That I consider you a friend now is a bonus.

[ She understands what Jessica's saying, oddly the men who respected her at sea and on the battlefield had the same way of speaking. Like she's a mother to them, but somehow not willing to say as much out loud. ]

As long as I'm in Wonderland, you can spend as much time with me as you'd like.

[alsoagirl]

Then I promise I'm gonna pay it forward if I see someone new. It's only right.

But don't worry! I won't take up all your time like that. [ That would also be majorly uncool. She'd lose all her nonexistent street cred! (She'll probably be hanging with Miss Claire way more than necessary, regardless.) ] 'Sides, I wouldn't wanna go messin' up your sleep, since...y'know.

[ There's a short pause. ]

Can I ask you somethin' kinda personal?

[beautifullies]

[ Claire's not worried about her time being wasted, and she looks at Jessica with a nod. ]

Of course, ask me anything you'd like.

[alsoagirl]

[ She hesitates again, but eventually the words come. ]

What's it like? Bein' a mom?

[ The idea of it had haunted her since Hoyt's mother stabbed her with the cold truth that she'd never be one. It wasn't until that moment that she realized how upsetting it was. Before she was turned, part of her imagined she'd be able to have her own family and raise them right, make up for the shit her own parents put her through. Maybe she'd even be able to take her little sister with her and help her escape that hell. Now...none of that was possible. ]

[beautifullies]

[ It's really no the question she thought she would be facing, and Claire takes a breath, letting it out slowly. ]

Well. It can be terrifying. It's like...having your heart walking around outside of your body and you can only do so much to protect it. You always wonder if you're doing the right things, if you're imparting the right lessons. But for as hard and daunting as it is, to be responsible for this one life, far beyond eighteen years, it's a lot of love and laughter and beautiful memories.

[ She has all of that. She still thinks she could have had more, been a better parent. But talks of Brianna aren't what Jessica needs right now, and Claire reaches out, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. ]

Sometimes parental figures aren't your actual parents, you know? Mine died when I was very young.

[alsoagirl]

[ It takes her a while to digest all that, but once she does, she lets out a few sad laughs and nods. It was so absurdly far from the experiences she'd had with her mother--hell, both her parents--that she can't help it. But even if the idea of all that was foreign and always would be, it's crazy how much it synced up to what she thought motherhood was. At least it's nice to have the confirmation.

She rests a hand on Claire's. In this moment, she feels a little human again. ]

Yeah. I'm learnin' that real fast. Like...I think my Maker could be that way, if he'd actually spend some time with me. [ Snort. ] Not that it matters much right now.

[ She glances over with a smile. ] Least I got you here. Hope it's not all weird to say that, but...I can tell you got a good heart, Miss Claire. Your daughter had to've loved you somethin' fierce.

[beautifullies]

[ It sounds more and more like Jessica's truly felt alone for both parts of her life, and Claire vows, right then, it can't be the same any longer. But at the mention of Bree, her smile wavers a little, though she doesn't pull away from Jessica, not wanting her to believe she said anything wrong. ]

She loves me quite a lot, I think.

[ Enough to urge her mother to go back in time to the man she loved, effectively making it so that they'd never see one another again. But Claire hasn't told Jessica all of that yet, and today isn't the day to, either. ]

And I love her quite a lot as well. I miss her; a part of me wishes she'd arrive here and then I realize what, exactly, that would mean and that she'd be subject to the same things we all are in Wonderland.

[alsoagirl]

[ Her smile fades. ] Yeah, I kinda know what you mean. I think 'bout that a lot with my lil sister, Eden. Just imaginin' I could show her what life's really like outside that house? It'd be nice to make up for all the years I treated her like shit.

[ She drops her gaze to the ground, shrugging a bit. ] But then it'd be like you said. I wouldn't want her dealin' with this place. She probably wouldn't even remember me, anyway. Can't really fix a relationship that doesn't exist anymore, can you?

[beautifullies]

[ Claire's quiet for a second, and she wants to be careful to not make this about her when Jessica so clearly needs to be the one comforted right now. ]

You might not be able to fix it. But you can always be determined to learn from the things that went wrong and make things better in your future relationships.

[ After all, isn't that semi what Claire is doing now? Trying to make amends via all the people she tries to take care of in Wonderland. ]

[alsoagirl]

Wow. You're right.

[ Jessica blinks in amazement. God, so many smart and deep things keep coming out of Claire's mouth. Some sermons back home had stirred up feelings like this in her, but they were few and far between. Today, though? It was happening so often her head was spinning.

Her smile comes right back, and she leans in to whisper in awe: ]

Did you go to college?

[beautifullies]

[ Claire laughs softly, giving Jessica a fond squeeze before removing her arm from around her. ]

No, but I did attend nursing school, then medical school some years after that. I've traveled all over the world though, and I've heard some very wise advice from people much smarter than I am.

[alsoagirl]

[ Her awe only grows. A totally educated woman who's seen the world? She's like the people she'd read about in her hidden away dime novels back home! Can she get any cooler?? ]

Gosh, Miss Claire. I can't get over how fuckin' lucky I am that you found me when I got here. You're gonna be like the mama I never had.

[ ...Shit. She didn't mean to say that out loud. It's out there, though.

To cover it up her sudden awkwardness, she looks over her shoulder at the stands. ]

I-Is it weird I kinda wanna go see what's goin' on out there?

[beautifullies]

[ As awkward as that makes Jessica feel, it warms Claire's heart a bit to hear it, and she smiles softly before following her gaze. ]

No, I don't suppose it is. Plenty of people are spectating, and you should be able to enjoy the sunshine while you can.

[ With that, she lets her arm move from around Jessica's shoulders, standing herself. ]

I'm going to stay here, just in case anyone needs me, but you go enjoy the day, chess aside.

[ She should be able to enjoy the freedom of being outdoors during the day. ]

[alsoagirl]

[ Underneath all the awkwardness is a feeling of belonging she's not sure she's ever felt before. Later on, after this has all blown over, she'll definitely remember the moment fondly, sans the weirdness.

Jessica scrubs at her cheeks to get rid of the last of the blood and sets the gauze into what she figures is a trash can. ]

Yeah. Who knows when I'm gonna get the chance again? Doubt the events are gonna keep bein' kind to me.

[ After hesitating for a moment, she throws her arms around Claire for a tight hug. ] Thanks so much for everything.

[ And at that, she lets go and zooms off towards the stands in a blur. ]