[ open ] the spirits are ruthless with the paths they choose

[thevulnerability]

Who: Chloe Decker and Julia Shumway and you!
Where: Various
When: Oct 26-29th, during the AU event
Rating: PG
Summary: Chloe is an actress who never met the devil. Julia is a savvy reporter who never ended up under a dome. Shenanigans ensue. Open starters in the comments, gifs under the cut, will match format.
The Story:

Comments

Chloe Decker | OTA

[thevulnerability]

THE POOL

Since autumn makes it hard to go to the beach, Chloe makes due with what she can by the pool. Even without the summer sun beating down on her, she's playing make-believe with a skimpy bikini, gigantic movie-star sunglasses, and a magazine that she spends more time fanning herself with than actually reading. She's even treated herself with a fancy drink with a little umbrella.

It's felt like nothing exciting has happened in weeks, and the truth is, Chloe is bored out of her mind. She actually doesn't mind Wonderland; she loved acting, of course, but she's never been completely comfortable with the attention that comes with it, and anonymity in Wonderland isn't unwelcome. Still, she can't completely turn off being dramatic, and she's had her fair share of starlet crises since her arrival.

"Ugh," she announces to the pool room, to no one in particular. "I never thought I'd actually get a chance to get bored with this place."

NETWORK POST { VIDEO }

[ Chloe is still in the pool when she addresses the mansion at large, her sunglasses now perched on her head. Her winged eyeliner is on point, btw. ]

I know I'm not the only one that misses their job back home. I can't exactly do the thing that I did here, either, and I know people find a way to be busy, but I'm having a really hard time with it.

What do the rest of you do to scratch that 'I miss what I did back home' itch? Other than open another bar?

[ What? There's a lot of bars here. ]

Julia Shumway | OTA

[thereporter]

THE HALLWAYS

Julia Shumway is the ever intrepid reporter, regardless of the choices she's made in life. Anyone who encounters her in the entrance hall, though, might sense something a little different; perhaps her slightly more inflated ego, her slightly less apparent self-doubt, or--maybe the most obvious--a complete lack of contentment that has otherwise followed her around Wonderland. She's separated from her husband and misplaced from the city she calls home, and Wonderland leaves her constantly feeling like she's crawling out of her skin.

While she still contributes for the blog, she doesn't waste her time with feel-good stories or fuzzy fluff pieces that might boost morale. Instead, she's looking for answers, big or small; she's eager to escape Wonderland as fast as she can. At the moment she is heading down the hallway, peering at the mirrors and appraising the pieces of art on the walls, as if any of them might hold a clue as to the greater story of this prison. Occasionally, she'll stop and stare out of the windows at the impossible views, trying to orient herself to the outside of the Mansion and failing every time.

[ closed to Barbie ] how the faces of love have changed

[thereporter]

The morning light filters through the windows of the bedroom and Julia turns over as she starts to gently fight her way from a deep slumber. She can feel the weight of someone else on the bed; Peter must have stayed home from work that day and is curled up warmly beside her. Her fingers stretch out as she brushes against the bare skin of his shoulder and then she startles awake as if electricity has just shot through her whole body.

This isn't Chicago. This is Wonderland. And Peter isn't here.

Julia shoots up into a sitting position, one hand grasping the blanket to pull it up over her bare chest, her other hand slapping the shoulder of the strange man sprawled out next to her in the bed. She's never seen him before in her life.

"Who the hell are you?!"