+ Chalk it to me! - Mingle Log +

[vitaelamorte]

Who: EVERYONE!
Where: Anywhere outside on Real Side, but mostly in the gardens!
When: 3/14-3/20
Rating: PG, warn if going higher than PG-13
Summary: Alice has invited everyone, Reals and Mirrors alike, to come color outside in the nice spring weather with magic chalk. Surely nothing could go wrong with that plan, right?
The Story:

Outside, the weather is absolutely beautiful. It's not too hot, but not too cold either, and no one would have ever realized there was snow on the ground yesterday if they hadn't been here to see it. The grass is green and everything is dry - no sign of melted snow anywhere at all. Flowers have begun to bloom and it truly looks as though it's been spring for some time already. The season has changed abruptly and now Wonderland's decided it's time for it to be nice out.

There are many paths through the gardens, the vendors, and the hedge maze that can be drawn on, but as Alice demonstrated in her post, there's no need at all to stick to pavement only. Even the air can be decorated with living drawings!

This is a log for people who want to come color outside or people who want to check out what others are doing out here. It isn't strictly to interact with Alice, but she'll be around and will have a top level.

Comments

[hypoxic]

"Our" guard.

[His eyes drop to her hand, half expecting her to draw a weapon.]

You're not with them?

[Because he's certainly not, and as far as he's aware, that much is public knowledge.]

[hadtolose]

[ Kara hesitates for a moment before deciding to be truthful. Somewhat. ]

I...haven't had the best experiences with people.

[ It usually ends with someone trying to wipe her memory or kill her, so. ]

My... [ What exactly would she call Connor? "Friend" doesn't really work. ] One of the people I know from home tells me everyone here isn't bad. [ She lets out a weak laugh. ] I'm kinda scared to believe him.

[ She says, to a human. She hasn't exactly had anyone to divulge this to, though. It's making her chattier than usual. ]

I don't think he had to deal with half the things I did.

[hypoxic]

[So she's newer. That makes sense. She hasn't been assimilated into their thinking yet. Is this an opening?

It probably isn't. Hope is exhausting.]

You shouldn't believe him. There isn't a single trustworthy person among this lot.

[hadtolose]

[ She gives him a searching look. As much as she's starting to come around with Connor, there's always that nagging feeling that something might happen. CyberLife's star deviant hunter had been very good at his job, after all.

Kara glances away, trying not to appear too conflicted. ]

That seems a little extreme. [ Even if, you know, it's kind of what she's been thinking since arriving... ] I'm really trying to be open-minded.

[ She relaxes a bit. At least she doesn't feel alone in her thoughts.

Slowly, she peers up at him again. ]

What makes you think that way?

[hypoxic]

They're sheep. They're too quick to believe in lies, but believe it too strongly to be corrected.

[He looks out among the people enjoying their pleasant spring activities, eyes narrowing.]

Their stupidity makes them dangerous.

[hadtolose]

[ Aaand there it is. Exactly what she expected. Zlatko would probably be best buddies with him, as much as he enjoyed toying with androids.

It was times like these, though rare, that she was glad Alice wasn't here with her. They'd dealt with enough hate and fear. Why would Wonderland be any different?

Kara's tensed right back up. He's touched a very, very sore nerve. ]

You sound like you're afraid of them. [ It's almost annoying that they have that in common. ] It's only human.

[hypoxic]

Fear is a tool, not an outcome. [He's terrified of some, but more afraid to admit it. Let her be tense. She'll either learn soon enough or join them outright.] It's more complicated than that. They've done great harm to me. There's no reason to imagine they won't turn on each other, in time.

[hadtolose]

[ That gives her some pause. As much as she's switched into ALL HUMANS BAD mode, the idea of someone getting hurt pulls at her heartstrings.

She'd trusted a human once. That hadn't turned out so bad! Mostly...

Even with that "fear is a tool" line, she can't help her curiosity. ]

What have they done?

[hypoxic]

[ he looks away from her, adjusting the cuff of his suit jacket. ]

I am presently imprisoned by a witch that lives here. At large, the community is aware and chooses not to engage. In some cases, they've actively returned me to her when I've managed to escape. They'll see me be enslaved rather than attempt to help.

[hadtolose]

[ Kara's had some time to adjust to the concept of there being a supernatural community in Wonderland. That doesn't make his revelation any easier to handle, however.

Her eyes widen and she stares at him in shock. ]

How could anyone let that happen?

[ He'd pressed on a different nerve this time. If there was anything she--and her kind--had been accustomed to, it was being prisoners. Any other time, she might not care about a human sharing the experience. But this was Wonderland. None of them deserved to be trapped any more than they already were.

Like most of her actions since arriving, she's guided by what she thinks her daughter would want. So many times on their journey in Detroit, Alice had shown concern for everyone, no matter the species. Even if it was terrifying to open herself up to someone else, someone who could do her just as much harm as he'd experienced, Kara felt she had to help. ]

I'm sorry. [ She reaches out and touches his arm gently, as much as he'll allow her to. ] You don't deserve that.

[ Though maybe if she'd ever bothered to touch her device more than two times, she'd realize he really, really did. Lucky him. ]

[hypoxic]

[ when she reaches out for him, he grows tense, a stage short of flinching. He snatches his arm back from her shortly after. ]

Not many here would agree with you about that. Cruelty here is unnoticed at best and encouraged at its worst. These people can't be helped. But your concern is appreciated nonetheless.

[hadtolose]

[ She is having the worst dang luck with finding people who like being touched, but...at least he accepted it for a few seconds. It's something.

The confinement has affected him a lot, she figures. It's probably the main reason why he's acting in such a manner.

Kara smiles briefly, awkwardly, and pulls her hand back. ]

S-Sorry. [ All that darn care programming is strong. ] I just don't like to see others go through the same things I had to.

[ There's a hesitation, then she says quietly: ] Being in Wonderland has given me the most freedom I've ever had. Even if I lost the person who matters to me the most.

[hypoxic]

[ she responds well, at least. Her apologies are quick. She defers easily. ]

You were held captive? Under what grounds?

[ she seems almost desperate. It might be useful later. ]

[hadtolose]

[ Well, she can't just admit to being an android, so... ]

It's...not important. All that matters is that it's over for now.

[ As much as she cares about his well-being, he's not getting information out of her that easily. Even Connor's barely scraped the surface of who she is and what she's been through, and he would probably be the first one she'd share that with otherwise.

She unceremoniously steers them away from the subject. ]

Are you sure you feel safe out here?

[hypoxic]

There's no such thing as safety under these circumstances. She's a witch. She can find me wherever I am.

[But since she seems interested enough...]

I'm not sure that I know what it would feel like to be safe.

[hadtolose]

[ Her eyes drop to the ground. Her reply is soft. ] I don't know what that feels like, either.

[ Kara lifts her head. He says he can't be safe. He shouldn't have to feel that way. No one should. With Alice, she'd refused to give up on their search for it. Eventually, they'd find it. They could be a family, safe and sound.

Maybe he needed the same helping hand. ]

You should come stay with me.

[hypoxic]

[ his eyes dart to hers in genuine surprise. What? Has he heard correctly? ]

Stay with you? And draw their attention upon you? [ is she mad? ] Have you managed to create a space that nullifies magic?

[ he had access to a space like that, once, but its wards are long destroyed. ]

[hadtolose]

[ Surprisingly, she gives a small smile. ] I know next to nothing about actual magic. I don't plan on letting that stop me, though.

[ Her mind's set. He's getting protected whether he wants it or not! ]

I promise you, I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. I can't stand by when someone's in danger.

[ Which, reminds her...she doesn't really know his name. Might be awkward in the long run.

She doesn't make any attempt at a handshake, considering how he reacted the last time she touched him, but she does turn to him fully. It's a big step for her, opening herself up to another like this, especially one of the biological persuasion. ]

I'm--I'm Kara.

[hypoxic]

[This woman is an absolute lunatic. There's no way she's prepared to contend with the sorts of forces that the supernaturals have at their disposal. But the sympathy could be exploited. If the witch is violent, she'll be exposed in front of a witness. The tide might begin to turn.]

Doctor Leopold Fitz. [The full name comes, even though she'd only asked for something short. Familiarity needs to be earned.] And it's incredibly brave of you to offer. I hope you won't come to regret it.

[hadtolose]

[ The full name doesn't seem to cause much of a reaction. She'd only been fully aware of who she was for a few days before coming to Wonderland, thanks to a poorly-timed memory wipe. There were many subtle human quirks that were still lost on her, and she hadn't exactly been working towards changing that.

So! She just smiles and nods. ]

I don't know if it's brave. But I know it's right. I'd regret not trying more than anything.

[ She gives the area a quick visual and digital scan before her gaze settles on him. ]

We should go now. My room's on the first floor, so it's not far. [ There's a brief, sympathetic frown. ] I wanna take care of your bruise.

[ Her first aid programs have been going nuts about the injury since she'd picked up on it. She won't ask any questions, though. ]

[hypoxic]

The bruise is just a bruise.

[ though it makes his frown deepen. He'd been hoping it wouldn't be visible and help him save face. If she's asking, it must be frightful. ]

It probably just needs ice.

[ he'll go with her, though. It might lead to something interesting. ]