young legends die all the time

[goeth]

Who: Bonnie Bennett (OPEN)
Where: Forest, Entrance Hall, Tea Rooms
When: Evening, 15-Feb
Rating: PG-13 (lang)
Summary: Bonnie Bennett arrives in Wonderland!
The Story:

( outside )

Take it from Bonnie: waking up in the middle of a forest is never good news. In fact? It tends to lead to fire and vampires and being haunted and possessed. Does that sound like a good time to you?

She trudges through the snow, arms wrapped tightly around herself for reasons twofold (though it's only the cold she'll admit to, not the fear). She's done her best to wipe the blood from her nose and mouth away, the job not entirely done considering Bonnie's priorities currently lie elsewhere.

As in: What the hell did she get herself into now? She's gone over her immediate memories a thousand times since being dumped in the snow in a darkening forest, and nothing adds up. At least trudging keeps her mind off of the mounting panic-- and the sight of the mansion gives her a heading.

"Jeremy's OK." She's gonna have to tell herself that a few more times. "He's OK and you're just ... facing the consequences?" Did Emily pony up on her warning already? Did Bonnie trade her life for his?

( entrance hall )

"Hello?"

Hesitant is an understatement, though it feels a little hypocritical considering she'd just up and walked into someone's enormous home. Seriously this thing is putting the most popular historical sites in Virginia to shame. Hell, she's pretty sure it's putting wherever P Diddy hangs his hat to shame.

"Who even needs this much space...?" Please don't let the answer be a bunch of dead witches. Please let Bonnie not be the newest among their residents.

( fire in the tea room )

She wanders for a bit, offering awkward smiles to anyone who looks her way as she snoops in rooms and does as much observing as she can in the face of still not being sure she isn't dead. (Though the lack of Emily is certainly supporting the fact.)

She ducks into the tea rooms after a cursory glance, satisfied with the emptiness and materials available to her there. It's there she can be found making sure her powers are still intact, as she sits at a table lit with candles. She starts when she hears the door creak, knocking one of the candles over and setting the adjacent table's cloth aflame.

"Oh my god!" She's up in a flash, moving to cover the fire with a tablecloth, hands outstretched as she mutters foreign words under her breath to get the flames to abate.

Comments

entrance hall.

[interpersonal]

The question stops Elena in her tracks. "Bonnie?"

Through worlds and then some, she'd recognize Bonnie Bennett's voice. It's a constant as much as it is a comfort, one she probably doesn't deserve. (It's more than a little selfish, the relief flooding into her chest. Bonnie doesn't belong here either, after all. But if she is here - )

Not all is lost. A surge of faith and protectiveness, both in one, wrap around her chest as she follows the sound. Her suspicions are only confirmed when it leads her to Bonnie proper, in all her ... not-so-tall glory. She's a sight for sore eyes all the same.

"Bonnie!"

[goeth]

"Elena!"

Breathless with relief, and leaving no room for confusion, Bonnie can't get to Elena's side fast enough. She wants to touch her best friend, make sure that she's really Elena and that she's OK. Once her arms wrap around her friend, once she can squeeze tight and feel home for a moment, then they can start working whatever new problem this is.

"I'm sorry my hands are so cold, I'm sorry!" It's silly and frivolous and yet it's the first thing that comes to her mind as she gets her hug.

[interpersonal]

"Your hands are fine!"

It's the most ridiculous reassurance to give in turn. It almost makes her laugh; the sound is a choked and weary thing.

"We'll get you a sweater." Gloves, jackets, a fireplace, why not? Elena pulls back from their embrace, her hand briefly touching Bonnie's cheek. Her relief is placed aside in favor of concern, eyes searching Bonnie's face for signs of distress. To say she's more paranoid than usual lately is an understatement. (Every morning she wakes, she goes to Jeremy's room first thing. Lingers in the doorway. Remembers.)

"Are you okay? You're not hurt?"

[goeth]

"I"m fine, I'm fine-- what about you?" Bonnie laughs, a small thing that she can't hold in at Elena's immediate solution. The hand on her cheek and the furrowed brow of her best friend is-- well, it's comforting, if Bonnie's got to be honest. Her own hand lingers at Elena's bicep, the connection and feeling of human another welcome relief.

"Is it just us?" If so, how? And if not, how?

[interpersonal]

"I'm fine. I promise."

New drinking game: a shot every time Bonnie or Elena say the F word.

At Bonnie's last question, Elena sobers. She doesn't like being the bearer of bad news, and it's not like she's finished wrapping her head around it. She's still reeling from what she's learned, processing what she should and should not believe. "There's more than just us," she says, glancing behind her. When her attention turns back to Bonnie, she places both hands on either of her friend's shoulders.

"Bonnie, I know this is going to sound insane, but we're in Wonderland."

[goeth]

The look Bonnie levels at Elena is one her best friend must know well. The one she used when Elena had been sure the boy Bonnie liked in 7th grade wasn't into Elena. The one Bonnie pulled out ... well, any time Elena was doing something for the Salvatores. The look she'd inherited from Grams without ever realizing it.

"Come on, Elena. Are you really buying into that already?" It's what the man with metal wings had tried to sell her, but-- no. They've dealt with crazy but this is just too crazy. "I mean, have you seen any caterpillars around here?"

Outside

[wecandobetter]

He's traded in trying to keep up with Steve's jogging to going out on solo flights in the mornings. He hadn't realized just how much the wings had begun to feel like they were a part of him until Stark had given them back to him. He circles the forest, taking in the pristine whiteness below and wondering how a place as strange as Wonderland can be so pretty.

He spots the huddled shape moving through the snow below and he moves down to investigate. Considering where they are, it's never easy to tell if someone is in trouble, or just trying to get some fresh air. He lands a few feet behind her, putting away his wings with a touch of a button and calling out to her.

"Morning," he says, moving to catch up with her. His eyes catch on the traces of smeared blood and his expression turns into concern. "You okay?"

[goeth]

Bonnie whirls, snow and hair spiraling away from her. It's hardly graceful, the way she stumbles backward away from a mysterious man with metal wing, throwing her hands up in front of her in what may look a bit like a surrender.

It's almost worse, this casual greeting that melds into concern. Is this actually happening? Should she play along? Yeah, right.

"Stay back." Bonnie's voice comes low and loud, matching the scowl on her face. She watches his eyes move down to the remnants of her nose bleed and suddenly she's not sure she has the power to do anything if this goes sideways. "What do you want from me?"

Tea Room

[actualwizard]

Billy doesn't mean to startle her, really. He was just roaming the halls bored and heard a voice coming from the tea room. He's a little curious and a little bit of a snoop. He definitely didn't mean to cause her to set the tables on fire.

"Shit, I'm sorry!" He hurries into the room leading his own powers to putting out the flames and fixing the burned tablecloth, he's accidentlly started many fires in his day, its easy to put them out by now.

[goeth]

Bonnie's left holding the tablecloth limply in her hands, trying to catch her brain up with her eyes. The fire had died down again so quickly-- she hadn't even had time to damp it out the normal way.

"No, that's OK. Really, it was my fault." Still processing, Bonnie licks her lips to give her a moment to frame the question and try not to be overly blunt about it.

"Did you just...?"

[actualwizard]

Right, magic. She might be new. Billy is so used to being here and not having to hide his powers that he forgets it can be startling.

"Did I just...scare you into starting a fire or put the fire out? Because that would be yes. To both. Sorry about that." He grins a little sheepishly at her running his hand through his hair.

[goeth]

She shakes her head, but can't stop the smile that spreads across her own face. OK uhhh so she's just standing here holding a tablecloth and grinning, which is weird, right? Bonnie moves, suddenly, to drape it back over the one she'd whipped it off of.

"No, really! It's really OK. I shouldn't have been playing around, I just--" She stands back up, mid-smoothing, shaking her head again. She's obviously made her choice: "I just wasn't sure I'd still have my magic here. And I didn't expect to meet a warlock."

This is literally the second best thing that's happened to her since running into Elena in the Entrance Hall, and it shows. She cannot stop grinning.

"I'm Bonnie."

[actualwizard]

Smiles are good, he can handle smiles much better than screams or tears. As soon as she says magic he joins her in smiling. That does explain the candles. He even manages to hold back the wince at the term warlock.

"Witch, or well, Mage I guess? Not so much a warlock, in my world warlock is a derogatory term for betrayer." But he waves that off because he loves meeting other magic users and her grin is a little infectious. "So you're a witch then? I'm Billy, its nice to meet you Bonnie. I'm assuming you're new?"

[goeth]

"Oh-- I called a guy a witch once and he said exactly the opposite. I'm so sorry, Billy."

She's just going to commit faux pas after faux pas, huh. Her grin turns wry as she speaks, and nods at his question. As if being the newbie wasn't bad enough, it's certainly written in giant letters across her forehead.

"That obvious, huh?"

tea room

[krmvgivv]

[Dipper has a teapot in his hands, ready to put out the fire the normal way, but he pauses as he notices she.... seems to have it under control.]

Oh man, are you doing magic? Are you a witch or something? Did you make that fire? That is so cool.

[goeth]

No, I--

[ it's a kneejerk reaction, something borne of the past two years of experiences as a witch. deny, deny, deny.

bonnie stands up, a bunny caught in headlights to see-- a kid. and an enthusiastic one at that. ]

--what makes you think that?

[krmvgivv]

The fact that you're literally doing magic right now? [Dipper raises an eyebrow.] Or is it just a coincidence that the fire just started to calm down when you muttered and stretched out your hand?

[goeth]

[ her mouth snaps shut, because that's some prime time observant skills you got there kid. oh, who is she trying to fool? bonnie had been so desperate to make sure her magic would still work here-- she deserves this. ]

No, it's not a coincidence. I wasn't even sure it would work, actually.

[krmvgivv]

[This is why he's a damn detective. He nods coming closer to try and see what she's doing.]

Why wouldn't it work?

[goeth]

[ bonnie breathes to speak, but puffs the air out again. where does she even start? ]

It's complicated. I don't have any of my things here with me. I couldn't exactly reference what happens if I lose my connection to nature, you know. At home.

[ slash-- how badly did she piss off the dead witches she borrowed her power from? ]

outside.

[coleader]

Clarke often spends her time outside; after nearly eighteen years stuck in a metal box with no greenery to be seen, she wants to soak up all of the sights and sounds. She doesn't, however, expect Bonnie Bennett. A girl she's never seen before, looking very lost, trudges through the woods just ahead of her. Clarke knows the look of a newcomer, having looked that exact same way not long ago.

"Hey," she calls out, putting her hands up, palms out, so Bonnie can see she isn't holding any weapons. The memory of throwing a rock at someone on her first night in Wonderland is still fresh, and she'd like to avoid a repeat situation.

"My name's Clarke. I'm a friend." Friend, not foe. It's important to note the difference, especially when there's no telling what reality someone comes from. "Are you all right?"

[goeth]

Bonnie whirls, hands falling to her side. Close up, it might be easier to see the stain of blood against her dark shirt as her jacket falls away from her stomach.

The sight of a girl possibly her age puts her at ease for just a moment. Her words give Bonnie pause, but she doesn't move against or away from the blonde. It's an odd proclamation to make, unless this place sees a lot of danger. Either way, it seems pertinent that Bonnie have her guard up. Ready to run.

"I'm not sure." Truth, twofold: is she well, and are they friends? "What is this place?"

If nothing else, she's going to have to offer the girl some amount of trust. She's got to make progress somehow, right?

[coleader]

"Wonderland," Clarke answers absent-mindedly, eyes on the blood-stained shirt. She would explain herself better, preface the answer with I know it doesn't make sense, but she's accustomed to honing in on possible wounds. A necessary skill on the ground.

Her eyes draw up to Bonnie's face. It doesn't show signs of pain, but she could still be in pain. "Are you hurt?" Against her better judgment, she steps nearer to inspect the blood. Her hands remain at her sides. As she gets a better look, Clarke's brow crinkles.

"If you are, tell me. I can help you. I promise, you're safe here."

[goeth]

"No! No, I--"

Well, she's not sure if she's hurt-- hell, Bonnie's not actually sure she isn't dead, or on some kind of weird magical plane. The daze she's in breaks suddenly, and Bonnie moves to close her jacket at the realization of Clarke's question.

"It's not mine. What did you mean: Wonderland?"

This isn't right. Bonnie's the one with the answers. Bonnie's the one who offers help and solutions. What is she supposed to do? People don't just offer safety to random strangers. Was this girl expecting her, somehow? Is she one of them? Ready to run is now the last thing on her mind, as questions start taking over. Too many questions, too few answers.

[coleader]

( hey, sorry for the late! feel free to drop the thread if it's been too long ♥ )

The question doesn't surprise Clarke, but the blood not being her own does. She fights between her instinct to help and her instinct to know why the hell she has someone else's blood on her.

"I meant Wonderland," she says, blunt but not unkind. "Alice, the Mad Hatter— I haven't actually seen any Mad Hatter, but I wouldn't be surprised. I know it doesn't make sense, but trust me. The sooner you accept it, the sooner you can find out what's really going on."

Clarke knows better than anyone how difficult it is to struggle with knowing that none of this is possible, yet having to accept the reality in front of her. Some days, she still doesn't believe it.

"The blood." Her eyes drift down to look at it again, then back to Bonnie's face, silently asking if there's something she should know. Still, Clarke is a protector first and foremost, and she can't leave her out here on her own, regardless of how that blood got there. "...We can get you a fresh shirt inside. Come on."