Rehearsal 1: [Text, from Astralfield]

[forgotten_vows]

[The text is written in long, loopy handwriting, and displays as a dark blue -- the color of the chalk he's using. Victor's not even close to figuring out the video function yet.]

I -- I don't even know what I'm doing. . . Apparently this chalkboard can be used to talk to other people? Like letters, only more -- instant? Oh dear, I'm so confused. . .

Is there anyone out there who can explain this to me? All I know is that I was in my room, preparing to draw, when suddenly I blacked out and then. . .

[And he just can't help asking the question that's been on his mind since he first woke up here.]

Is this Wonderland?

Comments

[Text]

[kurloz_makara]

THIS MIRTHFUL PLACE IS A LAND OF WONDER ALL RIGHT, BUT I GET THE VIBE THAT IT'S NOT YOUR WONDERLAND.

[Text]

[forgotten_vows]

Well, Wonderland wasn't exactly mine to begin with anyway, but -- it was the first thing that came to mind. . .

Could you tell me the official name then? I gather that where I've been told to live is called 'Astralfield,' but I doubt that's the name of the whole country.

Re: [Text]

[kurloz_makara]

EVERYTHING YOU KNOW AND BEYOND CANNOT BE OWNED, MY BROTHER. FOR WE ARE ALL JUST MOTHER FUCKING BEGGARS TO A HIGHER POWER. AND IT IS THEY WHO GIFT US WITH THE MIRACLE OF EXISTENCE AND GIVE UPON US THE CHANCE TO REACH THE DARK CARNIVAL AND THEREFORE SALVATION.

ALAS, NONE OF THAT PROBABLY MOTHER FUCKING MATTERS TO YOU.

THIS WICKED LAND IS CALLED MALLOWHALLOW, ALTHOUGH I'VE HEARD THAT THEIRS A MIRACULOUS PILLOW SECTION THAT GOES BY THE SAME NAME.

[Text]

[forgotten_vows]

[It might be too bad that he doesn't yet know how to work the video option, because Victor's making the most hilarious face at his chalkboard right now.]

I -- my own thoughts on such matters are so unsettled, it's probably best if I don't get into it.

Doesn't that get confusing? (And pillows?)

Re: [Text]

[kurloz_makara]

[Consider that a good thing, since otherwise he might decide to turn on Video himself. Then you will realize who it is you're talking too~]

AHAHAHA, THAT IS OKAY MY BROTHER.

CHURCH, BUT I GUESS THE PILLOW SECTOR HAS THIS SPACE BETWEEN. I HAVE NOT REALLY SPENT MUCH TIME IN THAT PLACE, REMINDS ME TOO MUCH OF THOSE MOTHER FUCKING PADDED CELLS. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

[Text]

[forgotten_vows]

[To be fair, Victor's spent time with rotting corpses in the underworld. He'd probably initially be startled, but. . .]

I -- not from direct experience, but -- my closest friend, the one who knows Wonderland -- I've heard stories from her. Disturbing stories. I'm so sorry.

[And that starts up an ache inside of him -- Alice, he already misses you.]

Re: [Text]

[kurloz_makara]

[Very true.]

NO NEED TO APOLOGIZE TO ME, I DID NOT STAY IN THERE FOR LONG. I HAD TO GO IN AFTER SOME SHIT WENT DOWN, BUT AFTER AWHILE THEY GAVE UP AND THE MOTHER FUCKING GOVERNMENT LET ME OUT.

BUT FROM WHAT I HAD EXPERIENCED, WELL... YOUR FRIEND HAS MY PITY.

[seewithyoureyes]

No, but it might as well be!

[Text]

[forgotten_vows]

Yes, I'm gathering that. . .

My name's Victor, by the by. Victor Van Dort.

[Text]

[seewithyoureyes]

I'm Mirai Kaname! I live in Astralfield district with my friend. It's nice to meet you.

[Text]

[forgotten_vows]

It's nice to meet you as well! I'm in Astralfield too, actually. In fact, I'm very new to it -- is there anything you can tell me about it? I tried asking one of the locals, but. . .

[But nobody's been very forthcoming with answers, and it's starting to wear on his nerves.]

[Text]

[seewithyoureyes]

It puts you to sleep every night and then you have dreams. And this is the dream district, so they're important.

[Text]

[forgotten_vows]

It -- wait. You just -- fall asleep? No matter what?

[Oh boy, he has such mixed feelings on this. On the one hand, it sounds like a form of mind control, and that sends cold shivers up his spine. On the other --

No more insomnia. No more struggling with getting to sleep every single night of his life. That's -- he's wanted that for YEARS.]

Important how?

[Video]

[angryjoe]

Chalkboard? Man, I got a pillow.

[Text]

[forgotten_vows]

[Whoa -- moving pictures! Victor stares at his screen for a moment, then hesitantly writes back.]

I assume you're of the pillow district that mysteriously has the same name as the land overall?

Also how are you making your face appear?

[Video]

[angryjoe]

I pressed some buttons.

If I can see your writing then maybe there's a switch or something that you can make videos too.

[Hey, if a pillow works, why not a chalkboard. He'll go with it.]

[Text --> Video]

[forgotten_vows]

[This is basically Victor's reasoning too. He's got a magic chalkboard that lets him talk to other people -- why not magic pillows? He's seen weirder.]

I'll see what I can find. . .

[Cue the poking and the prodding. There isn't much luck from examining the chalkboard surface itself -- but on the frame he hits a button, and --

Well, Joe will suddenly see the face of a tall, pale young man with big eyes and black hair, looking rather puzzled. After a moment, he speaks.]

Well, something lit up, so -- hello? Can you, ah, see me?

[Traditional waving to the camera here.]

[Video]

[angryjoe]

Hey, there you are!

[He grins, although there's a moment of puzzlement. Victor has an odd look. But then he did see a talking lion earlier.]

[Video]

[forgotten_vows]

[It's probably the complete lack of color. And the fact he's a Tim Burton character and thus just a bit oddly proportioned. Victor smiles shyly.]

Hello then. . . Goodness, this is odd. We don't have anything like this where I'm from. When you want to talk to someone, you either send them a letter or meet with them face-to-face.

[livinginthefeymarch]

[green letters start appearing on his 'chalkboard' on answer]

Don't worry, we were all really confused at first... [She's still trying to figure out how to use her 'scroll' properly to talk with people] And- I don't know? Does it look like a wonderland to you?

[Text]

[forgotten_vows]

[Hooray for fellow confused people!]

How long have you been here, then?

And -- well. Chalkboards that let you talk to people, a district of dreams, another of pillows. . . If it's not Wonderland, it could be its next-door neighbor.

[Text]

[livinginthefeymarch]

[Wohoo!]

Uhm... a couple of weeks? It was quite confusing at first but you can... easily get used to this place after a while. More or less. And, wait, you're using a chalkboard? Anyway, you're the first one to call this place the 'Wonderland'. Maybe it is, who knows, still it's not the used name. Anyway, welcome here... what's your name?

[Text]

[forgotten_vows]

Well, I suppose that's a good thing to know.

[He does tend to adapt easily once he's gotten a chance to settle in. Hopefully it'll be the same here.]

Er -- yes? That's the device the Queen gave me before she sent me on my way. Someone else mentioned using a pillow -- what are you using?

They've told me it's called Mallow Hallow. I had to ask, it just -- sounds like a place a friend of mine from home talked a lot about.

[Insert missing of Alice here.]

Thank you, I'm Victor Van Dort. Yourself?

Re: [Text]

[livinginthefeymarch]

Oh, it is.

[She can only offer emotional support here. And she's not really good at it either.]

Oh, I see... well, I'm using some kind of scrool... even thought I've never seen black scrools with enough magic to... change while using them. I mean, we can use flowers as communication devices in my homeworld. Or... other stuff but we never really relied in such weird things.

Really? Maybe... that friend of you has been here before?

[Alice in Wonderland was never written in her world.]

Rydia of Mist, pleased to meet you.

[Text]

[forgotten_vows]

[. . .Okay, Victor's heard of sending messages through flowers, but he really doesn't think Rydia's talking about bouquets with secret meanings for loved ones. Still, he's writing on a chalkboard to talk to someone who's apparently using a magic piece of paper, so who is he to judge?]

I see. . .I get the feeling that this place operates by much different rules than our homes. Chalkboards certainly can't send messages in my world -- at least, not in this instantaneous back and forth way.

I doubt it -- she honestly never mentioned anything like this. It was all giant mushrooms you could jump upon, huge factories fueled by tea, a town beneath the sea made by sunken ships. . .things like that.

[Interestingly enough, it doesn't seem to have been written in Victor's world either. He just happens to know THE Alice.]

It's good to meet you too.