entranceway | [ video ]

[The video shows a smiling Elizabeth, who appears to be having a marvelous time. She's holding a paintbrush and there's remnants of colored paints all over her hands, face, clothes, and even hair.]

I'm having the most wonderful streak of inspiration! I don't know why, but I just can't stop! Who has time to eat and sleep when there's so much to paint!

For example, I've just finished a series of compositions based on some of our most lovely people here in Wonderland.

[She begins to hold up painting after painting of familiar faces.]

Aren't they great? But where will I put them all? Maybe I'll hang them around the mansion or perhaps the library.

[ooc: I fail at photoshop and making them look like paintings. So just pretend they're nice and based off the following, which I tried to manipulate a bit. The words after each are Elizabeth commenting on her work. XD]

D'artagnan - Oh, D'artagnan, he has the sweetest face! Don't you think? I hope he's doing alright.

Aramis - Isn't he just the most handsome man on the face of the earth?

Athos - Isn't Athos a dignified looking man?

Lindsey - Mr. Mcdonald is so calm and casual, he just puts me at ease. Next time, I'll paint him with a guitar!

Hannibal - Dr. Lecter is so utterly refined! What a gentleman!

You know what? I really need some friends who are girls!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Really? So what are your thoughts on being dragged here?

[Leading a sheltered life wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It was how you coped when that protection was torn away that was the interesting bit.]

Have you been in Wonderland long then?

I've been here over a year.

[She continues painting as they talk, the brush strokes quick and easy. It's coming so naturally today, she barely has to think about it at all.]

This place is infinitely better than where I came from. And there are people here who are very dear to me. Still, it would be nice to see other places.

[Eames watched her curiously as she painted, continuing to snack lightly. He was starting to see that a lot of people had been here for quite some time, but the admission that this place is better than where she was from won a startled laugh from him.]

Really? What was your home world like?

[Though it would explain how she had survived here. She had seemed too sweet to survive events like a zombie attack, but looks could be deceiving.]

[Luckily for her, her friends are very protective, particularly the musketeer who has her heart. Aramis wouldn't let any harm befall her. And when needed, she can hide in her room.]

Confining best describes it. Columbia is a city that floats in the clouds. It's separated from the rest of the United States.

[The mention of a floating city definitely caught Eames' attention, enough so that he stopped fiddling with the snack to look at her properly.]

Floats you say? How? And is a floating city normal where you're from?

[Though he could see how she might find such a place confining.]

No, Columbia is one of a kind. The method of floating the city was designed by a brilliant scientist named Rosalind Lutece. She's responsible for many of the city's advances.

[She looks from Eames to the painting and appears rather pleased with how it's going.]

[Eames listened with interest, wondering if it was possible that this Columbia was from his world or a different one entirely. After all, most people were unaware of dream sharing. It wouldn't be impossible to have a floating city.]

It all sounds very steam punk. What sort of other advances did the city have? Did you have floating cars?

[Elizabeth isn't sure what he means by that, but she considers it might be so.]

No, but there were mechanical horses to pull the carts and airships to carry people from place to place.

[It all sounds very fascinating to Eames, though he could see how it might be stifling.

He started popping a few more crackers into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully.]

How was the medical system there? And how was it governed and how were laws enforced?

[Sorry Elizabeth he has too many questions to be good for anyone. At least he's sitting still for the most part?]

It was run very much like the United States government, but instead of a president, Columbia had a prophet. The system wasn't democratic, by any means.

[She understands that Columbia is novel enough to inspire curiosity. Even in her world, it was uncommon to those below.]

A prophet? Can they tell the future or speak to a god?

[It's always very interesting to Eames how other countries might function, much less a whole other world.]

I've never met him. Some seem to think so.

[But Elizabeth sounds skeptical.]

[It made sense, he supposed, but perhaps he was asking a bit too much about the world she seemed to be happy to get away from.]

I see.

[Then to help curb his curiosity and get onto lighter topics, he shifted a bit, going back to nibbling on some of the food.]

Have you eaten already? I'll just keep eating if you let me.

[That does get a smile out of her.]

Well, I guess a break would be alright. I think I have enough to get me started.

[She puts her paints down and goes to the table to join him.]

Where are you from, Mr. Eames?

Oh? Can I see it?

[He's a bit eager to see a painting being done by an actual painter, and not something forged. He moves over to give her space, pushing the plate over towards her.]

Well, I was born in London, but I haven't been there for quite some time. I travel for work a lot.

It's only a rough beginning.

[She turns the easel to allow him to see it, which is only an outline, areas of coloring and shape. It will continue to be defined, but she thinks she has enough to get started.]

London? Sounds amazing. Where have you traveled?

[Eames moved closer to see it, taking it in for a few moments. It's shaping up impressively, and Eames is sure the finished product will be rather good, even with her sketchy subject.

He turned to her with a small grin.]

Well your rough beginnings are better than me at my best.

[At her question, he leaned back into his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.]

Random places. Mombasa. Australia. The States. Name it and I've probably at least seen the airport. Any place you particularly wanted to travel?

[There's certainly nothing wrong with the subject, in her eyes!]

Paris. I've always wanted to see Paris. Though I've got plenty on the list.

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