and something grows.

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

[Wherever you are, so long as you're here already, a vine unfurls, and unfurls, and unfurls until it's holding a lifesize mirror. For a moment there's only darkness in it, and then someone steps out of the shadows and into view: a woman.]

You're here already! Isn't it wonderful? I hope it's wonderful. You see, I've been working so hard to make things right; there's still work to be done, of course, but I think it's good enough for now, don't you? I'm so happy to see you! All of you. It's been a long time...

Oh, oh, did I forget to introduce myself? I was so excited.

I'm...

[Her gaze goes distant, her expression misty and faraway.]

I am the Queen of Hearts.

You're going to love it here!

[Without further ado, the mirror curls back up.]

Comments

[hotshot-momma.livejournal.com]

Words that vague, you mean?

[shootsfortruth.livejournal.com]

No, statements that pretentious.

[hotshot-momma.livejournal.com]

...I think we'll get along.

Major Anna Lin. Not that the Major counts for much.

[Note that she cannot be out of her late teens.]

[shootsfortruth.livejournal.com]

Naoto Shirogane.

[she stares for a bit, assessing her age.] You're in the military at your age?

[hotshot-momma.livejournal.com]

By default. We were kind of hurti...

That's right. There are people here apparently past their teens. That's... interesting.

[shootsfortruth.livejournal.com]

Why would there be an age restriction to being brought here?

[hotshot-momma.livejournal.com]

Ever heard of the Bliss before?

[shootsfortruth.livejournal.com]

If that term has any meaning other than the obvious, I am unaware of it.

[hotshot-momma.livejournal.com]

Interesting. Humor me here - what year is it?

[shootsfortruth.livejournal.com]

[she catches on rather quickly, frowning a bit.]

Where I come from it is 2012. And you?

[hotshot-momma.livejournal.com]

A different and much worse 2017.

...Oh, fuck her and hers to her great great grandmother, this is not good.

[shootsfortruth.livejournal.com]

It clearly isn't, but why do you say that so strongly?

[hotshot-momma.livejournal.com]

The full version would require an alternate history lesson. The short version is that the only transdimensional power I know of is the Enemy back home.

[shootsfortruth.livejournal.com]

I see... for now, we mustn't jump to any assumptions though. That would be an obvious mistake.

[hotshot-momma.livejournal.com]

Considering that we seem to be awake and that I've seen no Enemy weapons, or evidence for them... this isn't thier style. It's the raw power of our captors that concerns me. The Enemy would have been a lot more powerful than us even if we hadn't lost our best tech.