'If this really is a dream,' Eliza thinks, 'my ability to come up with complicated bullshit is truly astounding.'
Seven, walking beside her, is waiting for her to process the latest truth bomb of the day. It is, admittedly, not a very important one. It is not, as Eliza had thought, the early morning. Time in Wonderland is fluid, changing from evening to day to night at random. role holders and outsiders could even change the time, though doing it frivolously was apparently "against the rules".
More important was the information Seven had given her about the factions of Wonderland, which was split between four locations. The Queen of Hearts ostensibly ruled the whole nation, but there was a heavy mafia presence within the country called the Hatter family. Their home base was to the south, in that great big mansion Eliza had crudely drawn on her map. Then there was the Amusement Park, which operated like its own mini kingdom within its colorful walls. Eliza had initially wondered how an amusement park could have amassed enough power to be able to stand against a mafia boss and a Queen, but...
'If the Disney corporation exists in my world, is it really so farfetched?' Eliza thinks sardonically.
Her world? The words still trip her up, even just as thoughts. It's easier to just... act like this is all just a dream.
'This is a dream'
In this... dream, the three powers, and thus the role holders assigned to them, were in constant bloody competition over land and resources to fund their fiefdoms. The only escape to be found in Wonderland from the conflict was the very clocktower she had arrived at. The Clocktower functioned as both a neutral zone and a morgue for all those who died in Wonderland. The way Seven spoke of it, the area around the Clocktower was the most prosperous for its neutrality, but the tower itself was an object of some revulsion for the people of Wonderland.
Didn't the soldiers say they don't actually die? If so, what's so awful about the Clocktower? Why do they need a morgue at all? Eliza is afraid of the answer, and silently is glad she didn't do more exploring.
For his part, Seven is a vassal of the Queen of Hearts, Vivaldi. When speaking of her he's flippant, his loyalty to his faction less a matter of his personal feelings and more a fact of his universe. Seven does not hate the other factions- "I don't hate anyone, haha!"- but he will wage bloody war if that is his Queen's demand. He does not have to like her to be hers entirely, and it was the same for the other faceless who lived in claimed territory. They were all cannon fodder, expendable and unimportant to those who ruled them.
Eliza privately considers his worldview horrifying, but she doesn't know how to say so politely.
As they approach the Amusement Park, Seven makes them stop to hide his uniform in a tree. "Anyone can go to the park if they buy a ticket." he says, "But going up to the gates dressed in this would get me shot for sure!"
'Seven is way too cool about the thought of his possible death.' Eliza thinks, but just nods her understanding. Then, she wonders aloud about how she'll get in if she needs to buy a ticket. She has some money in her wallet, but the bills Seven is counting out now are unfamiliar. No amusement park will just let her in for free.
Right?
"You can come in for free!" An ostentatiously dressed ticket saleswoman says.
"Huh? Why?"
Eliza stands at the front of the line, Seven at her side with his ticket already in hand. She's been enduring the stares from every passerby in sight since the road had led them out of the forest and back into civilization. The most common reaction was a double take, second glances examining her clothes, her hair, her eyes. It is, to put it simply, Eliza's personal concept of hell. Seven has been a lifeline, doing his best to distract her with funny commentary about the passersby. Now, after so long trying to ignore the weight of all the eyes on her, is she really being given a lucky break? Is this her reward?
"It's new Park policy!" The saleswoman beams. "All outsiders are free to enter and leave the park as they like, and may join any attractions express lane!"
'Alice, I have never met you, but you have my eternal gratitude and respect.' Eliza thinks wondrously as she and Seven enter the park.
It's wonderful.
The sights, sounds, and smells hit Eliza right in the chest. It has been so long since she's been able to experience an amusement park as something besides a job. Now she is in the biggest, brightest, and weirdest theme park she's ever been in.
'It's Candyland.' Eliza thinks with growing delight, and some of the decorations seemed to be made of real candy! Roller coasters- longer, faster, and more twisty than she's ever seen- zig in and out of her sightline. She can hear delighted screaming from above the ground and on it, and Eliza's neck hurts from craning it to see everything there was to see. And she has only just gone a few meters in!
Seven laughs.
"If your eyes get any wider they'll fall out of your face! Hey, if you wanna get on some rides go ahead, try out that fancy express pass."
Eliza reluctantly pulls her eyes away from a particularly crazy-looking coaster to look at Seven.
"But what will you do? You didn't get one for yourself."
Seven gives her a thumbs up and a bright grin.
"I can look for Alice for you! I'm sure if I ask around, it won't be hard to find the only other outsider in the park. We can meet up at that ride's exit."
Eliza is tempted, sorely tempted. But Seven has already done so much for her today, leaving him behind would be too ungrateful for Eliza to bear. She shakes her head.
"I won't leave you to do my work for me. We can go on rides after I talk to Alice, together. I can wait in line."
Seven gives her an earnest look.
"It's your first time here, you should enjoy it. I don't mind searching; I've been here plenty of times."
"No, no, I couldn't enjoy myself if I knew you weren't having fun too."
"It would be fun, just being here's fun!"
"Seven, I insist- "
"Eliza, it's fine- "
"HELLO THERE!"
Eliza and Seven both jump, though Seven quickly recovers and places himself between Eliza and the bellowing voice behind them.
"Sorry for shouting." A man in a garish yellow coat says, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I tried to cut in before but you two were focused on your polite-off."
Seven's posture has relaxed somewhat, but still reads as wary to Eliza. She trusts his judgment, but it's hard to think of the man in front of them as a threat. He has a red mullet (oh my god!) pulled into a braid, and a rough stubble across his chin. His coat is covered in musical notes and horses, and his blue eyes are framed with square glasses.
Wait... eyes!
"My employees told me there was another outsider in Wonderland. I came all this way, but I didn't expect they were right!" the man that could only be Mary Gowland, owner of the Amusement Park and Marquis one of the factions, says.
"I'm sorry you had to trouble yourself on account of me." Eliza begins in a warm voice, "My name is Eliza Hargreaves, I've just arrived in Wonderland. Would you happen to be the esteemed Mr. Gowland?"
Eliza had been warned against using the name 'Mary' within the Park owner's earshot. Apparently, his first name was a shameful secret absolutely everyone already knew. Eliza deeply sympathized.
Her words, carefully chosen, cause Gowland to puff out his chest in pride.
"That's right Miss, I am the one and only Gowland! Welcome to my park, isn't it the best you've ever seen?"
Eliza eagerly agrees and spends the next few minutes stroking Gowland's ego. She doesn't even need to exaggerate most of it, she really does think the park is wonderful. Eventually, Gowland moves the conversation to topics besides himself and his Park.
"So is there anything I can do to make your day here more special? It's not often I get a first-time customer!" He laughs, as though that last sentence was a well-worn inside joke. Eliza laughs along, though she doesn't really get it.
"Actually, I'm looking for Alice. I heard she was here. Now, of course, I don't expect you to keep track of all your customers- "
"Ah, Alice!" Gowland cuts in. "Yes, she's here. Or, at least, she was. She's with that freeloader, Boris, so who knows where they are now. But they'll turn back up eventually, I'm the only one that cat can beg food off of, hahaha."
Boris Airay, the Cheshire Cat. The soldiers did say Alice was friendly with all of these "role holders", it makes sense that she would come to visit them. Still...
"How about this," Gowland begins with an understanding look "I'll tell all the employees to let me know when they get back, and have them go to, oh, let's say the merry-go-round to meet up."
Eliza is so grateful for the offer she doesn't crack a smile at Gowland saying the pun of his own name. She agrees, and Gowland is about to escort her to his first ride recommendation, where customers are being helped into what looks like pastel-colored hamster balls, when Eliza stops. Face flushing, she turns to Seven.
"I'm sorry, that was so rude of me! Are you alright with all this?"
Both Seven and Gowland look surprised at her question.
"Ah- Yes, of course! Anything you want to do is what we'll do."
Eliza turns back to Gowland, still looking at her.
"Would it be possible to get another express pass for my friend here? I don't want to leave him behind."
Gowland raises an eyebrow and his eyes flit over to Seven, but his focus quickly returns to Eliza.
"Hmmm, if you really won't be parted from him, I guess I can give you a freebie. It is your first time, after all."
He carelessly hands Seven an express pass and gestures toward the ride. Eliza, who misses none of Gowland's attitude towards Seven, suddenly feels much less warm towards the Park owner. Yes, Seven had mentioned faceless weren't considered very important, but seeing it in person makes Eliza's skin itch with irritation. Seven, on the other hand, looks like Christmas has come early.
'I won't ruin this for him.' Eliza tells herself firmly. He's already been so kind to her, and she hasn't connected to anyone so fast since Lauren. He deserves a good day.
Taking a deep, calming breath, Eliza swallows her feelings behind a smile and lets the two of them be led further into the park.
The Giant Bubble-Gum Blaster is the most insane ride Eliza has ever been on. Strapped into seats inside a translucent pink hamster ball, the three of them are propelled through a fast-moving river. Along the way geysers and rocks knock them to and fro, sending them spinning all over. The bottom of the ball is weighted, but Eliza still ends up upside-down at one point. By the end, Eliza's shaky legs need to be supported on either side by Seven and Gowland as they stumble out of the exit.
"Again, again!" Eliza gets out through her adrenaline-fueled laughter. The two men beside her, a little more composed but just as bright-eyed, obligingly frog-march her to the entrance.
The next ride is even more insane, a horror-themed coaster with quick-time events that let riders choose which track their cart will go on. Then they try the Gravity Defier, which makes even the three veteran thrill-seekers so queasy they need to rest for a bit. Even just sitting and watching proves to be delightful, as shows occur in every area almost constantly.
Eliza, watching some truly death-defying feats of acrobatics, feels herself relax more than she has in months. Her voice is slightly hoarse from screaming; a primal release of emotion she only feels comfortable indulging in places like this. Here, everyone is screaming, so it's fine if she joins in. She only wishes Lauren could be here too, then it'd be perfect.
As she recovers, Gowland asks Seven a few questions about what he thinks of the park. The ice between the two broken, they chat amicably about how enjoyable or interesting this or that is. There is still a distance, Eliza notes, but at least Gowland isn't ignoring her new friend.
"You should definitely try the Cannonball Coaster next!" Gowland says to them "When the car lifts off the track, it's the most exciting feeling you'll get!"
"Lifts off the track?" Eliza gasps "Isn't that dangerous?"
"Hahaha, don't worry. It's very rare for the car to miss its landing! It's been more than 50 time changes since the last time!"
Eliza does not feel reassured by that at all, but Seven throws an arm around her shoulders and squeezes.
"Hey, if you don't wanna do that, there's plenty more to enjoy in the Park! Right, Mr. Gowland?"
"Of course! Right this way" Gowland says, though clearly not understanding why Eliza wouldn't want to go on a coaster that only rarely crashes.
They are just walking out of the UFO Flight Simulator when a Park attendant runs up and whispers something to Gowland. He nods and turns to Eliza with a big grin.
"Looks like Boris finally brought Alice back! Let's head over to the merry-go-round before she has to leave. Always on the move, that girl is."
They rush over, only stopping briefly when Eliza finds herself stopped in her tracks in front of a booth selling accessories. It's not her fault! No one could resist fuzzy bear ear headbands and matching gloves! These, too, she gets as freebies, and she impulsively hugs Gowland out of sheer gratitude. The man blushes and tells her it's nothing.
'He's a pretty cool guy after all.' Eliza thinks cheerfully, putting her gifts on that very moment.
They make it, detours aside, to the largest merry-go-round Eliza has ever seen. Loud, bouncy music is playing all through the area, and faceless children scream in delight as their faceless parents watch. Eliza's gaze, however, is drawn to a pair standing a few steps from the attraction.
"Oh, there's the old geezer." A teenager, wearing an outrageous black outfit and an even more outrageous pink boa draped around his shoulders, says "Hey, who's she?"
Eliza tears her gaze away from the boy, whose cute kitty ears match his bright pink hair. Next to him, much less garish but no less cute, is a girl in a frilly blue dress.
The soldiers had been right; they do look similar. Not enough to be twins, but they could be mistaken as family. They share dirty blond hair, blue eyes, and their cheekbone shape. There are differences, though. Where the girl's hair is long and straight Eliza's is wavy and shoulder-length. Eliza is clearly taller as well, though that could be partially due to her older age. The girl's clothes are also interesting, old fashioned and girlish, almost like a doll. She even has a bow in her hair! Eliza, on the other hand, is dressed in a nice purple cardigan on top of a blouse, capri pants, and sneakers. Oh, and the fuzzy bear headband and oversized bear paws, of course.
Eliza looks at Alice, dressed so cutely and looking so similar to herself, and instantly feels affection bloom in her chest.
The other girl looks at her curiously.
"Hello. Are you another role holder?" Alice asks.
"No," Eliza says as she slowly approaches. "No, I don't think so. The people here, they say I'm an outsider."
At this, Alice's eyes widen, taking in Eliza for a second time. Her throat works, but no words come. Finally, she speaks.
"But you look so weird!"
The tension, which had felt like it had been building into something momentous, breaks. Eliza belly-laughs as Alice's face flushes, her headband almost falling off as she doubles over.
"No- I mean- The role holders all dress so weird, and so do you, so I thought- "
"Hey," Eliza is still laughing "what's wrong with the way I dress? You're the one who's dressed like a doll!"
"And what's wrong with that?" Alice snaps. Then, realizing the absurdity of being angry when she had very much started it, begins to laugh too.
"Hey, old man, what are they even laughing about?"
"Don't call me old man! ... And I'm not sure. Clothes, I guess?"
"Haaaah, outsiders are weird."
"Hmm..."
"What are you 'hmm'ing for?"
"You know how us leaders can sense outsiders? Well, that girl doesn't feel like one. Not like Alice does."
"What? Then, is she even really an outsider?"
"Don't know, seems like one. But it's interesting... very interesting..."
Seven, forgotten by all, listens to this conversation in silence. His gaze lands on Eliza, now chatting happily with Alice. Unseen, his face pulls into a worried frown.
'Eliza... be careful. If you're not an outsider, you don't want their attention…'