but as I told you... I didn't chase the white rabbit!

[heartgatherer]

Who: The Alices and Clock
What: Open the first door and see what you find. Hopefully it's a key... maybe it's something more.
Where: World One - The Country of Clover
Warnings: General violence and disregard for life.

 '▒▒▒▒▒, you fool... it was all just a dream'...

If she could have thought that to herself, then she might have believed it. Here were the high vaulted ceilings of Clover Tower that she'd grown so used to since the shift to the Country of Clover. And yet her name was still lost to her. She could not think it... could not say it... It was as though someone had stolen it entirely, as odd of a thing as that sounded. That was all she needed to know to prove she wasn't dreaming. Then that meant it was as the rabbit and cat said-- in order to retrieve the rabbit's keys, they needed to enter the doors and the door took them straight into peoples' hearts.

This one no doubt was supposed to be her own. How else could this place be replicated so accurately? None of the others should know a thing about Wonderland. After all... this was her dream. Her messed-up, embarrassing, dangerous... oh no.

Outside the window the forest, the castle and the Hatter Mansion were all as they should be. But what had happened to the others? If they had been split up, there was no telling what manner of characters they might have met. While they should be safe as Outsiders, Clover has never seen any other Outsiders. Like this, there's no way to be sure they're safe.

Whatever's happened - this is no time to be sleeping. She needs to verify what's going on in this world and the whereabouts of the people that entered with her. If this was a true and accurate reflection of the world that she knew, then she needed to warn them of a great many things.

Down the tower stairs she goes... to investigate the fate of herself and those who had gone with her.

Comments

[frozentear]

[He returns quite a while later, emptyhanded, intending to ask a few questions. But... man, between the screaming, crying, and coughing that he can hear before he even sees her, he's honestly somewhat concerned.]

...Hey. Are you hurt? What's wrong?

[He's not really sure a door can get hurt but.]

[mearry]

Haha, you musn't be very good at making friends.

[ C-ta chuckles quietly, but the words ring true in his ears. He would be willing to do anything for the person he cares for-- that's what friends are for, no? That's what you do for who you love? ]

Sorry-- I was just kidding. What's your name, by the way? I'm C-ta.

[dolosa]

It's amusing at first, but after the second time, it grows rather dull -- like it's a waste of time. What about you? Are you bored yet?

[worldkeys]

[ The answer comes slowly. Whatever is going on behind the door falls silent for a moment, at least, once Sebastian speaks. ]

... I... I don't know.

[ The Door's voice sounds uncertain and much quieter than it did last time they spoke, and just a bit sicklier. ]

[stolenface]

Nah, 'cause it's not the act of killin'. It's the whole thing leadin' up to it that's fun for me. Kinda like a cat and mouse squarin' off, not sure which one's gonna be dinner.

[ It's great, from his perspective. Watch them destroy each other, play with each other's trusts. ]

[stolenface]

[ Some time after Sebastian's latest revival, he'll find he isn't alone. A breath on one of his mousy ears, and then a bit of a nibble before a snicker and the breath is gone. If he turns, the Cat isn't too far away. ]

Hey, Alice.

[mearry]

[ As he dies, the voice in C-ta's ear is like a lullaby to him.

But when he wakes up, inside the tower, the message hits him like a bag of bricks. A never-ending wave of anxiety, a feel to be next to someone-- no, not just someone. Clock.

Don't let anyone else touch her.

C-ta scrambles to his feet, uncaring over the fact that the man that he had just killed was barely a few feet from him. He cares naught about that man-- or anyone in the room. The screams are unsettling, but only mildly so in comparison to the need he has to be next to Clock. To protect her. No one else can have her. ]

Where is she--? Foreigner! Where are you? [ Might as well start searching-- and what better place to start than by heading towards the Magical Door? ]

[dolosa]

I haven't had friends in years.

[ And with good reason. She can't trust them. Everyone in the end would simply just betray her; over and over and over. After all, humans are liars. They never believed in her or her hypnotism. And their lies caused her parents to die, too. ]

C-ta's a funny name, though. [ Did she laugh? She might have, just a little. ] Hazama Rei... that's who I am. For now.

[dolosa]

[ Is she tsundere... no.... in fact, she's just being completely open. Perhaps maybe too open. ]

Different. [ Still murder. But different. ] Then again, that game I played was when I died. But then Anna got rid of that game, so nobody plays it in that world now.

[dolosa]

[ Rei's been there, done that. So it isn't all that entertaining anymore. Forcing a childhood friend who loved him so much to kill him? That was fun -- at the time. But now? It's just old news. ]

I suppose. But the build up isn't that interesting when it's just a bunch of strangers doing it. Having strangers kill each other is a lot easier than say, having lovers kill each other. Or families. Or things like that.

[frozentear]

[The temporary silence is a bit reassuring, but only a bit. If she doesn't know, then it's not normal for her, and probably not something that'd happened before. And honestly, she doesn't sound good.]

...Do you think it'll help if we leave?

[mearry]

A couple friends aren't too bad, you know? [ C-ta shakes his head a little towards the girl's words, as if a bit disappointed.

But then again, with the air of mistrust around her, he could easily see why someone like her didn't have anyone. How helpless! ] I wasn't really blessed by the name gods. But I do my best to live on with it. Rei's nice, though. I don't think you should change it.

[stolenface]

Not when you can hear all the little thoughts goin' on. It's funny, watchin' 'em all say one thing while hearin' 'em plot out what they're gonna do at the same time. But then, it's always funny to see just how two-faced people are.

[ He snickers into the back of his hand, the large paw-like glove no longer there. ]

Even if they're strangers here, you all have high stakes. Workin' together's in your best interest, right? Get everything done that much faster, get back what you lost... Maybe even go home to that Alice you have, right?

[frozentear]

[Sebastian jumps when his mousy ear is nibbled on and he turns really quickly. Oh, it's you, Fluffy... actually he's not sure why he's surprised.]

What is it?

[stolenface]

Just wanted to check in. And besides, your little ears were lookin' mighty tasty. Mweehee!

[ In other words, he's here just to antagonize you, isn't he? ]

How you doin'?

[dolosa]

[ ... ]

Most people who want to be friends with me are in it for something. Money. Power. Fame. They don't understand me at all. They never accept me. So there's no point.

[worldkeys]

[ Said Foreigner isn't here, but a lone Door, the same one was earlier still stands! There's a bit of racket going on behind it, but it all quiets down when C-ta approaches. ]

... Is someone there?

[worldkeys]

[ Another long stretch of silence, in which one can probably assume it (she?) was thinking. ]

... I'm not so certain that would help, you know. I just want someone to hurry up and unlock me, and... n-no one could do that if it was empty.

[dolosa]

That's just how humans are.

[ She's seen it before, she's not surprised. After all, Rei's just the same -- before, anyway. But no more. No more pretending. She can just be herself. It's fine. ]

But the way you said that. Are you implying that he was here? Or at least, a version of him. I wouldn't think that you would call people unrelated to this game 'Alice', would you?

[mearry]

[ In part, C-ta wants to turn away and continue searching. But things seem suspicious behind the door and, well, maybe he should at least check it out for a moment. ]

Yeah. Have you seen someone? Her name is Clock. Have you heard of someone by that name?!

[mearry]

Huh. Sounds like you haven't had an easy life.

[ But that's how the world works. The weak get taken over by the strong. To whine about not being accepted-- that's one's own fault, no? ]

Though I don't understand how they would be able to get something like fame or power-- are you a celebrity of sorts?

[frozentear]

[Don't eat him, he's not edible.

Died twice, but... he could be worse?]

Fine... Not quite sure how to get the clock hearts to Hanna, but I suppose you can't give a hand with that.

[dolosa]

Former.

[ And no, she hasn't had an easy life, not really. But she's worked so hard for the life she has now that she can't possibly go back. How can she? ]

Once they thought I was a fraud, that's when the bullying started. But that's old news.

[stolenface]

Maybe. But I don't care about anyone's names. So why would I call anyone by any name except the one I want to? Could have plucked his name right out of your head, too, for all you know. Because we lie here. A lot. So you can never know if what we tell ya's true.

[ A great, big shrug. He could even be lying right now. It's hard to tell with his attitude. ]

[worldkeys]

[ ... Oh. That name... ]

Oh, you mean the Foreigner, don't you. I haven't seen her yet. She hasn't been by. Perhaps if she had...

[ The Door trails off, not finishing the sentence. ]

... Well. Foreigners are always getting involved with everything and all sorts of games, so she could be anywhere. But here's the only safe space for her to be.