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

[bakegarasu]

[There's someone else here, trying to get his bearings after... that whole mess. His hair is a bit lighter, but otherwise he looks the same.]

You could say that again.

[apatheticguide]

[ ... He scoffs at Otoha, face setting into an even DEEPER frown. Great. It's you. ]

Maybe you would be having less trouble if you actually bothered following the Rules of the Alice Worlds and paid attention.

[ His tone is scathing; it's clear he's VERY disappointed. ]

[bakegarasu]

'Rules'? What, like 'kill people'?

[He's used to disappointed. You don't worry him, Rabbit.]

[apatheticguide]

[ ... His look could cut someone in half right now. ]

Maybe if you had actually bothered stopping to talk to someone instead of wandering off, you would understand it better: simply killing people here likely isn't going to get you anywhere, is it? Mind you, that is me speculating, but from what I have been seeing, it is looking to be true. Or have you gotten out, yet? I have yet to see even a glimpse of my Keys.

You didn't even talk to the one guarding this place... did you?

[bakegarasu]

... No. I haven't. What someone does with guarding their territory isn't for another guardian to question. It's not my territory, so it's not my business how they choose to do it. All I can do is make my way the best that I can. I don't make the rules.

[... That's the most words anyone's gotten out of him in a while. Congratulations, Rabbit.]

Though there's something very wrong in this place. ... I can feel pain.

[apatheticguide]

That's right. So actually follow them. You're not going to get anywhere with senseless violence. ... Although, to be certain, this girl's heart... it's odd...

[ ... He shakes his head. ]

... That is simply the World. I said it before, didn't I? The World is not your world. It doesn't matter if you couldn't before. You can here. Such boundaries do not exist here.

[bakegarasu]

Make it stop.

[He doesn't like it. He's not sure he can deal with it. If every fight has the possibility of this kind of feeling... how can he fight like this?]

[apatheticguide]

[ He seems entirely unsympathetic to Otoha's plight. ]

... What's the matter, Alice? Don't you understand? If you say you're dreaming, you are. But that doesn't mean it won't be a dream that cannot hurt you.

You're asking me to stop something I have no control over...? ... That's impossible. I did not create this World, and I do not maintain it. I am simply a Guide.

[bakegarasu]

[He never said he was dreaming. But even though part of him is itching to drive the blade into the Rabbit... it's not going to help anything. It's not like he's really here, right?]

Fine. Then we really do need to get out of here.

[Before this feeling makes him go insane.]

[apatheticguide]

... I should mention. If you might be thinking, "I want to kill him"... it won't help you. Harming Guides is against the Rules. Besides, I am not here. I cannot enter the Doors physically; it is my job to stay outside if something happens.

[ That's just how it is. ]

... What do with this... well, I certainly do not trust you to get the job done, the girl will have to find the Key, it seems. Help her.

[bakegarasu]

No hurting you or the Cat. Got it.

[Not that he wants to hurt the Cat. But the girl? Which gi - oh. Of course.]

I'll find her.

[He sheathes his sword, waiting in case the Rabbit has something else to say.]

[apatheticguide]

... Try not to cause me much more of a headache, will you? Please? It is hard enough keeping all of you intact.

[ He tacks the please on exasperatedly. ]

[bakegarasu]

So it's your doing.

[Was there a situation where he had to be pulled back together? He can think of one, but it feels like there was another.]

[... Maybe not.]

I'll do what I can.

[apatheticguide]

... Sometimes. If people die inside the Doors, usually I have to send them back in.

[ He sighs. ]

Just be careful.

[bakegarasu]

... I'll do what I can.

[He gets up, stretches, and pushes off to dash away. He needs to find her. She's the key to the Key, after all.]