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

[heartgatherer]

Hurrying down the path, Clock stops when a familiar pattern of pink a black flit across the corner of her vision. It's her first reaction to be relieved, ready to greet the cat gladly- however mischievous he is. But "Bo--" is barely out of her mouth before she realizes that that's not the cat who's here now, although she wasn't wrong about the clothes.

She considers walking right past... even takes a few more steps before she stops, talking with her back to him. "...no one likes a stalker." Insults aside... "Have you come to watch us?"

[stolenface]

"Nah, I came to participate. You've got a fun Heart here, Lorina. Mweehee!"

Of course he'd want to be involved with something like her story. So much mayhem, so much going on... It'll be beautiful, he thinks.

[heartgatherer]

Don't confuse heart for head - after all, this is my dream, isn't it?

[Because even now that's how she sees her Wonderland, despite how seriously she views it.]

Besides... what is it you plan to do here? If you were going to follow us, you should have just taken us to the keys from the start.

[stolenface]

Is it, Lorina?

[ Oh, he's got a nasty grin now. ]

And I'm here to be a referee. Can't have one person killing everyone else, can we?

[heartgatherer]

...

[Is it indeed. Everyone's answers regarding that topic have always been very vague to begin with. She... is starting to have her doubts.]

...referee? [Ki...] I didn't take you for the type to stop violence.

[stolenface]

It's still gonna be a slaughter. But can't have it all one-sided, y'know?

[ Yes. He is implying there's going to be a lot of death. ]

[heartgatherer]

...there will be no slaughtering if I have any say in it.

[Don't even joke about such things. How could she allow that?]

[stolenface]

[ That earns a laugh. A very loud one. ]

Sorry, Lorina. But you can't get through that fancy door without a certain somethin' from the people here. And only you can get 'em without those people just poppin' back up.

[heartgatherer]

Me? Why me? And what does that have to do with--

[She may fight the idea, but she's not stupid. If you kill people in this world... what do you get?]

...no. [Why did it... have to be that?] There has to be another way.

[stolenface]

[ That just makes him grin. ]

Hey. It's not like you haven't used people before, right? They'll be just fine once this World is over. Everything nice and back to normal.

[heartgatherer]

[Oh she hesitates. She doesn't feel like she can trust him, and yet-- curiosity drives her to inquire further.]

...so if I'm the one who kills them, when this is all over... they'll be fine?

[stolenface]

Yeah, you all show up in that place you all started--the place you first met the Rabbit. Won't lie about that.

[ And then, he'll hop down next to her, grinning still. ]

If you need extra incentive... That thing you lost... What if I said it's behind that door you have to unlock?

[heartgatherer]

And they won't be hurt?

[Because that's the important part. Even though... having the thing that was taken from her mentioned does make her stiffen.]

[stolenface]

Think of it like resettin' somethin'. Things that happen in the Worlds don't tend to stick outside of 'em. It'll hurt them here, sure, but they'll be perfectly fine and in a single piece outside once you're done.

[ Seems like a nice deal, huh? Just finish 'em off quick and take the clocks! ]