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

[mearry]

[ C-ta stands in front of the door, foot tapping impatiently as he thinks of something to answer. These kinds of riddles are annoying, it's irritating that this is necessary to finding the key.

You break me, but I continue on. What could it be? ]

...Time?

[worldkeys]

[ The door is silent. It doesn't move. Not for a moment, but then... there's a voice: ]

... Wow, you are much closer than the last person who tried. I'll accept that answer. But how are you going to get some time? I doubt you can hurry up and unlock me without some, you know.

[mearry]

Getting time? [ This is crazy. He's talking to a door. A door is talking to him. This is stupid, but he'll amuse it.

But at least he's a bit motivated when he's told that he was closer than the last person who tried. And if it's for the sake of finishing this situation, he'll keep on going. ]

Mm...a clock, maybe?

[worldkeys]

[ A thunk emanates from the door. It seems excited. ]

Oooh, you got it! Now where are you going to get them, I wonder? You'll need an awful lot of them.

[mearry]

Haha, these just keep getting more complicated.

[ The laugh isn't very honest, he's more so getting fed up with this door's constant questions. Now, the door has given him a riddle that he's stuck on. Goddammit. ]

A workshop? Or-- do you really need a lot of them? What if you just need a big one for everyone to see?

[worldkeys]

[ The door pauses, thoughtful. ]

I suppose I can give you a hint, since you guessed one right... well, see, there IS one bigger Clock. We need that one to put the other ones inside of the door here. Understand? But I shan't tell you where to get them. Figure it out for yourself, you have a brain, surely!

[mearry]

Sure I do. I'm not a door, after all.

[ Fufu, if the door wants to be rude, then he'll be snarky right back. But he closes his eyes, thinking deeply about the situation.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. His heart-- the clock inside him, keeps ticking away.

Oh. Duh. ] So, everyone else has a clock inside them? [ He's a little disturbed by the idea that's forming in his head ] Do we need to rip them out?

[worldkeys]

I'm a door. I don't need a brain to be smart, unlike you!

[ The door waits patiently, until he figures it out, then... chuckles. ]

... Oh, I don't know. Do you want to go through me?

[mearry]

What a screwed up world. [ C-ta looks and feels unsure about this whole ordeal but...

It's necessary, no? So he will wordlessly turn his back to the door, and begin walking away. ] I'll be back soon...or something.

[worldkeys]

Bring a better sense of humor when you come next time, won't you, Mr. Gate Guard?

[ What a snide door this is. ]