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]

[ 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? ]

[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?

[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?!

[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.

[mearry]

[ He places a hand against the door, maybe a bit too desperately than necessary. That sentence doesn't need to be finished-- C-ta can finish it all on his own. ]

I won't let anyone get to her before I do. I'll keep her safe from her. [ He pauses for a moment. ] I have to find her so please if you have any idea!!

[worldkeys]

... I'm sorry. I don't know. I can't leave here. You'd have to check the other territories. But the view from the top of the Tower of Clover might provide you something, if she's not in the Forest.

[ The Door sounds genuinely apologetic, too. ]

[mearry]

Thanks!

[ He hurries off, running off to the Tower to get a bird's eye view of everything. It would be useless to search blindly through the Forest-- or he thinks so, at least. Keep Clock away from the Queen. He'll do that. Without fail, he'll protect her. ]