Would you speak with a queen? Or a cat? (AUDIENCE HALL)

[twinverses]

Need something? Want to complain more directly to your cute hosts or maybe you want to bargain with your memories? Maybe you just have a favor. Regardless, this is the place to do it! Just knock on the Audience Hall's door or just call for the Alices and they'll answer.

Of course, if you want to speak with a particular Alice just note that in your toplevel as long with the date and rough time it's happening. They can be contacted IC-ly throughout the day.

For the final week, in person meetings with the Storyteller (formerly known as the Cat) aren't possible. Alice, obviously, isn't talking to anyone either. However! The Storyteller can be called to talk throughout the castle so just say where you're yelling at her from.

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Comments

[strictura]

[ Gathering evidence... so they would be investigating the crime scenes themselves rather than just going off of some sort of pre-written document. Maybe he should read some of the mystery novels in the library to familiarize himself with what kind of clues to look for. There had never been any reason for any of them to bother covering their tracks back home, so while he knows plenty about physiology and creative murder methods, identifying the person responsible will be new.

...Well, hopefully it will be new enough to most of the kids here too.

He gives another nod of understanding. He'd like to go a little more in depth and ask about some other details, but he also doesn't want to wear out his welcome before he gets to all of his main questions, even if she does seem pretty happy to talk about this. ]

Also good to know.

Shifting gears a bit... You're aware that we found some information about a few of the occupants of the other rooms here, correct?

[ He might be wary of mentioning if he thought otherwise, but Allen had said he'd already asked the Queen about it, and she'd indicated she was going to ask the Cat, so he'd be surprised if that hasn't happened by this point. And anyway, the strange room assignments were pretty conspicuous, so he can't imagine they weren't expecting them to figure it out eventually. ]

Were they playing the same game as us? And are they still "staying in the castle with you," as I believe it was put?

[twinverses]

I do. They were playing the same game but that game...

[The cat shifts her stance a little, looking backwards at the sleeping Alice then turning back to him she shook head.]

Sometimes people break rules. Sometimes many people do. It didn't end well for anyone. Unfortunately, they were disqualified from staying in the castle. I can't say more than that right now.

[strictura]

[ "Disqualified from staying in the castle"? Didn't that already mean being dead and trapped? ]

Were they... not people you wanted as your friends anymore after breaking the rules?

[twinverses]

Exactly. They're gone, all thirty-one.

[strictura]

I see...

What are the things you are looking for in a friend? Besides being able to follow rules.

[twinverses]

Mm... well, let's just say that particular disaster shouldn't happen again.

[Thanks, Cat.]

[strictura]

[ ...Hm. ]

Ah... Well, that's good, I suppose.

[ ... ]

This is still part of her wish, right? Are you only helping her because it's what she wants, or would you want the same thing even if you weren't her Servant?

[twinverses]

Of course I'd do this for her! Regardless.

[strictura]

But if it wasn't about doing it for her, I mean. If you hadn't met her... would you have been looking for friends too?

[twinverses]

A mirror changes with whoever looks into it. I always will try to the best for my Master but the individual wish changes.

[strictura]

Mm, I guess that makes sense.

[ Especially given that she's literally a mirror image of the other Alice when she's not a cat. ]

But do you really see yourself as only a mirror? You don't have a wish that's just yours?

[twinverses]

I don't even have a True Name of my own, how could I form a wish?

[The cat pauses for a moment.]

I am what I am. I shouldn't be able to form a wish separate than hers.

[strictura]

That's not typical for Servants, is it? Granted, my knowledge on this particular subject is limited to what I've heard from the two of you and Sajyou, but she made it sound like they usually had their own lives before being summoned as Servants. It was never like that for you?

[twinverses]

No, it's not typical. I suppose there is something someone could call me but, naturally, I'm not going to say. What sort of Chesire Cat would I be if I gave all the answers?

[strictura]

That's fair, and I won't pry too much. I am curious, though... whoever your real self is, are you really a child like she is?

[twinverses]

Not exactly. As I've said before... I'm not fond of hurting children like this. I could have been summoned by many here, after all. I was created for children, after all.

[strictura]

And I think you already know this, but I'm always wary of the possibility of children being manipulated by adults, even if their intentions may not be consciously bad.

What was the reason that you could only bring children here? If you were "created for" them, are they the only ones you have that kind of power over or something? Or is it really all about finding suitable friends?

[twinverses]

It has to do with this place. As I'm sure you noticed, we mentioned an 'outside' of the castle. This world... it doesn't allow adults at all. I tried and tried so I wouldn't have to harm children but they either couldn't come in at all or died so quickly.

[For once... The cat sounds actually sad about that. She actually shifts to her 'Alice' self so she can emote more properly.]

Since I couldn't, I felt that Alice probably could also use the company. Created for and created by. Even since Little Tommy Thumb, I have ever been ready.

[strictura]

[ Oh... that gets his full attention. ]

Is it only the castle that doesn't allow them? How far does this "world" extend?

That... If you weren't asking such terrible things of us, that would almost sound like paradise.

[twinverses]

No, it's not just the castle. It took me some time to set up and there are children who do go through the 'world' this place is in. It's not a peaceful place but no adult can taint it with their lies.

Closetland, they called it.

[strictura]

Closet...?

[ Well, he knows what that makes him think of, but... hm. Files that away. ]

Why can't it be peaceful? If there aren't adults there...

[ Are things like this game happening everywhere? ]

[twinverses]

Certainly there are things that look like both adults and children outside... that doesn't mean they're actually them.

[She pauses.]

The children I met called it the birth place of monsters. Dragons. Werewolves. Vampires. Things that lurk in the shadow... isn't it natural to find monsters where you can't reach? I'd be there to protect any friends Alice and I have, of course, though.

[strictura]

[ Frowns... Part of him still wonders if that's not all metaphorical, like the "Demons" of his own world, but he can't really justify that idea when there's a monster like Seven here. ]

...I guess I hadn't considered something like that. Was this place the only option you had, then?

[twinverses]

Yeah. It was.

[Who knows? She knows but she's not talking.]

[strictura]

...Hm. All right.

[ Well. ]

I think that's most of my major questions for now, then. Thank you for your cooperation.