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

monday, week one, around 7 am

[undershadow]

[ Lena tries not to look suspicious when she steals through the rest of the castle to the foyer outside the audience hall, but the cool is only cosmetic. As she traverses the portrait gallery, she practically feels each face's eyes on her, and when she finally gets to the hall's door she hammers it with her fist, which is kind of weird considering it's just a bunch of feathers. ]

[twinverses]

[There's a yawn as one of the Alices respond.]

Mm... you can come in. Do you want tea?

[undershadow]

[ Unfortunately, and (possibly) entirely separate from Cat-Alice's intentions, Lena's immediate association with this offer is a voice that is hers and words that are not. How could it not be? That's the last thing she remembers, that's the reason she's here. ]

Yeah, I'm good. [ Stepping inside, she closes the door behind her vigorously. ] You two know what I want to know.

[twinverses]

[Once she enters it's clear why the other Alice didn't answer. She's curled on the throne, sleeping judging by how even by this distance there's some gentle snoring. The cat is sitting on the railing of the balcony in well, cat, form.

It might have been just a customary offer -- they were both fond of tea after all.]

It's about your aunt, isn't it? Why she's not here and you are? I believe that's your question.

[undershadow]

[ Oh, good, it's the dark version...! ]

No, why I'm here and she's not. [ This might seem, superficially, to be basically the same statement, but the two queens have got enough information on her to make it clear that this whole matter isn't superficial. Right? ] You know what I am, and she — she was me.

[ She was trying to get her out, trying so hard, and she was totally powerless. And even before Lena lost complete control, Aunt Magica was still there, hissing deprecations and orders into her ear. Perhaps her question now sounds tentative or timid, but the truth is that Lena just can't imagine an unconditional freedom from that voice, or all the dark designs she represented. ]

What did you do to her?

[twinverses]

[Well, does it help that she looks behind her to make sure that the other Alice is still sound asleep. Then she looks back.]

I do know, yes. You can say she's asleep for now.

[She sighs, hating to have to admit even that.] Your case is different than the others but some magics just don't mix.

[undershadow]

She's been asleep before!

[ She stops herself from yelling halfway through her own sentence, and continues in a lower voice. If Lena wakes up the other Alice, she can probably say goodbye to whatever meager truths the Cat's willing to give her. ]

But she's... she's not still back at the mansion, then. She can't hurt anyone there.

[twinverses]

[The other Alice doesn't seem to even be aware of the arguing as she snoozes.]

Well, I didn't say it was a normal sleep did I? I doubt she can do anything the way she is. Of course, if you go back she'll wake up.

[undershadow]

[ And as long as Lena's here, they're safe. They're all safe. The knowledge is so heavy that she can't really tell if what she feels is relief or not.

Okay. Focus, Lena. One less thing to worry about. ]

I still don't trust you.

[twinverses]

[Bargaining with a master mind is never easy.]

I wouldn't expect anything different. I'm not lying but you can't prove it either way.

[undershadow]

Ugh, typical. Can you at least tell me if it was on purpose?

[ Because on the one hand, the witch comment at the tea party! On the other hand, Aunt Magica would be a way better pick if you wanted a bunch of people to murder each other. ]

[twinverses]

[The cat yawns.]

Yes.

[undershadow]

Well, gee, thanks. It's a real treat to get told to kill people by someone else for a change.

[twinverses]

Well, you don't technically have to kill anyone. Just survive. You could forget about the witch.

[undershadow]

Listen, I'd love to forget that Aunt Magica ever existed — but if you think I'm just gonna give up on my friends, too, you're even crazier than her.

[twinverses]

Do what you want, then. I'd say you can make new friends here but obviously that's not what you're looking for.