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

[prescience]

I was hoping you might know why. For me, the experience has been a little...confusing. I'd wager I'm not the only one.

[To be fair, there's no need to worry about monsters getting those who are already dead, technically, is there?]

What are the monsters supposed to do to us?

[twinverses]

Closetland monsters attack kids but if they're dead they ignore them. That's why she said once I get strong enough I shouldn't be afraid of leaving the castle.

[prescience]

You too?

[Her eyes widen - a show of a little surprise, a little sympathy.]

So because of all that, you need to regain your strength...

[Oriko's drawing her own conclusions about why children need to die in the castle beyond that, but that isn't a question for this girl, is it?]

It's hard to make friends when you're sick, isn't it?

[twinverses]

Mm. I wasn't sure for a long time but I'm pretty sure that happened before I met Alice.

[Nasu hates kids.]

It is. At least I can talk to people instead of like in the hospital!

[prescience]

That's true, and there are a lot of us here. But right now you have to stay in this room...

[Honestly, if Oriko were to make a logical argument here, the fact that they're playing a "game" that the Queen is so far removed from suggests that it isn't for her benefit at all. Not the way she thinks it is.]

What happens when you're feeling stronger?

[twinverses]

I can go play outside with Alice. Like I did before... that'll be fun.

[That's logical, yes, but not something she's thinking of.]

I know it's wrong but... I felt a little better, just for a few hours, after Ib died. I felt awfully mad but I didn't feel like I was sleepy.

[prescience]

... [It's difficult to mask the slight anger that bubbles up inside her. To keep it from her face, she tries to replace it with concern for the returning weakness that the Queen describes.]

But it went away afterward? I know you're still cross with the Alice-san who is a cat.

[twinverses]

[There's a small flinch. No, Oriko couldn't be mad at her. It wasn't her fault. Right. The hesitation fades away.]

Mm. I didn't really have the energy to argue with her more than that.

[prescience]

[She tries to reel it in even further, watching the girl flinch.

No, she sympathizes with her. Only the cat is the cruel one. Only her. Yes.]

I'm sorry that it doesn't last very long. That's not a lot of time to get anything done. No wonder you'd like a long book to read.

[twinverses]

[It seems to work. Right. Oriko probably wasn't mad at her or mad at anyone. She's just sensitive. Right. She smiles tentatively.]

Yeah. It's one I didn't get to read before... I don't wanna read his other books but the Hobbit is shorter than those.