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

HEWWO??? QWEEN AWICE??? (saturday)

[prescience]

[It starts the same this week: Oriko knocks and waits patiently outside the audience hall with her hands linked together, and she enters slowly when she's invited, like she's entering some revered space.]

Good evening. Are you still awake?

[Meaning: How much energy does she have left almost a full day after the last death? But who would ask it like that?]

[twinverses]

[Alice wasn't sleeping, actually. She's on the throne, enthralled by the book Oriko had brought. At the sight of her new friend? She bolts upright, smiling widely.

She's more energetic than she was even on day one.]

Miss Oriko! Miss Oriko! You actually came back!

[She scampers down to the ground level to see her, book held tightly to her chest.]

[prescience]

[Still so energetic, after a whole day? The change in duration seems worth making a note of - so she does.]

Of course I came back. [Oriko smiles slightly.] Did you think that I wasn't going to?

[twinverses]

[She didn't know what the difference was. Was it that there were two people? Was it the fact that it was an execution? Or maybe that it doesn't work as well if the other Alice does it herself? Alice had those thoughts herself, after the trial. They frightened her.

So for the moment she doesn't speak about them.]

Well, uh. [She stops in mid step, fidgeting with her skirt.] Everyone seemed so upset during the trial. I didn't think you'd come so soon.

[prescience]

Of course they were upset. It was a very upsetting affair. You agree, don't you?

["I don't think I like this game," she had said, as if she didn't remember its consequences at all...and, in fact, Oriko is certain that's the case.]

But I wanted to come before the night got away from us... because tonight, we'll be giving up another memory.

[twinverses]

Throwing someone in an oven is worse than just making them go to sleep.

[She agrees. Why did it have to be so mean? Yet she felt better after it. That was... disturbing in of itself. At the mention she sets her foot down.]

I can't help, I'm sorry... Making them go week by week is the most I can do.

[prescience]

[It...yes???

But, on the other hand, she thinks: Probably not for the person who's dead.

The Queen isn't getting any closer, so she'll eliminate some of the distance between them, walking closer to where they had their tea party the last time.]

Because we are in the Forest, right? Or perhaps...giving you some of our memories helps you with your own?

[And if it's both, then: Well.]

[twinverses]

[Well, they're both dead already so it doesn't really matter! Probably. Probably.

She hesitantly continues walking.]

It's the Forest, yeah. It's just how it works... It usually works really, really quick. People go fast.

[She shakes her head.] My memories are long gone. [She raps her own head.] Mm, the Forest and Alice can't help that at all.

[prescience]

[The hollow tap of the Queen's knuckles against her own skull is jarring, but it reminds Oriko of something she already knew, something easy to forget.]

It must have been hard to get used to... even before Alice.

[Pushing too much more will turn this into an obvious interrogation. She's here to keep the girl company, after all.]

I see you've been reading the book I brought for you. Is it everything you hoped it would be?

[twinverses]

Mm... I wandered around a lot. It was a long time so it doesn't matter now.

[Does she hear the own noise in her head? No. It's just a tap, why would it be hollow? Nonsense.]

Oh, yeah! I've been reading it a lot. It's got a lot more fighting than I normally like but I like that how Bilbo is the hero even if he's a coward at the start. Have you read it, Miss Oriko?

[prescience]

[She pats Alice's head, just once, when her sad story is over, just to encourage her to keep talking. Poor, pathetic thing.]

Characters who learn to do the right thing by the end make good heroes.

I haven't; I think I must have stopped reading books like that a long time ago... I was actually hoping that you might be able to recommend me some.

[twinverses]

[It's just the right thing to do. She brightens even more at the slight bit of affection.]

Mm, yeah! He might be a thief but being one helped him and the others out in the end. [Don't tell her it ends in a big war. It'd break her heart.]

Me? Well, I've read a lot and a lot of books but I don't know if you'd like any of them... [Oriko's practically an adult, after all. Would she think her stories were childish? It was a sudden, silly worry but she couldn't help it.]

[prescience]

[All that death ahead of her...and yet it's something Oriko can't warn her about, so she'll have to discover it herself.]

Maybe it'll turn out that I don't enjoy it as much, but I want to know what you like. Maybe something important to you or that you never get tired of?

HEWWO?? MISS OWIKO??? (late tuesday, idk how to do this otherwise)

[twinverses]

[Alice is thinking on how everything went down on Monday still. The flashy motive is still in the audience chamber but she ignores it. She... eventually sends a message magically to Oriko's room. A small note reading:

Can you come see me? Please? I need to return the book and I have some questions.

The Queen

Alice is on the ground when/if Oriko shows up. She's been thinking about things and not liking what she's been thinking.]

[prescience]

[It's much sooner than she'd planned to return to the audience hall, but she can't refuse the summons, not when it's possible that Alice is coming to trust her.

She can't help but steal a glance at the very large and flashy car filled with material goods when she enters.]

Alice-san. You wanted to see me?

[twinverses]

[She holds out the book.]

I finished it... the ending was too sad.

[Her words are too rushed, though. It's obvious that the book was just an excuse.]

Miss Oriko, I think I need some advice.

[prescience]

I'm sorry to hear that. [She supposes some death was inevitable. Oriko takes the book back, holding it to her chest.

If Alice is still sitting on the floor, then she'll bend her knees and crouch down next to her.]

Nothing can change if you don't bring it up to someone else. What are you worried about?

[twinverses]

[A whole war, though? She didn't expect that. Still she just sort of leans on her.]

I think I know why the game is going. It's not to give me friends, is it?

[prescience]

Why do you say that?

[She's been wondering if Alice would draw the same conclusions: She doesn't seem unintelligent, though she is very naive.

Before she says more, Oriko would rather she explain her misgivings first.]

[twinverses]

My arm... it got better after Veronica died. My Alice said she healed it but I don't know if she could have done that.

[It's... close.]

[prescience]

It's probably a little harder to heal your wounds than it might be in a different situation, even if the Alice-san who is a cat has very strong magic.

And do you feel a little stronger today?

[twinverses]

Yeah. I haven't felt tired since Violet died.

[She feels a little sick to her stomach, actually. This isn't a good feeling.]

I can even go outside the audience hall now. I bet I could even make it to the library if I wanted to. [She had been feeling great about it until...]

[prescience]

[That's interesting...it seems less like the energy is running out and more that it is growing cumulatively, now that more than one person has died in the castle halls.

Sensing the unease, she doesn't interject any more opinions, still patiently listening for more.]

Is that what you were trying to do when you left the audience hall yesterday?

[twinverses]

Mm. I wanted to try it myself instead of asking someone.

[Something seemed different about when Ib died and when the case happened. She's not sure why.]

[prescience]

[She hasn't forgotten about Alice's worries yet, and she'll press that issue much later. But - ]

But you want me to bring it back now.