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?

monday morning

[imozon]

[After her first ever good night's sleep, Dark Dream has some things she's wondering about, so she... well, she tries to just barge right into the audience hall, but ends up having to knock.]

[twinverses]

[There's some yawning in the Audience Hall but an Alice speaks up.]

Yes? Do you want to visit? Come in!

[The doors open. The Queen Alice is on her throne, curled up on it like a bed with the cat in her cat form snoring next to her.]

[imozon]

[She comes in, closing the door behind her, and... oh, that's kind of cute actually.]

I was wondering about something, with when you brought me here.

[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]

[She tilts her head.]

Huh? Okay. Do you want tea?

[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.

[imozon]

[That catches her a little off guard. For some reason.]

Yes, thank you.

[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.

[twinverses]

[A little tea table appears in the center of the room and... the Alice pauses before jumping down herself. Somehow the distance doesn't bother her as she makes a chair appear for herself.]

Let's talk over tea, then!

[imozon]

[Dark Dream goes over to the table, naturally.

It's just them this time, but other than that, this isn't much different from yesterday, is it? Most people seemed to get really mad at the Alices right away. Is it weird that they're just going to sit together and talk? Nozomi yelled at Shadow, but talked to her...

She hasn't forgotten that she had a question or anything, but she is lost in thought.]

Week 1, Tuesday - Queen Alice

[xxxx_me]

[HEY QUEEN ALICE WHERE ARE YOUUUU Allen's got a pink friend with him as he peers inside.]

Queen Alice...?

[twinverses]

[The door opens and Queen Alice is just kind of bored. She's poking at some cookies when he comes in. She's also alone.]

Oh? Allen? [She seems eager for the company and at the sight of Clefairy she stops. Tilts her head.] Oh, where did you find that? It's so cute!

[twinverses]

[The biggest change was that she was willing to come down from her balcony. Probably because there wasn't a big mob now.]

What seems to be the problem, Dream?

[xxxx_me]

It was in Lillie's room.

[Jiiii]

We heard Catarina die, and Lillie finding her.

How many times have you played this game really?

[imozon]

[Everyone should see them like this. They're much cuter when they're down here.]

You said you could bring back people who died, right?

[twinverses]

[That actually gets her to choke on her cookie.]

Huh? Lillie... Catarina? I don't... [She stands up, jumping over the edge of the balcony. It seems that gravity doesn't work normally for the Alices even if Catarina's case proved it worked normally for everyone else. She's at least on the floor now.

The Clefairy doesn't seem to react negatively towards her either.]

I haven't heard those names before.

[twinverses]

[She nods.]

My Alice knows how.

[xxxx_me]

[That's... actually surprising to hear.]

Then... you don't know about the locked rooms?

[twinverses]

Why would I have locked rooms? I know you can't get out of the first floor but... [She frowns, thinking.] I can't really go out of this room so I dunno.

[xxxx_me]

[His eyes widen, any suspicion fading away.]

You... you can't leave?

[twinverses]

[She seems surprised that she actually admitted it.]

Well, I can but... [She fidgets.] Nobody would notice me if I left so I stay here, where I can be seen.

[imozon]

[She pauses for a moment.]

Was I dead?