TWO TALES END (Golden Ending)

[whimsicalism]

Reunions and Meetings

It's a couple of hours since the end of the torment. The eternal game is over. A Little Brother, a little run ragged, runs around the Academy and the depot telling anyone who will listen that something is happening. The Queen, a friend of theirs, is visiting. She contacted the sheep while everyone was busy. They explain that she, along with a group of children, will be coming to the depot to meet everyone. She also can help get those who want to go elsewhere, get there. The Queen, it seems, found a way to open doors to other worlds and times. This could be helpful to get home as well as bringing old faces to the depot, if not Closetland itself.

It takes about an hour but eventually a golden door opens on the deck of the platform. A young girl in full petticoats dressed in blue stands before everyone. Even if her smile is nervous at the sight of so many new people she gives a quick curtsy. She shrinks back shyly as she speaks as a few other children come out of the door, too.

"I'm Queen Alice. The sheepies tried contacting my castle and told me what happened. I'm... very sorry about what must have happened. As my friends will tell you, you don't have to worry about the castle or her--uh, Nursery Rhyme--anymore. She's not a King anymore. I'm just a kid like everyone here, um. My friends helped me make this body so I'm sorry if it's a bit surprising. Um. I can help you get home if you'd like..."

Queen Alice goes onto explain that she can open doors to any world your character wants to go to. She can also gently pull other people through doors if needed. The sheep add that the teleporter to Closetland won't allow them to go there. The Academy is for students and staff only, after all!

The residents of the Castle seem nice enough, at least. Maybe now is the time for new friendships after shared two very long grueling experiences? Perhaps you just want to return to a safe place.

Two stories end quietly in the middle of a dark but calm ocean.

OOC

Welcome to the reunion post of Round One and Round Two. Players who played in either round only, please. You may play or NPC castmates of fellow characters if you'd like, though! Please no bringing in of Round Zero NPCs, please. They preferred not to come. If your character has no place to return to or ever needs a place to rest, Alice will offer them a room at her Castle provided they behave themselves. Powers are on there unless trouble arises. She's a bit sensitive after being drafted into being a murdergame accomplice, after all. We hope you enjoy yourselves and this will be the final post for round 2 of Castle Whimsical. Thank you, everyone!

Comments

[seventhlittlemonster]

_{[Heavy footsteps could be heard as the two groups crossed paths with Alice's arrival. A giant, horned humanoid with a crease on his neck looked around at these new faces...]}

No need to be alarmed, I am not one of Closetland's monsters! I'm my own monster from my own world! _{[He bowed, trying to be polite.]} You may call me Seven. Or Numbah Seven! Whichever you prefer!

[violence_ensues]

[Adorabat eyes this monster suspiciously. A red slime monster is perched upon the flying bat.]

...Are you a bad monster?

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

[You know in cartoons when a character is so large compared to another that their footsteps create shockwaves, causing the smaller character to jump off the ground with each footstep?

Yeah, that's exactly what happened to Dylan as Seven walked up to their group, and now he's just staring up, up, up...]

...tall...

[brilliant observation]

[xxxx_me]

[Allen's one of the first to come through with Alice now that everyone in his world's been accounted for - and he smiles and takes her hand to give it a little squeeze of encouragement once she's done explaining everything.]

Looks like the kids over here made it out, too... That's really good.

[cellpreservation]

[Yuta's been hunting down a way to get out of here since the word Go, but now that they have a path out secured, he finally seems to relax a little and hang around a bit. It... might be easier to catch him here for your goodbyes, all things considered.]

I guess that solves everything, huh?

[canreallymove]

Not everything, dude. Not for me.

[He's frowning.]

[imozon]

[Hopefully everyone will just accept Alice at face value, but if anyone tries to mess with her, it's pretty clear they'll have someone else to contend with. Dark Dream is here, in all her fancy gothic lolita glory so she sort of matches Alice and to sidestep awkward questions about having her usual evil magical girl outfit when powers are off, and acting as her bodyguard. Sort of. She never gets too far away, and she does a pretty good job of paying attention to Alice and their surroundings, but let's just say she's not exactly the world's foremost expert on bodyguarding.

She's not really going out of her way to meet most people, but for someone who looks like a villain from a light novel about fantasy aristocracy, she seems pretty approachable! The easiest place to find her is raiding the food supply, because of course she does.]

[littlebratziska]

[Franziska, naturally, gravitates towards her. It's still odd to be back again, to be alive and well and close enough to make sure Dream is doing well, and that she's making wise choices as she should.

The easiest way to do this is to tell her what she should be eating, clearly. Only, after scanning the supplies, she unfortunately finds there is nothing up to snuff.]

What? Here too?? Do the people who run these things assume that merely because we are young, that there is no refinement in our palates??

[violence_ensues]

Hey!

[A blue bat approaches as the food gets raided.]

Don't you think you should leave some for other people?

[violence_ensues]

[Well, this is certainly an unexpected surprise. So these are the residents of Castle Invictus, huh? Well... if this castle was anything like what the students went through...]

[A concerned bat may be approaching your castle resident, red slime monster carried upon her.]

Umm... Are y'all... okay?

[xxxx_me]

[He nods! Still staying close to Alice.]

We sealed away the King, Nursery Rhyme. It was tough but... She just wanted to make Alice happy, I think.

But now we can stay at the Castle and try and help any other kids who get stuck here, too. I thought we were going to have to help you out, but it looks like it's over already.

[noblesnow]

[It's not long at all before Reika is joined by a small pack of conspicuously color-coded similarly-aged girls who are, even to the completely uninitiated, very obviously her fellow Precures. It's also pretty clear they're good friends, because a lot of their chatter focuses on teasing Reika about how rare it is to see her looking all frazzled.

It's also clear they're good friends because Reika is excitedly waving over every Ira student she can to introduce them.] Ah! Could you come over here for a moment?

[violence_ensues]

[Adorabat flutters on over.]

Who are they? Are they your friends back at home, Reika?

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

[There's about two ways you could notice Dylan during this time. First, he could just be wandering around, looking at all these new people. Not really saying anything, just...observing, might be the best word for it. You can stop him if you want, but he feels...weird, around so many human or human-shaped people, without any other dogs in sight.

But later, once he's had a talk with this Alice girl and asked to see his family again, Dylan can be found standing in front of an open door, the other side revealing...country side. Grass, the smell of the sea in the air, and...dogs.

Lots and lots and lots of dogs.

All staring at Dylan, who at this point is crying again, a smile on his face.

And without a second thought, he raises his forelegs and shouts.]

WHO WANTS A HUG?!

[Then, from the other side of the door.]

Hug?

Dylan!?

Dylan's back?!?

Dylan hug!!

[And with that, an absolute tidal wave of puppies rush through the door. A tsunami of white and black crashes over Dylan, who just laughs as he's enveloped by it all.

101 Dalmatians are back together again.]

1/2

[imozon]

[HOLY SHIT THIS IS THE BEST THING SHE'S EVER SEEN. SORRY ALICE YOU'RE BRIEFLY ON YOUR OWN, DD IS--]

2/2

[imozon]

[--actually getting concerned now, this is a Lot of puppies]

What's happening?!

[violence_ensues]

[that.]

[is a lot of dogs.]

...Are... you okay...?

[britbrat]

Well, tally-ho, you lot. I don't expect I shall be coming back.

[ Valmont lingers in front of the door back to his world, talisman clenched firmly in his hand to ward off any thieves (not naming names, Dylan). Despite his words, he doesn't actually look all that eager to head out. The door stands open to a big, fancy, empty house. No one has come through to greet him.

He glances back at the others, and doesn't move. ]

[canreallymove]

...You don't have to go, you know.

[That house looks like no one's there.]

[battlestations]

[So there is this little bald kid leaping out through the door like an action hero and brandishing 2x4 technology rayguns at no one in particular as he surveys the place through his Cool Shades.]

School's out, Delightful Children!! WE'RE here now, and you're going to regret you ever wait a tick you kids don't look brainwashed in the least. This better not be a prank!!

[hashtagwoof]

[ Hunter yelped in shock at the shouting, but thank god this weird bald kid held off on shooting everyone. ]

What-?! What do you mean, "delightful children?!" Is this about that freaky Father guy?

[littlebratziska]

[There's a sharp click clack of heels on the polished floors as a girl who seems like she is either dressed for some kind of riding event or... something.... equally fancy (it's a little hard to judge, actually, but she sure is carrying a riding crop) steps forward into the hall, looking as smug as if she was somehow the cause of all this.]

You need not fear, students of Ira Academy, we are....

[Hang on. The kids here don't look like they're trapped and in danger.

After a moment she scowls, then walks briskly to the nearest stranger, standing as tall as she can, and glares over.]

You! Explain this!

[violence_ensues]

[Adorabat immediately complies.]

We beat up Kakuya and turned her into a fox!

[Context, Adorabat.]

[shinedsobright]

[Fret absolutely BOLTS to his door, pulls it open, and confirms with his eyes that it puts him where he left off, whatever that would mean for his future. His friends are there, but he doesn't think they glimpsed him before he closes the door again for a second.]

Niiiice. Well, if that's how it is, I'm not in any rush to get back to the UG and the Reaper's Game. What say we mingle, Neku?

["Meow!" says this tuxedo kitten that is Neku forever now, going back to see Touga is not in the cards.

This may confuse the new visitors, of course.]

[xxxx_me]

Neku?

[LOOKING AROUND???]

[temmapathy]

[A door opens, and three people step out-a boy with short brown hair who might be familiar to those who saw Emma's hostage photo, and a man and woman with similarly shaded hair, all three looking extremely anxious.]

I can't believe they tried to send Emma off like that- [The man mutters.]
Yeah! What is this "Ira Academy" place anyways? [The boy seems similarly indignant.]
Excuse me-do you know where Emma is? We were told she'd be around here somewhere! [The woman is talking to anyone who might be nearby.]

[After reunions are accomplished, Emma can be found leading her brother around the school and surroundings, or on the platform with her parents, sharing everything that happened to her with them.]

Platform

[violence_ensues]

[What might scare Emma's family is that there appears to be a blue bat, possibly with rabies (How would they know?), and a red slime monster riding the bat, approaching. Adorabat pokes Emma and waits until she looks.]

Who are they?

[heroin_e]

[Isabella Swan's face should be immediately recognizable to most of the students at Ira Academy, seeing as her photos were placed on the memorial wall for Edward, during the time he was dead. This is obviously she--small and soft and fragile looking, with long dark hair and big dark eyes.

What the pictures did not convey is that Edward clearly had at least some basis in his frantic over-concern, because she cannot even make it through the door before somehow managing to trip over her own feet and falling flat on her face.]

Shoot!

[Thunk.

She shoves herself up as quickly as she can, glaring down at her feet and the floor and the door frame behind her as if they had betrayed her, cheeks bright scarlet from blushing furiously as she tries to fade into the background. Hopefully nobody noticed her humiliating fall. She glances down next at the note that's crumpled tight in her hand, and bites her lip for a moment, pulling it gently open to look at it again.

Hi Bella,
I'm really sorry to bother you like this. I'm Edward Cullen's sister, Alice Cullen. I gathered that he dropped you off the other night, but you can tell by now that he never came home. And if you really got the chance to talk, you know how scary it should be that none of us can get a hold of him no matter how hard we try. Unfortunately there's an organization that has threatened our family if we talk too much, so I've realized that the only person I can ask for help is you. It's not like you owe him anything, but I really think this could be fate. If you want to see him again soon, please stand in your closet at 9 PM tonight with the door closed and answer the knock.

FOREVER your friend after this,
Alice Cullen
P.S. there's nothing wrong with the color red, but we're getting a little tired of it lately. You've rocked the blue hard around school before and you'll do it again!

The closet thing had worked, somehow, so presumably the rest was true as well, and if that was true it was entirely possible Edward needed her. Which really is the only thing that pushes her into talking to the nearest person, though she's blushing even harder as she does, and is positive that she is being judged.]

Um. Do... is.... I'm um. Looking for Edward Cullen?

[ooc: THIS IS ALSO NATALIE, HI, I figured I'd let Bella have her own time to play around before she just starts getting lumped into Edward's posts when she finds him!]

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

[Well, someone noticed that fall, and now there's a Dalmatian looking at Bella with concern, a few smaller Dalmatian pups hugging onto him tightly.]

Uh, yeah, he's here, but...are you okay?

[octopups]

[One of the last figures to emerge from the door behind Alice might be a bit of a surprise. The creature peeking shyly out from around her skirt looks at first glance like a medium-smallish white-and-black dog of some vaguely greyhound breed, but it doesn't take a hard look to realize that that's not quite right. For one thing, its neck is almost comically long. But more subtly, it's head and muzzle have a bit more of a uniform conical shape like a possum or a seal, and it has five toes on its front paws instead of four, and a half dozen other little incongruities that add up to a distinct impression that whatever this doglike creature is, it is not descended from an Earthly wolf.

And then another, very similar creature pokes its too-long neck out from the door. ... Then another. And another. And soon there are padding nervously out onto the platform fully eight of these weird critters, all with slightly different coat patterns but otherwise extremely similar.

At first they all bunch up haunch-to-haunch, all looking around curiously in a collective posture that suggests the creatures are not afraid, just kind of overwhelmed. Any stranger who walks toward the pack, however, will quite suddenly find at least half of their funny little heads turning to look at you with startling synchronicity. What do you do?]


[Later, after getting a bit more comfortable with these new kids, Amdi can be found walking around the crowd much more casually. He is a friendly lad who will strike up conversation with anyone, but he's especially keen to speak with other "unusual" children. Either way, his go-to conversation opener is:]

Hello! My name is Amdi! Are you from Earth?

[Uh, if you're not used to a group of eight alien dogs "speaking" by way of artificially generating a cheerful little boy voice that is originating nonspecifically from the entire pack while not one of them move their mouths in any way... that sure is a thing that's happening.]

More comfortable

[violence_ensues]

[When the strange dogs approach the blue bat, the red blood slime, and the moving black bunny doll, they were conversing among themselves. The bat and the bunny turn to look at the weird dogs when addressed.

The heck...?

Um, no. My name is Adorabat. I come from Pure Heart Valley. This is Slimy and Simon Norwell.

[The bat points to the slime and the bunny, respectively.]

[ballooncaged]

Man, if that's how it went, then Franziska would have whipped the arm right off, huh.

[Mizuki has heard the gist by now of a boss fight that they totally didn't need to participate in. She bounces in her red sneakers, tacky Orichalcum trident over her shoulder.]

So, uhh, did this school of yours have a gym? ... I'm sorry. You guys must have been through so much. I just want to be there for you...

[violence_ensues]

OH! YOU WANNA PLAY SOME DODGEBALL HERE!? I can bring a couple balls here!

[That... would be a yes, they have a gym.]