WEEK 3

[whimsicalism]

All three deaths last were tragic in their own ways. Was trust so fragile in that castle that a simple misunderstanding could end in blood? It seemed to be the case. The trial proved that without a doubt. Surely no one else would make that mistake again. As another week begins the tea cup elevator has granted access to a new area. Maybe the new amusements of a festival will ease your wounded hearts?

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

[It's time for week three! We're almost half-way done with our trip in the castle. Don't forget to submit your memories here and your activity here. Even though, the Queen seems to be a little more steady on her feet you can find her and the other Alice at the audience hall. As always, don't forget to submit your comments for fabulous prizes.]

Comments

PUNISHMENT: What the Cat Dragged In

[whimsicalism]

[Today, something new is happening in the foyer. The doors of the audience hall open as Queen Alice timidly walks into the foyer. She's carrying a book as she looks around nervously. She even brightens as she catches the eyes of some people.

Sadly, this is broken up soon. Someone else notices this. Veronica. She moves up to Alice as if to greet her only to lunge with a knife taken from the picnic area. Alice screams in alarm as she raises her arms to protect herself.

A noise like cracking porcelain rings out through the foyer as Veronica cuts Alice's arm. Pieces of porcelain fall to the ground like glass. No one can stop Veronice, though. It appears as if an invisible wall surrounds the two.

Alice continues to scream, shouting one name in particular as another slash sends her poor book flying. (It's a copy of the Hobbit for the observant.)]

Alice! Alice, help! Do something! I--please!

[The Cat appears out of nowhere, seemingly the only one who can pass through the barrier. She's in cat form and appears behind Alice. Veronica doesn't notice her until she jumps and lands on Veronica's face.

Veronica tries to remove the Cat from scratching up her face and drops her knife in the process. She can't do much more than annoy her, though, as she hisses loudly. Rule Eleven, after all. At least until--]

I-I--! You can punish her!

[As soon as those words are said, the Cat's back feet dig deep into Veronica's throat. It doesn't take long at all for those scratches to become deep enough to strike an important artery. Fortunately for everyone watching, including Alice, the door of the audience hall opens again and the Cat directs Veronica to stumble back into it as the doors shut.

Judging by the shouts and cat screeches, though, Veronica, the Empress, is dead.

Alice retreats back into the audience hall after picking up her book again before anyone can catch her as the invisible wall disappears. By the brief glance and Alice's shriek, this only confirms Veronica's fate.

Unlike with Ib's death, the Alices don't say anything and aren't up to talking.]

[battlestations]

[well that sure happened in the blink of an eye. now he's running over and BANGING ON THE FORCEFIELD]

WHAT IS THIS, VERONICA!? A ONE-WOMAN SUICIDE MISSION AGAINST A LITTLE GIRL WAS YOUR IDEA OF FINE ARMY TACTIiiics...!???

[oh god the cat is getting involved and he has to back away because that is real bad. His fists are still clenched. Mizuki's going to be so upset and he's mad at himself for that cause he recommended her a team. Both of hers in just three nights. WORKING WITH TEENS WAS A MISTAKE HUFF PUFF]

[strictura]

[ Going to go flag him down once he has those pieces. ]

You saw what happened to the Queen back there when Veronica attacked her, right?

[battlestations]

Of course I saw it was- oh. You picked up her... parts?

[what are you gonna do with those, bro]

[strictura]

Why wouldn't I? I wanted to get a better look and confirm what they were. I assume she'll be able to regenerate the broken part, or have the Cat fix it for her, but I'd like to know that for a fact.

Had you already noticed that she was made of something like that?

[strictura]

[ ...That happened quickly, and while it was definitely justified according to the rules this time, it's still disappointing, not least because of the team Veronica had been on. Ugh. What the hell was she thinking?

Are those porcelain pieces gone when this is over, or are they still on the floor of the foyer where they could be picked up? ]

[whimsicalism]

[They are still there. So is the knife, if you want to take it too. The pieces are still vaguely warm, though.]

[strictura]

[ Probably better than leaving it there for someone to take or step on, so he might as well add this to the knife collection he's somehow ending up with here.

Are the pieces just skin colored on both sides? ]

[whimsicalism]

[Not skin colored, but considering where Alice was hit, the white porcelain on her arms makes sense.]

Re: PUNISHMENT

[seventhlittlemonster]

[...oh...
Is this going to be a running theme?

Seven thought he'd be numb to this after Cori's death. Stupid is as stupid does.
But as soon as the cat got involved, he turned away and cringed. Getting mauled by a beast was a horrid fate.]

...What a shame.

[scratchitti]

[The horror on Neku's face at the death fades quickly as Veronica is hidden behind the doors. Once it's safe he wheels around on the other kids, voice low so Alice's screams can cover his words from Calice's ears. Hopefully]

Any of you thinking of trying that better cut it out now. If we're gonna rush her it should be as a group- use the rules to our advantage. I don't care what you have going on back home you think you have to get back to now- it doesn't mean a damn thing if you're dead!

[his tone is a bit harsher than usual, especially compared to his awkward concern over the weekend. Seeing another punishment is not sitting well]

[littlebratziska]

I-I'm not a fool! You know I'm trying to play within the bounds of this so called game, short of killing someone!

[scratchitti]

It's no good if we're not all on the same page though- and I'm not getting myself killed or mindwiped just because some of you little punks can't control yourselves!

[He seems surprised by his own vitriol, a small amount of shame crawling up to his face before he tucks it into his collar]

...sorry.

[littlebratziska]

[Her expression falls a little at that, almost resentful, almost sad, annoyance snapping under it.]

No one's on the same page, that's the problem here.

I don't think we can stop it, there's this, and... I've forgotten again, I think everyone has, I can't remember....

What's the point of this, anyway? There isn't any way to win this game, everyone is just losing.

[undershadow]

[ no comment from lena but OKAY ARE WE JUST LIKE, FORGETTING NOT TO DIE ON SUNDAY OR ]

[whimsicalism]

[TODAY'S MONDAY IT'S FINE]

Re: PUNISHMENT: What the Cat Dragged In

[xxxx_me]

[Oh...

He just stares at the doors in mute horror long after they've shut.]

She was going to...

[He...

He needs to find the World Key.]

[golden_king]

[ Well, that was unnecessary.

But...in a way, Veronica helped give some information with her death. So, it really wasn't a waste after all, was it?

Gil will head on out after listening and and taking note of a few things but that's all. ]

INVESTIGATION

[littlebratziska]

[She hears enough of the shrieking to make her look out into the foyer, and from there she recoils, almost stumbles back as she watches the scene in horror.]

S-she's a doll.

[Franziska feels a little sick after the scene has done playing out, but does not go to the pieces of Alice's arm - something others are already attending to in any case - but rather goes to the book, which she picks up and flips through quickly, just checking to see if there's anything that stands out as unusual. It's not a book she's read, like most of the books here, but you never know.]

[whimsicalism]

[The book was picked up again but... you know what? Let's say Alice dropped it again before she went back into the audience hall.

It seems like a normal copy of the Hobbit. A few wet spots near the ending warp the page slightly. The bigger question is:

Has anyone seen the Queen outside the audience hall or the court room before?]

[littlebratziska]

[Not that she's aware of, but she was sort of taking that for granted.

In any case after flipping through the book for any obvious markers like writing or blank pages or... or she doesn't know, something that doesn't seem to belong in the book, she's going to go stand in front of the audience room doors.]

Alice?

[whimsicalism]

[Other than it appears someone cried all over the final pages, nothing strange seems amiss there.

There's no answer for a long time. Then the Cat answers.]

She's asleep.

Investigation

[ballooncaged]

[Sometimes you check out the floor 2 garden and decide to check out the floor 1 garden to see if the flowers are the same so you plan to pass through the foyer and then something is going on and the next thing you know there's blood in the air and identifying words in others' screaming.

Mizuki gravitates towards the knife. She picks up the knife. Is blood getting onto her hand?]

[whimsicalism]

[The only blood in the foyer is from Veronica and very little of that is around, seeing as she expired in the audience hall.

However, the knife? Is covered in white dust.]

[ballooncaged]

[Yeah, it's... It's nowhere near the knife. Hm. Though this is creepy in a completely different way that will sink in once she hears about the teacup door.]

We've learned that Alices' weakness isn't knives.

[Her voice is shaking, each word forced like crawling up a staircase. She wraps the knife up tightly in a cloth from her coat pocket, then stows the package away in same.]

In Sector M? We put knives away.