[005]

[fortune_sought]

[it probably comes as no surprise to anyone who knows her that, when Sophie's CAT activates seemingly without her consent, it shows Sophie looking terribly annoyed] What do you mean by asking questions like this just to go in!? I have a headache, and I would like some tea, and you are going to open this door!

[she is standing outside the tearoom, her hands on her hips and definitely not a mood to deal with the hologram in front of her, currently displaying a trivia question: What is the name of the reptilian race that, by the 25th century, dominated a large portion of the galaxy matched only by their rival and sometimes enemy the Earth Empire?]

I have no idea what you're even referring to! Open the door! [grabs the knob, but the door doesn't budge. instead, an angry tone sounds to reveal to Sophie that she has answered incorrectly]

[she lets out a cry of frustration] Curses! Open!

[unfortunately, as she tries the knob again, another hologram appears, this time with the question: What is the name of the weapon that can both unlock all doors and people's hearts?]

[gapes] Whatever it is, it must be black magic indeed! Stop this nonsense and let me in!

[observers might be able to guess that she's been at this for a while. in fact, one by one, strands of her hair have been changing to orange yarn, though not enough to be easily visible yet. she's also about two inches shorter than she should be and her left foot is composed of fabric rather than skin. this is not a good day for Sophie]

Comments

[collector]

There is always a penalty for losing a game. You haven't seen many townspeople, but you may have noticed an awful lot of toys lying around.

[fortune_sought]

[raises an eyebrow, brushing hair back out of her face now that she's looked up] Just what are you implying?

[collector]

That you're shorter than I remember you being, there's something wrong with one of your feet, and... [he leans a little closer to scrutinize her hair.] And you've been using very bad shampoo or your hair is turning to yarn.

[fortune_sought]

[startled, she pulls back away from him] What!?

[collector]

Look through your hair, Sophie.

[fortune_sought]

But... [she did feel something, just now, when she pushed it out of her face] There's simply something caught in it, I'm sure. It is getting rather long... [she's trying to hide the cold dread that has come over her, though her voice shakes just a bit. she reaches her hand up to her hair again, running it through the strands and feeling it catch against something rough. without a word, she very slowly tries to separate out the rough strand, pulling it in front of her face so she can get a look at it. when she sees it, she immediately lets go, closing her eyes]

Confound this town! It's quite as bad as the Witch of the Waste ever was!

[collector]

[He's not very good with upset humans, but he tries.] It will be reversible, as it was with the rain or our forgetting. But this time, we're not the only ones affected. That is significant.

[fortune_sought]

[angrily] But I've only just turned back! And now-- [cuts herself off, taking a deep breath. when she speaks again, she's much calmer, though her hands are still fists at her sides] [to herself] No. That happened months ago; I've only just remembered it. [turning her attention back to Braxiatel] You're right; this will reverse. Everything has.

But you say the townspeople are all affected this time? [thinks about that] That could point to Doctor Resarci, but I would not have expected him to be the one to inform us that our lost property is in good hands.

[collector]

Yes, I was wondering about that. [He actually sounds somewhat irritated with himself.] If we knew what the exact purpose of those notes was, we might be able to make a better guess. But I failed to follow up on what I'd noticed. That was very me then - all theory, no practicality. So horribly Gallifreyan. We may have some leverage now that we're not the only ones enduring these games.

[fortune_sought]

[curiously] Gallifreyan?

You think the real people in town might be willing to listen to us this time? You could be right, if Doctor Resarci is truly doing things on his own now. But what could we ask for from them? I doubt they have control over these dratted games!

[collector]

[He is well-practised enough at lying that he doesn't show any alarm] Someone from Gallifrey. My home planet.

If they did, they wouldn't fall prey to them. But someone here is responsible for us being brought here, and someone knows more than they're letting on. We may get a bit more honesty.

[fortune_sought]

Oh! That's an interesting name. [don't worry, Brax, the Doctor has explained about Time Lords--twice now, in fact]

Should we try to question everyone, then? Or, at least, everyone we can find.

[collector]

So many people say it sounds Irish.

I think so, yes. Though I'm still not sure how much most know or are able to say.

[fortune_sought]

Is that another land?

That's true... I can't help but think that whatever happened to that news girl was our fault.

[collector]

Yes, in the British Isles.

We can't be certain that something has happened to her. And if something has happened to her, we can't concern ourselves with self-blame. Guilt is a paralytic. If you truly feel responsible, then the only thing to do is to work towards saving her.

[fortune_sought]

An island? Do you live on an island as well?

[blinks] Do you think that was a trick, that the Mayor was so upset? It struck me as something he hadn't meant for us to see. And I do think she's his daughter--she was the one he had his arm around, in that video meant to encourage people to come here. Did Fuu show that to you?

[sighs] But you are right, of course. I just wonder what might happen to anyone we do get information from. [fiddles with her hair, pushing it back from her face and feeling those odd patches]

[collector]

On an asteroid, actually.

Oh, no, I don't think it was a trick. Though I did find it curious that it broke into his other announcement. Unless he can be in two places at once, one or the other - or both - of the broadcasts would have to be pre-recorded. And it's certainly a fair guess.

[He frowns at that. He is so horrible at this, but in his incapable way, he puts a hand on her shoulder to try to comfort her.] I imagine, the way things are going, that the people who don't give us information won't be much better off than those who do. Certainly, we won't be any better off.

[fortune_sought]

Oh, yes! You'd told me that. [sighs and puts a hand to her head] It's still hard to think...

[she's not certain of all those words, but she does think she gets the idea] You mean that one of his messages was created before that announcement? That seems very likely. But does that mean that everything we've seen from the Mayor was created at some prior time--that those events were planned far in advance?

[she glances over with a smile, realising what he's trying to do. can't help being a bit embarrassed; she's not any good at such things either] You're right. [takes a deep breath] Where shall we start?

[collector]

The full effects will likely take some time to wear off.

It isn't an unreasonable suggestion. How far in advance would tell us something more of how this place works, I suspect.

[He draws his hand away, a little awkward, and puts it in his pocket.] Audrey Ardes, perhaps? Or... well, we could start at the theatre.

I don't know how I lost this tag :|

[fortune_sought]

Do you think it would have been very long in advance?

[frowns thoughtfully] If you think she might know something, then I suppose there's no reason not to start there. Shall we go to the White Rabbit?

Darkel killed it and made me use the wrong account.

[collector]

Well, if it were, then they'd have known about everything from the poisoning to Deputy Drew's trial - and therefore the murders - in advance.

Certainly. But, if I may, I suggest we call her outside to speak with us.

[fortune_sought]

[gasps] Oh...oh my! What a ghastly thing to have planned! I thought that Doctor Resarci had acted alone in that. [she is clearly not fond of this idea at all]

[cringes] Yes, I agree with you there.

[collector]

He may have done. As I said, we don't know when these were recorded. But it's a possibility to keep in mind.

Well then. [He offers her his arm.] Shall we?

[fortune_sought]

[accepts it, relaxing a bit at his familiar gentlemanly manner] What do you think we should ask her?

[collector]

What do you think, Ms Hatter?