The Invisible City of Kitezh II. Wedding Procession

[collector]

[Braxiatel has picked out a nice, comfortable room for the broadcast. (Also, he has tea, but does that even need to be mentioned?) The initial smile he offers is somewhat less pleasant than it could be.]

First, allow me to congratulate the happy couple on their engagement. Do enjoy yourselves picking out the drapery for your new home. And if I may applaud the Doctor in particular for finding a new place to trap us all.

[That done, Brax is back to being cool, calm, and calculating]

Now, on to business. Some of you may have already explored the area and found five locked doors. One, to the north, is essentially inaccessible, but I'm sure no one will be too upset if we keep trying. There also are four other doors, each of which asks a security question when one gives it access to one's CAT. Each door's question is asked by one of the residents of the town.

In case anyone wanted to have a go at the questions, I've made a text post with the door's location, the question's speaker, and the question given. My suggestion is that the doors be taken in teams. We haven't any idea what's behind them, after all.

[with a sip of his tea] And if I could borrow the future wife of Doctor Hatter, I think I'd like to try the northwest door with her first.

[TEXT]

Northeast: Osculia
What treat is the best reward?

Northwest: Verita
I don't just stand for the news; I, Verita, also stand for...

Southeast: Audrey Ardes
I'm as boisterous and cheerful as they come, but mentioning this can kill my good mood. What is it?

Southwest: Dante Iussus
I'm a man with an awful... And before I believe anything, I need...

Comments

[fortune_sought]

[gives him a look that tells him exactly what she thinks] Perhaps I'll try a different door.

[collector]

[Well that's what you get for getting engaged without telling him.]

I wouldn't dream of stopping you. But I'd rather not go alone.

[fortune_sought]

[she really wishes that hadn't happened]

Slithering out again, Mr Braxiatel?

[collector]

I really wish you wouldn't describe me like that, Sophie. It makes me feel like you're calling me a snake.

[fortune_sought]

[blinks, surprised when he calls her by name. pouts at him because it's easier to be annoyed than sympathetic] If it helps, of all the people in this town, you are certainly not the one who reminds me most of a snake.

But you do slither out of things.

[collector]

I think I can live as long as I'm not called a weasel.

Now, will you accompany me? I promise not to abandon you at the door. Goodness knows you'll have to deal with that at the altar.

[Was he trying not to make jokes about that? Whoops, he forgot.]

[fortune_sought]

Then I'll be sure never to call you that.

Yes, all right. I do appreciate that, but I can think of worse things that could happen than being abandoned there.

[collector]

Such as actually being married to him?

[fortune_sought]

Yes, well. [glances around as though checking for eavesdroppers] The mayor certainly wouldn't come for the ceremony if there weren't to be one. [sighs, hoping he knows what she means]

Shall we meet at the door?

[collector]

[He smiles at that, but nods]

Certainly. Contact me when you're ready.

[fortune_sought]

I'll be there shortly. [ends the connection, hurrying to the northwest door]

[collector]

[It doesn't take Brax much time at all to get there, as he chose a door close to it on purpose, and as he has gotten very used to the layout very quickly.]

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie smiles when she sees him. she's carrying a satchel with her, which Brax probably hasn't seen before. she's also wearing a new dress--cream-coloured and decorated with blue anemone flowers] Ah, there are you.

[collector]

[Braxiatel smiles] You look . . . beautiful.

[Then he pulls out his CAT and waves it for the door. See? He isn't even slithering out of trying to be the owner of the scanned CAT.]

[fortune_sought]

[ooc: She also speaks English, really! *kicks typos*]

[reddens slightly] Thank you. [she's surprised when he goes right for the door--but also a bit pleased] I do have something for you, as well. It might come in useful. [quickly reaches into her satchel, fishing for the item]

[luministimods]

[Verita's voice speaks in response to his CAT request:] I don't just stand for the news; I, Verita, also stand for...

[collector]

Truth?

[He watches Sophie out of the corner of his eye, curious.]

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie is in the midst of retrieving two grey ties--the one he loaned to her and a new one in a different pattern, but she pauses when he gives an answer]

[luministimods]

[the door gives a ding of approval, then swings open to reveal...grass, actually, crossed with paths in apparently the same layout as the town square. in fact, the back wall is even painted to look like the Town Hall. in front of it is a chair, where a dark-haired girl sits. her eyes have just widened in surprise, and she breaks out in a grin]

I knew someone would find me!

[collector]

[Whatever Brax was expecting, this wasn't it. And forgive him for showing his shock, but it has been a very stressful two years. Still, in a moment he recovers himself and smiles.]

Verita! How good to see your smiling face.

[Before he crosses his threshold, he looks at Sophie.]

You don't have to come in with me if you don't want to.

[fortune_sought]

[gives him a look] Do you really think I'd leave now?

[crosses the threshold after him, still clutching the ties. the instant that she does, the door slams shut behind them] Oh! [turns to the door in surprise, but would you believe there's no reader--nor even a knob--on this side?] Confound it!

[luministimods]

Awww, I thought I'd be able to leave now! [pouts] Daddy's being so unfair.

But it's good to see you both! How'd you find me, anyway? I didn't think anybody could even come in Daddy's house!

[a further look around the room will reveal a bed in the corner--painted over so it matches the storefronts on the wall--as well as several chairs of a dark wood that are identical to the one in which Verita is sitting]

[collector]

[mildly] I had a feeling that would happen. You know, this is a rather drastic idea of grounding your child. How long have you been in here, Verita?

[But when he glances at Sophie and sees those ties, it's a return to that confusion from before.] Sophie?

[fortune_sought]

[now that she's gotten over the shock of the door, Sophie is looking around the room--also in shock] I'll say! He has no right to do things like this to people at all--and certainly not to his own daughter!

[but she reddens at the look Mr Braxiatel is giving her] I...I thought you could do with a protective charm, Mr Braxiatel. Particularly in this town. [offers out the ties]

[luministimods]

[considers that] Since this morning, I think. But you really shouldn't be so mad at Daddy. He thinks it's "for my own good." [makes air-quotes to go with that statement] It's absolutely absurdly annoying, but he means well. [pouts]

[curiously] What's a "protective charm"? [stands, moving over to them. her news senses are tingling!]