luministi | The Invisible City of Kitezh II. Wedding Procession

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The Invisible City of Kitezh II. Wedding Procession

[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...

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Truth?

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

[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]

[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!

[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.

[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!

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]

[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?

[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]

[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!]

[Brax takes back the ties, looking at the one she made with interest, and then he puts his old one in his pocket and starts to take off the one he's wearing now. There is no reason to delay wearing a gift from a lovely lady, after all.]

Well, rumour has it you were just a toy for a week. Your father may have something of a point.

It's simply a charm meant to prevent harm to the one wearing it. [she's trying not to look like she's twiddling her thumbs nervously while she waits to see what Brax thinks about the tie]

[turns to Verita in an attempt to distract herself] I'm sure you could do with one, too. [looks her up and down, considering her options]

But that's just it--that shouldn't have been able to happen! Everybody here is supposed to listen to Daddy. I don't know what could have gone wrong, but I'm sure he wouldn't let it happen again.

[excited] Really? You think you could make me something like that? I could even do an exclusive about it! "Potently protective pieces, pushing their way into stores near you!" What do you think?

Yes. The people like Sophie and I were the only ones meant to get hurt, weren't we?

[He doesn't seem to particularly care, since it's far more important to him to pull on Sophie's tie. He unbuttons his jacket so he can tuck it into his waistcoat, then smiles at Sophie and Verita.] How do I look?

[is taken slightly aback] Goodness, I don't plan to sell them! Thank you, but that really wouldn't be necessary.

[glances at Brax at his comment, then glances back at Verita, wondering what she'll have to say to an accusation such as that]

[but she smiles when she sees Brax in his new tie. she thinks it turned out rather good, really] You look quite handsome, Mr Braxiatel.

[frowns at that question, her excitement fading] Nobody got hurt, really. It was just supposed to be a bit of fun.

[but she quickly latches onto the change of topic] You look radiantly ready for the cameras! [beams]

All your good work, Sophie.

[And now that that's done and he can put his other tie into his pocket, he walks across to Verita. He isn't speaking in accusations. There's just a calm, gentle rationality running through him.]

Verita, we have been hurt. We have been drawn from our friends, from our homes. We have been attacked, and transformed, and robbed of our memories. We need to know what's really going on here.

[reddens] Yes, well, that depends on how well the charm works.

[to Verita] Not only that, but we need to know what we can do about it! I'm quite tired of being trapped in places I don't want to be.

[takes a step back from Brax, looking rather intimidated] I know... And I'm trying to help! But I don't know how much I can tell you... Daddy says I only got hurt in the first place because I told about the gas when I wasn't supposed to. He might keep me in here even longer if I tell you too much!

[He stops and puts his hands in his pockets. A thought flickers through him, but he holds back on it.] We have been imprisoned in this house, Verita. I doubt he'll willingly let you out as long as we're locked in here with you.

By the way, I take it that Ms Osculia, Sheriff Iusses, and Ms Ardes are behind the other doors?

[eyes the door, scowling] And who knows how long that'll be...

[surprised] You think he's trapped everyone in here?

[looks very distressed now] But...but that's just not fair at all! It wasn't supposed to be like this. Daddy's project was supposed to be a good thing!

[confused--and worried] What other doors?

Your door came with a security question asked in your voice. It was about you. There are three other doors, asked by three other people, about those people.

But why might the Mayor trap the other residents here?

[frowns at that news] It sounds like he might have locked them in, too. Maybe he thought... [trails off, visibly worried]

What do you know about Daddy's project? Maybe if I know what you already know, I can tell you a few more things without getting in too much trouble.

Perhaps he wants to protect them. Am I right, Verita? All of this is about protecting your people. We're here because it will help you all.

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