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

[luministimods]

[is surprised by the offer, to say the least] Thanks! [starts to take off at a run for the door, but she hardly moves two steps before it slams shut. she skids to a stop] Awww...that's not fair!

[collector]

[Braxiatel pulls his hand away just in time to avoid losing his fingers. And he's still trapped on the inside.]

Verita, could you open it again? And Sophie, if you can hear me, we're going to need something heavy and thick to move into the door frame.

[fortune_sought]

[unfortunately, Sophie can't hear him. but she's trying her CAT on the door, and it's not responding]

[luministimods]

[frowns worriedly] I'm not sure Daddy would be very happy if you did that. He definitely wants me to stay in here. You should probably just go.

[collector]

[Braxiatel frowns, but there really isn't much he can do.]

If you insist. We'll do what we can for you.

[luministimods]

[smiles brightly] Thanks! Don't worry, I'm supposed to be safe in here anyway. I just wish I still got to share the news with everybody! [pouts]

But...before you go. [hesitates, fidgeting a little] I just want you to know--I didn't know that Daddy didn't ask permission before he brought you all here. He didn't tell me that.

[collector]

I believe you. And I don't blame you for a thing.

[Unless she is a lot better psychic than she lets on. The thought does occur to Braxiatel - paranoia has its moments - but he tucks it away.]

[luministimods]

[smiles] That's a relief, then!

You should try the door again. I'd better let you out before Daddy changes his mind.

[collector]

Of course. I am, after all, the one who forcefully invaded the mind of his precious daughter.

[With a smile, he tries the door]

[luministimods]

Good point. You should be super careful!

[the door requests clearance]

This is the valiantly vociferous Verita, granting clearance--again!

[and the door swings open]

Bye now!

[collector]

[He steps through] Sophie, are you all right?

[fortune_sought]

[the door, naturally, slams shut behind him. but he has at least rejoined an, admittedly, rather frustrated Sophie...]

Finally! Of course I am. What about you?

[collector]

Oh, I'm in good health. No suddenly unstoppable violence from Verita.

[quietly] Thank you, Sophie. For supporting me in there.

[fortune_sought]

[sighs in relief] And nothing from the Mayor yet? Curious.

I'm not certain I did terribly much, but I do expect an explanation of what you discovered. [gives him a pointed look]

[collector]

Of course. [with one of his best charming smiles] Over a glass of brandy?

[fortune_sought]

[smiles despite herself] If you prefer.

[collector]

I always prefer brandy. Well, almost always. Sometimes, I prefer a claret.

[He tries his CAT at the door, just to see if it will pick up, then starts wandering through the hall for a room with brandy in it. (Because if there is one, Brax would have found it.)]

[fortune_sought]

[follows after him] You could start explaining while we look for your drink, you realise.

[collector]

I could also tango with you to the drinks cabinet.

[fortune_sought]

[raises an eyebrow] I take it you found something useful, then?

[collector]

Well, I found out more. What we can do with that is another matter.

[fortune_sought]

Mr Braxiatel, there is no need to taunt me. What did she...show to you?

[collector]

Oh, very well. [He finally finds the drinks cabinet. Pulling out a bottle for them, he starts to explain] It seems to have something to do with her grandfather, Charles Caligin. Not that she's a Caligin by birth, mind you. Constantine was connected to the Luministi Research Labs - if you noticed those unusual photographs, they seemed to be from the labs. This town, Luministi, was built by the Mayor, apparently to help with Charles's death. There's a barrier Verita passed through to get in here. Iussus brought her through, so we may want to have a word with him about that if we're given a chance.

[fortune_sought]

[wow. that was rather more than she was expecting from him so quickly] I...see.

But how does trapping us in a town do anything to help the Mayor deal with his father's death?

[collector]

I'm not completely sure. He seems to have died in a fire. Like the town historian.

[He is quiet for a moment] There's another thing that may be worth noting, but if someone is listening, I'm not sure I want to bring attention to it.