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Well, this wasn't entirely what SugarPuss was expecting. The Red Queen's Castle was kind of sparse and far from well guarded. Even stranger was the fact that there was this sealed entity in the castle dungeon that introduced itself as Destruction before prompting her to tell it more about herself. "My name is Yvette and I'm a Sylph." It puzzled her as to why a game's AI would be remotely interested in something like that but didn't think more on it as she went on to answer the next question that was posed.

"I've been to Tulgey Woods - talked to the trees, ousted a grinning cat at its own riddle game then ran from whatever that was that chased me to another part of the forest after dying at its jaws once." She frowned at the memory, not at all looking forward to reliving that ever again. "I then tried a honey tart at a tea party and was turned into a March Hare for about an hour or so. I also met a boil. He told me that his name was Darren. Darren Vaughn. We were in a party and fought creatures together."

Her expression softened slightly when she spoke of the Caterpillar who went by the name of WalkingMeatShield. She said no more of him however since that wasn't exactly required of her at this point. "I've recently been enrolled as a first year student at Amityville Academy. That's in Halloween Town by the way. It's a place where creatures of all sorts - monsters, demons, ghosts, undeads and reapers live." There was no hesitation at all on her part as she gave a nod in response to the next question. "Hywel. It's been on-going for awhile. He's my father but it seems to me that he can't stand the sight of me or my presence for that matter. I don't know why he's like that when I've done nothing to deserve it. But you know what, I've given up on him and it doesn't really matter to me anymore."

She pursed her lips together, pondering for a bit before speaking next. "I fear being tied down to something that I don't want entirely. To be forced to live an existence and act according to what others want and expect me to do." The questions seemed to be getting more and more personal but she didn't see herself as having any other choice other than to answer them to the best of her ability in order to go on. "I feel lonely. All those boils that I've dated pior - I've never slept with them and they meant absolutely nothing to me." Lifting a finger to scratch her cheek, she gave a slight shrug. "I wish to be loved for who I am."

She wondered what this interview had been on about but it seemed that the voice was satisfied with what she gave and she went on her way to seek out and rejoin WalkingMeatShield.

(ENTERING)

The castle looks huge and imposing but he's not afraid of it. He knows there must be good treasures in there. Has to be something he can have. He's missed a lot, or so he thinks he has. He saw people going off other ways. He just chose not to follow should the Jaberwock be after him still. He frowns at the cage. "Who's there?" He asks carefully not liking this place one bit. Reminded him of a dungeon. At least, he thinks, safe for a rat.

"Stay," booms a voice, harsh and powerful, thick with uncontrolled rage, "stay, visitor, and listen. I am [ Destruction ] contained. As long as I remain sealed, I will not destroy, and you cannot destroy me. The cage can only be unsealed with the purest of red crystals, infused with Destruction. There will be a time, but not right now. For now, you are a guest. For now, you are invited as a guest. Stay, a little longer guest, and let me ask a little more about you."

The voice startles him and he sinks back a little, tails twitching constantly through their knot. He didn't like this at all. The crystals? Maybe those fragment things he'd been collecting. He'd only gotten a few but it was better than none at all. "Uh... sure." He says very quietly and edges back. She can't get him. She said so but still. He thinks he should be a much higher level for this.


"First, visitor, tell me about yourself. Your real self. "

"Real self?" He echos and has to think about it. "Well, uh, name's really Basile. ... I'm a rat. Well, I'm sorta a lot of rats." He motions to his tails and flicks his ears nervously. "Otherwise? Just a nice ole guy."


"Next visitor, I want to hear about your journey. "

This questions aren't that hard. He can do this. Especially this one, "Oh I gotta few things to tell you." He says pointedly, "First off I'm dropped here and this woman just starts blabbing to me about this place I have any idea what she's talking about. Then there's all these trees and I'm supposed to find some sort of treasure but all they did was beat the crud out of me." He takes a breath before he picks up again, "Then there was some other things but what really gets me is this THING. I think it was called a Jaberwock but it nearly killed me! It was chewing on my legs like bubblegum!" He looks back at them with an offended sniff like they might still be hurting. "I took a break after that but I swear that things still after me."

"Explain to me the world you live in. Not this one, the one your real bodies occupy. "
"You don't wanna hear bout the? Fine..." He says and has to think on it. "I don't really know too much. I mean I stay mostly to myself, you know?" He ventures then rubs at his ears. "I know we're built on Fear. I think you guys must be to what with all the craziness that goes on. Its sort of like our entire existence, I suppose. Mom said it'll get explained more when I get to the academy." He puffed up his chest, "I don't want to be a Trick o Treater much but I do wanna study Fear. I think its interestin' and maybe I could do more with it." He flushes a bit. "I got off topic though..."

"Have you ever been hurt by someone you love?"

"Er..." He pauses for a moment, "I think everyone has at least once."

She asks you,"how and when?"


He sniffs a bit, "Bit personal there, aren't you?" He asks and feels like she might be baring down on him. He ducks his head, "But since you're askin' it was my mom. Said I was a lazy and I needed to get off my arse and go to school. She just kept talking down to me. It was a few months ago actually. I don't think she meant to hurt me but ... it still did sting."

"What are you afraid of?"

Willard winces slightly, "Afraid of afraid of? Or general fear? I mean generally I don't like cats. Can't say I'm afraid of them though. Pretty darned afraid of that Jaberwock but I guess for deepest fear it'd be separated from my tails and rats." He glances back at the knotted mess. "I need them you know?"

"Tell me a secret about yourself."

"Is it really a secret if I tell you?" He grins but she's baring down and he holds up his hands, "Alright! Alright, I get it. Not big on jokes. Uh, let me see." He wonders what he can tell her or if she can read minds and would know if its really a secret or not. "I uh, I sort of like girl clothes." He answers very very quietly.

"What is it that you wish for the most? "

He grins, "Not to sound sappy I really want to at least make one friend through this whole thing. It's kinda lonely here but you know." He shrugs and rubs at his ears. "I guess that's just how it is though."

"Soon," the Red Queen finally responds, "It will be soon. I crave [ Destruction ] and should I be favoured then this world will break and crumble and I will build a new one without pain or secrets."

The voice disappears and several of the cages swing open, each one leading to a different area.

He pauses and looks to the doors that swung open. He stares at her cage again. "... I... I'm not sure I want any of that. If you got to break it first." He says backing away to the nearest door. "You can just stay shut up in there, I think."

(EXITING)

Blindseer looked down at his pocket card and smiled as he switched out the card he'd won earlier for the one UT had gifted him. She was going to spoil him if she didn't stop.



He turned around to survey the gate he'd just gone through. It was strange, but didn't seem glitchy. Still, he made note of the warning and was careful as he made his way down the stairs.
Well, this was sound decorating. Really gave off that dismal, depressing feeling of the forgotten. A soft voice beckoned and he followed curiously, crossing his arms and leaning against a wall when the voice finally called out for him to stop.
Destruction. He bristled at the concept. It went against his nature, much less his history. Clearly he picked the right side if the Reds were working towards letting this b***h go free.

She wanted to know a little more about him? To hell with that.

He considered her for a few moments, a look of bored disdain held firmly on his features. If he gave her something, she'd ask more... And if she asked more, he could get a better feel of her. Still...
"You don't know me, otherwise you wouldn't ask that. But I'll humor you. I'm an incubus, an incarnation of longing and desire. And I like to play music." She'd get nothing more. Not his name, his age, nothing. It probably wasn't nearly enough that she wanted to hear, but he was smart enough not to bend. The more you knew about someone, the more you had to use against them.

Her next question was just as meaningless.
"I haven't done much. Really strange, all of the edible delights bent on turning the tables. I suppose it's only fair, but one really tries to stay on the top of the food chain."
And he could admit - at least to himself - that this whole thing had been an interesting experience. Normally he'd be healing, it was nice to kick some a** every once in a while.

The red queen really hopped from subject to subject. This new topic gave him pause. She was looking for something, prodding into dangerous territory in his way of thinking.
He kept his tone mild as he replied, "There isn't much to explain. We scare humans, we live on their fear, we have families, teach our kids how to scare, and the cycle turns. Factions and alliances grow and fade, it's all fairly standard." When she frowned at his hedging answers, he merely shrugged. "You're the one asking the questions, don't blame me if you're not specific enou-"
She interrupted his mini-lecture with a new question, one that made his blood run cold. How could his blood run cold?

"... Yes. Everyone has, and if they say otherwise, they're lying." He looked away, dropping his arms and tapping his fingers idly against his thigh. She asked how, when. He didn't want to answer, his teeth ground against one another. But she wouldn't stop asking if he didn't say something.
"I was little, but it's imprinted in my mind. My father's sister tried to tear me apart." His voice was flat, empty as he revealed that little secret. He saw the question there, in her eyes, on her face. He tried to look indifferent while he continued, keeping her from verbally pushing him. "She was insane, what can I say? Hooking up with my mother pissed off my father's family to the point they disowned him. Must have messed his father up hard and she seemed to get it in her head if she took out my mother and me, my father would come back and make everything better again. Guess she saw too much of her brother in me, though, so she only tried to remove what my mother gave me."

There was silence for a while, Blindseer wondered if she was digesting the new information. Her next question was so loaded, it made him hum in a bitter, scornful half-laugh.
"A good handful of things, but it's probably wiser I didn't tell you." Chief on that list being a repetition of his aunt's betrayal, but by someone else. And Sin leaving him, of course. But the former, well he prepared for that, and the latter he just didn't care to think about. She'd never leave him, not if she could help it. Let the queen try to pry any of that out of him. "Not a big fan of horses, not sure I'd say I was afraid of them, though. Maybe."

She went quiet again, he wondered if she was pouting like a child having been told no.
Did she reconsider what he'd told her before, about asking more specific questions? Because asking what he feared, then for a secret was definitely working towards a more concrete question.
A secret. About himself. Hell, most things about himself were secrets, except to Sin and Nic. He was just a private individual, he didn't make a very good Incubus at all. He didn't try to stand out or draw attention in the least. For the most part, he just wanted to be left alone. The fewer people around you, the less likely you are to get hurt.

His mind had wandered and he drew it back to her question. She wanted to know a secret. Like hell he was going to give her something substantial. Obviously, even in a game he was suspicious of everything.
"I guess I don't mind the little fox-girl as much as I put off. She's actually sort of endearing in an annoying little sister sort of way." He grinned at the look of displeasure she gave him. "As I said, not my fault your questions are too vague."

Still, maybe it had been too much, maybe he should have found something else to tell her. Too late, he'd said it and there was no going back.

He didn't even have to think when she asked him her next, her last question.
"Wishes are for fools. I'm realistic enough to know better. You have no expectations and you're never disappointed." For once she seemed to take his empty answer. It didn't matter if she believe him or not, he didn't wish, in fact he barely allowed for hope to burrow painfully into his soul, vicious, spiteful little creature it was.

Not if I can help it, he thought. If there was any principle he stood against, it was destruction. How odd it was that in a faraway dream he'd felt just a little bit differently...
The voice faded and doors swung open, leading to who knew were. Yeah, forget that.
Blindseer headed to a quiet, shadowed corner to wait for UT and Darkling.

Sap hadn't been ready for the next area. Heck, she could have happily stayed in the tea party forever with all of its sweets.

But, somehow, she found herself on a long, single, path. She couldn't quite place its features but it had them. Somehow. She realized she was walking, and she kept walking, but she didn't know where. Her chat was quiet. The world was quiet, but not the unnatural stillness of the glitched zone.

Just... quiet. Waiting. Then, bit by bit, her chat log started updating. She watched it as she continued on, until she came to... something different. Gates... made of thorns.

"Well, thats unfriendly" she said cooly, smiling cheerfully as she kept waling because where else was there to go? She went down, down, down, wary of the torches though she wasn't quite that flammable here in the dream world.

The dungeon didn't scare her. She wondered what lay behind the prison doors and why they were sealed. Well, no matter! There was something further down. She just knew.

Cheerful - or perhaps hyper - she started skipping down the hallway, humming along as she was called forth.

Stay Sap came to a halt in front of the cage, shivering at the rage that seethed in every syllable. But it seemed she was not to be attacked for now, so that was fine. "Sure!" she said, plunking herself down on the floor with her usual chipper attitude. She was in a good mood now, perfectly ready to go with this. Chatting was her thing. "So long as I don't have to shoot any bats, its all good!" she had not forgotten about that quest. "Ask away!"


First, visitor, tell me about yourself. Your real self.


"Oh me?" Sap laughed, smiling at the disturbingly amorphous mass of malice, "I'm Sap, I'm a tree... well..." she giggled, "Heh, I used to be one. Sorta still am." she rustled her hair, "I love plants and magic and boils. Cute Boils, you know?" she said conspiratorially, "But really, I'm kind of nobody! No great deeds, no special... anything. I'm just a tree, a talking tree!" she laughed, "nothing cool like destruction or anything."


Next visitor, I want to hear about your journey.

"Well, uh. First we were in a forest, which had a lake that made me see my own memories, then we ran from something really scary. I ran. I started. Why am I saying we?" Sap had no idea, "Uh, anyway, then we ended up in the mad tea party and that was the best place ever! Sweets everywhere. But its not there now. Closed off. So, I'm pretty sad. I wanted to mess around there a bit more, you know?" She sighed, "And now I'm here talking to you."

Explain to me the world you live in. Not this one, the one your real bodies occupy.

"Oh! My.. real..." Oh, right. "I, uh, live in halloween. I used to be a tree there, like I said. In a haunted forest. That was nice! I got sun, and food from the ground, and water from the sky, and I was happy..." her expression grew distant. "Was... But I didn't know what I was missing. I'm glad I'm not rooted and comfortable anymore! I can do anything I want. Anyway, The sun is kind of dim there, so mostly trees there just eat FEAR anyway. I want to see the human world and its sun! I hear its very painfully bright, but I think thats just what I need... Er..." she paused, "Sorry, what was your question?"

Have you ever been hurt by someone you love?

"I... Yes... but they didn't realize it. And, I mean... I don't even know if it was love..." Sap /blushed, "Can you keep a secret? There was this guy who showed me around at school. He was cute, a gorgeous Boil. Anyway, he had a girlfriend and then when they graduated they went off together. That hurt, but like I said..." Sap leaned back. "Um... Next question please..." she said, grooming her leafy hair uncomfortably, "I... dont like to talk about it. Not talking about it helps me forgive him and he honestly hasnt done anything he needs to be forgiven about, you know?"

What are you afraid of?

"Um..." Sap was starting to have a bad feeling about this conversation. "I... I don't know? I mean..." she shifted uncomfortably in the chilling room. "I mean... i don't like fire. I'm a tree. Fire is bad for trees... But Its less that I'm scared of it and more like I'm... um... Re---asonably wary?" She grimaced, "Yeah." She licked her lips, clearing her throat for a moment. The room was getting very uncomfortable. "I mean. What do I really fear. I'm afraid of not being able to think? If you get that. Of being mindless. Of not having a choice or being able to choose. Yeah." she hugged herself tightly, "I'm scared of that..." the pressure around her dissipated and she exhaled in relief.

Tell me a secret about yourself.

"Secret?" Sap was very wary now. "Why do you want to know that? I don't have any... Secrets or anything. I told you everything there was. Why do you want to know." she stood up, tense, "Is this going to bite me in the trunk later? Are you a hacker? A scamemr? Or whatever?" The pressure returned, tense and cold and eerie as before and she shivered in her cloak. "Why do you want to know these things?!" she said, struggling to stay angry. The presure grew and all resolve crumbled. She felt like a little sapling in a strong wind and relented, slumping. "... I'm lonely, okay?" she said, sullen and frightened, "I act like I'm happy and cheerful and popula, but I'm really, really alone inside. All right? Happy now?" she said, her voice thready against the red queen's will. She relaxed as the pressure went away again, but she was on guard now. "What next. Are we done...?" she asked warily, wanting, now, to be away.

What is it that you wish for the most?

Another strange question, but one she wanted to answer. "To live. To have a damn life. To go to school, graduate, meet a nice boil, and start a family. Thats all I want." she growled, arms crossed, "Are we done?" she asked.

The cages swung open and the voice - if not the presence - faded from her mind.
"I guess so." Sap said. And then she turned on her heel and stormed away.

[ENTER]

Grey had finally left the tea party and was now walking down a really long path. It really looked like it was going on forever. Grey was a bit worried about what would happen next. Was it something good or something bad? She didn't know where she was going and she didn't see the path ending anywhere but she still continued following it.

After a while she saw the gates and she decided to go down the staircase. She was surprised by the gates that seemed to be made of thorns and she wasn't sure about the staircase but she felt she had to go down. She had the feeling she was now actually going somewhere now. She walks down the hallway and suddenly a voice tells her to stop. She must stay as a visitor and she had to answer a few questions? This could be interesting what did she want to know?

First, visitor, tell me about yourself. Your real self.

"Well, my real name is Xareoli Nyte and I’m a Moth spirit. So I’m a big glowing moth type person and a spirit that mainly flutters around at night. I really like to study and read alot and I love glowing objects. I love the float or flutter and I don’t really like walking that much."

Next visitor, I want to hear about your journey.

"My journey? I went down a rabbit hole and noticed I was a bit different. I couldn’t flutter anymore so I could only walk and I didn’t like that but I got sort of used to it. I went through the woods that was filled wit hstrange talking trees. Some I saw when I didn’t want the mand when I searched fort hem they were gone! I got chased around by the Jabberwock in the same woods. I totally did NOT like that. I went to a tea party were eating did strange things with me. So I changed color and size and was invisible… I think. I was tiny when Ieft but I got normal size when I lef tand now I’m here. That’s it."

Explain to me the world you live in. Not this one, the one your real bodies occupy.

"I’m from the world of Halloween. A world in which I still want to learn alot because I do not know enough about it. There are several different creatures living there like ghosts, monsters, undead, reapers and demons. I’m a ghost myself. The world is pretty dark but that’s okay. I always keep something glowing close to me. I got several glowing minipets. Minipets are little creatures you can keep and take care of in Halloween. There is an important school there called Amittyville. I go there myself. That’s it, I think."

Have you ever been hurt by someone you love?

"No, I don’t think so. Noone really hurt me."

Why not?

"Because I normally don’t get to close to people? So they can’t really hurt me. I hope that it’s going to change but I don’t want the mto hurt me!"

What are you afraid of?

"That I completely fail at the academy and that I don’t get as smart as I want."

Tell me a secret about yourself.

"I really love to at spookies but only if noone watches. I pretend to only like tea and don’t eat anything at all."

What is it that you wish for the most?

"Graduating at the academy and being really really smart. I want to know all the important stuff about the world of halloween."

She wasn’t to happy to hear the red queen start about distruction but she wisely didn’t react to it and just listened to her. When the doors opened the voice was now fading away she greeted the Red Queen and quickly left.She didn't really like it here much at all.

[EXIT]

[ ENTERING ]

After all the strangeness of Wonderland, what with the Tugley Woods, the Mad Tea Party, the Cheshire Cats and all the really weird people, costumes and "magical" effects, being able to just walk down a path without anything "horrible" or "wierd" happening was actually quite calming. It was nice - and for someone that thrilled to action and Trouble-making the way RavenousDelirium did to be wanting a break, well...that just said something about Wonderland. Didn't it?

Soon enough he saw the "next" part of his journey - a set of long, elaborate gates made entirely out of thorns that opened slooowly to allow him access to the single staircase that lead downward. Mouth strutted on in as though he owned the place because that was one of the best ways to assure "others" that you had it together and weren't to be trifled with. As he moved along the great hall - no, this wasn't a hall...this was more like a dungeon, which was kind of cool but quite creepy too - his eyes picked out the sealed prison doors that lined each side of the dark hallway. Torches cast a bright, bloody red light that glinted wickedly off each stone and stitch, leading him further and further into the Red Queen's Castle. It was creepy, but not really out of the question for Wonderland, so he mostly ignored the ambiance - hell, he almost liked it!

As he progressed, the hall became darker in spite of the blood-toned torches, which made his eyes glow more and more; the darkness was more than his "old friend", it was a constant and beloved companion - there was nothing in the dark that RavenousDelirium feared (or so he thought - there probably were things he should be afraid of, he just wasn't). At the very end of the hallway there was a single, thorn-wrapped, magically sealed cell throne without a physical occupant...but that didn't mean it wasn't occupied. Not at all.

Suddenly a booming voice, thick with venom and rage, shattered the quiet with a order. It surprised the ever loving life out of him as well as making him want to claw into his ears to remove the chunks of raw and ice that suddenly felt present, but he managed to recompose himself quickly. One hand went to his blade, but then the voice continued on - he couldn't defeat [ Destruction ], huh? The Queen of this castle was sealed into her cage and unable to reach out and spread her influence, so he would be treated as a guest? Well, he could well understand being trapped, so when the Voice suggested that they converse, that he answer some questions, he agreed with a wary - but toothy - smile.

"First, visitor, tell me about yourself. Your real self."

"I'm..." He paused a moment while thinking about how much to share, "a Grue. Name's Ahm. I live in a Clan stronghold with my parents, five other siblings, my Grandad and half a dozen other Grue. Grandad's the Clan Founder and Eldest currently. Uh, if you don't know about Grue...we're light-sensitive and live mostly in the darkness which works well, 'cause we see more than perfectly in pure dark. Oh, and we can eat just about anything. Really, it's a gift." He chuckled and twitched his tail against his Gryphon's garments, further because he knew that there would be more questions; he would have asked more if the situation were reversed, so...yeah. It just made sense even in a nonsensical place like Wonderland.

"Next visitor, I want to hear about your journey."

"Now that's truly a question with a long answer, but since you're not going anywhere and I'm here...might as well tell you, right? Right. Besides, a Grue doesn't go back on his word. Very important, that." Mouth reached up and smoothed his clothes absently before continuing, "So I was...asleep, I think. And I was dreaming horrible things, then I...well, I don't rightly know exactly what happened in the beginning, but I do know it really started when I fell down that silly rabbit's burrow..." RavenousDelirium - a.k.a. Mouth, a.k.a. Ahm deVarr - continued on with his story of the Tulgey Wood, his glorious battles there, of the Mad Tea Party and how delicious those Red Velvet Cupcakes had been (oh, what he wouldn't give to go back right now for a bite or twelve!). He explained semi-concisely but with plenty of rambling exposition; as though he were telling the story to Nahm, perhaps - some things he glossed over because they were of little import and others...well, others he lingered over the details lovingly.

"And after all that, I found myself walking down this narrow path that brought me here. By the way, those cracked mirrors in your hall? Very creepy. Might want to get 'em fixed or replaced - not that I'm offering, mind you. I plan on going home after all this, thanks."

"Explain to me the world you live in. Not this one, the one your real bodies occupy."

Wow, this...ice-voiced - whatever she was - liked to ask a lot of probing questions, didn't she? But he'd already said he'd answer her questions and he would...it's just that he didn't know how much he cared to explain Amityville Academy and talking about the minutia of the DeVarr Clan Stronghold just wasn't going to happen. Grandad would have him skinned alive!

"Weeeell...I'm still a student, so I attend this place called Amityville Academy with a ton of other monsters, demons, ghosts and reapers. There are even some people calling themselves "Horsemen" that attend, but I don't know much about them beyond there are four clans of 'em. At Amityville we have a lot of classes and stuff, all meant to help us 'grow up" and use our FEAR properly and all that...but really, I don't get to be there as much as I should...as the eldest of the deVarr kids, I'm supposed to learn all of the Clan Rituals and other crap." He shrugged a little, trying to play it off as though it was no big deal, despite the fact that it really was; he also went on about how FEAR was supposed to work and a few other things that he had experience with (neglecting to mention that most of his "experience" had come whilst in the middle of some Extensive Trouble-making).

"Have you ever been hurt by someone you love?"

"Well, yeah...I mean, hasn't everyone?" This question was one he really wanted to gloss over, but with his flippant answer the room got a bit colder and he understood then that caged or no, this was the Ruler of the Red Castle, it's sovereign Queen and she did not appreciate his answer - since this was the first time he'd felt her ire, he figured (and rightly so) that it was because his answer had been not only short, but snarky directly to her.

"I'm pretty sure that by the time someone gets to their teens they've been hurt at least once by a loved one...it'd be pretty Jacking weird otherwise." He scratched the back of his head under the hat and then re-positioned it properly atop his head, jaunty angle and all. "In my case, it's been more than once by more than one person...but I really don't wanna talk about it, so...could you not turn me into a Grue-cicle this one time? This is the one subject I'm really not gonna expand on."

Seconds ticked away like miniature eternities as the Red Queen seemed to consider his words, the atmosphere growing a few degrees cooler before settling down again. It appeared she was moderately okay with his request, though not overly pleased. Being versed in etiquette, he inclined his head graciously, "Thank you, m'Lady, for accepting my request."

"What are you afraid of?"

Ugh, really? What a nosy broad. RavenousDelirium could have written books about how ghouls liked to ask endless seas of questions (especially with Nahm's help) before and after you got 'em in the sack. Not that he would have said any of that while he was in the Court of the Red Queen and she could - literally (probably) - freeze his balls off.

"Failure. Dying. Getting lock-jaw. You know, the basic things that any Grue would be afraid of." She didn't seem unhappy with his answer, so he thought to leave it like that, but then thought better. "Especially the failure part. There are a lot of creeple that depend on me now and some day, like when I settle down and pair, it'll be even more. I just want to make the ones I love proud, y'know? And in case you think I'm being crass about the lock-jaw thing, for a Grue being unable to eat is one of the worst things that can happen."

"Tell me a secret about yourself."

"But we hardly know each other." He grinned, winked and then half-doubled over with laughter - it was funnier than it should have been, but she kept asking him really painful, personal and probing things and he was trying to alleviate some of the tension. "Okay, so...a secret...uh...I would really really enjoy being tied up and blindfolded, dominated. Sexually, that is. Or maybe just that would be enough...I don't know, it's never really come up."

"What is it that you wish for the most?"

Ah, finally! An easy - but possibly revealing - question!
"To never let Nahm down."

"Soon," the Red Queen finally responds, "It will be soon. I crave [ Destruction ] and should I be favoured then this world will break and crumble and I will build a new one without pain or secrets."

The voice disappeared and back in the darkness of the hallway, several of the rusted, sealed cages swung open..each one possibly leading off to a different area; he wouldn't know if - or until - he passed through one of them, to explore.

Lady cracked her neck as she walked down the path. So far so good... Nothing had jumped out at her, yet, and nothing strange had happened.. She wasn't going to question it. She felt like she could relax. It felt good. ...Too good.

"Stay," booms a voice, harsh and powerful, thick with uncontrolled rage, "stay, visitor, and listen. I am [ Destruction ] contained. As long as I remain sealed, I will not destroy, and you cannot destroy me. The cage can only be unsealed with the purest of red crystals, infused with Destruction. There will be a time, but not right now. For now, you are a guest. For now, you are invited as a guest. Stay, a little longer guest, and let me ask a little more about you."

She cringed. Sure enough... Oh well. It was nice while it lasted.

First, visitor, tell me about yourself. Your real self.

Lady blinked. "My...self?" She questioned, rubbing her neck awkwardly. "...Well.. My name is Gwen. I'm a normal human girl?" ...What the heck did this lady want?

Next visitor, I want to hear about your journey

"This place is nuuuuts. First I went through some forest, by the way you have some really weird trees. Then there was this crazy lake that made me remember things... Also... What's with the talking cats? Oh right! Then I had to fight this Jabberwock thing. ...Bugger ate me at one point. Then there was this crazy tea party where I swear everyone turned into trees! Oh and at one point my clothes turned pink... Then there was... Uhm... Bats. Lots and lots of bats. ...I think that's it?" She was probably missing a detail or too but... oh well.

Explain to me the world you live in. Not this one, the one your real bodies occupy.

"My world? ...It's kinda crazy.. Uhm.. I'd say it's almost like here... but you have a lot of things we don't have!" She hoped. "I uh.. don't know how to describe it actually... It's something you have to see for yourself."

Have you ever been hurt by someone you love?

"That's kind of personal isn't it??" The brunette sighed, mulling things over. "Yes." "How and when?" "That's personal." Lady hissed quietly.

What are you afraid of?

"Honestly? Not much scares me... But.. As silly as it sounds.. Being alone." It was simple, yet it held much to it.

Tell me a secret about yourself.

She had to stop and think on this one. "I don't think I have any?"

What is it that you wish for the most?
"....Is to go home an acceptable answer? Because I reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally wanna go home." Lady sighed.

"Soon," the Red Queen finally responds, "It will be soon. I crave [ Destruction ] and should I be favoured then this world will break and crumble and I will build a new one without pain or secrets."

Lady shuffled towards the door the second it was open before any other questions could be answered. The queens words had troubled her.

Now he was in a castle? JK walked down the corridor with its barred doors and its thorns twisting around every corner. It didn't look like a castle. Nothing like one. More like a prison.

He was following a hissing voice the drew him forward. Further and further into the prison he went, until he was drawn up short before a throne that looked like a blood-stained cage.

He listened as the voice commanded him to stay and speak to it. So, this was the Red Queen? She was terrifying. He didn't want to stay, he wanted to turn tail and run back the way he'd come, but the deeper part of him needed to move forward and face this nightmare. And need overruled want.

"What do you want to know, your Majesty?" he asked.

And then the questions began. And the very first was not a question he wanted to answer. At least they seemed to be alone in this strange throne room. No other Players to over hear.

"My real name is Johan Klarstein, and I am a Sorcerer. I have been training at Amityville Academy to earn the right to enter the Human world. There are things I wish to look into there, and graduating the Academy is the only way to earn access." he explained. "There are things about myself that I would rather keep to myself. I consider myself a rather private individual."

It seemed to satisfy her, for she asked another question.

"Well, this world, or dream, or whatever this is has certainly caused some... changes. I believe I've managed to miss a bit of the story-line. Something about a very large table? Anyway, I remember having a nightmare, a bad one, and then I was suddenly prompted to create this version of me." he gestured to the Cheshire uniform. "I was released into the Tulgey Woods, and looked at some trees. By far the most significant thing that happened to me was visiting the Caterpillar's Den. ... I needed some time to reflect on that visit, but I am here now to see about defeating this world."

He fell silent, and after a moment, another question was asked of him.

"Well, I mentioned Amityville Academy before. It's an Academy where the citizens of Halloween can go to learn how to scare humans. Are you familiar with the concept of Halloween? It's a human holiday, where they dress up as monsters and celebrate FEAR. Halloween Town was born from that FEAR. It's what created us, and what we seek to create in turn. If there's something that prompts fear in a human, you can find it in Halloween. And since humans are finding new things to fear all the time, our world has been growing. It originally just started out as a Town, now we have continents."

Another question. JK was immediately on his guard. It took some time for him to work up the courage to answer. He was not comfortable with this line of inquiry!

"Yes."

She prompted him to elaborate. JK sighed.

"It wasn't his fault. I believe he'd done everything he could to prevent it, but it's something that he had no defense against. Besides, even if he hadn't been cursed, there's no guarantee something else would have happened to him." JK explained, knowing he was talking obliquely around the question. The Queen knew it too, and he could feel the menace from the throne intensify. She remained silent, demanding more from him. JK sighed.

"My Father, while not technically dead, left me and my Mother. I know it wasn't his fault, but I still feel betrayed."

That finally seemed to satisfy her, for another question came. JK really didn't like the turn these questions had taken.

"I believe I mentioned that I value my privacy."

Menacing silence.

"Fine! I fear two things equally. That I will either fail my family, or that I will succeed only to find there's nothing left of them!"

The Red Queen was relentless. JK glared at the throne, stalked closer, and hissed his answer through the bars.

"My family is cursed, you miserable thing! Don't pretend you can't read subtext. From my Father back, every single male member of my family is consumed by crystal. They can't move, talk, or do anything, but they still live."

JK braced himself for some sort of backlash, but the question that followed surprised him. Was this Queen dense?

"Isn't it obvious? To save them, and for there to have been something worth saving."

The Red Queen seemed to ponder this for awhile, but was ultimately satisfied with his response. The cages along the wall opened, and JK wasted no time in leaving the unsettling place.