realmofstories | Chapter 05: Act II

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Chapter 05: Act II

A TWISTED WONDERLAND: ACT II—

§ instructions.

The Second Act is underway! This is the designated log for all Main Scenes. Others are free to create their own toplevels for the Sub Quests, which are detailed below. Each Main Scene has their own unique toplevel and those cast into the roles are to thread their scene under each. All scene instructions are provided in the toplevels.

Everyone is still starting from the forest of doors and will have to go through them to their area. Essences are back to normal and bound to their respective Aspect, however those who participate in scenes will have their Essence replaced with one based on the character they're playing (ex, Alice roles will now have Alice Essence at their disposal). This is only limited to the scenes—once they're back out they will have their Essence again. There are various items scattered throughout Wonderland that act as power ups and will grant additional Wonderland character Essence abilities. Example, wearing a top hat will grant bonus Mad Hatter abilities. These power ups are only available for the sub quests.

Finally, just to be clear, characters who are in Main Scenes are not immediately dropped in to their location and will have to pass through the designated door and then return. Threading all of that isn't necessary, but it's to help give a better idea that characters can take a break between scenes or wait a bit to help with other things like the Sub Quests.

Feel free to refer to the Game Notes for more detailed info as well as ask questions or clarifications.

§ sub quests.

Everyone is free to participate in the Sub Quests. There are no specific top levels, so you're free to incorporate them however you wish in your own top level.

¶ I. Courtroom Blitz. One of the doors leads to a giant courtroom that looks more like a combat ring complete with large crowds of spectators and a "judge" presiding over the matches. However, instead of it being cutthroat fighting, most of the locals participating are cards and everyone must fight using random silly props to try to score as many points as possible or knock the opponent off from the platform. Of course, nothing here is normal, and the battle platform will shift and move, large pillars sometimes rising up and random glitter bombs dropping down. The judge may even summon a giant (rubber) gavel to try and smash the fighters. Rather than this accomplishing anything important, it seems as if these bouts are to try and help train the cards to fight the good war in Wonderland as well as bolster confidence. Give them all a good show and help teach them a thing or two about (improv) fighting!

¶ II. The Horsey Moves in an L. Another door leads to a giant chess board and everyone takes the place of a chess piece, taking either the red or white side. Here is where most of the twisted clones are, so it is up to the Aspects to try and deal with them by defeating them on the board. The problem is everyone is limited to the moveset of the piece they replaced. Pawns can only move one space a turn, knights are three and over, bishops diagonal, rooks in a straight line. There are no Kings or Queens, but their roles are completely empty so no one has to worry about protecting them. When Aspects meet an opposing piece, they must defeat them to move on. This can either be through fighting or some other method to knock them off the space. At least they have their Essence abilities to use! If Aspects end up meeting each other, they do not have to fight. In fact they can team up to try and take out a nearby blot or clone, or swap roles to continue progressing through the board.

¶ III. Mirror Clones. Not only do the Aspects have to worry about Twisted Wonderland clones, but they also have to worry about their own clones. A mirror will sometimes rise up on the board and a clone of the Aspects will appear. It will try to take the original's place, sometimes even immediately disappearing to appear somewhere else on the board near another Aspect. The only way to destroy it is by destroying the mirror, but act fast before it fools the others. It is possible to become trapped within the mirror, and in that case the clone must be taken care of first.

¶ IV. Beware the Jabberwocky and the Bandersnatch. They occasionally pop out of nowhere. When one appears, all rules are gone and everyone can rush in to deal with them. Vorpal blades and… dog treats will appear on the battlefield which Aspects can use to hack at the monsters. The Bandersnatch will be surprisingly interested in the treats, but the Jabberwocky doesn't seem to be hungry for anything but Aspect flesh. As if things weren't dangerous enough, the clones might snatch blades to wield against the monsters, the Aspects, just about anyone within snickersnacking range.

¶ V. Wildcard. Make up your own prompt!

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The Queen has sent her Army of cards and most of Wonderland after poor Alice. It was time to make her escape from this topsy turvy world, but it's not without its obstacles. Her path takes her to the Woods Where Things have No Names, a thick forest with different paths taking one to nowhere, and meets a fawn who tries to help her through. Unfortunately, the moment they step in a strange fog passes over them and their memories are jumbled, unable to remember anything but needing to escape. As they continue through the ominous fog, ghosts of themselves will form and make them question their identity. Some are helpful and will provide clues to who they are. Others are more nefarious and will try to trick them. The harmful "ghosts" are wanting to take over the original's body, so the more a person is fooled and remembers incorrectly, the more they act weird and become ghosts themselves.

Oooh, okay, this is good! Better than being an actual fawn...

[Minako fluffs her skirt with a satisfied nod, then twirls her umbrella one-handed, testing the weight and balance of it. She doesn't think she'll have to fight anything for this scene thing, but she feels better going in with something to defend herself with, flimsy or not.]

Well! Either way!

[She beams at Minato and gallantly offers her arm to him. Despite her smiles, she's actually incredibly wary about the forest they're about to walk into. This way, she can keep him close, hiding how twitchy she feels under the guise of being affectionate.]

Guess we'd better get a move on, Alice. We have a long way to go.

[This was incredibly embarrassing. It wasn't the first time he was in a dress, but it was also one too many times in such a short amount of time. He gripped his skirts with a pensive look on his face, the heels weren't very comfortable either.

But, he did have a familiar face with him. He let go of his dress with a soft sigh and took her arm. His frown deepened when she called him Alice but, well, he supposed he was Alice for now.]

I guess so. [Okay, he actually had to try here. He straightened back, but also held her arm just a little tighter as they stepped forward.] I'm in your hands, Miss Fawn.

[She wasn't the only one nervous about the fog. It was incredibly unnerving, moreso than the Dark Hour somehow.]

Leave it to me~

[Minako answers in a sing-song voice, trying to buoy her mood up by deliberately keeping a bounce in her step as she walks forward with him. Fake it 'til you make it has been her motto for ages, and it still applies now.

But not ten feet into the forest, all that cheerfulness leeches away, until she's left frowning and tense next to him. The dense fog makes every shadow seem like it'll jump out at them, suffocating but never-ending at the same time. Even her voice comes out in a whisper the next time she speaks, as if she's wary of bringing unwanted attention to them.]

Ugh, it's like that one video game.

[...what was its name again? It was one of her favorites growing up, but she can't recall it for some reason.]

[He stumbled a little, whether from the heels or the tension was anyone’s guess and he wasn’t in the mood to save face. His grip tightened on Minako. He focused in her words... a video game with a ton of fog.]

Quiet Hill, I think.

[It was a game he... may have played. Or did he only hear about it? He was an avid gamer, he should know this. Wait, what was the last game he played? He shook his head, no now wasn’t really the time to worry about that. They had to get through the forest, to...

Why were they here again?]

Where are we going?

[Another stumble, this time at a sudden noise to there left. Why was this scaring him so much? He could take on... on... things that were scarier, yeah! Whatever those had been. Why didn’t he have his weapon with him?]

I...I don't know. Anywhere. As long as it's away from here.

[She jolts at the noise, at the suddenness of her body stumbling along with the boy she's clutching. Protectiveness surges inside her, and she straightens up to help steady him, to make herself bigger and more intimidating against whatever might be lurking in the fog, more of a target than him. He's important. He must be important if she's holding onto him so tightly, even if she's inexplicably forgotten his name. She must make sure he stays safe at all costs.

She doesn't know the why. She knows she should know. But even that bit of knowledge is dissipating into the fog, leaving only a chill up her spine that warns her of someone approaching.

It's flimsy. She'd thought that before, right? It's flimsy but she holds out the tip of her umbrella into the fog like a lance, glaring fiercely.]

Who's there?

[He couldn’t argue with that. He wanted out too and if... if this girl could help him, then so be it! Why didn’t he know her name? Wasn’t that something he normally learned quickly?

Why did he normally learn names quick?

Minato ducked a little behind the girl, this familiar girl, letting the umbrella serve as their protection somehow. The formless shape drew closer and soon, formed a shadow. A shadow that solidified and suddenly he was looking at himself. He wore a uniform that seemed awfully familiar, a dark armband around his left arm and his eyes were a deep yellow.]

Oh, just little ol’ me. Or him, if you want to get technical. I’m him and he is me... just like you, little fawn.

[The voice was his but heavily distorted and awful to listen to. Minato shook his head. He didn’t understand what this thing meant. How was he the shadow and... and the girl?]

I’m not... I’m me... you’re not...

Are you sure?

[Was he? His fingers tightened on the girl’s coat.]

Edited 2020-08-18 19:04 (UTC)

[Her eyes go wide when the figure makes itself known, and in defiance of the instincts that say she needs to keep an eye on the enemy, she jerks her head to the boy she's protecting. Her loyalty lies with him and not his copy, so she immediately speaks up to defend him, even if the copy's words are unsettling and make her just as uneasy as the boy.]

You're you. Nobody else. [And then, said as an afterthought to the copy:] Stay away from us.

[The copy doesn't seem hostile, but she backs up anyways, taking the boy with her. They need to get away. Away from the copy, away from here. An echo from behind them quickly cuts that option short, and her blood freezes to hear her own voice in the thick air, even though her mouth is pressed into a thin line.]

Don't be afraid. [Two copies of her stand behind them, one with sharp golden eyes like the edges of harshly bright sunshine, and one with gentle slate-blue that remind her of the sky as it darkens to night. She inhales sharply, and the night-sky copy smiles, soft and sweet.] It's the truth. The two of you are tied to each other, and to all of us. You're stronger together.

[The sunshine copy scoffs, unimpressed.]

You sure have a terrible memory. How many times did you get burned by people who left you after they got what you wanted from you? I bet little Alice will, too. He'll skip off to his next adventure as soon as you help him leave the forest. Go back to who you were before. Don't let anyone take advantage of you ever again. You're strong enough on your own, even if you have to fake it until you are.

[She flinches at the copy's words, a flicker of a memory rising to the fore. A younger version of herself, striding confidently through a crowd of classmates. The feeling that everyone's watching, fake it until you make it hits her hard in the chest.]

I...wanted to be alone?

The both of you were given the same choice, the same miracle.

[A fourth voice to the side, another of the boy but with impossibly blue eyes. They looked almost familiar, kind and sad. Minato felt his chest tightened. His own gray eyes flicked between the copies, the boy with the yellow eyes looked cruel and stoic. Disdainful, almost. He scoffed, even, as he heard his blue eyed counterpart.]

Please, like they really had a choice. They were better off beforehand. The fake and the loner.

[He pointed to Minako and Minato, respectively. His eyes stayed on Minato, after.]

Wh- but I...

It’s easier to ignore people, to pretend you can’t hear them, if you cover them up. They won’t stick around anyway, they never did. Little miss fawn will ditch you, but it’s better if you do it first so you don’t get hurt.

[His fingers began to let go of her jacket but the other boy’s voice stopped him.]

But you like her. She understands you and not just because you shared the same fate, the same pain. She helped you open up again, when you felt alone. She is you and you are her.

Don’t you remember?

I...

[He looked over at the fawn who was here to protect him, he didn’t remember asking her to but she wanted to anyway. That had to mean something, right?

'We already did the isolation thing once.'

She said that once, the memory clear as day. She held his face when she’d said it too. She wouldn’t have said that if she truly wanted to be alone.]

I don’t want to be alone again. You don’t have to be either. You... you aren’t.

No, but you are, her friends showed up, not yours.

[She glances between the copies and the boy next to her, bewildered. For one terrible moment, it feels as though he's going to let go of her. And if he had, it would've been all the proof she needed that her copy was right. She's easy to abandon, so there's no point in trying to keep anyone close to her, there's no one who would want to stay--

I don't want to be alone again. You don't have to be either.

Her wide, startled eyes swing back to him, uncomprehending.]

The loyal magician, and the sweet high priestess. [the night-sky copy murmurs, and she gasps as she remembers two dear, tearful faces crowding close to welcome her to this strange world. The feeling of holding them in her arms and being so, so thankful to see them again.] Even if they aren't his, you promised all of you could be together. Remember?

I remember. I said... [She looks at the boy, a frown going over her lips.] I said you don't have to keep your distance.

And what good did telling him that do? He keeps his distance anyways. Always sleeping when you try to engage him. He ignores you. Tolerates you! You being there makes no difference to him. Don't let him string you along. Remember that you're better and stronger than everyone who thinks you're worthless.

[Is that how it went? She clutches at her head, the sunshine copy's words triggering a memory of them at the tea dragon farm. He'd...preferred curling up with the dragons to talking to her, hadn't he? And made faces when she'd tried to be affectionate. A heavy weight crushes her chest as she sees it in her mind's eye, and even the tender memory of the magician and high priestess can't banish it. But this boy, and the magician and the priestess, she can feel that they're all important to her, too. Which copy is right? Why can't she remember correctly?]

Who am I? [She looks at the boy, torn between her protectiveness and hurt feelings. Unbeknownst to her, her eyes start flickering between red and gold.] I don't even know my name. I...I'm...

An outsider. [the sunshine copy says solemnly.]

A leader. [the night sky copy says calmly.]

[Minato's eyes widened, when he was accused of stringing her along. No, that can't be right! He wouldn't do that, would he?]

Yes, you would. You did. Your magician isn't even here, he just hangs out with you out of pity. You're not the real deal to him, that all goes to his fearless leader! You're just humoring them.

[He shook his head, eyes going to the kinder, sadder eyes. He looked at the girl before him. She didn't know her name, but he knew it, didn't he? He had to because--]

I'm her... and she's me.

That's right [The blue eyed boy replied.] Come now, is that any way to treat a lady?

[His chest hitched again, why did that sound so sad? The memory of those same kind, sad eyes entered his mind, a yellow scarf, black hair, a voice just like his own but softer and far more flirtatious than he could ever be.]

You should remind her of her name... and your own.

Oh c'mon, like she would even care! It's all about you. Got to keep your heart safe, just do as your told and ignore everyone else. Not like they'll stick around, anyway.

[Minato saw the girl's eyes flicker, his own widening further because no, no, this wasn't right! She had to know who she was! She was the one who told him to not isolate, she even stayed at his place, hadn't she? He'd... he'd cut her hair and she was so happy. They'd even played with it, set it on fire. Why did they do that?

Minato turned her around, holding her arms firmly. His eyes shined wetly, lips pursed because damn it, they weren't being fair! Another memory, he said that to her ad verbatim. He had laughed about it too, because she had been so kind. What they said about her wasn't right, what they said about him wasn't right either.

He knew it had to be true. It had to be because she was also an...]

Arisato.

[The night sky copies smiled.]

Minako. You're Minako Arisato. [His head hurt and he winced, looking down, his grip tightened.] A-And I'm... I'm...

[He's crying. He's holding her tight enough that she can't see anything else but him crying. It stirs something in her heart, thawing the ice and the hesitation enough that she looks at him with quiet concern. He shouldn't be crying. It inexplicably makes her want to cry, too. His pain is hers, and if nobody will conquer whatever made him cry for his sake, then she will. She's an outsider and a leader, a ghost and a survivor. A dichotomy in one body, and she is--

Minako takes in a sharp breath, and the rush of memories that return in that instant leave her breathless, aching with love and pain and anger. SEES and Persona. The Dark Hour and Ryoji and Nyx. Graduation Day. That's right. She remembers everything now. Minako's expression turns fierce, eyes blazing red in a refusal to be shaken by any more lies.]

You're Minato Arisato.

[Minako reaches out and cups his face between her hands. She smiles, radiant and determined, as she squishes his cheeks.]

You're me, and I'm you, and we're both our own selves.

[He smiled widely in her hands, even as the memories returned and her hands squished his cheeks. The tears fell, but he didn’t mind. He nodded and let himself be cradled in her hands. It had been a long time since he let himself be cared for. The memories were painful, but he cherished them all, because they were precious. His friends were precious.

He nodded again. Right. They had somewhere to go, somewhere to be. They had a story to move forward and help it reach completion. Their journey may have ended back home, but this was a whole new one that he was intent in seeing to the end with his other self. So, he toed off his ridiculous heels and held them in his hands as he regarded to two imposters.

He gave a rather mocking curtsy with his dress.]

If you’ll excuse us, shadows, we have somewhere to be.

Wh-?!

[His counterpart got a shoe to the face, the second shoe following suit to the Minako imposter. The night sky shadows only grinned wider as gestured with a small flourish themselves the direction they needed to go. Minato took Minako’s arm once more.]

Let’s go, Miss Fawn.

Edited (I like this icon better lol) 2020-08-20 19:28 (UTC)

[Minako brushes away his tears, her smile laced with full-hearted fondness, and then nods with him, understanding his silent decision just like that. They've spent enough time going around in circles with their copies. It's time they continued onwards. They'll face whatever else the fog has to throw at them, together, and finish the mission they came in here to do.

His little act of spite against the copies gets a delighted laugh out of her. She would throw her umbrella at them, too, but the Shadows disappear quickly into the fog after giving Minato disgruntled looks. The other two copies, the ones who remind her so much of Ryoji, keep smiling for them after pointing the way forward, and Minako's throat goes tight for just a moment.

She misses him so damn much, but she thinks he would be happy, knowing the two of them are supporting each other.]

Thank you. Both of you.

[The fog is still thick in front of them, almost like an impenetrable wall for all that it's a swirling mist. But it doesn't feel so daunting with Minato at her side. She hugs him close and grins.]

With pleasure, Alice. [Then she adds teasingly:] But you're not allowed to complain if your feet get gross from walking through the forest, you're the one who threw your shoes. Though I guess I could always give you a piggy-back ride.

[While Minato was silent as Minako thanked the good-hearted copies. They really did remind him of Ryoji. He missed his friend so much. It had been tough, knowing they were separated forever but... this little piece was enough.

He offered a nod in kind, a small smile reserved for them as they passed and entered the fog once more. They had their wits about them this time, they were prepared. They had to be for whatever else awaited them.]

They deserved it. [He said with a click of his tongue, but he did look quite pleased with himself. Consequences to his feet, be damed.] I can handle it, Mina-chan.

[It takes her a moment to register what he said, but then she lets out a little squeal, letting go of his arm to fling hers around his neck in a tight hug.]

You called me Mina-chan.

[It's a small thing, but it's such a perfect way for him to show affection that she can't help but be absolutely delighted by the gesture.]

Mina-kun doesn't feel right for you, but I want to give you a nickname too...Minto? Mii-kun? Ooh, what about...

[As she rambles cheerfully on, she grabs his hand and squeezes tight.

Until they get out of this forest, she's not going to let go for anything.]

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Chapter 05: Act II

SCENE 6: ALICE AND THE FAWN - MINATO ARISATO AND MINAKO ARISATO

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and enddd /o/