+ Somewhere a Grandiose Carnival Was Going on in the Sky +

[vitaelamorte]

Who: Everyone!
Where: The grounds of the Mansion
When: March 9-16
Rating: PG-13 (warn if you go higher)
Summary: The Red Queen has thrown a carnival for everyone!
The Story:


From Friday, March 9, through Friday, March 16, the gardens and grounds of the Mansion will be a sprawling a carnival. The masked, unspeaking vendors will be selling trinkets and running free game booths. Carnival rides, exhibits, and foods represent all of the various cultures of those currently residing in the Mansion.


Of particular note, and perhaps incongruously, everything is decorated with red hearts.

Use this log for any and all of your carnival needs!

Comments

[choosetruth]

I'd say spite is more likely than thanks, but it's hard to say with them.

[Their relationship is certainly complicated. But what siblings aren't?]

Definitely seems related to the winter ball, though. There's another donation box too.

[romsapience]

Point. This might just be a move of passive aggression on the Red Queen's side. Sibling rivalry is so confusing to comprehend.

[Ah, well.

Turing perks up at the mention of another donation box.]

Another one? That's odd - why would it return? Is this something I have to make a file for...

[If the donation box pops up a third time, they're definitely going to make a file in their research cabinet about it.]

I'm staying far away from that box. I'm unsure what's going to happen to my vocabulary database if it tries to locate a word that I've forgotten. Nothing might happen, but something drastic might happen as well. I'd rather not take that chance unless it's forced upon me.

[choosetruth]

In this case, it actually gives you something in exchange. Whether or not that makes it worth it is up to you.

[The cards are interesting, but she doesn't know how useful they are. Or how much trouble they'll cause. The Mirrors probably didn't sign off on making this information public.]

[romsapience]

[Turing straightens up at that remark.]

Wait, really? I don’t remember anything like this from the previous ball…did you happen to donate the word? What did you get in exchange?

[They emphasize this by having a question mark appear on the front of their screen.]

[choosetruth]

Last time we didn't get anything. But I did touch it this time, and I got a card with information about one of the Mirrors.

[Which is... probably its own sort of sketchy. Somehow she doubts the mirrors volunteered.]

[romsapience]

[Turing raises a digital eyebrow.]

Really! Huh, that IS interesting...that...almost makes me want to donate myself. But...I don't feel like I should take the risk, even if it comes with an important reward. I'll see what I can find out about the current Mirrors on the archives. I remember last year, when the Mirrors crossed over to apprehend a couple of their traitors, the network was abuzz with warnings about the different Mirrors. I'm sure there's still plenty of us that experienced this event that are here now.

...if you don't mind me asking, what are you going to do with the card that you received?

[choosetruth]

Haven't decided yet.

[It wasn't new information, for the most part, but she's spent a lot of time talking with Chloe's Mirror. She didn't need a card to tell her about it.]

I'm not publishing it, though. It's not a vetted source.

[romsapience]

Hmm...that's understandable. I don't think there's a proper way to check that each card is truthful. For that matter, do the people that have their information printed on those cards even know that it's happened? I seriously doubt they gave any sort of permission for this.

[They look on in thought.]

Why would the donation box decide now to spit out cards...? Could someone have tampered with the donation box? And if so, who...?

[choosetruth]

This is only the second time it's been here, and we still don't know who left it. Maybe it's supposed to do that. Maybe the donations from last time gave it enough power to do this.

[Maybe they should stop donating because what the fuck is the endgame here? Where are the donations going?]

[romsapience]

[Turing nods.]

With that in mind, it looks like the goal for the donation box is the same: bringing back the 'one we lost'. The first thing that comes to mind are the residents that are permanently deceased, such as the White Rabbit and the White Queen. At least this confirms that the whole anonymous posting 'Dodo' was a hoax. Not that I put much merit into that.

[It's a smart idea to take things said anonymously with a grain of salt.]

I hope we'll be able to get some more answers about the donation box soon. I should have asked the Red Queen about this when she appeared on the network...

[choosetruth]

You mean the individual who provided absolutely no proof they were who they said they are and claimed their device was "broken" so they couldn't see non-anonymous comments? But they were so believable.

[Her sarcasm is deadpan as hell, but in this case, pretty obvious.]

You'll have another chance. I find it helps to take notes of what I want to ask before the time comes.

[romsapience]

[Ah, yes, Turing should have been more conscientious about the anonymous posting. They briefly look down, letting the wave of embarrassment pass through.]

Y-Yes, well...in either case, I will take your advice. Through my own research, I've come up with a few questions to ask the residents as soon as one emerges onto the network. I will see if I can get any new information out of them...

[choosetruth]

[She nods. It's a good move.] Let me know if you learn anything.