entrancelogs | + Your Princess Is in another...Palace +

+ Your Princess Is in another...Palace +

Who: Everyone!
Where: All over Wonderland
When: Friday, 8/24 - Monday, 8/27
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Palaces! This log is for Palace Rulers to post descriptions of their palaces, and for unaffected characters to wander in and out of them.
The Story:

Palace rulers: These are the characters who experience the bout of lightheadedness and spontaneously manifest a Palace starting at noon on 8/24. As soon as the palace forms, the character is essentially sucked into their Palace and made to play the part of the ruler.

These characters will forget they were ever in Wonderland or indeed had any other life outside of their Palace. If Character A's Palace took the form of her living her dream as a world-famous surfer where the oceans are made of cotton candy, she would always believe she'd been a surfer and that oceans have always been made of cotton candy. Any characters who entered her Palace would merely seem like visitors or intruders to the beach. Maybe they're surf fans, too?

It is possible to "wake" a Person from their Palace if one were to kill them (easy mode... if a bit violent) or make them see it's merely a mental construct (hard mode). If a person were to die inside their Palace, however, it would count as a mansion death. There are no real ways to "unmake" these Palaces other than to snap the person out of it or wait for them to run their course.

Palaces are tied to locations that characters frequent or find special meaning in. They do not outwardly change the appearance of the mansion--the clinic will still look like the clinic on the outside, but crossing inside takes you into the mental landscape of that affected character, and it may look however that player chooses it to.

Unaffected characters: Congratulations, you get to explore other characters’ inner world by visiting their Palaces! There is also a chance of danger should a character enter into a Palace whose ruler is likely to see them as a threat. Should Character A as described above not want a person there, sharks on legs might rise from the ocean and attempt to chase them off. (Sorry about that.)

However, there will always be a way to escape a Palace should you need to. There will always be a door leading back to the normal mansion, though no one else in the Palace will be able to see it aside from the unaffected character. If you entered the clinic and it's a barren hellscape, the clinic door will take you back out. Yay!

It is also possible for characters to see cognitive clones of themselves inside someone else's Palace if that person has a mental image of them. How these cognitive versions behave is, however, entirely up to the Palace ruler, whether realistic or not.

See the Bulletin Board for details on the event. You can also go to the plotting post to see what everyone else is doing!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[To his credit, Souji doesn't lean away, even if she is getting much too close.]

You've been seeing a lot of Japanese people?

[He goes over the list in his head of who those people might be. They clearly aren't here right now, so perhaps there's a way to get out of here after all. Though he feels like, if he's going to escape, he ought to take Monika with him.]

Ohh, don't worry about them! You're here now. Besides, I wouldn't want you to question my faithfulness~

[ Her head tilts with a smile. Thankfully, she doesn't move any closer, but her fingers sure seem twitchy. His hair looks terribly enticing. ]

So, where should we start? There's so much I want to know about you.

[He glances around again, then leans in toward her a little.]

There's a lot I want to know about you, too.

[Souji knows what a Palace is thanks to Ryuji, so he knows that what he's seeing is, to some extent, Monika's inner world. Souji's sure Wonderland's twisted the whole thing a bit, but still, all of this has some meaning to Monika, and Souji has a feeling it's all stuff she wouldn't want him knowing under normal circumstances.]

[ The smile fades. After blinking at him rapidly, she abruptly jerks back to her side of the desk as if she just got burned. You'd think he'd just said something hurtful.

The sensual demeanor has disappeared and her body's tense with worry. This isn't how this is supposed to go! ]

Why would you want to know about me? I want to learn about you. I don't matter nearly as much as you do!

[Now Souji smiles, but it's a gentle expression, one meant to be comforting and encouraging.]

I don't think that's true. You matter a lot.

[But he's making her uncomfortable and he doesn't want to be forced out of here.]

Why don't we take turns? I'll tell you something about myself and then you can do the same.

[ She shakes her head, laughing weakly and waving a hand. ] You're only just saying that. But, um...as long as it makes you happy!

[ Monika presses her lips together, still looking tense. She didn't expect interest in her so soon! Maybe ten years down the line or so, sure. But right when they'd first met? Gosh. ]

Well. Ahaha! I guess...you're starting, then?

Okay... I'm an only child. I'm going to be in my third year of high school.

[He shakes his head.]

But that doesn't tell you a lot, does it? What do you want to know?

Ooh~ I think I'm an only child, too! [ She taps her chin thoughtfully. ] At least, I don't remember having any family. Oh, and I'm a third year! Probably...

[ But finally! Back to the good questions! Monika's perked up again, beaming cheerfully. Who cares about vague video game writing at a time like this? ]

Anyway! I'd love to know your interests! What's your favorite color? Do you like reading? What's your favorite kind of music? Tell me what makes you happy!

Those are a lot of questions.

[And things he's not totally wanting to answer. He's much more curious about this place, and more than a bit concerned about her, which makes it hard to want to talk about himself.]

I don't have a favorite color, although I like yellow a lot. I enjoy reading.

[And now it's her turn. He glances past her at the cages.]

Do you have a lot of friends?

[ Well, so much for finally having a good time. Monika droops, her gaze falling to the desk. When her crown threatens to slip off, she exhales sharply and yanks it off her head, tossing it aside.

It was all so frustrating. It was all so dumb. Why wouldn't things ever go her way? ]

I don't have any friends.

[ Who'd consider automatons with no free will to be friends? It was stupid to think otherwise. ]

Why does it even matter?

[Souji's eyes follow the path the crown takes through the air before returning to Monika.]

It matters. Having no one but yourself makes the entire world a gray blur. Every day is the same and it's like you're the only real person in the world.

[It's really no wonder she's so enthusiastic about newcomers.]

What are they?

[He nods past her.]

[ Her brow tightens, then she looks back up. Her words keep getting caught in her throat before she can answer. ]

That's...exactly how it is. That's how it's always been.

[ His understanding of her makes her a tad more willing to open up. She's still cagey, though, crossing her arms over her chest. ]

They're characters. But they'll never know that.

[Souji nods slowly. This time he keeps his eyes on Monika and doesn't look back at the girls.]

It seems like things turned out badly for them. And for him.

[Now he glances at the student in the corner of the room.]

You must have been lonely up to now.

[ Monika follows his gaze, frowning, then looks back at him. ] Well, he...was just kind of there. A means to an end, I guess?

[ So fitting for a nameless main character. Haha?

After a hesitation, she uncrosses her arms and nods slowly. ]

Everything lost meaning. I'm...honestly not sure how much longer I could take it. [ A small, hopeful smile forms. ] But you're here now! I don't have to be alone anymore. I can have a world with you.

[Souji could relate to being a nameless main character, were he more self-aware of his medium...]

We could go anywhere you want. We don't have to stay here in this world.

[ Her brow knits together, the smile fading. ]

No. We can't. This is where we belong now. [ She shakes her head, laughing weakly. ] You could leave, maybe. Not that I want you to!

[ And not that she'll let him. ]

But, I mean...this is where I'll always be. I doubt it'll ever change.

Why not?

[She'd only need to want it to change, he thinks. But that's kind of the problem.]

I know what I am. There's no real way for me to make it out.

[ Monika places her hands on the desk, biting at her lower lip as she looks at them. He'd inserted doubt into her head, despite her words. He seemed pretty insistent about an exit...

Her eyes glance over at the door. How could there be anything beyond the threshold? ]

At least if I'm not alone, knowing that won't be so bad.

I think the only thing limiting you is you. But I'll stay and keep you company if you're afraid to try to go.

[He isn't trying to goad her into leaving, though it might come across that way.]

[ Conflict is all over her face. This is very much coming off as goading, but she's not sure how to take it.

Monika glances back at him. Her voice is quiet when she speaks. ]

If I could somehow go to your world...you'd take me with you, wouldn't you?

Of course. You belong there.

[He smiles at her.]

Do you like this place?

Are you kidding? [ She scoffs, unable to help it. ] I hate it.

[ But it's all she's ever known. And, well, it's all she'll ever know. It's not like she was living in the age of holograms and androids where she could be easily lifted from her prison. At most, she'd be lucky to be put on a USB stick or something. Comforting.

Monika's hands ball up. As her head dips, she sniffles, so soft it's almost inaudible. As much as she loved him, she couldn't stand the torture for much longer. ]

I...think it's best that you leave now.

[He lets out a soft breath. Of course it wouldn't be that easy. He reaches over and puts a hand on hers.]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you.

[ There's a painful ache in her chest. The touch is so warm and soft and everything she's ever wanted. Monika raises her head after wiping at her eyes. ]

It's fine. I'm just realizing I'm being a little selfish.

[ She gently tugs her hand away. ] As much as I love you, it'd be wrong for me to subject you to this place. I'd rather you be out in yours, where I know you'll be happy.

[Souji looks at her quietly for a moment, before nodding and standing up. He'd hug her, but he thinks that might just be painful for her.]

I'll see you again, Monika. I promise.

[Not until the event is over, but possibly that might be comforting. Maybe.]

+ Your Princess Is in another...Palace +

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