+ The Moral of the Next Chapter +

[pig_and_pepper]

Eat! Devour! Swallow! Consume!

[ The Duchess' announcement sounds loud and fierce, from the mansion's very rooftop, and any device that would listen. But no sooner does her last scream ebb away, than her voice and face alike turn into a picture of quiet melancholy. ]

Would that we could leave it all behind. Alas, such matters make poor resolutions, for what certainty is there, truly, that we could become the hunters, and not merely food for another?

[ She looks towards the forest and lingers thus a moment longer, lest her silent dignity should inspire an artist to paint her greatness. Then she turns with flourish, and embraces the presence of her dearest audience at last. ]

Oh, oh! I do promise we shan't dwell on it a moment longer than we must! [ Her hands clap together with excessive cheer. ] You've all conducted yourselves rather splendidly, and did I not tell you that matters would resolve just as you all deserve? I am so very pleased with you today, and I should like to share a moral thought:

[ Cue the dignified pause for effect. Then: ]

Year's end is no end, yet neither is it beginning. 'Tis a continuance, with all the wisdom instilled by experience.

[ She smiles very, very warmly, and parts with her final thought: ]

Try to avoid the teeth this time, won't you?

Comments

[onthefitz]

[Fitz is really starting to hate this place.]

That's not very encouraging, Miss.

[pig_and_pepper]

[ She nods sympathetically. ]

Life rarely is, my good friend. Better to brace yourself for an obstacle and surmount it, than gaze at the sunshine and be devoured by fire.

[onthefitz]

It's not much of a life worth living if all you do is worry about the next threat.

[Not that he plans on giving up, he can't let himself do that.

It's just foreboding and it never seems like there's a light at the end of the tunnel these days.]

[pig_and_pepper]

[ Psshh. The Duchess waves her hand dismissively. ]

I said brace, not worry. You needn't worry, as long as you're the first to draw the blade. You can kill them quite cheerfully, I assure you.

[onthefitz]

Kill what, quite cheerfully?

[He frowns a bit.]

And why cheerfully?

[pig_and_pepper]

Fearfully, I thought it sounded rather similar. [ She snaps her fingers. ] Either works, I suppose. The sun, did I not mention? They'll like it rather more than you, but the walls shan't give you shade forever.

[onthefitz]

So, fearfully. We should be fearful of what's coming.

[Fitz's frown deepens but he tilts his head a bit.]

The sun. So we need to find darkness. They won't....whatever they are, they don't like the dark? But aren't--there are other things in the dark, aren't there?

[A pause.]

Wouldn't we have twice as much to fear then?

[pig_and_pepper]

[ The Duchess smacks her lips together; pondering her mouth hangs slightly agape. ]

Mhhhh...

[ Finally she shakes her head slowly. ]

No. No, they'll wait their turn for another time. Fast. Are you fast, my dearest? They play in the sunlight, I imagine it exhausts them. Mock them: Sleep by day, kill by night.

[ She shakes her head another time, more insistently now. ]

Don't sleep. They'll catch you.

[onthefitz]

[So Wonderland could play fair when it wanted to.

Interesting.]

They're diurnal then, which means night will be the best time to act; but we shouldn't sleep? Can we sleep at night or will they still be able to get us if we were to nap for a few hours?

[pig_and_pepper]

[ The Duchess pats down her dress, until her fingers find a nook from which she pulls a glimmering coin. She mutters something to herself, and flips. Catching the coin on the back of her hand as it falls she sneaks a furtive glance at the outcome and smile, quite cheerfully. ]

You will be perfectly safe, and no harm shall come to you.

[onthefitz]

[And that has Fitz staring at her for a moment, unsure whether to believe this rather crazy individual or not.]

..How...all you did was flip a coin. That isn't--chance isn't...you can't be certain of that, can you?

[pig_and_pepper]

[ An abundance of cheer widens her smile. ]

No, of course not, but aren't you excited that you might be perfectly safe?

[onthefitz]

....Ah...that's...I suppose a little hope is better than none...I still don't know what is coming though.

[Cue him rubbing his head in frustration.]

This place is going to make me wary of everything from toys to flowers.

[pig_and_pepper]

[ She mirrors his gesture in part, and her hand wanders to the back of her neck, tapping down on the spot idly. ]

Oh, you will find a way around that, I'm sure. Toys, flowers, the fearsome unknown; everything can be slain in some way or other.

[onthefitz]

[Fitz catches the movement and his eyes narrow curiously as he lowers his hands.]

....Something...to do with the neck?