The Fourth Gambit

[alltheways]

[The Red Queen appears on the network with her Vorpal Shield hanging on the wall behind her. She doesn't sit on a throne, of course--she's not as presumptuous as some Queens--instead she stands, straight and tall. The room she's standing is is completely nondescript, giving away no hints about her location.]

I'm happy to say that I have regained my shield, dear friends, and just in time. Danger is once again coming your way. A crash is imminent.

But there will be a safe haven set aside for you. I fear it may be difficult to find, and it won't be large, but it will be there nonetheless.

[She tents her fingers together, looking pensive.]

It is...the best that could be done.

Comments

video;

[oversight]

Who's got it now? The Duchess?

[Because it sounds like it's good to know where this sword might be.]

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[alltheways]

I believe so. [And the Red Queen absolutely does not mind that.]

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[oversight]

Why are we kept here?

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[alltheways]

Kept? Am I to infer you think that there is someone consciously picking and choosing who arrives and who departs?

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[oversight]

Yes. That exactly what I'm inferrin'. Certainly didn't come here on our own.

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[alltheways]

My dear, you were implying. I was inferring.

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[oversight]

[ D:< ]

Yeah, fine, fine. I'll keep that in mind, but what I'm askin' doesn't change. Who's bringin' us here? Who's keepin' us here?

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[alltheways]

No one.

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[oversight]

Then what's keepin' us here?

[He is seriously getting frustrated here.]

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[alltheways]

[The Red Queen has noticed his frustration, but it doesn't ruffle her in the least.]

Perhaps it is something akin to gravity.

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[oversight]

[So. Frustrating.]

You ever give straight answers?

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[alltheways]

Do you know how gravity works?

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[oversight]

Know how it works in my world. All bets are off here.

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[alltheways]

So surely, when you are tired of weighing as much as you do or you want the day to last a bit longer or the moon to be a bit bigger in the sky, you go to the person in charge of gravity and tell them to turn it down a bit!

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[oversight]

[...]

You gotta be kiddin' me. There's no appealin' to anyone 'bout gravity, 'cause—

[He lifts a hand, shakes his head, presses out a sigh.]

Know what? Forget it. Thanks for the info.

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[alltheways]

But you almost had it, John. There's no one to appeal to about coming and going, about world crashes, or about gravity. They are simply the mechanics of this world.

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[oversight]

Then what's the point? Why bother with Mirrors? Why fight with each other? What the hell's at stake for us in this— this war you're wagin' with each other?

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[alltheways]

Balance must be maintained for the world to keep on turning. My sister seeks to keep the balance tipped in her favor. I cannot allow this, for all our sakes.

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[oversight]

What happens if you don't? You even know? Or is this just "the way of things?"

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[alltheways]

Do you remember the Jubjub Bird? And the Bandersnatch?

Put them together and multiply by precisely 32.61. That is what can happen.

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[oversight]

32.61. Got it. That's— [He frowns.] That seems like a lot.

Who you fight for here? Just you?

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[alltheways]

I fight for all. I've said it before: you may not be my subjects or my pieces, but you are in my land and I have an obligation to you.

I would be a very poor Queen if I could not take care of my guests.

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[oversight]

But you can't stop the events from happening?

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[alltheways]

No more than I can stop the sun from shining.

But I can provide a heat advisory.

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[oversight]

[That much alone is enough to make him frown deeply. In this case, the fact that she can warn them doesn't necessitate that she must. Has she been helping them all along, or just helping herself, which thankfully covers the residents of Wonderland, too?

He feels torn all of a sudden.]

Guess I should be thankin' you for that. Havin' some warnin' helps.