[VIDEO] .-- . .. .-. -.. .--. ..- --.. --.. .-.. . ... .... .. -

[nascensibility]

Hallo. Erm. I have...multiple announcements, I suppose. One is that the book club we established months ago, which fell to the wayside when there was an unfortunate incident at the library-

[Murder. It was murder. And she found the body. Let's move on.]

-is going to start up again. I've posted a sheet on the library doors for people to recommend books they would prefer to read and discuss. Secondly, and more importantly, I know that just about everyone has noticed the riddle the Duchess left. Far be it from me to encourage the scurrilous behaviour of questionable individuals, but those of us who have been here for some time know better - when last we were given a riddle, Wonderland was plagued by all manner of unfortunate fictional monsters.

[The late and grieved Mark Meltzer, in all his investigatory influence, has left a lingering effect on his pupil and peer, who appears steadfastly determined to solve this particular puzzle before any more beasties burst forth from the Mansion's belly.

It should be noted, dear listeners, that Evelyn is planted firmly in front of her library niche, where a good portion of the wall has been taken up by papers and notes, some of them a year old and others freshly scribed, a few bits of red string linking facts and events together. Is it the work of a professional archaeologist and researcher, or a manic conspiracy theorist?

You decide.]

I've begun compiling old notes from the last riddle and put them alongside my notes from this one in the event there are connexions. There are a number of hidden words and statements, you see- the...the most evident of these are the bolded letters that form the word "mount," the green letters that spell "closet," lower and upper letters spelling "liar" and "old," et cetera. But there- there is absolutely more to this, more than I thought there was-

[She reaches for two larger pads of paper, one of which has a series of zeroes and ones with text beneath it, the other dots and dashes accompanied by tiny notations that detail the numerological meaning of the number eight.]

There is further hidden text. Holding a finger over the word "true" in the message, there appear ten figures of three dashes and two dots, Morse code for the number eight. Over the word "cost," there are dozens upon dozens of ones and zeroes. It's a binary code!

[If she looks frightfully ecstatic, it's because she loves being smart.]

I've translated it to uncover a hidden poem which may, perhaps, raise more questions than it will answer them, but I should like everyone's input. This is something we have to solve together.

Comments

[undealt]

The wonder of the written word wielded by someone who knows how to use it- so much nuance in such a simple, easily overlooked place.

[He's a bit more impressed with this Duchess than he was before.]

I can't say I've ever been fond of riddles, but I am quite adept at examining the fine print, as it were. The riddle within the riddle may be more my speed.

[nascensibility]

I would call it nuisance over nuance, but then, I've been here for several years.

[One can become a bit jaded to the novelties that Wonderland provides.]

The second riddle is:

Though eyes I have, they have no sight
I can't be seen in black of night
If I move left, then you move right
In looking glass, I come to life.

Sounds a bit like a reflection to me.

[undealt]

Something to do with the Mirrors, perhaps. Of course, they seem to be as clueless as to the whereabouts of the sword as we are.

[nascensibility]

Yes, yes, I've already figure that, [Evelyn comments, waving a hand impatiently. It isn't personal, sir, she's just concerned for the welfare of those Reals stuck on the other side.

A beat.]

...what sort of fine print are you familiar with, Mister...?

[undealt]

Gold. And I worked primarily in contracts. Deals, as it were. And while that may seem dreadfully unhelpful in our situation, there's always something to be said about the art of knowing a good loophole.

[nascensibility]

[He manages bargains, then, does he?]

That sounds rather Faustian, if it isn't too presumptuous of me to say.

[Spoiler alert: she's not apologising.]

[undealt]

Well, it's been called much worse. [Well, someone's well-read. Gold simultaneously appreciates the cleverness and is also mildly irked. On one hand, intelligence is refreshing. On the other, stupid people ask fewer questions and the Enchanted Forest was not short on idiots.] I'm a pawnbroker by profession- it goes with the territory.

[nascensibility]

[Evelyn spent the better half of her young life reading and has always possessed an insatiable curiosity; these sorts of things tend to go hand in hand with one another. Clever people like clever things - it's the challenge to their intellect and problem-solving that they enjoy so much.

Also, being right. Evelyn enjoys that as well.]

Admitting to your intensive knowledge of loopholes might be considered a detriment to your trade, would it not?

[She smiles at him, looking a little too satisfied that she hit the nail on the head.]

I'm Evelyn O'Connell.

[undealt]

On the contrary, I consider it beneficial to keeping others from exploiting me. It would be a bit embarrassing to be tripped up on a technicality in my business.

[smiling right back.]

A pleasure, Ms. O'Connell.

[nascensibility]

Do you often deal in puzzles, Mister Gold?

[The frequency with which Evelyn finds herself rummaging around in mysteries back home is staggering to most, but then, she has a history of digging where she shouldn't.]

[undealt]

That wasn't quite my purview back in Storybrooke, but, alas, one must adapt. And I've always been a bit of a problem-solver by nature.

[It helps when you're phenomenally powerful and incredibly old. They're all he has right now without his resources.]

[nascensibility]

One relates.

[Although Evelyn's true skill lies in awakening ancient evils, touching things she shouldn't touch, and reading from books that she shouldn't read. You know, that old chestnut.]

I take it you're familiar with antiquities, as well?

[undealt]

That tends to come with the territory, yes. [He laughs a bit. Antiquities, fairy tale relics, the occasional dark occult object.

That old chestnut, etc.]

[nascensibility]

I work with them myself; you have that air.

[Pawnbrokers back home tend to deal less with fanciful and/or fancy objects, but Gold is learned and makes it incredibly apparent.]

[undealt]

Sadly, being the person people come to in their moment of dire need doesn't do much for the reputation. Having an appraising eye and a fondness for objects of real value, however... Well, that's a bit more respectable. It's something of a passion, as well.

[There's a moment of consideration and then he breaks into a wider smile.] May I ask what you've worked with?

[nascensibility]

I'm an archaeologist by trade, specialising in Egyptology and ancient languages.

[It's something of a mouthful, she knows, but since these are proper introductions she might as well go for the gold.

Pun intended.]

Most of what I do is cataloguing and artefact restoration, but I would be lying if I said that I didn't have any experience with curses.

[undealt]

Well, that's something we have in common anyway.

[Besides a definite love of ancient artifacts and the like.]

Though I imagine having mutual experience with curses isn't all that pleasant a common ground.

[nascensibility]

I'm sure you've known less pleasant.

[He does give off that air, at any rate, of a man who has seen a great deal and keeps his secrets stitched into the fabric of his vest.]

[undealt]

Oh, indeed.

[Clever people- particularly clever women seem to be thick on the ground in Wonderland. He's pleased.] You're quite perceptive, Ms. O'Connell.

[nascensibility]

And you enjoy puzzles.

[If he was even moderately bothered by her cleverness he would have said so with much less humour.]

Perhaps when the threat of an event is not hovering over us so malevolently, we might find proper time to converse on those subjects.

[undealt]

Only when I know how to solve them.

[It's a bit mocking, meant to be taken as a joke- of course, it's a joke. Who would be that audaciously confident? There is an undercurrent of truth to it, of course. He's rarely met a riddle he can't solve.]

I sincerely doubt the ladies of Wonderland will ever grant us a true mercy, but I'll happily take any moment of quiet reflection I can get.

[nascensibility]

I don't think anyone could begrudge you that. I've been here- ...a little too long.

[Over three years. Three years.]

It can get trying.

[undealt]

[He can almost relate. Twenty-eight years under a curse and at least he had the mercy to not be aware of the time. Still- time being a prison in itself can often be horrifying even in retrospect.]

I can imagine. Eventually, however, all curses- if one can call this world, itself a curse- are broken. I have to believe that.