[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

[nascensibility]

[The majority of what Phil says does not go over Evelyn's head so much as it sounds like the rushing noise that gale-force winds create during heavy storms through the trees, because she is having a spectacularly difficult time trying to not be inordinately angry that his presence on the Real Side has relegated Philip to the Mirrorside.]

Your goals are different from ours,

[she points out with a frown now that he's finally decided to shut his mouth long enough for her to reply.]

Helping you would be helping your Queen, and the last I recall from being on your side, she does not like us very much.

[Evelyn had been younger, much younger, when her Mirror traded important information for a twenty-four hour pass to the Real Side, leaving Evie stranded in unfamiliar territory with dangerous people. It had not been egregiously bad until Lord Buckingham's Mirror found her, chased her down a hallway, and took her captive to visit the Queen of Hearts herself.

Sherlock's research on the Tuurngait had been the price for the day's pass, and Evelyn barely got out of that encounter with her life.

"As much as I love a good beheading, I merely need you to keep her from sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. Otherwise, she should be relatively harmless here."

She hasn't forgotten.]

[killerradiopal]

Weuhhh, no, no, I guess you're- you're right on that one. Except-- except, alright, uh, what- I mean, what were you guys gonna do with the sword? Because I figure-- Like, we're all still trying to get ready for the Jabberwocky, right? It's- that's what this is about, isn't it? So--

[ He blows air through his lips, gathering up a few more stray thoughts. ]

She's pretty good at that, remember? Were you-- You were definitely around the last time, you know she's good with that thing, just wooshhh!

[ Phil mimics the arch of the sword's swing in a wide motion. ]

And I haven't actually seen her do anything else with the thing, I mean, it's not like she goes around-- [ Phil pulls a face, all teeth and growl, with matching claw hands to match. ] grrrr arrrghhh must-carve-up-all-the-reals grrrr-- [ He coughs. ] You- you know?

[ But wait, there's more! ]

Don't get me wrong, I see your point! I- I definitely see your point, I was... I guess I was just thinking, one step at a time, like, we can fight over who gets it once we've got it, you know? 'Cause--

[ He laughs. ]

I don't know about you, but wow, that- that riddle's a mouthful.

[nascensibility]

[Evelyn remembers what happened the last time in excruciating detail, and does not require a Mirror's reassurances that the Queen is a good person when, in fact, she is a horrible, vain creature who needs to be deposed. SHe calmly, patiently listens to the Mirror's explanation of character and circumstance, despite already possessing her own dour opinion on the subject.]

Defencive strategy or not, the Queen has only ever served herself. If you were not useful to her in some way, do you honestly think she would keep you? Protect you? She serves her own cause and no one else's - especially not that of the Reals.

[The bitterness is strong in this one; Evie has become somewhat jaded in her perceptions of the Mirrorside and its political complications.]

[killerradiopal]

[ Oh boy. Oh boy, is this ever not the direction he was hoping any of this was gonna go. ]

Look, I-- I don't wanna sound like I'm copping out or anything, but- I don't wanna get in a row about that, I don't-- I'm not gonna wave a brochure in your face and ask if you've got five minutes to talk about our good and gracious leader, 'cause she's not all that, especially not to you, but you can't-- I mean, doesn't matter what you're saying, she still made me, only reason I'm up and kicking is 'cause of her, she's like-- that'd be like trying to get you to say like, "sure, fair point, my mum's a proper cunt", you know? It's just not--

[ Phil groans a bit. Sometimes, you know, just sometimes he really wishes he was a tad better on the whole poignant thing, 'cause this is getting away from him. All right. Hang on. Give him a beat to get to the point.

Okay. Take two: ]

I just wanted to pop in and say hello, I've... I've missed this side, I've missed you guys, and if it was just up to me I'd want us to work together on this, really put all our heads in, 'cause in the end it's not about some stupid sword, it's about keeping people safe, but-- I don't wanna fight about this, so...

[ Pause. Huff. ]

Tell you what, I'm just gonna wish you guys the best of luck, and then I'm gonna go, all right?

[nascensibility]

[Evelyn feels the edges of her mouth tighten as Phil continues, defencive and rightly so, if she is to hold any claim that the Mirrors qualify as actual humans. They have a semblance of feelings, she simply finds it difficult to relate when the vast majority is comprised of unsavoury characters. To his credit, the last time she was trapped on the Mirror Side Phil was nothing by accommodating - perhaps the perfect insight into how Philip had changed in his own right.

She should have known better, then, and looks properly guilty now. It isn't fair to lash out with her ire on an unsuspecting and relatively innocent party, Mirror or not.]

...no, I'm- I'm sorry, [she insists firmly, rubbing at her eyes for a moment.] I'm worried for Philip. He only has- I'm sure you know how close he is.

[killerradiopal]

Aw. Aww, Christ, I'm sorry. See, don't apologise though, you don't need-- I mean, see, that's- that's what I mean when I say I get it, 'cause I was excited for the riddle, sure, but-- yeah, and obviously I'm gonna try my best at it, I bet we're all gonna, but-- but I tried going back before, and I couldn't. 'Cause that's what it looks like now, we're-- I'd go back in a heartbeat if you asked me, but I can't, we're stuck until we get it right, and that's- that's just unnecessary, y'know, who's that really gonna help?

[ Phil sighs. Not much to be done about that though, is there? No, obviously that's not the issue she meant either, what she meant... what she meant-- oh, close! Close to-- oh. Yeah. Bummer. ]

--But- but hey, chin up, all right? It's kinda hard to remember with all the trouble he gets himself into, but he's made it through way, I mean, waaaay worse.

[ See? There's an encouraging smile! ]

I bet you guys are gonna crack this any minute now, and he'll be back in no time!

[nascensibility]

[Evelyn knows that Philip has made it through worse, though she never prodded enough to ask for specific details. She never asked for more than she knew he would give. Preoccupied by the current event as it is that little part of her still wringing its hands over the impromptu meeting with Will is shunted to one side in favour of concern for Philip's well-being.

Chin up. Stiff upper lip. Is it wrong for Evelyn to want to stop putting on such hardy façades?]

You're only lucky for so long,

[she replies pessimistically and huffs a sigh. She is a selfish person at times, but of late it is more a product of Wonderland's atmosphere than how things are faring back home. New residents are appearing every week, others still disappear every fortnight. Mark was an anchor and, in a way, so is Philip. With each passing day the tide feels stronger and the fear of drifting away from him is very real.]

...thank you, I...I hope you're right.