▲ 2nd Cipher ▲ (Backdated to Midweek of the Party) OTA

[ghflskhu_ph]

[Bill is positively over the moon; he pops on the feed without preamble, knocking back a martini before morphing his eye into a toothy mouth to inhale the thing whole.]

"Got to HAND IT to ya WONDERLAND, NOTHING SAYS A PARTY like EVERYONE HAVING AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS AT ONCE, MASSES PUZZLING OVER inanely "SiMPLE!" CLUES and an OPEN BAR! A SHAME our ESTEEMED HOST doesn't want to SHOW THEMSELVES. We OUGHT to give them a ROYAL WELCOME!... Unless of course, it's NOT who we THINK it is."

[Gone is Bill's typically casual posture. He floats aloft, hands aflame in a pose much more reminiscent of the idols erected in his honor by generations past. His yellow hue, a bit more gold, his luminescence, brighter and more godlike than ever before. He looks positively regal; and why shouldn't he? He has company to impress, for once. All he's missing is a crown.]

"I know I'D hate to be RULED by something that CLAIMS to have POWER over what it CLEARLY DOESN'T. Between you and me, WONDERLAND could use a bit more WONDER-- HERE's a few things worth WONDERING about:

WONDER what happens if you ASK for TOO MANY REQUESTS from the CLOSETS!

WONDER how we got SO MANY different PEOPLE!

WONDER HOW INFINITE the INFINITELY deep pool REALLY is!

WONDER HOW MANY QUESTIONS IT TAKES before you WANE DOWN someone's SANITY through SHEER ANNOYANCE ALONE!

WONDER WHY we ACCEPT someone to be in POWER when they never prove WHY they DESERVE to have it.

[What? It's not treason if he poses it in the form of a question, right~?]

REMEMBER! CURIOSITY might have KILLED THE CAT, but if SCHRODINGER'S INVOLVED; there's MORE to THAT STORY!

OOC: Howdy friends! Due to rl, I'll be a bit slow on replies but everyone (yes, you, 4th wallers) are welcome to backtag this even after the 10th! Bill does have his Omniscence here, so for those unfamiliar with his character, have some handy links. He can't turn these abilities off, but I never want to use Bill's powers to ruin someone else's fun. if there is something you want/absolutely do not want, feel free to PM me any time! Happy 10th Eway~

Comments

[Video]

[mettatonvevo]

[It's a bit jarring to have a sense of relief in seeing Bill, of all people, on the Network, but it kind of is. With how hectic this entire event has been, any familiar face on the Network that isn't in any abject danger is a welcome sight.]

Well! Bold words from someone who can't be physically touched by the Queen of Hearts. You're not worried that she's going to take your questions personally?

[He knows way more about Bill than he ever wanted to know, thanks to accidentally seeing Ford's memories a couple of weeks back, but... he doesn't see a point in letting Bill be an enemy over someone he likes but isn't close with. He'd prefer to keep their "friendship" for now.]

[Video] ;; <33333 I didn't think he'd want to talk to him anymore! :' D

[ghflskhu_ph]

[Whether the Queen is capable of reaching him or not is something Bill intends to find out. Maybe he can't yet harm her, but if she possesses any way to strike him down, he fully intends to goad her into it. It was part of the point of this exercise. If she ignores him, he has a chance to spread some doubt among her subjects, if she kills him, it only looks like his cause was worth listening to. Either way, this scenario is a win/win. Just how Bill liked them.]

"IF she DID, I'd WONDER WHEN I SPECIFIED it was HER AUTHORITY in QUESTION."

[Though he made it quite obvious on purpose. A blink/wink.]

"CAREFUL, those are some MIGHTY TREASONOUS thoughts, there!"

[Video] YOU CAN'T GET RID OF THIS ROBOT THAT EASILY!

[mettatonvevo]

[That blink/wink makes him smile more than it probably should.]

Mmm, you're right. She wouldn't have a leg to stand on with your words.

[He outright chuckles at Bill's "concern".]

Even though I have a head she could chop off, I don't care if she knows I don't like her. I haven't seen her do anything to anyone on our side for being her enemy.

[Video] <333 IT'S A SMART BUSINESS CHOICE FOR THE MTT BRAND

[ghflskhu_ph]

"EXACTLY."

[Finally! Someone who gets it. How hard is it to come to that conclusion? Whether people liked him or not, this was USEFUL. Bill didn't see anyone else putting themselves on the line to expose this fraud! How about a little support, huh?!]

"RIGHT on the MONEY, METTS. No one's gonna SHOW THEIR CARDS, if you never take YOUR TURN. I'm not big on taking things at FACE VALUE. If SOMEONE's got an ACE they can't keep it up their PUFFY SLEEVES FOREVER!"

[And then maybe they can coerce her into using said powers for a little something more.]

[Video] Can you imagine the MTT Brand suddenly having 100% more triangles?

[mettatonvevo]

[Bill has a point and Mettaton agrees.]

My only concern would be that her little spy on our side might be the one to take up arms if she herself is pushed too far.

[He certainly doesn't want to wake up with a knife in his back, however unlikely it really is to happen.]

Figuring out who they are would put us in a better position in figuring out how far the Queen's influence goes.

[Video] YES. Purple and Yellow rectangles and triangles everywhere

[ghflskhu_ph]

"SO WHAT."

[Oh. Right. He is supposed to care, or something. A blink.]

"WELL! then this will be the PERFECT chance to LURE them OUT OF HIDING, wouldn't you say?"

[If the spy truly was a a credible theory begin with. Honestly the threat was so low on his radar, Bill had all but forgotten them really.]

"If we can get THEM coming out of the WOOD-WORKS, perhaps we'd FIND OUT what MAKES the QUEEN so INFLUENTIAL in the FIRST PLACE."

[Video] It's a polygonal extravaganza! Metta lures you in, Bill makes a deal, a perfect scam!

[mettatonvevo]

[That was an utterly unsurprising reaction to the thought of other people getting hurt. Bill is certainly living up to the memories Mettaton saw of him in Ford's mind.]

It's odd that there hasn't been more opportunity to smoke them out as of yet.

[Mettaton 100% believes that the spy is real because that sounds exactly like something the Queen of Hearts would do.]

It has something to do with Alice, though I don't know as much about her story as I probably should.

[Video] Business Bros and Polygon Partners

[ghflskhu_ph]

"HMM..."

[The pupil of Bill's eye rolls back into it's socket. He blinks, when he reopens it is replaced by the appearance of a static screen accompanied by an ethereal blue glow.]

LTBVPE NPKPD ZN DPUP, I JSLP BJVOFOJ WPLKG, WHP NGPL EPTSURP
ESUWLP'X SPM VLRZCIL TSQU AOCTF'W LTMU
GRZAUID SMT X'S mcv Beo pgv I'd

[Not much new information there. It's still too muddled to sift through. If someone as weird as Wonderland itself can't navigate the nonsensical pathways of its Mindscape, Bill won't be getting anywhere fast in an event without powers.]

"Forget the SPY, If there's any UNSEEN THREAT worth our ATTENTION my MONEY'S on OLE JIBBERJABS. Any ENTITY that BARES similar POWERS to this world ITSELF has more SIGNIFICANT CLAIM to this place than ANYONE is LETTING on."

[Video] "We don't cut corners!" is their slogan and it's the most ironic slogan

[mettatonvevo]

[Mettaton looks a bit confused.]

Jibberjabs? Do you mean that Jabberywocky thing?

lmao THAT IS GENIUS

[ghflskhu_ph]

[Bill snaps a finger.]

"THAT'S the one! WOKnJABBER-"

[Cause that's totally the name you gave.]

"WORD from the VETERANS of this REALM IS JOK-erWAB is an ALL-CONSUMING BEAST never SATIATED; but THIS GUY will GOBBLE UP MORE than just your TYPICAL FARE-- SOME SAY it'll eat ANYTHING including MEMORIES~"

[Sounds like a rather familiar threat, doesn't it?]

[Video] THANK YOU, THANK YOU, I TRY

[mettatonvevo]

[Mettaton furrows his brows, taking in this new bit of information.]

So the Jabberwocky does that, huh? Interesting. Hopefully it doesn't make an appearance back in Wonderland any time soon.

[He looks to the side, continuing to chew over his thoughts.]

If that creature has that sort of ability, does that mean the Queen of Hearts controls it? Or is it independent of her?

[Wonderland has a mind of its own, that much he's certain of. And it seems to like him, all things considered, but he doesn't have to mention that.]

[Video] *showers in square roses*

[ghflskhu_ph]

"THAT's the QUESTION, now, ISN'T IT~?"

[Bill 'grins' a tad bit manically but in approval nevertheless. It's nice to know SOMEONE around here is still intelligent once in a while.]

"Here's what GETS ME. A guy like that, say he shows up, taking CHOMPS out of our HEADS, doin' his thing. If he were to do that RIGHT NOW- how would you EVEN KNOW?"

[It's not like you would remember.]

[Video] *bowing and frantic scrambling to pick up all the flowers ensues*

[mettatonvevo]

[Mettaton actually thinks he would know, on some level. If the Jabberwocky's powers of memory stealing was anything akin to what Frisk could do in a RESET, he'd have hazy, leftover emotions and scattered memories under the right triggers. It's an odd ability to have, but one that has served him well in dealing with the child.

He raises an eyebrow at Bill's words, smiling a little wryly.]

You seem to be focusing quite a bit on what this particular threat could do. Are you worried that you have been affected by it?

[The great and powerful Bill, at mercy to Wonderland's whims? Perish the thought!]

[Video]

[ghflskhu_ph]

[Watch it Mettaton, you may be in Bill's good graces for now, but speaking openly of his weaknesses isn't always smart.]

"HA! As if ANYTHING memory related could affect ME!"

[Maybe if it ate the minds of everyone. And if he can't break out of Wonderland's Mindscape. Over time... it...]

"I just find it SUSPICIOUS how LITTLE it has been MENTIONED. I know a THING about leaving things OUT of SIGHT out of MIND- let me tell you, IT'S A TACTIC that usually WORKS for the THREAT and not the other way around!"

[Video]

[mettatonvevo]

[Mettaton just manages to school his features into a regular pleasant smile, rather than an open expression of laughter. Oh please Bill, if you're stuck here in Wonderland, that means this place owns you as much as it owns the rest of us he thinks to himself.]

I'm sure we will all have more than we wanted with that creature in the future. Wonderland loves to keep us on our toes, after all. Perhaps then you'll be able to see your theory in action.

[Video]

[ghflskhu_ph]

[The triangle drawls as though not fully paying attention, his gaze fixated on something far off.]

"PERHAPS.."

[A blink and the manic energy is back.]

"GUESS WE'll just have to keep ONE STEP AHEAD of WONDERLAND then, WON'T WE?"

[Right~?]

[Video]

[mettatonvevo]

That's as good a plan as any! I'll certainly be keeping an eye out myself.

[It was odd to see Bill out of it for a second, but he doesn't question it. If he did, he's pretty sure Bill wouldn't be favorable towards his prying.

He goes to say something else, but then hears something (or someone) walking towards him. It could be a stranger or it could be his mirror, and either way, he has no desire to wait around and find out.]

Well, it seems I need to get moving; I can't stay in one place for too long with these mirrors out and about. I'd tell you to stay safe, but I think you're in the safest position out of all of us.

[Video]

[ghflskhu_ph]

"HEHEHE, you GOT that RIGHT."

[Say what he would about the robot, the guy knew how to stroke an ego. Bill's gaze follows Mettaton's offscreen before doffing his hat.]

"BE SEEING YA."

[And just like that, the feed blips out.]