Snippet #1854381

Alde smiled at the Duchess as she entered. "Isn't it just? We designed this room Ourselves. There has to be a fitting environment for tea, after all. Of course you couldn't have left him behind, besides he needs to know about this too. Pray don't worry about it. Why don't the two of you have a seat?"

Her smile twitched a bit as she looked at the twins. They were fine as fine went, not completely defying her, too lost in their own little world to think of Wonderland or her, but their constant contradiction of each other - even in the smallest of statements - sometimes ticked her off. However, now was not the time to be executing anyone. She had to keep calm.

Seeing Sinistra look around the room, her smile became even more forced.
"We really appreciate your desisting yourself from playing a trick on one of us, Sinistra. Why don't you have a seat as well? You too, Destra."

With a sigh, she began her routine. It was becoming more and more mundane day by day. If this went on, she might break herself ....

And then you will be deposed of just as the Chains you break ....

Her mouth thinned a little bit. It was getting increasingly difficult not to lash out at the nearest person. These days ...

"A friend of mine has proposed a game." she started, eyes flicking to Cheshire and Caterpillar, silently warning them not to speak of the 'Creator'. It was their own prerogative to know of that, and if they wanted to throw their chance away, she would rather they did it somewhere she wouldn't execute them immediately for, because right now the idea was sounding more and more tempting -

You need them. You still need them. Don't go out of control.

" - and since We know how it feels to have forgotten something important to Us, we will offer you a chance to remember your pasts as a prize. If you win the game, you can go back to your own life, free of Wonderland forever. The game itself is rather simple. Ten humans from the Outer World have been brought here on Our orders. Each of you will contract with one of them. Your aim is to eliminate the other nine Contractors and Chains. They will not die, but be carried to the Lower Level. You can form alliances to help yourself, but only one team can be the winner. That's all. Oh, and if you don't participate, We will have to make sure the knowledge of this game doesn't leave the room."

She was hoping one of them would say no. Then she would have a legitimate excuse for executing them.