[A rather curious figure slowly, almost calculatingly appears before a newly sprung mirror.]

...Strange. [The voice is distinctly feminine, giving way the gender of the person regardless that any facial or bodily features are concealed with a heavy, tattered cloak.]

There is more than one mirror carelessly placed. [The tone barely darkens, the faintest hints of irritation and worry.]

No. Not "carelessly" at all.

[ - ACTION - ]

[Being a battle robot from a war/meteor/alien-torn future Earth, Lamia never has a chance to experience certain common things most would take for granted: such as trees. And squirrels. Running into animals wasn't very commonplace in THE FUTURE, especially for one who spends all her time at military bases in-between blowing things up.

...And, no, certain talking magical subterranean cats didn't count as normal animals.

So, curiosity piqued, Lamia has been trying to familiarize herself with and learn about the nature that was so alien to her but once totally normal to Earth. This begins with idly sitting by and watching the animals, but she eventually gets up to attempt to pet them; of course, being jittery forest creatures, they scurry away before she can touch them. After this happens two or three times, she sighs, crosses her arms, and leans against a tree--accidentally activating the Vine in the process.]

[ - VOICE - ]

Animals are known to have senses and instincts superior to a human's. I wonder if they can tell?

[After, she'll be going back to trying to inspect the squirrels, cats, and other ordinary animals. Feel free to comment via voice or action. Also note: Lamia's voice is identical to Signum's (brustriese), so castmates or anyone familiar enough to recognize Signum's voice feel free to mistake them.]

[ a young woman's voice comes on the Vine. she does not sound pleased. in fact, 'furious' might be a more appropriate way to describe it. ]

What is the meaning of this?! I demand an explanation! Right now! [ there is a loud, sharp CRACK!, the sound of leather hitting hard against the ground. ]

Any foolish answers will be met with a whipping! I don't want to waste my time hearing nonsense explanations!

[ she ends this with another CRACK!, to emphasize her point. ]

[The video feed shows a rather tall, blonde woman, already back in her armor, with a large sword strapped to her back. She glances in the direction of the ruins ahead, and there is a twitch of her mouth--there's a hint of a smile. Her eyes narrow.]

[Her tone is light, almost amused. But her posture isn't nearly as relaxed. She looks alert.] I see. How unusual, that I would be sent to such a place.

If there are any others from the Organization here, this is Galatea, ranked third. Report with your name and number.

Progress on killing the Queen: Slow, but remaining optimistic!

Progress on exploring the gardens: Fast! ...Because there's not actually much to explore. We're actually pretty restricted. (Which makes me want to speed up killing the Queen, but, patience and perseverance will conquer all!)

Progress on finding out what the 'anchors' are: ...Nothing but theories. This isn't my specialty at all. Who's a detective around here?

Progress on building my own home: Much, much, much better.

I was so damn sick of sleeping in the wild.

[The mirror pops into view, flickers a few times, then reveals the Queen of Hearts once again, still against a dark background. This time, there's a holly wreath perched atop her hair.]

I'm sorry I haven't had the time to listen to all your helpful suggestions, darlings! It turns out creating a world is hard work...ahahaha, who knew?

Besides, I'm feeling a bit...

[She trails off, looking absently to the side, then quickly readjusts her wreath and continues.]

Anyway! One of my less tame incarna has shown her face, has she? I may not like her attitude, but I think she had a good idea this time. There are so many ways to enjoy this season, but this might be the best!

Now, I have work to do. At this rate, the whole place will fall down around my ears while I'm working on opening the dungeons...ah, it's enough to drive a girl crazy!

[And the mirror shrivels back up. But the mistletoe, that remains, wherever you are...]

[OOC: The Queen won't be replying to comments directed at her (she is, like she said, busy), but this post is free to be used for general mistletoe antics and mingling so that everyone who wants to make use of the mistletoe doesn't have to make a whole post.]

[There is a young woman wandering around the Gardens, still dressed in the plain white shift of a new arrival, although she has in her hands a red and white cheerleader's uniform. She's also holding an armload of scrolls she took from the cats, but she still looks rather... lost. She hasn't actually read any of the scrolls, you see.]

This is nicer than last time I got abducted by aliens.

... Am I in Heaven?

[ Apparently, Revan has just finished changing out of the white shift she arrived in; she's found her Jedi robes, and the video feed catches her fastening her belt and checking the various attached pouches, then pinning her hair up out of her face. The flash of the mirror seems to catch her eye, though, and she looks up, blinking at it. ]

Well, this is— [ She walks over to it, studies it. ] Different. A communications device of some kind? Can anyone see me, or hear me?

[ Her lips part as if she's about to say more, but her attention is abruptly arrested away from the mirror — one of the rabbits is gnawing on the hem of her cloak. ]

Hey, that's— [ She laughs. ] You'll get indigestion, bunny. Go on. [ Shooing it away, she picks up her cloak from the grass, shrugs it on. ]

I should take a look around, see what's here. Maybe find another of those cats; the first one was helpful at least. Though I can't say I've ever heard of using cats to carry information.

[ She looks around again, thoughtfully. ]

Huh. This place reminds me of Dantooine in the spring — only with more flowers.

Has everyone been settling in alright so far? [She doesn't really give much time for anyone to answer this question before moving on. She crosses her arms over her chest and holds up a finger as she continues speaking, and she has a smile on her face.]

I think we should get all the information we've got about this place together. If you could, reply and let me know what kinds of things you've found here. Having all the information in one place would be a good idea, wouldn't it?

[ Death is out in the ruins, putting the falling stars to good use. Behind her, on a half-crumbled wall, are six wooden frames, each one different in style. There's no picture held by any of them, but on the backing where a photo or painting would be placed, the letter D has been scratched onto the surface. Beneath each frame is an item; a heavy, moth-eaten book, a helmet made to resemble the skull and spine of an unidentifiable being, the handle of a sword, a rock in the shape of a heart, a hooked ring, and a small glass vial, containing a liquid made up of ever changing colours; and they are all quite useless. The book has no words, the helm is too small to wear, the sword is clearly harmless, the rock may well have always been there, the ring has been cut and no longer forms a circle, and who would even considering drinking whatever the liquid is? ]

[ apparently pleased with her lot, Death is sat on a rock, legs crossed as she tends to the “table” in front of her. It is, in fact, only another piece of the ruins, but she's thrown a sheet over it, and set up a small tea set on the surface. She pours and stirs the piping hot water, adding in leaves and sugar and honey, and while she seems to have no interest in drinking it herself, she may well be waiting for company ]

[ after a moment, she speaks into the vine ]

A long time ago, when the skies were still pitch-black, the First Man set about placing all of the stars in the sky. It was, as I'm sure you can all imagine, a long, arduous task, and he set out to do it the only way he knew how: methodically, with a sense of complete order and control. The First Man decided that he would place all of the stars in rows and columns, each an equal distance apart, so that the night sky might resemble a grid, no matter which way anyone or anything gazed upon it.

But! – and here's where it gets interesting – he spent so very long mapping the position of each and every star that the trickster god Coyote was able to steal them from him! Now, on the surface, Coyote appeared to be less serious about his work than Loki, and less frightful than Wisakedjak, but a trickster is as a trickster does, and it isn't very smart to assume that how they present themselves is anything close to their true nature. For the First Man and all those who followed, Coyote was the portal through which chaos bled into the world, and with it, the ability for mortals to gain wisdom and differentiate between what they should and shouldn't do. Morals, if you will.

Now Coyote, he took the stars, and threw them without care into the sky, scattering them in clusters and constellations across the heavens. Ever the wise fool, Coyote didn't particularly intend for anything to come of his unruly behaviour, and yet, with the way that the sky appears to be falling, I can't help but be reminded of him. Not that I'm suggesting you're a trickster in any way, shape or form, Ms. Damsel, but it'd be nice if everyone could be at least a little careful.

And remember, the inverse law of wishing: the more you want something, the less likely you are to get it.

[The mirror fades in on a woman seated on a smooth rock, a sword almost the same size she is strapped to her back. It's unclear whether the post is deliberate or not. She has a slightly faraway expression in her eyes, and she must have been sitting like this for some time, because a large star capsule from the night before is sitting in front of her, popped open. Inside it is a smaller version of this statue. After about a minute, Teresa's gaze shifts just slightly, and she notices the mirror.

She smiles. Faintly.]

I'm sorry. I've become sentimental.

[She gets up, casually pulls the statue out of the capsule, settles it in a small open space on the ground, and kicks the capsule away into the undergrowth. Then she touches the Vine, and the mirror fades out, leaving only a voice, for a moment.]

How I've changed...

[When she sees the mirror appear, she smiles warmly at it.]... Nice to see that this Vine appreciates my charms, too...

[Lou has altered her plain white dress to be much more revealing than it used to be. She's also been experimenting with some of the berries she's found in the orchard since she's gotten here, and painted with them across her chest in big, block letters: 'For Rent.']

Hope no one minds that in light of some of the Queen's having some younger guests, I'll have to use a few euphemisms for this.

It occurs to me that some of you ladies here might be ...in need of some special attention while we're here. I have to imagine that at least some of you enjoy the more ...risque activities. If you're hormones levels are climbing anyplace near mine, well, I'm happy to offer my services.

I am Louisa Dem Five of New Hong Kong, owner and proprietor of both franchises of the Velvet Fist, and a fully licensed sex professional.

And I'm here for you for as long as you need me, ladies. Or even if you just want me. [Wink.]

[ voice ]

Sorry, but I don't believe in Heaven for the likes of me. So this is something else, isn't it?

If that's true...

Has anyone seen a young girl with long hair? She might not be talking right now. It's her way. But she'll answer to Clare if you call.