Dollhive

I'm laying in bed in a room full of flowers. I remember being carried here, set gently down, my hair brushed out of my face. She whispered a name to me. //Azalea//. I had a different name once, but that memory is gone with all others. After a while, I regain enough strength to [[stand up->Title]].

(if: (passage:)'s tags does not contain "Hall-of-Mirrors")[(enchant: ?link, (text-color: yellow))](enchant: ?link, (t8n: "fade"))\ (if: (passage:)'s tags contains "Hall-of-Mirrors")[(enchant: ?passage's lines, (text-color: black))] (if: (passage:)'s tags contains "Burning")[(enchant: ?link, (text-color: red))](if: (passage:)'s tags contains "Whirling")[(enchant: ?link, (text-color: orange))](if: (passage:)'s tags contains "Falling")[(enchant: ?link, (text-color: yellow))](if: (passage:)'s tags contains "Hunting")[(enchant: ?link, (text-color: green))](if: (passage:)'s tags contains "Rising")[(enchant: ?link, (text-color: blue))](if: (passage:)'s tags contains "Drowning")[(enchant: ?link, (text-color: purple))]\ (replace: ?sidebar)[]\ (enchant: ?title, (align: "=><=") + (text-size: 1.25))\ (enchant: ?subtitle, (align: "=><=") + (text-size: 1.1))\ (if: (passage:)'s tags does not contain "no-sidebar")[(replace: ?sidebar)[(display: "New Sidebar")]]\ (enchant: ?sidebar, (text-size: 0.75))\

(set: $clothes to "nightgown", $oleanderdoorlocked to false, $larkspurdoorlocked to true, $morningglorydoorlocked to true, $oleanderlocation to "kitchen", $larkspurlocation to "garden", $morningglorylocation to "parlor", $permissiontoleave to false, $keys to (a:), $notebookcontents to "Take notes of your own here!")

|title>[Dollhive] //[[Locked doors->null]] can generally be unlocked. Explore the house. Find answers.// //(link-reveal: "Content warnings")[: Slurs. Sexual violence. Self-harm and suicide. Domestic abuse.]// I'm light-headed and weak in the limbs. This doesn't go away as I slump against the nightstand for a few minutes. Eventually, I stop bothering, and just live with it. [[Get a good look at yourself->vanity mirror]] [[Get a good look around the room->Azalea's bedroom]]

(if: visits is 1)[Dread sits in the pit of my stomach. I have some sense of what she did to me, but to see it— When I look in the mirror, though, I see nothing. I have no reflection. I look down at myself. I've been dressed in a pale, pink nightgown, which hides most of what's been done to me. I can see some of it in my arms, though. Plates of porcelain cover my body. Lifting my hands to my face, I feel the click of ceramic on ceramic. (set: $knowthyself to it + 1) (link:"Take off the nightgown")[I take the nightgown off. Underneath is a body of sculpted porcelain. I don't even remember what I looked like before. (set: $clothes to "none")] ](else:)[A mirror I still can't see myself in.]\ (if: $reflected > 0)[(if: (visited: "Reshape your reflection") is not true)[I wonder. [[Reshape your reflection]]](else:)[I spin my gears to look at myself again. I can't resist giving myself a smile.]] [[Step away->Azalea's bedroom]]

(set: $taskshow to true)There's a bed against the wall in the corner opposite the door, a [[nightstand]] next to it. There's a [[vanity]] with a [[mirror->vanity mirror]], a [[writing desk]], and a [[wardrobe]]. There are flowers choking every wall, sitting on vases on every surface. The wallpaper beneath the flowers is dark purple with a repeating hexagonal motif. There's a [[window->Azalea's bedroom window]] above the bed. (if: $knowthyself < 1)[Before I leave, I should look in the mirror. I need to know what she did to me.](else:)[\ [[Exit the room->Dollhouse hallway F2]]]

(print: 1st of (passage:)'s tags)(replace: "-")[ ] (if: (passage:)'s tags does not contain "no-undo")[(icon-undo:)] (if: $taskshow is true and (passage:)'s tags does not contain "Notes")[[[Check tasks and notes->Tasks and Notes]]] (if: (passage:)'s tags does not contain "hidemap")[[[Locations visited->Map]]]

A lamp, an empty bowl for the contents of pockets, and (if: $apiarybook is not true)[two books](else:)[a book]: [[A Manual for Domestic Servants]](if: $apiarybook is not true)[ and [[The Apiarist's Handbook, Extended Edition]]].. The drawers are empty. [[Step away->Azalea's bedroom]]

Drawers full of makeup, perfumes, ceramic paints. Above, a [[mirror->vanity mirror]]. [[Step away->Azalea's bedroom]]

A hallway. There's a door back to the [[bedroom I woke up in->Azalea's bedroom]]. There's(if: $oleanderdoorlocked is false)[ [[a door opposite->Oleander's bedroom]]](else:)[ [[a locked door opposite->null]]],(if: $larkspurdoorlocked is false)[ [[a door to the left->Larkspur's bedroom]]](else:)[ [[a locked door to the left->null]]], and(if: $morningglorydoorlocked is false)[ [[a door diagonal->Morning Glory's bedroom]]](else:)[ [[a locked door diagonal->null]]]. The doors are decorated with flowers; azalea, oleander, larkspur, morning glory. A glass door at the end of the hall leads to a [[balcony->Dollhouse balcony]]. At the other end of the hall are a set of [[stairs->Dollhouse F1]] leading downwards.

Someone's pretty clothes. (if: $knowthyself < 1)[I'm hesitant to change clothes before I look at myself.](else:)[Right now, I'm wearing (if: $clothes is "none")[nothing](else:)[(display: $clothes)]. (if: $clothes is not "nightgown")[(link: "Put on the nightgown")[(set: $clothes to "nightgown")(goto: "wardrobe")] ]\ (if: $clothes is not "uniform")[(link: "Put on the servant's uniform")[(set: $clothes to "uniform")(goto: "wardrobe")] ]\ (if: $clothes is not "dress")[(link: "Put on the casual dress")[(set: $clothes to "dress")(goto: "wardrobe")] ]\ (if: $clothes is not "none")[(link: "Strip")[(set: $clothes to "none")(goto: "wardrobe")] ]] [[Step away->Azalea's bedroom]]

the pink nightgown I was put in after the operation

a uniform dress in dark purple and white, with embroidered pink azaleas

a yellow dress with floral embroidery

[[Never mind->Azalea's bedroom]]

A text on beekeeping, heavily annotated in a steady, regimented hand. Several notes refer to pages in another book titled //Ontological Cartography//. (if: $metlarkspur is true)[Flipping through the book, I realize something. There are patterns in the notes that conform to the [[steps of the dance]].] [[Set it down->stack of books]]

A note in the front reads: "A good starting point." The text describes the responsibilities, hierarchy, and proper comportment of a household staff. [[Set it down->stack of books]]

The book is dizzying to read, concepts that flow through my light-headed mind in kaleidoscopic images. (cycling-link: "The endless expanse of that which does not exist, in which the real is a candle-flame, and the elements of the is-not that are jealous of the light.", "The means by which one state of being is changed to another.", "A vast corpse in the vault of heaven, buzzing with flies, and each fly is the leviathan that devours a world.", "The names of one hundred thousand things that live behind the mirror.", "Constellations correlated across cultures over time, the dozen symbols that each star has been assigned.", "Fragmentary maps of the Twilit Sea.", "Street maps of cities that don't exist, related to the author by mad oracles, esoteric mythopoets, bleak interpreters of dreams.", "A method of counting breaths according to the Fundamental Hours of the City at the Root.", "Holes in the weave of reality, eaten away by moths.", "The meandering roads walked by dreamers.") [[[Pull your gaze away->2III Esotericism]]] (if: $apiarybook is true)[[[Cross-reference with the Apiarist's Guide->Cartography 2]]]

Sound effects: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Underwater-Noise-from-a-Wave-Energy-Converter-Is-Unlikely-to-Affect-Marine-Mammals-pone.0132391.s001.oga">Tougaard J</a>, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0">CC BY 4.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Perseverance_rover%27s_SuperCam_records_wind_on_Mars.oga">NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL/CNES/CNRS/ISAE-Supaero</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons With all my love to the [<a href="https://an.emptier.place/directory/" target="_blank">Empty Spaces</a>] literary movement, particularly the works of <a href="https://fungalhalo.com/" target="_blank">Arachnixe</a>, <a href="https://maybeelse.site" target="_blank">Else</a>, <a href="https://frostgears.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Frostgears</a>, <a href="https://www.sheepwave.com/what-is-a" target="_blank">Sheepwave</a>, and <a href="https://digitalsymbiote.tumblr.com" target="_blank">S13RRA</a>. Thanks to playtesting, feedback, and support from: Suzanne Rigdon, Javi Marquez-Diaz, Evan Kusko, Wilfreda Massaquoi, Vasili Hrebinka, Christian Husband, Marisa Lopez, Henry, Coat, Kida, Llyn, Hannah, Sierra, and Sif. And thanks to you for playing! (link: "Restart?")[(restart:)]

A sprawl of flowers outside. The shape of bees moving among them. [[Step away->Azalea's bedroom]]

(if: $metoleander is true)[Oleander's bedroom](else:)[This bedroom] is faintly perfumed, a lingering taste in the air of someone who applies different scents on different days. The furniture is much the same as in my room, but with a different layout, and much more lived-in. Every surface is stacked with books—mysteries, particularly. Not all are about murder, but many are. (link: "Rummage through drawers")[(set: $rummager to it + 1)I peruse the contents of a few drawers. (either: "One of the drawers in the vanity has a false bottom. Beneath the removable panel are little vials, labeled only with coded symbols, but evident in their application. These are poisons, to be applied through food, injection, poisoned dart, or even as perfume. (if: $metoleander is true)[ Oleander does most of the cooking, doesn't she.](set: $poisoner to true)", "The perfume collection sprawls across many surfaces. Sometimes a bottle is used as a paperweight. The labels of most are handwritten, detailing their ingredients and preparation.", "Beneath the contents of the underwear drawer are a pair of thigh holsters. One contains a 9mm handgun. The other holds a dart pistol and a stiletto.(set: $poisoner to true) I would keep it in a place less often accessed. Yes, this is a sensible place, if these are worn often, but perhaps somewhere safer. There are other places for concealment.", "Among the contents of the drawers, occasionally, are pressed flowers and autumn leaves.", "The desk drawers are unlocked. There are many colored inks and dip pens to use them with.", "In the nightstand is a pocket guide to floriography. It details several different systems of meaning, from different regions of the world, cryptographic subcultures, and time periods. One could, if they wanted, carry this around, seeing what the variety of flowers in each room mean, but that sounds tedious. I'd go insane.", "The vanity drawer is neatly arranged, with paintbrushes that go down to incredibly fine points.(if: $metoleander is true)[ I should ask Oleander to paint my porcelain. The patterns on her body are so well done.]", "A desk drawer is full of received letters. It looks like (if: $metoleander is true)[Oleander](else:)[someone] has many admirers.") (link: "Keep rummaging")[(rerun: ?rummaging)]]<rummaging| [[Back to the hall->Dollhouse hallway F2]]

(either: "The scent of flowers is omnipresent.", "The sky tinges gently violet near the horizon.", "It's 57 degrees out. I don't know why I know that.", "Bees land on my shoulders and in my hair.", "A gentle breeze drifts over the balcony. Petals drift against the wall.", "I look over a labyrinth of spiraling walls of flowers.") (if: $larkspurlocation is "garden")[(if: $metlarkspur is not true)[Out in the garden, someone stands near the beehives, dancing slowly.](else:)[Out in the garden, Larkspur is dancing with the bees.]] [[Go back inside->Dollhouse hallway F2]]

A hallway. The wallpaperhere is sea-blue with a motif of varied flowers. The door to the [[kitchen]] stands open(if: $oleanderlocation is "kitchen")[, and I can hear the sound of whistling from within]. There are open entrance to a [[dining room]] and [[living room]].(if: $oleanderlocation is "Dollhouse living room")[ I can see Oleander in the living room, sitting and reading a book.] Stairs lead [[up to the bedrooms->Dollhouse hallway F2]] and [[down to a basement->Dollhouse basement]]. There's [[a door to the main house->Main house F1]] between the stairs. A(if: $permissiontoleave is true)[ [[door by the window->Dollhouse exterior]]](else:)[ [[door by the window->null]]] looks like it leads outside. (if: $permissiontoleave is not true)[There's something keeping me from opening it.]

The kitchen is large, set up for at least six cooks working simultaneously. The countertops are marble, the floor white-and-black tile. Everything is immaculately clean and neatly arranged. (if: $oleanderlocation is "kitchen")[(display: "Oleander Kitchen")](else:)[Oleander has left.] The open door leads [[back into the hallway->Dollhouse F1]]. On the opposite wall, there's a walk-in [[refrigerator]] and a set of [[stairs->pantry]] downward.

A dining room. I don't think anyone actually eats here. [[Back into the hallway->Dollhouse F1]]

A living room. It looks like a simulacrum of a living room, really; a tableau for display in this miniature house stuck to the side of a larger manor. Comfortable couches and chairs cluster around a coffee table. There's a book of [[architecture photography]] on the table. (if: $oleanderlocation is "dollhouse living room")[ (display: "Oleander living room")] [[Back into the hallway->Dollhouse F1]]

The walls here are undecorated steel. The hallway ends at (if: (visited: "Hangar 2") is not true)[a(if: $hangarcode is "6735")[ [[vaultlike door, now unlocked->Hangar]].](else:)[ [[vaultlike door, locked by keypad->null]].](if: $metoleander is true)[ This must be the door to the combat doll hangar.]](else:)[the(if: $hangarcode is "6735")[ [[vaultlike door to the combat doll hangar->Hangar]].](else:)[ [[locked door to the combat doll hangar->null]].]] Doors along the walls lead to the [[laundry]] and [[pantry]]. Beyond the pantry is a(if: $keys contains " the key to the chandlery")[ [[wax-spattered door->chandlery]], unlocked by Larkspur's chandlery key](else:)[ [[wax-spattered door->null]]]. [[Stairs->Dollhouse F1]] lead back up to the main floor. (link: "Enter combination")[(set: $hangarcode to (prompt: [Enter combination:], "0000", "Cancel", "Confirm"))(set: $codeattempts to it + 1)(goto: "Dollhouse basement")] (if: (visited: "Hangar") is not true and $hangarcode is not "6735")[(if: visits > 2)[I could just bash my head against the keypad until an idea comes to me.] (if: $codeattempts > 3)[The code might be something relevant to the subject.] (if: $codeattempts > 5 and (visited: "The Combat Doll") is true)[Perhaps that book in the library has a clue.](elseif: $codeattempts > 5)[I should look around the rest of the house. Perhaps I'll find something relevant.] (if: $codeattempts > 7)[(if: (visited: "The Combat Doll") is true)[I need a four-digit number. I feel like I recall a relevant one...](else:)[I should keep an eye out for four-digit numbers as I explore.] //There are no further hints.//]](if: $hangarcode is "6735")[The door unlocks.]

The flowers grow more dense as I move deeper into the house. On some walls, bees have built hives, honey dripping down the green-and-purple wallpaper. (if: visits is 1)[The servants' wing behind me feels like its own miniature house attached to the manor. It feels different here. More real. ]I could return to the [[dollhouse->Dollhouse F1]] or go through one of the many doors in this hallway; the [[door with light shining around its edges->Hall of mirrors]], the open door to the [[library]], the(if: $keys contains " the key to the workshop")[ [[bloodstained workshop door]]](else:)[ [[bloodstained door->null]]], the door to the [[dining room->main dining room]], or the door to the [[parlor]]. Down the hall, the space opens up into the [[grand entryway]], and opposite it, a door to the [[rear of the house]]. [[Stairs->Main house F2]] lead up higher into the house.

Fields of flowers sprawl around the house. The sound of bees comes from all around. (if: $larkspurlocation is "garden")[Out by the [[beehives]], another doll dances.](else:)[Larkspur has left the [[beehives]].] [[Return inside->Dollhouse F1]]

Beyond the vault door is a dark, narrow hallway. The scent of machine oil and, faintly, ozone, wafts through the air. The hall slopes down gently, moving out underneath the garden. At the end is a door labeled [[Hangar->Hangar 2]]. [[Leave->Dollhouse basement]]

(if: $oleanderlocation is "kitchen" and $metoleander is true)[Oleander is at work, (either: "humming to herself", "fidgeting with an apron strap", "whistling a brief snippet of tune", "tapping her fingers on the counter") while she (either: "stirs a pot on the stove", "washes vegetables", "cuts vegetables", "sautes mushrooms")]\ (elseif: $oleanderlocation is "kitchen")[There's someone in the kitchen, humming to herself while she chops vegetables. (if: (visited: "wardrobe") is true)[She's wearing a dress that matches (if: $clothes is "uniform")[my own](else:)[the uniform in the wardrobe upstairs]. Her hair is pinned up with a jeweled flower.](else:)[She's wearing a dark purple dress with a white apron and bits of pink embroidery, hair pinned up with a jeweled flower.] Like me, her body is made of ball-jointed porcelain. Her shell is painted with an intertwining floral pattern in a bright pink. She turns when I enter, and breaks out into a grin. "You're awake!(if: $clothes is "none" or "nightgown")[" Her mouth immediately turns into a frown. "Oh! Go get dressed, Azalea! That won't do!"](else:)[ I'm so glad. We've all been talking about you. I'm [[Oleander->Oleander conversation]]. Nice to meet you, Azalea."]]\

Dry goods, canned goods, and other foods not needing refrigeration. Who in this house even needs to eat? Stairs lead back up to the [[kitchen]]. A door leads to the [[hallway->Dollhouse basement]].

Large washing machines and dryers, alongside a dry cleaning machine, stand against the wall. One is running, washing a load of sheets. This room looks like it's set up for a much (link-reveal: "larger household.")[ I do some quick mental math. Including me, there are four dolls in the upper floor of this dollhouse. How large of a household, how many guests, could that support? Do we need to sleep? If all four work around the clock—Ah. I'm already thinking like a manager. My loose estimate is four or five long-term guests, dinner parties around twenty. I'd have to learn more about everyone's capabilities first, of course.] [[Return to the hallway->Dollhouse basement]]

Shelves upon shelves of refrigerated goods. Most of them are empty. (if: visits is 1)[It's set up like a restaurant kitchen. It's a familiar feeling. I had a lot of good, hard, crying sessions in fridges like this. The memory is distant, a brief point of sharpness in the blur of my past.(set: $recollection to it + 1) [[Take a deep breath]]](else:)[ [[Back to the kitchen->kitchen]]]

(if: $larkspurlocation is "garden" and $metlarkspur is not true)[Her beekeeper's veil flows with the movements of her dance. The bees whirl around her. She doesn't look up until I [[come closer->Larkspur]].](elseif: $larkspurlocation is "garden" and $apiarist > 0)[Larkspur is still here, dancing. I join her for a few rotations.](elseif: $larkspurlocation is "garden")[Larkspur is still here, dancing.](else:)[Deep red honey stains the outside of the hives.] [[Go elsewhere->Dollhouse exterior]]

(set: $unlockedpaths to 0)(if: $apiarist > 0)[(set: $unlockedpaths to it + 1)](if: $keys contains " the key to the workshop")[(set: $unlockedpaths to it + 1)](if: (visited: "The dream ends") is true)[(set: $unlockedpaths to it + 1)](if: $recollection >= 5)[(set: $unlockedpaths to it + 1)](if: $unlockedpaths < 4)[//There is more to this place than you can see now. Come back as you explore.//](else:)[//All paths here are open to be seen.//] Mirrors on every wall. Stained glass between them and mosaics on the floor cast kaleidoscopic colors across the hall. I still have no reflection; my presence does not interrupt the cascade of light. The mirrors are slightly angled, reflections bouncing from one end of the hall to the other. The hall forks into a Y further down, and from what I can see of the reflections, curves to reconverge.(if: $burning is true and $whirling is true and $falling is true and $hunting is true and $rising is true and $drowning is true and $keys does not contain " the key to the Witch's quarters")[ There is one last mirror that does not show what it should. A reflection of the very beginning of the hallway shows, hanging from a hook, (text-color: white)[[[a key->Opening]]].] The mosaics on the (text-color: red)[[[left path->redshift]]] are warm colors, reds and oranges. The (text-color: purple)[[[right path->blueshift]]] is cooler in tone, blues and purples. [[Step back out->Main house F1]]

The library extends up to the [[second floor->library 2]], illuminated by a skylight above, a dome of hexagonal glass panels. The first floor is divided by the shelves into seven cells, each bearing tables and chairs for reading. The cells are numbered, starting at [[0->0 Reference]] in the center cell where reference materials and the card catalogue are. Starting at the reference desk might be useful. Then: [[I->I Psychology and Linguistics]], [[II->II History and Geography]], [[III->III Economics and Politics]], [[IV->IV Music and Arts]], [[V->V Science, Technology, and Medicine]], and [[VI->VI Literature]]. [[Leave->Main house F1]]

(if: visits is 1)[The blood on the door doesn't prepare me for what I see inside. ]Counters line the walls. In the center of the room is a table, large enough to hold a person. The room is spotless. Tools and materials are lined up neatly, kept in proper place in a set of tesselated hexagonal shelves. On one side of the room: Porcelain clay. A pottery wheel. A kiln. A glassblowing furnace. On another: Screwdrivers, gearwork, doll strings. Another: Scalpels, forceps, clamps, needles. (if: visits is 1)[This is where she tore out [[the person I used to be]]. ](else:)[[[Open yourself up with the dollmaker's tools->autosurgery]] [[Back to the hall->Main house F1]]]

The dining room is designed to accommodate both larger dinner parties and smaller gatherings without feeling too cramped for the former or too spacious for the latter. There are no bees in here. This is a space for putting guests at ease after they have been shocked by the house. (if: $poisoner is true)[To make them less wary when Oleander slips something into their food.] [[Step out->Main house F1]]

The pink walls in the parlor are hard to look at. Comfortable couches and chairs sit around a coffee table. (if: $morningglorylocation is "parlor")[(display: "Morning Glory parlor")] [[Step out->Main house F1]]

Reality seems to bend here. I am close to the Witch's sanctum. A door leads to the second floor of the [[library->library 2]]. Another door, slightly ajar, leads to a [[small office]] There are guest bedrooms further down the hall. (if: $keys contains " the key to the Witch's quarters")[(if: $clothes is "uniform")[I have the key to the [[Witch's quarters]]. //This leads to the end.//](else:)[I have the key to the Witch's quarters. But I shouldn't meet my maker without being properly dressed.]](else:)[There is [[one final locked door->null]].] [[Go downstairs->Main house F1]]

"Good evening, Azalea." (link-reveal: "\"Hi. Who are you?\"")[ "My name is Morning Glory. I've heard a lot about our Witch's plans for you." I can hear the capitalization. (link-reveal: "\"What do you mean, plans?\"")[ Her smile never seems to stop widening. "We're all made with a purpose in mind. She is of the opinion you have the makings of a fine head of staff. And won't that be exciting! You'll be able to order me around." She pauses. "But not yet. In the interim, she's designated me as your direct superior." More of that grin. (link: "\"My direct superior?\"")["My di–" She interrupts me. "Don't get stuck in that pattern, question, answer, question, answer. Especially not stupid questions like that. You're being groomed for leadership. Don't be some repetitive windup toy. Let me ask you something: want a drink?" [["Yeah. I want a drink."]] [["I feel unpleasant enough as it is."]]\ ]]]

(if: $metmorningglory is not true)[Another doll sits in the parlor, evidently taking a break from cleaning. She doesn't look directly at me, eyes meandering as she surveys the space around my head. [["Good evening, Azalea," she says.->Morning Glory conversation]]]\ (else:)[Morning Glory has sprawled out on one of the couches. It looks like she's had a few more drinks. (if: $permissiontoleave is not true)["You talked to Oleander yet?" she slurs out. Her eyes are unfocused, each one dilated differently. Looking closer, her irises are little mechanical apertures, painted blue. (if: $metoleander is true)[ (link-reveal: "\"I have.\"")[ "Good doll. Socialization is important. You have permission to go outside now."(set: $permissiontoleave to true)]](else:)[ (link-reveal: "\"Not yet\"")[ She waves vaguely in the direction of the door.]]]\ (else:)[A string of nonsense runs out of her mouth. |prophecy>["(either: "The sun", "The sea", "A vast serpent", "The wound", "The eye", "A city", "An angel", "A star") (either: "in flames", "at war", "bleak and terrible", "devouring", "untouched by mortal hands", "defiant") (either: "rages against", "sings of", "languishes across", "mourns the loss of", "rejects", "harmonizes with", "breaks against", "forgets") (either: "the fruit", "the wraiths", "the light", "the memory", "the sorrow", "the tortures", "the nightmares", "the dreams", "the truths") of (either: "the tree of reality", "the dead empire", "the ships in twilight", "a distant land", "the god-in-exile", "ages long past")..."](live: 1s)[(rerun: ?prophecy)]\ (if: (visited: "The dream ends") is not true)[ She's left a [[drink]] for me. ]]]

"Yeah. I want a drink."(set: $metmorningglory to true) She pours one for each of us, with bottles I could have sworn she didn't have out just a moment ago. The clear spirits tinge red as she drips a spoonful of honey from a jar and stirs it in, then slides mine to me. "Enjoy." We drink together. She lays back, relaxing into the couch, and sighs contentedly. This does not help my lightheadedness. [[My vision blurs and twists.]]

"I feel unpleasant enough as it is." She laughs. "Sensible!" She mixes one for herself, with bottles I could have sworn she didn't have out just a moment ago. The clear spirits tinge red as she drips a spoonful of honey from a jar and stirs it in. She drinks, then relaxes back in satisfaction. "I'm going to be insensible in a few minutes. Have you talked to Oleander yet?" (if: $metoleander is true)[(link-reveal: "\"I have.\"")[ "Good. You're allowed to go outside, now." Something in me clicks. I couldn't have before, could I. "Enjoy, Azalea. Nice meeting you."(set: $permissiontoleave to true, $metmorningglory to true) [[I step away as she slumps back.->parlor]]\ ]](else:)[(link-reveal: "I shake my head.")[ "Go talk with her, then come back and I'll give you permission to go outside. Fresh air might be nice, yeah? Nice meeting you, Azalea."(set: $metmorningglory to true) [[I step away as she slumps back.->parlor]]\ ]]

I'm sitting with Morning Glory on a small ledge protruding from a cliff face. Far, far below us is the sea; I can't see the top of the cliff from where I sit. Plants grow in cracks in the rock and small accumulations of soil, insects buzzing between them, birds wheeling through the air. When I was small, my parents took me to the top of a very high building in a nearby city. The elevator was tight, and the windows were small. I looked out over the river and, despite my father's reassurance of the vast extent of engineering that went into keeping everyone safe at this height, felt a fear that never left. Here, in this moment, I feel no fear at all. [[Find footholds and climb]] [[Dive into the sea]]

Morning Glory looks on as I begin to ascend, full of reckless delight. There are crevices I can wedge my toes into, plants rooted firmly enough to grasp and pull myself up, places soft enough for my porcelain fingers to break handholds from. There is no top to the cliff, but there is a hole in the rock above me. I can see stairs inside, spiraling up. [[Ascend]] [[Descend->null]] //I never thought about how to climb back down.//

Morning Glory just watches as I stand on the ledge and let myself fall backwards, arching into a dive. From this height, I remember reading, hitting water would be like hitting concrete. I laugh as I plummet, manic and ragged. The water opens to swallow me, force of my fall and my dense porcelain body sinking me deep below. The rock face continues, land plants giving way to corals and algae, sea urchins creeping over ridges, fish taking the place of birds, moving freely, with no need for tethering to the vertical face of the land. [[Ascend->null]] //I'm too heavy.// [[Descend]]

I sink faster as pressure builds above me. I sink for hours, hand tracing along the cliff face as the light fades, until the rock falls away, and I drift in open abyss. A single point of light glows far below me. [[Sink to it->The dream ends]] <audio src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Underwater-Noise-from-a-Wave-Energy-Converter-Is-Unlikely-to-Affect-Marine-Mammals-pone.0132391.s002.oga" autoplay>

I awaken to find myself sitting in an armchair. Morning glory is still out of it. It looks like, while I was out, she had several further drinks. [[Stand up->parlor]]

"I'm Oleander. Nice to meet you, Azalea." She wraps me in a hug before I can protest. One of her hands rests at the small of my back, the other between my shoulder blades. She kisses me on the cheek and releases me. "Oh, you //are// nicely put together! Not that I would doubt the mistress's craft." She giggles. "Ah, but I haven't given you a chance to get a word in edgewise! How are you feeling?" Unrestrained delight bubbles behind her eyes. The apertures of her irises are painted the same pink as the patterns on her porcelain. (link-reveal: "\"Dizzy and overwhelmed.\"")[ She giggles. "Oh, I am being a bit much, aren't I." She raises a hand to cover her mouth slightly when she laughs. "And the dizziness passes, don't worry. You'll get used to your new self soon." She circles me as she talks, examining me from all angles. (link-reveal: "\"Why is this happenening to me?\"")[ "Our mistress needed a new doll! And Larkspur tells me the mistress says you have relevant experience. I wonder what that means! Not that you'd remember." She sighs. "Well, take some time to get your bearings and maybe you'll find out. When I woke up, I just wandered the house, bumping into things and getting myself lost. At least you have more of us to talk to than I did!" (link-reveal: "\"So what should I even do?\"")[ "Like I said: explore the house and talk to the others! Morning Glory is cleaning somewhere, unless she's gotten distracted, and Larkspur's outside, and the combat dolls are in the hangar downstairs, of course. Though you'll need the code for that one. Just get familiar with the place, you know?" (set: $metoleander to true) I don't know, but she's beginning to unsettle me, so I nod and [[step away->kitchen]]. ]]]

She frowns as I approach. "Oh. Morning Glory let you outside." |dialogue1>[(link: "\"She did. You would be...?\"")[(replace: ?dialogue1)["She did. You would be...?"](show: ?response1a)] (link: "\"She did. What are you doing?\"")[(replace: ?dialogue1)["She did. What are you doing?"](show: ?response1b)]] |response1a)["Larkspur." She seems irritated.(show: ?dialogue2a)]\ |response1b)["I'm tending to the bees." (show: ?dialogue2b)] |dialogue2a)[\ (link: "\"What are you doing?\"")[(replace: ?dialogue2a)["What are you doing?"](show: ?response3a)]]\ |dialogue2b)[(link: "\"By dancing?\"")[(replace: ?dialogue2b)["By dancing?"](show: ?response3b)]] |response3a)["I'm tending to the bees." (link-reveal: "\"By dancing?\"")[(show: ?response3b) ]]\ |response3b)["Bees communicate by dancing. If you need to communicate with bees, you have to speak their language." She pauses for a moment. "Would you like to join me?" [["I would love to."]]]

"I would love to." For the first time this conversation, she smiles. She teaches me the basic steps, the fundamental movements and their meanings, then moves on to subtleties of inflection, complexities of language, how to accent a movement with the angle of an outstretched wrist. I'm a quick learner. [[I remember...]]

My sister took dance lessons. I wanted to join them, but I wasn't allowed. I watched in awe. My mother laughed, on the ride home, at how I was "ogling" them the whole time. From then on I watched from behind a book, but I still watched, and mimicked the motions and steps in secret. (set: $recollection to it + 1) [[Then the memory is gone]]

She's holding me very close. I can feel the tick of clockwork from within her body. We make another revolution, and I can sense the meanings we each convey. //You're good at this. You impress me.// |dance>[(link: "//This is wonderful.//")[(replace: ?dance)[//This is wonderful.//](show: ?response1)] (link: "//I understand now.//")[(replace: ?dance)[//I understand now.//](show: ?response2)]] |response1)[//This is why I take care of them. The Witch found me and found that purpose within me.// She dances "purpose", the step for hive-role, worker's task, with an emphatic: a self-truth. (show: ?dance2)]\ |response2)[//The others don't. The Witch knows the dance, but the other dolls can only understand as much as can be said with words.// An inflection on the final step indicates: disappointment. Insufficiency. Frustration—with herself, even, for the difficulty of communication without this language. (show: ?dance2)] |dance2)[(link: "//I want to do this again.//")[(replace: ?dance2)[//I want to do this again.//](show: ?response3)] (link: "//I don't know what I'm doing.//")[(replace: ?dance2)[//I don't know what I'm doing here.//](show: ?response4)]] |response3)[//I would like that. I would like that a lot.// She kisses me on the cheek, and then [[we part]].]\ |response4)[//You're dancing with me.// A patter of steps equivalent to laughter. //Don't worry. You seem to pick things up quickly.// She kisses me on the cheek, and then [[we part]].]

(set: $metlarkspur to true, $apiarist to it + 1)\ Her final lesson, after we step away, is how to indicate our names in the dance, Azalea and Larkspur. This is easier for us than for others. Bees have many words for flowers. Her final gift, given with a subtle flourish indicating trust, confidence in capability of a task, is a key. "This unlocks the chandlery. I'm the only doll with this key. Now you are too." She pauses. "Come back soon."(set: $keys to it + (a: " the key to the chandlery"), $oleanderlocation to "Dollhouse living room") //[[I will.->beehives]]//

I climb the stairs inside the cliff for hours, moving much more quickly now that I do not need to find footholds. It's dark. I keep my hand against the wall until suddenly the wall falls away, and I climb in the open air. There are stars all around, above and below. [[Reach for them->The dream ends]] <audio src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/Perseverance_rover%27s_SuperCam_records_wind_on_Mars.oga" autoplay>

Unprocessed beeswax, molds ready for pouring and long stretches of braided wick sit alongside fresh batches of candles. Their paper packaging is sealed with the mark of the household—a hexagon containing flowers and a dagger-key. Azaleas, inevitably. (link: "Inspect the candles")[The candles are dyed various colors, sometimes subtly scented with floral perfumes. The packages are marked with dates. I find myself idly wondering about shipping logistics.] [[Return->Dollhouse basement]]

(if: visits is 1)[(set: $apiarist to it + 1)]\ (if: (visited: "A Manual for Domestic Servants") is true)[The handwriting in this book is different from the note in the Manual. Did Larkspur annotate this? ]Reading through with knowledge of the dance makes things much clearer. Subtleties of meaning are indicated not through text but through little flourishing diacritics and punctuation. Arrows pointing to text loop and waver in particular patterns, sentences of meaning in their own right. Struck text is marked with flowing, zig-zagging lines that overwrite with new information. I should find the oft-referenced //Ontological Cartography//. (link: "Take the book")[(if: $clothes is "uniform")[I have ample space in the pocket of my apron, so I take the book with me.(set: $apiarybook to true)](else:)[I don't have pockets large enough. The apron of the uniform dress in the closet might.]] [[Step away->stack of books]]

The second floor of the library is open in the center, tables and chairs near the railing, books lining the walls. Each of the six sections is numbered: [[I->2I Philosophy]], [[II->2II Religion]], [[III->2III Esotericism]], [[IV->2IV Military]], [[V->2V Agriculture]], and [[VI->2VI Law]]. [[Go downstairs->library]] [[Go to the second floor hallway->Main house F2]]

//First Floor 0 - Reference Texts & Periodicals I - Psychology & Language II - History & Geography III - Economics & Politics IV - Music & Arts V - Science, Technology, & Medicine VI - Literature Second Floor I - Philosophy II - Religion III - Esotericism IV - Military Theory V - Agriculture VI - Law // Books are referenced first by floor, then by section, then by call number. The card for "A Manual for Domestic Servants—1-III-2461" sticks up above the others in the drawer—first floor, section I, number 2461. [[Step away->0 Reference]]

At the center of this cell is the [[card catalogue]]. The shelves here contain reference texts; encyclopedias, dictionaries, technical manuals, and periodicals. The Witch seems to maintain collections of three newspapers; the [[Panoptic Review]], the [[Zaira Post]], and the [[local paper]]. There's a [[note]] on the desk. [[Look elsewhere->library]]

This cell contains texts on psychology and linguistics. [[Look elsewhere->library]]

Histories and geographies fill the shelves here. [[Look elsewhere->library]]

Texts on economics and politics. (if: (visited: "A Manual for Domestic Servants") is true)[It looks like this is where the manual on my nightstand came from. There's an entire section on domestic labor.] [[Look elsewhere->library]]

Works related to music and the arts. There's quite a collection of books on darkroom photography. [[Look elsewhere->library]]

Scientific, technological, and medical texts, including volumes of several journals. [[Look elsewhere->library]]

Fiction, poetry, and other literature. Several books here look very well-loved; a shelf of mysteries seems popular, as does one of lesbian romance novels. [[Look elsewhere->library]]

A paper out of the Many-Eyed City, covering current events worldwide. There's a note in the entry: //The Many-Eyed has her fingers in this one. Generally reliable, but fact-check where possible.// The most recent issue has annotations and cross-references up to halfway through. News stories on conflicts in the Blind Sea (marked as accurate), a royal family's controversy (with annotations on the paper's spin), market reports (annotated with "as ever, she can't resist trying to disrupt our trade"). The crossword puzzle and sudoku have both been completed and checked for ciphers. [[Set it aside->0 Reference]]

The Wine River Times. It's all local news; businesses opening, petty crimes in town, local sports. The high school motorpolo team has been doing well this season. [[Set it aside->0 Reference]]

Current events worldwide. Annotations cross-reference with the Panoptic Review, checking facts across the two papers. There are reports on protests of military action in the Breach Mountains, the death of a minor [[Set it aside->0 Reference]]

Books on philosophy, organized by time period and school of thought. [[Look elsewhere->library 2]]

Religious texts and texts about religion. At the edge, texts that could equally merit classification under "esotericism." [[Look elsewhere->library 2]]

Occult texts, outsider philosophy, arcana. This is clearly the jewel of the collection; first editions and rare texts abound. (if: visits is 1)[There are books here I've dreamed of finding for ages. The memory flits across my mind and is gone. (set: $recollection to it + 1)] (if: (visited: "The Apiarist's Handbook, Extended Edition") is true)[I scan the shelves. Ah. Here it is. //[[Ontological Cartography]]//, call number 2-III-3713.] [[Look elsewhere->library 2]]

A wall of military theory. (if: (visited: "note") is true)[That book the note mentioned—//[[The Combat Doll]]//—is on its proper shelf, under call number 2-IV-6735.] [[Look elsewhere->library 2]]

Books on agriculture. Most are texts devoted to floral horticulture, beekeeping, and winemaking. I suppose the manor is an agricultural establishment. [[Look elsewhere->library 2]]

Shelf upon shelf of legal texts and codes. (if: (visited: "Ontological Cartography") is true)[There are books of law from places with names I recognize from //Ontological Cartography//, described as "domains of the unreal."] [[Look elsewhere->library 2]]

//Morning Glory, During your duties, please retrieve: The Apiarist's Handbook, Extended Edition—2-V-3994 A Manual for Domestic Servants—1-III-2461 False Inevitability: Prophetic Boundary-Cases and Self-Unfulfilling Predictions—2-III-1351 Please shelve: The Combat Doll—2-IV-6735 Ontological Cartography—2-III-3713// [[Set it down->0 Reference]]

A pattern begins to emerge. //Ontological Cartography// describes the mapping of existence, its boundaries and nature, theories of what is real and unreal. The annotations point to gaps in the map, holes in the construction of the real. There are places, says the pattern of correlations, where being and unbeing are not clearly defined. Where those boundaries can be pushed, twisted, violated. But what of beekeeping? As I cross-reference, I begin to understand. There are discussions, implied, on the nature of bees and the hive, which I can only guess at, but more importantly: here, the bees help achieve that twisting, pushing, reshaping. Bees produce, in abundance, byproducts. If the worker's task involves slipping between the boundaries of the real, what might that do to the honey?(if: visits is 1)[(set: $apiarist to it + 1)] [[[Set the book aside->2III Esotericism]]]

The book is dry, technical, and efficient in its wording. It revolves, in its entirety, around the tactical, strategic, and material considerations of warfare given the existence of the combat doll; as the book puts it. "a highly effective combatant, heavily armed, difficult to neutralize, and psychologically terrifying." Most of the book revolves around fighting against combat dolls; annotations in spiky handwriting appear sporadically throughout, coming from the other perspective. The title page indicates it's likely this volume was stolen. It seems it's a classified internal manual. (if: $metoleander is true)[Oleander mentioned combat dolls in the hangar in the basement. Perhaps this is one of their handwriting. Curiously, despite the book's aura of fear at the concept, I feel no such worry. ] [[Return it to the shelf->2IV Military]]

Notes: Obviously the Hall of Mirrors is unfinished, so don't worry too hard about those. I'm not 100% done with the ending either; I wanted to get the shape of it in there, and plan to rewrite it. Most other things are finished save for polishing and finalizing. Hints: Stuck at the basement door? Look at call numbers in the library. Remember: it's a 4-digit code. Really stuck? You can look at the passage and see what the variable check asks for. If you're trying to get the last hall of mirrors vignettes: try checking the fridge and library for those stray memories.

''Tasks:'' (if: (visited: "Witch's quarters") is not true)[(display: "tasks")](else:)[There is nothing left but to see it through to the end.] ''Notes:'' (input-box: bind $notebookcontents, "X", 10, $notebookcontents) (link: "Back to work")[(goto: (history:)'s last)] (if: $keys's length > 0)[I have(if: $keys's length is 2)[(print: $keys's 1st) and(print: $keyring's 2nd)](elseif: $keys's length is 1)[(print: $keys)](else:)[(print: $keys's 1stto2ndlast), and(print: $keys's last)]]

''Locations Visited'' (if: (visited: "Azalea's bedroom") is true)[(link-goto: "Azalea's bedroom") ](if: (visited: "Dollhouse hallway F2") is true)[(link-goto: "Dollhouse F2", "Dollhouse hallway F2") ](if: (visited: "Dollhouse F1") is true)[(link-goto: "Dollhouse F1") ](if: (visited: "Dollhouse basement") is true)[(link-goto: "Dollhouse basement") ](if: (visited: "Hangar 2") is true)[(link-goto: "Hangar", "Hangar 2") ](if: (visited: "Main house F1") is true)[(link-goto: "Main house F1") ](if: (visited: "Main house F2") is true)[(link-goto: "Main house F2") ](if: (visited: "library") is true)[(link-goto: "Library", "library") ](if: (visited: "Dollhouse exterior") is true)[(link-goto: "Garden", "Dollhouse exterior") ](if: (visited: "Hall of mirrors") is true)[(link-goto: "Hall of mirrors") ] (link: "Return")[(goto: (history:)'s last)]

Find answers. Open doors. (if: $recollection < 5)[Uncover memories. ](if: $metoleander is true)[(if: $metmorningglory is true and $metlarkspur is true and $metnightshade is true)[~~Talk to the other dolls.~~](else:)[Talk to the other dolls.] ](if: (visited: "The Apiarist's Handbook, Extended Edition") is true)[(if: $apiarist < 2)[Find //Ontological Cartography// and cross-reference with the Apiarist's Handbook.](else:)[~~Find //Ontological Cartography// and cross-reference with the Apiarist's Handbook.~~] ](if: (visited: "Dollhouse basement") is true)[(if: (visited: "Hangar") is true)[~~Find the code to the combat doll hangar.~~](else:)[Find the code to the (if: $metoleander is true)[combat doll hangar](else:)[locked door] in the basement.] ](if: (visited: "Main house F1") is true)[(if: (visited: "bloodstained workshop door") is true)[~~Find out what's behind the bloodstained door.~~](else:)[Find out what's behind the bloodstained door.] ](if: (visited: "Hall of mirrors") is true)[(if: $reflected < 1)[Find the secrets of the hall of mirrors](elseif: $reflected < 6)[Find all paths through reflections in the hall of mirrors.](else:)[~~Find all paths through reflections in the hall of mirrors.~~] ](if: $reflected is 6)[Speak with the Witch. ]

The hangar is a large, hexagonal room. Two walls host desks and consoles, screens showing camera feeds outside the house, communications and monitoring equipment. Another hosts lockers; six in total, two securely closed, the rest open and empty. (if: visits is 1)[[[The combat dolls are here, staring at me.->Nightshade and Wolfsbane]]](else:)[Wolfsbane is savaging a punching bag made of armor plates. Even so, she's destroying it. Nightshade is disassembling and cleaning a massive rifle.] [[Leave the hangar->Dollhouse basement]]

(if: visits is 1)[] As I enter, two figures turn to look at me. They barely read as "dolls," carbide ceramic, metal, and ballistic fabric covering their bodies rather than porcelain. One sits at the comms console, lounging back in the chair, the two arms on her right side dangling over the armrest. The other, pacing the floor, flexes clawed hands and grins at me with razor teeth. |dialogue1>[(link: "\"Combat dolls, at attention!\"")[(replace: ?dialogue1)["Combat dolls, at attention!"](show: ?response1)] (link: "Wait for them to speak.")[(replace: ?dialogue1)[I wait for them to speak.](show: ?response2)]] |response1)[The three-armed doll looks at me with surprise. I hold her gaze. She tilts her head, then rises and stands at attention. The other doll has been watching her, and follows suit. The three-armed doll grins at me as I approach. "Seems you might be suitable after all."(set: $nightshadesrespect to true)(show: ?dialogue2)]\ |response2)[The three-armed doll tilts her head at me. "You got the door code. Well done." She rises and approaches, towering over me as she gets very, very close. "What's a pretty thing like you doing in the hangar?"(show: ?dialogue3)] |dialogue2)[(link-reveal: "\"Did I ask, doll?\"")[ She grins wider. "No, miss!" "State your name and purpose!" "Combat doll squadron leader Nightshade, miss!" I turn to the other doll. "And you?" "Vanguard combat doll Wolfsbane, miss!" [[Something about this feels familiar.->Desertion]] ]]\ |dialogue3)[(link: "\"I'm looking for the combat dolls.\"")[(replace: ?dialogue3)["I'm looking for the combat dolls." "Well!" She laughs. "You've found us. What now, sweetheart?" She's so close that I can hear the hum of whatever reactor powers the terrifying force she's capable of. She presses even closer. "Too afraid to speak?" [[Something about this feels familiar.->Violation]]]]]

I've been on the receiving end of this before. Memory flashes through my mind.(set: $recollection to it + 2) I got it worst, because everyone knew what I was. The coward, the pansy, the fag, the designated target for when the other recruits wanted to get the drill instructor off their ass. I remember going AWOL, fleeing through the woods, stolen service rifle on my back. I remember trading the gun and those stolen papers to the guerrilleras for a clear path down the river and a pass-sign that would let me sleep in the back of a truck going north, my pistol and knife kept close at hand until I got the word that we were through. [[Where did I go from there?]]

"What is it, Nightshade?" She hesitates, perhaps unsure how to put it into words. "I... Well done. The house has needed a doll like you." (link-reveal: "\"What do you mean?\"")[ "The mistress likes things in sixes. She's been obsessive, with just the five of us. Trying to fill that last spot. There were others. They didn't work out as well. I told her to wait, find someone right for the role, work slowly. She doesn't like leaving a task unfinished. I worried you wouldn't fit, we'd end up back at square one, and we'd all be weaker for it." She sighs. "The obsessions mean she's growing stronger. Reaching further. Her rivals can tell. Having you here means we'll be strong enough to keep them at bay." (set: _response to (a:))|response>[(if: _response's length > 0)[(print: _response's 1st)]\ (if: _response's length >1)[(print: _response's 2nd)]\ (if: _response's length >2)[(print: _response's 3rd) [["I see."]]]] (link: "\"Rivals?\" ")[(set: _response to it + (a: " \"Rivals?\" \"Other witches. They get territorial when they see each other gain power.\" "))(rerun: ?response)]\ (link: "\"Obsessions?\" ")[(set: _response to it + (a: " \"Obsessions?\" \"Every witch has them. When you delve too deep into the boundaries of existence, there are patterns that anchor you, keep you self-consistent. Motifs. Bees, flowers, things in sixes.\" "))(rerun: ?response)]\ (link: "\"Reaching further?\" ")[(set: _response to it + (a: " \"Reaching further?\" \"Claiming territory. Finding keys to new secrets and new points of influence. Playing the games of power.\" "))(rerun: ?response)]]

Memory flashes through my mind.(set: $recollection to it + 2) I remember sitting, pressed against the headboard of the bed, while she complained. I'd disappointed her, she said, because of course, on the one day she was hoping that just maybe we could have a nice night together, I had to give her a mess to clean up. The one night! And after all she did for me! I appeased her as best I could, bandaged myself up and tried to give her what she wanted. //At least you can get it up.// I was the one who loomed over her, play-acted the big strong dominating type, pushed my emotions down and tried not to cry when it was over. [[And now those tears well back up.]]

At some point, I slumped to the ground, and at some point, the combat doll crouched down with me, hands on my shoulder and arm. "Oh god. It's ok, Azalea. I don't mean it, okay? Just an act. I should have asked first. I'm sorry." (link: "Pull her in for a hug.")[I pull her in for a hug, and she holds me for a long while. When the tears stop, she helps me to my feet. "You're safe. I won't push it."(show: ?dialogue)] |dialogue)[(link: "\"I'm okay. I don't know what came over me.\"")[(replace: ?dialogue)["I'm okay. I don't know what came over me."] (show: ?response)] (link: "I don't even know what I'm doing here.\"")[(replace: ?dialogue)["I don't even know what I'm doing here."](show: ?response)]] |response)["I understand. Let's start over, yeah? My name is Nightshade. That's Wolfsbane. We're the mistress's combat dolls." [["Hi, Nightshade."]]]

The memory fades. Nightshade is looking at me. (link-reveal: "\"At ease.\"")[ Wolfsbane draws back for Nightshade to speak with me. I've earned some respect from her; she waits for me to give her permission. [["What is it, Nightshade?"]]]

"Hi, Nightshade." "Hi Azalea." We sit in silence for a while. Eventually, she speaks up. "I was worried, when you froze up like that. There's something about you, though. You seem..." She trails off. (link-reveal: "\"I seem...?\"")[ She considers for a moment. "The mistress likes things in sixes. She's been obsessive, with just the five of us. Trying to fill that last spot. There were others. They didn't work out. Couldn't handle the strain of it. I was worried you'd break like they did." She sighs. "The obsessions mean she's growing stronger. Reaching further. Her rivals can tell. Having you here means we'll be strong enough to keep them at bay." (set: _response to (a:))|response>[(if: _response's length > 0)[(print: _response's 1st)]\ (if: _response's length >1)[(print: _response's 2nd)]\ (if: _response's length >2)[(print: _response's 3rd) [["I see."]]]] (link: "\"Rivals?\" ")[(set: _response to it + (a: " \"Rivals?\" \"Other witches. They get territorial when they see each other gain power.\" "))(rerun: ?response)]\ (link: "\"Obsessions?\" ")[(set: _response to it + (a: " \"Obsessions?\" \"Every witch has them. When you delve too deep into the boundaries of existence, there are patterns that anchor you, keep you self-consistent. Motifs. Bees, flowers, things in sixes.\" "))(rerun: ?response)]\ (link: "\"Reaching further?\" ")[(set: _response to it + (a: " \"Reaching further?\" \"Claiming territory. Finding keys to new secrets and new points of influence. Playing the games of power.\" "))(rerun: ?response)]]

(set: $metnightshade to true, $keys to it + (a: " the key to the workshop"))\ She ends the conversation with a gift. "The key to the workshop. You should be able to stomach it. It's in the [[main house->Main house F1]]." As I go to leave, she rests a hand on my shoulder. "Whatever you remember. Whatever happened. That doesn't have to be you. You've shed the constraints of being a person. You're allowed to cast off anything that comes with it." [[Back to the hangar->Hangar 2]]

Gin, honey, and lemon. The red honey gives the drink the look of thinned blood. |options>[(link: "Drink it")[(replace: ?options)[[[My vision blurs and twists.->My vision blurs and twists.]]]] [[Not now->parlor]]]

The mosaic on the floor here depicts a city in flames, as seen from above. The flames climb up into the stained glass. Here, a forest burns to ash. Here, soldiers consign documents to the fire. Here, a caged bird looks to the window it cannot reach to escape the blaze. [[Back to the beginning->Hall of mirrors]] [[To the end of the hall->Mirrors 2]] |reflecting>[As I look at the mirrors, I realize: not all of them show what they should. Reflections of reflections show things not in this hall. A mirror, seen in another mirror, shows (text-color: red)[[[the blazing city from the floor mosaic->Burning]]]. (if: $apiarist > 0)[Another, five reflections deep, shows (text-color: orange)[[[a ballroom filled with beautiful, masked dancers->Whirling]]].] (if: $keys contains " the key to the workshop")[Another, reflected in zig-zags from the end of the hall, shows (text-color: yellow)[[[the sky, full of dueling aircraft->Falling]]].]]\ \ (if: $burning is not true and $whirling is not true and $falling is not true and $hunting is not true and $rising is not true and $drowning is not true)[(enchant: ?reflecting, (after: 5s) + (t8n: "fade"))]

The mosaic on the floor here depicts a sea serpent, winding in coils down the hall. The waves spray up into the stained glass on the walls. The sea batters the cliffs below a fortress. A coil loops up around the feet of the advisors sitting at a king's table. A woman slumbers beneath a tree at the edge of a river feeding into the ocean. [[Back to the beginning->Hall of mirrors]] [[To the end of the hall->Mirrors 2]] |reflecting>[As I look at the mirrors, I realize: not all of them show what they should. Reflections of reflections show things not in this hall. A mirror, seen in another mirror, shows (text-color: purple)[[[the serpent from the mosaic, its coils wrapped around a warship->Drowning]]]. (if: (visited: "The dream ends") is true)[Another, reflection in a reflection in a reflection, shows (text-color: blue)[[[a cliff overlooking the sea->Rising]]].] (if: $recollection >= 5)[Another, three reflections converging, shows (text-color: green)[[[a forest, dark and haunted->Hunting]]].]]\ \ (if: $burning is not true and $whirling is not true and $falling is not true and $hunting is not true and $rising is not true and $drowning is not true)[(enchant: ?reflecting, (after: 5s) + (t8n: "fade"))]

The hall ends at another door.(if: $burning is true and $whirling is true and $falling is true and $hunting is true and $rising is true and $drowning is true and $keys does not contain " the key to the Witch's quarters")[ There is one last mirror that does not show what it should. A reflection of the very beginning of the hallway shows, hanging from a hook, [[a key->Opening]].] [[Back to the red hall->redshift]] [[Back to the blue hall->blueshift]] (link: "Through the door")[I open the door to find myself [[back in the hallway->Main house F1]]. Both ends of the hall seem to pass through the same doorway.]

(if: $burning is not true)[(set: $burning to true, $reflected to it + 1)]\ Flames blossom over the city. The legion skirmishes with invaders beneath the white-and-gold facades and soaring arches, artillery fire sounding from the parks, bayonets bristling from barricades in the winding alleyways. As I look, I am drawn deeper in, down the long central avenue toward the square where the belligerents draw the key battlefront, my eye leading up toward the palace, its sprawling gardens beginning to succumb to flame. [[Reflect on this scene->Mirror alchemy]]

(if: $whirling is not true)[(set: $whirling to true, $reflected to it + 1)]\ Masked dancers whirl through a hexagonal ballroom. Honeyed light drips and dazzles off their ornamented finery. I can see the pattern in it, the steps that Larkspur taught me. This dance is one vast conversation. [[Reflect on this scene->Mirror alchemy]]

(if: $falling is not true)[(set: $falling to true, $reflected to it + 1)]\ The sky is hazy with engine exhaust and gunsmoke. Warplanes fly in endless dogfights. Below, soldiers skirmish, fighting in a devastated city. I cannot hear, but can infer in the shaking of the earth, the pounding of bombs and artillery fire. [[Reflect on this scene->Mirror alchemy]]

(if: $drowning is not true)[(set: $drowning to true, $reflected to it + 1)]\ The warship cracks as the serpent squeezes it tighter. Able seamen man their stations, fire cannons into the monster, stab at it with harpoons, and fail to scratch its scales. As I look, I am drawn deeper in, my eye tracing along the serpent's coils, down the tilted deck of the warship, toward the point the vessel is folding in half, to where the captain stands, cursing the monster with all his fury. [[Reflect on this scene->Mirror alchemy]]

(if: $rising is not true)[(set: $rising to true, $reflected to it + 1)]\ Waves crash far below the cliff, and birds wheel overhead. A storm is brewing on the horizon. A woman in a red dress stands by the cliff's edge, looking out over the ocean. [[Reflect on this scene->Mirror alchemy]]

(if: $hunting is not true)[(set: $hunting to true, $reflected to it + 1)]\ The swamp is dark, still, and silent. Something moves through the water. The moon is high, shafts of light piercing through the trees to pin the hunter's quarry. [[Reflect on this scene->Mirror alchemy]]

I reach out and take it. (set: $keys to it + (a: " the key to the Witch's quarters")) [[Leave the hall of mirrors->Main house F1]]

This dance is a language I know, on a grander level than I am used to. It takes time to understand the complexity and insert myself into it. (if: $apiarist >1)[The things I found in //Ontological Cartography// make this process easier; find the boundaries. ]Once I understand, I [[begin to dance]].

(if: visits is 1)[The dance is a vast and complex thing, but I only need to focus on the partner before me. Meaning emerges, the collective call-and-response keeping information flowing. //Are you in on the secret?// asks the dancer in the fox mask. (link-reveal: "//Not yet. Tell me?//")[ //Yes, a secret. Someone here doesn't know the dance.// I spin with the dancer in the mask of dove's wings. (link-reveal: "//Why is it a secret?//")[ //Because if they knew that only they didn't, they'd know we were talking about them.// The dancer with the horned mask pulls me close for a moment, then passes me along. (link-reveal: "//And what are we saying?//")[ //That they're dangerous. So we make our plans.// The dancer in the hummingbird mask dips me low, then lifts me above her head. (link-reveal: "//And what's our plan?//")[ //To keep them here. To never stop the dance.// The dancer in the mask like the sea dances with me slow. //[[So we won't stop the dance.]]//]]]]](else:)[I know the meaning of the dance now. Caught up on the purpose, I can engage in gossip, discussions of fashion, of what masks are in style, of the news. The dancers, when they take their leave and are replaced, find information where they can to contribute to the conversation. But the purpose is always clear. [[We don't stop the dance]].]

And suddenly I'm before them, the dancer who doesn't know, and I can tell by their movements, rhythmically sound but meaningless. Their steps are tired, their movements are fearful. They're crying. Their mask is the face of a wasp. I can read the dance of those around me. //This is them. Keep them here.// //They're dangerous.// //Don't trust them.// //Just take your turn with them and move on. When you leave, someone will replace you.// //[[I'll take my turn.]]//

My turn with the wasp-mask dancer ends, and a dancer in a (either: "serpent", "crow", "sequined", "vine-covered", "cinder", "devil") mask takes them from me. I am whirled toward the edge of the crowd, where an arch leads from the ballroom to a balcony, where dancers regain their strength. The conversations here are still, of course, in dance. (set: _response to (a:))|response>[(if: _response's length > 0)[(print: _response's 1st)]\ (if: _response's length >1)[(print: _response's 2nd)]\ (if: _response's length >2)[(print: _response's 3rd) [[My shift is over. I have strengthened the dance.]]]] (link: "Ask who the wasp-mask dancer is ")[(set: _response to it + (a: " //Who is the wasp?// I ask a dancer in a rose mask. //They are a wasp. When a wasp tries to get into a hive, the bees must keep it out, because if it gets through the entrance, it will blend in. This wasp got in. The beekeeper took them out. We keep them here.// "))(rerun: ?response)]\ (link: "Ask who the dancers are ")[(set: _response to it + (a: " //Who are all of you?// I ask a dancer in a mask like the moon. //We are workers from the hives. This is another task, but it is one that can be pleasant. We come and go, work in shifts.// "))(rerun: ?response)]\ (link: "Ask why the wasp is so dangerous ")[(set: _response to it + (a: " //Why is the wasp so dangerous?// I ask a dancer in a butterfly mask. //They are clever. There are many clever things here. The beekeeper traps many of her enemies in the mirrors, kept in the reflection of an endless moment. If we do not keep that moment endless, the wasp may be clever enough to escape.// "))(rerun: ?response)]

The dancers leave by another way that leads back to the hives. I [[bid them farewell]] and shed my $reflection mask.

I find myself again dancing with the wasp-mask dancer, once again hearing them cry. (link: "Take the chance to look closer")[I take the chance to look closer. (if: visits >= 1)[The wasp's finery is ragged, dancing forever here, but they cannot stop. They are compelled by the dance.](if: visits > 1)[I note the stains of honey on their coat. Were they trying to steal?](if: visits > 2)[No—they carry a chemical scent. They were trying to taint it.](if: visits > 3)[There is nothing more to learn from them now.] Eventually, my turn with them ends, and my make my way out. [[My shift is over. I have strengthened the dance.]]]

The battlefield is warped and torn by the arcane. Soldiers below rise from the dead, charge back into the fray, commanded by a necromantic officer. (if: $reflection is "rose")[A plane downed by my weapons grows into a rose garden below, which becomes a point to be captured, cover for the battle below.](if: $reflection is "salamander")[Flames linger in the air where my armaments spray, aerial hazards for the spiralling planes to dodge around or hide behind.](if: $reflection is "spiral")[My weaponry tears the sky into pockets of madness, fractures in the air that slice aircraft cleanly apart and swirls of void that choke pilots and possess them to fight alongside me.] Horrors stalk the battlefield and join in the aerial fight. I fly high, high above the battlefield, and [[see the nature of the war]].

There are two powers trapped in this reflection, keeping each other in check. I see the strain of reality around them. One sits in an airship that casts a long shadow over the battlefield. In that shadow appear monsters, doors that spill forth more soldiers, more planes to join the dogfight. Though I don't see her, I can feel her baleful glare and shrink from it, steer to avoid the darkest parts of the umbra. The other, far on the other side, wheels through the air in radiance, a many-handed, many-winged serpent. She proclaims an endless litany, and her words become war-angels, gates to bring more of her armies to the field, aircraft emerging from rifts of light. [[Maintain the stalemate]]

I dive once more into the fray. Here, the radiant serpent's soldiers gain too much ground; I (if: $reflection is "rose")[tangle them in briars and grow roots in their ribcages](if: $reflection is "salamander")[scour them with ceaseless flame](if: $reflection is "spiral")[unwrite them from existence]. Here, the shadowy tyrant's monstrosities take too defensible a stronghold; I (if: $reflection is "rose")[tear down their walls with overgrowth](if: $reflection is "salamander")[set it ablaze and let them try to quench it](if: $reflection is "spiral")[sever it from time, reverting it to untouched ground before artillery fire renders it identical to the trenches surrounding]. Eventually, I am [[hit]].

I abandon this reflection as the plane hits the ground. (if: visits is 1)[ I feel disoriented. Detached from myself. Each decision felt so natural; no doubt of my need to maintain the stalemate. [[This is the task you were made for, after all. Why wouldn't your purpose feel natural?->redshift]] [[Do you even have a choice any more?->redshift]]]I watch, detached for a moment, then [[step away->redshift]].

Memory rushes up my throat like bile. I remember the pain of the first incision, the dizzy horror of being kept conscious through it all, the feeling of her hands on me, on every part of me at once, taking me apart one piece at a time. But it was the poison that killed me. It had to be, or else it wouldn't work; those key reagents, those honeyed toxins, were needed kill the part of me that was a person and leave behind the useful remnant. (set: $knowthyself to it + 1) [[Then it passes.->bloodstained workshop door]]

There is a weight in the air. The buzzing of bees is strongest here, the flowers on the walls at their densest. There are three doors here: one to the [[master bedroom]]; one to the [[solar]], and one to the [[study]]. (if: (visited: "study") is true and (visited: "master bedroom") is true and (visited: "solar") is true)[A hand rests on my shoulder. "My dear Azalea." [[I turn to meet my maker.]]](else:)[There is no going back from here. The strings inside me feel a constant tug forward.]

A gorgeous desk covered in books, sketches of architecture, typewritten documents, memos in the Witch's immaculate hand, and various necessities of stationery dominates this room. Power crackles in the air, a weight of potential energy simply waiting for its mistress to harness it. [[She is not here->Witch's quarters]]

The bed is shrouded by a canopy, open enough that I can see no one is there. The perfume of flowers is hypnotic. [[She is not here->Witch's quarters]]

The room is comfortable, made for sitting, conversation, reading by the window or staring into the fireplace in thought. The walls, between the ever-present flowers, are decorated with paintings. Landscapes, abstract works, and many other subjects, all in a variety of styles. There are portraits of each of the other dolls here, and an empty space I'm sure is for mine. [[She is not here->Witch's quarters]]

Oleander sits in one of the armchairs, curled so her feet are tucked under her. She's reading a novel—//A Theft at the Silverview Hotel//. (if: (visited: "Consider things so far") is not true)[She smiles at me as I come in. "Getting the feel for things?" [[Consider things so far]]](else:)[She looks up from her book, smiles, and then goes back to reading.]

The cover is a photo of an airship mooring mast, shot from below. Much of the photography focuses on similar structures: transmission towers, harbor cranes, scaffolding, roller coasters, shot to emphasize complexities of line and shadow. The photographer's statement on the back emphasizes the beauty of the functional. [[Set it down->living room]]

The dizziness has cleared, mostly. I'm beginning to get the feel for things. |options>[(link: "The other dolls seem nice.")[(replace: ?options)[//The other dolls seem nice.//](show: ?1)] (link: "We shouldn't trust the other dolls.")[(replace: ?options)[//We shouldn't trust the other dolls.//](show: ?2)]] |1)[They do. Oleander helped me through my initial confusion, Larkspur was wonderful to dance with. I'm beginning to feel at home.(show: ?options2)]\ |2)[They've been testing me, haven't they. Morning Glory said it herself, gauging whether I can get out of repetitive question spirals. The way Oleander hugged me—it almost felt like she was testing my structural soundness. Feeling for the tick of my mainspring. But Larkspur, at least, felt sincere.(show: ?options2)] |options2)[(link: "Still. This place is unsettling. Perhaps you shouldn't feel too at home yet.")[(replace: ?options2)[//Still. This place is unsettling. Perhaps you shouldn't feel too at home yet.//](show: ?3)] (link: "Do you think you could find this life worthwhile?")[(replace: ?options2)[//Do you think you could find this life worthwhile?//](show: ?4)]] |3)[It's odd, but I don't feel that unsettled. There is something comfortable about this house. I've lived in far worse places. [[Answer Oleander]]]\ |4)[I think so. I don't feel like dying about it, at least! I want to be optimistic. The house is beautiful. [[Answer Oleander]]]

(if: visits is 1)[The scene is trapped behind reflections, many layers deep, only visible from certain angles. It feels surreal; an image taken out of time. A doorway. (if: $apiarist >1)[A point at which the boundaries of real and unreal have been twisted.] As I look, I feel drawn further in, the vision surrounding me. But I don't have a reflection. I'm not a part of this scene.](else:)[I know these scenes behind reflections. I am drawn further in.] A mechanism trips inside me. My gears spin to bring inner mirrors into configuration. I cast a reflection. (display: "Reflection " + (history:)'s last)

I (if: $clothes is not "none")[set my $clothes aside](else:)[look down] and examine my body. Tilting the upper segment of my torso in a certain direction reveals the connector that, unlatched, allows me to open myself up. Dolls are held together by string tension. Clockwork engages with those strings, maintains tension, pulls them to induce motion. Most of my inner workings fit neatly within my chest, ticking away with my mainspring. The region of my stomach is a weave of glass tubing and vessels of reagents. Pumps and valves create alchemical apparatus; seal this chamber and it becomes suitable for distillation, pump fluid from these vials to induce reactions. (if: visits is 1)[(set: $knowthyself to it + 2)][[Replace your torso->bloodstained workshop door]]

The small rolltop desk sits open. It is well-stocked with stationery, including paper in the manor's official letterhead. (if: $keys does not contain " the key to my desk")[There's a (link: "key")[(replace: ?desk_key)[I take the key. No need to lock up the desk at the moment.(set: $keys to it + (a: " the key to my desk"))]] on the desk.]<desk_key| [[Step away->Azalea's bedroom]]

[[A soldier, sheltering beneath an archway]] [[A barbarian invader, resting in a captured garden]]

|reflections>[(link: "The bone mask.")[(set: $reflection to "bone")(replace: ?reflections)[A memento mori, not exactly a skull, but suggestive of one. [[To the dance!]]]] (link: "The feathered mask")[(set: $reflection to "feathered")(replace: ?reflections)[The visage of a feathered wyrm, jaws agape. [[To the dance!]]]] (link: "The coral mask")[(set: $reflection to "coral")(replace: ?reflections)[An abstract mask of varicolored coral. [[To the dance!]]]] (link: "The storm mask")[(set: $reflection to "storm")(replace: ?reflections)[A mask painted to look like a stormy sky, split by lightning. [[To the dance!]]]]]

|reflections>[(link: "The pilot with the rose insignia.")[(set: $reflection to "rose")(replace: ?reflections)[A romantic. Her warplane is armed with munitions that burst into thorny growth in enemy cockpits, tangle her foes in wing-tearing vines. [[To battle]]]] (link: "The pilot with the salamander insignia")[(set: $reflection to "salamander")(replace: ?reflections)[A daredevil. Her warplane carries hellfire armaments, her foes falling, blazing, to the ground. [[To battle]]]] (link: "The pilot with the spiral insignia")[(set: $reflection to "spiral")(replace: ?reflections)[A nightmare. Her warplane is armed with void-ordnance, shells that create momentary gravity wells or make an enemy plane face centuries of decay in an instant. [[To battle]]]]]

[[A harpooner]] [[A cannoneer]]

[[A woman in a yellow dress]]

[[A night heron]]

... Not that I have lungs to breathe with, but yes. I relax, let the tension out of my strings. [[Back to the kitchen->kitchen]]

I let the mirror arrays within me spin into action. Is my own reflection among those hidden in my body's programming?(set: _reflecting to 0) My reflection flickers into being, flashes through different trapped images. I see (live: .25s)[(set: _reflecting to it + 1)(if: _reflecting > 23)[(stop:)my own face(show: ?reflect2)](else:)[(either: "a weary soldier", "a masked dancer", "a pilot's goggles and scarf", "a sharp-toothed shadow", "an unassuming businesswoman", "a cold glare", "a haloed, beatific face", "a crown surmounting a forgettable face", "a rag-doll's face", "a bloodied pugilist", "an eyeless, stitch-mouthed leather mask", "a lined face, smoking a cigarette")]]<reflecting|. [(t8n: "fade")[I'm pretty. That's the first thing I notice. I take my time tilting and turning my head back and forth, looking at the shape of my cheekbones—the sculpted implication of cheekbones—my jawline, my eyes, my lips, the way my hair falls. It's too familiar not to be me. It's hard to [[look away->Azalea's bedroom]].(set: $knowthyself to it + 1)]](reflect2|

He's wounded, dabbing at his side with alcohol and winding bandages around his torso. The bullet will have to come out later, or not at all. Nothing vital hit. He'll fight on.(set: $borrowedimage to "legionary") I wince as I don my armor again. The twisted metal of the bullet hole presses against the bandage. The captain calls. "The invaders are marching on the palace! We'll cut them off!" [[I pick up my weapon and join the march.]]

She rests against her pack beneath a fruit tree, wipes clean her bayonet and spears a plum from above.(set: $borrowedimage to "barbarian") It's delicious. Juice runs down my chin, cutting sticky trails through ash and grime. My captain calls me back to the fight. "To the palace! The guards are spread thin!" [[I stand and hold my weapon ready.]]

The empire has been bleeding out for decades, now, its distant provinces falling away, breaking off to become new powers in their own right or being conquered in anothers rise. Now its heart breaks beneath our feet. The palace stands at the city's highest point, surrounding by sprawling gardens, the villas of the nobility, the instruments of law, justice, war, commerce. The villas are fallen, their mosaics cracked and blackened, the gardens cratered by the shelling and churned to muck beneath tank treads. The high dome of the grand courtroom plumes smoke, soon to fall in entirely, and the banks and treasuries are torn open for us to carry home their gold. The legion meets us at the palace doors, crouched behind what ragged fortifications remain. [[Break their line]]

The palace guard is spread thin, the fortifications worn down. My cohorts huddle behind ragged sandbags, waiting for the barbarian hordes to descend on them. Wounded as I am, I am sent within the palace to provide support. I find myself drawn away, toward the center. In here, things are peaceful. The palace rings an inner courtyard where a tree eternally blooms—one of the great treasures of Her Imperial Majesty. [[Enter the courtyard]]

She meets with her advisors beneath the blossoms, hearing the fall of her empire, powerless to do anything about it. The commander of the legion rattles off a report while the minister of finance whispers to the archbishop. Her image is fractured—(live:1s)[(either: "A horned crown", "A laurel wreath", "A gold circlet", "A halo", "A single floating gem", "No crown at all", "A ring of open eyes"), (either: "a beaded veil", "a face like a skull", "bared fangs", "a blank porcelain mask", "too many eyes", "a far-too-ordinary face"), (either: "a cloak of feathers", "veils and drapery", "a gown ornamented with pearls", "a chiton woven with gold thread")]. She beckons me as I enter. (if: visits is 1)["Good day to you, little intruder. What brings you to my prison?" (if: $borrowedimage is "legionary")[I haven't intruded on the discussion, no matter how confused the commander looks.](if: $borrowedimage is "barbarian")["Intruder," not "invader."] She knows what I am. [["Good day to you too."]]](else:)["Welcome back, little intruder. Here for more?" [["Of course."]]]

Their defense is insufficient. We flood into the palace undeterred. I find myself drawn away from my comrades, toward the center. I find myself in a shadowed arcade surrounding the palace's courtyard, where a tree blooms, peaceful in the burning city. [[Enter the courtyard]]

"Good day to you too." "Walk with me, intruder." The archbishop protests. "Your Majesty, we—" But she ignores him. "It has been a while since I've received a visitor. Your mistress—I assume she's still my captor?—Your mistress used to send me dolls on occasion." (link-reveal: "\"Why did she stop?\"")[ "I kept breaking them." A flash of a grin. (link-reveal: "\"Ah.\"")[ "But you're safe. She's figured out some new tricks, hasn't she." The reflection trick, I would assume. [["Who are you?"]]]]

"Who are you?" She laughs, the sound shifting with her image. "Who fucking knows? I am Her Imperial Majesty, presumably. Anyone else I am, or was, or could have been, your mistress took from me. I don't blame her. I would have done as cruel or worse to her." (link-reveal: "\"So she trapped you here, in your moment of defeat.\"")[ "Of course." Her voice is only half-bitter. The cruel joke of it has worn off. She respects her rival's ingenuity. (link-reveal: "\"I'm glad I can provide some brief company.\"")[ She tilts her head, then laughs, louder. "Yes, of course. A brief distraction from these prattling non-things that surround me." She grabs my shoulder, the feel of her hand on me shifting texture, shape, and position. "Perhaps you're more durable than her previous attempts. [[Shall we?]]"]]

And then I'm back in the hall of mirrors, the pain of her wrenching my arm from my torso thrumming in my strings. (if: visits is 1)[I let the phantom pain wear off. I'm fine. There's nothing she can do to me, not really. But for a moment there, it fucking hurt. That said, I've picked up a little on my purpose here. [[You're a doll, aren't you? A diversion. A toy.->redshift]] [[You're made to survive these mirror-prisons unscathed. You're some sort of warden.->redshift]]]

She struggles to pierce the monster's scales, especially as the deck tips and her aim worsens.(set: $borrowedimage to "harpooner") I grab onto the deck railing as the ship tips again, then right myself. [[Face the serpent]]

He loads, aims, fires, working exhausted alongside his fellows. (set: $borrowedimage to "cannoneer") Then the spins of the serpent's back stab toward us, and the cannon is rendered useless. I climb to the upper deck, instead. [[Face the serpent]]

I climb to my feet and find the monster looking straight at me, still, for a moment, as its vast, green eye meets mine. The captain, over to my right, shouts something, but I don't listen. [[Instead, I watch the reflection in the serpent's eye]].

Reflections in reflections in reflections. The serpent's eye does not reflect this crashing sea and glorious battle, but a more mundane world. A ball python coils around a toy boat. I remember where I stand, in reality; a doll watching another's play. The captain grabs my shoulder. (if: visits is 1)["Don't get lost in it! Its gaze holds only madness! Stay the course!" [[Look deeper]]](else:)[I do not, particularly, desire to stay on board this vessel. [[Return to the admiralty office]]]

"Of course. (if: visits < 4)[(display: "Empress " + (str: visits))](else:)[(display: "Empress 4")]

There is a scream caught on my lips as my reflection gives out. I strangle it. [[Step away->redshift]]

I don't have much time to think on the subject. |response>[(link: "\"I think I'm doing alright. I'm beginning to understand my life here.")[(replace: ?response)["I think I'm doing alright. I'm beginning to understand my life here."](show: ?1)] (link: "\"I don't know how to feel about this situation.\"")[(replace: ?response)["I don't know how to feel about this situation."](show: ?2)]] |1)["I'm glad. Truly, to be clear. Partially out of ulterior motive, of course. I hope you keep coming back." (show: ?3)]\ |2)["So it goes. It is the situation you are in, though. Knowing what I know of dolls, it's a situation you will have to live with." (show: ?3)]|3)[ (link-reveal: "\"Ah. The poison is setting in.\"")[ My hands start spasming first, then, as the minutes progress, other parts of my body. The conversation becomes much harder to carry on. She watches as I begin to seize and shake, as my eyes flick rapidly across the courtyard, as my back arches, as my [[heart stops]].]]

It's odd, to suddenly go from having a pulse, to not having a pulse, to having the steady tick of a mainspring. I lean against a mirror and regain my composure. [[Step away->redshift]]

The pain is delicious. I step back from the mirror with a growing appreciation for the imprisoned empress's tastes. [[Step away->redshift]]

(either: "I let the sensation of her many, many knives fade as I return to myself.", "I stretch, relaxing after the feeling of being pulled in so many directions.", "I step back, satisfied I now understand the feeling of lungs collapsing.", "I sigh with relief, once again possessed of a head.", "I shake free the feeling of snakes all over my body.", "I appreciate, for a moment, how nice it is not to be carrying an increasingly heavy weight.") [[Step away->redshift]]

I'm unfailingly eager." Her grin pervades even across faces with no mouths. "Then let's play, pretty doll." I lower my bayonet, but she just walks forward, elegant as ever, until the tip presses into her body. Until the blade slides into her torso. She leans down to my ear. "This isn't a fight. That would be unbecoming." Her teeth, when she has them, are [[sharp]].

We were having fun." "We were." Her delight is radiant. "I did not expect you so soon, so often. Sit with me?" A servant pours us tea as we sit beneath the blossoms. She smiles. "It is poisoned, by the way. I hope your mistress would be proud. I preferred to be secure in the knowledge of what steel does to a body, but that security didn't amount to much, did it?" The tea is bitter. There's something beneath the tannins. (link-reveal: "\"Strychnine?\"")[ "Well done. I am told it is one of the more painful poisons to experience. We have a few minutes before it sets in, though." I drink deep. (link-reveal: "\"Exciting. What should we discuss?\"")[ "A brief question. How are you faring, outside of here?" [[How am I faring?]]]]

We were having a lovely conversation." "We were. Would you care to accompany me inside?" The portraits on the castle walls have had their visages obliterated. When she sees me looking, she sighs. "I am not allowed knowledge of my face nor name. You mistress understood the levels of semiotic destruction necessary to remove me from the game." (link-reveal: "\"What can you tell me about the game?\"")[ "I know, if not remember, the shape of it. A fight for metaphysical territory, for the power to write reality. I did not expect, at first, that she would be such a terrifying adversary." She pauses to look out the window at her ever-falling city. "I played on a level higher than her, I thought. I slaughtered angels. I cast down pantheons. I thought myself immune to her poisons—for what reason, I know not." A bitter laugh. "She poisoned the words of the oracles and the augurs. My downfall was foretold." She leads me to where the flames have reached the palace. "Your exit. Thank you." [[Walk into the fire]]]

I enjoy our visits." "I do too, little doll. I do too. Accompany me to my chambers, this time?" She has an endless variety of novel torments. I'm sure, over time, [[I will experience them all]].

(set: _show1 to false, _show2 to false)\ |= I'm standing in a dusty office, sunlight slicing in through the blinds. In a tank, a ball python coils around a toy boat. (link: "Talk to the snake")["Hello?" The snake looks up at me. It says nothing, but I get a sense of understanding from it. (link: "Look at the pattern of its scales")[It's quite pretty. The scales shimmer and shift colors in the light, almost hypnotic. Only almost, though. There's a little (link-show: "card", ?card) by the tank. |card)[//Azalea. Well done, making it to the reflection within the reflection. This is Opal—a spy one of my rivals tried to insert into my study. She's well behaved, now. She helps keep the captain busy. All my love, Your Witch//(set: _show1 to true)(if: _show2 is true)[(show: ?continue)]]]] =| The captain is shouting in my ear. "Get a hold of yourself!" (link-reveal: "\"Can we even do anything to it?\"")[ "Of course we can! One good hit will do it." He drags me with him to a harpoon gun whose gunner, moments ago, was knocked overboard. "The eyes. Aim for them, but don't look too deep! (link: "Get a good look at him")[He moves frantically, his coat flapping in the wind, shouting orders. Everything seems to center on him, from the crash of the waves to the serpent's attention. (link: "Look around the ship")[No matter what, the ship doesn't fully sink. Wherever the captain isn't looking, cracks seal up and drowned crew reappears. The chaos never settles, no victory for either side.(set: _show2 to true)(if: _show1 is true)[(show: ?continue)]]]] |==| =><= [[[What the hell is going on here?->Understanding]]](continue|

(set: _show1 to false, _show2 to false)\ |= Dust hangs in the sunlight. (link: "Look through the desk")[In the desk: a file drawer of admiralty orders, shipping manifests, port reports; neatly organized stationery; odd trinkets from overseas. On its surface: an inkwell; a jar of pens; a small frame, holding a photograph of a naval academy graduating class. Whose office is this? Or, I suppose, was. It seems, now, to belong to Opal. And the Witch, I suppose. (link: "Examine the bookshelves")[On the shelves: books of tide charts, naval manuals, books on diplomacy and economics. Hm. The most recent volumes are from around fifty years ago, and this looks like, until then, it was a well-maintained library. I check the desk; same with the documents.(set: _show1 to true)(if: _show2 is true)[(show: ?continue)]]] =| The battle rages on. (link: "Identify the ship")[The ship is an older model, one mostly retired from service. I hunt around to find its name. It's not one I know of; the //Brazen Reproach.// (link: "Determine the ship's location")[Cold wind, no sight of land. By the style of uniform—are we somewhere in the north? (link: "Explore the vessel")[I am confident, no matter how long the battle rages, it won't actually escalate. I descend to explore the ship. The crew quarters are spartan, the food supplies relatively low; this vessel isn't outfitted for long voyages, but more likely for brief patrol actions.(set: _show2 to true)(if: _show1 is true)[(show: ?continue)]]]] |==| =><= [[[Make a guess of time, place, and event->Naval History]]](continue|

I lean against the wall by the mirror, resting for a moment. (if: visits is 1)[The whirl of the dance echoes in my body, and the vision of the wasp won't leave my head. I understand the shape of these cells better, now. [[If you misbehave, you might end up in one yourself.->redshift]] [[You've been given a lot of responsibility here. The Witch must trust you.->redshift]]](else:)[ [[Step away->redshift]]]

She is surrounded by many arms, each of her gloved hands engaged in a different task; writing in a notebook, holding a flower for examination, leafing through a book, beckoning for me to join her. Arms fade as they pass through each other. Her face is veiled, her dress businesslike. She pulls me from my overawed state with a hand gently lifting my chin. "Come with me, my dear." [[Follow]]

We sit in the solar, where the light of the sunset casts shadows on the walls. She beckons, and from nowhere, it seems, comes Larkspur with tea and cookies. She squeezes my hand briefly, curtseys, is gone. The witch lifts her veil only slightly to drink, hands springing from nothing to shield her face where it might become visible from a particular angle. |dialogue>[(link: "\"Has this all been a test?\"")[(replace: ?dialogue)["Has this all been a test?"](show: ?response1)] (link: "\"What do you want from me?\"")[(replace: ?dialogue)["What do you want from me?"](show: ?response2)] (link: "Wait for her to speak")[(replace: ?dialogue)["How are you finding the house, so far?" she asks.](show: ?dialogue2)(set: $witchpleaser to it + 1)]] |response1)["Do you think so?" Her voice carries a gentle buzz. Her hands carry context in the language of the dance; //I'm not trying to appear cryptic. I am curious.//(show: ?dialogue3)]\ |response2)["I've already got what I want, dear. A new doll." Her voice carries a gentle buzz. Her hands carry context in the language of the dance; //I know that's not what you're asking.//(show: ?dialogue4)]\ |dialogue2)[(link: "\"I feel I am settling in well.\"")[(replace: ?dialogue2)["I feel I am settling in well."](show: ?responsea)(set: $witchpleaser to it + 1)] (link: "\"I am unsure what to make of it.\"")[(replace: ?dialogue2)["I am unsure what to make of it."](show: ?responseb)(set: $witchpleaser to it + 1)]] |dialogue3)[(link: "\"I do.\" //And I don't know if I like being tested.//")[(replace: ?dialogue3)["I do." //And I don't know if I like being tested.//](show: ?response3)(set: $buttonpusher to it + 1)] (link: "\"I do.\" //And I hope I've passed it.//")[(replace: ?dialogue3)["I do." //And I hope I've passed it.//](show: ?response3)(set: $witchpleaser to it + 1)] (link: "\"I don't know.\" //And I won't do you the disservice of assuming one way or another.//")[(replace: ?dialogue3)["I don't know." //And I won't do you the disservice of assuming one way or another.//](show: ?response4)(set: $witchpleaser to it + 1)] (link: "\"I don't know.\" //But I have my suspicions.//")[(replace: ?dialogue3)["I don't know." //But I have my suspicions//](show: ?response4)(set: $buttonpusher to it + 1)]]\ |dialogue4)[(link: "\"I take it my performance has been satisfactory, then?\"")[(replace: ?dialogue4)["I take it my performance has been satisfactory, then?"](show: ?response5)(set: $witchpleaser to it + 1)] (link: "\"And what do you want from your new doll?\"")[(replace: ?dialogue4)["And what do you want from your new doll?"](show: ?response6)(set: $buttonpusher to it + 1)]]\ |responsea)["I am glad. The manor can be overwhelming." [["It takes getting used to."]] [["I assume there's a reason you've directed me here?"]]]\ |responseb)["I do hope you will find it to your liking before long." [["I don't suppose I'll be able to leave if I don't."]] [["I assume there's a reason you've directed me here?"]]] |response3)["You would be correct. You have, I must say, passed admirably." [["A test for what purpose, then?"]]]\ |response4)["But you have your suspicions. And you are right to have them; many things are tests. Today's, at least, you have passed admirably." [["A test for what purpose, then?"]]]\ |response5)["That it has. You have surpassed my expectations for your first day." [["What were those expectations?"]]]\ |response6)[She laughs, a sound that emphasizes the droning of bees. "I believe Morning Glory told you, yes? I need a new head of staff. Further, as I'm sure you've surmised, I need someone capable of maneuvering the hall of mirrors." [["I gathered as much. I want to hear your explanation, though."]]]

"A test for what purpose, then?" "To ensure I felt confident to formally, properly, offer you [[a place in this household->household 1]]."

"I gathered as much. I want to hear your explanation, though." She nods. "I dislike having only five dolls in my staff. I am, one might say, obsessive about sixes." A laugh. "But the sixth is a difficult role to fill. Any expansion beyond requires a head of staff, a right hand, a coordinator. "Further, my work grows increasingly demanding and complex, and increasingly I must delegate the day-to-day tasks necessary to support it. I do not have the time or desire to perform constant auguries to maintain my base of knowledge; hence, Morning Glory. I lack the time to tend to the bees with as much attention as they deserve; hence, Larkspur. Now, I find myself too busy to attend to the hall of mirrors; hence, you." (link-reveal: "\"The hall of mirrors seems to be a load-bearing piece of your work.\"")[ "And one I hesitated to delegate for a long time. You, however, seem capable. Thus, let me formally, properly, offer you [[a place in this household->household 1]]."]

"What were those expectations?" "Each of my dolls has a purpose, and yours is one I had hesitated to delegate for a long time. Morning Glory told you, I'm sure, how I require a head of staff. Direct control is something I am loathe to give up. "Then of course, the hall of mirrors." (link-reveal: "\"Of course.\"")[ "You can imagine how difficult it is to find a candidate I am confident will be able to manage such a delicate part of my operations. But I am confident in you. Thus, let me formally, properly, offer you [[a place in this household->household 1]]."]

"I don't suppose I'll be able to leave if I don't."(set: $buttonpusher to it + 1) She seems upset—no, not upset, mildly surprised by the statement. "I don't think that will be a problem. When you first came here, you seemed quite taken with the place." (link-reveal: "\"I did?\"")[ "You did. And I make an effort to retain the vital details of personality in my process. I should think an inverse response unlikely." (link-reveal: "\"Oh.\"")[ I can imagine the version of the process that doesn't. "In any case. With your performance of the day satisfactory, I would like to formally, properly, offer you [[a place in this household->household 3]]."]]

"I assume there's a reason you've directed me here?" "Of course. With your performance of the day satisfactory, I would like to formally, properly, offer you [[a place in this household->household 1]]."

"It takes getting used to." "You rallied quicker than most. Oleander was out of sorts for almost a week, but she took to it well, given time and care." She laughs. "She's now quite adept at acclimating guests to the house. Keeping them away from the more disorienting parts." (link-reveal: "\"She did help orient me.\"")[ "As I had hoped. Now, as to the business of our meeting. With your performance of the day satisfactory, I would like to formally, properly, offer you [[a place in this household->household 1]]."]

"I would like to formally, properly, offer you a place in this household." (link-reveal: "\"'Properly.' You offered me this before, didn't you.\"")[ "You asked me for it." (link-reveal: "\"Why did I ask?\"")[ "You said you were tired of running." [[Accept the offer]] [[Refuse the offer->refuse 2]]]]

"I require a sixth, to complete my pattern. A head of staff, a right hand, a confidant. One to whom I can feel secure giving charge of the delicate operations of the hall of mirrors. I felt confident on your arrival. I am sure of my assessment now." |options>[(if: (visited: "do I even want to refuse?") is true)[[["And if I refuse your offer?"->null]]](else:)[(link: "\"And if I refuse your offer?\"")[(replace: ?options)[Wait. Obvious consequences aside, [[do I even want to refuse?]]]]] (link: "\"I'm glad I have proved myself capable.\"")[(replace: ?options)["I'm glad I have proved myself capable."](show: ?response1)] (link: "\"What are the terms of the offer?\"")[(replace: ?options)["What are the terms of the offer?"](show: ?response2)]] |response1)["Thoroughly." I can hear the smile in her voice. "Do you accept, then?" (show: ?options2)]\ |response2)["You'll be my doll. I've laid out your responsibilities already. Take this statement with whatever implications you wish." (show: ?options2)] |options2)[ [[Accept the offer]] [[Refuse the offer]]]

I understand, of course, the risks of refusal. I'm no fool. I'm unconvinced that, even given the option to leave and return to our previous life, that refusal is worth it. |= (link: "Your existence here is inherently subordinate. Subject to another's control.")[//Your existence here is inherently subordinate. Subject to another's control.// Any other existence would be just as subject to hierarchy. There is no choice to be the true master of my own destiny. (link: "This would be the last choice you would ever make, though. Other existences don't write hierarchy into your being.")[//This would be the last choice you would ever make, though. Other existences don't write hierarchy into your being.// At least this is more honest about it.(show: ?return1)(hide: ?perhapsnot) ]] =|= (link: "The Witch has no restraints to her desire for power. Serving her only furthers her ability to manipulate, abuse, and dispose of people how she likes.")[//The Witch has no restraints to her desire for power. Serving her only furthers her ability to manipulate, abuse, and dispose of people how she likes.// And she would do so even without me. From outside, what hope would I have of fighting her? Here, at least, I'd have her ear. (link: "Would she listen? Would you even try?")[//Would she listen? Would you even try?// Is she so much worse than any other power?(show: ?return2)(hide: ?perhapsnot)]] =| (link: "Even taking the consequences into account: This is a false choice. A gun to your head. You should be principled enough to point this out.")[//Even taking the consequences into account: This is a false choice. A gun to your head. You should be principled enough to point this out.// Is this a principle I'm willing to die for? (link: "It's a risk, yes. But pointing out that the choice is offered under duress is worth the risk.")[//It's a risk, yes. But pointing out that the choice is offered under duress is worth the risk.// You're more principled than I, then.(show: ?return3)(hide: ?perhapsnot)]] |==| (align: "=><=")[ |return1)[(link: "Consider me content with the gilded cage, if you like.")[(goto: (history:)'s last)] ]|return2)[(link: "Consider me complicit, if you like.")[(goto: (history:)'s last)] ]|return3)[(link: "Consider me a coward, if you like.")[(goto: (history:)'s last)] ][(link: "Perhaps not.")[(goto: (history:)'s last)]]<perhapsnot|]

(set: $taskshow to false)"I accept." She takes my hand and just holds it, running her thumb over my finger joints. "Welcome to the household, Azalea. I have been waiting for you for a long time." There is much to be done to bring me in properly. Orders to be given, tasks to be assigned. [[Congratulations to be received]].

(set: $taskshow to false)(if: (visited: "do I even want to refuse?") is true)[You've had your chance to persuade me against this. I extend my hand to the Witch. ](else:)[No. ]"I accept." She takes my hand and just holds it, running her thumb over my finger joints. "Welcome to the household, Azalea. I have been waiting for you for a long time." She leads me from the solar, telling me "there is much to be done, now. Orders, tasks, such things." She stops at the door, and (link-reveal: "looks back at you")[. "Azalea, a moment." I wait outside. You are fixed in her gaze. She closes the door. "Azalea will be parting from you, here. She's made her choice. [[You've made yours]]."]

I descend from the heights of the house slightly dizzied, make my way back to the dollhouse. The sound of cheering from the living room leaves me disoriented for a moment. There are balloons, and there is applause, and there is a banner: "Welcome, Azalea!" (if: (visited: "MG end") is true)[Morning Glory is pouring everyone drinks.](else:)[[[Morning Glory is opening a bottle of wine->MG end]]] (if: (visited: "Larkspur end") is true)[Larkspur rocks back and forth happily in time with the music.](else:)[[[Larkspur is setting up the gramophone->Larkspur end]]] (if: (visited: "Oleander end") is true)[Oleander has sat back down. The center of the couch, it seems, is my seat of honor.](else:)[[[Oleander moves in for a hug->Oleander end]]] (if: (visited: "Nightshade end") is true)[Nightshade relaxes back in her seat.](else:)[[[Nightshade smiles from the couch->Nightshade end]]] (if: (visited: "Wolfsbane end") is true)[Wolfsbane sits next to Nightshade, who gently pets her hair.](else:)[[[Wolfsbane stands to greet me->Wolfsbane end]]] (if: $endcount > 4)[Morning Glory has poured everyone's drinks, and rises to get everyone's attention. "[[A toast!]]"]

(set: $endcount to it + 1)"Hey, doll." She pops out the cork. The label bears the manor's seal. Mead, made from red honey. Doubly intoxicating, I'm sure. (link-reveal: "\"Hey, Morning Glory.\"")[ I let her set down the bottle to give me a hug. She pours me a glass. "Let the others get their fill of you. Then, we'll toast your arrival. It's been a while since we've had such an occasion." I accept the glass. (link-reveal: "\"Oh. By the way. Your old rival says hi.\"")[ She looks startled, then laughs. "Of course she does. Of course she does. I wish her the best." [[Speak with the others->Congratulations to be received]]]]

Several of her hands, now, are holding mirrors. Small compact ones, mostly. She arranges them, just so; you can catch a glimpse of the path of light between them, like a cat's cradle. "[[Farewell]], my dear."

A salt flat, extending in all directions. The sun never rises far beyond the horizon, nor ever dips fully below it, casting the sky in sickly light. Heat mirages shimmer in the distance. You know better than to pursue them. Occasionally, a wind whips up, sending flurries of salt scouring through the air. The air is dry; you can't tell if you're hot or cold at any given moment, just that it hurts. You have hope, at least. The salt could be reflective, if flat enough of a sheet, if the light catches it at the right angle. You've been through the hall of mirrors. You understand the principles. Where would you go, though? What would be the point? (align:"=><=")[END [[Credits->End Credits]]]

Wait. Before we refuse. She said I asked for this. (link: "And you trust her?")[//And you trust her?// With what little I know of my past—why wouldn't I be tired of running? [[Accept the offer]] [[Refuse the offer]]]

(set: $endcount to it + 1)She's flipping through records, indecisive. She sets them aside as I approach. "Hello, Azalea." //I'm so glad you're going to stay around! Help me pick music.// |options>[(link: "Something electronic")[(replace: ?options)[I flip through the box. "This?" Fast-paced electronic music. This is a time for excitement.](show: ?1)] (link: "Something jazz")[(replace: ?options)[I flip through the box. "This?" Upbeat jazz. A time for celebration.]] (link: "Something orchestral")[(replace: ?options)[I flip through the box. "This?" Peaceful orchestral music. Something pleasant for the background.](show: ?3)]] |1)[(set: $music to "electronic")She puts on the record and pulls me to dance with her for a moment, then sits down, giving my hand a squeeze. [[Enjoy->Congratulations to be received]]]\ |2)[(set: $music to "jazz")She puts on a record, then takes my hand and twirls me. She sits down and rocks back and forth happily. [[Enjoy->Congratulations to be received]]]\ |3)[(set: $music to "orchestral")She puts on the record, then drags me into a few waltz steps before releasing me. She sits down and slowly sways back and forth. [[Enjoy->Congratulations to be received]]]

(set: $endcount to it + 1)The force of her affection lifts me off my feet. "I'm so happy! I knew you would be a good fit!" I stumble a bit when she releases me. (link-reveal: "\"I'm glad I get to stay here.\"")[ "I'm glad too. When you got here, you looked so worn out." She laughs. "I may have fallen in love with you a bit, then." (link-reveal: "\"What was I like when I arrived?\"")[ (if: (visited: "household 3") is true)[I've been told a little, but I'm curious now.](else:)[I'm curious. Something must have led me here.] "You were exhausted. You'd been hitch-hiking, you said. Making your way northwest, months of travel. When the Witch was deciding what to do about you, you begged me to argue your case to her." She smiles. "Not that I needed to. Something about you caught her attention too." [[Thank her and carry on->Congratulations to be received]]]]

(set: $endcount to it + 1)Nightshade doesn't stand to greet me, but beckons me over. "Well done. (if: (visited: "Desertion") is true)[You impressed me from the start. I look forward to working under your command.](else:)[I worried I'd pushed you too hard. But if the mistress is confident in you, I am doubly so.]" She offers me a firm handshake. (link-reveal: "\"Thank you, Nightshade.\"")[ She salutes. "Here's to all the best." [[Salute her back->Congratulations to be received]]]

(set: $endcount to it + 1)Wolfsbane greets me with a handshake that turns into a tight hug. She's //strong//. I fear I'm about to crack in half. But she releases me before I do. "Well done. Didn't really talk before." She laughs. "I try not to get attached before I'm sure someone will last. Glad you outperformed my doubts." (link-reveal: "\"I'm glad too.\"")[ She kisses my forehead. "Looking forward to having you around. (if: $endcount <5)[Go say hi to the others.](else:)[Morning Glory's got something to say, looks like. Let's give her the floor.]" [[Do so->Congratulations to be received]]]

Morning Glory pulls me to her side. "I will spare you my speeches, prognostications, and dramatics. To Azalea, to a complete six, and to our mistress!" The night continues dizzyingly. There is conversation, there is dancing, there is laughter. I feel more myself than ever. There is no need for sleep. When the sun rises and the festivities end, I fall easily into the pattern of this house, as if I had always been a part of it. (align:"=><=")[END [[Credits->End Credits]]]

"Getting the feel for things?" (link-reveal: "\"I think so.\"")[ And I do. There is a pattern to this house, in its layout, in its operation, in its inhabitants. Even more so, it feels like that pattern has a space for me. "I'm glad." She reaches for my hand, gives it a squeeze. "What are you up to next?" |options>[(link: "\"I'm not certain.\"")[(replace: ?options)["I'm not certain."](show: ?1)] (if: $apiarybook is true and $apiarist < 2)[(link: "\"I'm looking for a book. //Ontological Cartography.//\"")[(replace: ?options)["I'm looking for a book. //Ontological Cartography.//"](show: ?2)] ](if: (visited: "Dollhouse basement") is true and (visited: "Hangar") is not true)[(link: "\"I'm looking for the code to the door in the basement.\"")[(replace: ?options)["I'm looking for the code to the door in the basement."](show: ?3)] ](if: $reflected < 6 and (visited: "Hall of mirrors") is true)[(link: "\"I'm trying to figure out the hall of mirrors.\"")[(replace: ?options)["I'm trying to figure out the hall of mirrors."](show: ?4)] ](if: $keys contains " the key to the Witch's quarters")[(link: "\"I'm going to speak with the Witch.\"")[(replace: ?options)["I'm going to speak with the Witch."](show: ?5)]]]] |1)["I'm sure you'll find something to do. Have you explored everywhere yet? The library is lovely." [["Perhaps I'll go there, then."->living room]]]\ |2)["Ooh, exciting. I don't know if that's one I've read. I only peruse the esoterica when I need an alchemical text or something like that." [["It seems a complicated subject."->living room]]]\ |3)["Oh, you're going to meet the combat dolls! They're real sweethearts." [["I hope so."->living room]]]\ |4)["Good luck. It's quite the puzzling location." [["Quite."->living room]]]\ |5)["Then I wish you well. (if: $clothes is not "uniform")[You may want to get changed, first. ]Our mistress can be an overwhelming presence. But you have nothing to fear. I promise." [["I hope so."->living room]]]

It perches on a branch, having abandoned its watchful post on a root. I take wing, circle overhead. This bird is not the hunter's quarry. That comes through the water now. It moves from water to ground to tree, hiding, fleeing, hiding again. Moonlight illuminates it for a moment; a great, spotted cat, its fur white and silver-pale, rosettes almost red. [[Then follows the hunter.]]

He crashes through with the sound of rifle-fire, splashing, stomping, paddling, and the cat is gone. The hunter breathes ragged, leaning against his gun as he rests for a moment, tries to spot the cat again. His attire is military-issue, sturdy boots and combat helmet, but he has draped himself with the decorations of some mythic hero. He wears a bear skin around his shoulders and images of victories and feats painted on his helmet and the stock of his weapon. [[Watch him closely]]

He is driven, determined, but weary. His quarry will make a fine trophy, he thinks. (if: visits is 1)[I know this man. His uniform matches [[one I once wore]].](elseif: visits is 2)[He looks different from before. The mien of the great hunter is new. I knew he had caught my trail, tried hard to brush him off. Ah. He has sighted the cat, takes aim, fires. She flees. I [[follow him]] as he curses and gives chase.](else:)[He'll never catch her. I take a moment to revel in his impotence. There is little for me to do here. Perhaps I'm dwelling too much on a past now cut away. [[Fly off->Hunting exit]]]

Before I deserted, fled the camp and sold my gun and secrets to the guerrilleras for safe passage anywhere else, he was there. His eyes oversaw my every move, his voice correcting my posture and grip. His hands were rough, but gentle on my skin, his breath warm in my ear, his eyes drinking me in, his tongue soft between my lips. What could I have done? Who would have believed the coward fag's word over his? [[Why is he here?->Watch him closely]]

The cat is always one movement ahead of him, never so well hidden he loses sight entirely, never so far away he cannot follow, but never close enough to grasp. Beautiful, dangerous, unattainable. Why not kill him? Why keep him here, in a chase he'll never complete? [[For my benefit?]]

Good. Let him wear himself out chasing an unreachable prize. [[I'm free of him and what he stands for, now.->Hunting exit]]

I watch the scene a little longer, after I leave my false-reflection behind. [[Good riddance.->blueshift]]

The time, model, uniform, and task line up. Patrol actions in the Strait of Teeth, fifty or so years ago. The event has been snatched out of time, a false foe given to keep this ship occupied. But for what purpose? There is little to be done on the ship. I let that reflection go and focus on the office. The crashing of waves fades from my ears. I sit back in the office chair and (link-reveal: "peruse the paperwork for clues.")[ I piece together shipping reports, vessels to be permitted or refused passage, mandates to search for contraband—ah. Honey and candles among the list of banned items. (link-reveal: "I think I see.")[ A threat to business. Presumably, this vessel's path blocked the ship the Witch was smuggling goods on. I recall, vaguely, the politics around the Strait at the time. Why keep the ship here? I tap a pen against my chin. This is a moment taken out of time. The //Brazen Reproach// has been excised from being, trapped in this confluence of reflections. The barrier to business is simply removed from existence; events proceed as planned. [[I have nothing left to do here.]]]]

The Witch's operations stretch back longer than I was aware. This precision erasure of a barrier to her plans, trapping a possibility in glass—what are her plans, to require such maneuvers? [[Better to be working with her than against her.->blueshift]] [[A warship removed from being could do a lot of good. Perhaps her ends are not all bad.->blueshift]] [[You've become a pawn of something very dangerous.->blueshift]]

The office is peaceful. I reach into Opal's tank to gently stroke her scales, and, when she moves up my arm, toy boat in tow, I let her stay, sit down with her to peruse the reading material on hand. I spend a pleasant while reading, then return her to her tank and [[leave this reflection.]]

I feel a little more relaxed. [[Step away->blueshift]]

She walked over from the town nearby, perhaps. Or perhaps she's just a means by which to be here. I join the woman in the reflection at the cliff edge. (if: visits is 1)[(display: "Oracle 1")](else:)[(display: "Oracle 2")]

"Oracular rivalry?" "Something like that!" She laughs. "We prognosticated in similar veins of future and firmament, ran counter to each other's efforts, served different ends. I didn't realize how potent her mistress was." A shrug. "So be it. She cut my future short. I was only good enough to, at the end, finally understand what I was facing." (link-reveal: "\"You seem content about it.\"")[ "I am. I tried, for the first few years, to escape, to get word out to someone, but I realized: I didn't have to worry. The future would happen without me. The sea breeze is nice here. There's a fair in town. And now you're here to visit." (link-reveal: "\"I'm glad.\"")[ "Next time you swing by, we'll hit the midway, yeah? It's always the same, but it's nice." (link-reveal: "\"That sounds nice.\"")[ I'm a little taken aback. (if: $reflected is 1)[I'm not sure what I expected to find behind mirrors.](else:)[This is such a peaceful reflection.] She flops on her back, looking—well, not looking, I suppose—at the sky. "Tell Morning Glory her old rival says hi." [[I suppose I will.]]]]]

I sit on the floor by the mirror and think, for a moment. [[Be glad she's doing well.->blueshift]] [[What a depressing fate.->blueshift]]

She doesn't look at me. "Welcome. I've been waiting." (link-reveal: "\"Hello. You have been?\"")[ "Of course." She turns toward me now. Her eyes are covered by a strip of blue cloth. "You're the honey-witch's new doll, yes? The birds said you would come." Of course. A blind oracle. (link-reveal: "\"I am. And you would be?\"")[ "Just a failed seer." She smiles. "Your mistress stripped me of my name when she trapped me here. So be it! Saves me the responsibility of doing anything about anything." (link-reveal: "\"A very freeing imprisonment. Why did she trap you here?\"")[ "I was a threat to her home-built oracle. Have you met her yet?" (link-reveal: "\"Morning Glory?\"")[ "Of course. See her at work, if you get the chance. She's quite good." She sits down, motions for me to join. I do so. [["Oracular rivalry?"]]]]]]

She turns to greet me. "Welcome back." (link-reveal: "\"Hello again. I believe we had plans for this visit?\"")[ "That we did! Shall we head into town?" It's a lovely day out—"It always is," she tells me—and the fair is lively, but not crowded. She navigates it with ease, as if she knows exactly where the gaps in the crowd will be. Foreknowledge or familiarity? Perhaps both. [[Ride the ferris wheel]] [[Play rigged games]] [[Eat fair food]] [[Ride the roller coaster]] [[Visit the Big Top]]]

It's a larger ferris wheel than I would have expected from a traveling fair. She points out features of the landscape as we climb; there's the fountain in the center of town, there are the rock formations down in the water, there's the coffee shop. When we reach the top: there's the edge of the reflection, where the land fades off into nonbeing. At some point, one of us started holding the other's hand. "This is nice." She leans on my shoulder. "I haven't had someone to do this with for a long while. Everyone else here is rather two-dimensional." Eventually, I must [[bid her farewell]].

The bottles in the ball toss game are clearly weighted, the darts too blunt to pop the balloons, but the shooting gallery, where the gun shoots a little askew, I'm able to compensate for. She's become very good at winning the games, but is suitably impressed by my marksmanship. "That one took me months to learn the trick." The prizes we win aren't real, and lugging them around quickly becomes a chore, so we lay in the grass outside the fair with our spoils and watch the clouds drift, talking about each other's lives. Neither of us remember our past all that well; when we run out of material, we just lay in silence. Eventually, I must [[bid her farewell]].

The funnel cake is good, for an illusory reflection. She wants to introduce me to the wealth of deep-fried novelties. "I'm telling you, the deep-fried butter is honestly excellent." It is better than I expect. We're coated in powdered sugar and grease by the time we return to the cliff's edge. "You being here adds novelty to things I've done so many times. Thank you." She gives me a sticky kiss on the cheek before I [[bid her farewell]].

Perhaps it's the reflection I wear; I get sick on the loops. But why let it stop me? We run between the roller coaster and the spinning teacups and the garbage can, laughing madly with each ride. I tire faster than her, though. "I'm well-used to this one's curves." We sit by the ride fence, resting for a moment. "For a while, I tried adding novelty to it. I'd unbuckle midway through, ride backwards or upside down. But I fell off a lot, and got tired of getting half a ride and then waking up by the cliff again." Perhaps I'll try matching her daring in that regard. Not yet, though. Eventually, I must [[bid her farewell]].

She's more interested in watching the crowd than the performance. "Oh, please do have fun, I've just seen this plenty of times." But I do end up joining her. She's acquired opera glasses from somewhere, and we scope out the crowd, spot interesting people. "They still reflect something real, which means they can still be amusing. I think those two," she points out a pair arguing to the irritation of everyone around them, "are going through a divorce. I wonder how their real counterparts are doing." (link-reveal: "\"How long have you been here?\"")[ I ask. "I stopped keeping track," she says. "I ask the birds when I become curious. Seven years, at least." Eventually, I must [[bid her farewell]].]

I'll have to come back sometime. [[Step away->blueshift]]

The entryway extends up to the second floor, tall windows letting in sunlight, a beautiful chandelier hanging almost level with the floor above. The flowers are well-maintained here, present but not overwhelming the space. One could imagine the lady of the house resting one hand on the railing above, looking down on arriving guests to welcome them in, or on supplicants to awe them to silence. (if: $permissiontoleave is true)[I step through the front door for a moment. The fields of flowers extend out in all directions, but I can see, down the long brick driveway up to the house, the road into town.](else:)[I can't leave. Something inside me stops me from opening the grand doors.] [[Step away->Main house F1]]

Through the back door is a brick courtyard with a [[garage]], stables—unoccupied, perhaps reserved for equestrian guests—and a truck bay, for shipments in and out. [[Back inside->Main house F1]]

This is //my// office. I can tell as soon as I step in; a sense of correctness washes over me. I could reach out my hand and immediately find anything I looked for. I know exactly the arrangement of the filing cabinet, the proper place for each piece of stationery, the color coding of the calendar on the wall. (link: "Look through the filing cabinet")[The top drawer of the filing cabinet holds logistical documents for the house's business: sales and purchase records, shipping contracts, inventory records. Below that, financial documents. The next drawer down holds household records: maintenance schedules, to-do lists for each of the dolls, house budgets. The lowest drawer is (if: $keys does not contain " the key to my desk")[[[locked->null]]](else:)[locked, but opens with the writing desk key from my room. Here are more esoteric documents: contracts denominated in abstract currencies, territory agreements, documents on the maintenance of flowers within the house, proper concentrations of floral toxins in the honey, codebooks that are themselves encrypted by a cipher programmed into my inner workings.]] [[Back to the hall->Main house F2]]

A luxury car with darkly-tinted windows sits next to a nondescript, but similarly concealing sedan and a small pickup truck, its bed loaded with beekeeping and gardening equipment. [[Step out->rear of the house]]