01<@Ardweden> [Day: Thursday/Friday, September 7/8. Time: Midnight.] 01<@Ardweden> [Joan awakens in the Haven. Still a throne room, the walls are a pale green and a half-envisioned bench exists to one side.] 01<@Ardweden> [Mini Start.] 06* Joan looks around for the hat. 01<@Ardweden> [There is no hat inside the Haven!] 06* Joan finds no hat, so settles for going outside instead. 06* Joan goes outside to get the hat! Woot? 01<@Ardweden> [Joan steps outside and finds herself in the Square, or at least what approximates for the Square in the Dream World. There's a WalrusCatHat on the ground to the left of the Haven.] 06* Joan picks it up and looks inside. NOT by holding it over her head, in case the cat falls out. 01<@Ardweden> [Nothing inside the hat. It's not even especially deep. How can a cat fit in there, really?] 06* Joan calls into it. "Monsieur Walruscat! Are you zere?" 01<@Ardweden> [A familiar voice echoes back, "Madam Joan d'Arc! To what do I owe this honor?"] Zere's a situazion I could use some advize with, should you be so inclined. 01<@Ardweden> ["Well, I *do* love a pleasant conversation, so I suppose I could hear you out."] 06* Joan tips the hat right side up and shakes it to get the Cat out. 01<@Ardweden> [After the fourth shake, a cat falls out. He flips over and grabs that hat with one paw, pulling it onto his head as he lands on his feet.] 01<@Ardweden> [The Walrus spins a cane out of nowhere and leans on it. "You didn't need to do that, you know."] 06* Joan bows, one hat over her stomach like a butler. "Monsieur Walrus. My apologies, I 'ad only thought it would be easier for you." 01<@Ardweden> ["Aaaaah, no worries. Just don't do that again. Now," the Walrus grins, "What is this 'situation' you were referring to?"] About z last time we spoke... I am not sure I fully understood your meaning. I'm seeking anzers before my compatriots do somezing zey might regret." She pauses, then clarifies: "Or as least, I might." 01<@Ardweden> [The cat tilts his head. "The last time we spoke? I had thought you sorted everything in that situation out by now."] Not 'ardly. 01<@Ardweden> ["How odd," he says, scratching his chin with a claw. "Refresh my memory, then?"] You told us to return to where zis all began. 01<@Ardweden> [He furrows his little kitty brow for a moment, then says, "Oh! Oh HO, you were one of THEM, weren't you!" The Walrus laughs gleefully. "Which one was it? Sydney Raynerson? Hank Morris?"] 06* Joan raises an eyebrow. "I thought zat you knew." 01<@Ardweden> ["Not *quite*. Hank, isn't it? Yes, I think you're a Hank Morris on the other side, Joan d'Arc."] 06* Joan nods. "Zat's right." 01<@Ardweden> ["Makes sense. You always did have a flair for righteousness." The Walrus winks. "But don't worry. Your secret's safe with me."] 06* Joan half smiles. "Much appreciated, Monsieur Walruscat." The back to the business at hand, "You told us zat we could return to ze place where zis all began." 01<@Ardweden> ["I'd think that's a good place to start, yes."] Zat could mean several zings. Ze place where it all started for me is zousands of miles from 'ere. Ze place I became aware of zis Side, I know not 'ow to return to if it even still exists. Ze place where someone began attacking people through zere dreams may be zomewhere I've never been. "But most of us 'ave decided it was a place called ze Lunatic Fringe, which occupies zis spot on the other zide," she gestures at the Haven. 01<@Ardweden> [The Walrus hmms, turning to look at the Haven. "Yes... I would think that's an excellent place to start."] Ze problem is, zis place is only open on ze full moon, a long time from now. And we do not know 'ow to contact ze owner. 01<@Ardweden> ["How did you know it was open on a full moon?"] She contacted us. 01<@Ardweden> ["Through one of these?" the cat asks as it leaps up, pulling a business card out from behind Joan's ear.] 06* Joan raises an eyebrow. "'Ow did you know?" 01<@Ardweden> [The cat grins. "Would you believe a lucky guess?" He flips the card over to Joan.] 06* Joan catches it, looking it over. "Non." 01<@Ardweden> ["Such a shame."] 01<@Ardweden> [On the back of the card, instead of the handwriting Hank saw when he woke up, Joan reads in the same scrawling script, "Open every full, half, and new."] .... oh what ze 'ell. It didn't say zat before. 01<@Ardweden> ["You didn't need to see it," the Walrus smiles. "Not to mention there wasn't room before."] 06* Joan grabs his paw and shakes. "Monsieur Walruscat, you 'ave been a great 'elp!" 01<@Ardweden> [The Walrus shakes hand and paw with Joan. "My pleasure, Madam. Now, if there is nothing else...?"] 06* Joan nods. "Au revoir." 01<@Ardweden> [He reaches up and pulls himself into the hat, popping away with the words, "Do let me know if you find anything interesting!"] 06* Joan returns to the Haven. Bringing the hat with her. They shouldn't have left it outside in the first place D:< 01<@Ardweden> [And Joan brings the hat inside the Haven, leaving it there while she wakes up.] 01<@Ardweden> [Mini End!]