>>4419637
>"Sooo uhhh... have you been keeping track of me?"
>Check the time on the watch and glance if anything on the map has changed.

Glad to have you back QM

>>4419659
+1
>Also check the Alice-gem to see if the Alice has arrived.

Welcome back, QM. Hopefully life throws less shit in the fan.

>>4419659
Second.

>>4419876
IIRC, she's already in Wonderland, just lost. We have to FIND her and protect her, basically.

>>4419637
Welcome back!

In addition to >>4419659 and >>4419876
>Check our reflection in the water. Has anything else changed about us since yesterday?

>>4419637
"You've been watching me." A statement of fact. The cat, unnecessarily, nods.

"I have a special interest in you, Esther. You're going to do great things. Extraordinary things."

You sigh and fish your watch out of your pocket. Again, the red dial clicks into place, and the blue spins slowly, locks into place, then spins again. The time is half-seven, and a quick check of the map confirms your location by the river. Oddly, you see a dot back at the cave, dim and blue. You snap the watch closed, replace it in your pocket, and lean over to wash your face.

The water flows too quickly and too roughly to get a clear look at yourself, but curiosity gets the better of you. You scoop up a handful of water, wait for it to settle, and take a look. Dark hair, gray eyes, and a pair of long, fluffy white ears. Your clothes are rumpled, office wear not suited for outdoor living and exploration, but better than nothing. You dash the water back into the river.

"Can you tell me anything about them?" You turn to face Chess, standing and brushing off your knees.

"I think you know I cannot." Chess levitates to eye level, smile fixed on his face. "But I expect great things."

"Then why are you here now?" You snap, customer service skills weak in the early morning.

The cat almost looks hurt, if a cat could. "Well, I have a gift for you..." He waves a paw, and the air shimmers and with a 'pop' a folded set of clothes manifests. You reach out as they drop, catching them before they hit the ground. "I thought you could use something more durable, something of Wonderland."

>Write-In

>>4421132
...oh. Well... thank you. It's very appreciated. Sorry. Mornings and me don't get along.

Let's find somewhere private to re-dress. And then we can see about that dot for the Alice.

>>4421132
Find a place to change, and thank them.

>>4421132
>...oh. Well... thank you. It's very appreciated. Sorry. Mornings and me don't get along.
>Redress and check out that dot at the back of the cave.

>>4421132
>Thank you, Chess

>>4421178
Support

>>4421132
"Oh!" You run your fingers over the clothes, the fabric shimmering as though woven with silver. The colors are a bright lavendar and black; a vest, pants, and blouse. No shoes though, but oddly, your feet don't feet at all the worse for wear despite galavanting around in naught but your stocking feet. "They're lovely, thank you. I'm sorry I snapped. M-"

"No, no, I understand. Bit of a shock, dropping into an unfamiliar world."

'Among other things...' you think to yourself, looking about for somewhere to change. You spy a rocky outcrop just upriver. "Give me a moment, will you?"

------------------------------

The clothes fit like a second skin, as if they were made for you. Emblazoned on the back of the vest is an emroidered rose in a warm gray.

They also feel strangely warm, as if they're thicker than they seem.

It's been a while since you've received a gift of any kind, let alone one so wonderfully practical. You return to the cat with a bounce in your step. "They're wonderful! Thank you, Chess."

He seems to beam, crossing his forelegs proudly. "I thought you could use something to keep you safe... from danger, and from prying eyes."

You almost mechanically pull the watch out of your pocket, snapping it open. Chess seems to flinch a bit at the chime as both dials slide about, the red snapping into place, as does the blue. This time, the blue dial doesn't attempt to reorient itself.

>Write-In

>>4423067
>It seems Alice has arrived. We'd best check in check in with the others and then set out to find her.

We wouldn't want to be late!

>>4423135
+1
Probably should go thank the two cards for their help as well.

We have a very important date!

>>4419637
Might want to also share the archive link for the last thread, OP.

>>4423203
[ http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/4378815/ ]

>>4423135
>>4423202
+1

>>4423135
Supporting

>>4423067
Your heart thuds in your chest. You watch the dial with the blue gem, and it still doesn't move?

Chess's ears perk as he drifts closer. "Miss Esther?"

"...she's here." You breathe it quietly, but Chess grins widely.

"Then, you must be off! Wouldn't do for a rabbit to be late."

You nod and shove the watch back into your pocket. A strange nervousness grips you. So much to do, so very, very much! But first! "I'm going to go say goodbye to the two in the cave before I'm off."

Chess nods. "You can spare the time, but be wary. The Alice is not so gifted as you are."

"What do you-" you start, but you blink once, and Chess is already gone. You shake your head, ears flopping, and look around. His smile, his whiskers, all trace of his presence is utterly gone. "Chess?"

No reply.

You sigh heavily and scurry back to the cave, finding the two cards still fast asleep. You circle around the remnants of the fire and crouch, giving Deux a little shake. He wakes with a start, swinging at the air as if banging a drum, before his eyes focus on you.

"Ah! Miss Rabbit!"

"I've come to say goodbye, Deux. She's here!"

"The Alice, then." Le Spade yawns and stretches awake, sitting up stiffly. "I assume you still mean to do your duty, then?"

>Write-In

>>4424839
>"To a point. For now, I simply wish to see for myself who this Alice is, and there's safety in numbers. What comes later...remains to be determined."

>>4424839
>"To a point. For now, I simply wish to see for myself who this Alice is, and there's safety in numbers. What comes later...remains to be determined."
>Take some food for the road, Alice may be hungry and we've no clue how far she is.

>>4424839
Supporting >>4424894

We'd beeter find Alice before something less friendly does.

>>4424894
Supporting
Shame we don't have any medical supplies, we'll have to be quick

>>4424894
+1
>She's just as lost and confused as I am, so safety in numbers?

Bump

[Game resumes tomorrow. For some reason I just can't seem to sleep well on work days and it turns me into a zombie. Your patience is appreciated.]

>>4429640
No worries man

>>4429640
[Personal issues, sorry folks. Not abandoning, but have to take care of things.]

>I am going to Alice
Sorry to see this end abruptly. Was curious to see what crazy stuff we'd find in wonderland next.

>>4454086
[Still alive. Work schedule changed abruptly and had family visit from out of state.]

>>4455449
Nice. Well, I'll keep my eyes peeled on the catalog then for your next thread if/when you decide to make one.