[Beta Round] Discovery, Doors, and Dolls

[beldam_buttons]

It would seem, to the outside observer, that it is a day without anything to lend it particular significance - but, curiously, in basements and attics, in kitchens and closets, something a little bit peculiar is going on

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[impalasandpie]

Dean frowned at the doll he found in his back seat. He was in New Oreleans to investigate a report of some serious voodoo. Seeing a voodoo doll of himself set him ill at ease. He had to admit though, it was a pretty good likeness, and kinda cute. What made him blink though was the fact that the doll had no hair or scrap of cloth or anything else that might make the voodoo work, and the big key tied around it’s neck. He frowned and began to examine it. He had seen old keys before, but this had nothing on them. Big and iron, with a button on the end. The button thing was weird. It nearly matched the eyes of the voodoo doll

[beldam_buttons]

Oh, she looked exactly like his mother, there was no denying that. Same body type, same face, same eye colour, same hair, everything. Dean shook his head to ensure that this wasn’t some fucked dream he was having. Nope. It was real. Very real. He thought it odd that of all the strange things he had seen in his life, this was the one that him creeped out the most.

“I don’t know what you are,” he said finally, “But I know damn well you’re not my mother.”

[impalasandpie]

Oh, she looked exactly like his mother, there was no denying that. Same body type, same face, same eye colour, same hair, everything. Dean shook his head to ensure that this wasn’t some fucked dream he was having. Nope. It was real. Very real. He thought it odd that of all the strange things he had seen in his life, this was the one that him creeped out the most.

“I don’t know what you are,” he said finally, “But I know damn well you’re not my mother.”

[beldam_buttons]

The woman who was but was not Mary Winchester laughed slightly. “Don’t be silly, Dean. I’m your Other Mother.”

She continued as she pulled something out of the oven. Looked like cookies, and they smelled very different from most. “Everyone has an Other Mother, even you.”

[dorkexmachina]

"Screwdriver, hammer, soldering iron... where's my socket wrench?!"

Jack sighed. His workshop was a mess. Much worse than usual, and now he couldn't find anything. He'd have to build a robot that could track his tools or something, because this was getting ridiculous. How was an evil boy genius supposed to build his robot army if he couldn't even tighten a few bolts?! He rummaged through a pile of broken parts, tossing things haphazardly about until a flash of orange yarn caught his eye. There! Underneath a rusted piece of a chestplate. Was that... a doll?

Jack pulled it out and laid it on the work table. It looked eerily like him. The coat, the goggles, the hair, even the helipack! Whoever had made it obviously knew him pretty well. But why a doll? This had to be a prank. Wuya or Megan or those Xiaolin losers were making fun of him. They were probably taking pictures right now: Jack Spicer playing with a dollie. If something like that got out, he wouldn't be able to show his face around the evil circles for months

[Mod would like to apologize for the comment mix up!]

[beldam_buttons]

The smell was indeed cookies, double chocolate chip to be exact. A few moments passed, and then the Other Mother appeared in the doorway of Jack’s workshop, a plate of the cookies in her arms.

“There you are,” she said cheerfully. “I’ve been waiting for you, Jack.”

[dorkexmachina]

"Thanks," he replied, not thinking too much about it as he checked a toolbox in the corner. This place really had everything! He'd have to borrow a few things for later.

Wait, someone had just talked to him. He whirled around with a sneer, ready to tell off whoever interrupted him, when he spotted her. A smiling lady with a plate of cookies.

"...who are you?"

[beldam_buttons]

"You don't recognize your own mother, Jack?" And she did look exactly like his mother, save for the paper white skin, fingers that seemed ever so slightly longer than they should be, and big, black button eyes.

[Appropriate icon is forthcoming, sorry for the delay.]

[tendollaftlong]

Finally excusing himself from breakfast with his family, Alex tiredly made his way to his office to begin his day's work.

Not far down the hall from the office door was what appeared to be a cabinet. Or at least, it was too small to be the door to a proper room. He nearly walked right on past it, though his eyes caught onto it just as he strode past. Like most (especially those with as keen eyes as the lawyer) are wont to do when a door that was not there before appears in a house he or she has lived in since Goodness-Knows-When, Mr. Hamilton crouched down in front of it. He tugged gently at the little ivory knob but it failed to yield.

His expedition fruitless, he proceeded to his office. There on the desk central to this room sat a small toy. It seemed to change the character of the whole room, though he wasn't sure how. The little doll leaned against one of the bookends and its black, button eyes appeared to be staring right at him.

My eyes aren't black, Hamilton thought to himself with a haughty grimace, They're amethyst-

FFFF okay I fucked up >___> *plays it cool*

[tendollaftlong]

But throughout the morning and into the afternoon, he couldn't resist the curiosity of the door, the key, and the doll. After a longer period of contemplation than it should've taken a man of his intelligence, it occurred to him: Why not try the mysterious door with the mysterious key? After all, it was the only lock without a key in the house and vice versa.

So, once the hallway was clear, he knelt in front of the door and carefully inserted the key into the little lock and, lo! It opened into a dark-- well, a dark I-don't-know-but-I'm-certainly-going-to-figure-out. Alex crawled on his hands and knees (a rather humiliating position for a man of his stature and natural grace) through the door and into the darkness only to find himself...

Back in the hallway. He felt silly, and returned to his office only to find that it was neater, and the sunlight filtering through his windows was brighter, and it was somehow altogether spruced up.

Well, this was pleasant. Alex indistinctly wondered if the maid would be prettier, too.

No worries, and sorry for slow. Fail night was FAIL. Also niiice book ref.

[beldam_buttons]

The maid, who was indeed no maid, was just outside of his office, dusting a table that sat in the hallway. She hummed a little, waiting for Alex to walk out of his office.

It's cool bb! ...what book ref? XD

[tendollaftlong]

Well, obviously, the reason for this rejuvination was a simple one: While he was degrading himself in that snug excuse for a hallway, the maid had popped in and done a quick dusting (As un-domestic as he was, he understood that a little dusting goes along way towards tidiness). That cheeky little woman mustn't be far, he thought, leaving the better than ever room, she was probably just outside...

"Good lord!" he exclaimed. "Whom might you be?"

[savior_backward]

She shouldn't have been surprised. Poking around in the old house had revealed things far less benign than this. Still, actually seeing it, and holding it in her hand was unnerving, to say the least

[Appropriate icon will be forthcoming.]

[beldam_buttons]

The Other Mother was sitting in the next room, reading a book - or at least pretending to, when she heard Alex's exclaimation of "What...?" Taking it as her cue, she walked into the foyer, smiling.

"Alexandra, is that you?" She smiled. "I've been waiting for you."

[No problem~!]

[savior_backward]

Alex stared. The woman was vaguely familiar. Like something she'd seen in a dream... She tensed, reaching for a sword that wasn't there. Was she... one of them?

"Who are you?" she asked. "How do you know my name?" After a glance around, she added, "What are you doing in my house?"

[beldam_buttons]

"I'm your Other Mother, dear," the woman said sweetly. "I can promise I mean you no harm."

GAH sorry busy day yesterday. DX [1/2]

[nil_sine_labore]

The house was mostly cleaned out, and Alphonse had insisted that it was the perfect place to lay low for a while. Ed had to admit, it kept people out of their business and they could safely discuss plans to move on without the fear of being overheard

[nil_sine_labore]

Click.

To Edward's muted surprise and immediate satisfaction, the key worked! The door pulled open easily and he knelt down on hands and knees, leaving the doll discarded near the door.
"What's this? I don't think this passage should be here..." His curiosity got the better of him and he crawled carefully forward through the dim, glimmering blue passageway.

To Edward's complete surprise and shock, the passageway led not to another dusty part of the abandoned house, but a frighteningly familiar living room. It was his childhood home, unburned, clean, brightly lit with a fire crackling. He stood slowly, eyes widening as he took in the impossible surroundings.

"Is... this is home."

[beldam_buttons]

The living room was bright, comfortably warm from the merrily burning fire, and just as it was so long ago - but it was physical, around Ed despite the impossibility of it being there.

The scent of something baking wafted from the direction of the kitchen, as did the faint sound of a familiar voice humming.

[nil_sine_labore]

As if drawn by the voice and the deliciously warm odor, Edward moved mechanically toward the kitchen. He looked around with only his eyes. At each step he took, he felt a growing sense of both excitement and dread at what he steadily realized might be at the end of his walk.

His pace was slow and he almost began to feel nauseated, but he pressed onward. At last, he finally stepped across the kitchen's threshold and froze in his tracks.