The flames on my skin to wash all bad away.

[digophelia]

CHARACTERS: Alice Liddell [OPEN]
DATE: November 1st through 5th
WARNINGS: Depends on who approaches her and how things go!
SUMMARY: A few days after Halloween, Alice checks in on the children left in her care and receives an unexpected gift. Optional prompts inside!



A - COMMONER'S DISTRICT, 1ST - 4TH

[ Making good on her word, Alice seeks out some of the children out on the street, playing or attempting to steal from those out on the streets. The ground was littered with trash and the city looked to be beautiful once -- in a way, it was exactly like Whitechapel, London. Alice had found a suitable spot in the Commoner's District, with a few of them sitting with her in a spot that wasn't littered. The children were at least able to give her a better insight of the deep divide between goblins and humans, the history of this land. For the first time since she arrived in Odette, she was learning more and more about her surroundings, after boarding herself at Abel Inn for several days and hardly coming out.

Small children rarely went out by themselves in Whitechapel, unlike here. Even with the knowledge of bandits and thieves, Alice braved it with her knife tucked in a sheathe, of the sort, almost like a sword. Under lanterns and in a clearing that was well lit, she sat there with five children, exchanging a story after they told her of the beautiful queen, Odette.

For once, Alice was in her absolute element, visibly happy with little children and entertaining them with bits of Wonderland and the Queen of Hearts. ]

"Stuff and nonsense!" I said, "The idea of having the sentence first!"

"Hold your tongue!" And the Queen of Hearts turned purple, like a beat! "Off with her head!" the Queen shouted at the top of her voice. Nobody moved, not a soul in the court. Everyone was afraid of losing their head.

"Who cares for you?" I said, and I returned to my full size! "You're nothing but a pack of cards!"

[ It was nonsensical to adults, but the children listening to her seemed to be thrilled with it, giggling at the mental image of a purple-faced queen and Alice gesturing with her story of the Queen of Hearts and all of the court dissolving into a pack of cards. ]


B - ABEL INN, NOVEMBER 5TH, BEFORE THE STORM OF THE CASTLE

[ It was easy to remember it.

Alice counted six days after Halloween, each time, with a heavy heart. Officially, it had been twelve years since that faithful night. She would spend each of those nights, crying herself to sleep, shutting herself off to the world. But come the "day" of November 5th, Alice emerged before she departed from the Inn.

It had to be a sign.

Alice was looking at her signature white and blue dress, with blue metal gleaming under the dull light of the inn. With her books and drawings laying on her bed, Alice held pieces of the armor, bit by bit, as if to get a feel for it, softly murmuring to herself. She dreamed of knights, ever since she was a child. Of white and red chess pieces, and of the last white knights and pawns of the Pale Realm fighting with her in Queensland.

But never did she dream of wearing armor. Like Joan of Arc, she thinks, grateful that it allows her a bit of modesty of wearing a skirt instead of trousers. Plates of metal on her side and encasing her slender torso, the weight of it felt strange. Odd. She was used to bustles and petticoats, but not armor.

Almost like a child on Christmas morning, she walked around in it, outside of the inn, eagerly pacing in it. Turning on a heel, Alice twisted her hip to see what it felt like if she moved swiftly enough with armor on. Blue, silver, and white, gleaming through a flutter of butterflies as Alice landed on her feet. With a heavy sigh, Alice looked at her hands. Her eagerness fades quickly, as reality pulled her back into the world again, and out of memories of the Pale Realm, remembering that this was the very night her home had burned to ashes. ]

Why on earth do I have this? I'm no knight.

Comments

B ...

[naturallywavy]

Oi, ooooi. What is that? I don't see a young lady down there, all I see is a Silver Saint. What are you doing here of all places?

<sub>[ Gintoki is, indeed, making a reference to Saint Seiya, but there is a different sort of tone in his voice this morning. He sounds more awake and energetic— one could probably think that he was even happy even if his gaze remained appearing lifeless and disinterested.
He is also perched on the rooftop of the inn when Alice emerges out of it. Yep. Just chilling out up there.

His legs are dangerously hanging over the side, and, his chronic nose-picking has begun once more as his index finger finds its way in his right nostril. ]</sub>

[digophelia]

[ Alice stops in her steps, glancing back up at Gin, who happens to be on a roof. Never mind that split moment of confusion as to why or how he got up there, Alice snaps her head up, ignoring the slow crawl of something on her cheeks. Her response is to pat the sides of her face as she throws him her usual puzzled face. ]

I beg your pardon?

[ Silver Saint? That makes her face turn a small shade of pink and because Alice is not accustomed to becoming visibly flustered, she assumes it's hair in her face and starts pushing her hair frantically back. ]

Well, I don't know what it is, I didn't ask for armor, but I have it.

[ Alice kicks the ground, pulling her hands back behind her back and begins her usual rock on her feet. ]

I wanted to see what it felt like.

[naturallywavy]

<sub>[ He got a present too. You're not alone.

Gintoki stands up to his feet, placing his bokuto tip on the rooftop. His hands curve along the very end of the hilt on top of each other before his cheek rests on top of his knuckles and keeps his gaze focused on her from above. It's a wooden sword with some kind of writing on the hilt; wasn't he fighting with a real sword previously? Wouldn't this be a downgrade?

There's a bit of fondness in his eyes, again, like when he first noticed the children. ]</sub>

Ah, the typical attire of a warrior. You want to know what it feels like? Cut the crap.
Feeling like a warrior has nothing to do with what is on the outside.
It has everything to do with what is on the inside.

_{[ He wants to say: 'so you should already know what that feels like,' but that's a bit much, considering he is just basing the statement off of what he has observed about Alice here. ]}

[digophelia]

[ Alice, who has been in her room reading about knights and kings for the past couples of days, has her mind filled with images.

What it feels like on the inside her says. She's still not sure what that feels like, too. ]

I am not that much of a warrior or a knight, I'm none of those things.

[ Alice would even say she isn't that great with children, too, despite her care days before. She tilts her head at his wooden sword, curious as to why he has it. For all of his oddities, Gin at least seems to know a thing or two about being a warrior, unlike Alice. ]

I did what to know what it feels like, I always heard it was heavy to wear armor. It's about half-true, really. I don't think I deserve it, too, truth be told.

1.3

[naturallywavy]

_{[ Gintoki would admit that he is (well, was) a warrior, but not so easily can admit he was (and is) a hero.
He pulls his weight off of his bokuto and lifts it to his shoulder, allowing the hilt to rest against his body. ]}

I would say you were those children's knight when everyone was fighting. Ah, well, you're in shining armor now. Better late than never.

<sub>[ Gintoki reaches the very edge of the building, almost like he's about to jump, and looks around. He mutters. ]

... Ah, how do I get down.</sub>

2.3

[naturallywavy]

_{[ ... brb.
Turning around and taking the staircase. Give him a minute. ]}

3.3

[naturallywavy]

_{[ And there he is, approaching her and standing by her side. ]}

What is this? Did Satan Clause come early this year?
_{[ Yeah, Satan Clause. ]}

1/2

[digophelia]

Children's knight?

[ Alice gives the most pitiful frown she's given him yet. The idea, just the thought -- how could anyone really compare her, of all people, to a knight in armor? Suddenly, Alice felt smaller in armor than she did before, dropping her head to the side.

She would have burst into tears under different circumstances. ]

[digophelia]

[ That was up until she heard what he said.

"Satan Clause"? Gintoki said a lot of weird things to Alice that had a great way of snapping her out of her misery. Turning up to him, Alice gave him another quizzical look. ]

I haven't heard of such a thing. What does that mean?

[naturallywavy]

<sub>[ He's oblivious to any kind of sorrowful thoughts or feeling she made have had and proceeds to rap his knuckles on the shoulder of the armor, causing it to clink.

Gintoki remembers wearing armor in the war. It was different, and didn't cover nearly as much; just his core and chest. Still, Gintoki being the sentimental creature he is, he can't help but find interest in Alice's newly acquired item. He even doesn't reply to her right away because he's too busy looking her over ( not in that sort of way. )
it's a nice set of armor. Shiny. And silver. ]</sub>

Aaa..? Satan Clause? Or Santa Clause? They're practically the same. One just gives gifts to children; the other give eternal punishment into the underworld.

But they are practically the same.

[digophelia]

[ Even if he's looking her over in nostalgia, Alice can't help but feel her fluster persist, once again rubbing her cheeks, swearing something is on her cheeks. Still, Satan Clause or Santa Clause doesn't ring a bell, none of it does. The confusion on her face persists, Alice crinkling up her nose in thought- ]

I... No? I don't think such a thing exists! Why would anyone give eternal punishment to children in the underworld? Coal, maybe, but that is for naughty children at Christmas.

[ Wait a second- Alice puffs up. ]

Are you calling me a child again?

[naturallywavy]

You can't tell somebody Satan Clause doesn't exist. Oi, he does too exist, shut your hole, he exists. If it wasn't for him, you wouldn't be— _{[ oh, she's getting puffy, so he stops right there. ]}

What is so great about adult? Why do you wanna be an adult? So you can pay taxes and have a mid-life mid-life crisis..? Do you really want to be on J*rry Sp*nger..?

_{[ another clunk against her armor again. ]}

Get over it. Nobody should grow up too fast. Your panties won't fit you anymore.

1/3

[digophelia]

[ She doesn't hear him at first. ]

Well, no-

[ Or understand what "Jerry Springer" is. She thinks she understands a bit of what he's saying. ]

That's not it, at all. I know I'm small, but I'm not a child, I can fend for myself.

[ Maybe that's why it bothers her so much. She doesn't like the idea of people swooping in and doing what the think is best for her, oh, no. Asserting adulthood meant asserting her independence, to be something much more than the former Rutledge patient. She starts to protest until she realizes what he said. ]

[digophelia]

Excuse me?

[ In retrospect, it's a bad idea to upset an armed, short-tempered girl who has no qualms with hitting someone. ]

[digophelia]

[ That's too much for her Victorian sensibilities to handle and Alice promptly gives him a hard smack on the arm. She can't bring himself to slap his face, but a slap to his arm is good enough, especially with the height difference. Alice isn't going to jump just to slap him. ]

[naturallywavy]

Oi, oooi! Don't hit the mosquitoes off of me— you were hitting them off of me, weren't you?

_{[ And usually, Gintoki would retaliate with a smack himself— but also cannot hit Alice.. especially when she is in armor. It seems like he would hurt himself trying.
Anyway, clearing his throat. ]}

I meant to tell you.. this isn't the only thing I got. _{[ gesturing to his bokuto. ]}

[digophelia]

No, Mr. Gin, it's impolite to discuss undergarments.

[ Alice, who is still in armor, finds herself scolding him like a mother would, wagging a finger as she had one hand on her hip. ]

Don't do it again.

[ He had gotten something to? She tries to shift the focus to that, before he could say something smarry in response to her scolding. ]

Ah, did you? What did you get?

[naturallywavy]

We're past that now. I think you and I— we can talk about panties. Everybody wears panties, nothing is wrong with panties! Oi, I've worn panties before. See, we have something else in common. _{[ Alright, he hushes before he gets whapped again.
Oh, but her next question. This is exciting. ]}

Aaa, I was practicing, you know— and something amazing happened. Though, I have to show you.
_{[ He gestures, seeming quite excitable before beginning to trot off towards an exit out of the city and towards the outskirts. ]}

1/2

[digophelia]

[ It's not without Alice at least smacking him again on the arm for even continuing with it. A gentle, but firm- ]

No.

[digophelia]

[ Now that she's trying to recollect herself, shrewdly pushing her hair out of her face, Alice has to follow Gin to see what he means. She's still pretty huffy. ]

What do you have to show me?

[naturallywavy]

_{[ Gintoki keeps on walking, almost falling into a near jog at this rate. You know it was really important when he was showing amounts of energy. Wordlessly, he continues on for awhile before finally speaking. ]}

I have been trying to do somethin' for about 20 years.. maybe even longer than that. _{[ Gin, your age is showing again. ]}

Today I did it.
_{[ he sounds so happy. ]}

[digophelia]

[ Alice really had no idea he was that old. Being the overly curious thing she is, she follows him, keeping the same pace, as much as she can. She supposes this is a good practice, running in armor, whilst listening to Gin. What is it? It has to be good if he's this happy.

The curiosity is killing her. ]

What is it? May I see?

[naturallywavy]

_{[ What Gintoki takes her to.. it seems to be a .. tree that has fallen over because it was split in two by something powerful. He looks pretty impressed by what he's done, but his cheeks are flushed. ]}

I did this!
_{[ SO PROUD. CAUSING DESTRUCTION. ]}

[digophelia]

[ Alice comes to a complete stop, skidding to her feet and eagerly looking around, expecting something different. When she sees the tree, she does what she can to refrain from frowning. Well, it must be something, though, Alice can't say she approves of random destruction of a tree. ]

Ah. So I see.

[ Bless his heart, he seems so happy. ]

And how, exactly, did you manage that?

[naturallywavy]

_{[ Of course he seems so happy. This is revolutionary. ]}
Ha ha ha haaaa! Oii, oii. Ain't it cool? We've been joking about this for years— probably ever since the series began running.

But I've never actually done it. I gave it all of my umph and believed in myself.. and I did like. Like passing a crap when you're really constipated.
_{[ Gintoki, this doesn't explain anything. ]}