Aʟɪᴄᴇ Pʟᴇᴀsᴀɴᴄᴇ Lɪᴅᴅᴇʟʟ (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
digophelia) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
epidemiology2015-11-05 07:53 pm
digophelia) wrote in epidemiology2015-11-05 07:53 pm
The flames on my skin to wash all bad away.
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.
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.
no subject
Were you coming to the castle, Alice?
no subject
She still thinks nothing of it and quietly pulls her hair back and out of her face. ]
Well, yes, of course I am.
[ By the tone of her voice, Alice seems to have a connotation of obviously, yes, she was going to do what she could to help. ]
We deserve answers, it's only fair.
no subject
Incidentally, Alice, do you know of a good name for a cat? I've stumbled upon another and I couldn't quite decide...
[The gears are already turning once again. When in doubt, go for the proven approach.]
no subject
[ She wonders if it's another large "cat", much like his lion. As terrifying as that thought would be for some and should be for her, Alice quirks her brow. In her interest, she turns to face him completely, reaching for the gauntlets to finally slowly take off the armor, off of her blue dress. ]
That would depend on their personality, wouldn't it?
no subject
[And Gilgamesh, ever full of surprises in that pocket dimension of his, whistles for yet another. A small portal appears by Alice's heel, and not seconds later does a small ball of fuzz come rolling out, mewling all the way. It looks up expectantly, crying for her attention.]
I found her injured some time ago. I fixed her up and sent her on her way, but she came straight back to me.
[She's certainly a pretty thing. One must wonder how Gilgamesh keeps getting a hold of pets he probably shouldn't have.]
1/2
Oh, no!
no subject
[ Alice is soon crushing the little cat into her arms, cradling her gently.
... How does he keep pulling things out like that? Alice glances up to him and then back to the kitten. Good luck getting her back. ]
no subject
The kitten wriggles with excitement in Alice's grip. She's not shy in the slightest and immediately sets to licking and rubbing along her arms. It quickly becomes clear she's not at all like her master and seeks only affection, only smiles. Gilgamesh smiles too to see it.]
You should've seen her earlier. But she's alright now.
[If Alice doesn't hold firm, she'll wriggle right onto her shoulder. Someone's a climber.]
no subject
Oh, no.
[ She can't really complain, it's been a very long time she's had a kitten in her arms. Alice lets out a sigh, resigning to the fact she just can't hold any fuzzy little animal. ]
Are you asking me to name her?
no subject
Indeed. I believe a more feminine touch in this instance would serve me well.
[Yes, Alice, he just called you feminine. Gilgamesh gestures to the animal, expectant.]
And since she fancies you so much, it's only right. Go on, then. She's waiting.
1/2
The moment's been lost, Alice is looking forward to take it off. She's back in Oxford as a little girl, with her three cats and scolding them for acting like kittens. A tiny, mewing cat like that makes her think of Snowdrop, one of Dinah's kittens. She can't really bring herself to name another cat Snowdrop or Dinah, because it's not the same.
The past is really rearing itself back for her tonight. ]
Snowflake.
[ Well, Snowdrop wasn't ever a white cat, far from it. She was tawny and striped. ]
no subject
Does that please you?
[ Admittedly, Alice was wondering more and more about these gestures. Her natural inclination, after years of unsavory company, that there was something more to this. Even with her suspicions, she was still cordial, cradling the little kitten in her arm, almost swaying with her, as if she were an infant. ]
no subject
It did seem a little odd, considering the cat wasn't white, but... Alice seems committed to it, and he's committed to keeping Alice calm. Why, indeed, when it would be so much simpler to walk away and leave a troubled girl to troubled thoughts, but it really has become something of a game to him—a game to see if he could win her trust. Animals, as had already been proven, were a good start.
So he smiles, and he nods, and Snowflake it is.]
It does. Say hello to your new friend, Snowflake.
[The kitten, newly christened, mewls happily in Alice's grip. Just as Alice would be content to spend all day playing with her, she'd be content to lounge all day in her arms. In strained times as such at these, it warms even Gilgamesh to see.]
Thank you, Alice. I'd venture a guess she's quite pleased as well.
no subject
[ She manages half of a smile, knowing all too well the name is unusual for her tawny color. Come to think of it -- neither was Snowdrop, she looked too much like Dinah. While the kitten reminds her of Dinah, with how many times Alice has to readjust her in her grip, to pull out of her hair. A kitten batting at her hair is cute, but having it caught in little kitten claws hurts. ]
Pray that she learns to jump quickly, or she'll start to climb up your leg in order to get to higher places.
[ How ironic, of all things, Alice was finding herself scolding a kitten at that moment for being a kitten like those eleven years ago. ]
no subject
I'll make certain to bring her by often so you can show her the proper way. You seem quite knowledgeable, after all.
[Really, a cat was a burden he hadn't been expecting to take on... but Alice made it appear so easy, it actually encourages him to try.]
no subject
And a kitten means more than anyone can realize on November 5th, more than anyone can realize. ]
Cats aren't that difficult to care for. They enjoy company of their masters, but they like affection and care on their own terms.