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

[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. ]}

[digophelia]

[ She wishes she could understand about half of what he's saying. Alice finally gets to a stop, glancing around to see what he means, as if the answer is going to be right in front of him. He sounds so happy, so overjoyed and it's a great thing to see him happy, too, though- ]

I'm afraid I don't understand.

[ She's finding that she's saying this a lot with him. ]

What is it? What do you mean? More importantly, what did you do?

1.2

[naturallywavy]

Watch me.

_{[ Gintoki braces his feet like something really important is about to happen. His wrists pin together as he holds them to the side. With much vigor, he begins to chant— ]}

Ka... me... HA.. MEeeeeeee.. HAAAAAA!!!!

_{[ He's trying to do this. ]}

2.3, actually

[naturallywavy]

<sub>[ Gintoki pushes his palms outward and—







nothing happens.
He stands there, baffled for a moment before looking down at his palms. ]</sub>

.....

done

[naturallywavy]

WHAT THE HEEEELLLLLL...!?

[digophelia]

[ It doesn't answer her question as to what he did earlier or what he was trying to do. She does what she can to be supportive of him. If she felt comfortable enough to pat his back, she would have. ]

Perhaps it isn't working, just for now.

[ Whatever it is. Seeing that he's upset, all she can do is try to reassure him. ]

[naturallywavy]

<sub>[ Gin can feel heat rising from his cheeks from both embarrassment and fury, but he'd deny he is flustered at the fact he can't impress somebody. Nope. Simply just angry here; not embarrassed.

Gintoki claps his hands together— it looks kind of ridiculous. ]</sub>

Oi! It doesn't make sense! I'm doing everything right!
_{[ clap clap! ]} Did I piss'em off? Hey, am I pushing the limits of being a copy cat? It's not a copy— it's a tribute!

[digophelia]

It could be temporary!

[ She still does what she can to assure him. Whatever he was trying to do, it simply isn't going to work, just for now. ]

Why would you be angry?

[ Aside from him, well, being himself, she wheels around and gives him a reluctant smile. ]

You didn't do anything wrong.

[naturallywavy]

_{[ Gin grumbles, staring at the destructed tree like it was some big offense. ]}

Eat a load of crap and drown in a toilet for all I care. _{[ Not Alice— she should know this isn't directed at her but.. who was it directed to? It's a mystery. It looked like he was talking to the tree. ]}

I did something cool, oi. I promise I did.

[digophelia]

I know.... whatever "cool" means.

[ He can scream at a tree all he likes, if it gets enough frustration out of him. She's slowly getting accustomed to some of his colorful language.

Or not. ]

Give it some time, I'm sure it will work again.

[naturallywavy]

_{[ Here is a pout. Look, he is pouting. He is even sitting on the ground now with his arms crossed. This child. ]}

Maybe I gotta.. throw my palms out faster.
_{[ scratching his head. HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND. ]}

This is stupid. The gorilla is probably mocking me.
_{[ again with the gorilla. What is this gorilla he keeps speaking about?
Best not to.. mention it. ]}

[digophelia]

What gorilla?

[ There's no gorillas around here, right? Alice finds herself standing up on the tips of her toes, looking around to see if it would plop itself right there, right in front of her. ]

Why don't you worry about it later and try again once you're more rested.

1.2

[naturallywavy]

_{[ staring... staring .... ]}

2.2

[naturallywavy]

_{[ plops completely on his back, wordlessly. ]}

[digophelia]

...

[ Alice settles herself, right near by, with her hands quietly cupped in front of her. She's not sure what to make of this or if he's serious and almost finds herself fretting, only for a moment. Sitting in armor is odd and Alice's only reaction is to heave out a heavy sigh. ]

Goodness. Is it that terrible?

[ IS IT? ]

[naturallywavy]

_{[ You had something cool to show him and now he can't show you something cool in return. He's mad about it because he is literally 5 years old. But he's not going to say that even though that's the reason for him looking so exasperated. ]}

—I'm just tired. Couldn't sleep. Pretty sure I got a splinter stuck in my ass and that's why.

[digophelia]

I see.

[ Thankfully, Alice is largely clueless about any of that, slowly rocking as she sits there. Now that they're a little further from the Chantes, Alice doesn't seem as tense as before. ]

I don't sleep that much, either. I don't remember the last time I slept since I got here.

[ Most of it is Ban's fault, honestly. ]

You're in good company -- with not sleeping that well, that is.

[naturallywavy]

Go to sleep now. _{[ is his instant response. He doesn't sound concerned; just really demanding. ]}
Not sleeping can give you constipation. That's no very lady like. Get your beauty sleep.. or whatever.

_{[ A prolonged yawn. Gintoki rolls on his side, his back facing Alice. ]}

Sleeping in armor won't protect you.
_{[ but he will... if he needs to.
A hand reaches around to scratch his ass charmingly. ]}

[digophelia]

Yes, yes, and if I don't sleep, I won't grow and all of that nonsense.

[ Alice finds herself rolling her eyes at Gin and what she says, in memory. Out of concern, Alice withdraws her knife, running her fingers over the edge of it, in thought.

The feeling is practically mutual, even if she never says it. ]

If I'm going to sleep, I'm going back inside, but I won't be able to sleep tonight, either. November 5th is not a very good day.

[naturallywavy]

_{[ Well, alright. He won't ask. He won't. He gets that maybe that date is sensitive and the insensitive thing to do would be to inquire about it. His hand shifts down his pants line for a moment to really get whatever is itching there on his butt before lifting to suppress another yawn. ]}

Count sheep. I'll get actual sheep you can count if I gotta.

<sub>[ Sleeping is usually easy for him.
But here, it's been a little difficult which is probably why he naps so much.

He's just very worried for everyone. ]</sub>

[digophelia]

I do not think counting sheep will help, literal or metaphorical.

[ This expression is the first time she's heard it, so she assumes it's one of his unusual metaphors. A long silence falls as Alice leans back and gazes up to the sky. Out of nowhere, she asks- ]

Say, what do you think happens to our worlds? Do you think they'll notice we're gone?

[naturallywavy]

<sub>[ Ugh. This question.
Gintoki can't help but think that time is still processing— maybe he's missed— everybody knows he is gone... Shinpachi and Kagura are heart broken. Luckily, they have other people they can rely on.

Or time has stopped. Maybe this is just some weird place where time has stopped. Gintoki wouldn't be surprised. ]</sub>

Nnh.
I think it's important to worry about today in the present— worry about you and where you are going today.
Live it like it is your last in the most beautiful way you can.

Worrying about the future.. it takes effort.. it's a pain.