video - open to both courts, backdated to the 20th

[digophelia]

I need a broom.

[ Some crunching can be heard. It's late, there's not going to be much of an explanation here, other than Alice's hands look very bad, in bruises and cuts. She continues on like it's nothing. She looks up to the imp and frowns. ]

Or a dustpan. I know this is a pain without a lantern, I'm sorry. Use a handkerchief so you don't cut yourself, alright?

[ Sometimes she feels bad for this imp. Alice goes up to cleaning broken shards of glass, ever so carefully, using a basket as means to pick up pieces. With a huff, more to herself- ]

This is the last time I ever-

[ She stops, of course, to notice the locket is open and shoots a look up to the imp. ]

Don't even think about it. I'm not in the mood for this, it was an accident.

[ With a mutter, Alice's hand goes over it and the locket is promptly clamped shut. Should anyone ask, she'll shift it to voice after getting the rest of the mirror cleaned up. ]

Comments

[digophelia]

Then tell me how to work around that other than a priest or a ritual.

[ She doesn't care about her well-being, at all. She never does. ]

[huntedby]

I don't know.

Believe me, I wish I did.

[digophelia]

You should rest.

[ Alice turns, fiddling with her shawl, pulling it tighter over her shoulder. ]

It's very late and you need it. [ Alice needs it the most, but she's almost afraid to do it. ]

[huntedby]

I do believe I am at least five years your elder, young Alice. If you assure me you will rest, I will, as well.

[digophelia]

[ She pauses, and after a moment's hesitation, Alice adds- ]

I will, as much as I dread to, I will.

[huntedby]

Would it help if I stayed, instead?

[Some people sleep better around someone.]

[digophelia]

I don't want to force you.

[ Alice turns around and begins to fiddle with her silver ring, her head held low. ]

I know that my hallucinations will mean terrible nightmares, but it is nothing I haven't dealt with before.

[huntedby]

Better to wake up to a friend, who knows the suffering, than alone.

[She smiles softly, and puts a hand on Alice's shoulder, gently.]

Come now. We're birds of a feather. Might as well settle the flock in one place, tonight.

[digophelia]

Then forgive me if I wake up flailing or underneath the bed. No one bothered to find me if they didn't see me right then and there in my bed.

[ It is an off-handed explanation Alice offers if she does, indeed, end up huddled or trying to hide herself, on the account of the asylum staff bothering her or worse. Alice goes back to her bed, to the mass of blankets that she knows Sophie is still huddled underneath herself. Alice mutters a "thank you", before awkwardly sifting herself there. Now that Alice is closer, at least her rabbit feels slightly more secure. ]

[huntedby]

Well I'll just crawl under the bed and help you out.

[Vanessa smiles softly as she sits next to her, and glances over at the rabbit.]

I'm sorry about your pet. Prey animal dislike me.

[digophelia]

She doesn't frighten easily; it's a little strange to see her startled and she even enjoys horseback riding.

[ And rabbits are far from brave creatures--Sophie has always been a huge exception to this. ]

She'll be fine.

[ Alice attempts to settle herself, most of all, closing her eyes as she tries to push out the memories of the broken mirror. It's now dawning on her after her conversation with Berserker what she was looking for. ]

[huntedby]

It has to do with the thing within me.

[Still, she shifts back on the bed, and opens her arms to Alice.]

Come here.

[Take comfort where offered. Alice seems so young, right now. If she ever had a younger sister, she may have looked like the young girl before her, right now.]

[digophelia]

[ Affection is such a foreign concept to Alice, she looks at her, before she reluctantly moves closer. She will rest her head against Vanessa's arm for now. It will take time for he to warm up to the idea of touch, especially after Rutledge.

At least Vanessa understands this. ]

[huntedby]

[Vanessa smiles softly and settles in, breathing out. She hasn't slept with anyone in the same bed since the night before Mina..

...before Vanessa smashed things.

It makes her sad, for a moment, but she pushes those feelings away.]

May you have a dreamless sleep.