eachdraidh | video, open to both courts (action if you are at the barrel)

[ Alice has been at the Barrel for a few weeks now. No one's asked her to cook and clean, but it's been a bit of an engraved habit brought over from her time in London. It's only through getting children's clothing and interacting with the nearby town that it's been plaguing the back of her mind. Unlike the last time she's popped on the lockets back in December, Alice looks healthier, but she is still pretty thin.

As usual. And as usual, her white rabbit is sitting there beside her, munching away at a bowl of food. She's not good at public speaking. ]

Hello.

These may be strange times to open a dialogue about this subject while both of our courts prepare for another skirmish. There are plenty of natives here of various ages who have been hit the most by war, especially children. I used to be the maidservant of an orphanage back in Whitechapel London.

[ Her face only flashes with a hint of pain when she mentions it. ]

Houndsditch Home for Wayward Youth—if you heard of it. And the children there came from similar backgrounds, that they were all traumatized and lost family either by sickness, death, or murder. These children are often overlooked, sometimes they are swept up by those with ill intentions and treated even worse. But they are still children and they still have pieces of their innocence left.

I may not have the resources nor the... capacity right now to replicate that orphanage, but I still want to help the youngest natives here have the smallest comforts like food or clothing. I've only had a handful of opportunities in Redgate and the Station to make good on my word and clearly I need the additional hands.

In addition to natives being sent away from the path of war, I hope that there can be a way to provide resources for them or find them the appropriate care somewhere down the line. I know that it is silly to think of such a thing when all the adults in this world are preparing for battle, but they are so young and they deserve so much more while they are being guided to safety.

But if I were to oversee these things, I reserve the right to be very picky. The children I cared for weren't even spared from the cruelty of adults, even the proprietor of that orphanage.

Surely my friends will be thrilled if I focused my attention on children rather than them. I know they must tire of my nagging.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Lancelot said nothing.

All he did was stare.]

[ Gosh, even when he's small, he can be a headache. Does this mean Alice has to hunt him down? ]

A lady should not gossip about others in such a way.

At least not when 'the boy' can hear it.

[ What is this "lady" thing that you speak of? ]

Is it too much to ask that you don't stray that far away? Where are you?

[ YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE HER A HEART ATTACK, STOP THAT. ]

Mair.

[That place you kept telling him not to go to. He smiled a little, because the fairies were finally spending time with him, again.]

I told you not to.

[ That's it, she's smacking him when he's an adult. She can't hit a kid. ]

There is someone I was told I should meet there.

[He added in a fairly deadpanned tone--though, given what he was saying, one should have expected to actually sound indignant, instead.]

Besides, I don't see why I should not. Aren't I already a sinner in the eyes of the Almighty?

...

[ She's far from the religious type, so she really cannot comment on that. But sheltering his eyes? Sure. Then again, the streets of Mair already have her panicking AND GUESS WHO'S GETTING UP. ]

Unfortunately, I do not trust others, especially around children.

There is no need to worry, Lady Liddell.

[Even the Lady of the Lake let him have wine!]

There should be a greater concern for others than myself.

[ TOO BAD ALICE IS NOT LETTING YOU HAVE WINE ]

I don't care, I don't want you hurt. You shouldn't leave like that, you frighten me when you do that, Lancelot.

[HE IS GETTING 12 YEAR OLD DRUNK. THAT IS THE MOST DRUNK ANYONE CAN GET]

[His eyes narrowed.] How can I become a knight without such experiences? I must bleed and suffer in order to improve. A life without hardship is one not worthy of a knight.

Knight or not, you can tell me if you leave.

[ She's going to sound like an old mother at this rate. Alice draws a breath, pinching the bridge of her nose and when she speaks, she's so frank. ]

But it is very unfair to make someone worry for your well being! And it will be night soon, you don't even have anything warm enough!

I realize this.

[Hence--]

Which is why I did not tell you that I was leaving.

.........

[ A groan follows and Alice drops her head into her hands. ]

Lancelot, that is not how you keep someone from worrying. If anything, you make them worry more! What if something happens to you and I don't know where you are?

That is the way of the world, isn't it? If I fall, then I am simply not strong enough to pursue my goals.

[The same sort of attitude someone would get from a machine--you're not dealing with much, Alice!]

It is very different when people care about you and your well being.

My purpose isn't to be loved. I will not begrudge such feelings, but I was not born for such things.

It doesn't matter if you were or not; you'll come to find the more you interact with others, the more they develop feelings.

[ What is her life even. ]

It is not that clean cut as much as we want it to be and like it or not, I will drag you back by the ear, so help me.

video;

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Hello Lancelot. [ Her voice is softer, but she won't speak to him as if he were a baby. ]

Have you been doing well? I'm sorry I can't break away from my duties to help you with your own, but I'll remain vigilant in looking for those who wronged you.

[He had seen her in locket posts, before. Lancelot wanted to correct her--that 'Lancelot' was someone else's name and that he hadn't earned it, but he had done enough of that the past few weeks.]

Oh, them?

They're dead. We've sent for their heads to be delivered to Queen Morla of Caer Scima.

[As if he were talking about groceries he was supposed to buy.]

[ That's... oddly disturbing and charming at the same time. ]

Were you able to identify them? [ It's probably crude to poke at a child like this, but information was information. ]

I'd like to know how pleased Queen Morla will be with your gift.

I did not receive their names, but after plying, they admitted to the attack.

[Lancelot added, shortly after.]

Perhaps I should have asked.

Perhaps you should have, but I suppose it doesn't matter now.

They wore those masks, didn't they? That's all I'd like to know.

... yeah, that's all I'd like to know. [ Best not to ask about what they stole. Maybe she can inquire about it from the fairies he keeps instead. ]

If that is all you would like to know.

[Paging Dr. Repetition--]

Fox masks. I left them on, though. I imagined Queen Morla would appreciate it.

No, that is all. It's good to hear you were able to apprehend those who wronged you and bring them to the High-Queen.

What will you do with yourself now?