eachdraidh | video; (unlocked, forward dated to June 1st)

[It is late in the evening and Alice is riled up from exploring. When she comes into view, she looks tired, but all the same, she's absorbed in the atmosphere of this world. Unfortunately, she's still in her blue pinafore dress and a blood-stained apron, plopped up on the castle walls with her feet swaying calmly.]

Curiouser and curiouser.

[She can't help but say it, thumbing her hands together with a key resting in her hands.]

How strange it is that even the stars, despite how bright they are, look nothing like the ones I used to see. They're certainly not this bright in London. But they will never be bright as the ones in Wonderland. Where I come from, these are nothing but old stories passed onto others from centuries ago, long before Her Majesty's kingdom actually became a kingdom. I still cannot begin to fathom why I was place in such a court, but-

[Her mind is wandering until Alice remembers.]

Oh, before I forget once more, there is a very tall, unusual man looking for his son. Tall with black hair, grey eyes, and pointed ears. Red-haired, I believe. I suppose if anyone were looking for their father, you may inquire with me.

[Being the paranoid person she is, she's purposefully withholding some information.]

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How strange, indeed. I suppose there would be far worse things out there.

[Then again, there's that cynicism again. She would say to anyone at least they can hunt their family down. She huffs.]

I as well, which is why I offered him in the first place.

[After a really, really awkward conversation of learning that he's dead.]

[ If that's cynicism, then Ariadne's a cynic, too, because she agrees. ]

Definitely. Though things could get worse here, too.

[ Things have already gotten worse just in the past two months. ]

I suppose we don't even know for sure that his son is here, though.

No.

[The man wasn't exactly cordial, but Alice is at least capable of feeling sympathy to offer in the first place.]

And what has happened here?

Well, there were the giant, poisonous worms that regenerated unless you burnt them the first month.

[ And that had been quite the surprise. ]

After that -- well, we're in a war.

That much is obvious, but burnt?

[Well, she supposes that she could ask her how long she's been here and what the details of the worm entail, but.

"Burnt". That means fire. And if there's anything that really frightens or upsets her, it's fire.]

Otherwise they'd-- well, you'd cut off the head of one, right? And then instead of two dead pieces of one, you'd have two very angry ones.

[ It's gruesome to think about, to tell -- had been even more gruesome to deal with. ]

[Alice's disposition nearly flips a 180. She had been so content with the simple view of stars and a clean sky, but now the idea of fire and the words of a dead man.

She's starting to dip out of her normal thought process. Alice heaves an irritated sigh.]

What luck that I missed the lot of you setting ablaze.

[The idea of worms doesn't seem to bother her as much as fire.]

[ :c sorry Alice ]

And with luck, we won't have to do it again.

[ p a u s e ]

Do you like horses at all?

[ Let's talk about... not-fire. ]

[Alice is just.

Going to turn to the side to rub her face. There will be no restful sleep for her tonight.]

I- Well. I don't see a reason why not to like them.

[Okay, no, that was the most awkward response ever. Maybe her disdain for fire was just that strong. Way to look crazy, Alice.]

There's a stable. Would you like to see them?

[ Alice is closer to her own age than most on the Unseelie side, and Ariadne feels bad for distressing her. The horses and the stables are about the only potentially safe things she can think of. ]

There are?

[One of the few times Alice is blatantly socially inept. She isn't sure what to make of any offer of kindness without suspicion of an ulterior motive. ]

I.... guess there wouldn't be harm in it.

Great.

[ Oh, Alice. Don't worry, Ariadne is the very least psycho Unseelie. ]

I'm Ariadne, by the way.

[No thanks to Feanor, Alice will hesitate giving her name out for now.]

Alice Liddell.

It's nice to meet you, Alice.

[ And she does mean that. ]

[Her initial reaction is one of doubt. Since she's at least the most cordial person yet, Alice won't display it. Instead she gives a small nod.]

Would you like directions to the stables?

[ Again, least psycho Unseelie. ]

Ah. Yes.

[THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE SAYS.]

[ Yes, but Ariadne can actually back it up by... not being a psycho. ]

The stables flank the Ward, which you might be able to see from there... [ insert directions here ]

[That should be easy to find, she's a patient person.]

Thank you.

You're welcome.

[ Hopefully Alice won't have a poor experience with the horses. ]