tampered | (no subject)

(no subject)

When: Jan. 8
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Cheshire Cat, Alice
Summary: crowd-picking is for the weak.
Log; He would call this particular Square plaza wall Squishy, and it would be his, and he would come visit it daily, and pet it, and sing it songs, and whisper it very fine things, until it would bloody well open up, swallow half his body hole, and take him back. It's not that he's particular about Wonderland, oh no, it's slightly useless and odd, and the constant rain's rather no good - but the weather's worse here, and if you ask Alice (please ask Alice, he's been trying to pull out his caught wrist from his new wall for a bit now, to no success - although at least that means the Squishy's learning, and it'll graduate to full arms soon) that doesn't suit his complexion.

Also, there's a crowd of absolutely no one helping. Well, at least that's familiar.

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[A crowd of no-one-helping? Surely you know better, Alice. No one wants to be involved, even here.

Well, except for that man there, the one with the ears, tapping you on the shoulder. That one.]

[squirm... squirm... squuuuuiiiiiiiiiiiiiirm.... ]

Can't - get - ou - can't -

[SQUISHY. SQUISHY, DON'T DO THIS.]

SOMEONE HELP -

[oh... look...a rather creepy hand on his shoulder. How thoughtful. Stills slowly.]

I... I don't have money. But I can pay you, if you get me out!

Oh goodness, compensation?

[What a familiar tone, that. And the hated little jingle of that darned bell that just seems to follow him around on occassion. Enjoying that wall, Alice?]

And here most people just offer dinner scraps or milk. You'll spoil me, Alice.

[And yet... no actual help seems forthcoming.]

[ SCRE --- ...stiffens visibly]

Why would a domestic cat need my leftovers? You have your own bowl.

[resumes squirming all of a sudden]

And you're fat enough!

It's not nice to sling insults around, you know.

[Or to poke people in the side, but who's asking.]

Any fat on me got lost somewhere back there, looking for you.

You were...?

[shift, shift, kicks back with one leg]

You weren't trying hard enough!

[worms around pathetically, then........ wait.]

Hey. Is he here...?

[Neatly sidesteps that kick, geez, Alice, watch it, kicking cats is... bad luck.]

Who are you to say I wasn't?

[A low hum, la~dee~da~]

"He"?

I'm - ...you know who I am.

[gave the name, didn't you? Cat'll be a cat.]

And you know whom I'm talking about.

[Rabbit. Queen. Monster.]

...that Hatter.

[Oh, him. Cat hater. Him, though-]

Haven't seen hat nor hair of him. Or gunpoint.

[And it's only now he actually starts to. "Help". a.k.a. some slight tugging on your ever-so-nice suit]

You weren't trying to slip off, were you, Alice?

[as it happens, he can't slip. at. all.]

Let's say maybe I was.

[now with that oh so FORCIBLE and SUBSTANTIAL help, manages to pull himself free. Or, you know, it was probably a coincidence. Turns to the side, so he's not turning back]

Are you here to kill me?

[Oh, good boy, Alice. He was just about to remind you.

Don't turn around]

No.

[Smiiiile. Aren't you glad for his help?]

A pet cat can't kill anyone.

[not one bit glad, no. he crosses his arms over his chest]

You're late.

[Ouch~]

Ever stop to think perhaps you're early?

[sufffffffer; glances aside]

What am I early to? Which part of your game is this?

It was never my game, Alice.

[making himself verrrrry comfortable against that wall, idly checking the stuck!spot]

But you're early to the party either way.

[glares at said spot for a moment. Conspiracy, Squishy. Conspiracy.]

I was never sent an invitation.

[Ooh, look, it's Alice shaped.]

Don't you worry... I won't let anyone throw you out, you know.

[TRAITOR. Sighs.]

Because you went through such trouble dragging me in. You wouldn't want that wasted, would you.

I don't like wasting things that are mine, after all.

[Bouncy step off the wall, circling idly]

Not to say cats don't like waste at all.

I'm not your yarn ball.

[swats clumsily]

Not to say you're not wasting my time here and now. I thought you said Wonderland let go of things easily - even of themselves.

[smiles, sidesteps neatly and tugs on the suit cuff]

It's your time, not mine, so if it's wasted...

[oh, but he does care]

Perhaps they decided they didn't love Alice anymore.

[stares blankly for a moment, making for the hand against his cuff]

The Queen said - the Queen promised...

[bites his lower lip]

Maybe they don't get a say.

[such a nice touch, so reassuring- love the icon.]

Maybe they don't.

Your name is still Alice, isn't it?

It's not Cheshire, and it's not Hatter. It's not the Doormouse, and it's not the Queen. It's not the White Rabbit, and it's not...

[lets go]

I suppose it might be. I suppose you got us lost again.

[Funny, to see an Alice do this, to...]

I suppose I must have.

After all, Alice. This isn't Wonderland.

[shakes his head, blinking away confusion]

So you're useless to me, because you know nothing about here.

Oh, that's wrong, all wrong.

[cocks his head, smiles]

I know plenty of things.

[turns around suddenly, Wonderland rule very much forgotten, and slams his fist against the wall behind]

To how many Alices did you say that before?

[eyes widen, just slightly- hands up. Don't... don't turn around-]

...

You're the only one here now, Alice.

[Same damn answer.]

[hangs his head down. Damned answer. Damned cat. Damned - ...everything. Slowly, carefully, quietly.]

One wrong move from you... and I'll add another rule.

What rule, Alice?

[He doesn't even move.]

[...damned cat (again(.]

...I want tea. That man never pours me anything, and he starves me too.

[Stifled laughter? No.]

How about milk?

[grits his teeth slowly]

I'm not drinking from your bowl. Do you even have it? We should find you one.

Oh, can we?

[he seems rather a bit too excited- no, he's not hungry, ff]

[starts walking away at a slow pace - follow, follow]

You can't even drink from a cup...

[never mind that he's under no actual obligation to help, anyway; sigh]

I don't even have money... what a pain you are, Cheshire cat, what a pain.

[of course he's following~ You're not getting away that easily, you know, Alice]

Everyone loves Alice.

I'm sure you can find something~

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