I grew and I throve well. Word from word gave words to me.

[digophelia]

Who: Alice and OPEN
When: Backdated to March 16th
Where: Downtown school
What: Alice comes to entertain the children like the mother hen that she is and tells them stories Wonderland
Rating: TBA. I mean, I don't see this getting past a PG13 rating.



“The children loved you all at the snowball fight last month. If you could come and talk with them for a bit, it would be much appreciated. Oh, and is the one with the arms coming?”

[ Without hesitation, Alice took to the task eagerly, making her way down to the city and into the school. She wasn't tall enough to give them piggy back rides, unfortunately. She was barely taller than the older children. Normally subdued around adults, Alice felt more at ease entertaining the children at the school; she even found herself smiling, especially when the younger children took to her hands and tugged on her, her hands and clothing.

She walked with them freely, allowing them to take her anywhere that they pleased. They were more at ease than the children that she used to care for and, in time, Alice had forgotten her guilt for the children back in London. She was playing games with them and, of course, even found herself telling them stories. Never a soul she would utter a word about Wonderland, but children were an exception to this. Children were always enthralled with her stories of Wonderland, sitting around her, wide-eyed, as a very animated Alice explained each and every detail, to paint the picture. By the afternoon, Alice had a several children around her, sitting at their level, as she told them stories about the dreadful Queen of Hearts, the talking garden, and most of all, which always seems to entertain children, the mad tea party- ]

"At any rate I’ll never go THERE again!" I said as she picked my way through the wood. `It’s the stupidest tea-party I ever was at in all my life!"

Just as I said this, I noticed that one of the trees had a door leading right into it. `That’s very curious!’ I thought. `But everything’s curious today. I think I may as well go in at once.’ And in I went.

[ Then what happens next, they ask. ]

Comments

[glorifiedtrash]

[Zelos only came because he lost a bet. The particulars of which are probably best not gone into. That said he's always been less than stellar with children. So while other heroes tell stories Zelos...does work around the school, how lame. Fixing toys, squeaky hinges on doors, broken desks, whatever it is doesn't matter to him. Kids come and go and maybe even learn a thing or two, but Alice's tales are an hell of a lot more exciting it has to be said. Eventually he winds up helping make lunch some...how... It began as getting down heavy boxes from high shelves and, welp. Walking back into the classroom he listens to Alice's story for a bit before taking the opportunity provided by the opening.]

And then all the students went to lunch. Your school staff worked hard on it, so how about giving Miss Hero a break. She'll be here when you get back.

[You know. Probably. He has no idea what Alice's plans for the day are, but she does seem to be enjoying herself... Speaking of Alice, his eyes flick up to her face as the kids split between trundling out towards the cafeteria and protesting they want to hear more. She's an interesting girl, isn't she. In more ways than the fact her stories don't sound like stories.]

[digophelia]

[ Alice even gets lost in her own story, she doesn't even hear him approach, at first. It's easy for her to lose herself in that story, an illusion in her mind that manifests, slowly, into reality if she thinks hard enough. They're young and looking at their faces, Alice wishes she could have had that opportunity to be innocent and carefree as they were.

Some of them look young enough when she was that age, when the fire happened. His voice cuts through, but the eyes of the children darting their attention to the new adult in the room is what pulls Alice back, eventually. She does little to show the surprise on her face; she was expecting to be on her own, which was fine. But Alice is left sitting there, watching them depart, but she assures them that they'll hear the rest when they get back. ]

It's alright, I won't be leaving until the end of the day.

[ She isn't interested in anything else, frankly. Wars, weapons, and dungeons weren't her absolute element, compared to caring for children. ]

I wasn't expecting assistance, sir. Thank you?

[glorifiedtrash]

Oh, I don't know if I'd say you needed assistance.

[Surprisingly he smiles somewhat. A little sadly, but he looks away to cover it up.]

You're pretty good with kids. I'm impressed. And here I thought we were all hot heads and bundles of trouble. [Well, well. Apparently not. He holds out his arm like a gentleman!] How about it? Hungry? I can say the food won't kill you, though how edible you find it is up to interpretation~

[digophelia]

I am?

[ Poor Alice, she doesn't think too much of herself and her work. ]

It's nothing. I was a matron to orphans before I came here; I suppose it comes natural now.

[ Or, rather, Alice has strove to be the opposite of what she once was. Alice glances at his arm, and then back to him, offering a sheepish look. She does what she can to be polite, offering a small wave. Even the smallest touch makes her uncomfortable. ]

I suppose I could stand to eat. [ She really could, she's abysmally thin. ] Please lead the way, then.