About recent faerietale talk between muns and him being brought out to play

[mercurialism]

Despite agreeing with the mundane part of it, why aren't the lot of you called lemmings? Where one goes, the others gleefully follow. Did it ever occur to you I didn't want to follow? You're bringing me from a place wherein Wonderland is the Red bitch's plaything and the Gale's heart is still in play. You don't think I have better things to do than toy with a murderous boy and find myself lost in yet another world?

Wonderland will always hold my marker, isn't that what you said? I don't find what she wants and at best I end up a catatonic doorstep like March. At worse, well, Alice says she still hears the screams of the twins in the hallway.

That reminds me... Where the hell is Alice?

Comments

[adventures_in]

You not a lemming. That's rich.

[mercurialism]

I was speaking of the mun, and you knew that so I don't know why I'm even arguing it with you. Perhaps because you're always good for a laugh.

[adventures_in]

And it is awfully easy to argue. We're so accomplished at it, perhaps we should find medals or trophies or... gold stars. Do you deserve a gold star, Hatter?

[mercurialism]

Arguing makes it sound so bitter. Aggressively friendly conversational skills? Though if prizes are coming into play, you do realize I won't settle for nothing less than first.

I always deserve gold stars, though I would much rather a heart. Just one. Very specific. A star will do though.

[adventures_in]

I doubt you could beat me, darling, but I do look forward to your attempts. I'll hold your gold stars while you hunt for your heart.

[mercurialism]

I have no plans to let you down in this attempt.

There is the option of coming to play though that little venture will be ignored if I deal with this place with Pan and Wendy and who knows just who else. At least I don't have to worry about her sending me to these games she plays.

[adventures_in]

Oh, but the games are so fun, Hatter! Imagine the trouble you could get in, all the lives you could so delicately toy with for your own entertainment! Just imagine... an entirely new world with which to play with, where no one knows your tricks and treats.

[mercurialism]

Have they already lured you there and don't want to spend your days without me? I can't blame you for that but do be honest if that's the case.

Or trying to get rid of me and have Wonderland to yourself? Trapped in a prison seeking redemption. Doesn't that entirely sound like... anyone but me?

The word itself is just ugly. Redemption. The act is disgusting.

[adventures_in]

No one has lured me anywhere, thank you, I'm quite capable of luring myself. But yes, you might as well know, I would be just frightfully despondent without you near. Who else would I practice my aggressively friendly conversational skills with?

Besides which -- there is a dragon, dear. A dragon.

[notyour_leverage]

Alice has been lost for years - she wandered off the gold path and we've never been able to cast our nets wide enough to find her again.

And it's nice to see you unarmed for once, Hatter.

[mercurialism]

Do you have any idea how much your world makes me hateful? I mean literally downright burning in my soul rageful? Those aren't words I like. You should watch them.

Am I? Are you certain?

[notyour_leverage]

Some things apparently never change. If I knew where my sister was, I would tell you. You had prior claim on her after all.

I'm still standing here, untouched. The last time I talked to you, you were using the power of Wonderland itself to try and force the breath out of me, your Majesty.

[mercurialism]

In my own world, she and I have a daughter. I suspect my mundane plans on twisting mine to confirm with your own. I will try and look at it as starting over.

Were you harming a Gryffon? I've heard of this talk.

[notyour_leverage]

Intriguing. Ours is King of Hearts in Wonderland, though he and Alice never touched really. She was spoken for, long ago. He married Claire, Alice's sister, and Queen of Hearts in Wonderland.

I should like to meet your daughter.

Harming? No, cleaning up the shit actually.

[mercurialism]

Let me say this with all honesty... Ew. Only that Alice's mother ran our little agency for a time. You know, the Red Queen? So the thought of being married to her, even if it isn't her, not appetizing. I think Alice and I chose married when trapped on Earth when Wonderland crumbled. Wait, when I made it crumble. Oops.

I'm sure you would. Though I suppose it depends which Darby you miss. Delightful teenager without a clue... Or the council's beloved enforcer. Never wanted her to answer to her marker but you can't fight it.

We do use that on the roses, you know. It's needed.

[notyour_leverage]

Yours sounds like a highly intriguing story. Ours here is a bit different than that - Wonderland hasn't crumbled yet.

Either, she's your child and she would be welcome here if ever she wanted to come.

Oh I'm well aware of that. It's good for our beanstalks here too.

[mercurialism]

All stories are true at one time or another, and all paths can run parallel for a lifetime or three. I suspect that is what our stories and worlds might become. The belief all stories are as valid as the next isn't highly accepted, but that doesn't make it wrong.

I suspect it would be a better life than the one she chose herself. It nearly killed her mother when she turned to Wonderland.

So not to make perhaps a nice ground cover growth over Pan's grave? A shame.

[secondstar2right]

Alice?

Sweet gorgeous Alice, heart of Wonderland. You lost yours? Shan't tell you where mine is then.

she's prettiest when she's screaming your name, did you know?

[mercurialism]

She isn't lost. Merely that my mundane hasn't found quite the one I'm looking for, though apparently she's working on that and done well.

I'm sorry, I was busy considering how good you would look leashed as a pet alongside her pirate and dragon. I think that's being mean to them though.

[secondstar2right]

Mm.

Shame then. Alice is such a lovely thing to have found. Terribly fun to play with. There's a certain fragile look she gets when she thinks about you. It goes away when we start playing. She doesn't call for you anymore.

You'd die before you'd get a leash on me, milliner.

[mercurialism]

Oh Darling Pan. You can try and rattle my cage but the best has toyed with me and failed, and you simply aren't them. [And if he was, he wouldn't say so anyway.]

Have you thought about new hobbies? Maybe knitting? Or you know, being a test dummy for guillotines?

I'm sure you use that fantasy often at night, but it won't ever happen.

[secondstar2right]

Did you ever find that birthmark, Hatter? The one on the back of her thigh shaped like a tear? It's my favorite out of all the marks she has.

But you're the best hobby I have, dear Daschell.

Not a fantasy, a promise.

[mercurialism]

I'm not discussing her body with anyone. Play your games. Prove you need me more than I need you. That's the important part here.

And I'll party when this game ends with you buried. Or burned. Or left on the side of a road. Lye, maybe?

Because you're well known for kept promises, aren't you?

[secondstar2right]

Maybe I need you, maybe I don't. But you're still chasing something down the rabbit hole, and you'll never catch it, Hatter. Not the way you're going.

Can't be killed, Hatter. Try all you want, but it'll fail everytime.

I never break a promise.

[mercurialism]

Of all the things I need in this world, I do not need you to tell me how to find and keep her. Even if I agree to this that you want.

Doesn't make chasing the dream any less fun, does it?

The problem with those that say that, even meaning it, is that it's true until it's not.