Because she's been stuck in my head since Thursday

[believesinalice]

Does this mean that I get to go on an adventure, Miss Mun? Like Alice did?

[bites lip, hangs her head]

I know, I know. Mother won't approve. And Father has already lost Alice; it would upset him if I disappeared too. But maybe this way I can show them that Alice's stories weren't nonsense and then they'll let her come home!

Baby-girl, I'm not sure that's how it works...

Comments

[mywillisthine]

It is hard for people to believe in things they have no experience with. And when they get older, with more experiences, they believe even less. For if they haven't experienced it yet, surely it can not be real.

But believing In her Is a good thing. I know I believe in Alice.

What is your name, little mistress?

[believesinalice]

Well, that's just silly. It's like saying that another town or a country doesn't exist because you've never been there.

[shyly] My name is Millie.

[mywillisthine]

I know. And yet, that is how many people's minds work. It was why explorers are considered so brave, they had the gall to go and believe something was out there and go look.

It's very nice to meet you, Millie. My name is Cyrus.

[believesinalice]

[her eyes go wide] Are you the Cyrus that Alice was dreaming about?

[heartlessknave]

You might want to wait a bit before going off to Wonderland. It's... not exactly a safe place right now.

[not that it ever is, really, but he's attempting to be Responsible, dammit]

[mywillisthine]

I do hope that I am.

Are you her sister? [who else could she be, she looked like a younger Alice but it broke his heart to think that Alice had gone home to her father having a new family. Even if the new sister was a darling]

[believesinalice]

[Millie nods, smiling.] Yes, I am!

[believesinalice]

Wonderland...is that where Alice was when she was missing?

[mywillisthine]

Well, Millie, thank your for believing in Alice. It may not have helped in the long run but I'm sure it made her feel better.

[heartlessknave]

It was, yeah.

Don't suppose she ever mentioned me, did she? I'm the Knave of Hearts.

[believesinalice]

[shakes her head] She didn't talk about much about it; Mother and Father disapproved. They wanted her to forget and just get better.

[heartlessknave]

That... that explains a lot, actually.

[believesinalice]

I hope it did.

[It didn't escape Millie's notice that Alice had seemed a lot more at ease when it was just the two of them talking. Not like at dinner when Mother had started talking about Alice's 'prospects' and inviting a young man over for tea and Alice's hand shook so badly she broke her water glass.]

[believesinalice]

What do you mean?

[heartlessknave]

She wasn't exactly happy when I found her, that's all.

But I'm looking after her so you don't have to worry.