The Time Has Come (ch.4)
Title:The Time Has Come
Chapter Title: Beginning the Journey
Author: greeneyes0911
Pairing: Alice/Hatter, Jack/Duchess
Characters: Charlie, Hatter, Jack, Duchess, Alice, and two OCs (Savy & Topper)
Rating: r-ish (for later chapters)
Length: 5,300+
Warnings/Spoilers: The entire miniseries
A/N: I got this idea this morning, I'd like to see where it heads but if no one likes it I'll drop it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Alice, Hatter, March Hare, any of 'em....but damn would I be rich if I did!
The journey begins in bickering.
The birds were chirping loudly. No not chirping, screeching, Alice corrected herself in her head. She had nearly forgotten they were in Wonderland until she heard the familiar noise of those awful creatures. Why couldn't Wonderland just have normal birds that made normal sounds? She didn't know, but she was sure glad that the birds at home didn't make those noises. Otherwise she may have to take up a bee bee gun just to escape that wretched noise. And shooting birds with a bee bee gun didn't really sound like something she wanted to spend her time doing. Not to mention then she'd pity the poor animals. Nonetheless, if the birds in New York were to make such awful noises she'd have to. There would be no choice.
“What is that awful fucking noise,” Savy asked sitting up from the makeshift cot and glaring up into the trees trying to see what was making the noise. She couldn't see the creatures, but she could only assume they were ugly little things. If they weren't ugly then they'd never make such awful noises. Pretty things didn't make ugly noises, only ugly things did. That was logical right? She thought so anyway.
“The birds,” Alice said frowning a little as she shoved Hatter who was still snoring soundly beside her. “Up, Hatter. Time to get up.” A small pale hand shook the tanned man beside her, he in turn grumbled loudly.
“Bu' Kettle, jus' a few more minutes,” Hatter grumbled rolling away from the offending hand. His dark brown top hat was pulled firmly over his eyes to block out the rising sun. He was quite used to the offending sound of the birds, and as such could block it out thoroughly.
“Kettle,” came an unwelcome amused voice from behind Savy. Savy's head whipped around, and she glared at Topper. The man-child, as Savy had decided he was just last night, looked perfectly at home leaning against one of the crumbling walls of the space that had become their room. Alice's head popped up to glare dangerously at Topper.
“You should get while the gettings good Topper, because if that finally registers he'll have your fucking head,” Savy said hopping up, and pulling back on her boots. The loose tendrils of red hair that had fallen loose from the girl's ponytail caught Topper's eye and he couldn't help but stare a little. The girl looked much softer in the morning light with her hair not pulled back so tightly. In fact she almost looked human, in a weird way. “I said get while the gettings fucking good,” and suddenly the soft smooth face with it's cleft chin was in his face, and grabbing his arm. Savy drug him out of the room and back over to where the fire had been the previous night. There she left him to move on to wake up the rest of the encampment. Meanwhile Alice still struggled with Hatter to get him awake. “Uncle Charlie, get up,” She called close to his ear, but the humming of the old man continued. Savy grumbled a little, and with very little effort flipped the hammock upside down, and out fell Charlie
“Sound the alarm! Battle stations! Women and children to the back! Where is my ho-,” Charlie stopped dead mid rant and looked wide eyed at a smirking Savy. “That is not funny young lady. You know when I was your age we had more respect for our elders than just to throw them from their beds in the early morning. Children today, do not learn their manner properly. And do you know what may have happened to you? I am a knight you know. I could have very well taken off your head on accident.”
“Stop lecturing the girl,” Duchess said grumpily as she walked into the clearing. She had hardly slept a wink the previous night. She couldn't stop thinking about it. And by it she meant the cold hard cot, and the lack of a warm body beside her. Or the fact that in the morning Harper would not come running into her bedroom, jumping on her bed. No early morning eggs before Jack was off to attend to his duties. No walk around the grounds with Harper. Those little things that she had always taken for granted. Those little things that she had never thought much on. Those little things that had always seemed to inconsequential. Those little things were gone now, and she finally realized how very important to her they were. Somewhere along the line Duchess had gone from the creature of the Queen of Heart, to Jack's wife, and finally to a loving mother and dutiful queen. “She was just doing as told.” Savy very nearly thanked the woman for saving her from the lecture Charlie had already started in on. Before she could there was a loud noise from the makeshift room where Hatter and Alice were.
“Damn it Alice ya didn' 'ave ta push me off the bed,” Hatter screeched from the room, and came stomping out into the clearing his hat askew, and his hair a mess. He looked positively mad. Which had Savy smirking almost ready to burst into a chuckle, he looked mad, mad like a Hatter. It was more than a little humorous. And out came Alice behind him hair in a rat's nest, frazzled and eyes wide.
“Hatter you rolled out of the bed yourself,” Alice said quickly pulling her long dark hair up into a pony tail. Her worn jeans had yet to be tucked back down into her flat brown boots, but she was hopping on one foot at a time as she tucked the denim into the worn leather. “I swear its like having a five year old trying to wake you up.”
Hatter grumbled something under his breath, and Alice shot him a glare. Topper was finding the whole scene very very intriguing. What was this relationship? Could people really be like that? He'd never seen a real functioning relationship in his life. Everything in Wonderland was dysfunctional, especially in the years he'd spent growing up. It seemed as though love never had really existed in Wonderland, and if it did it was always one sided. But somehow, Hatter was in a real functional relationship. Sure it looked like they had their problems, but that was a challenge for any Wonderlander. How had he done it? What did it take to keep it up? And why was Topper even wondering? It wasn't like Topper had every wanted for that kind of thing. He didn't need to be taken care of, and bickered with, and rolled out his bed at horrid times in the morning. No, he didn't need that kind of business. He didn't need to be worried about anyone but himself, that's how it had always been and that's how he liked it.
“Charlie do ya have any extra jackets, and coats for the girls, they'll freeze their arses off in those hills,” Hatter asked, and Topper realized he must have missed part of the conversation. He'd better not allow that to continue, it wasn't safe for him to not be paying attention. He shook himself mentally. Must pay closer attention, he scolded himself.
“Righto, I do have some things that you and Alice have left behind before, and you know some other things that I've just come across. One must always be prepared for these situations. I was taught that as a boy, to always be prepared. It is the job of a knight to be prepared. To take care of others by being prepared. It -” Charlie was yammering.
“Uncle Charlie, just go find the jackets,” Savy said with a smirk. The man continued sputtering off about being prepared as he headed off to some other part of the encampment.
“Is he always like that,” Topper asked suddenly. He'd spent maybe ten minutes with the man before the rest of the group had joined them, and during that time the only thing the man did was sing. Topper only assumed he'd been nervous about what was to come, but it seemed like maybe he was excited to see his family now. The crazy old man had a family. Topper found himself almost jealous of the insane old knight, a family, something he'd never understood and probably never would. Even if he didn't think he wanted one, he had to admit it was kind of nice watching those four, and how they knew each other. It was also kind of nice how they accepted each other's quirks.
“Do you really expect me to wear someone else's clothes,” Duchess asked with a look of disgust.
“Oh come on Duchess it won't kill you,” Savy said rolling her eyes and scoffing loudly.
“It's tha' or freeze up in the mountains. Don' go thinkin' tha' any of us will give up our coats ta keep yar silly ass warm,” Hatter shrugged, his clothing moving with his shoulders. The dark brown leather coat made a soft rustling, and the button up purple shirt underneath was wrinkled from sleeping in it. It was tucked loosely into a pair of dark jeans with a few holes in them. The boots on his feet were dusty already from the walk through the forest. Hatter tried not to notice that it seemed like Savy was getting very comfortable in her surroundings. Where Alice had remained jittery and nervous the entire time she'd been in Wonderland it seemed like Savy was feeling quite at home. Hatter didn't dare to think of the implications of that, of all the danger that would draw to them. Savy was too confident in herself and her abilities, and that would get her into trouble. The question was who and how to keep her out of said trouble. Hatter just hoped to whatever unknown deity there was that he and Alice could keep her out of said trouble. But who knew with the rate they'd been going last time they had an adventure in Wonderland, they'd drawn more trouble to themselves than Hatter ever thought possible. Now there were two oysters, two double agents, one crazy old knight, and the queen scampering around through the forest. Alfred only knew what kind of trouble that would draw to them. They were a motley crew with a number of enemies, and possible enemies. This was very serious indeed, a fickle pickle even.
“Here we are, jolly good coats and all. I am the prepared knight as always. Alice,” Charlie held up the coat she'd worn on their first adventure. She'd left it behind on one of her visits, and the old man had hung onto it just knowing it'd come in handy some time. Alice grinned widely at the velvet jacket, her eyes lighting with the happy yet confusing memory of how her and Hatter had met. Hatter too smiled at the memory as he helped Alice slip into the coat that reacher down to her knees.
“Just like old times,” Alice offered with a wide grin. Savy cocked her head, and decided they would have to tell her about these old times. She had always been told they met via Hatter's tea shop. However, considering that it looked like Hatter was actually from Wonderland that didn't make much sense. “We'll explain later, we'll have plenty of time for stories once we're on the move.” Savy nodded but still looked skeptical.
“Well when we're not risking our lives and braving the odds. Risking life and limb, and impending doom just for the sake of Wonderland all over again. Ah, it brings back such pleasant memories. I am a knight, and we knights thrive on peril, and the chance of death.” Charlie was rambling as he handed a black woolen coat to Duchess. Duchess scrunched up her nose, but slipped into the coat anyways she hadn't any choice in the matter. And whether she liked it or not, they were right the mountains would be cold. She couldn't risk getting a cold when she needed to save her family. “Yes, we shall see things that you have only seen in your deepest darkest nightmares. But oh the adventure we shall have. Things have been so quiet here recently I've had to take up fighting Jabberwocks to keep my skills in tact. Oh how I've missed the adventures.” Charlie was still rambling when he handed Savy a berry colored velvet blazer. Savy quirked a brow at the blazer, but slipped her freckled arms into it anyways.
“Charlie, let's go ge' the horses,” Hatter said cutting Charlie off mid ramble, and leading the older man with him towards the field where the horses were grazing.
“Horses,” Savy asked looking at Alice with a quirked brow.
“Well did you expect us to walk to the mountains,” Duchess asked critically. “Honestly you otherworlders are so queer. Why in Alfred's name would we walk to the mountains? That's much more trouble than it's worth.” Savy huffed and crossed her arms at the mere thought of being lectured by Duchess.
“Well we won't be able to use them in the mountains, we'll have to travel them on foot,” Topper offered eying Savy's annoyance, but speaking to Duchess. Duchess herself looked aghast at the thought of having to hike the mountains without a horse. Hiking? The queen? What a wretched idea! How ever would she survive hiking in the mountains.
“Are you serious,” Duchess asked finally her mouth turning into a frown, and Savy restrained herself from telling the woman that she'd likely get wrinkles from making that face.
“Of course I am. The mountains are very rocky, and the horses would hurt themselves trying to climb them. No, it's best we go on foot. I'm sure Charlie and Hatter have already been thinking this all along.”
“Right you are my boy,” Charlie said returning to the clearing with two horses. Hatter also held the reigns of two horses. Savy calculated the amount of people that they had in her head as apposed to the number of horses. Six people, four horses. How was that going to work? Alice and Hatter of course would ride together, but what about her? She sure didn't want to ride with Duchess, the woman might wrinkle if Savy so much as got close to her. And riding with Charlie while he was wearing that awful armor sounded painful. That left Topper. No, that wouldn't end well either. She'd likely slug him just for being so close. This would not end well.
“As much as I hate ta agree with such a louse, Topper's righ'. We can' take the horses inta the mountains, they'll only be a hindrance,” Hatter grumbled handing the brown and white spotted horse off to Savy while he lead the all brown one to Alice. Guinevere nosed Alice's shoulder in recognition.
“Oh look Guinevere remembers you Alice,” Charlie said with a wide grin.
“Guinevere,” Savy asked with a small smirk. Charlie had named his horse after a King Arthur character, it was amusing.
“Yes, and this is Arthur,” Charlie said holding up the reigns to the white horse. “That's Lancelot,” he pointed to the brown and white horse that Savy was holding onto. “And that's Pete,” he pointed to the all black one Duchess was now holding at a distance so it didn't slober on her or anything. Savy snickered at the name. Well he'd gotten them all but one, Pete. That was relatively amusing. While she snickered lightly Hatter climbed onto Guinevere and pulled Alice up behind him. “Go on saddle up young lady,” Charlie said climbing onto Arthur. “We must be off as soon as possible, no time do dilly.”
“Or dally,” Hatter said with a small grin. Duchess looked disgusted but climbed onto Pete anyways. Savy sighed, she'd never ridden a horse before, but she supposed there was a first time for everything. Hooking her right foot into the stirrup she hosted her left across the saddle, and shifted a little in place to get comfortable. This was going to be a long ass journey.
“Now who am I to ride with,” Topper asked looking between the people saddled and frowning.
“I say we make 'im walk,” Hatter said a cruel smirk stretching across his lips the earned him a jab to the ribs from Alice. “Wha'? Well we could jus' leave 'im behind.” Another sharp jab to the ribs, and Hatter winced loudly. “Jus' jokin',” he muttered and his eyes went downcast losing their mirth at the thorough scolding he knew he'd receive later for his cruelty. Alice wouldn't let him get away with it. The sight of that alone had Topper suddenly very glad he was on his own, he had no one to scold him for his behavior.
“You could always ride with Duchess,” Savy smirked and was glad Alice wasn't sitting behind her to jab her in the ribs. She was sure from the disapproving look she received, however, that she'd be in for a lecture later. Savy could see it now, her and Hatter sitting side by side as Alice stood over them pacing testily between them and lecturing them both with that firm set to her mouth. Savy and Hatter would be wearing similar looks of guilt, however they wouldn't look like either of them really regretted it. Their heads would be bent but they'd be eying each other and smirking when her back was turned. Alice knew that's what they did too, she too knew the scene well enough. It was the same scene that had occurred after a brilliantly devised surprise birthday party. Savy and Hatter were so much alike that sometimes it scared Alice. It was like Savy herself was a part of them. Alice could almost imagine their children being like her when they were her age, that perfect mix of Wonderland and Otherworld.
“I think not,” Duchess said in an annoyed fashion and sat up a little straighter meanwhile cutting Savy a look that could have killed if it weren't Savy it was directed at..
“What about you Uncle Charlie, you up for a riding buddy?”
“Certainly not. We knights do not ride with other men. It is with a damsel or alone. What a preposterous thing to suggest,” Charlie sputtered and Savy bit back a chuckle. Topper was just standing there looking up at her in utter annoyance. He wondered how long she intended to play this game.
“Slide back Savannah, I'm riding with you,” Topper said finally with a firm set to his mouth that Savy found humorous because he didn't look the type to ever be so serious. In fact it was so humorous it was damn near laughable.
“I don't think so. If you're riding with me you're riding behind me. I'll drive,” Savy's face became quickly just as serious. It may be alright for Alice to play the damsel to Hatter's hero by riding behind him and clinging to his waist. In fact they looked down right … well right riding like that. They fit that way. But Savy would not play the damsel to Topper. Topper was by all means untrustworthy, and a leech if Hatter's response to him was any inclination.
“Wh-what,” Topper stuttered looking bewildered. He looked from a very serious Savy to Charlie, and Hatter who were both just as perplexed by Savy as he was. Well, at least he wasn't the only one who thought this was strange.
“You heard me, you hop on behind me. Now stop standing around like a fucking moron, we don't have time for this,” Savy said impatiently offering her hand to him to help him up behind her. Topper looked from the hand to her green eyes, then back, and back again. “Get your ass over here already,” the girl growled, and Topper jumped a little before grabbing her hand and allowing her to help him pull her up onto the horse behind her. He hadn't realized he'd done it till he was seated, and then he wondered why. Why had he listened to her? Why had that one little growl scared him into submission? Did he really think this slight little thing had the means to back up that mouth of hers? “There, now was that so hard?”
“Tomorrow you're riding back here,” Topper grumbled just loud enough for her to hear.
“Hold on there Topper,” Savy said taking off into a gallop in the direction Charlie had already started to ramble off into. “Wouldn't want to lose you.”
“I don't think you're funny Savannah,” Topper growled a little as she slowed into a walk right along side Hatter and Alice. “I don't think you're funny at all.”
“That's jus' because ya lack a sense of 'umor Top,” Hatter said with a wide grin. Alice sighed a little but didn't poke Hatter in the ribs again. She assumed there wasn't much she could do to keep Savy and Hatter from being cruel to Topper. They really did believe they were justified in some way, and as such they weren't going to change their ways.
“I told you, it's Savy. And you're not holding on, I could easily knock you off and be off without you. In fact that doesn't sound like such a bad idea with your current attitude.”
“Well I prefer Savannah. So you'll just have to get on with knocking me off the horse then,” Topper's grumbling turned into something like charming snark. If you could call it charming, which Savy didn't think she would. “Of course,” his voice drifted off much too close to the back of her head. “If you're going to knock me off, I may just take you with me,” he grabbed her waist tightly, and Savy growled.
“Get your fucking hands off me,” instinctively an elbow went back to jab him in the ribs, and he released his hold on her waist. He groaned a little as he rubbed his ribs. The girl might be small but she sure as hell had the strength to back up that mouth, which had him even more intrigued by her. How had she come to be so sharp? How had she come to be so brutally strong? How had she come to be here? Something in how interested he was in her, worried him.
“Tried ta warn ya Topper, Savy isn' the girl ya wan' ta mess with. She can take care of 'erself. She don' need me ta stand up for her,” Hatter said proudly the grin on his face spreading from ear to ear. He was down right proud of the girl riding along side him, there was no other term for it. But it wasn't the normal kind of proud, of like a friend or a boyfriend, no this was a morphed fatherly pride that applied only to daughters who had taken it upon themselves to elbow unsuitable suitors. Hatter never thought he'd feel that kind of pride, but then he never thought he'd feel many of the emotions he felt since meeting Alice. She taught him to love, to care, to want, to pride, to joy, and above all else to feel at all.
“Don't encourage Savy to beat the boy, Hatter. Remember, we've talked about not encouraging violence least of all in the girl who was put in my karate class because of getting into fights in school,” Alice chided lightly with something like a grin playing on her lips.
“That wasn't the only place I got into fights at” Savy mumbled avoiding eye contact with them both, and hoping they'd just drop it. She didn't like talking about the reason she'd been put in karate. Mostly because to tell the truth she hadn't started that fight, nor had she won it. It had been a group of boys, and they'd followed her home, by home she meant to the orphanage. They'd been boys who had been giving one of the freshman shit, said freshman was this little slip of a thing with glasses and a lisp, and Savy had stood up for him. She didn't like to see people getting picked on. She'd been picked on for years for her hand me down clothes, and her blunt hair cut that she often had to do herself. So she'd done the only thing she knew how to, she talked big and hoped to hell that she didn't have to use force to back it up. Well, they hadn't liked that, but they weren't going to beat the living piss out of a girl in school. They followed her home, and beat the living piss out of her a block from the orphanage. When the case was tried months later it was decided that Savy had provoked them, and attacked them, and they were just acting in self defense. It was complete and utter bullshit, of course. So Savy spent a week in juvie and then was set up in Alice's class. She wasn't happy about it, but there was nothing she could do, and soon she found herself under Alice's wing and being accepted by her and Hatter like they were family.
The conversation had gone on while Savy was deep in thought, but no one bothered her. Alice hadn't cared much for the troubled look on her face, but the elder woman had said nothing. Alice knew Savy had had it rough, and that she didn't like to talk about her past, but Alice had vowed long ago that one day she would learn what it was the girl was hiding if only to better understand her. Silence fell over the group as the day drew on. There wasn't really much to discuss. None of them really knew what they were headed towards, but there was an air of impending doom looming over them. Alice avoided Savy's eyes, she knew she'd only see trouble there. The girl was more scared than she was letting on, even if she was fitting in with Wonderland with relative ease. Savy herself was thinking along the exact same lines. She had a penchant for attracting trouble in her world, and she doubted that stopped be true the moment she entered Wonderland. If anything it may have become more true. It was frightening to think that she could get into anymore trouble than she tended to at home.
“We should stop and let the horses rest,” Charlie said pulling everyone from their thoughts. He had no idea what was bothering the people in his caravan, but he knew this silence had to stop. To journey in silence was bad luck. It was a very quick way to get them into even more trouble. For silence left you time to think about the what ifs, and if anyone didn't need that it was this crew here. What they needed was stories, and laughter. They needed time to forget what they were going to do, and just be themselves. Besides, if anyone knew the importance of a close knit team Charlie did. The closer they got as friends the better off they'd be when things got ugly. He couldn't chance that they wouldn't care here not there for what happened to one another when things got messy. No, that would be very bad indeed. He hopped off Arthur and let the horse wander to a stream to take a drink, meanwhile he found himself a rock to rest his bones on. Everyone else followed suit, standing and sitting in different places on the rocky shore. “I propose the rest of the way we tell stories.”
Everyone looked at the crazy old man like he was … well crazy. “Charlie what are you going on about,” Alice asked toying with a loose strand of her long dark hair nervously. She didn't know what Charlie was getting at but even she'd admit the silence they'd let weigh heavily on them was becoming unbearable.
“Well we cannot possibly just sit in silence for the next day and a half. So I propose we spend the rest of the way telling stories. There is absolutely no reason what so ever why we should be miserable the rest of the road. No reason at all. So I pro-.”
“What sort of stories,” Duchess asked cutting the old man off before he could go into another long ramble.
“Well any sort of stories really. Although I think it best we tell the things we know best which are events in our own lives. For instance, I doubt anyone knows the full story of how Alice and Hatter met. Nor does anyone know how Savy came to be one of the family. Nor how I came across them that day in the woods. Yes, let's tell stories of what we know. Who would like to start?”
“I think Alice and Hatter should,” Savy volunteered them with something like a smirk. “I mean you two didn't really meet at a tea shop did you?”
Alice was just about to say something when Charlie cut her off, “uh uh we shall wait until the journey is back on its course. We shan't waste all our tales on just sitting around. However, now that we're all agreed I think you should start thinking on your tales.”
“I say we ge' ta decide wha' stories we wan' ta 'ear. Savy picked firs' then Alice can pick nex' since she's tellin' this one. And so on,” Hatter chimed in. He was more than a little interested by this idea. It was a simple and easy way to get into the heads of the people around him. Not to mention it was a simple and easy way to figure out what Alice thought of him upon first meeting, and where Topper really stood.
Not everyone was as excited about this ideas as Hatter was. Topper could smell danger in the air at this idea. One false move and that'd be it for him. Meanwhile Savy was just thinking about how deeply into her personal life this could get. She didn't particularly want everyone to know what she'd been through. She didn't need their pity and she didn't want them to think they needed to look after her. If Alice and Hatter found out she was really an orphan what would they do? Would they stop helping her? Would they take away the key they'd given her months ago so if she ever needed a place to go she could go to their apartment? Would they think of her as nothing more than a delinquent? She shuddered inwardly at the mere word delinquent. Duchess, on the other hand, was excited. The tall blonde woman would never let on how intrigued she was to learn about her companions, but she was nonetheless. It was a chance to see what made them tick, what brought them together, and maybe how she could integrate herself more closely to them. Despite all Duchess's coldness she would very much like to have real friends for once in her life and this was her opportunity. Alice was grateful for the idea, she wanted something to fill the void of silence. The dark haired woman didn't want to be left to wonder what sort of trouble would be drawn to them and what horror they'd get themselves into. The time on the rocks passed with the entire group thinking of stories, and what to tell so as to protect themselves, or entertain the rest.
As promised I have some images of our motley crew so that you all can see them, particularly what Topper and Savy look like. Now Topper may not be spot on to how he is in my head, but he's really very close. Savannah however, yeah I came across her and she screamed Savy to me so she really is pretty spot on. Let me know what you think! And thanks a billion for following along with this crazy journey I've decided to go on.
Chapter Title: Beginning the Journey
Author: greeneyes0911
Pairing: Alice/Hatter, Jack/Duchess
Characters: Charlie, Hatter, Jack, Duchess, Alice, and two OCs (Savy & Topper)
Rating: r-ish (for later chapters)
Length: 5,300+
Warnings/Spoilers: The entire miniseries
A/N: I got this idea this morning, I'd like to see where it heads but if no one likes it I'll drop it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Alice, Hatter, March Hare, any of 'em....but damn would I be rich if I did!
The journey begins in bickering.
The birds were chirping loudly. No not chirping, screeching, Alice corrected herself in her head. She had nearly forgotten they were in Wonderland until she heard the familiar noise of those awful creatures. Why couldn't Wonderland just have normal birds that made normal sounds? She didn't know, but she was sure glad that the birds at home didn't make those noises. Otherwise she may have to take up a bee bee gun just to escape that wretched noise. And shooting birds with a bee bee gun didn't really sound like something she wanted to spend her time doing. Not to mention then she'd pity the poor animals. Nonetheless, if the birds in New York were to make such awful noises she'd have to. There would be no choice.
“What is that awful fucking noise,” Savy asked sitting up from the makeshift cot and glaring up into the trees trying to see what was making the noise. She couldn't see the creatures, but she could only assume they were ugly little things. If they weren't ugly then they'd never make such awful noises. Pretty things didn't make ugly noises, only ugly things did. That was logical right? She thought so anyway.
“The birds,” Alice said frowning a little as she shoved Hatter who was still snoring soundly beside her. “Up, Hatter. Time to get up.” A small pale hand shook the tanned man beside her, he in turn grumbled loudly.
“Bu' Kettle, jus' a few more minutes,” Hatter grumbled rolling away from the offending hand. His dark brown top hat was pulled firmly over his eyes to block out the rising sun. He was quite used to the offending sound of the birds, and as such could block it out thoroughly.
“Kettle,” came an unwelcome amused voice from behind Savy. Savy's head whipped around, and she glared at Topper. The man-child, as Savy had decided he was just last night, looked perfectly at home leaning against one of the crumbling walls of the space that had become their room. Alice's head popped up to glare dangerously at Topper.
“You should get while the gettings good Topper, because if that finally registers he'll have your fucking head,” Savy said hopping up, and pulling back on her boots. The loose tendrils of red hair that had fallen loose from the girl's ponytail caught Topper's eye and he couldn't help but stare a little. The girl looked much softer in the morning light with her hair not pulled back so tightly. In fact she almost looked human, in a weird way. “I said get while the gettings fucking good,” and suddenly the soft smooth face with it's cleft chin was in his face, and grabbing his arm. Savy drug him out of the room and back over to where the fire had been the previous night. There she left him to move on to wake up the rest of the encampment. Meanwhile Alice still struggled with Hatter to get him awake. “Uncle Charlie, get up,” She called close to his ear, but the humming of the old man continued. Savy grumbled a little, and with very little effort flipped the hammock upside down, and out fell Charlie
“Sound the alarm! Battle stations! Women and children to the back! Where is my ho-,” Charlie stopped dead mid rant and looked wide eyed at a smirking Savy. “That is not funny young lady. You know when I was your age we had more respect for our elders than just to throw them from their beds in the early morning. Children today, do not learn their manner properly. And do you know what may have happened to you? I am a knight you know. I could have very well taken off your head on accident.”
“Stop lecturing the girl,” Duchess said grumpily as she walked into the clearing. She had hardly slept a wink the previous night. She couldn't stop thinking about it. And by it she meant the cold hard cot, and the lack of a warm body beside her. Or the fact that in the morning Harper would not come running into her bedroom, jumping on her bed. No early morning eggs before Jack was off to attend to his duties. No walk around the grounds with Harper. Those little things that she had always taken for granted. Those little things that she had never thought much on. Those little things that had always seemed to inconsequential. Those little things were gone now, and she finally realized how very important to her they were. Somewhere along the line Duchess had gone from the creature of the Queen of Heart, to Jack's wife, and finally to a loving mother and dutiful queen. “She was just doing as told.” Savy very nearly thanked the woman for saving her from the lecture Charlie had already started in on. Before she could there was a loud noise from the makeshift room where Hatter and Alice were.
“Damn it Alice ya didn' 'ave ta push me off the bed,” Hatter screeched from the room, and came stomping out into the clearing his hat askew, and his hair a mess. He looked positively mad. Which had Savy smirking almost ready to burst into a chuckle, he looked mad, mad like a Hatter. It was more than a little humorous. And out came Alice behind him hair in a rat's nest, frazzled and eyes wide.
“Hatter you rolled out of the bed yourself,” Alice said quickly pulling her long dark hair up into a pony tail. Her worn jeans had yet to be tucked back down into her flat brown boots, but she was hopping on one foot at a time as she tucked the denim into the worn leather. “I swear its like having a five year old trying to wake you up.”
Hatter grumbled something under his breath, and Alice shot him a glare. Topper was finding the whole scene very very intriguing. What was this relationship? Could people really be like that? He'd never seen a real functioning relationship in his life. Everything in Wonderland was dysfunctional, especially in the years he'd spent growing up. It seemed as though love never had really existed in Wonderland, and if it did it was always one sided. But somehow, Hatter was in a real functional relationship. Sure it looked like they had their problems, but that was a challenge for any Wonderlander. How had he done it? What did it take to keep it up? And why was Topper even wondering? It wasn't like Topper had every wanted for that kind of thing. He didn't need to be taken care of, and bickered with, and rolled out his bed at horrid times in the morning. No, he didn't need that kind of business. He didn't need to be worried about anyone but himself, that's how it had always been and that's how he liked it.
“Charlie do ya have any extra jackets, and coats for the girls, they'll freeze their arses off in those hills,” Hatter asked, and Topper realized he must have missed part of the conversation. He'd better not allow that to continue, it wasn't safe for him to not be paying attention. He shook himself mentally. Must pay closer attention, he scolded himself.
“Righto, I do have some things that you and Alice have left behind before, and you know some other things that I've just come across. One must always be prepared for these situations. I was taught that as a boy, to always be prepared. It is the job of a knight to be prepared. To take care of others by being prepared. It -” Charlie was yammering.
“Uncle Charlie, just go find the jackets,” Savy said with a smirk. The man continued sputtering off about being prepared as he headed off to some other part of the encampment.
“Is he always like that,” Topper asked suddenly. He'd spent maybe ten minutes with the man before the rest of the group had joined them, and during that time the only thing the man did was sing. Topper only assumed he'd been nervous about what was to come, but it seemed like maybe he was excited to see his family now. The crazy old man had a family. Topper found himself almost jealous of the insane old knight, a family, something he'd never understood and probably never would. Even if he didn't think he wanted one, he had to admit it was kind of nice watching those four, and how they knew each other. It was also kind of nice how they accepted each other's quirks.
“Do you really expect me to wear someone else's clothes,” Duchess asked with a look of disgust.
“Oh come on Duchess it won't kill you,” Savy said rolling her eyes and scoffing loudly.
“It's tha' or freeze up in the mountains. Don' go thinkin' tha' any of us will give up our coats ta keep yar silly ass warm,” Hatter shrugged, his clothing moving with his shoulders. The dark brown leather coat made a soft rustling, and the button up purple shirt underneath was wrinkled from sleeping in it. It was tucked loosely into a pair of dark jeans with a few holes in them. The boots on his feet were dusty already from the walk through the forest. Hatter tried not to notice that it seemed like Savy was getting very comfortable in her surroundings. Where Alice had remained jittery and nervous the entire time she'd been in Wonderland it seemed like Savy was feeling quite at home. Hatter didn't dare to think of the implications of that, of all the danger that would draw to them. Savy was too confident in herself and her abilities, and that would get her into trouble. The question was who and how to keep her out of said trouble. Hatter just hoped to whatever unknown deity there was that he and Alice could keep her out of said trouble. But who knew with the rate they'd been going last time they had an adventure in Wonderland, they'd drawn more trouble to themselves than Hatter ever thought possible. Now there were two oysters, two double agents, one crazy old knight, and the queen scampering around through the forest. Alfred only knew what kind of trouble that would draw to them. They were a motley crew with a number of enemies, and possible enemies. This was very serious indeed, a fickle pickle even.
“Here we are, jolly good coats and all. I am the prepared knight as always. Alice,” Charlie held up the coat she'd worn on their first adventure. She'd left it behind on one of her visits, and the old man had hung onto it just knowing it'd come in handy some time. Alice grinned widely at the velvet jacket, her eyes lighting with the happy yet confusing memory of how her and Hatter had met. Hatter too smiled at the memory as he helped Alice slip into the coat that reacher down to her knees.
“Just like old times,” Alice offered with a wide grin. Savy cocked her head, and decided they would have to tell her about these old times. She had always been told they met via Hatter's tea shop. However, considering that it looked like Hatter was actually from Wonderland that didn't make much sense. “We'll explain later, we'll have plenty of time for stories once we're on the move.” Savy nodded but still looked skeptical.
“Well when we're not risking our lives and braving the odds. Risking life and limb, and impending doom just for the sake of Wonderland all over again. Ah, it brings back such pleasant memories. I am a knight, and we knights thrive on peril, and the chance of death.” Charlie was rambling as he handed a black woolen coat to Duchess. Duchess scrunched up her nose, but slipped into the coat anyways she hadn't any choice in the matter. And whether she liked it or not, they were right the mountains would be cold. She couldn't risk getting a cold when she needed to save her family. “Yes, we shall see things that you have only seen in your deepest darkest nightmares. But oh the adventure we shall have. Things have been so quiet here recently I've had to take up fighting Jabberwocks to keep my skills in tact. Oh how I've missed the adventures.” Charlie was still rambling when he handed Savy a berry colored velvet blazer. Savy quirked a brow at the blazer, but slipped her freckled arms into it anyways.
“Charlie, let's go ge' the horses,” Hatter said cutting Charlie off mid ramble, and leading the older man with him towards the field where the horses were grazing.
“Horses,” Savy asked looking at Alice with a quirked brow.
“Well did you expect us to walk to the mountains,” Duchess asked critically. “Honestly you otherworlders are so queer. Why in Alfred's name would we walk to the mountains? That's much more trouble than it's worth.” Savy huffed and crossed her arms at the mere thought of being lectured by Duchess.
“Well we won't be able to use them in the mountains, we'll have to travel them on foot,” Topper offered eying Savy's annoyance, but speaking to Duchess. Duchess herself looked aghast at the thought of having to hike the mountains without a horse. Hiking? The queen? What a wretched idea! How ever would she survive hiking in the mountains.
“Are you serious,” Duchess asked finally her mouth turning into a frown, and Savy restrained herself from telling the woman that she'd likely get wrinkles from making that face.
“Of course I am. The mountains are very rocky, and the horses would hurt themselves trying to climb them. No, it's best we go on foot. I'm sure Charlie and Hatter have already been thinking this all along.”
“Right you are my boy,” Charlie said returning to the clearing with two horses. Hatter also held the reigns of two horses. Savy calculated the amount of people that they had in her head as apposed to the number of horses. Six people, four horses. How was that going to work? Alice and Hatter of course would ride together, but what about her? She sure didn't want to ride with Duchess, the woman might wrinkle if Savy so much as got close to her. And riding with Charlie while he was wearing that awful armor sounded painful. That left Topper. No, that wouldn't end well either. She'd likely slug him just for being so close. This would not end well.
“As much as I hate ta agree with such a louse, Topper's righ'. We can' take the horses inta the mountains, they'll only be a hindrance,” Hatter grumbled handing the brown and white spotted horse off to Savy while he lead the all brown one to Alice. Guinevere nosed Alice's shoulder in recognition.
“Oh look Guinevere remembers you Alice,” Charlie said with a wide grin.
“Guinevere,” Savy asked with a small smirk. Charlie had named his horse after a King Arthur character, it was amusing.
“Yes, and this is Arthur,” Charlie said holding up the reigns to the white horse. “That's Lancelot,” he pointed to the brown and white horse that Savy was holding onto. “And that's Pete,” he pointed to the all black one Duchess was now holding at a distance so it didn't slober on her or anything. Savy snickered at the name. Well he'd gotten them all but one, Pete. That was relatively amusing. While she snickered lightly Hatter climbed onto Guinevere and pulled Alice up behind him. “Go on saddle up young lady,” Charlie said climbing onto Arthur. “We must be off as soon as possible, no time do dilly.”
“Or dally,” Hatter said with a small grin. Duchess looked disgusted but climbed onto Pete anyways. Savy sighed, she'd never ridden a horse before, but she supposed there was a first time for everything. Hooking her right foot into the stirrup she hosted her left across the saddle, and shifted a little in place to get comfortable. This was going to be a long ass journey.
“Now who am I to ride with,” Topper asked looking between the people saddled and frowning.
“I say we make 'im walk,” Hatter said a cruel smirk stretching across his lips the earned him a jab to the ribs from Alice. “Wha'? Well we could jus' leave 'im behind.” Another sharp jab to the ribs, and Hatter winced loudly. “Jus' jokin',” he muttered and his eyes went downcast losing their mirth at the thorough scolding he knew he'd receive later for his cruelty. Alice wouldn't let him get away with it. The sight of that alone had Topper suddenly very glad he was on his own, he had no one to scold him for his behavior.
“You could always ride with Duchess,” Savy smirked and was glad Alice wasn't sitting behind her to jab her in the ribs. She was sure from the disapproving look she received, however, that she'd be in for a lecture later. Savy could see it now, her and Hatter sitting side by side as Alice stood over them pacing testily between them and lecturing them both with that firm set to her mouth. Savy and Hatter would be wearing similar looks of guilt, however they wouldn't look like either of them really regretted it. Their heads would be bent but they'd be eying each other and smirking when her back was turned. Alice knew that's what they did too, she too knew the scene well enough. It was the same scene that had occurred after a brilliantly devised surprise birthday party. Savy and Hatter were so much alike that sometimes it scared Alice. It was like Savy herself was a part of them. Alice could almost imagine their children being like her when they were her age, that perfect mix of Wonderland and Otherworld.
“I think not,” Duchess said in an annoyed fashion and sat up a little straighter meanwhile cutting Savy a look that could have killed if it weren't Savy it was directed at..
“What about you Uncle Charlie, you up for a riding buddy?”
“Certainly not. We knights do not ride with other men. It is with a damsel or alone. What a preposterous thing to suggest,” Charlie sputtered and Savy bit back a chuckle. Topper was just standing there looking up at her in utter annoyance. He wondered how long she intended to play this game.
“Slide back Savannah, I'm riding with you,” Topper said finally with a firm set to his mouth that Savy found humorous because he didn't look the type to ever be so serious. In fact it was so humorous it was damn near laughable.
“I don't think so. If you're riding with me you're riding behind me. I'll drive,” Savy's face became quickly just as serious. It may be alright for Alice to play the damsel to Hatter's hero by riding behind him and clinging to his waist. In fact they looked down right … well right riding like that. They fit that way. But Savy would not play the damsel to Topper. Topper was by all means untrustworthy, and a leech if Hatter's response to him was any inclination.
“Wh-what,” Topper stuttered looking bewildered. He looked from a very serious Savy to Charlie, and Hatter who were both just as perplexed by Savy as he was. Well, at least he wasn't the only one who thought this was strange.
“You heard me, you hop on behind me. Now stop standing around like a fucking moron, we don't have time for this,” Savy said impatiently offering her hand to him to help him up behind her. Topper looked from the hand to her green eyes, then back, and back again. “Get your ass over here already,” the girl growled, and Topper jumped a little before grabbing her hand and allowing her to help him pull her up onto the horse behind her. He hadn't realized he'd done it till he was seated, and then he wondered why. Why had he listened to her? Why had that one little growl scared him into submission? Did he really think this slight little thing had the means to back up that mouth of hers? “There, now was that so hard?”
“Tomorrow you're riding back here,” Topper grumbled just loud enough for her to hear.
“Hold on there Topper,” Savy said taking off into a gallop in the direction Charlie had already started to ramble off into. “Wouldn't want to lose you.”
“I don't think you're funny Savannah,” Topper growled a little as she slowed into a walk right along side Hatter and Alice. “I don't think you're funny at all.”
“That's jus' because ya lack a sense of 'umor Top,” Hatter said with a wide grin. Alice sighed a little but didn't poke Hatter in the ribs again. She assumed there wasn't much she could do to keep Savy and Hatter from being cruel to Topper. They really did believe they were justified in some way, and as such they weren't going to change their ways.
“I told you, it's Savy. And you're not holding on, I could easily knock you off and be off without you. In fact that doesn't sound like such a bad idea with your current attitude.”
“Well I prefer Savannah. So you'll just have to get on with knocking me off the horse then,” Topper's grumbling turned into something like charming snark. If you could call it charming, which Savy didn't think she would. “Of course,” his voice drifted off much too close to the back of her head. “If you're going to knock me off, I may just take you with me,” he grabbed her waist tightly, and Savy growled.
“Get your fucking hands off me,” instinctively an elbow went back to jab him in the ribs, and he released his hold on her waist. He groaned a little as he rubbed his ribs. The girl might be small but she sure as hell had the strength to back up that mouth, which had him even more intrigued by her. How had she come to be so sharp? How had she come to be so brutally strong? How had she come to be here? Something in how interested he was in her, worried him.
“Tried ta warn ya Topper, Savy isn' the girl ya wan' ta mess with. She can take care of 'erself. She don' need me ta stand up for her,” Hatter said proudly the grin on his face spreading from ear to ear. He was down right proud of the girl riding along side him, there was no other term for it. But it wasn't the normal kind of proud, of like a friend or a boyfriend, no this was a morphed fatherly pride that applied only to daughters who had taken it upon themselves to elbow unsuitable suitors. Hatter never thought he'd feel that kind of pride, but then he never thought he'd feel many of the emotions he felt since meeting Alice. She taught him to love, to care, to want, to pride, to joy, and above all else to feel at all.
“Don't encourage Savy to beat the boy, Hatter. Remember, we've talked about not encouraging violence least of all in the girl who was put in my karate class because of getting into fights in school,” Alice chided lightly with something like a grin playing on her lips.
“That wasn't the only place I got into fights at” Savy mumbled avoiding eye contact with them both, and hoping they'd just drop it. She didn't like talking about the reason she'd been put in karate. Mostly because to tell the truth she hadn't started that fight, nor had she won it. It had been a group of boys, and they'd followed her home, by home she meant to the orphanage. They'd been boys who had been giving one of the freshman shit, said freshman was this little slip of a thing with glasses and a lisp, and Savy had stood up for him. She didn't like to see people getting picked on. She'd been picked on for years for her hand me down clothes, and her blunt hair cut that she often had to do herself. So she'd done the only thing she knew how to, she talked big and hoped to hell that she didn't have to use force to back it up. Well, they hadn't liked that, but they weren't going to beat the living piss out of a girl in school. They followed her home, and beat the living piss out of her a block from the orphanage. When the case was tried months later it was decided that Savy had provoked them, and attacked them, and they were just acting in self defense. It was complete and utter bullshit, of course. So Savy spent a week in juvie and then was set up in Alice's class. She wasn't happy about it, but there was nothing she could do, and soon she found herself under Alice's wing and being accepted by her and Hatter like they were family.
The conversation had gone on while Savy was deep in thought, but no one bothered her. Alice hadn't cared much for the troubled look on her face, but the elder woman had said nothing. Alice knew Savy had had it rough, and that she didn't like to talk about her past, but Alice had vowed long ago that one day she would learn what it was the girl was hiding if only to better understand her. Silence fell over the group as the day drew on. There wasn't really much to discuss. None of them really knew what they were headed towards, but there was an air of impending doom looming over them. Alice avoided Savy's eyes, she knew she'd only see trouble there. The girl was more scared than she was letting on, even if she was fitting in with Wonderland with relative ease. Savy herself was thinking along the exact same lines. She had a penchant for attracting trouble in her world, and she doubted that stopped be true the moment she entered Wonderland. If anything it may have become more true. It was frightening to think that she could get into anymore trouble than she tended to at home.
“We should stop and let the horses rest,” Charlie said pulling everyone from their thoughts. He had no idea what was bothering the people in his caravan, but he knew this silence had to stop. To journey in silence was bad luck. It was a very quick way to get them into even more trouble. For silence left you time to think about the what ifs, and if anyone didn't need that it was this crew here. What they needed was stories, and laughter. They needed time to forget what they were going to do, and just be themselves. Besides, if anyone knew the importance of a close knit team Charlie did. The closer they got as friends the better off they'd be when things got ugly. He couldn't chance that they wouldn't care here not there for what happened to one another when things got messy. No, that would be very bad indeed. He hopped off Arthur and let the horse wander to a stream to take a drink, meanwhile he found himself a rock to rest his bones on. Everyone else followed suit, standing and sitting in different places on the rocky shore. “I propose the rest of the way we tell stories.”
Everyone looked at the crazy old man like he was … well crazy. “Charlie what are you going on about,” Alice asked toying with a loose strand of her long dark hair nervously. She didn't know what Charlie was getting at but even she'd admit the silence they'd let weigh heavily on them was becoming unbearable.
“Well we cannot possibly just sit in silence for the next day and a half. So I propose we spend the rest of the way telling stories. There is absolutely no reason what so ever why we should be miserable the rest of the road. No reason at all. So I pro-.”
“What sort of stories,” Duchess asked cutting the old man off before he could go into another long ramble.
“Well any sort of stories really. Although I think it best we tell the things we know best which are events in our own lives. For instance, I doubt anyone knows the full story of how Alice and Hatter met. Nor does anyone know how Savy came to be one of the family. Nor how I came across them that day in the woods. Yes, let's tell stories of what we know. Who would like to start?”
“I think Alice and Hatter should,” Savy volunteered them with something like a smirk. “I mean you two didn't really meet at a tea shop did you?”
Alice was just about to say something when Charlie cut her off, “uh uh we shall wait until the journey is back on its course. We shan't waste all our tales on just sitting around. However, now that we're all agreed I think you should start thinking on your tales.”
“I say we ge' ta decide wha' stories we wan' ta 'ear. Savy picked firs' then Alice can pick nex' since she's tellin' this one. And so on,” Hatter chimed in. He was more than a little interested by this idea. It was a simple and easy way to get into the heads of the people around him. Not to mention it was a simple and easy way to figure out what Alice thought of him upon first meeting, and where Topper really stood.
Not everyone was as excited about this ideas as Hatter was. Topper could smell danger in the air at this idea. One false move and that'd be it for him. Meanwhile Savy was just thinking about how deeply into her personal life this could get. She didn't particularly want everyone to know what she'd been through. She didn't need their pity and she didn't want them to think they needed to look after her. If Alice and Hatter found out she was really an orphan what would they do? Would they stop helping her? Would they take away the key they'd given her months ago so if she ever needed a place to go she could go to their apartment? Would they think of her as nothing more than a delinquent? She shuddered inwardly at the mere word delinquent. Duchess, on the other hand, was excited. The tall blonde woman would never let on how intrigued she was to learn about her companions, but she was nonetheless. It was a chance to see what made them tick, what brought them together, and maybe how she could integrate herself more closely to them. Despite all Duchess's coldness she would very much like to have real friends for once in her life and this was her opportunity. Alice was grateful for the idea, she wanted something to fill the void of silence. The dark haired woman didn't want to be left to wonder what sort of trouble would be drawn to them and what horror they'd get themselves into. The time on the rocks passed with the entire group thinking of stories, and what to tell so as to protect themselves, or entertain the rest.
As promised I have some images of our motley crew so that you all can see them, particularly what Topper and Savy look like. Now Topper may not be spot on to how he is in my head, but he's really very close. Savannah however, yeah I came across her and she screamed Savy to me so she really is pretty spot on. Let me know what you think! And thanks a billion for following along with this crazy journey I've decided to go on.