Fic: Doppelganger Effect (10 of not-quite-sure)
Title: Doppelganger Effect
By: Chibi-Kaz
Fandom: Crossover: SyFy Alice/ Primeval
Rating: PG-13 (language, innuendo)
Pairings: established Alice/Hatter, Jack/Duchess, plus Connor/Abby UST
Disclaimer: Um, duh. I don’t own any of it.
Summary: “Abby, look - Lester will buy pre-historic, and he’ll buy futuristic, but fictional? Not a chance.” Set post-Alice miniseries by maybe a year real-world time, but sometime between when Primeval Season 2 ends and the start of Season 3. (yeah, I’m playing with timelines here, big time.)
AN: For alchemistc
(Please see one of these previous parts for links to parts 1-15)
SIXTEEN: http://community.livejournal.com/new_wonderland/191087.html
SEVENTEEN: http://community.livejournal.com/new_wonderland/195900.html
EIGHTEEN
(the chambers reserved for Lady Alice)
The suit-maids gave Abby just enough time for a fast shower, before shoving her into a robe and slippers and hustling her down the hall to Alice’s antechamber, where several seamstresses waited with Grace and an equally quickly showered Alice. There were nearly a dozen maids in the room - assisting the seamstresses, giving manicures and pedicures, preparing accessories and essentials.
Thankfully, a luncheon was on the table; Finger sandwiches and drinks and petit fours.
Alice bore the pins and fussing first, getting fitted into a bateau-necked princess-seamed ball gown of dark sapphire satin, highlighted with scattered crystal embroidery. There were coordinating silver opera gloves, since the gown was sleeveless. The skirt formed a smooth a-line to the floor. Alice fidgeted while the seamstress adjusted the hem.
Abby took the opportunity to have some lunch while a maid professionally buffed her toenails.
“My dress is gold, of course,” Grace explained. “With ivory gloves. For you, Abby…”
“Red?” the behaviorist asked.
“Initially I thought red, but perhaps, emerald?” A number of covered gowns hung on a rolling rack.
“White,” Alice suggested.
Abby wrinkled her nose. “I’ll look like a bride, for goodness’s sake. And Grace is the only bride around here.” It was fun, actually, sitting here, letting maids fuss over her, chatting with girl friends. A little like being a princess. Abby wasn’t used to having ‘girly’ female friends.
Grace blushed prettily. “Still several months away, it’s only autumn now.” She reached over to grasp Abby’s hand. “If I send you and Connor an invitation, will you come?”
“To your wedding? Of course!” Abby smiled, genuinely flattered to be invited. She’d really come to like Grace. Alice as well, despite the other woman’s knowing ways.
“The dress, my lady?” a seamstress asked, hovering near the rack. They had to pick before Abby could be fitted. The emerald dress was offered, but the skirt was too full for Abby’s taste.
“Maybe the silver?” Grace suggested. The silver was slinky and slitted, but Abby quickly declared she hadn’t the bust to fill it out properly.
“Wait, where’s that amethyst thing you put in my closet last time?” Alice said suddenly, hopping off the stand without regard to the sewer’s protest. “I never wore it.” She hurried into her bedroom, followed by a maid who retrieved the dress.
The smoky amethyst colored silk gown had a simple square neckline with little fluttery cap sleeves. The a-line skirt which fell from a natural waist was formed of layers of chiffon, artfully overlapping, so it almost looked shredded. The bodice was heavily embroidered and beaded, with lace detailing, all in the identical shade of amethyst, so instead of looking busy, it looked bohemian.
“Wow!” Abby gasped. “You didn’t wear it?”
Alice rolled her eyes with a playful sneer at Grace. “You’d be amazed at what ends up in the closet back there. This one is like every movie star in our world rolled into one - the burgeoning fashion designers of Wonderland give her tons of clothing, in hopes she might wear something once where everyone will see her.”
Grace blushed and waved a hand as if to deny Alice’s explanation, but Abby guessed it was true. When you’re about to be the wife of the King, that’s about as fashion-plate as one can get around here.
In moments, Abby had on silver heels, and found herself standing on the seamstress’s platform. The skirt was just the right length to not need any adjustments, so long as Abby wore the heels. The three seamstresses fussed and muttered about the bodice, trying to decide where and how to take it in a bit.
“Liz Taylor eyes,” Alice said randomly, letting maids help her out of her gown and into a robe.
“Whom?” asked Grace.
“Actress on Earth. She’s famous for her deep blue, almost-purple eyes. That dress makes Abby’s eyes almost purple too, just like Liz Taylor.”
“Ah,” Grace nodded. She considered Abby’s face. “Black eyeliner. Smudged.”
Abby smirked. “Yeah, I’ve done that before.”
“Silver on the lids,” Alice added. “Connor is going to have a heart attack and die when he sees you.”
Abby flushed.
“Don’t blush, that’s the point of getting dressed up, isn’t it? After all, it’s good for them.” The Duchess sipped her tea calmly as Abby giggled at her.
“How can it be good for them?” Abby asked.
“Why, it does their hearts proud, to know they’re worthy of such gorgeous creatures like us,” Grace pronounced solemnly, and Alice cracked up.
“You really think she’s pretty, Jack?” she said in a mocking tone, apparently quoting something Grace had once said, for the Duchess turned very red.
“Ugh, I was completely high on Arrogance that day! And then the Queen had me feeding Jack cocktails of Honesty, trying to figure out why he’d singled you out. What a mess we all were.”
“All’s well that ends well,” Alice said.
Abby smiled too, amused by the friendly banter between Alice and Grace. The seamstresses helped her out of her dress and back into the robe. Soon the flurry of sewers and maid began to filter out of the room.
“Well!” announced Grace, standing. “I should get going. There are always some last minute details to attend to. I’ll order light dinners delivered to your rooms.” She departed with a smile and a wave, leaving Alice and Abby alone together.
“Ah!” Alice stretched in her chair, wiggling her toes. “It’s always fun, you know, to have a fast get away in Wonderland. Of course, the first time I was here, I thought it was a mad-house. It got much better after Jack became King.”
Abby nodded. “I can tell. I guess at first … well, I’m not used to people just being … welcoming.” At Alice’s encouraging expression, she went on slowly, “All my life, I’ve had to fight for myself. My home life wasn’t good, at all. And I gave up uni to go to work. It was my dream job, so that was what I wanted to do. But I got laid off right as the whole…let’s say the timing of getting my current job was really lucky. And that’s how I met Connor and somehow he talked his way into sharing my flat with me.” Abby knew she wasn’t making much sense, but Alice nodded like she totally understood. “Anyway, our job is really stressful and dangerous, and it just took me a little time to relax, I guess.”
“It’s okay, Abby. It’s hard to learn to actually not look a gift horse in the mouth. But you’re safe here, and I promise, there are no ulterior motives or anything.”
Abby gave Alice a lopsided grin. “Thanks.”
Alice poured herself another drink, lemonade apparently. “So… Connor talked his way into living with you?”
“Actually, he sort of blackmailed me.”
“You’re kidding!”
“No, I’m not. There was a creature, a harmless one that got trapped in our time, and I just …. took it home. And Connor found out, and threatened to tell our boss if I didn’t let him kip on the couch for a while. It just kinda… he never did move out again. Then we moved into a bigger flat together, like it was totally natural. I still have to yell at him to clean up after himself and stuff, but he pays half the rent and groceries.”
“Abby…. he cares about you so much. It’s all over his face every time he looks at you.”
“I know,” Abby sighed. “It’s just…. it’s too much. And it doesn’t make any sense, I mean, I don’t encourage him or anything.”
“You don’t have to. He’s decided. You’re it for him.”
Abby bit her lip. She knew that. She knew deep down that Connor’s devotion wasn’t simply fancying her, or just trying to get into her knickers like so many other men. She clearly remembered what he’d said in that awful future, holding on to her hand, refusing to let her fall. But in their real time, it seemed so much safer to pretend that it never happened, that he hadn’t confessed his feelings. He’d backed down, and she let him. And yet somehow, strangely, Abby was apparently everything Connor wanted. She didn’t really know how to handle that.
Alice could apparently read this on her face, because she said, “You don’t have to do anything special. Just let him in.” She tilted her head consideringly. “What was it today?”
“Huh?”
“You gave him a funny look today, out in the woods, after he caught up to us. What was that about?”
“Oh!” Abby thought back. “He was laughing. We’re always so busy, or wired. I’ve seen him laugh before, you know, but never that sort of all out laugh.” She couldn’t keep the slightly wistful smile off her face, not realizing how much affection for Connor shone through it. “It was different. Instead of his usual kind of strange giggle, he was belly-laughing. I’d never seen that before.”
“Hm,” Alice hummed, pleased to see affection in Abby’s face. “Well, I think you should just relax and enjoy this vacation from reality for a bit. And give the guy a chance. Trust me when I tell you that having a man totally devoted to you like that is pretty awesome.”
to be continued
AN: filler mainly...I'm not crazy about this part, but after having a Jack-Hatter-Connor scene, I wanted a Grace-Alice-Abby scene for balance.
By: Chibi-Kaz
Fandom: Crossover: SyFy Alice/ Primeval
Rating: PG-13 (language, innuendo)
Pairings: established Alice/Hatter, Jack/Duchess, plus Connor/Abby UST
Disclaimer: Um, duh. I don’t own any of it.
Summary: “Abby, look - Lester will buy pre-historic, and he’ll buy futuristic, but fictional? Not a chance.” Set post-Alice miniseries by maybe a year real-world time, but sometime between when Primeval Season 2 ends and the start of Season 3. (yeah, I’m playing with timelines here, big time.)
AN: For alchemistc
(Please see one of these previous parts for links to parts 1-15)
SIXTEEN: http://community.livejournal.com/new_wonderland/191087.html
SEVENTEEN: http://community.livejournal.com/new_wonderland/195900.html
EIGHTEEN
(the chambers reserved for Lady Alice)
The suit-maids gave Abby just enough time for a fast shower, before shoving her into a robe and slippers and hustling her down the hall to Alice’s antechamber, where several seamstresses waited with Grace and an equally quickly showered Alice. There were nearly a dozen maids in the room - assisting the seamstresses, giving manicures and pedicures, preparing accessories and essentials.
Thankfully, a luncheon was on the table; Finger sandwiches and drinks and petit fours.
Alice bore the pins and fussing first, getting fitted into a bateau-necked princess-seamed ball gown of dark sapphire satin, highlighted with scattered crystal embroidery. There were coordinating silver opera gloves, since the gown was sleeveless. The skirt formed a smooth a-line to the floor. Alice fidgeted while the seamstress adjusted the hem.
Abby took the opportunity to have some lunch while a maid professionally buffed her toenails.
“My dress is gold, of course,” Grace explained. “With ivory gloves. For you, Abby…”
“Red?” the behaviorist asked.
“Initially I thought red, but perhaps, emerald?” A number of covered gowns hung on a rolling rack.
“White,” Alice suggested.
Abby wrinkled her nose. “I’ll look like a bride, for goodness’s sake. And Grace is the only bride around here.” It was fun, actually, sitting here, letting maids fuss over her, chatting with girl friends. A little like being a princess. Abby wasn’t used to having ‘girly’ female friends.
Grace blushed prettily. “Still several months away, it’s only autumn now.” She reached over to grasp Abby’s hand. “If I send you and Connor an invitation, will you come?”
“To your wedding? Of course!” Abby smiled, genuinely flattered to be invited. She’d really come to like Grace. Alice as well, despite the other woman’s knowing ways.
“The dress, my lady?” a seamstress asked, hovering near the rack. They had to pick before Abby could be fitted. The emerald dress was offered, but the skirt was too full for Abby’s taste.
“Maybe the silver?” Grace suggested. The silver was slinky and slitted, but Abby quickly declared she hadn’t the bust to fill it out properly.
“Wait, where’s that amethyst thing you put in my closet last time?” Alice said suddenly, hopping off the stand without regard to the sewer’s protest. “I never wore it.” She hurried into her bedroom, followed by a maid who retrieved the dress.
The smoky amethyst colored silk gown had a simple square neckline with little fluttery cap sleeves. The a-line skirt which fell from a natural waist was formed of layers of chiffon, artfully overlapping, so it almost looked shredded. The bodice was heavily embroidered and beaded, with lace detailing, all in the identical shade of amethyst, so instead of looking busy, it looked bohemian.
“Wow!” Abby gasped. “You didn’t wear it?”
Alice rolled her eyes with a playful sneer at Grace. “You’d be amazed at what ends up in the closet back there. This one is like every movie star in our world rolled into one - the burgeoning fashion designers of Wonderland give her tons of clothing, in hopes she might wear something once where everyone will see her.”
Grace blushed and waved a hand as if to deny Alice’s explanation, but Abby guessed it was true. When you’re about to be the wife of the King, that’s about as fashion-plate as one can get around here.
In moments, Abby had on silver heels, and found herself standing on the seamstress’s platform. The skirt was just the right length to not need any adjustments, so long as Abby wore the heels. The three seamstresses fussed and muttered about the bodice, trying to decide where and how to take it in a bit.
“Liz Taylor eyes,” Alice said randomly, letting maids help her out of her gown and into a robe.
“Whom?” asked Grace.
“Actress on Earth. She’s famous for her deep blue, almost-purple eyes. That dress makes Abby’s eyes almost purple too, just like Liz Taylor.”
“Ah,” Grace nodded. She considered Abby’s face. “Black eyeliner. Smudged.”
Abby smirked. “Yeah, I’ve done that before.”
“Silver on the lids,” Alice added. “Connor is going to have a heart attack and die when he sees you.”
Abby flushed.
“Don’t blush, that’s the point of getting dressed up, isn’t it? After all, it’s good for them.” The Duchess sipped her tea calmly as Abby giggled at her.
“How can it be good for them?” Abby asked.
“Why, it does their hearts proud, to know they’re worthy of such gorgeous creatures like us,” Grace pronounced solemnly, and Alice cracked up.
“You really think she’s pretty, Jack?” she said in a mocking tone, apparently quoting something Grace had once said, for the Duchess turned very red.
“Ugh, I was completely high on Arrogance that day! And then the Queen had me feeding Jack cocktails of Honesty, trying to figure out why he’d singled you out. What a mess we all were.”
“All’s well that ends well,” Alice said.
Abby smiled too, amused by the friendly banter between Alice and Grace. The seamstresses helped her out of her dress and back into the robe. Soon the flurry of sewers and maid began to filter out of the room.
“Well!” announced Grace, standing. “I should get going. There are always some last minute details to attend to. I’ll order light dinners delivered to your rooms.” She departed with a smile and a wave, leaving Alice and Abby alone together.
“Ah!” Alice stretched in her chair, wiggling her toes. “It’s always fun, you know, to have a fast get away in Wonderland. Of course, the first time I was here, I thought it was a mad-house. It got much better after Jack became King.”
Abby nodded. “I can tell. I guess at first … well, I’m not used to people just being … welcoming.” At Alice’s encouraging expression, she went on slowly, “All my life, I’ve had to fight for myself. My home life wasn’t good, at all. And I gave up uni to go to work. It was my dream job, so that was what I wanted to do. But I got laid off right as the whole…let’s say the timing of getting my current job was really lucky. And that’s how I met Connor and somehow he talked his way into sharing my flat with me.” Abby knew she wasn’t making much sense, but Alice nodded like she totally understood. “Anyway, our job is really stressful and dangerous, and it just took me a little time to relax, I guess.”
“It’s okay, Abby. It’s hard to learn to actually not look a gift horse in the mouth. But you’re safe here, and I promise, there are no ulterior motives or anything.”
Abby gave Alice a lopsided grin. “Thanks.”
Alice poured herself another drink, lemonade apparently. “So… Connor talked his way into living with you?”
“Actually, he sort of blackmailed me.”
“You’re kidding!”
“No, I’m not. There was a creature, a harmless one that got trapped in our time, and I just …. took it home. And Connor found out, and threatened to tell our boss if I didn’t let him kip on the couch for a while. It just kinda… he never did move out again. Then we moved into a bigger flat together, like it was totally natural. I still have to yell at him to clean up after himself and stuff, but he pays half the rent and groceries.”
“Abby…. he cares about you so much. It’s all over his face every time he looks at you.”
“I know,” Abby sighed. “It’s just…. it’s too much. And it doesn’t make any sense, I mean, I don’t encourage him or anything.”
“You don’t have to. He’s decided. You’re it for him.”
Abby bit her lip. She knew that. She knew deep down that Connor’s devotion wasn’t simply fancying her, or just trying to get into her knickers like so many other men. She clearly remembered what he’d said in that awful future, holding on to her hand, refusing to let her fall. But in their real time, it seemed so much safer to pretend that it never happened, that he hadn’t confessed his feelings. He’d backed down, and she let him. And yet somehow, strangely, Abby was apparently everything Connor wanted. She didn’t really know how to handle that.
Alice could apparently read this on her face, because she said, “You don’t have to do anything special. Just let him in.” She tilted her head consideringly. “What was it today?”
“Huh?”
“You gave him a funny look today, out in the woods, after he caught up to us. What was that about?”
“Oh!” Abby thought back. “He was laughing. We’re always so busy, or wired. I’ve seen him laugh before, you know, but never that sort of all out laugh.” She couldn’t keep the slightly wistful smile off her face, not realizing how much affection for Connor shone through it. “It was different. Instead of his usual kind of strange giggle, he was belly-laughing. I’d never seen that before.”
“Hm,” Alice hummed, pleased to see affection in Abby’s face. “Well, I think you should just relax and enjoy this vacation from reality for a bit. And give the guy a chance. Trust me when I tell you that having a man totally devoted to you like that is pretty awesome.”
to be continued
AN: filler mainly...I'm not crazy about this part, but after having a Jack-Hatter-Connor scene, I wanted a Grace-Alice-Abby scene for balance.