Alice Liddell 033 // A Waif

[madcuriosity]

Who: Alice Liddell and somarium
Where: The Church of Holy Light
Style: Third but I'll match
What: Alice spends her days at the church until Javert finds her a new home. Alice is attempting to cope.
Warnings: Angst, cute, and the ball of tangents and curiosity that is Alice.
Status: OPEN!

Comments

[scientize]

It was only natural that Naomi would drop by The Church of Holy Light to visit the two people in her life she currently enjoyed spending time with the most on her one afternoon off and away from patients. Besides, the woman was honestly very curious to make sure that Alice was having a pleasant time there and not finding herself too bored. Beautiful church or not, the doctor could already see the poor girl running out of ways to amuse herself here rather quickly. What was there for a child to do at a church besides pray?

So she may have come prepared with a few new books she'd picked up at the store on her way over to visit. Just a small gift to share with Alice. One that would hopefully convey just how much she cared for the girl. Though she might not admit it to anyone else, things have just been a little too quiet for the good doctor since Alice had started visiting the Cardinal during the days. It just wasn't the same after their few days of fun together.

"Alice," she greeted as warmly as ever, trying to not scare the girl who looked so deep in thought. "There you are."

[madcuriosity]

"Oh! Naomi!" she turned to look at the woman who was the only female presence in her life anymore. Cosette was gone, she didn't have a female entity anymore and it was affecting her in small ways. Alice mostly had male friends in her life... male... everything really. All older men too. Alice didn't get along with children her own age, although she was always polite. She got teased by the boys and the girls felt she was odd, at the moment. Alice felt that way, but she wasn't hated. The girls liked her imagination and the boys pulled their hair or flipped her dresses because boys always teased girls with crushes.

"Hello, were you looking for me?" she asked, pulling away from her thoughts. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were looking for me."

[scientize]

"It's fine, Alice. I only wanted to come and say hi to you and Cesare. And to make sure that you weren't getting too bored sitting around the church."

Naomi shared a sweet smile with the girl. "Are you enjoying yourself today?"

[madcuriosity]

"Oh, yes, thank you. Cesare is very kind to let me stay, I am trying to make sure I don't bother him or anyone trying to come to the church."

[scientize]

"Yes, he is very kind." Even if he continued to stress the opposite. "But I really don't believe you could cause him any grief or ever be a bother. If you ever need anything at all, you can always ask either of us."

And speaking of which.. "I got you a little something."

[madcuriosity]

"You got me something?" she asked with rising curiosity as she came closer to Naomi. "You didn't have to do that, you've done so much already!"

[scientize]

"I really don't mind." And she certainly didn't. Poor Alice was going through quite a great deal right now, one that Naomi can actually relate very well too. There wasn't much that she could do to help her besides hoping these few gifts would at least be a small distraction.

She held out the bag of various books. Most of them are children's, of course, but there are some a few levels higher, a show of just how intelligent Naomi believes the girl to truly be. "It's not much, but I thought you would enjoy something to keep you busy while you're here."

[madcuriosity]

"Oh!" She took the bag with a "thank you" and then smiled brightly. "Oh how lovely!" she pulled out the books, looking at the various titles. "These are lovely! And such lovely pictures in it! I'm very fond of books with pictures in it, you see!"

[scientize]

What a wonderful reaction to receive.

"I'm so glad! And yes, I got the feeling you were a big fan of books. We can start reading one together tonight before bed if you like."

[madcuriosity]

"Oh I love books! I have a favorite book daddy read to me nearly every night! When everything turned into that different life, I had the book and it was left over! Have you ever heard of The Velveteen Rabbit? Oh it is a lovely book! I'm so very fond of it! Poor Velveteen! I would never treat Basil so!"

[scientize]

"I don't know if I've read that one yet." Naomi's own brand of reading as a child was distinctly different than Alice's, especially when her brother or adopted father would read to her. "You'll have to introduce me to it sometime."

[madcuriosity]

"We... oh..." they don't have it. It's back at the cottage... And Alice doesn't want to go back there yet.