Alice Liddell 001 // In a World of my Own

[madcuriosity]

Who: Alice Liddell and whoever wants to help her
Where: Somni
Style: Either
Status: Open ♥

Comments

[charientisms]

If there was one thing Break was quite good at, it was keeping track of information. And ever since Vincent's rather unexpected arrival in Somarium, he had taken to keeping track of the contacts list, for it was so very conveniently updated whenever someone left or arrived. And one name, at the top of the list, happened to catch his eye.

Alice LiddellHow very curious. And yet, what was preventing a character from a book arriving in a Dream World? He could see little that would; with the parallels between his own world and the book he had found, it was possible, even, that his world was in a book in some other dimension. Perhaps it was not probable, but it was a theory to work with, in any case

[madcuriosity]

It seemed Basil was doing a very good job at fulfilling her request! First he had turned into the little... box, and at her request of finding someone, he did! What a wonderful little bunny! If he could fulfill her request in such a way then she was very glad she named him. And she rather hoped that he liked her and that was why he was doing all this for her. She would have to do something nice for him in return. He was already wearing a little waistcoat. And he had a watch in his paws... or had a watch when he was in bunny form. Well... she would think of something to thank the little bunny

[charientisms]

So she was indeed Alice Liddell, and Break was aware that that brought their total number of Alice's in this world to three. It might have been amusing, except that Break found it so very peculiar that of all books, a children's fairy tale seemed to be one with the largest impact on other worlds. But now that he had a very reliable source for more information on said books, he was determined to find out why...And if such information could be used to predict the events of his own world. She was clearly a polite young girl--but that was not so surprising, for she had been that way in the book--and so Break smiled and replied, "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Alice. My name is Xerxes Break."

And he bowed in response, for a good impression needed to be made if he planned to use her for information.

Giants, though? He considered this, looking around, but he gathered quickly what she thought. The buildings were far taller than any he'd seen, but he had figured out that they were, quite simply, used to house more people in less space, not to

[madcuriosity]

Oh thank goodness! She wasn't in a land of giants. But then who would possibly need such massive buildings! And so many of them at that! She was quite glad to hear that most everyone was a normal size. Although she would like to meet a giant... at least... if it were a nice giant she'd like to meet one anyways. Oh it would be quite lovely to meet a big friendly one she supposed! So long as someone friendly she wouldn't mind meeting anyone of any size! But that wasn't really the issue at the moment. Although her curiosity made her wonder what was inside such large buildings.

"How do you do Mr. Break," she said with a smile. While he was dressed quite oddly Alice was at least happy to see he was pleasant. And it was nice to hear that everyone was the proper size. She had had quite enough experience shrinking and growing to last her a life time. She didn't want to go through that again (though she admitted she wouldn't mind being a little taller

[charientisms]

Alice, he was quickly realizing, was a very innocent child at times. He had known that, for he had read it, but meeting Alice meant that he understood it. And with such an innocent child possessing such information that he wanted, it added one more concern to the situation.

For Vincent was sure to find out that she was here, and when he did, he would likely try to prevent her from speaking with him, even silencing her if necessary. And though death was not permanent, it would be rather bothersome. But from the way that she was speaking, it appeared as though he was the first to come across her. The situation could still be salvaged.

And so he nodded, still smiling pleasantly, and responded, "I do indeed know where we are. This is Somarium." And then, to help the explanation along, for if anyone was comfortable with dream worlds, it would be Alice, he added, "It is a rather interesting Dream World that we have all been brought to

[madcuriosity]

She took being told she was in a dream world quite easily. She even smiled at being told that. Well, that was quite easy to remedy! If she wanted to leave she simply had to wake up! She wondered if this gentleman was a part of her dream, or perhaps if she were a part of his. But then... she was greatly reminded of the situation with the red king. Was this how he felt? Was he constantly asking if he was dreaming everyone, or everyone was dreaming him. Or if just one person was dreaming him. Alice had been dreaming them of course but it had been a good question all the same, who had dreamed it

[charientisms]

The questions she asked were questions he himself had wondered when first arriving in Somarium, and questions that Break had still yet to get answers for. When the further dimension of the fact that Alice--this little girl in front of him, in fact--woke up and finished the parallel novel of his own world, it made for a very, very peculiar situation indeed. Was he now in a Dream World within a dream? Or had his world not been a part of a dream? Or perhaps his world was simply a dream, but he had left that dream for this one

[madcuriosity]

"Oh..." she blinked and then looked down at her stuffed rabbit. The rabbit only looked at the sewed on pocket watch that was in his paws. She sighed and gazed at the world around her. Well, if Xerxes didn't know she most certainly wouldn't hold that against him. At least she had a name for this place, and the knowledge it was a dream world. "Do... you know how much control we have over the dream world?" she asked. If she had a good amount of control the first thing she would do was to get herself a coat. She shivered and hugged Basil closer.

After she got herself a coat she would try and make herself a place to stay. She had no intention of sleeping on the streets! Or... well... did one sleep while they were already dreaming? She supposed it was possible. Anything was possible in a dream, so why wouldn't she be able to sleep in a dream? But that seemed like such a terribly dull dream. To sleep in a dream. Unless you dreamed whilst you were dreaming of sleeping. Oh goodness! A dream within a dream. She could only hope

[charientisms]

Of course, Break noted the shiver; it did not take one especially observant, after all, to see it, and he was anything but unobservant. And in the interests of working his way into Alice's good graces, so as to be able to more easily manipulate her, he supposed that there was only one option.

"We have little control over it, in fact~" he said, shrugging, still far too cheerful. But then he looked at her, adding, "Oh, but why are we standing out in the cold, Miss Alice? How terribly rude of me! Surely I should have invited you inside for tea~"

Break smiled at her, so innocently and charmingly. This was one solution, and then he would not need to give up his coat, which he would prefer not to give to a little girl who was, quite frankly, a stranger. Though he did know he rather well from the book, Break was also interested to see how her true personality and reactions would differ. So this tea party would serve as a test, of sorts.

[madcuriosity]

She blinked and looked around and then back at him. While tea and being inside sounded lovely... where would they go? Would they go into one of the tall buildings? Oh how curious to go inside of one! And tea! Goodness, she would finally have something she was used too. Which she needed. Really she did.

"That's very kind of you Mr. Break," she said with a smile. "And a warm cup sounds lovely! Are you sure you don't mind?" she asked as she clasped her hands together. Oh, a cup of tea sounded lovely. It truly did. She was freezing! "But where would we go Mr. Break?" she asked.

[charientisms]

Their being in Somni was quite convenient, for it meant they were not far from where Break himself lived for now. So they would have tea, and he would assist the young Alice in finding her own home, and then, presumably, he would be able to ask her about those interesting adventures she was sure to have had when she went through the Looking Glass. At the very least, he would know if the destruction of those books had merely been Vincent's attempt to anger him.

And thinking of Vincent...Perhaps it would be best to convince Alice to stay away from Vincent as best as she was able to now. The thought made Break smirk, but only momentarily, as his smirk quickly slid back into the smile he was wearing for Alice.

"But of course not, Miss Alice. Surely it would be best to get out of this cold, and my home is not far from here!" he answered, still cheerful. "In fact, it is just this way."

And he nodded to her and began to stroll away, clearly intending for her to follow him, pace slow enough for her to do so.

[madcuriosity]

Oh tea was quite lovely and Alice was certainly hoping she would actually get some this time. She followed after him quite happily. Alice felt no sense of danger and Xerxes was a perfectly pleasant sort of man. Besides, if this was the dream realm then no true harm could come to her. She continued to follow him. She could still remember the last time she had tried to get tea. Well... Xerxes wasn't the Mad Hatter or March Hare so perhaps she would actually be able to get some tea... though she wondered if Xerxes was fond of riddles

[charientisms]

The question seemed rather random on the surface, though Break knew very well that it was the Mad Hatter that had asked the riddle of the Raven. But no, he had nothing in common with the Mad Hatter from Wonderland, though his Chain was called such, and Break was quite certain that Alice had not been able to make that connection. It must have simply been curiosity that prompted her to ask him. And he felt no need to inform her that he was called the Mad Hatter in his own world; those parallels he would keep to himself.

"Riddles? Well, I do suppose riddles can be quite fascinating things~" Break answered by not really answering, as was his way.

He glanced back at her momentarily and noted her wide-eyed interest in everything they passed. It made plenty of sense that she was amazed by all of the new things that existed in Somarium, so Break found that unsurprising. And it served well to keep her attention as they walked through the snow and towards the apartment that, for now, served as Break's home.

[madcuriosity]

"Would you like to hear one then?" she asked since she took his answer for a yes. It was something to pass the time until they reached wherever Xerxes was taking her. She would love to be warm for one. Besides, she felt quite... calm, around this gentleman. There was something familiar about him. She wasn't sure what. She was actually.... almost reminded of the Cheshire Cat with how he answered her questions with a question. Which was very peculiar, she hadn't met anyone that was like Cheshire except Cheshire.

[charientisms]

Break looked back at her, tilting his head slightly and smiling. "Why, certainly, Miss Alice."

He honestly saw little problem with riddles and was quite interested to see what sort of riddle she would come with. Break was aware of how very revealing such small exchanges could be, after all.

[madcuriosity]

"Hmmm..." She wanted it to be a good riddle. Riddles were very telling of intelligence. She knew Cheshire was a terribly clever cat because his riddles were almost impossible to figure out! She thought for a few more seconds before she smiled.

"Ah! I have one!
I herald the darkness which descends on all creatures.
You will know my approach by moans and wracked features.
I visit the hippo, hyena, and horse, But never go near snails and spiders, of course.
I would circle the glove, leaping one to the other, Should all the world's people ever clasp hands together. What am I?"

She was terribly pleased with that riddle.