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

[chose_death]

Javert might have balked absurdly at being called a gentleman if he had heard her thoughts. Often a 'Monsieur,' always a member of that unpleasant class of men charged with guarding society, forever labeled l'Inspecteur, but never a gentleman. He had sprung from far too degenerate a lineage to become a genteel. Gypsy/convict offspring ingrates were the bottom of the barrel; it was a wonder he was able to transcend respectable poverty and live in modest comfort at all. Though it was rare that he indulged himself in those comforts. The Inspector was one of restraint, of chastity.

He lowered his journal with a frown. Alice may be able to glimpse scrawlings - in French - scattered across the page. La Liste de la Mort, Disparitions and other such words. He shut the small book and thrust it deep into his overcoat pocket.

"Apparently a city," was his equally flat reply. A brief pause.

"I have heard it called Somarium."

Javert's scouring gaze eyed Alice like a stern headmaster would cast upon a new student. Her dress was clean, her hair was neat. She carried herself well and she had entirely too large a repertoire of manners. Where Javert was certainly not the gentility, this girl was. Not the troublemaking class. That he recognized immediately. The plant shifted under his arm, his brow contracting and retreating beneath the brim of his hat.

"Have you entered alone?"

It was a strange, abrupt, terse question. It was not often that one entered a place, but rather traveled to one, though Javert had yet to learn that Alice was not unaccustomed to curious worlds.

[madcuriosity]

She glanced at his notes and even stood on the tips of her toes to try and get a better look. It was terribly difficult to to read English upside down. So reading French upside down in such a quick flash was going to be impossible for her. Although she wondered idly if there was a backwards world like there was a Looking Glass world. Alice didn't want to go to such a place like that at all! She would have to walk backwards if she wanted to go forward, and walk forward to go back! And what if she had to speak backwards! Oh she wouldn't be good at that at all!

At being told she was in a city she had to bite her tongue to stop from retorting. Well she knew that. Even if it was a city for giants she knew perfectly well that it was a city... or at least a very nice town. Still... She wasn't about to be rude to someone who could help her. And he hadn't been rude to her... he was obviously just... on his way to somewhere. Alice was a bit curious as to where he might be going. But not enough to ask.

Somarium... what a curious name. She had never heard such a word before. Was it a French word? Was she in France? She didn't remember going to France. And the French didn't have any giants as far as she knew. Still, the gentleman was certainly French... and if Alice could remember men were called... of what were they called again? She knew it! She just had it! ... Montrair? Was that even a word? Moncier? No... she wasn't sure that was a word either. Oh!

"Um... oui monsieur," she said though she wouldn't be able to say much else. She was still learning French with her governess and tutors. While she would be able to understand and translate, she would not be able to have a long conversation with him. "But you see sir," she figured there was no point continuing in French when he obviously seemed to speak English. "I don't even know where Somarium is on a map."

[chose_death]

Indeed the gentleman was French, and his voice carried with it a stiff, calculated but rather nondescript accent. He gave the impression of a man trying too hard to keep his own voice well-measured and regulated.

"People do not often find nonexistent countries on maps."

Javert regarded the girl silently, his expression souring. What a bother, to discover a lost child. He didn't want to have that sort of responsibility over a wayward little girl, but he also knew that it wasn't an option to let her be. She appeared to be no older than eight or nine. When one was of such a high-class family as her, disappearances were noticed. But Javert was a busy man who worked more often than not, and he never carried a particular fondness in his heart for children. He would have to make a report to Edgeworth about the situation and arrange for accommodations for her from there.

The Inspector gave a low titter, a close-mouthed click of his tongue at the back of his throat. He pressed his lips into a thin, contemplative line.

"Come, mademoiselle," Javert commanded with all the authority of the most severe of tutors. It came as naturally to him as breathing. He gave her a resigned gesture of his head to the path behind him and prepared to retrace his steps back to the station.

"Follow me!"

[madcuriosity]

She eepe'd and then followed after him as quick as she could. She was at a vast disadvantage that her legs were shorter than his. She was reminded of her math tutor with the way he spoke to her. He was French as well. Perhaps the French were just dour sort of people. But she didn't understand the sayings then. Weren't they supposed to be flighty and constantly seeking love? Although Alice didn't know what was so bad about trying to find love. She didn't love anyone except her family (and Dinah but one loved a cat differently than you loved a person). But if she did love someone she didn't know why she wouldn't seek it out. But this man wasn't anything like that. He was about as much fun as scarlet fever.

She tried to keep up, and she was reminded of having tried to keep up with the Red Queen. It at least assured her that she wasn't in the Looking Glass. If she were in the Looking Glass she would have been much faster than this gentleman, because she was able to move all over the board at her whim. If she heard his thoughts she would have stopped in her tracks however.

No one had asked him to look after her. And if he was such a sour man he could go off on his way and Alice would have gone off on her own. She was perfectly capable of taking care of herself... or at least... if she were by herself she wouldn't have to deal with his horrid disposition.

She was trying with some difficulty to keep up. At least her endeavor to keep pace was keeping her warm.