Left Unsaid
A Tea Called Alice
Chapter 5
Left Unsaid
The Queen nodded with an air of moderate pride, not unlike an owner whose dog had performed an amusing trick.
Rated M
Disclaimer: I do not own, nor have any rights to, the 2009 Syfy mini-series Alice.
You think you have the best of intentions
I cannot shake the taste of blood in my mouth
Hatter stood in the alley alone and waited. The scarabs were circling close - too close - but that was why he had come here. The passage was around the corner from the White Rabbit's headquarters and led nowhere in particular, which meant he couldn't be traced back to anywhere in the city. With all the activity in the area, he wouldn't have long to wait until the Suits found him.
He was startled, but not surprised, when the Cheshire appeared before him with a musical jingle.
"You don't have to do this," Kat said bluntly, twirling the ends of her short hair in her fingers.
"If I keep running, the Suits'll find me. And when they do, I'll be dead," Hatter resolved.
He'd already had two close calls in the past week. The White Rabbit was closing in on the Resistance with frightening speed, tightening their dragnet over the city. The abandoned spaces and dark corners were all shrinking one by one. At this rate, they would have to move the entire operation and Hatter wasn't sure he would survive that migration.
"I won't let that happen," the Cheshire assured him. "I promised your mother I'd protect you."
"Yeah," Hatter retorted sharply. "That didn't work out too well for her, did it?"
The Cheshire's face fell. She knew Hatter blamed her at least in part for his mother's death but it still hurt to hear it from his lips. Kat had failed in her promise to his father to keep Lorina safe. She wouldn't fail again with their son.
"I'll be fine," Hatter promised, a little more softly. "March has got my back."
The Cheshire rolled her emerald eyes heavenward at Hatter's innocence. He lived a hard life but he was still young and incredibly trusting. Dodo had the boy wrapped around his finger and believing the Resistance creed as gospel. She worried about his blind loyalty to the old coot and the fanatical youth March.
"March is a junkie, wild card," Kat told him painfully. "For all his 'fight and free them' he's hooked on the stuff. You need to watch him, or he's going to get you into trouble."
Hatter whirled around on her angrily, in her face with a flash of movement. "March is my friend," he spat. "When everyone else decided I was a lost cause, he had my back. So don't think you can come here and tell me what to do just because you and my father had some times on the other side."
"David - " Kat began pleadingly.
"Don't," he shot back quickly. Only his mother had the right to use that name and she was dead. "Just go. Leave me alone and worry about yourself. The Queen wants to see you dead more than me."
The searing spotlight of a passing scarab passed through the alley and Kat dematerialized instantly. He'd been spotted. It wouldn't be long now.
"There will be no going back from this," the Cheshire warned, appearing briefly in the dark shadows behind him. "Once you make a deal with the Queen, you will have to become the very thing you hate. Losing yourself will be the price of hiding in plain sight."
"I'm already lost," he countered bitterly. But Kat was already gone, the empty air ringing with the sound of her distinctive bell.
He turned to confirm her disappearance and when he circled back around to face the opening of the alley he was met with a team of Suits led by Agent White. High value cards: Nines and Tens of Hearts, the Queen's personal guard. He supposed he should feel honored.
"Well, Well," Agent White sneered. "If it isn't the infamous Hatter in the flesh. You're a slippery one, I'll give you that." He signaled the Suits at his side. "But the Rabbit always catches his prey."
Hatter made no struggle as the Suits surrounded and captured him. But that didn't stop them from roughing him up a bit. The burly Ten delivered an expert lung-voiding punch to the gut followed by a powerful right hook to the jaw. Hatter tasted blood. A Nine joined in on the fun, throwing a backhand strike that connected soundly with Hatter's temple. This was payback. Retribution for the years these cards had undoubtedly spent searching for him. There were thousands of rebels hiding out in the city but Hatter had proven a particularly cumbersome thorn in their side.
"Not too gory," White reminded his men. "This traitor's going to the Queen."
The cards glowered at having their fun ended early but obeyed. Burly Ten shoved a black canvas bag over his prisoner's head. The Suits wasted no time dragging Hatter forward and dropping him carelessly to the floor. The prisoner's world was dark but he recognized the metallic clank and clamber of the scarab.
A bottle was brought to Hatter's mouth and he was forced to drink. He recognized the liquid instantly. Cool and slightly viscous, deceptively smooth then suddenly tart with a harsh bitter aftertaste. A potent Truth cocktail: one part Calm, two parts Honesty, and a splash of Euphoria expertly mixed and designed to loosen even the tightest lips. The elixir worked quickly, clouding his mind and liberating tightly controlled inhibitions. But Hatter had prepared for this. All Resistance members were trained to resist Truth. He didn't have to lie, he just had to omit certain facts. He could stay on track if he could just focus.
He was moved and jostled, presumably exiting the scarab and entering the palace. The Suits marched him ever forward, pausing only in the elevator and then left, right, left, and finally stop. The bag was removed from over his head and his eyes blinked heavily, adjusting to the bright light of the throne room.
The Queen stood as soon as his face was revealed, marveling.
"Why, Agent White," she began dotingly. "When you said you had him I thought there must be some mistake. After all this time. To think the little scoundrel was still alive. But here he is."
Agent White gave a low bow. "A gift for your majesty," the agent offered graciously.
"He's been given the Truth serum," the King flaunted proudly.
"Of course he has," the Queen blustered, effectively dismissing him. "It's standard procedure for all prisoners. Now we see if his mind has accepted the cocktail."
The Queen of Hearts came up right before Hatter, standing too close for comfort. He stood up bravely to the woman who had murdered his parents, terrorized his friends, and ruined his world. He didn't look her quite in the eye, choosing instead to look through her. Showing no fear, only determination.
"What is your name?" she asked slowly and clearly, as though she expected him not to understand.
David - no - Hatter, everyone calls me Hatter. Focus. It's: "Hatter."
The Queen nodded with an air of moderate pride, not unlike an owner whose dog had performed an amusing trick. The Suits in the room responded with quiet, snobbish applause. Hatter guessed he had given the right answer to question number one at least.
"How old are you?"
"Six and ten," Hatter replied automatically. Easy as an orange on Tuesday. He could do this.
The Queen looked to Ten of Clubs for a fact check. He nodded his head dutifully. It had been almost seventeen years since the Ace of Spades had smuggled the Oyster Lorina out of the Casino and met his untimely demise. Another right answer, met with a pleased-as-punch Queen and more pretentious clapping. Hatter felt like the entertainment du jour, on display and existing only as a diversion for the Royals.
"Why did you let my pretty Suits capture you, child?" the Queen asked, her tone growing more condescending by the moment.
She knew. Of course she knew. He had evaded capture for a decade and a half. But he had counted on this. He wouldn't be caught so easily if it hadn't been intentional on his part. This was good. Right on track.
I want to kill you. Want to ruin you. I hate you. Focus, dammit, focus. "Want to make amends," Hatter managed without stuttering. It was true, but not the way she thought. Bits of truth. Cups and saucers. Not the whole story. "Help the people. Give them what they need."
"And what do you want from me?" she queried curiously.
He'd piqued her interest. Got her wondering. What could public enemy number one possibly want from the Hearts? All according to plan. He could do this.
"A Tea House," Hatter answered clearly. Need a front. Dodo says we need a front. Hiding in plain sight. Beat the Queen at her own game.
"Poor sot. He's a junkie," the King exclaimed with a scornful laugh. "Desperate to get his hands on some Tea."
"Silence, Winston," the Queen barked angrily. She turned her attention back to Hatter, looking him up and down like livestock. "The Ace of Spades was a great loss to my court. How do I know you won't go running off with my precious Tea just like he did with that pathetic Oyster?"
Hatter nearly bit through the inside of his cheek to keep from lashing out at her mockery of his mother. He tasted blood again, the strong metallic flavor combined with a sharp jolt of pain pulling against the influence of Truth. He forced himself to focus on the resentment he felt toward his father, pushing all other thoughts aside.
"I hate my father for what he did..." For what he did for you. Brought Oysters here to be slaves. Killed good people. Let my mum die. Turned over the leaf too late. Focus. Hatter swallowed his emotions and finished evenly, "I don't want to be anything like him."
The Queen of Hearts turned now to Agent White. "How much of that cocktail did he take?" she demanded.
Flustered, the agent pulled an empty bottle from his pocket. "A great deal, your majesty. He drank the whole thing," White declared pompously, shaking the bare container for emphasis.
"Excellent," the Queen seemed delighted. "Bring her out."
A hand of Suits appeared from the wings of the throne room, escorting an adolescent woman. She was short and slender, fair skin, blond hair and a light dust of freckles. An Oyster. If Hatter couldn't tell by her manner of dress, he could certainly be sure by the viridian mark peeking around the side of her neck. Her hazel eyes were dull and empty, robbed of life by the constant state of sedation all Oysters maintained.
The Queen led the girl forward, pressing her hands on either side of the Oyster's slim shoulders as though presenting a rare commodity. "Do you know what this is, Hatter?"
He steeled himself. Forced his eyes to look forward. "Oyster."
"Yes," the Queen agreed with a wicked smirk. "And what do you see when you look into her ugly face?"
Someone's daughter, sister, friend, Hatter thought. A prisoner, slave, victim. But all he said was:
"Tea."
"That's right," the Queen beamed. Patronizing as hell. She ran her hand over the girl's mark as though she was her favorite pet. "What kinds of Tea do you think I could squeeze from this one?"
Fear, confusion, pain. She looks so cold. Dead inside. Small and lost. She doesn't belong here. He ground his teeth against the raw answers that threatened to spill forth. He rattled off a list hastily, keeping an objective gaze on the girl before him. "Excitement, Serenity, Joy, Innocence, Delight. Maybe Infatuation. She's pretty enough. For an Oyster." The words rolled out easily enough, but the meaning behind them made him sick. He felt a wave of nausea pass over him and fought to not let it show.
"Very good. Is this really what you want, Hatter? To sell my wonderful Tea to the starving, needy people of Wonderland, desperate for the relief that only I can provide?"
"Yes, your highness," Hatter said vacantly. Worst of actions with the best of intentions. Just remember why you're doing this. For the Resistance. All for the Resistance.
"Then you will abide by the rules of the kingdom from now on, won't you? And you shall be the best Tea seller in my city?"
"I hope so, your majesty." Hope I bring you so high, all of Wonderland shakes when you fall.
"Excellent," she repeated loftily.
He was in. The little words left unsaid had convinced the Royals to give him a chance. Made them believe he was on their side. The Queen of Hearts clapped her hands together and smiled widely. It was the last thing Hatter saw before his world went black.
Chapter 5
Left Unsaid
The Queen nodded with an air of moderate pride, not unlike an owner whose dog had performed an amusing trick.
Rated M
Disclaimer: I do not own, nor have any rights to, the 2009 Syfy mini-series Alice.
You think you have the best of intentions
I cannot shake the taste of blood in my mouth
Hatter stood in the alley alone and waited. The scarabs were circling close - too close - but that was why he had come here. The passage was around the corner from the White Rabbit's headquarters and led nowhere in particular, which meant he couldn't be traced back to anywhere in the city. With all the activity in the area, he wouldn't have long to wait until the Suits found him.
He was startled, but not surprised, when the Cheshire appeared before him with a musical jingle.
"You don't have to do this," Kat said bluntly, twirling the ends of her short hair in her fingers.
"If I keep running, the Suits'll find me. And when they do, I'll be dead," Hatter resolved.
He'd already had two close calls in the past week. The White Rabbit was closing in on the Resistance with frightening speed, tightening their dragnet over the city. The abandoned spaces and dark corners were all shrinking one by one. At this rate, they would have to move the entire operation and Hatter wasn't sure he would survive that migration.
"I won't let that happen," the Cheshire assured him. "I promised your mother I'd protect you."
"Yeah," Hatter retorted sharply. "That didn't work out too well for her, did it?"
The Cheshire's face fell. She knew Hatter blamed her at least in part for his mother's death but it still hurt to hear it from his lips. Kat had failed in her promise to his father to keep Lorina safe. She wouldn't fail again with their son.
"I'll be fine," Hatter promised, a little more softly. "March has got my back."
The Cheshire rolled her emerald eyes heavenward at Hatter's innocence. He lived a hard life but he was still young and incredibly trusting. Dodo had the boy wrapped around his finger and believing the Resistance creed as gospel. She worried about his blind loyalty to the old coot and the fanatical youth March.
"March is a junkie, wild card," Kat told him painfully. "For all his 'fight and free them' he's hooked on the stuff. You need to watch him, or he's going to get you into trouble."
Hatter whirled around on her angrily, in her face with a flash of movement. "March is my friend," he spat. "When everyone else decided I was a lost cause, he had my back. So don't think you can come here and tell me what to do just because you and my father had some times on the other side."
"David - " Kat began pleadingly.
"Don't," he shot back quickly. Only his mother had the right to use that name and she was dead. "Just go. Leave me alone and worry about yourself. The Queen wants to see you dead more than me."
The searing spotlight of a passing scarab passed through the alley and Kat dematerialized instantly. He'd been spotted. It wouldn't be long now.
"There will be no going back from this," the Cheshire warned, appearing briefly in the dark shadows behind him. "Once you make a deal with the Queen, you will have to become the very thing you hate. Losing yourself will be the price of hiding in plain sight."
"I'm already lost," he countered bitterly. But Kat was already gone, the empty air ringing with the sound of her distinctive bell.
He turned to confirm her disappearance and when he circled back around to face the opening of the alley he was met with a team of Suits led by Agent White. High value cards: Nines and Tens of Hearts, the Queen's personal guard. He supposed he should feel honored.
"Well, Well," Agent White sneered. "If it isn't the infamous Hatter in the flesh. You're a slippery one, I'll give you that." He signaled the Suits at his side. "But the Rabbit always catches his prey."
Hatter made no struggle as the Suits surrounded and captured him. But that didn't stop them from roughing him up a bit. The burly Ten delivered an expert lung-voiding punch to the gut followed by a powerful right hook to the jaw. Hatter tasted blood. A Nine joined in on the fun, throwing a backhand strike that connected soundly with Hatter's temple. This was payback. Retribution for the years these cards had undoubtedly spent searching for him. There were thousands of rebels hiding out in the city but Hatter had proven a particularly cumbersome thorn in their side.
"Not too gory," White reminded his men. "This traitor's going to the Queen."
The cards glowered at having their fun ended early but obeyed. Burly Ten shoved a black canvas bag over his prisoner's head. The Suits wasted no time dragging Hatter forward and dropping him carelessly to the floor. The prisoner's world was dark but he recognized the metallic clank and clamber of the scarab.
A bottle was brought to Hatter's mouth and he was forced to drink. He recognized the liquid instantly. Cool and slightly viscous, deceptively smooth then suddenly tart with a harsh bitter aftertaste. A potent Truth cocktail: one part Calm, two parts Honesty, and a splash of Euphoria expertly mixed and designed to loosen even the tightest lips. The elixir worked quickly, clouding his mind and liberating tightly controlled inhibitions. But Hatter had prepared for this. All Resistance members were trained to resist Truth. He didn't have to lie, he just had to omit certain facts. He could stay on track if he could just focus.
He was moved and jostled, presumably exiting the scarab and entering the palace. The Suits marched him ever forward, pausing only in the elevator and then left, right, left, and finally stop. The bag was removed from over his head and his eyes blinked heavily, adjusting to the bright light of the throne room.
The Queen stood as soon as his face was revealed, marveling.
"Why, Agent White," she began dotingly. "When you said you had him I thought there must be some mistake. After all this time. To think the little scoundrel was still alive. But here he is."
Agent White gave a low bow. "A gift for your majesty," the agent offered graciously.
"He's been given the Truth serum," the King flaunted proudly.
"Of course he has," the Queen blustered, effectively dismissing him. "It's standard procedure for all prisoners. Now we see if his mind has accepted the cocktail."
The Queen of Hearts came up right before Hatter, standing too close for comfort. He stood up bravely to the woman who had murdered his parents, terrorized his friends, and ruined his world. He didn't look her quite in the eye, choosing instead to look through her. Showing no fear, only determination.
"What is your name?" she asked slowly and clearly, as though she expected him not to understand.
David - no - Hatter, everyone calls me Hatter. Focus. It's: "Hatter."
The Queen nodded with an air of moderate pride, not unlike an owner whose dog had performed an amusing trick. The Suits in the room responded with quiet, snobbish applause. Hatter guessed he had given the right answer to question number one at least.
"How old are you?"
"Six and ten," Hatter replied automatically. Easy as an orange on Tuesday. He could do this.
The Queen looked to Ten of Clubs for a fact check. He nodded his head dutifully. It had been almost seventeen years since the Ace of Spades had smuggled the Oyster Lorina out of the Casino and met his untimely demise. Another right answer, met with a pleased-as-punch Queen and more pretentious clapping. Hatter felt like the entertainment du jour, on display and existing only as a diversion for the Royals.
"Why did you let my pretty Suits capture you, child?" the Queen asked, her tone growing more condescending by the moment.
She knew. Of course she knew. He had evaded capture for a decade and a half. But he had counted on this. He wouldn't be caught so easily if it hadn't been intentional on his part. This was good. Right on track.
I want to kill you. Want to ruin you. I hate you. Focus, dammit, focus. "Want to make amends," Hatter managed without stuttering. It was true, but not the way she thought. Bits of truth. Cups and saucers. Not the whole story. "Help the people. Give them what they need."
"And what do you want from me?" she queried curiously.
He'd piqued her interest. Got her wondering. What could public enemy number one possibly want from the Hearts? All according to plan. He could do this.
"A Tea House," Hatter answered clearly. Need a front. Dodo says we need a front. Hiding in plain sight. Beat the Queen at her own game.
"Poor sot. He's a junkie," the King exclaimed with a scornful laugh. "Desperate to get his hands on some Tea."
"Silence, Winston," the Queen barked angrily. She turned her attention back to Hatter, looking him up and down like livestock. "The Ace of Spades was a great loss to my court. How do I know you won't go running off with my precious Tea just like he did with that pathetic Oyster?"
Hatter nearly bit through the inside of his cheek to keep from lashing out at her mockery of his mother. He tasted blood again, the strong metallic flavor combined with a sharp jolt of pain pulling against the influence of Truth. He forced himself to focus on the resentment he felt toward his father, pushing all other thoughts aside.
"I hate my father for what he did..." For what he did for you. Brought Oysters here to be slaves. Killed good people. Let my mum die. Turned over the leaf too late. Focus. Hatter swallowed his emotions and finished evenly, "I don't want to be anything like him."
The Queen of Hearts turned now to Agent White. "How much of that cocktail did he take?" she demanded.
Flustered, the agent pulled an empty bottle from his pocket. "A great deal, your majesty. He drank the whole thing," White declared pompously, shaking the bare container for emphasis.
"Excellent," the Queen seemed delighted. "Bring her out."
A hand of Suits appeared from the wings of the throne room, escorting an adolescent woman. She was short and slender, fair skin, blond hair and a light dust of freckles. An Oyster. If Hatter couldn't tell by her manner of dress, he could certainly be sure by the viridian mark peeking around the side of her neck. Her hazel eyes were dull and empty, robbed of life by the constant state of sedation all Oysters maintained.
The Queen led the girl forward, pressing her hands on either side of the Oyster's slim shoulders as though presenting a rare commodity. "Do you know what this is, Hatter?"
He steeled himself. Forced his eyes to look forward. "Oyster."
"Yes," the Queen agreed with a wicked smirk. "And what do you see when you look into her ugly face?"
Someone's daughter, sister, friend, Hatter thought. A prisoner, slave, victim. But all he said was:
"Tea."
"That's right," the Queen beamed. Patronizing as hell. She ran her hand over the girl's mark as though she was her favorite pet. "What kinds of Tea do you think I could squeeze from this one?"
Fear, confusion, pain. She looks so cold. Dead inside. Small and lost. She doesn't belong here. He ground his teeth against the raw answers that threatened to spill forth. He rattled off a list hastily, keeping an objective gaze on the girl before him. "Excitement, Serenity, Joy, Innocence, Delight. Maybe Infatuation. She's pretty enough. For an Oyster." The words rolled out easily enough, but the meaning behind them made him sick. He felt a wave of nausea pass over him and fought to not let it show.
"Very good. Is this really what you want, Hatter? To sell my wonderful Tea to the starving, needy people of Wonderland, desperate for the relief that only I can provide?"
"Yes, your highness," Hatter said vacantly. Worst of actions with the best of intentions. Just remember why you're doing this. For the Resistance. All for the Resistance.
"Then you will abide by the rules of the kingdom from now on, won't you? And you shall be the best Tea seller in my city?"
"I hope so, your majesty." Hope I bring you so high, all of Wonderland shakes when you fall.
"Excellent," she repeated loftily.
He was in. The little words left unsaid had convinced the Royals to give him a chance. Made them believe he was on their side. The Queen of Hearts clapped her hands together and smiled widely. It was the last thing Hatter saw before his world went black.