(Untitled)

[betagainstme]

After the whole labyrinth ordeal, Alice trudged up the stairs, marshmellow bits stuck in her hair (one was crying for its lost lower half, she was pretty sure, but she didn't know where on her head it was), her clothes ripped, muddy, and wet

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[ofthefamily]

Carlisle had stopped breathing for a moment or two after his explanation. It all comes out in a rush.

"Someone needs to tell me what they would have me do, because this cannot continue as it is. And no, if you're interested, I do not believe Jasper has the right to know every action of yours in the day and night.

"You could offer that to him anyway, for awhile."

[betagainstme]

And only deal with his anger then, when Jasper would disapprove of her going at all.

Alice shrugged, offering a half-nod, half-shake of the head. "Yes, I could." She winced and nodded fully this time. "I will."

Her fingers twist in her skirt before smoothing the wrinkles out. "The door in the hallway is permanent to the Bar. For now."

[ofthefamily]

The evil you know versus the evil you don't.

"Are you prepared to go back to see Jasper?"

[betagainstme]

Alice wasn't sorry for going to the labyrinth with Edward. Not sorry at all, nor would any of this make her sorry. The calm knowledge, as her anger left her more and more, that she had hurt her husband though...

Her hand pressed at her chest and her lip trembled slightly as she nodded. "Yeah."

[keptherwaiting]

Jasper tried to clean up the mess. He really did. Only he managed to splinter the dresser instead of lifting it back into place, still too angry to function properly.

So he sat down after that, fingers tearing into the mattress of Alice and his bed as he tried to calm himself down. Like Carlisle asked.

He's still not entirely calm yet, but when he looks up when the two enter again, most of the ire is gone, replaced by sorrow at his actions.

[ofthefamily]

It's tolerable to be in the room again, though Carlisle does cast a disapproving glance down at the pile of firewood formerly known as a dresser.

"Jasper, Alice is more than capable of handling herself."

To Alice: "You and I have hopefully covered everything we need to."

To the room at large, with a heavy note of finality: "Where did my briefcase get off to?"

[betagainstme]

Alice hovered just inside the room, shifting from one foot to the other, before she pointed to Carlisle's briefcase in the corner.

Her eyes didn't leave Jasper's, her upset still bubbling under the surface.

[keptherwaiting]

Jasper's anger spikes a fraction at Carlisle's comment - he knows his wife can take care of herself, his anger more placed toward the disregard of his feelings on the Milliways matter - but its beaten back by Alice's troubled nature. His attention goes to her.

"I'm sorry," he murmurs, apologizing more for his actions and the mess than for caring about her. Because he'll never apologize for that.

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle exhales when he bends to pick up the briefcase, leaving the two vampires to their own devices once he walks out of their room, mumbling something like "Maybe I should've taken that extra shift at the hospital..."

[betagainstme]

Alice ducked her head at Jasper's apology, biting her lip as she stepped forward. "I'm sorry for not...telling you I was going. I'll make the effort to from now on."

She pushed her hand through her hair, stepping forward again to stand in front of him, to touch his face lightly.

[keptherwaiting]

Jasper sighs, merely weary now.

"I don't need you to tell me where your goin'," he continues in a murmur, leaning into the touch. "I just want you to not disregard my feelings about the place, Alice. I'm tryin', aren't I? I said I would."

He knows he's not as adventurous about the place as Edward is, but she knows his background and how much longer it takes for him to settle into something new.

[betagainstme]

"I wasn't--" She broke off, shaking her head. "I don't want to argue anymore."

Alice leaned her forehead against his. "I'm sorry."

[keptherwaiting]

"I am too." He doesn't even want to glance at the mess he made, the mere thought of it alone makes him grimace. "I hate arguing with you."

[betagainstme]

"I know." She sighed, pressing against him, brushing her lips against his temple, across his cheek. "I hate it too."

[keptherwaiting]

Jasper pulls her onto his lap, arms loosely about her waist, his face tucked in the curve of her neck. He breathes her in, completely calmed. "We'll go shopping for a new dresser tomorrow. After school."

[betagainstme]

"Mm." Alice made an affirmative noise, tilting her head back. "And a new bed."