. . .When Did You Start Looking Like That??
Alice supposed she should have known better than to hope this would go smoothly. But then again, she’d thought she was adequately prepared. She’d told her friends of the day and time she intended to bring her aunt and uncle to see them, and they’d promised to be ready to greet them. She’d rehearsed her speech over and over until she was quite certain her aunt and uncle would indeed listen. She’d pre-programmed her PINpoint so they could go directly to the pocket dimension. She’d even chosen to wear one of her better dresses for the occasion. Everything had seemed to be under control.
And then she actually told her aunt and uncle. They were baffled of course, and shocked to learn that she apparently had an “intimate friend” outside of her own world. Uncle Charles had started to make that face, the one that said, “Maybe she needs some time in care again,” and Alice had immediately brought out her PINpoint to convince them. And Aunt Susan, not believing her when she said what it was, had grabbed it and accidentally transported them. Which wouldn’t have been so bad, if she hadn’t also messed up the programming so that they arrived a hour early.
And if they hadn’t landed straight in Victor’s apartment.
While he was taking a shower.
What a first impression. Alice supposed she should thank God or somebody that he’d only been seen for a moment in that state - and that he’d been wearing a towel. The poor boy had opened his bathroom door, seen them, screamed, and immediately slammed it. Doc had come running over to see what the fuss was about, and somehow - despite his gears being on full display - had smoothed things over with her aunt and uncle. Victor calling apologies through the bathroom door and her own stammered explanation about the time probably helped.
Oddly enough, after that the visit had gone rather well. After getting over their initial shock, Aunt Susan and Uncle Charles had warmed to her peculiar friends, asking stories about the future (they were just as pleasantly shocked as she had been to discover Mr. Dodgson’s books’ popularity even decades later) and sympathizing with their twisted pasts. They’d even liked Victor once they saw him fully clothed (though they’d gotten confirmation he wasn’t the one from their universe - Uncle Charles, upon hearing his last name, mentioned that he thought Victor was married to Victoria Everglot. The discussion about alternates had been a strange one). All in all, the trip was a success, with her aunt and uncle giving their blessing for future visits and wishing her and Victor every happiness. Which was very good news.
Except that she’d barely heard a word of it. The entire time they had been visiting, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about what she’d seen when they first arrived. That chest, those shoulders, those arms. . .bloody hell, he’d been so pale, so fragile-looking, and yet so handsome. . . . Part of her just wanted to pin him to his bed and cover his skin with her lips, tasting every last inch of his beautiful flesh. The other part was desperately trying to figure out why, what was wrong with her, she’d always known he was good-looking but this was completely unexpected -
She groaned and flopped down on her bed. And she’d thought love was confusing. Lust brought it to a whole new level.
And then she actually told her aunt and uncle. They were baffled of course, and shocked to learn that she apparently had an “intimate friend” outside of her own world. Uncle Charles had started to make that face, the one that said, “Maybe she needs some time in care again,” and Alice had immediately brought out her PINpoint to convince them. And Aunt Susan, not believing her when she said what it was, had grabbed it and accidentally transported them. Which wouldn’t have been so bad, if she hadn’t also messed up the programming so that they arrived a hour early.
And if they hadn’t landed straight in Victor’s apartment.
While he was taking a shower.
What a first impression. Alice supposed she should thank God or somebody that he’d only been seen for a moment in that state - and that he’d been wearing a towel. The poor boy had opened his bathroom door, seen them, screamed, and immediately slammed it. Doc had come running over to see what the fuss was about, and somehow - despite his gears being on full display - had smoothed things over with her aunt and uncle. Victor calling apologies through the bathroom door and her own stammered explanation about the time probably helped.
Oddly enough, after that the visit had gone rather well. After getting over their initial shock, Aunt Susan and Uncle Charles had warmed to her peculiar friends, asking stories about the future (they were just as pleasantly shocked as she had been to discover Mr. Dodgson’s books’ popularity even decades later) and sympathizing with their twisted pasts. They’d even liked Victor once they saw him fully clothed (though they’d gotten confirmation he wasn’t the one from their universe - Uncle Charles, upon hearing his last name, mentioned that he thought Victor was married to Victoria Everglot. The discussion about alternates had been a strange one). All in all, the trip was a success, with her aunt and uncle giving their blessing for future visits and wishing her and Victor every happiness. Which was very good news.
Except that she’d barely heard a word of it. The entire time they had been visiting, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about what she’d seen when they first arrived. That chest, those shoulders, those arms. . .bloody hell, he’d been so pale, so fragile-looking, and yet so handsome. . . . Part of her just wanted to pin him to his bed and cover his skin with her lips, tasting every last inch of his beautiful flesh. The other part was desperately trying to figure out why, what was wrong with her, she’d always known he was good-looking but this was completely unexpected -
She groaned and flopped down on her bed. And she’d thought love was confusing. Lust brought it to a whole new level.