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[madcuriosity]

Hello? Oh ah, I beg your pardon. [Alice has never made any sort of announcement before, she has only ever responded to them.]

That is, I was wondering if I could take some of your time, for just a moment. My name is Alice Liddell, how do you do? ... Ah yes, there is another Alice Liddell on the train, she's the older me... or well, I'm the younger her since she was on the train first. Mr. Stark said that might be confusing so you can also call me Minnie, if you like. He says it's the same name as a cute Mouse Queen but I suppose it could also be "Mini Alice" if you like.

But oh um, that isn't what I would like to ask... mostly because that isn't a question, the first thing I said.

The greenhouse, which is the actual garden rather than the garden car... do we take flowers from the planets we visit and put them in the greenhouse?

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[marriedanidiot]

Hello dear - I'm sure you could, if you wanted to! No reason why not.

Video

[madcuriosity]

Thank you, miss! I'm just.... the greenhouse seemed very full. And I didn't know if there was... I suppose a team for that, the gathering plants of sort. I somewhat wish there were, plants are one of the few things I'm good at... at least, I'm good at speaking to them.

[marriedanidiot]

[ She claps her hands, delighted ]

Oh, you do? Oh, that's wonderful! You should speak to Lord Glorfindel, I believe he is quite fond of Singing to his flowers, and the Lady Persephone also. I don't think there is anything formal, really. Just find yourself a quite plot!

[madcuriosity]

I'm actually speaking to them now so thank you very much for the advice, miss! I hope I can follow it! You see, I give myself very good advice, or I'm given good advice, but I'm afraid I very seldom follow it!

[marriedanidiot]

Ah, that is good!

Alas, but that is true for most, I find! Good advice is often a difficult proposition to follow.

[madcuriosity]

Why do you suppose that is? If it's good advice, shouldn't everyone follow it first?

[marriedanidiot]

You would think so, wouldn't you? And yet, all too often... perhaps folk prefer to learn by example, rather than by instruction?

[madcuriosity]

Well... I know why I don't always follow it.

[marriedanidiot]

And why this that, my dear?

[madcuriosity]

Thinking about the other options make me curious. It makes me wonder why shouldn't I or should I do what was told to me, what might happen if I don't listen.

[marriedanidiot]

[ Nerdanel laughs softly ]

Ah, curiosity! Well there's nothing wrong with being curious, as long as you are careful, I think.

[madcuriosity]

It gets me into quite a bit of trouble.

[marriedanidiot]

Tis the province of the young to get into trouble! How else would you learn, after all? The main thing is - could you get yourself out again, after?

[madcuriosity]

Yes, but I don't much enjoy the trouble I wind up in. Especially if it results in punishment.

[marriedanidiot]

Well, that way you'll learn not to, yes?

[madcuriosity]

But I don't like punishment.

[marriedanidiot]

Well of course! It's punishment, after all - it wouldn't work if you liked it, no?

[madcuriosity]

But it isn't fair, I shouldn't be punished for something I didn't know was trouble.

[marriedanidiot]

Ah, but did you know that you shouldn't do it, or were you told to do something else?

[madcuriosity]

I never was told to do anything about this train. [Because that's what this train IS as far as Alice is concerned. One massive, giant punishment.] How can I avoid something I don't know about?

[marriedanidiot]

Oh! Is that what you think? My dear, I truly doubt the train was meant as a punishment. If anything... tis only a new adventure, is all.

[madcuriosity]

I do. It's an adventure away from my family.

[marriedanidiot]

Ah child... it's hard, that is true. But tis no punishment! And you will have tales aplenty to bring home to your family afterwards.

[madcuriosity]

[Alice would like to know why everyone says that to her as if that's supposed to somehow make her feel better. And quite suddenly, anger wells up inside of her, because she doesn't WANT to tell her family about this adventure, she wants her FAMILY.]

You mean IF we get to go home! No one said we get to go home, only kicked off the train. I could never see my family again! [And she's somehow supposed to be alright with that.]

[marriedanidiot]

When. [ Nerdanel says firmly, unphased ]

Have you not heard? Time here is suspect. There are those here from past, from present, from future. I know things of my nephew that he has yet to live through. [ Die through, technically ] And yet, he is here, when history records his life and reign in Beleriand without ever mentioning his mysterious vanishing. Oh yes, we return home. Likely, to the exact same point when we left. You will see them again, little one. The only question is when.