Following that other one... [video]

[runs_on_batteries]

If there are any kids- both big and small- who don't want to be alone right now, I'm making hot chocolate and blanket forts in the dining room.

Also, bring a blanket.

Comments

[Action]

[madcuriosity]

[Alice has her blankets around her shoulders and Dinah in her arms. She's in a nightgown, a new one she actually finds comfortable not the hideous things the train provides.]

Mr. Stark, I-I brought a blanket, I've never made a blanket fort before.

Re: [Action]

[runs_on_batteries]

[Tony was there with all the extra blankets he could find in his sleeper's hall closet. He'd left someone else in charge of the cocoa so he could help with the kids directly.]

That's alright. I'll show you how. You have a really pretty nightgown. My daughter would've loved something like that. Did someone make it for you?

[Action]

[madcuriosity]

The spider made it for me. [She gave a swish, smiling, swallowing.] Have you made many blanket forts?

Re: [Action]

[runs_on_batteries]

[He smiled as she spun. Distraction had always worked with his daughter and he was glad he hadn't lost the touch. The fact Alice could smile at all after what she saw was a great sign.]

I'll have to personally thank her. And yes, my daughter used to get scared of thunderstorms so we would make a fort out of blankets to make her feel better. It usually worked, but I suspect she also loved the excuse to have chocolate and stay up past her bedtime.

[Action]

[madcuriosity]

Oh, thunderstorms don't scare me, I'm scared of the dark. My sister used to leave an extra-long candle lit in my room at night. I wonder if I can buy one here. It helps to sleep in Miss Alice's bed with Dinah and the orange teddy.

Well, having an excuse for chocolate certainly makes sense to me. [She grinned.]

Re: [Action]

[runs_on_batteries]

You're a very brave girl. I'll make you a nightlight tomorrow. Tonight, you won't need one with all of us together, okay? We're safe and going to have some fun.

[He gives the cat another little pet and then guides Alice toward the tray of mugs some other people have brought up to the dining hall.]

If you'll wait here, I'll go get a dish and some milk for Dinah.

[irrationally]

[ The older Alice so isn't meant to be here. Honestly, if it wasn't for the fact that she thought this was the most likely place to find her younger self, she wouldn't have come here. She's so not in the mood for blankets or hot chocolate or anything of the sort - but she has to see Alice after seeing the younger's reaction. There's no way she can just ignore that.

The older Alice isn't looking too great. She's trying so hard to keep it together, but it's terribly difficult. She feels like she's falling apart at the seams, and it makes her just a little too wide-eyed when she manages to spot the girl and runs up to Alice, putting her hands on the younger girl's shoulders. ]

Alice...!

[madcuriosity]

Miss Alice!

[She hugged the older girl tightly, or as tightly as she could while holding Dinah. She's not as scared or shaking as much as when the announcement first went up.]

I don't ever want to sleep alone.

[irrationally]

[ There's not much hesitation in letting her hands slide down to be able to wrap her own arms around the younger girl in turn. Alice is already normally protective of her, but when there's apparently both a murderer and some weird executioner or torturer on the train, she's not going to take any risks with the younger Alice's safety. ]

You won't have to. If you want to sleep here tonight, I'll stay here with you. [ She doesn't care if she's going to look out of place, all paranoid and twitchy. No one is going to be able to tear her away from Alice's side right now. ] But of course we can keep sleeping in our bed too, always.

[ She pauses a moment, trying to collect herself. It's hard. ]

Are you scared?

[madcuriosity]

I would like that, I've never made a blanket fort before, nor slept in one! [Their mother and governess would NEVER allow it.] And we worked very hard on it. I'm glad you'll stay here with me. I don't...

[She gave a small nod.]

What if the monster man looks at me and has decided I need to be punished? I... we destroyed the Queen and King of Hearts' kingdom.

[irrationally]

[ It can be a first for both of them! Despite having years and years more life experience, Alice sure hasn't had the opportunity to ever have anything like a blanket fort..

Though the last thing that the other girl says makes her frown. Not angrily - thoughtfully. She's trying hard to calm down so she can say something useful here. ]

.. Alice, you remember that poem, right? The one about the Jabberwock? It was slightly difficult, but I know you must've read it. [ Because she remembers reading it herself when she was that age. ]

[sobothersome]

[Maru was finding his way to all the kids, or anyone that looked sad or unhappy. He didn't know if there was much he could really do. He was just a lazy cat after all. But he was small and soft and so when he saw the little blond girl he wandered over.

She already had her own cat, so he hesitated...

He lay down not far from her, just watching her curiously, to see if she really needed soothing or if she was okay after all.]

[madcuriosity]

Ah! Why hello. [Alice crouched down and picked up the other kitty, immediately pressing a kiss to his brow.] Hello kitty, are you here to help make us all feel better? What a good kitty. Just like my Dinah. She's a good kitty too.

I've never met a bad kitty.

[sobothersome]

[Maru blinked. Being picked up was nothing new. Being kissed was. He almost laughed, he could well have blushed, but instead he chose to tilt his head.]

My name is Maru.

[Best get it out of the way he was a talking kitty, he didn't want her to be shocked later.]

[madcuriosity]

[Maru you are not her first, and likely will not be her last, talking cat. At least Maru introduced himself.] Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Maru Puss, I hope you didn't mind my kissing you.

[sobothersome]

[Did he mind? Not particularly, it was just strange. So he shook his head. He didn't want her to feel embarrassed for doing it at all.

He gave a little purr.]

It's alright. I don't mind.

Are you okay though?

Re: [Action]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Seeing little Alice makes Lea feel surprisingly awkward. He'd been preoccupied enough dealing with things related to Xion that he hadn't made as much time to get to know his other roommates as he probably should have. Not that Alice is spending that much time in their room lately anyway, but still, he feels he should have tried harder.

Well, now is as good a time as any to try and make up for it he supposes.]

I'd be happy to lend a hand if Mr. Stark is busy. My friend Isa and I used to make blanket forts all the time when we were kids.

[Action]

[madcuriosity]

[Alice knows who Lea is just by virtue of his name being on the same sleeper cabin despite her not sleeping in said room. But she's never properly... met the man. Part of the reason she won't sleep IN her cabin, though he doesn't know it, is because he is a man and Alice doesn't feel all that comfortable with the idea of sleeping in a room with an older man.]

Oh ah, thank you, sir. I would appreciate that. I've never made one before.

Re: [Action]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea could understand that, even if it wasn't currently something he'd considered.]

No need to call me 'sir'. Just Lea's fine.

[He takes a look over what they have to work with in terms of fort building.]

Hmm... this would be easier if we had high back chairs, but I think we can work with it. Might have to borrow a few things from stores though.

[Action]

[madcuriosity]

Oh ah, yes Mr... OH! Oh, you're the man I share my room with! Oh ah, it's nice to meet you, sir- er... Mr. Lea.

[She was so very much shorter than him that "looking over his shoulder" was honestly looking beside his elbow.]

You don't think the stores will mind us borrowing things?

Re: [Action]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[He notices her attempt to peer around him and moves over slightly so she can get a better. He chuckles slightly at being called 'Mr. Lea' though.]

I suppose I do look like I rate a 'Mr.' to someone your age, huh? But you can really just call me Lea if you want. I was never really the type to stand on formality.

As to borrowing stuff from stores, I don't see why anybody'd be bothered by it. We have to borrow stuff from there to do chores and things after all. Besides, it's for a good cause.

I guess a little later once the fort is made

[myblueskies]

[Romeo, once he understood what had happened and how sad everyone was had quickly found his god and she had turned him into his weapon form.

When he was like this people close to him would feel happier, braver and more hopeful. It's a very good power for a time like this.

So there is a white weasel wriggling into the blanket fort, to comfort the little girl.]

No worries!

[madcuriosity]

[Alice had never met a weasel, a surprising fact really considering just how many strange and wonderful creatures she HAS met. But she blinks when she sees the creatures and sets down Dinah.]

Well hello there.

Re: No worries!

[myblueskies]

[He gives the cat a wary look. He's not sure if cats eat weasels but it might be a problem!

Still he knows how scared Alice had gotten just by the idea of sharing a room with adults! Now she knew some adults on the train were bad people. She must be very scared! He nuzzled her hand softly.]

[madcuriosity]

[She stroked along his spine with her free hand and scratched behind his ears.]

You must be a very clever creature, hmm? I'm afraid I don't know what you are, though.