OOM: Meeting Alice

[friend_i_hope]

He's never liked Ratty. And it's not just the smell. You live in Wonderland long enough you get a sense of who can and can't be trusted. And Ratty's got that stink about him too. That stink that says you should guard your teas and loved ones around him because it'd take about a drop of Happiness for him to turn you over to the Suits.

Fortunately, Hatter's got more than a drop, and Ratty's story about an Oyster named Alice...

Well, he may not have mastered basic hygiene, but he's smart enough not to offer something he can't deliver.

(Hatter's perfectly aware that it can't be the Alice of Legend, but the coincidence is too much to ignore all the same.)

He tells Ratty to bring her in and quietly sips his tea while he waits.

His chair is faced away from the door when they enter, but he can still smell Ratty.

"Would you like a cup of tea?"

Comments

[friend_i_hope]

He nods at the expression on her face. He'd hoped she was that sort of person.

"Dodo. He's in charge here. If the Resistance can help you, he'll know for sure."

[oyster-alice.livejournal.com]

She nods back at him, still trying to pin down completely what kind of person she thinks he is.

Her eyes finally peel away from him and from the people on the books as she takes a cautious step back from the railing. "Let's go meet him, then."

[friend_i_hope]

Hatter nods, stepping back from the railing. He touches the small of her back again as he says, "Right this way," leading her down the corridor after owl and Duck.

[oyster-alice.livejournal.com]

She moves with him, easily, and again, doesn't seem to mind that he's touching her. She takes it with ease.

"Lot different than the tea shop," she says, but not popping the P as they enter the room Owl and Duck went in.

[friend_i_hope]

"That's management for you," he answers, tossing her a quick, easy smile, keeping things light as long as possible, knowing Dodo will change that as soon as he can.

[oyster-alice.livejournal.com]

She smiles at that, trying to...let go of the images of the refugees from her head. "I'm sure that's all it has to do with," she answers as she looks around the room. And that guy...

Well, if he's not vaguely creepy at all...

[friend_i_hope]

It's pretty much as Hatter thought it would be. Dodo is suspicious and vaguely antagonistic. He doesn't trust Hatter, that much is clear. And that distrust extends to Alice since Hatter brought her here.

It certainly isn't the easiest conversation Hatter's ever had.

[oyster-alice.livejournal.com]

And not being able to speak up for fear of what would happen with that scary guy keeps her silent for now. Silent and edging closer to Hatter.

She takes a deep breath. "Please, you have to understand."

[friend_i_hope]

"She's looking for her boyfriend," Hatter says, getting down to the crux of the matter. "A Jack Chance."

[oyster-alice.livejournal.com]

"Chase," she corrects automatically, glancing between the two men. "His name's Jack Chase."

She doesn't like this at all. She fidgets a little, not quite knowing what to do with herself.

[friend_i_hope]

"She needs help," Hatter says, distinctly aware of how tenuous their position here is. "I thought of you, Dodo."

"Really," Dodo answers, finally stepping out of the shadows. "And why would I want to help your Oyster, when you know that bringing her here puts us all at risk?"

Now that's just...insulting, really. "Oh, please," Hatter says dismissively. "I've spent years smuggling more dangerous things than this down here."