asgardmeridiem | A hat for Alice from the hatter himself.

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A hat for Alice from the hatter himself.

Who: Tarrant Hightopp & Alice Liddel (The elder)
What: A proper hat
When: Day 419
Where: Heimdall
Rating: PG to PG-13? There will be mentions of hats.

Well it had taken him a little longer than it usually would have to make the hat, but he was finally finished the project he had been working on; Alice's hat. His room in the Heimdall welcome hall had all but been taken over by the supplies required for his craft. The bed was completely covered and hidden beneath various fabrics, ribbons, spools of thread, and various tools for shaping and shaving. In the corner stood a mannequin that came from who knows where, and in a chair a sewing machine. Across the dresser tea pots and cups and tape measures with pins and glues. At this point there was barely any room to move, but as soon as he had finished the Hatter stood there bright eyed and immediately called Alice.

Of course he would have to wait for her to find her way there and so he made his way from the chaos of the room to the living area of the welcome hall where he waited for her to arrive. Keeping the hat safely tucked next to him as he sat there anxious, having forgotten to even take off his apron.

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It's on a much happier, much more pleasant note.

Between training and not sleeping very well, Alice is tired, yet somehow manages to muster the energy to be up and walking down to Heimdall's district. She really shouldn't be surprised that Hatter's place is even littered with tea, amongst hats. It makes her a bit somber, wishing that the March Hare and the Doormouse not with him as well, just to ease his transition into Asgard outside of Wonderland.

Alice is still, well, an Alice. An older but a more cynical one. But for all of her cynicism, there's still a part of Alice that's very much like how she used to be, still wide-eyed with curiosity as Alice manages to poke her head in first without stepping in. Yet.

"Hatter?"

As soon as he had seen Alice the hatter had sprung to his feet and went to greet her. He hadn't met many people in Asgard as of yet, so seeing a familiar and friendly face was welcome, but she needn't worry about him since he was entirely capable of taking care of himself.

"Alice, you made it. Good, come in, come in, I've got some tea ready and you simply must try on your hat now that it's done."

Opening the door and ushering further in, it was clear that he was quite glad to see her and finally have her hat finished. It was a small step, but a step none the less to things being the way they had meant to be.

Really, he would have to spend more time with Alice and check on her more often. She looked rather tired, and not at all happy, meaning he would have to be there to keep her from losing her muchness again.

That's a quick answer and it nearly startles Alice before she completely stumbles in. It almost seems familiar, but it would be a lot better with a ridiculously long table, just like in the older days. She does force a smile - which is an awkward smile - because she is genuinely happy to see him.

She gazes around, looking fairly impressed with what he's done so far, that she doesn't really comment anything about the tea that he may forget to give her later.

"Oh, goodness," She breathes, "I've seen you been keeping busy."

"Yes, well I haven't had much else to do since coming here. And there's an awful lot to be done."

He needs someone to save him from himself, else he will completely lose himself in his work and tea while waiting for Alice to stop by every now and then. Without the Queen, Hare, or Maliumpkin he isn't sure quite what else to do. After all quite a few years passed since the last time there was a festival or anything of the sorts in Underland.

"But this is for Alice."

And with that the Hatter reveals her hat and holds it out for Alice to take.

Sweeping her dark hair out of her face, she meekly steps forward before she replies. It's blue, of course, her favorite color. Or perhaps any version of Alice's favorite color. It's in dark shades, which is deeply ironic, but she always felt the color of blue was soothing.

She opens her mouth to say something at first and when she can't say anything at all, Alice sheepishly lowers her head before she gingerly takes it and even goes ahead and puts atop of her dark hair.

"Oh, thank you, Hatter! It's lovely!"

Given that her hair was so much darker than he had recalled the hatter thought the shades were a bit more suited than the ones he had set aside for the younger Alice. He watches as she places it on her head, crossing his hands a little as she did so; hoping that it was right and that she liked it.

"Hmm, I like it. Alice looks excellent in it. Though Alice looked good before too. But now with the hat. . . that is I'm glad that Alice likes it, and that it fits."

She does like it.

She simply treasures even the most meager of things if it's bestowed to her. Alice has never received gifts, not since she was a child and up until being in Asgard. It's times like these that it makes her feel whole again. Safe and secure as well.

It is also a good thing as well, Alice is always in shades of blue, cream, or darker colors. She gives a shy smile, "I don't see why it wouldn't; it's very lovely, just like the rest of your hats."

"Good. Though this hat is special since it's Alice's hat. So I should hope that you wear on all the best occasions."

The hatter takes a seat, spinning the tea cup round before pouring some from the side to his own cup.

"It's the first that I've finished in quite some time. Though I've been curious, what does Alice do with all her time?"

He'd like to spend more time doing other things if possible.

She'll wear it out of here, not caring of the natives or fellow travelers alike regard her with strange looks. Alice sits down right across from him, fluffing out her skirts as she does. She smiles sheepishly again, glancing down at his cup. She's not sure how to answer it, without fear of some judgment. But from Hatter?

Not likely, but it doesn't make her any less reluctant at first.

"Well," She starts off by nearly ticking her fingers off, "Mr. Leonardo got me into painting as well as a friend of mine, Rapunzel. I do it quite often, I find it soothing. Drawing, too! And Mr. Maglor started to teach me better fighting... skills. I think that's the appropriate term."

Rotating the kettle a simple 90 degrees as he moves it, the second cup on the table starts being served as well; though oddly enough the tea seems to be different than that which came out in the other cup.

"I didn't know that Alice liked painting. though I suppose learning skills in a number of things would be rather wise. If Alice is going to fight though I'll be there as well."

He had marched with her and the queen out to that field for a purpose, even if he didn't know yet what the outcome was of that day he was positively certain of Alice's victory.

That gets an earnest look of worry. As she watches him, Alice hesitates. In her Wonderland, she was sure that anyone who came up against the queen who lose their heads, including cheshire cat of all beings.

"That's alright," She assures him the best she can, "I'd rather not have anyone from Wonderland fight alongside with me, especially here. I don't want anyone hurt on the account of me."

Well he did nearly lose his head, and would have lost it had it not been for Cheshire. And that was as much for helping Alice to simply avoid the queen, well as steal the vorpal sword, and attack the knave of hearts, but that was all pointless. Besides loosing your head wasn't much of a problem when you'd already lost it.

"I can't let Alice fight alone. What if something were to happen, I don't think I'd know what to do."

He was barely held together as it was after the rest of his clan had been wiped out by the Jabberwock. The Queen and Alice were the only two he really had to fight for.

"But for now we should focus on our tea and painting."

"Everything will be alright."

She finds herself saying this to others to reassure them, somehow finding a new optimism in her stress. It is true! Everything is uphill, but everything resolves itself. Such a rare thought process; she nods and being a master of hiding her real emotions, she agrees with him, just to make him feel more at ease. Poor fellow, she thought, glancing back at him with her vibrant green eyes.

"I suppose you wouldn't have penny roll, would you?" She timidly asks before glancing around as if she's being watched.

Maybe in her nightmares, the red queen still lives screaming "off with her head".

"Only if you believe it will be."

Well that kind of mood would do for a tea party or for having just gotten a new hat, so that hatter does his best to change the mood with a small bit of laughter. Though at her request he seems a bit caught off.

"Oops nope, then this won't do. I know where to get it."

And quickly drinking his own cup and flipping the second into the pot, he managed to leave the whole thing there while heading out the way Alice had come in.

"You won't find any here, but there's some if we just find the right time."

Besides she would likely feel better somewhere besides the Heimdall welcome hall, it didn't seem like the most inviting place he had noticed.

It's her second time in this district and yes, it's a little strange, intimidating. Just as about as intimidating as some of the distant members of Odin's house. It's entrance hall reminds her of steel, which is why it's a little confusing still that someone like him could be in here.

Still, she would have expected Loki.

"I guess I will have to find some later. And chamomile," Some of the more soothing teas because sometimes they do help her relax. Alice peers up, leaning up a bit in her seat to take a small sniff. It smells good and she still loves tea.

"May I ask what you have this time?"

"Well if you want we could get some now. Though I have Irish, Earl Grey, cinnamon, and black dragon pearls."

Whether or not there was one more in that particular pot was a question. Though far be it for the hatter to ruin a cup of tea, so even if there were they were likely divided somehow. As for the flavors it was all that he was allowed to get when he had visited the one tea shop before he was removed after breaking one of the cups.

But earl grey has caffeine and Alice desperately needs it, after trying not to nod off earlier as she was drawing at the table.

"Oh, no, no!" She waves her hands and hopefully he understands her craving for earl grey, "Earl grey sounds perfect! Especially after the things I've been learning!"

Which is a nice way to say Maglor has really made her exhausted with training.

"Alright, I'll pour a cup then."

Rejoining her at the table the hatter flips each of the cups, catching one on top of the other before pouring tea from the spout of the kettle into each and placing on the table.

"For Alice."

If he is, indeed, pouring the cup for her, she's a little shocked, if not deeply flattered. Nothing can be said to reflect her shock, just a glance up at him as he pours. She ducks her head, glancing down with clasped, tense hands in her lap.

"Oh, thank you, Hatter,"

It will be good, a much needed perk for a very tired Alice. Maybe she'll sleep easier.

Well after the last time, he figured that Alice did actually want the tea. So one of the cups which he poured does actually find it's way to the table just in front of the girl. The other remains in his hands as Tarrant smiles warmly.

"You're welcome Alice. Though I should think Alice has deserved it."

It's warm, bitter in taste, and plain, just like how she likes her tea. She is a little too eager to drink it, reminding herself now to down it down before she stirs and gently blows on it. She just hopes it's enough to make her wake up, even if a little, before returning back to Loki's district and crawling into bed for a nap.

God, she never gets sleep and it shows in her face, in her hands how she trembles as she sips it calmly.

Taking a sip from his tea, he can see that there is something on Alice's mind; or at the very least that she was not entirely feeling like herself.

"Alice, are you alright? You seem awfully . . . quiet."

"Hm?"

She perks up. To say Alice had something on her mind would be putting it lightly. When she's not plagued by certain things, she tends to be introspective. For the most part, nothing terribly significant troubles her. She gently shakes her head, offering a reassuring wave of her hand, "Oh, no, Hatter! I am fine. I won't lie, I've been very tired lately in part of Mr. Maglor's help."

There would be a nervous laugh there if she was capable of it.

"Sometimes I don't sleep very well; it has been catching up to me lately."

"Well then you should rest more. Or have more tea, it's the perfect thing for when you need to relax, or stay awake."

Depending on the tea and the company. Hearing this though he does add a lump of sugar into her tea, since she may need just a little more to keep her up long enough for them to talk a bit more.

Alice makes the motion and verbal attempt to assure him she doesn't need sugar in her tea -- as that would be the proper adult thing to ask for. She stammers after it's in her tea and she can't do anything about it.

"Both are perfectly fine," If she can somehow stop the handful of bizarre nightmares and get rest as she's trained. Rationale would dictate she can't really squeeze out of Hatter's influence with tea.

Which means she should expect copious amounts of it whether or not she wants it.

There are no problems that can't be solved by something that comes from a tea kettle. Well that is if you include a mouse sized Alice among those things.

But believe it or not, the hatter does have other answers as well.

"Maybe if Alice was somewhere comfortable you'd sleep better. Somewhere it's not so crowded and noisy."

It helps that he's hailed from her childhood, from an extent, otherwise Alice wouldn't be so open to him about what is really going on, "Not unless you know how to get rid of nightmares."

Which had, ironically, increased more thanks to Pitch Black. And he was without his powers as well. She shifts uncomfortably, going back to drinking tea again; Alice isn't fond of sugars as much as she was a child nowadays. "Although I would be very happy to sleep in a quiet place, but I feel very safe with Mr. North."

"Is the north not quiet? I didn't hear anything strange coming from that direction. But then Alice was always good at finding peculiar things."

Well if Time was a close friend once upon a time why not a direction as an acquaintance, it all made sense in a nonsensical way. Though the hatter really had no remedy for nightmares, no nightmares were not something so easily dismissed or forgotten.

Alice is now drinking the tea that may be too sweet for her liking in hopes that it wakes her up. Soon. Even a nap out in the sun sounds really, really good right now. It comes up in a slight day dream that Alice has nearly misses what he says.

"Sorry?"

Oh, wait, he's asking about Mr. North and the rest of them, isn't he? "I suppose Mr. North has his moments, when he isn't teasing the Easter Bunny. And Jack Frost isn't also teasing poor Bunny, too. It can be a little chaotic, but. It's far better than Hel right now."

A man with a title that is more a position or trade than a name, a bunny in place of a hare, and someone to tease the hare. ALICE REPLACED HIM! She was having tea with and staying with replacements for hatter, the hare, and Maliumpkin.

"Then Alice likes it there?"

Better than when you came and sat at his table?

Unfortunately, Alice is a little slow on realizing that could potentially upset him. She doesn't really see the correlation with Bunny, Jack, and North, not yet. Not yet, anyway. Although to her defense, at least Hatter is told more than she would anyone yet, next to Pyro. Alice is friends with strange people, she should be used to it.

She just happens to lack on social cues at times.

"Well, yes," She confesses, again, very much at ease in talking to Hatter, "I share the same house with a Pitch Black. The boogeyman, as it were. I fought him twice and the second time, well... Mr. North brought me back after he found me on the streets. I left Hel the first time after he took the vorpal blade and slid it underneath my door. I went back to grab a picture of my family and he was there. I refused to come back since; I don't want to have anything to do with him or that place."

Hatter should know from her of all people that taking the vorpal blade is a very big deal. He unnerves her. He makes Alice's paranoid much worse and reminds her of horrible, horrible hallucinations, something Alice doesn't need right now. "After the fire giants, it's been terrible. It's why I decided to learn how to fight better. I want to defend myself if he approaches me again or the fire giants. I have my friends I want to protect -- you included. I'd never forgive myself if anyone I cared about was hurt on the account of my inability to fight. It's not like the Jabberwocky or card guards, sometimes."

Alice soon falls into silence after it finally dawns on her that, oh, no, Hatter. She doesn't want to replace him or push him aside, he's one of the few she can actually trust. "Oh, Hatter..."

With the talk of pitch there a small spark in the hatters eye, much like with the knave the hatter felt that obviously it was someone he would not get along well with at all. And he would certainly do what he could to protect Alice from him, and keep him away from her. Though after a moment he goes to straightening up what few things are on the table, shifting the saucers and the tea cups back and forth as if to make some kind of pattern that would be unintelligible to anyone.

"It's good that Alice has found friends, especially if there are knaves like that around."

Little Alice had mentioned them as well, so apparently they were pretty good at keeping Alice safe and happy.

"But you're still my friend, Hatter!"

She feels as if she has to reassure him of that, nervous that he could have taken that the wrong way. He'd be hard to replace -- no, he would be virtually impossible, no matter what version of him may stumble here. He's from Wonderland. Anyone from Wonderland that was untainted had to be the most important. She keeps that secret guarded to her heart, hardly uttering a word of how drastic it changed for both better or worse.

"I'm happy you're here with us."

"I'm happy to be here with Alice too."

Hopefully he would be a bit more helpful, and he would certainly do what he could to help Alice since she had certainly did so much for all of them. Pouring himself another cup of tea it seems that he settles down a little. Turning the attention back to the reason that she had come to visit him.

"But you really must wear your hat on all the finest occasions, especially since it looks good on Alice."

It's time for smiles, not frowns.

Doubly noted, at that. It allows her to at least breathe a sigh in relief. She would hate for him to be upset over something that is silly to her, but not even in the least for him. He gets a small smile from her, at last. She nods, even if she isn't sure where she would even wear something like that. Alice can dream!

"I promise," It makes her feel like an actual lady, of the sort, especially after what she had been through over the years.

"Good, now then what else should I make for Alice."

After all he had a lot of free time, and he despite being aptly called Hatter he was quite skilled in making a number of other things as well. And seeing Alice smile, even a small one, makes him feel much better and secure so that there is no more worry about being forgotten.

A gentle smile graces her lips as she just about finishes that cup of black tea. She's quiet for a minute, if not a little sheepish to even say. Alice will always be honored by such kind gestures, especially one of Hatter's hats. She lowers her head allowing her dark hair to mask part of her face, "I.. I don't know, I-"

She stammers, thinking of Maglor and how he's always offered requests to play songs. "You're just as bad as Mr. Maglor. But Hatter! What about yourself? What is it that you want?"

"I want to have tea with Alice, and to work at my trade again. Which I'm already doing. Though I suppose it would be nice to see the queen or maybe have a good fudderwacken to celebrate the frabjous day."

Really the Hatter was more than happy to simply do what he was doing here, there wasn't much else he could do or needed or even knew to do. With the March Hare, Maliumpkin, or even Cheshire missing there weren't very many that would understand him.

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A hat for Alice from the hatter himself.

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