Ace and Alice spotted Elliot at the gates, staring in awe at something to his left. Drool was practically dripping from the side of his mouth as he gazed in wonder at the massive orange lump. A carrot? Alice giggled and looked again at Elliot's expression. "I'll bet he's thinking of all the carrot dishes that can be made from that monstrosity," a voice purred distastefully from behind her. Alice turned and saw Blood and the twins walking towards them. "Onee-san!" The twins cried in unison before nearly squeezing her to death. Alice carefully untangled herself from their clinging and patted them each on the head, taking a much needed gulp of oxygen. "Blood do you have any idea what's going on here?" She asked once her lungs stopped burning. Blood shrugged and gave his trademark smirk. "I haven't a clue young lady, but it seems like your personal activities haven't suffered from it." He threw a suggestive look at Ace, making Alice blush indignantly. "We were just…" Ace cut her off by throwing an arm around her waist. "Hmm so that's why Alice came exploring with me." He grinned and tangled his left hand into her hair. His lips brushed her neck and she pushed him away roughly. "Ace cut it out," she said angrily, her hand itching to slap the innocent look he was trying to pull right off his face. She restrained herself and turned to Blood, ready to chew him out for his unnecessary comment. She stopped dead as she saw his eyes. The blue irises had darkened and a dangerous anger peered back at her. She went cold, and felt her heart speed up. His smile never wavered. "W-we need to be going now," she stammered and turned away, grabbing Ace's arm.
Blood felt his temper flare as Alice grabbed onto the Knight of Hearts. His hand itched to reach out and drag her back, but as he began to move, the memory of the fear he had seen in her eyes stilled him. He hadn't meant to scare her, and he hadn't meant to say what he said either. His mouth just seemed to move on it's own. When the idiot Knight had put his hands on her though… Blood made a conscious effort not to shoot at Ace's retreating back as he and Alice disappeared into the grass. Beside him the twins were arguing about what they should blow up next and he tuned them out, his gaze moving to Elliot and the carrot. He groaned. Just considering the amount of carrot dishes he was facing was making him nauseous.
Alice dragged Ace around the giant plants, nearly tripping over a pebble the size of a bowling ball. She was walking in the general direction she knew the Castle of Hearts to be. Ace was blessedly quiet, watching with amusement as she navigated through the thick vegetation. It was too good to last. "So Alice, you still mad at me?" He gave a goofy smile and tugged a piece of her hair. She pulled away from him and glared. "Ace if you ever do something like that again…" she trailed off as he leaned closer. "What will Alice do I wonder?" He asked, half to himself. His hand drifted to his sword and he absentmindedly caressed the hilt. Alice's eyes followed the movement and widened. She quickly took a step back. His face went blank for a moment, and his eyes were icy. Alice could picture the bloody cloak and mask he wore on his jobs for Julius. This was a face that matched. She didn't dare move. Suddenly he laughed and the smile was back. Taking her hand like he hadn't contemplated killing her a moment before, he pulled her aimlessly down the road, telling her about the time he had dragged Julius on an adventure.