Ok, let's write this thing XD
I don't really know what to think of this chapter though *frowns* Ah well…
Songs for this chappy: Jai Ho by the Pussycat Dolls and I Remain by Alanis Morissette
"I hate these things"
Tarrant stood on the side, leaning against one of the highly decorated banquet tables, gazing at the crowd before him on the dance floor, holding a tea cup in one hand quiet casually and saucer in the other.
Another boring ball, presented by the Queen ("No offence, Your Majesty" He added mentally). He exhaled sharply through his nose.
How he hated to be surrounded by these stuck-up court people who lifted their nose at the sight of him. Not that he cared, but it didn't make them such likeable creatures. His mind slipped to the Champion again as if it escaped the grasping hands of the rational part of his brain Alice had more kindness in her pinky than they had in their whole being.
But tonight Hatter had an advantage.
It wasn't just an ordinary ball tonight; no it was a masquerade ball. He could wander the party make some jokes here and there; as he watches the ladies smile catlike at him he smiles inward. They probably think he was some sort of rich landlord and he would play along. Tarrant knew games like these weren't called proper but he saw them as payback for all the times they looked down at him, just to prove how wrong they were about him.
No one had recognized him so far, almost no one…
"Good evening Tarrant" low purr greeted in his ear. A small mist on his shoulder began to materialize.
"Chessur" Hatter didn't even bother to lift his gaze from the crowd. It was his Scottish side of his personality and his madness that altered him to be a predator sometimes, like personality disorder in a perfectly harmless form. But he would never EVER stop being a gentleman.
His lime green eyes scanned the crowd even more from behind the pale white mask he was wearing , trying to ignore the cat as much as possible. His lips met the cup of tea he was holding again, with his mouth hidden behind the triangular part of the mask so he could freely speak and etc.
"Very ingeniously made" Hatter thought to himself.
To add to his disguise he had switched his trademark top hat for a tricorn with to feather sticking out, which hid most of his wild orange curls that he had tried to tame but this time he actually managed to straighten it out and cut it a bit shorter. (Imagine it about the length of Ichabod's hair from Sleepy Hollow).
He took in the colors around him once more. Everyone had changed their plain white clothes for various, exotic colors.
The place still looked dull.
But was until he spotted her …
It took only a glimpse of golden locks for Hatter to disappear in the crowd without saying a single. The coat he wore sweeping at his knees. A shred of blue blending in an ocean of colors. His feet following the beat of his heart, shoes clicking on the marble floor.
"That man is love struck" Chess sighed, glancing at his nails un-entertained .
He maneuvered through the mass with grace, ignoring some angry remarks from pushing trough like that. He looked over the guests , standing to catch a flash of yellow hair .Yes if she wanted to play a game, he was most happy to oblige. Hatter hid with patience, waiting until he could reach her unseen. Tarrant knew she had seen him, he just did.
"There"
He could catch a glimpse of her dress.
"Good evenin' Champion" He imitated Chess's purr from moments ago, teasing her with the title he knew she detested so much.
Alice turned around to find the voice' owner had already disappeared. But she didn't need a face to identify that voice.
"She'd know him anywhere" A grin spread on her face. For a moment a white mask stared a little too long at her own and she knew that he was here. Her footsteps took her in that direction without thinking. "Why is a raven like a writing desk Alice?" He said once again in her ear, she turned around.
Nobody
"Cheeky bastard" she cursed, very unladylike under her breath. Alice scanned the crowd again only to turn around disappointed. That was when she ran into him.
"Milady" Tarrant greeted his, taking of his hat and bowing deeply, which caused his hair to cover his mask. He took her hand gently and placed his lips softly on her knuckles, his mask touching her skin.
"Tarrant" His name rolled of her tongue before giving him a grin that made a fever dance upon his spine, flames tickling his back. The sound of her voice saying his name made his heart want to explode.
He swallowed deeply before being able to talk again, the predator replaced by the Hatter once more. He couldn't help but tremble as he looked at their hands and then at the young woman in front of him.
"Can I have this dance, milady?"
Alice answered with just a smile as she placed her hand on his.