"I just… want to go back to wonderland," she whispered.
"I'll take you Alice, just trust me."
"I finally finished."
"Really, let me see." Alice looked over her shoulders to the mess of fabric on the sewing table. After Alice had agreed to go with Eva, they'd been living in a small apartment for the past week. It was only three days ago that Alice decided she was ready to get Jervis. She wanted it to be on Saturday.
"Now, now Alice, proper girls need to be patient," Eva playfully chastised.
"You sound like my mother."
"Well, it's true. Now come on and try it on." She stood and held up a custom made Alice dress. The main part was a solid sky blue off-the-shoulders dress that came down mid thigh. There was a very light lilac apron with a low v-neck that tied around the hips. Completing the outfit, there were over-the-knee stockings that match the apron, black heeled mary-janes along with a black ribbon and mask, and lastly, a strange necklace that seemed to look like a shirt-collar. Even though it was really nice, Alice was a little unsure about it.
"Don't you think it's a bit… revealing?"
"Yeah a little, but that's what makes it perfect. Who would expect the mild mannered conservative Alice Pleasance to be wearing something like that?" Eva made sense, but she was still nervous about it. Still, she swallowed her fear and tried it on. She hadn't expected it fit her so well, or make her feel so confident.
"It fits amazingly," she said, stepping out of the bathroom and showing it off
"And you look amazing, not a great as me but still," Eva had also changed into her wonderland outfit. She was wearing a brown leotard, yellow vest, and orange cropped jacket. She also had on large mouse ears and a brown tail attached to her leotard. She had stopped disguising as Caroline Lewis, and Alice could see what she really looked like. Her skin was a caramel brown now that she had stopped using a homemade tanning solution to darken her skin, and her real hair was jet black and cut short.
"Well I'm not done yet," Alice said. She walked over to a cabinet, pulled out her pendant and tied it around her neck so it rested neatly in her shirt-collar.
"Now you're ready," Eva said. She put a hand on Alice's shoulder when she saw that her friend was frowning at her own reflection.
"What's wrong?"
"I just, it reminds me a little of the one Jervis made, except it's not purple."
"I've been wondering about that," Eva said in her most upbeat tone, "Why'd he make it purple? Was he worried about copyright or something?"
"Purple's my favorite color, specifically lavender," Alice said. She had never noticed before how Jervis had incorporated something about her into his wonderland. Even in such a delusional state, as others say, Jervis had still thought of her. She wanted him back soon
"That's so sweet; you know I could make you one in lavender if you want."
"No, that would take too much time. I think I'm ready, tonight's the night." Yes, today was Saturday; in fact, she was supposed to be at the asylum right now. She was supposed to be with him.
"Alright I'll call my uncle Tony, tell him we'll be stopping by for some supplies."
"Angelita, it's been so long." a man in around his fifties had come to hug Eva as tightly as he could. He was short, hardly 5'3, but it was obvious that he had been a much stronger man in his youth.
"Why are you dressed like a squirrel?" He asked referring to her attire. She had insisted they wear their costumes to her Uncle's, something about it being hard to put on the tail again.
"I'm a dormouse Uncle Tony." Though he wasn't really her uncle, she had gotten used to calling him that when she was little. He may sell his inventions and things to other people now, but he used to work with her father as a thug.
Back then Eva didn't know what her father had been doing, and had become close to many of his associates, many of whom had no kids of their own and were happy to see the smiling face of the eleven year old girl. Once she did find out, she had broken ties with them, but in recent years she had found some of her closest family friends, like Tony, and they were all too glad to show her the ways of crime. At times, it seemed like they really were family
"This isn't for some guy with a kink is it?" She could deal without the over protectiveness though.
"No… well technically yes but he's into Alice over there," she pointed to her friend, who up until then had been standing behind her, unsure of what to do.
"Hey, kid, Antonio Adario." He held out his hand to her, and she shook it out of politeness
"Alice Pleasance."
"Oh, so you're the girl Eva told me about, don't worry we'll get your man out," He smiled before turning back to Eva.
"You know this reminds me of the time your dad was caught by this gang and you're mom hired a group to get him back; she ended up going herself and stabbing their boss," he chuckled at his memories. What was sweet nostalgia for him though, was a bit of horror for Alice, it made her just a bit queasy. Eva pulled back her uncle by his coat.
"Tony could you not scared the poor girl, she's new to this."
"Wait, you're bringing a newbie on a breakout?" He was surprised; he thought he'd taught her better than that. "Where is it anyway?"
"Arkham."
"You mean the nut house?" She glared, reminding him that she was an Arkham local. He quickly apologized for his mistake.
"Look she chose this, she needs this, so could you just help us?"
"Is there any money in it for you?"
"As a matter of fact, no, it's just what you said; the love between them reminds me of mami and papi, "she replied indignantly. Despite her anger, he knew what she really meant.
"I miss them too; they were the most honest, likable crooks I'd ever met."
"They weren't crooks," she muttered. She hated when they referred to as that, like they were nothing but scum.
"Hey don't touch those." Tony suddenly yelled. She turned to see Alice swiftly putting her hands behind her back.
"I'm sorry, I was just curious." She said with her head held down.
"Those are bombs, not only do they go off if you push them; they're covered in little spines so you can't touch them without these specially made gloves," He explained pointing at a pair of thick white gloves.
"They just reminded me of the hedgehogs at the Queen of Heart's party," she whispered back.
"Regular Alice in Wonderland, aren't you?" He really could stay mad long, the girl reminded him of Eva as a little girl, so innocent.
"Uncle Tony we're in a bit of a rush so could we do this quick," Eva hurried him to the other side of the room. He held up two orange spray cans.
"Here are your canisters of sleep gas that Benny made."
"Good old Uncle Benny," she sighed, thinking of her brilliant but silly chemist of an uncle.
"Care to explain the new choice of weapon? You usually prefer the vine or thorn knives," Though he didn't necessarily mind the change, it was safer at least; Eva had always had a thing for sharp objects, just like her mom.
"I though these were more appropriate for the situation. Thanks Uncle Tony."
"Your welcome, just be careful."
"I will. Come on Alice, time to go." She pulled he friend by the arm to lead her to their car.
"Oh, right good bye Mr. Adario it was nice meeting you," she waved, still very well mannered.
"Likewise kid."
