In This World of Mine

WhiteMidnightKitsune

Chapter 37: Expectational Professional

The return to the Cheshire "estate" was not long nor was it short. The evening had turned into dark night. The moon was gleaming and glittered. While walking briskly through the streets of Wonderland, sweet Alice took her thoughtful time thinking about the whereabouts of Diedrich Dormouse. She thought forward, backwards, sideways, up, and down, but all that left her was a frown. She had no more clues that Madeline Hatter had left her. She was left on her own. Her own little detective self, which was depressing because Alice hated reading Mystery novels. It always left her thinking of the right suspect that was under her nose but went topsy turvy when it came a full circle to someone else. That was the frustrating thing about mysteries. Talking of mysteries, it was still a curious wonder as to why Alice wanted to go back to Wonderland. Why. Why. Why. Why, indeed! It was that one very question that Alice's mind was boggled around. Was it to rewrite the mistakes she had made? It wasn't so. There were no mistakes that she had left behind. Was it to make something of her life? She was already failing school because of her lack of depressing interest. Though she could always try again! So that probably wasn't it. There just had to be some kind of answer to the problem but that's the thing with answers. You have a problem in front of you, any kind of problem, any that you can think of and there will be ways to solve it. There are complex ways, simple ways, or no way (because you refuse to do it, simply due to the fact that you hate problems of any kind). It's the method of transportation that leads you to the answer. You navigate your way through it. Now for Alice...that was going to be a hard journey.

When they had arrive at the estate at the time of late night, Alice couldn't help but be a bit baffled by Cheshire. Not once had she asked how her visit with Madeline Hatter. Not once! How peculiar indeed! But Cheshire had that same smile on her face. Oh, what could it be. Something was amiss. Something was off. Something. Something. Something wasn't right. Bianca was happily hopping along, singing her own tune of Wonderland knows what. They stopped at the top of the stairs. Cheshire turned to Bianca and gave her a pat on the head.

"Go home now, my little rabbit. Do not be late or the vicious wolf will come and snatch you away!" Cheshire pretended to be horrifying. Bianca giggled.

"All right, my lady! I will be off! I hope to see you soon! Very very soon!" and then she was off into the thorny rose bushes with an "Ow."

The door opened and there in front of them was De De, well mannered and ready. She gave a curtsy.

"Welcome back, Cheshire. I predicted that your visit was enjoyable?"

Cheshire replied, "Yes! Yes, it was! Alice had a little fun with Madeline today! Did you learn something new, dear?" She asked Alice with a turn of her head as she walked into the room. Alice was hesitant. Should she tell Cheshire of what had happened?

"Um..."

"Um...is pretty boring, don't you think? Try to be a bit more descriptive, darling! People like it when you're descriptive! It gives them something more to imagine by! Just a tad bit slow as ever! Ha!" Well, Cheshire didn't loose her charm at all. They proceeded into the living room where Cheshire sat on the couch with a huge 'Flop!' and a couch that went 'Umpf!" with discomfort. She flipped her heels off with a swing of each foot in the air. She took a large sigh of exhaustion. There was definitely tiredness in her eyes Alice noticed. Alice sat herself down on the love seat across from her. Oh god knows what Cheshire had done on the love seat. It made Alice grimace.

"De De! Bring me some tea, please! I'm just parched and in dire need of some soothing liquid that runs down my sore throat. Won't you be a kitten and get me a cup?" Cheshire politely requested with her eyes that battered with adoration. With a grumble and a bow of her head, De De did as she was told with a flick of her finger. "So, Alice...Tell me of your visit with Madeline. I'm sure both of you had discussed things of importance..." Cheshire reclined her head back and closed her eyes. Her arms spread out across the back of the couch with a soft touch to them.

"...We talked...of important matters, yes..."Alice started. Was it right to tell Cheshire this? To tell her that she's looking for a way out of Wonderland? To go home? "...We talked of friends, of food, of things that made sense, and of things that didn't...We talked about my stay in Wonderland...we talked about Time and his cruel personality..." Cheshire's ear twitched. "...we also talked about the theories of those who have died and left Wonderland..."

Cheshire without opening her eyes said, "...The theory of the Wonderland Death."

"You know of the theory?" Alice asked with a look up. She was looking at the floor for a long moment but had to look up when Cheshire had the voice of knowing the theory. Alice's heart beat fast. Why was that so?

"I know of it, dear...Everyone knows of the theory...Why in Wonderland would you want to know about such a ridiculous theory though?"

"Because..." Alice paused. She looked down at her fingers rubbing one another and wrapping one with the other in tension and nerves. Will this affect their relationship? Will it affect the outcome at all? "Because, Cheshire...I'm trying to find a way home." There was silence. Only the sound of breathing can be heard. Even the furnitures and decorations did not move or breathe. To Alice, the silence was painful. The silence felt like pins of needles that were digging into her skin. She was waiting for Cheshire to respond. All she received was,

"I wish you the best of luck with that, darling. Is there anything I can help you with?" Cheshire asked cheerfully. She couldn't believe it. Did her ears hear the tone right? She was a bit taken aback. She lifted her head up to see Cheshire's glowing face. That fine smile that she always had on. "Darling?"

"This isn't right..." Alice stood up with agitation.

Cheshire's face was baffled. "What isn't right, dear?"

"I didn't expect you to be like this!" Alice put her arms forward presenting Cheshire as "this".

Cheshire looked at Alice with innocent eyes, "Alice. Alice. Whatever are you speaking of? What did you mean you expected me to be like this?"

Alice felt frustrated, she rubbed her head and shook it, "You weren't supposed to react like this! Me telling you that I'm trying to find a way back home! I expected you to be sad! I expected you to look at me with a mad face! To want me to stay in Wonderland! Why won't you react the way you are expected to!" She gasped a breath.

Cheshire with delicate eyes, stood up from her lazy recline and walked over casually to Alice. No expectations of a walk. No poise or grace. A simple casual walk.

"Alice...you can't expect people to react how you want them to react. It takes a lot of method and technique to make the person yell, scream, and pout like a two year old. You're just not that experienced in that department yet, my girl...You still have a lot to learn..." She turned and walked back to the couch. Stopped. Then turned back around facing Alice. "Now...this business with you wanting to return to Wonderland is none of my concern...nor is it none of my business...I stay out of people's businesses because it is not my responsibility to butt into people's life...The world would be such a better place if we had all mind our own business, don't you think, Alice?" Alice felt embarrassed. She had just done a tantrum. Her face began to turn red. Cheshire slowly walked back to her. "Alice, if you want to return to Wonderland. Return! Why do I care! I'm simply an acquaintance of yours to supply you in whatever you need! I am your caretaker for the time being. Though give or take, there are some things that I cannot do for you but if fate will allow it, I will help you in what you need...Is there anything you need, dear?" She smoothed Alice's yellow soft hair, soothing the girl's mind.

Alice simply answered, "...I would like to sleep..." Sleep was the one thing that Alice longed for right about the time.

"Then go to sleep, my dear..." Cheshire whispered. "Your mind needs it." Alice left the room and ascended the stairs with Cheshire watching her with those golden cat eyes. She heard Cat meow softly with a sad tone on the ledge near the fireplace. The invisible spectator she was. De De returned with a bottle of whiskey and a shot glass. She had a trouble look on her face.

"...You never request tea at this hour...so I assumed that you needed this remedy for whatever ails you." Cheshire was thankful for the maid's keen eyes.

"Thank you, De De. You were always so thoughtful in giving me alcohol when you see fit." Cheshire took the shot glass in her hand but did not pour any whiskey inside it. She simply looked at the small glass with a stoic expression and rotted it, looking at her distorted reflection within.

"...Is something troubling you?" De De asked though there was no concern in her voice.

"...You heard it all, didn't you?" Cheshire stated with no fact. Her eyes shifted to De De.

"...Mu Mu and I are the same. Whatever she hears, I hear. She was in the room when the discussion had occurred. I apologize for my eaves dropping, my lady." She bowed in apology.

Cheshire scoffed with a tilt of her chin. "Ha! Do not apologize, De De! Everyone eaves drops...It's a talent that has already been acquired when we are born!"

There was a pause between them, "You're simply going to let her go...just like that, my lady?"

Cheshire looked up at the stairs. The stairs that Alice had ascended to go to her room for the night. "...What does it matter to me? It is the girl's decision! I have no say! If she wishes to leave Wonderland so be it...though I cannot say it will be pleasant...She's a foolish girl she is...very entertaining is what I love about her!"

"You wanted to, didn't you?" Cheshire stayed silent. She wanted De De to say those words that she couldn't physically do. "...You wanted to react at Alice. Tell her to stay in Wonderland where she can't be hurt. She'll be happy here. The nonsense she will inherit will heal her soul and eyes. You wanted to pout and cry and beg her to stay. You wanted to do all those things. You wanted to enact a tantrum where you yourself are the child because your soul is a child. Like a spoiled child that is. Am I right...My lady?"

Cheshire closed her eyes and smiled lazily, "You are good at hurting people, De De."

"Forgive me." De De apologized quietly.

"But that's what I've always loved about you, De De...Your straightforwardness. A straightforwardness even the Queen would kill you for."

"I am glad that I live in this cave with you then, Cheshire." De De laughed lightly. "...Lady...I know you are tire of tonight. I know you must go to bed after your medicine...but please let me ask...for my curiosity may kill me...Why did you hold yourself back against Alice?" Cheshire eyed the shot glass once more. A deep gaze into it. Something twitched a nerve in her eyes. Cheshire lifted her hand holding the glass up in the air and threw it on the cold floor, sending remnants of glass flying everywhere. De De flinched and looked at Cheshire shocked. Cheshire grabbed the bottle of whiskey and turned into the living room. With a smile she said,"Because, De De...only amateurs do that..." With no hands to guide them, the doors slammed shut in the falling dark night.