Zelena was rrady to go meet eithbArchie and the otjers. She just had to explain to Alice that she'd be gone for a little while. Zelena felt bad leaving Alice at home, but the meeting was going to be mostly about what rhey'd poeced together about how Alice had been treated. And any one bad phrasing of that could easilt set Alice back months of the progress she'd made lesrning how to handle things. It would just cause issue after issue to make her sit through everhone discussing the different ways they thoight her mother may have hurt her. But it still was difficult tonleave her zelena knew Alice didn't trust her but she did see her as the main authority figure and to Alice that was just as important if not mlre so than trust
Zelena approsched Alice who was sitting with her back to the couch playing with her light up toy Arxhie had given her.
"That looks fun."
Alice nodded.
"Henry's coming over today." Alice nodded. She liked Henry. He didn't feel as threatening as everyone else did. He srill scared her but pretty much everyone scared her. "I'm going to be gone for a few hours and he'll be here. It'll be fun."
Alice nodded, still mostly engrossed in the lights. "Ok." Zelena stayed seating near Alkce for a little while. She wanted to connect with her. But Alice still saw her as a threat more often then not and so anytime Zelena stayed too long Alice would ignore whatever it was she wanted to be dling in favor of glancing her eyes over at Zelena.
Henry walked into the living room with his hands full of board gsmes before Alkce got too botheDee d by Zelena's orsence.
"I brought ganes," hnery told alice. "And you can choose of you want."
Alice nodded. She didn't knkw hoe to play every game hnery had, shw didnt think. But sje was interested.
Zelena and Robin left and henry sat down a lkttle away from Alice. Who picjed up jer lighr up to and shkwed henry that it blinked when she hit buttons.
"That's cool. Csn i try?"
Alkce nodded. Henry did and aloce stared at the flashing lights. She liked them. They were quiet so she could still listen for danger and the box felt nice. It was a bit rough and she didn't think she could throw it easily but she had bear sat in her lap if she needed to throw anything. She really hoped she could just sit and play with her toy but that rarely happened. She got scared so easily. She was constantly worried.
"It's quiet in here." Henry said after a little while. Alice startled a little but was fine otherwise.
Alice liked the quiet. If she was quiet enough she could be forgotten. And as long as she didn't need anything, she'd rather be forgotten.
Alice nodded.
Henry kept talking every so often and Alice mostly ignored him.
"Do you want to play a game or do something else?"
Alice stared at him for a bit. She would if that's what hwnry wanted to do. But he was asking and she was trying to answer questions a little better. It was really scary to do. She never knew if talking would be met with anger that she'd done so but lately she got mlre praise for it than she got punished. She really really hoped henry wouldn't hurt her. Was he allowed to? That was a question to ask Red the next time she saw her.
"Game." Alicd braced herself and her wince was visble.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Henry reminded her. He'd heard Zelena say that dozens of times. Alice needed to be told she wasn't in danger. And her fear wasn't something that could be scolded away. Nothing she did really was. "Do you want to pick or should I?"
Alice nodded. Henry had a stack of games. She'd seen a few before but had only played with cards and the checkers set.
Alice pointed to the game she wanted to play and henry set it up.
"Do you know how to play?"
Alice nodded. Robin had taught her. She had liked the game but had hated how loud Robin was at the end of it. Hopefully henry wouldn't be as loud.
Thry played the game. Alice taking far longer to choose where to move her pieces but still doing it. This went on for most lf the day u til aloce got tired and curled up to take a nap in her cornwr after asking luna if she could. She'd apologized ro henry a few times when she'd asked luna a question in front of him but other than that their day went well.