Beneath all masks and titles, they are children still.
She steps out of the golden elevator, not caring when the metal door swings back to place with a loud click. The sky above is colored dark blue, a perfectly lovely evening period the lady in red velvet has no special fondness for.
The walled garden Red Queen finds herself at, however, compensates for the lack of red upon the skies. As far as the eye can see flowerbeds and bushes are thick with roses of all of her favourite colours – red-wine and strawberry-pink, dewy petaled and blooming. The Queen has her own garden to be proud of, but even her vast maze pales in comparison.
Probably, because no gardener of hers loves roses as much as the man, who waters and trims these rose bushes.
As usual, he is already here, way ahead of her.
"You are late, aneki", - the one known as Heartland's most fearsome boss says with something akin to a boyish sulk, - "The tea almost got cold"
"We were detained", - the beautiful lady in red gives the garden around them another quick, appreciative look, before stepping in the gazebo and taking a seat in front of him. Her brother flicks his fingers and the white gazebo becomes completely hidden from the view by long rose vines embracing it.
"Why don't you tell me what kind of matter could detain you?", - the mafia boss starts, his blue eyes curious, - "I dare say not many would have the courage to"
The young queen in front of him frowns, not happy to recall the minutiae of the last two periods. "White had an argument with one of our officers"
"Surely such a mundane task could be left to King to attend to"
"As if anything of importance could be entrusted to him", - Vivaldi mutters and it takes a considerable amount of self-control for her younger brother to hide his amusement. He knows well that the King of Hearts, though not a warrior, is hardly incompetent, him being around for longer than any of them. But he also knows better than to point it out to his displeased sister.
"Have some tea, aneki", - he smoothly suggests, pouring tea into a hand-painted porcelain cup, with painted roses as delicate and pretty as the real ones surrounding them, - "It is the best kind we've managed to get a hold of so far"
"You mean the cargo that your henchmen had stolen?", - Vivaldi's lips are pressed into a thin line, but she doesn't decline the offered cup.
"They wouldn't have had a chance had your men been more reliable", - Blood counters readily, - "It is really beyond me why you keep in your service the men you can't control"
The Red Queen gives a ladylike shrug and as usual, her brother catches himself thinking that there truly wasn't a woman more beautiful than her in the whole four realms.
"They have their uses. The Knight is skillful with a sword", - her words are curt.
"I am well aware of that", - the mafia boss takes a sip of his tea, pausing to appreciate the rich taste and aroma, - "Just the other period he interrupted one of our operations"
"Oh", - the Queen smiles over a rim of her cup, a small cruel smile he knows to speak of her amusement, - "Don't tell Us you didn't have a back-up plan"
"Believe it or not, I did", - Blood reclines in his chair, - "But that blasted knight managed to kill ten of my best operatives. As a matter of fact, I really shouldn't be treating you tea tonight, sister dearest"
"Do you plan to hold Us responsible for some operation going astray, Blood?", - the smile that plays on her red lips is a clear sign Vivaldi finds the idea highly entertaining, - "Need We remind you that your little gatekeepers seem to consider royal guards their toy soldiers that they can break in their leisure time?"
"As if you'd ever have a shortage of those", - Blood lazily points put, - "There will always be men who wish to serve the most beautiful Queen"
"Flattery, brother dearest? This is something new", - but despite her words, he knows she is pleased. Blood Dupre isn't known for being generous with praise.
"Merely stating a fact, aneki. No one in their right mind can deny that the Queen is the most beautiful woman in Heartland and beyond"
"Is this your way of apologizing for stealing Our cargo of tea?", - one of her delicate eyebrows goes up, - "If so, you need to try better than this"
"I want it to be noted that I don't enjoy it alone as I could have"
"As if you have anyone else who can appreciate it", - he complains about the disaster his tea parties turn into half the time, - "If We recall correctly you have to serve carrot juice in order to satisfy the cravings of your underlings. Speaking of control", - his sister smiles mockingly again.
The grip on his cup becomes a bit tighter, not enough to draw attention, but enough for him to recall why he should never, ever underestimate his sister.
"Elliot has his uses, as you would say"
"Uses? Is it worth having carrots served to you during tea time?", - she openly sneers, - "He doesn't even wear your colours"
"He doesn't need to", - as it was Elliot already was a little bit too devoted. He needed to have his own attire, free of any insignia. Of course, the stubborn man protested at first, and it took a considerable amount of persuasion on Blood's part to assure Elliot that no, different clothing didn't mean lack of trust, but just the opposite, his position of the Number 2 required him to dress accordingly.
"Don't remember you being partial to my colours, aneki. Did something change since the last time we discussed this?", - he asks curiously.
"No", - he grins a little at how haughty she sounds. This was a sore topic. And true to his expectations, she continues.
"Seriously, Blood. You must have been drunk when you've decided on those uniforms"
"Quite the contrary, sister dearest. In my own biased opinion, they've turned out pretty nicely"
Vivaldi makes an impatient gesture with her hand. The longer they stay together, the more of the queen she sheds, leaving an impulsive, young girl he once knew so well. Aware of this Blood always tries to drag out their conversations. Just like now.
"You gave them roses", - her voice contains disbelief.
Blood rises a cup to his lips. "And what about that?"
"It looks preposterous", - Vivaldi's answer is cold.
"Well, I never claimed to have the best taste, to begin with", - he puts a cup back on the saucer and shoots her a disarming smile, - "I merely wanted my men to be easily distinguished"
"As if your mark is not sufficient"
The mark Vivaldi referred to boldly adorned his own jackets and hats, as well as those of his henchmen. The Diamond, the Club, the Heart, the Spade. The mark signified how well his familia was doing in Wonderland, spreading out like a wild rose bush, thorny and stubborn.
"Not quite enough. The mark is regrettably too small. I wanted my people to be noticed and recognized from distance"
"And you think that hideous blond hair isn't enough for that?"
The smile touches his lips again. She hasn't changed, no matter what the proud woman liked to claim. Perhaps, some preferences of theirs ran too deeply or were too peculiar for the Game to erase.
"As if you haven't done the same with your own people, aneki. I dare say that raven hair you insist on, stands out"
She smiles in satisfaction. "Black is the best colour to go with the red"
"Indeed", - he easily agrees, locking eyes with her. It was no secret that though Vivaldi was proud of her hair, she always secretly liked his hair colour more.
"There was absolutely no need to add roses", - it is endearing to hear her use this tone of voice – one of a spoiled girl. Certainly, she had little opportunity to use it in the past, when they both were still bounded by the family and society and she tried so hard to play the part of a reliable older sister. Even now, free of all chains save the ones they have accepted as the price for their freedom, Vivaldi rarely uses this particular tone of a capricious girl. All the more precious were these little moments when she did let go.
Blood gently covers her hand with his. "There is no need to feel angry. The ones I've given to my henchmen have nothing to do with our roses. Certainly, you of all people can tell the difference"
She can. The small dark wine-red (blood-soaked) roses Mad Hatter had bestowed on his men in a fit of whimsicalness are indeed a far cry from fragrant crimson ones they both cherished.
Vivaldi thinks back to rose bushes from their childhood, where they used to play their games hiding behind pink blossoms from their governess. Some things from their past are no longer clear, but these memories are vivid and fresh for both of them – two children with no playmates, but each other, dreaming of ever-blooming enchanted rose gardens like those depicted in their storybooks.
"You know that under all this garb, they are all the same", - mafia boss keeps talking, mistaking her silence for disapproval. - "Some symbols are required or it wouldn't be much different from playing chess using only white pieces"
Everyone here knew that. Take any servant of her castle and redye their hair a different colour; replace their attire and you'd place them to an altogether different suit.
Marking cards is essential in the game they play.
"We shape them as we want", - Red Queen quotes the rules they know by heart.
"And what useful little pawns they make", - Mad Hatter readily adds.
Deep inside they are the same, despite the symbols they carry or colour they down upon themselves; all of them bound by strict rules they couldn't break free from.
"Why don't we play chess, aneki?"
She agrees, though not out of fondness for the game. It has been long established that there was no better player than the young boss of the Hatters. But it was the game that had nothing to do with their duties or tedious pre-set paths. Such a change of pace was welcome.
The set he pulls seemingly out of nowhere has little in common with the ones Mad Hatter uses to entertain himself while at his residence.
For instance, all of the pieces are divided into black and red, each expertly hand-carved out of the finest black wood and mahogany. Another present of his she quietly marvels at. Blood may be a better player, but he treasures her company far too much to not let her enjoy the game.
"I believe you'd choose the red ones, as usual?", - he asks playfully, and Vivaldi barely represses the desire to roll her eyes at his boyish antics. However, her eyes are soft when she gives a quick stroke to each mahogany piece before putting them into their respective positions on the chessboard.
"Something must be bothering you, aneki, and it would be appreciated if you'd say what exactly the matter is"
"We were just wondering.. If that choice was right"
Her voice is quiet. Hesitant, even. A very rare display for the Scarlett Dame.
"It was the only sensible thing we could have done", - Blood's voice has a harsh note to it, - "You are perfectly aware what would have happened otherwise"
"Still.."
"Would you rather be someone's toy girl, aneki? We both heard rumors of that man our parents sold you to"
"If you insist on being vulgar.."
"Enough with the subtlety", - his voice is steel now, - "I merely call things their proper names. Our pathetic parents sold you to a man who had quite a reputation when it came to young girls. And I believe it was only a matter of time until the same fate would have befallen me"
"They'd never do it to you", - Vivaldi murmurs, - "You were the heir to the family name"
"The name I no longer carry"
There is a slow silence.
"So you never had any regrets?", - her voice is soft, more vulnerable than anyone ever heard it. He slips the glove off his right hand.
"None. And I strongly recommend you to follow my example", - he lightly touches her delicate hand with his glove-less one, amazed as always at the smoothness of her skin, - "We both know regrets mean nothing, but trouble"
"And prison", - his sister adds, still thoughtful.
"It took me quite an effort to break you out of it if you care to recall", - Blood's hold around her hand tightens, - "You were rather careless with your key"
"This would not happen again. We are not afraid of the prison anymore"
"You just know I'd always come to your rescue", - he chides her, but his hold loosens, allowing her to squeeze back.
"You don't need to worry for Us, Blood. I just wish.."
"Wish what, aneki?", - he doesn't let go of her hand. The "I" doesn't go unnoticed.
"I just wonder how he is doing it, that is all"
"And by him you mean..?"
"Ah, you know. Gowland"
The name makes the mafia boss cringe. "Dear old Mary. Don't tell me you've fallen for him, sister dearest. The Suicide King was already hard enough to accept, but this.."
"Don't be ridiculous", - Vivaldi scolds him and despite himself, Blood is relieved to hear how light her voice sounds. No trace of longing there.
"If you are referring to his usual cheerful disposition, then the answer is rather obvious"
She arches a brow at him. "Music?"
"Stupidity"
They look at each other for a long moment before both collapse into laughter.
"See? The man isn't even present and here we are laughing like lunatics at his expense. What would our Honorable Mother have said?"
"She'd start with your outfit, Blood. No way in the world would mother allow her son and heir to wear a hat with a price tag still attached to it"
"And here I was expecting some appreciation from my one and only sister. Wasn't it you who told me to dress the way I want?", - he mocks gently, shaking his head before continuing, - "Mother'd have been pleased with your attire, I am sure. All of her finest jewelry pales in comparison to your rubies"
They smile at each other.
"Honorable Mother would have been extremely proud to learn about your ascension to the throne. Just imagine, her daughter a queen! What a topic to discuss at her Saturday's garden parties", - Mad Hatter smiles a little half-smile.
"And Honorable Father would have been mortified to learn what his only son and heir is up to", - Vivaldi counters.
"I am sure he'd be vaguely impressed with the fortune I've managed to acquire", - the youngest mafia boss smiles, - "As well as be grateful the family name stays out of it"
He plays with his cane a little bit, before pointing it playfully at her. "You, on the other hand.."
"Oh, do shut up. We both have given up that name for good"
"Still can't believe that out of all possibilities you've chosen this name"
"It is way better than yours"
"Mine is only befitting for the mafia boss such as myself", - he gives her a toothy smile.
She snorts. "It completely lacks imagination"
"I thought we cleared out that Antonio Vivaldi was a man long ago?"
She slightly blushes at the memory. It was indeed mortifying a discovery, which allowed her younger brother to tease her to no end.
"We still believe his music was simply too good to be written by a man. Besides, such a name isn't known in these parts. We may use it as We will"
"Yes, indeed. The only violin player we've got is dear old Mary and he, I dare say, is hardly Vivaldi reincarnated"
He walks her back to the golden elevator, despite her many assurances that she can find her way. When they are almost there, Vivaldi turns to him and puts her right hand on his chest, above the place where the heart used to be.
It is a part of their usual routine, a gentle gesture which the mafia boss allows her to perform time and again, despite the complete pointlessness of it. They are no longer kids that used to sit by French windows and share dreams and hopes for the future while looking out in the garden.
"In a way, we fulfilled our dream, haven't we?", - she murmurs, delicate milk-white palm resting on his chest.
"Oddly, aneki, I've been thinking about the same thing, albeit in different terms", - he gestures at the ever-blooming garden around them, a vivid example of what they chose, - "We may have given up some things in the process, though"
"But we've done well with the cards we were dealt", - Red Queen states, regal once more.
A small smile touches the mafia boss's lips as he takes a hold of her hand to place a kiss on top of it. "Remarkably well, I may add"
Author's Notes: the name was partly taken from Lana Del Rey's "Cherry".
Aneki – literally means "older sister", but is different from "oneesan" Alice uses. Whilst "oneesan" is a respectful way to address one's older sister, "aneki" is more slang-like, the way young men use often.
The whole scene is strongly inspired by the movie "Heart no Kuni no Alice: Wonderful Wonder World".