This was supposed to be the chapter when I introduced "The Juliette project", and it would be about Warner starting his little campaign to research Juliette. He'd have to convince his Father and gather data and all that.
Meanwhile Alice is all curious and bugs him about it. Little sister style. Warner, being super excited about The Juliette project, actually let's her. Though all the scary documents on about Juliette only manages to make Alice scared of Juliette.
Though I never finished it, and it actually stops right before Warner starts talking about Juliette, so it was kind of a fail.
I was proud about Alice skidding around in her socks though, since it's a common culture clash that Swedes do NOT wear shoes indoors. Like, ever. And Warner being so tired of Alice's behavior.
"Hi Warner!", a far too cheery voice zipped by him as he was walking down the corridor.
He time to turn his head to see her back continue down the junction of the two hallways. Feet pattering gently against the rugs.
'Great. She's running now…', a voice in his head muttered.
Though he was a little too busy noticing something else.
His eyes narrowed.
"Alice!", He called.
She skidded to a halt and looked over her shoulder to see him already heading towards her.
"Alice", he repeated.
"Yes?", she wondered innocently.
"Where are your shoes?!", he demanded.
She looked down, as if confused about what he meant.
And indeed, resting on the rug were the black polished Oxford's of Warner, and in front of him, the soft grey clad toes moving inside Alice's socks.
"In my room", she told him.
"And why is that?", he asked her.
"What do you mean?", she asked. By her tone it was obvious she had no idea why he seemed so upset about it.
"Why are you running around in your socks?", he repeated.
She frowned. Then raised her eyebrows in a tentative look.
"Because I'm indoors?", she suggested.
The chief commander blinked.
"Are you serious?", he wondered.
After a moment of hesitation she nodded.
"You can't run around in just your socks", he told her.
"Why not?"
"I usually don't wear shoes inside...", she tried explaining.
"You do realize every soldier in here are bringing in all sorts of dust and debris from just walking inside", he asked her as he crossed his arms.
Alice took this into consideration and lifted up one foot to look at its underside. Even if her socks were already gray a distinct layer of grayish brown dust had gathered on the sole of her right foot. There were some microscopic rocks that caught the light as well, which glittered a little as she turned the foot.
She made a face.
"Oh..."
She looked at him.
"See?", he said and nodded while she stood up right again.
"I guess you're right...", she confessed.
He agreed with a hum.
"Well, I'll go put them on then", she then said and turned to head to her room, where her patent girl shoes were waiting for her inside the box in which they had arrived in; but Warner caught her arm and held her back.
"Did you even listen just now?", he demanded.
She frowned.
"Well what am I supposed to do then?", she asked him.
He actually hadn't thought of that. He didn't have time to go get the shoes, and he didn't want to send any common soldier to retrieve them either (after all, they'd have to go into her wardrobe where he knew the shoes were located), and he definitely couldn't trust her to send her off. With her luck she's manage to step on a piece of glass and get tetanus. And he did not have time for Alice getting tetanus.
And he had the meeting to attend.
And that's when he realized it was a rather easy dilemma.
With an uncomfortable solution, but functional all the same.
He sighed.
"Come", he said and bent down to hook his arm underneath her knees,"You can sit and wait during the meeting."
Then he lifted her up (with a small yelp from her), bridal style, and turned back to the corridor he had just left and headed back in the direction of the upcoming meeting."
Oh, Alice! Are you going to be on the meeting today?", Delalieu asked as soon as he noticed the young girl sitting in the extra chair by the wall.
"Yes", she nodded. Then she held out her arms and kicked her legs up and down to summon him over, much like a toddler stuck in a high chair. Warner had to give her the credit that she actually stayed in the chair.
Delalieu chuckled and complied, and well there patted her on the head while she hugged his waist from her position on the chair.
"Any particular reason for why you are here, or is it merely an overall interest?", he asked her.
"Nah, I'm just not allowed to walk anywhere."
The lieutenant blinked, then turned his head towards Warner in hope of some explanation.
Said commander was typing at his laptop.
And then a bunch of sergeants and stuff came in and Warner got to pitch his project to them. Talking about the things he's planning, the pros and pros of having her there. Then I don't remember what happens next :P