It hadn't ever bothered Alice that he pretended to make a living off top-hats. Nor did it strike her that his favorite pass time was throwing, what he entitled, Mad Tea Parties for his nearest and dearest companions. Though he possessed few friends, Alice was honoured to be one of the three. She did at times, however, find it odd that someone of his station in life should ever do anything that would earn the court's nickname Mad Hatter and occasionally wondered at his lack of motivation to be social with his peers, gaining allies and plotting ways to obtain a higher power. But no, he scorned fate's cards and the royal flush hand dealt to him, audacious enough to even attempt to trade them in. Even though he may be known as the Mad Hatter to his back, but in the presence of the court he was Ethan Hearttrap, Earl of Lu-Kin-Gelas and treated as such.
The Mad Tea Party.
It must have been based off his ridiculous nickname; he did enjoy making a mockery of himself from time to time. He was oddly amused by insulting himself, telling silly stories about how he had been 'killing time' and how he put butter, once, in a pocket watch to make it work, exclaiming, "It was good butter." He was ever the smiling Earl. Alice viewed him the sweetest, kindest, and most amusing of all the genteel fellows in her acquaintance. Forget that he was unanimously dubbed the court jester, she was the princess and could deem her best friend whomsoever she pleased.
The Mad Tea Party.
The Earl threw the strangest tea parties, that was for certain. He never seemed troubled over the time of day, but sent out invitations to them all in a moment's notice. His habit of this was not weighed upon his position of authority and being one accustomed to being obeyed, never denied his smallest and wildest whims. No, indeed. It rested heavily upon his person being spontaneous. He'd simply wake up one fine morning, exclaim 'I feel like tea', and send out his message boy that instant to his three favorite people in the world. None ever held him accountable for his actions. If any one truly had felt a wish to abstain from his party, they very well could without the bother of disappointing Ethan. But they always came anyway.
Alice wore her plainest dress (which in truth wasn't all too plain), not in condescension, but in true humility. She was very much aware that not all Ethan's connections were of court. Actually, she liked him all the more for it. It was one of the very philosophies they shared: 'Love the People, Hate the Politics.' And Mouse was her people, and she loved the peasant dearly of her own initiative. When she dressed, she thought of her sweet little Mouse.
Mouse sat opposite of Alice, in a fine dress that Ethan had bestowed upon her her last birthday. The gown was in the Victorian style, a navy blue frock covered in frills and lace. The dress stopped short of her knees, her striped stockings revealed in an adorable fashion. It was very becoming of her simply for her size. She was very petite, a tiny little thing with the added charms of a child. Her parents, at seeing her tiny form, exclaimed she had looked like an adorable dormouse, and thus she was christened. Her large blue eyes were forced to look out through pitch black bangs. Her hair was very short for a girl her age (sixteen), and only reached to the nape of her neck, her bangs almost of equal, if not a bit shorter, length. To her right was the Mad Hatter and to her left was March Hare.
Contrary to Mouse, the young lord was not named for his size and adorability. The gentleman was titled for his race. Of noble birth and ancient lineage of the famous Hare clan, March was a humanoid in the presence of humans in the same respect as Mouse was a peasant in the midst of nobility, one of the reasons the two got along so well. He had long rabbit ears, sensitive to sounds within yards of him. His hair was an amber-gold, the shade of Wonderland Poppies that grew late in March and early April. His eyes were a mild green, and although he wasn't uncommonly handsome like the Mad Hatter, his features were in no way disagreeable. He was two full heads height above Mouse and one beneath Ethan.
Ethan was unnaturally tall, his slender figure adding to this. His hair was almost as long as Mouse's, a mild brown that went well with his common hazel eyes. He always dressed appropriately, wearing a white dress shirt with a black vest and matching black slacks, appearing to much advantage like a wealthy English gentleman. And always gracing his otherwise extraordinary features, other than a smile, was a Prince Charles top-hat of the finest velvet with a paper reading, "In this style &ct." And although he was world renown for his melting smile, today's tea part was not greeted with one.
"You can not be serious," he exclaimed, turning roughly towards Alice.
Alice looked positively shocked, possibly even a little unnerved, at Ethan, replying that she was indeed quite serious. She added, "I can't presume to understand why this would seem so upsetting to you. Is it not natural when a princess comes of age to have a coronation?"
"Well, why the bloody hell do you have to come of age?! And who decides at what age you are to become? Oh, good butter!" He always used that last bit as something of a swear, a reference that good butter doesn't fix pocket watches.
March was also a little surprised at their host's reaction, putting in himself. "I don't recall you complaining six years ago when you came of age and were dubbed Earl. What's this 'good butter' now?"
The hatter pulled on the brim of his top hat, mumbling, "That is quite a different matter."
"How?" Mouse whispered, shrinking at the sight of confrontation. The question was neither meant to provoke nor help prove the others' point. She was merely curious. She knew nothing of politics and it had always been a rule to avoid such discussions at the tea parties. Thus she had no honest opinion and simply wished to fully understand what he meant, not aware even he didn't know.
"Well," he blundered, saying whatever came off the top of his head, "for one thing, I'm a guy."
"So it would be alright for me to come of age if I were male!?"
"You don't get it! Men don't have to marry to earn titl-" His mouth snapped shut, suddenly realizing he had unwillingly begun to make a confession. He peered from Mouse to March, switching, "Can someone pass the milk?!"
Alice blinked, stared, and blinked again. "So. . . you're against me getting married?" Her whole countenance read confusion. "What's so wrong with that?"
Ethan sighed, giving up the loosing battle. "Look, it's just that there's no way you could just get married in a week for your coronation and be happy. I know you; there's just no way."
Alice glared across the lawn, offended by the accusation. She started, "I could learn to love-"
"Oh please. You, fall in love? If you were in love with anyone of consequence you would know it by now." The thought struck him. "You're... not in love, are you Alice?"
Alice stood abruptly and gave a brusque curtsy, producing the most civil smile she could rummage. "Thank you, Earl, for the invitation and the stimulating company, but I fear that I must take my leave." She smiled at the rest of the company, adding more gently, "March, a pleasure as always. Mouse, would escort me?"
The Mad Tea Party.