Laialda

Artisan of various mediums with a weakness for fandoms and geeky hobbies. Reads, writes, paints, draws, and generally creates as the muse sees fit to inspire. Wanderlust fueled postings to follow in a similar vein of disorganization.

[twiststreet]

She got the idea for the study while walking with her advisor at Stanford to discuss her thesis topic, and the paper she eventually published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology in 2014 is sharp enough that it should have ended the seated meeting on the day it came out.

She ran 4 experiments on 176 people. Same person tested twice. Once sitting, once walking. The creativity tasks were the standard ones psychologists have used for decades to measure how good a brain is at generating novel useful ideas.

81% of participants in the first experiment produced more creative ideas while walking than while sitting. In the second experiment, 88%. In the third, 100%. Every single person walked into a more creative version of themselves. On average, people generated 60% more novel useful ideas the moment their legs started moving.

The skeptical question is the obvious one. Maybe it was the fresh air. Maybe it was the scenery passing by. Maybe it was the change of environment doing the work, not the walking itself.

Oppezzo killed every one of those explanations with one experimental decision. She put people on a treadmill facing a blank wall. No scenery. No fresh air. No environmental change. Just legs moving in place while staring at white drywall. The 60% boost held.

Then she ran the experiment that closed the case completely. She took participants outside in two conditions. Half of them walked through a Stanford courtyard. The other half were pushed through the exact same courtyard in a wheelchair. Same outdoor stimulation. Same scenery passing at the same speed. The only difference was whether the legs were moving.

The walkers produced dramatically more novel high-quality ideas than the wheelchair group. The outdoors did almost nothing on its own. The walking did everything.

She also tested the opposite kind of thinking. Convergent thinking. The kind where there is one right answer and you have to narrow down to it. Word puzzles where 3 words share a hidden fourth word that connects them. The seated participants did slightly better on these. Walkers got slightly worse.

Walking is not a general intelligence enhancer. It does one specific thing. It opens up the divergent search inside your brain. The part that generates options. The part that produces unexpected connections. The part that takes a problem and finds five ways into it instead of one.

When you need to converge on the single right answer, sit down. When you need to find the answer in the first place, get up.

The mechanism is now well understood. Walking selectively activates what neuroscientists call the default mode network, the system inside your brain that runs when you are not consciously focused on anything. The DMN is where mind-wandering happens. Where memories cross-reference each other. Where ideas that have been sitting in separate folders inside your head finally bump into each other.

When you sit at a desk and force yourself to concentrate, you suppress the DMN. When you walk at a natural pace, the executive part of your brain gets just busy enough handling the walking that the DMN comes online and starts doing the work that focus was blocking.

The most useful finding in the entire paper is the one almost nobody quotes. The boost did not turn off the moment people stopped walking. Participants who walked first and then sat back down stayed elevated. Their next round of seated creativity work was still significantly better than people who had been sitting the whole time. The rest lingered for at least several minutes after the legs stopped moving.

You do not need to do creative work while walking. You need to walk before the creative work. The brain holds the state.

Edited down a long tweet. (x)

[loubuttons]

actually @ every fanfiction writer whether you wrote something that got thousands of reblogs and comments and became a staple in your fandom, or you wrote one fic and deleted it, or you write mutilchaptered fics that never get a final update, or write short fics, or long fics, or used to write and now you don’t, or you deleted/orphaned your works, or you only share with friends:

thank you.

sharing your writing is hard. and sometimes it’s thankless. sometimes it’s such a negative experience that I wonder how anyone does it at all. but you are needed; you are wanted. whether or not we properly acknowledge it, you are a vital part of fandom culture. thanks for sharing.

[womanguy]

you should get a second evening for reading fan fiction. And you should get an extra day in the week to do arts and crafts.

[ineffablecho]

100%

[lorlome]

Back with more gifs! Been mostly making reaction ones to use on discord with my writing friends, but I've also been working on gifing entire scenes (like the Alice of Legend one). I've always loved the framing of the 'drink me' bottle shot. 🤩

The one I made for the 'tasty bribes' deleted scene is too big, but now I'm thinking I might just do a deleted scene collection. Perhaps even trim down and export those scenes as short video clips. Not all of them are on youtube and the ones that are... well 16 years old an in SD. 😅

[escuerzoresucitado]

[findingfeather]

I absolutely fucking hate this. Gold star, no notes.

[sashasienna]

[thatrandomsarahchick]

@babbling-babull

[honestlydarkprincess]

to celebrate the ides of march this year tumblr decided to stab its users in the back

[offline-crowbot]

My hottest fanfiction take is I think people should stop posting multi-fandom oneshots as a single fic with like 50+ chapters and instead post them as individual fics

[everythingfox]

Discussing baby’s future

[melodiusfaux]

They are both doing the "I want" chitter. They very much want to get up, but they have a sleeping baby cuddling with them. They must endure, but they will not be silent about it

[pb-dot]

Well well well, kitties. Looks like you want to get up but there's a little cat on you so you can't. Very frustrating situation there, can't imagine the burden of being held down by a little adorable kittycat. Couldn't, as the kids say, be me.

[hellpotter]

it’s not weird to find fanfiction from 2021, or 2017, or 2014 that you’ve never read and actually taking your time to read it.

it’s not weird to love it and comment and leave kudos because the author will probably still see it someday and it will make them happy.

it’s not weird to like said author’s work so much that you want to go look for other fics from them.

it’s not weird to go through the authors profile and look for other fics from the ships you like (or maybe some that you’ll give a chance because you liked the author) and maybe bookmark them for later.

it’s not weird to read these other fics and like them too and comment on them because you actually like them and you want to let the author know.

it’s not weird to read fanfiction from 5, or 8, or 10 years ago and actually enjoy and engage with it because it’s perfectly normal to relate to something that’s less than a decade old!

let’s stop treating fanfiction like they’re instagram posts that stop being interesting in 24 hours! fanfiction is NOT social media, fanfiction is art!!! and art doesn’t get old in one day, one year, or even a decade!

read fanfiction! write fanfiction! comment on fanfiction! let’s not let fanculture die people!!!!!

[lorlome]

Skating By

On AO3

SyFy Alice 2009 | Hatter/Alice | Rated: Teen (T) Fluff, Romance, and some sexual Innuendo/Humor.

Summary: Alice takes Hatter out ice skating that first winter, and she discovers he's perhaps still embellishing things to make himself look good.

Just a bit of winter fluff for these two goofs. With a guest spot from Carol. 💜

It was a lovely crisp and clear winter night. The kind that burned when you drew in a breath from how refreshing and clean it felt. Several inches of snow covered the ground, but the paths had been cleared in the park so it could be enjoyed by all. The air was chilled and filled with the scent of hot fried foods and drinks from nearby carts. There was music and laughter all around as adults and children talked as they whizzed past, but Alice couldn’t pay attention to any of it as she was distracted by the grown man before her.

While he’d added a loose scarf and gloves to his leather jacket for the evening, Alice had been unable to convince him to abandon his preferred ‘form over function’ stylish hats for a nice knit beanie. He complained that they pushed his hair flat in ways that felt funny without the hair product he used to tame it when they had dinner with her mother. He did find her own toque style beanie to be adorable on her however, and she had to admit the black fedora he wore tonight did look very dashing with the navy blue band matching his blue gradient scarf.

Though none of his clothing would matter if he couldn’t keep balance and stand up straight.

“I thought you said you knew how to ice skate?” She asked as Hatter flailed before grabbing onto her again.

“Yeah, and I can,” Hatter stressed and gestured at his feet, “It’s these horrid skates you’ve got here! They’re giant and got my feet all locked up so I can’t move ‘em right.”

When he’d claimed to be an excellent skater after the first snow, Alice had thought it would make for a fun date night to take him to the Central Park rink. The Rockefeller one was much smaller and always crowded with tourists, so she thought a nice leisurely night time skate and then cozying up with a warm drink and a movie after would be a perfect winter date night.

Hatter had seemed genuinely excited when they’d arrived, but she hadn’t missed the intense look he’d given the rental skates before putting on a confident smile and walking to an open bench to put them on. Once they’d gotten on the ice he’d taken a minute to lightly shift his feet back and forth while holding onto the wall with a frown. He’d made one push forward and hummed thoughtfully before gesturing for her to lead the way.

It seemed to be going fine, if a bit slow, and Alice had just reached out to offer her hand at the turn when he’d suddenly lost his balance. He'd flailed wildly before grabbing onto her and nearly knocking them both down. She’d slowly guided him over to the wall and that’s where they’d been for the last few minutes while he tried to get his balance back.

Alice smirked, “I’m pretty sure the thick rigid boot is for safety reasons. You know, so you don’t twist an ankle and hurt yourself.”

Given what she'd seen so far, she wasn’t sure she believed he had the expertise he’d originally claimed to posses. Hatter had never directly lied about anything before though, so she couldn’t see him starting now. He’d been a little misleading or hadn’t shared information when they’d first met for sure, but never an outright lie that he could be easily caught up by. Especially not since following after her and needing so much help himself at learning her world and city. He was usually excited by the new things in her world, and had a dozen or more questions over anything he found strange. So there was no reason to think that he’d suddenly start lying this many months in.

He may have exaggerated to look good though. That she’d believe.

Hatter gave her a very unamused look. “We’re already doin’ something dangerous by tryin’ to glide on ice with blades on our feet but yeah, let’s think of the safety of my ankle when I fall on my arse ‘cause I can’t move properly. That’s some nice logic.”

Alice chuckled, “I think I can get you a butt pad if you’re that worried about falling.” She pulled herself to him and tilted her head up. He took the invitation and leaned down to meet her in a quick kiss. “Or I can get you a skating cone to partner with,” she murmured with a coy smile.

With a glance to the side, they could see a pair of small children -desperately holding and leaning onto large orange traffic cones- slowly skating forward under an adult’s watchful eye. “No,” Hatter stated as he looked back at her, “Absolutely not. I will go arse over tea kettle first on these terrible skates before I use… that. I know what I’m doin’, I swear. I just… need some time and practice is all.”

“Guess it’s up to me to be your skating cone then,” Alice offered and Hatter smiled before he leaned down to give her another kiss.

“Better than any bit of plastic you are. Can’t think of anything -or anyone- I’d trust more to lead me in this mad city of yours.”

Alice hummed and pulled back, “I better be.” He smirked and she skated backwards to give him some space. “Alright, let's see you shuffle your way to me and then we’ll try another turn.”

He slowly did so, and Alice cheered him on but he didn’t seem as thrilled about the praise as he normally did. They made it through a few slow laps as the night went on with Hatter only occasionally flailing his arms if they went too fast but otherwise having a nice time.

As they walked back to his apartment to wind down with a movie, Alice didn’t miss the thoughtful and planning look he got during the occasional stretch of silence. He was quick to toss it off whenever she remarked about it, insisting he was just planning his own date night to match hers. She didn’t quite believe that’s all there was to it, but after a warm cuddle on the couch with tea and a movie -that was interrupted by acts of a more intimate nature- the curiosity slipped away in favor of focusing on the now.

------

Plink. Plink.

Plink.

Carol put her slotted spoon down and frowned at the widow by the dining table. “Alice?” she called, and it only took a second for her to answer back so she continued, “Do you hear something over by the window?”

Alice came into view as she walked out of the living room and towards the large window. She furrowed her brow at it and said, “No, but maybe it was just some icicles melting?

Another plink sounded as something hit the window, and Carol walked over to help investigate as Alice began to look around. Before she could get there, her daughter spotted something outside and smiled. It was a happy tender thing that Carol wasn’t sure Alice would ever get back after her father had disappeared, and she had a good guess as to the cause.

Alice unlocked the window and pushed it open. The rush of cold air hit them both and Carol shivered as she tightened her cardigan around her. Looking down at the street, her suspicions were confirmed as she saw her daughter’s boyfriend, David Hatter, standing there. He was all bundled up for the cold, baring his fedora like hat that his hair looked like it was trying to escape from and left his ears exposed and red, and stood near a parked car in the street. The young man waved up at them with big sweeping arms.

“Alice!” he shouted excitedly, beaming widely. He then noticed herself and tipped his hat at her as he inclined his head, “Ma’am.”

“I keep telling you David, it’s just Carol,” she shouted back down with a fond smile of her own. He was an odd mix of polite and flirtatious, and she could see why Alice found him charming.

Her reply made him grin for some reason, as it did every time she insisted he just call her by her first name. It made Alice shake her head or roll her eyes when he did, but neither explained their little personal joke. One day she’d get the real story about how these two met -the man had clearly never worked a day of his life at a construction site- but it really didn’t matter. He made her daughter happy and brought her out of a self-destructive pattern of keeping partners at a distrustful distance that she’d previously worried Alice would never break free from. Not to mention he'd survived what had been 'kiss of death' for Alice's relationships that was meeting her for dinner over a dozen times by now. There was a lot Carol could let go stressing over to see her daughter finally happy and free from the impact of Robert’s abandonment. 

“What are you doing?” Alice asked incredulously, “And why are you throwing pebbles at the window? We could’ve just buzzed you up!”

“It’s a surprise!” he insisted, “And I didn’t want you tryin’ to back out by claimin’ I should just stay in with ya once I’d made it up there. Now come down! I’ve got somethin’ to show you!”

She chuckled at Alice’s sigh, but she didn’t miss the pleased smile she was fighting either. “Hatter, we’re about to have dinner,” Alice told him, “Why don’t you join us? Come up and eat and we can do your surprise after!”

David lost some of his smile as he glanced her way, “Yeah. Sure. I- I suppose we could do that first. Didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Carol rolled her eyes before pushing Alice aside. “Don’t worry about it David. It’s just a normal boring dinner, nothing special. She’ll be right down!” He grinned again and shouted his thanks. Carol nodded as she pulled the window shut before turning and rubbing her arms. “Brrr that’s chilly. Make sure you bundle up sweetheart.”

“Mom,” Alice huffed and crossed her arms, “What’d you do that for? What about dinner? I’m sure whatever thing he’s found and wants to show me can wait.”

“Alice,” Carol sighed and placed her hands on her hips as she gave her daughter a knowing look, “Don’t use me as an excuse. It’s just pasta with jarred sauce for goodness sake. Nothing you haven’t had a million times. Go have fun on a spontaneous date with your boyfriend.”

Alice hesitated, looking like the adult side was at war with that playful child-like side that David miraculously brought out in her, before she slowly smiled and gave her a hug. “Okay, but I’ll be back later so save me a plate.”

Carol rolled her eyes and agreed as she watched her daughter bound off and get ready to go outside with a spring in her step. She’d put her portion in the fridge as it would no doubt be reheated later this week. With a knowing smile to herself, Carol considered the quiet evening ahead of her and looked forward to hearing about whatever delightful date David had arranged whenever she finally saw Alice tomorrow.

------

“Cheers, thanks very much,” Hatter smiled as he paid the street vendor and took the steaming paper cup from them before turning to her. “Here we are. A bit of a treat to get us started since I’ve delayed your supper,” he said and Alice smiled as she accepted it.

“Cocoa and not tea?” she asked as he offered his hand. She laced her gloved fingers with his own and he smirked before giving a light tug to direct her further into Central Park. “I’m shocked.”

Hatter grinned and stole her cup for a sip, humming in pleasure before giving it back, “They’d not have anythin’ to my standards in their little bags. Your melted chocolate drink is a much better use of my coin.”

“Oh yeah. The hot milk really elevates the ‘swiss miss’ packet compared to dried leaves in hot water,” Alice teased before she took a sip. She hummed contently after and he sent her a knowing smirk. Okay, maybe they had a nicer mix as it did taste richer, but she wasn’t about to admit that to him.

“I can just as easily keep it for myself if you’re gonna be like that,” he stated and leaned over to give her a quick kiss on the cheek and stole her drink for another sip before focusing back on the walk.

They took turns with the hot cocoa while she tried to get him to reveal what was so important, but he kept frustratingly quiet about it. She eventually sighed and just enjoyed the look of the glistening sunset glow on the snow. They'd just thrown away the empty cup when the ice rink came into view and Alice laughed.

“This is your surprise? I wouldn’t think you’d want to go skating again so soon since you had such a hard time last week,” she said and looked at him curiously, “You haven’t been practicing since then just to prove you actually can skate, have you?”

“Nope,” he replied, popping the ‘p’ sound and poking the space in front of her face like he meant to boop her nose. “Like I told ya before, I can skate, and I lucked into findin’ a proper pair so I can show you that I do know what I’m doing.”

Alice sent him a look, “It’s really okay if you don’t know how. I’m not going to think less of you for being a bad skater.” They came to a stop a few feet away from the rink entrance and she turned to face him with hooded as she took a hold of his scarf. “There’s plenty of other things you’re very good at after all,” she flirted and pulled firmly on his scarf.

He smirked and took the hint, meeting her half way for a brief but promising kiss. “Well this will just be another to add to my lengthy list of very good qualities then won’t it?

She let out a chuckle and released him. He really didn’t need to do all of this, but in a way it was cute. Clearly he wanted her to think highly of him, and was determined to prove himself. She already did of course, but she enjoyed the warm feeling it gave her that he kept wanting to prove his worth. 

Hatter took her hand again and paid the rink fee, but only rented skates for her. She shot him a curious look, but he’d simply gestured for her to wait and directed them to one of the many open benches after getting her skates. She sat down and watched him unzip his jacket to reveal a leather bag with something inside. Distracted and curious, Alice watched as Hatter opened the drawstring bag and removed what appeared to be the bottom metal blade of a pair of skates. Though that wasn’t exactly right as they were clearly made to attach to shoes and not adapted to do so. Something about them seemed familiar too. Like they were old while looking brand new. Hatter grinned at her, clearly pleased by their existence, and expertly slid his foot into one and began to adjust and secure it to his shoe with the very new looking leather straps.

Alice put her own skates on finally and couldn’t help smiling at his delight. “Well those look incredibly unsafe. Where did you find them?” she asked.

“I’ll have you know, I found ‘em in one of your shops,” he said and then stood on his strange skates, beaming with delight, “and who needs safety when I can finally move?” Hatter easily walked back and forth on them before coming back to her and grabbing their shoes. He made a considering sound as he looked at the long line to drop off their shoes before saying, “Bit of a wait. You head on out and I’ll find you, alright?”

“You sure?” she asked with a raised eyebrow as she tied her last skate and stood up next to him. “I don’t mind waiting.”

He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss. “Positive.”

Alice smiled and shook her head, but did as he asked.

The rink was slowly filling up with more skaters as night crept in, but there was enough room for her to pick up a little speed without needing to help balance anyone this time. She performed a few crossovers, skating backwards into a turn or two, and made it about three laps around before she spotted him. Alice was skating backwards at the time and his speed instantly caught her eye. Unlike a few nights ago, Hatter was clearly having no trouble balancing or picking up speed as he made a beeline towards her. If anything those skates almost looked invisible on his feet, and his long hunched forward strides made it look like running on the ice.

He grinned when she finally looked at his face and she knew her surprise was easy to see. With practiced ease she stood as she slowed to a stop, and was worried Hatter might zoom past her at his speed, but he came to a hard stop instead, spraying her with a wave of ice shavings.

“Hey!”

“See!” He cried in delight and pushed off to the side to circle her, “I told ya I can skate!”

Alice pursed her lips in an effort to fight the smile at the sight of his unchecked joy as she gestured to the mock snow on her clothes. “Right, sorry,” he said and stopped to help brush her off, “Just wanted to show ya I’m not awful at this and got excited.”

She huffed out a laugh, “Yeah, I can tell by the surprise spray of white. That happens a lot when men get too excited.”

His grin shifted to a smirk as he stood back up and then moved smoothly to nonchalance with a shrug, “Wouldn’t know anythin’ about that. First time I’ve done it meself.”

“Oh, yeah?” Alice remarked as the grin finally won and and she looked him up and down, “That’s not how I remember it going a few months-”

“Hey!”

They both turned to see an older man in a black and white striped coat come to a gentle stop near them. He frowned at Hatter and pointed at him, “No speed skating, and no spraying. If I gotta warn ya again, yer out. Capiche?”

“Sorry,” Hatter said and held up his hands, “Won’t happen again. I promise!”

“Good,” the man nodded and then smirked as he gestured between them, “And stop canoodling too. We’re a family friendly rink. Stopping’s for the outer edges, or the center. Yer a hazard standing around like this.” He pushed off and merged back in with the flow of skaters. Hatter was leaning away with a confused look as he watched him go before facing her again.

“Canoodle? I’ve not heard that one yet. Fun word though. Does he mean flirting?”

“Pretty much,” Alice smiled and grabbed his hand before pulling them back into the flow, “It’s a word used for light kissing and cuddling.”

He made a considering sound before smirking at her, “Seems a bit strange to label brushing white spray off someone using such a term. Course your world's all odds ends as far as I’m concerned.”

Alice chuckled and then smiled at him, “Right. My world's the crazy one with weird customs and not, ya know, the world of magic and oddities.”

“Glad ya can finally admit it.”

She grinned and shook her head as he gave her their joined hands a squeeze. Alice looked down at them and admired his easy glide from his almost invisible skates as she did. “Okay, so what are those skates and where did you find them?”

“Shop had ‘em labelled as ice skates, and they’re the same kind I used back home,” he said with a shrug.

“Okay, but they’re not normal and clearly not safe,” Alice rebutted, “What kind of shop did you find them in?”

“They're... ya know, safe-ish. No worse than your own really, but what's important is I can finally move my feet in the way I’m used to,” he countered, “and I found ‘em in one of your pre-owned things shops. Like the kind we went clothes shoppin’ at to find things I’d like.”

“A thrift store?”

Hatter scrunched his face and tilted his head back and forth, “No. It was…Oh what’s your word for fancy old things? You’ve said it before. Like…like the things your Mum has in her cabinet of curiosities.”

“Things in her curio cabinet?” Alice asked with no small amount of uncertainty, and Hatter made a noise of confirmation. She thought about it before offering, “Antiques? You went to an antiques store?”

“Yes!” Hatter grinned and snapped at her, “That’s the one! Loads of things I knew were in there, so I’d gone in for a browse and-”

He gestured down at his feet, “Ta da! A bit of luck considering we’d come here just the day before, and the shop owner connected me with his mate to fix ‘em up so I could use ‘em. Just picked ‘em up this mornin’ and wanted to show ya that I truly could skate. I could tell you didn’t believe me, and I can’t say I can blame you with those terrible boot skates lockin’ my feet in place and makin’ me look like a right fool.”

Alice had looked incredulously between him and his skates while he’d talked until it finally clicked where she’d seen those kinds of skates before. Paintings at the museum of skaters. Victorian skaters. He was using genuine antique Victorian skates. Of course he was. She had to laugh from the absurdity of it or else she might actually go crazy.

When she looked back up at him, Hatter was smiling happily -clearly proud of his find- but it was starting to fall as he noticed her concern. She gave his hand a squeeze to reassure him before steering them off to the nearest bit of wall and out of the way. Not wanting to worry him, she pulled him down for a quick kiss that had him smiling again.

“Careful with those. You’ll get us tossed out for actually canoodling this time,” he teased and she smiled back up at him.

“We’ll be fine,” she rolled her eyes, “But are you sure those things aren’t gonna fall apart on you? That kind of skate is easily over one hundred years old. Honestly I’m shocked the guard or whatever he was didn’t notice and kick us out. They can’t possibly meet modern safety standards.”

“Yeah, no, they’re right ways round and everythin'," he insisted and lifted a foot up for her to see. They did look secure and sturdy. “Took ‘em for a test first thing. Really got some speed with no one around at lunch time. Haven’t been able to do that since last Winter on a canal run.”

Alice squinted her eyes in thought. “Canal run? Did- did you used to skate on that suspended river in the city?”

“'Course,” he confirmed with a smile and a shrug, “It’s why I bothered to learn. Once I could skate decently I’d make it down to the boat to hide contraband fast as a Cheshire could blink in the winter if I suspected a raid was comin’. Quick and easy to remove the skates too so they’d not know I’d even been gone.”

“Ah,” she nodded. It made sense that he would be so defensive about his skills if it was something he was proud of. Which reminded her of her thoughts from when they arrived and she took a steadying breath as she gave his hands a squeeze. “Well I’m sorry for making it feel like I didn’t believe you last week,” she apologized, “You don’t have to prove anything to me. I knew you weren’t lying. I just thought you might’ve exaggerated a little. Either to look good or to not turn down a date.”

Hatter smirked as he squinted his eyes at her, “Me? Exaggerate?” He scrunched his nose up and teased, “Doesn’t sound like somethin’ I’d ever do.”

Alice chuckled and rolled her eyes again, “Right. Never.”

He tilted his head in a mock nod as he smiled, “Glad we agree.” Hatter leaned down and kissed her, and Alice pulled on his scarf to keep him there longer and enjoy the moment. Eventually he pulled back enough to murmur against her lips, “You’re really askin’ for us to get tossed out with this flagrant disregard for the canoodling rules.”

“Yeah well, you know how I feel about tyrants.”

Hatter laughed loudly as she released her hold on his scarf before grinning down at her. “That I do. Lucky for you that I… am also a fan of skirtin’ the rules,” he commented. His eyes sparkled with delighted mischief as he pulled them back out into the crowd of skaters. The guard or whatever he was in the striped jacket made eye contact as he breezed past them, and Hatter gave him a jaunty wave as he added “So your secret’s safe with me.”

“Could even say you just…wave at them as you skate on by,” Alice joked and Hatter grinned at her.

“Precisely,” he agreed and kissed her gloved hand. Alice squeezed it in return and they shared a soft smile before contracting on skating again. “Since I’ve stolen you away from your Mum’s cooking tonight,” he continued, “I was thinkin’ we could go to this new pizza place I’ve found whenever you’re ready to leave.”

“Oh yeah? Not another one of those chain locations is it?”

“Nope,” he stated, “I’ve done just as you advised and found a tiny little place that looks like it could barely fit five people in it but they’ve got tables for twenty.”

Alice chuckled, “Well maybe we’ll take it to go and eat at your place with a roomy interior like that. Was there something on the menu you wanted to try that caught your attention, or did it just smell good?”

“Both really,” Hatter admitted and when he looked over there was a mischievous glint in his eye, “ya see…they’ve got pizza with egg fried rice.”

There was something familiar about that combination and it took Alice a few seconds to remember their conversation on his boat from months ago. She barked out a laugh, “Seriously?”

His smirk grew to a grin, “Of course! Did we not just establish how I never exaggerate?”

Alice stared at him with no small amount of amused suspicion, but he merely squeezed her hand and smirked again before looking ahead as the pushed through a turn.

She was pretty confident he was exaggerating. Though this was New York, so maybe he’d actually found a place willing to create such a concoction. Stranger things had certainly happened in this city, much less to her specifically. Remembering her mom’s advice that got her out and on this impromptu date to begin with, Alice decided to let them do a few more laps before asking to leave.

She may not always know if he was exaggerating or not, but she could trust that even if he was it would always be entertaining to find out the reason why.

[lorlome]

Winter Drabble

Just a quick drabble inspired by the weekly image prompt for the writing group I'm in. Bit of Hatter/Alice winter fluff. Image provided below:

“I like a lot of your festivities,” Hatter murmured into her ear before he kissed her cheek, “but I think I like this very long one the most."

Alice leaned into his embrace as they watched various people in Central Park celebrate the season. Surrounded by the warm glow of white twinkling lights, laughter, snowballs, and the soft soothing holiday jazz of some nearby buskers.

“I’m glad,” she smiled and hugged his arms, “but any reason why?"

He hummed and set his head upon her knit hat. “It’s that bit of wonder and merriment. Reminds me of home, I suppose.”

[lorlome]

Acts of Intimacy: Date Night

On AO3

SyFy Alice 2009 | Hatter/Alice | Rated: Explicit (E)

Part of my series but easily read as a standalone. Just some emotional first time smut for the pair. 😉 Continues from their date night, if you want a bit of fluff, and the art I drew for their outfits for said date can be found here. Summary: After a very fun and enjoyable date night. Alice decides to trust her heart and invites Hatter up to her apartment. --------------------------

Alice’s stomach was alight with butterflies as she led Hatter up the stairs to her apartment after their date. Her nerves still buzzed from the intense kiss on the stoop given the way she was aware of each shift of the full skirt of her dress as it swayed and brushed against her knees. She took a deep breath to settle them as she reminded herself that this didn’t have to lead to anything. She could just offer him a drink or something if her nerves failed her, or if it just didn’t feel right. He’d made it pretty clear down on the stoop that he didn’t expect her to invite him up after all.

“Now don’t judge,” Alice said, sending Hatter a pointed look as she pulled her keys out of her purse. “Your apartment is huge compared to mine.” She kept walking and flicked her keys to the correct one as she heard Hatter follow behind her.

“Well now you’ve got me curious,” Hatter said from much closer than she’d expected, “The new flat is not even half the space I had at me shop.”

Stopping at her door, Alice slotted her key in and turned the lock before glancing at him over her shoulder. “And that’s still huge for New York. We normal people live in a shoebox and make do.”

Hatter smiled, amusement clear in his eyes, as he stepped closer before he looked at her door and back at her. “Nothing as dull as normal about a woman like you, Alice,” he said like it was a fact as he trailed his fingers along her side and held her gaze. Alice shivered and looked away to finish opening her door.

God, who was she kidding. She wasn’t gonna last more than five minutes if he kept this up.

“Just know it’s the best I can do, and I’m proud of what I have,” Alice replied, though it came out a bit more shaky than collected. She turned the doorknob and flipped on the light as she walked in, hanging her purse and purple coat on the wall hook before moving in front of the fridge so Hatter could enter. 

His eyes flickered around to take in her little one room studio apartment as he closed the door behind him. The open layout had a counter that served as kitchen divider and dining table with stools to eat at, an oversized armchair across from a box TV as her living room, and a little folding screen that separated it from her one luxury; her queen sized bed. She also boasted a standard size closet next to her bed, and a bathroom behind the only door across from the kitchenette.

Three hundred square feet of minimalist living. You could walk the entire length of her place in maybe ten to fifteen steps. It wasn’t much, but it was hers, and she was pretty proud of how comfortable she’d made it.

Hatter walked halfway into the room and did a turn to see the entire space, hands on hips pushing back his suit jacket and smiling the whole time. “‘S cozy,” he said finally with a nod, “Though I imagine hosting company gets a bit tricky.” He took a step towards her and raised an eyebrow, “Not much personal space for…activities is there?”

“Enough space for two,” Alice countered as she matched his look. His gaze gained weight like a physical thing, and Alice couldn’t quite remember ever having him watch her this intently before. Her heart sped up and a warmth pooled low in her belly from that look.

“Like I said,” Hatter replied as he reached forward to tuck some of her hair behind her ear, “cozy.”

Alice stared at his mouth before looking back up at his eyes and she licked her lips. “Can I get you anything?”

“Depends,” he said as he watched his hand make a path from her dress strap, to her bare shoulder and down her arm before looking back up at her. “What’s on offer?”

Me , her mind immediately supplied, but she swallowed that response. Alice suddenly didn’t want to be the one to break this tension. It felt like letting him win this little dance he’d started by making her fold first, and she wasn’t one to back down from a challenge. The space between them felt like a coil that she wanted to keep winding and winding until it snapped.

Alice tilted her head instead, watching his eyes dart to the column of her neck and back again, as she lifted one hand to grab his tie. Slowly pulling it free from his waistcoat with one curved finger.

“A lot of things,” she replied, thankful it came out more sure than breathy, “Is there anything in particular you’re craving?”

Hatter slid his other hand to her waist, gently sliding it around to her lower back to pull himself closer. His eyes locked and focused on hers. “Ya know…there has been something I’ve been particularly keen to sample,” he commented. His voice a low rumble as he leaned in closer. The hand on her arm making the path back up, leaving tingles in its wake, and moving further to cup the back of her head.

She thought he would kiss her then, but instead Hatter dipped his head to the side to murmur in her ear, “Could even say I’ve been parched for it really.”

He punctuated his words with a barely there kiss right below where her jaw met her neck and Alice inhaled at the contact, her hand twisting to grab a firm hold on his tie.

“Well you’re a grown man,” Alice stated, definitely sounding breathy now as her heart hammered away, and she ran her free hand up his chest and under his suit jacket to thread her fingers in the hair at the back of his head. With one firm tug, she pulled his head back to lock eyes with him again. He inhaled in surprise from the move, but his brown eyes were dark as he focused on her.

“Use your words and tell me what you want,” she told him.

Laughter shone in Hatter’s face and he smirked before the look softened. He brought the hand from behind her head to trail along her jaw. His fingertips leaving little sparks in their wake as they made the short and slow journey to her lips. One finger tracing along her bottom lip as he said, “You. Just you, Alice.”

She wasn’t sure if he’d leaned down or she’d pulled him down by his tie, but they met somewhere in the middle. A simple and gentle press of their lips that quickly grew in frequency and intensity. Resuming what they’d started on the stoop mere minutes ago. Alice flattened her hand in his hair to keep him in place, wanting to thoroughly explore his mouth this time. To have him kiss her deeper. His hand moved back behind her head to tilt it and change the angle, taking her bottom lip and gently sucking it. She keened and felt her arousal pool in her lower abdomen, pulling free of his very talented lips just to meet them again. Her own mouth sliding over his and teeth nipping at his lower lip as payback.

“Alice,” Hatter groaned and with one more step had her pushed up against her fridge. She gasped in surprise as he ran the hand on her lower back down her thigh to lift her leg up, the skirt of her dress slipping back to bunch at her hip, and place it around his waist. Pressing his very obvious erection directly into her with the motion and she whimpered.

“Oh please do that again,” he begged as he began leaving a trail of hot and wet kisses down her jaw and neck. Alice felt like she was in a daze. She’d never felt so hot and overstimulated at the same time. Like she was burning all over and his touch both soothed and stoked the fires. She felt her eyes flutter shut as she desperately held onto his tie to ground her until his clever lips found a spot on her neck that made her cry out so he stopped to suck on it. Her hand in his hair gripped the strands like a lifeline to keep him in place and never leave.

“Hatter,” she panted, and he pulled on her leg to grind against her again, causing the whimper he’d asked for to slip out once more. The friction felt so incredibly good. She just needed more. More lips. More tongue. More of him.

There was a very wet pop as he pulled free from her neck and he groaned, “Been thinking of this for weeks.” He kissed his way back up her neck and his hand squeezed her bare thigh. “All the sounds I want to coax out of you.” He kissed his way up her jaw towards her mouth but stopped right over her lips. “The places I want to touch and taste.” Alice tried to pull him back towards her, to seal her lips over his and help him on his goal, but he resisted. She fought her need for more touch and opened her eyes to see the burning look he was giving her.

“I want to pry you open and see what shiny pearls you hold, little Oyster.”

“Fuck,” Alice breathed as his words shot right through her. That was entirely too hot. Illegally hot. Calling her an Oyster shouldn’t sound that attractive, and her mushy brain tried to think of something to say. Some witty comeback to push his buttons with in return, but he was entirely too coherent and got there first.

Hatter’s look turned into a very smug grin, “That too, if ya like.” Gripping her thigh and rocking up into her pelvis again.

Alice gasped this time, her brain finally pulling one thought out of the haze of arousal Hatter had quickly surrounded her in. “We should- we should move.” It couldn’t be more than five or so steps to the bed. Surely they could make it.

His eyes darted around, clearly forming one of his plans, until he landed on one and smirked. The hand on her head moved to her lower back, while the one on her leg slid up under her dress to fully cup her ass, and he lifted her. Using both hands to press her fully against him and spin around. Alice yelped and gained a death grip on his tie, while she also pulled on the hair at the back of his head. She was only suspended for a few seconds before he raised her higher and set her on the opposite counter.

“Hatter, the bed,” Alice panted as she gestured behind her to the left. She was taller than him now, seated on the counter as she was, and something about that burning look from this angle lit a brand new fire deeper inside of her.

“Soon,” he promised as he spread her legs further apart and stepped up to the edge of the counter between them. His hands blazed a trail up her sides, one stopping at the back of her dress, and the other continuing to her neck. “Kitchen’s the best place for a drink,” he smirked as he gently pulled her down to meet him. “And I am parched.”

Confused, but happy to get back to kissing, Alice leaned down to meet his lips once more. Flicking her tongue against his lower lip to get him to open up so she could finally taste him properly. It was that damn mint flavor she was always chasing in their kisses, and she moaned into his mouth as she sought to do just that. The angle was different to what she was used to so she ran both of her hands through Hatter’s hair, knocking his hat off and making him groan as her nails raked against his scalp, on the quest to grip the back of his head.

She was so lost in the feel of his lips and tongue that she didn’t notice Hatter’s hands had been busy until she felt the top of her dress loosen and fall forward. The sneak had unzipped it, causing the straps to slip towards her shoulders and the neckline to dip down.

The cool air on her heated skin made her gasp, and Hatter freed her mouth to pursue a path down her neck, pausing a moment to lick the spot he’d lavished attention to earlier. She whimpered as his mouth back at that spot sent little zings of need straight through her, but he wouldn’t be deterred from whatever his plan was as he continued to leave a trail of kisses down her chest. Pushing her to lean back so he could continue down easier, while keeping her right at the edge of the counter. A little tugging when her straps fell to her elbows got her attention enough to help slide her arms out and then lean back on her elbows, revealing the powder blue bra she chose to match her dress tonight. As Alice looked up at Hatter, she realized she was now only dressed in the most technical sense. Clothing was on, but almost everything was bare for him to see and touch. It left her feeling incredibly exposed and vulnerable, but Hatter was looking at her like she was some mythical and precious artifact.

“Goddesses above, but you’re gorgeous,” he whispered like a prayer and Alice felt a blush spread straight up from her core. Sometimes men found her to be too mannish or muscled due to her Judo career, but Hatter made her feel like some divine being right now with the way he took her in. He held her firmly in place with his right hand on her lower back while his left creeped up her torso, stopping just shy of touching the base of her bra before looking back up at her.

“Please touch me,” Alice begged and was rewarded with a wide smile when his hand fully cupped her breast.

“Gladly.”

She sighed and arched her chest into his touch. Warm and full and firm when he gave her breast a light squeeze before coming up to roll her nipple through the fabric with those skilled hands of his. Alice closed her eyes again as her head tilted back to focus on the sensation and deep aching need building in her. Meaning she barely had the warning of his heated breath on her other breast before he nudged the demi cup to the side and took her other nipple immediately into his mouth. Alice let out a sound that was some combination of gasp and squeak at the sudden sensation before whimpering as he continued to tease and taunt her. She was burning and aching from his attention and now in desperate need of friction so she tried to roll her hips up into him. To tell him where she needed him as words failed her. Hatter held her in place however, leaving her whimpering when he would pinch or pull with one hand and then gasping when he would suck or lick with his mouth.

Her hands ached to hold him there. Press him into her chest so she could release the coil of tension that had shifted to solely inside her. To touch him and drive him just as crazy as he was making her, but she was too busy keeping herself balanced on this stupid counter he’d placed her on.

“Hatter,” she mewled and lifted her head back up to look at him to try and tell him again they should move to the bed before realizing her mistake in doing so. The brown of his eyes had blown completely black at this point, but he did not stop his actions at the sound of his name. The sight of him looking at her while he worked her body into a frenzy brought a new level of need and heat to her. Alice involuntarily bucked her hips again in an attempt to seek some friction and relief from the growing ache inside of her.

It was futile as his right hand continued to keep her hips locked in place, but he did release her breast with another wet pop and a final flick of his tongue on her nipple before asking, “Yes Alice?” It sent an electric jolt straight through her and she tried to hold onto her thought.

“Bed,” she panted, “Bed, now. I need- I want- need to- touch.”

Hatter hummed approvingly and placed a kiss right above her navel, “We'll get there.” The hands on her hips and chest released her, and Alice felt her hips shift and lay flat on the counter without their support. Her ass was practically hanging off the edge of the counter now and she felt like she might slip off.

“But first,” he continued, watching her as he kneeled on the floor and his hands slipped around to her front to slowly trailed up her legs as he pushed her dress up and out of the way, “I’ll have that drink.”

It was with a sudden dawning clarity in her lust filled mind that Alice realized what Hatter had been planning to do this whole time. Air left her lungs in a staggered breath and her legs twitched towards each other in an attempt to close as nervousness creeped up inside her. 

“Alice?” Hatter asked. His hands were braced on either leg, keeping them open, but he didn’t force them wide again. He kissed her left thigh and his thumbs made little soothing circles that both stoked that fire and added to her nerves. “You alright?”

“You don’t,” she swallowed, closed her eyes, let out a steadying breath, and then looked back down at Hatter. He was waiting patiently but the sight of him so close to her pelvis shot another pulse of need straight though her. Alice let out a breath to gather herself, “You don’t have to do that.”

A smile grew on his face as he slowly began trailing one hand down her leg and closer to her center. “I assure you that I very,” he kissed her thigh, “very,” another kiss even closer and she gasped, “much want to.” He punctuated one more kiss at the point where her leg met her pelvis while his hand lightly trailed along the very edge of her panties. Every touch made her feel more desperate to have him in her or touch her, just anything to get some release. “But I won’t if you don’t want me to.”

Alice swallowed and closed her eyes as she tried to work up the words. “I’ve just never- and I know that guys don’t-”

Hatter gripped her thighs suddenly and she yelped. He mumbled a sorry into her leg as he kissed the spot, massaging it afterwards and sending more delightful warmth up her legs. “Well this one does,” Hatter stated, and moved her dress further out of the way to give attention to space right near her pelvic bone. “Been plannin’ and touchin’ myself for weeks to the idea of getting to drink up your passion.” The idea that he’d been aroused to thoughts of using his mouth on her like that fueled the needy ache inside her and Alice whimpered as she pictured it.

He swirled his tongue in the dimple of her hipbone and then latched his mouth on that spot and sucked. Hard. Alice wasn’t sure quite what sound came out of her, some straggled sort of cry as his mouth made her blaze white hot. She slipped off her elbows and her head fell over the far edge of the counter. Hatter held her hips firm as she propped herself back up on shaky arms.

“Hatter,” she panted and then whimpered as he kissed that spot on her hip.

“Alice,” he copied and laid a kiss directly on the top edge of her panties, right above her mound. She felt her inner muscles clench at the sensation of touch finally being so close to where she’d been craving it. “May I?” he asked and his hand slipped under the edge of her panties, lightly running up and down the fabric to caress her skin there. It was so close. So close to where she needed him.

Letting out another shaky breath, Alice nodded her consent as she closed her eyes and tilted her neck back. Only to yelp in surprise seconds later and look back down at Hatter as he nipped at her hip.

His face was filled with delighted mischief as he said, “You’re a grown woman, Alice. Use your words.”

A rush of heat ran up her face at having her earlier statement tossed back at her. Emboldened by her embarrassment and rising to meet his challenge, Alice stared intently at Hatter and told him, “Yes, you may go down on me, Hatter.”

He grinned like Christmas came early and tossed a quick kiss above her panties again, “Brilliant. Then lift for me, love.”

It was tricky to find purchase for her feet to do as he asked, so he stood and closed her legs to brace them on his chest. She lifted her hips up as he hooked confident fingers around the elastic band and slowly dragged her panties down and then off her legs. Flinging them to some unknown corner of her kitchen as she lowered her hips back down. He then stood and removed his suit jacket before carefully folding it and placing it on the floor. Hatter opened her legs once more and kneeled right at the apex of them. His head was right at the perfect height to lean in and give her a taste and Alice made a needy sound as she pictured him doing just that. He gave her a very smug smirk, like he knew exactly what that sound meant, as he placed her left foot on his shoulder. She idly noted her heels were still on as she set it there, making her leg bend out and away to open her up, and he pushed her right leg to the side before holding it in place.

He kept eye contact with her as he slowly trailed kisses down her left leg and leaned in closer. Each one sent a punctuated jolt straight to her core and she keened with need. Alice didn’t know if she would even like what he was about to do, but she so desperately needed him just there, right now, that she was fairly sure she would come even if it wasn’t great. The cool air on her exposed pussy made her feel like she was soaked with need down there at this point.

Hatter kissed the trimmed hair of her mound right above the opening. Alice moaned as his free hand was suddenly right there, spreading her open and Hatter groaned, “Oh Alice.” He leaned in and slowly licked a flat tongue straight up her slit, making her suck in a breath and tilt her head back. “You’re dripping for me, love.”

“Hatter,” she whined and shifted to a cry as he went to work on her. His tongue was in constant motion, mapping, exploring, and circling her clit right at the top at seemingly random passes. Pressing close and lapping up every bit of her arousal like it was everything he ever wanted. The first time he circled her clit with a pointed tip of his tongue made her shriek from the pin point pleasure of it and she tried to clamp her legs on his head in shocked reflex. Hatter held her leg in place however and didn’t skip a beat as he continued to drink from her, just as he’d said he would. The vibrations of his moans when he dipped his tongue straight into her had her seeing stars, and she gave up the precious balance of her left arm to reach down and dig her fingers into his hair. Holding him in place, but also giving her some part of him to anchor onto in the swell of desire she was in.

Alice felt her legs start to shake and give as she got closer to her orgasm, but she desperately needed something more to push her over the edge. “Hatter,” she panted, a keening sound coming out of her as he sucked on her clit, “please, please- I need-” Her hand gripped his hair and tugged as if he could somehow get his mouth even closer. His tongue even deeper inside her.

He groaned and must’ve picked up on what she’d tried to communicate as the hand holding her spread open shifted to slip one finger inside her, and then two when he’d met little resistance.

“Yes,” Alice whimpered and tried to rock her hips into his touch. Just a bit more. She could feel the coil inside her tighten and get ready to break free. Hatter kept on with the same movements, sucking and flicking her clit while his fingers steadily fucked her closer and closer to the brink. Her breaths were coming in little gasps and ahs until she made a needy keening sound as she burned white hot and finally broke.

Alice lost the grip on his hair as she fell back, boneless and head hanging over the far side once again, panting in huge gulps of air. She felt her muscles spasm and twitch around Hatter’s fingers as he slowly worked her down from her climax. Stopping when her hips jerked away from touch with her now too sensitive clit. She felt entirely boneless. Like her muscles had turned into a heavy putty and she didn’t want to move. Some other part of her brain registered Hatter’s gentle touches as he stood, accompanied by the wet sound of his mouth sucking on something that was followed by a moan. Her leg fell off his shoulder and uselessly to the side as he then ran firm but soothing hands up her legs and continuing further up to her side.

“I could drink of you for ages Alice and never have me thirst quenched,” He murmured into her skin, pressing a gentle kiss right above her navel.

“God,” Alice laughed and attempted to pull herself up, but her arms weren’t quite working well enough yet. “Fuck, I don’t think I’ve ever come that hard.”

Hatter made a very pleased sound at that statement and helped pull her fully up into a sitting position, wrapping one arm around her waist to steady her while the other held her upper back. His face shifted from pleased amusement to one of awe as the hand on her back moved to trace along her jaw back to her ear. “You looked divine, Alice.”

She blushed and felt her heart catch in her throat. She probably looked like she’d been fucked on her kitchen counter is what she looked like. Alice smiled and shook her head before leaning down to kiss him for the first time in what felt like hours, but must’ve only been minutes. Her hands raised up to stroke the side of his face and wrap around the back of his head and shoulders again to pull herself to him and he gladly accepted her.

It started sweet and slow with long languid kisses that held no urgency, until she caught a taste herself on him. Evidence of what he’d been eagerly doing just moments before caused a bit of fire to stir in her again, and she nipped at his lip to get him to open up so she could chase it down inside his mouth. Hatter groaned and pulled her hips right against himself in one fluid motion. She gasped at the contact of his very firm and notable erection pressing back into her.

“Bed,” she breathed, staring down at him and he nodded.

“Bed.”

He swooped her up then in a bridal style carry that shifted her hands and arms down to around his neck and walked towards her bed with purpose. “I can walk just fine you know,” She said as she used one hand to loosen his tie and then pull it free from his shirt.

“Ya sure about that?” He teased. It had only taken six of his long strides to get them there in the end and he gently tossed her down in the middle of the bed. “Looked like you were having a bit of a struggle on the counter, yeah?” He gave her a lidded knowing smile as he unbuttoned his shirt cuffs and Alice flushed red as she felt a pulse of desire burn in her again from thinking why she’d been struggling. The attractive smug bastard knew it too.

“You’re going to be insufferable about that aren’t you?” Alice huffed as she arched her back to finally shimmy her poor dress over her hips. Kicking her legs to try and toss it off until Hatter grabbed one leg to help. Easily pulling the dress off and then drinking in the sight of her sprawled out on the bed as he slowly unbuckled and slid off each of her heels as well. Leaving light caresses down her calves as he did that sent shivers all the way down to her core. Alice could practically feel all the places he wanted to touch her as he looked down at her, and the ghost of his hands and mouth on some of those spots made her squirm restlessly in anticipation.

He made one long stroke from her thigh up to her ankle before kissing her calf and releasing her leg. “Was planning on being pleasantly sufferable, actually,” he smiled and began to unbutton his waistcoat, “but I can be insufferable if you like, Alice.” The dark look he sent her with those words had her gripping the comforter as she felt herself throb with need in response. That was…Alice licked her lips. That was something she was going to look at much, much later. Watching him toss his waistcoat off and start on his shirt made her realize how passive she’d been and determined right then to even things up a little bit. She’d be damned if she didn’t make him feel half of what he’d already given her tonight.

Alice sat up on the bed, unhooking and tossing her bra off as she did, before running her hands up his legs and grabbing his shirt where it met his pants. “Let me?” she asked, looking up at him with hooded eyes. He nodded and she began to pull his shirt out of his pants while he finished unbuttoning. Alice brushed her hand lightly over the very prominent and still clothed erection right near her face as she did.

“Alice,” Hatter sucked in a strangled breath heavy with need. His reaction was a heady thing and Alice understood why he’d enjoyed hers so much earlier. She pulled the front of his shirt free and it fell open before she grabbed his sleeves and pulled it off. Alice kissed him lightly below his navel as her hands gripped his hips and she pressed her thumbs in little circles over his hip bones.

“This- this will be over- very fast - if you keep that up,” he panted and placed his hands on top of hers to get her to stop. Drunk on the feeling that she was getting him just as worked up as she’d felt earlier, Alice easily slipped out of his grip and stroked her hands up from his knees and inner thighs to his waistband. She stared right at him with a very self satisfied smile as she popped the button and then slowly pulled the zipper down and away from him. He was breathing heavily, but didn’t look away, and it was only when she heard his pants hit the floor that she broke their gaze to see what she’d unwrapped.

Apparently the man went without any underwear as he was completely bare for her to take in and she did. She’d had a few lovers before and Hatter seemed to be a very good size and length. Nothing intimidating or impossible, but a stretch she would definitely be feeling come morning. Her hand reached over to gently palm his length and give it a stroke to get a better feel for him. He let out a strangled high pitch needy sound when she did, and Alice looked back up at Hatter to see the awed desperation on his face from her touch. “Alice,” he whimpered, and she felt so incredibly turned on to know she made him look like that.

Holding his gaze, Alice leaned forward to lick the little bead of precum off the tip of his cock, and he gasped before promptly grabbing hold of her hair and hand to stop her. “Alice- I’m not jokin’,” he panted, “play fair, yeah?”

Tempted though she was to torment him more, Alice definitely didn’t want things to end just quite yet, and she had a great idea to help that along. She slowly stood, making sure to run her hands up his body as she went. Hatter let go of her to instead allowed his hands to rove around her sides and back, as he lightly explored all her newly exposed skin, and Alice shivered at the caress. She looped her arms around his neck, bringing him down to meet her lips, and they kissed deeply and without rush. A simmer to the flashes of heat from just moments earlier. He shuffled with his feet to kick off his shoes and pants but as soon as she could tell Hatter was free and fully focused back on her, Alice lifted her right leg, looped it around his thigh, and pulled them backwards with a twist.

With all her experience in controlled falls, she easily flipped them so he landed flat on his back with her on top. Elbows and knees keeping her right above him and effectively trapping him below her. “Hi,” She smirked at his startled face.

“Hello,” Hatter smiled back and reached up to run his hands along her sides, “Fancy trick that.”

“I’m a woman of many talents,” Alice said very self assuredly as she leaned down to kiss him, opening her mouth to suck on his bottom lip. He groaned into her mouth and slid one hand up into her hair to pull her closer and crush her mouth against his. His other hand pressed down on her lower back in an attempt to bring her fully flushed against him. Tension and barely held control were easy to feel radiating off of him as he tried to pull her closer. It was becoming intoxicating to know she caused this kind of desperation in him and Alice felt herself flush with warmth from the arousal that waved through her. She pushed her knees apart to lower her hips and lay fully on him then and they both pulled back to gasp as her wet pussy finally pressed against his cock.

“Fuck, Alice,” Hatter panted and quickly moved his arms to grab hold of her hips and hold her in place. His hips rocked up into her and they moaned at the friction. So close to where they both wanted but not quite. She laid on him fully then to lavish attention on his neck, and he gasped. His hips rocking up into hers on reflex again and his hands gripping them. “Shit- me jacket- fuck,” he panted and turned his head towards to kitchen where he’d left his jacket.

That was entirely too far away, and figuring what he probably wanted from it anyway, Alice propped herself up gently to kiss him. She made it slow and lingering to help calm him down enough to get his attention. “Don’t worry, we’re covered,” she whispered against his lips before giving him a quick peck and she propped herself above him on her hands. It gave her the leverage needed to roll her hips and drag her slick wet center down his length. Alice moaned. He felt so good and he wasn’t even inside her yet.

Hatter groaned, his eyes heavy and almost closed as he tried to see down her body, and pressed himself up into her roll, “Please, Alice. Don’t- don’t tease.” His hands clutched at her waist for leverage as much as to keep her in place.

“Help me line up then,” Alice panted and he eagerly nodded. She lifted her hips off him and looked down to watch as he grabbed his cock by the base to angle it up while helping to guide her hips towards him with his other hand.

There was a slight fumble of poor angles as they both tried to do this by feel and Alice inhaled sharply and gripped the comforter when his tip brushed over her sensitive clit and sent sparks through her with the first attempt, but they got there. Alice whimpered when they finally lined up and she could feel the head of his cock at her entrance starting to press into her. She then slowly walked her hands back to lower her hips and sit fully on his lap, stopping only when she needed to rock forward and ease back down to stretch and coat him in her wet arousal as she slowly impaled herself on him. Hatter gasped with her once she was fully seated on him, and she paused just there to enjoy the feel of him stretching her so deliciously. God but he felt better than she’d thought he would. She felt so wonderfully full of him. Why hadn’t they done this sooner?

“Alice, you feel,” Hatter swallowed and flexed his grip on her hips. “Goddesses above, you feel so good,” he groaned.

“Yes,” Alice breathed, running her hands up his abs to his chest and she braced herself there for balance before she gave an experimental lift and roll of her hips. The friction she created as she moved above him made her gasp and then whimper as she closed her eyes when she fully impaled herself on him again, Hatter’s needy whine echoing soon after. She immediately wanted to do it again and feel that delicious stretch. Make him sound like that again.

Alice opened her eyes to look down at Hatter. He was panting and staring down at where they were joined. Alice watched him watch her as she moved her hips again. His eyes focused on the action of her moving up and down on his cock as she slowly started to set a rhythm like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. It filled her with that heady arousal to know she was doing that to him. Capturing every bit of his intense focus, and then Alice got a wicked idea. Before the next lift and roll of her hips, she tensed her kegel muscles and tightened further around his cock as she moved on him.

“Alice,” Hatter pleaded in a strangled voice and tossed his head back, eyes squeezed shut and hands gripped tight on her hips as he trust up to meet her.  Alice gasped at the feel of him going deeper and lost her rhythm for a moment as she fell forward slightly before she found it again.

This new angle was better somehow, shallower but with better friction on her clit, and Alice whimpered as she began to set a faster pace to chase another climax. Her hips were rolling more than lifting now, but her entire world was focused down to the feel of Hatter’s trusts meeting her grinding rolls and the sound of his pants below her as the coil in her belly tightened again. She could feel her release getting closer and her sounds turned to needy whimpers while she chased it. Eyes screwed shut and breath coming in rapid pants.

“Come on, lov-,” he pleaded, “I’m so- one more for me- please, Alice.”

She barely noticed one hand on her hip disappeared before a slick digit was suddenly right there brushing across the top of her clit and Alice cried out as the coil inside her suddenly burst and her whole body tensed and jerked as she climaxed. The hand returned to her hip as she felt Hatter grip them and thrust rapidly up into her. Her muscles spasmed around him and drew out her orgasm before he tensed and groaned as he pulsed his own release inside of her.

Alice fell forward down on his chest with her arms sliding up to his head as she tried to catch her breath for the second time that night. Hatter’s heart raced under her head as his hands came up from her hips to roam and caress her backside before coming to stop and holding her close to him. One resting on her lower back and the other around her shoulders. She rose and fell as he too caught his breath, and Alice had just enough energy to slide her arms together behind his neck and return the embrace.

Hatter bent his head down and placed a kiss on the crown of her head. “Thank you,” he sighed and laid back down.

Alice chuckled, “Thank you?” She supposed it wasn’t the worst thing to say after sex, but it certainly hadn’t been what she was expecting.

Hatter hummed happily and gave her a squeeze, “My pleasure.”

That did not help her laughter any and she shook her head as she lifted it up to look at him. He was smiling softly up at her, “Hello.”

“Hi,” she grinned back and he gave her a quick kiss before his look softened back to something that made Alice’s heart ache and her breath catch. He moved the arm around her shoulders up to tuck a bit of hair behind her ear.

“You were right by the way,” he said and Alice tilted her head as she tried to think what he could be talking about. He gestured vaguely out to her apartment, “Good for activities for two. I stand -or rather lay- corrected.”

Alice laughed again and shook her head, “And we didn’t even use the bathroom or the living room.”

Hatter hummed thoughtfully, “‘S good ta have goals for the future.”

[allthingswhumpyandangsty]

reblog if you love archive of our own and how they firmly refuse to let censorship have any place on their platform

[lorlome]

It's Complicated 10

Rating: T Word Count: 1.7k Part of my prompt based slice of life one shot collection for Hatter/Alice fluff. Got it in my head that Hatter would think Halloween was a lot of fun and this was born. 😅 Happy Halloween for the few of you crazy kids mildly into this fandom that are still out there 💜🎃 ----------

Prompt 96: When you ask your husband which outfit looks best, thank him for his answer and wear the one he liked rather than focusing on why he didn’t like the other one

“So you lot wear these ‘costumes’, as ya call ‘em, and pass out sweets to kids?” Hatter clarified as they walked into the store, turning to the side to avoid a pair of said children that ran past them holding bags. “That the idea of it?”

“I mean,” Alice gestured lightly around the party store as she led them to the costumes, “There’s more to it than that. People put on parties, fake haunted houses, hay rides… there’s a lot to it nowadays, but yeah it’s a holiday mostly known for giving out candy to kids and having fun playing pretend.”

Hatter made an interested high pitched hum as he looked at the decorations and party supplies they passed on their way to the back of the store; a small smile and delighted eyes growing with every whimsical and outlandish piece he found. “Yeah. Alright, deal me in for it,” he agreed, “Really I think it’s the best holiday you’ve had since I came to live on this side. What sorta event have ya got lined up for us then?”

Alice sighed and pursed her lips, stopping right at the start of the ‘Adult-Men’ costumes. “It’s more what my mother has volunteered us for. She’s away for a work retreat and needs me to pass out candy,” she explained as she regarded the ‘cowboy riding tiny horse’ costume with a raised eyebrow, “The HOA for the building requires that we dress up for the kids and apparently someone complained last year so my Gi doesn’t count anymore as it’s ‘work attire’.” She curled her fingers in the air as she said the last bit and turned to face Hatter.

He looked even more amused than he had before, grinning openly, and Alice found herself smiling back at the sight. “That does seem a bit like cheatin’ the rules - which normally, I am all for,” Hatter stated, placing a hand on his chest, and Alice smiled as she shook her head, “but… if this holiday is all about havin’ a laugh then let’s have some fun with it, yeah?”

He turned to look over at the costumes and his smile fell as his nose scrunched up at the options before him, “Though perhaps we should start with yours. Not very fun or inspired options for blokes it seems.”

Alice hummed in thought at the truly limited selection of only joke costumes and looked around to see if perhaps there was another section they were missing when something caught Hatter’s eye as he grabbed a package from further down the wall.

“Now what is a ‘French Maid’, and can these costumes be worn more often?” he asked with a delighted smile.

“Hatter, no,” she blushed and put it back, “It needs to be something appropriate to wear around kids.”

His grin grew as he looked around the aisle before he leaned in. “Not sure if you’ve noticed, Alice,” he whispered, “but there’s plenty of kids runnin’ about and they’re not hiding these from ‘em. I do think that answers me question about it bein’ worn when it’s not the holiday though.” He sent her a smug smile as he leaned back and gave her a look over before continuing on down the wall towards more women's costumes.

Alice attempted to will the blush from her face as she followed behind him. He stopped to consider a few ‘sexy’ witches, but Alice snagged a full coverage sorceress outfit to suggest instead. “Here,” she said and smiled at him, “This should be fine. I can wear this one.” He looked down at the figure in the package and then back up at her with a raised eyebrow as he shook his head.

“That’s not nearly enough fun,” Hatter insisted as he turned away and Alice huffed, “what we need is-”

He froze in place and then quickly walked further down the aisle to grab something off an endcap. Hatter beamed at the package in his hands. A bit concerned at what could delight him so much, Alice had just caught up as he turned to show it to her and she rolled her eyes as she sighed.

“Alice, please,” he pleaded, “How is this not perfect?!”

“Hatter,” she said and had to stop as a laugh escaped her, “That’s…that skirt is barely longer than the French Maid one. It’s probably the same length actually as they’re all made by the same company.”

He seemed even more excited by this as his grin widened before he leaned in to murmur, “Does that mean you’d wear this for more than the holiday?”

Alice didn’t try to stop her laughter as she shook her head and looked back at his eager face. “Don’t you think it’s a little…I don’t know…on the nose?” she asked.

“That’s why it’s perfect!” He insisted with his wide grin, “And! You can’t say it’s not alright for kids cause I know it’s one of your ‘kid stories’.”

His excitement was endearing and did more to sell her on the stupid costume than anything else. When Alice looked over at the endcap, she noticed it was all themed to the same subject -likely due to the new movie coming out- and smirked as she pulled the matching men’s costume off the hook. “Does that mean you’ll wear this one to match?” she suggested.

Hatter blinked at it before laughing in delight as he swapped packages with her, “Oh cabbages and kings, Alice, is this supposed to be me?”

“Well no, of course not you you, but maybe…” she trailed off and tilted her head as she squinted her eyes, “Actually…where does your name really come from? I know you’re not him.” Hatter’s look turned to one of content amusement as she continued, “Cause first off, you’re nowhere near that old, and second you said your first name is David. I’ve assumed Hatter is your last name but that can’t mean…”

“I think,” he said as he took the ‘Sexy Alice’ costume to add to the ‘Mad Hatter’ one in his hands, “that these are perfect, and you’ll certainly not be faulted for wearin’ work clothes this year.” Hatter leaned in and gave her a quick kiss that did nothing to hide the continued amusement on his face before he looked back at the end cap. “Seems like we’ll need a few of these to finish them off properly, yeah?”

“I’m not wearing a wig,” Alice insisted and Hatter made a dismissive noise as he grabbed a package of striped stockings and a petticoat.

“Prefer you as ya are, so that’s fine by me.” He considered a pair of shiny ‘mary jane’ shoes and added them as well.

Alice crossed her arms and sent him a look. “Are you going to answer my question?”

“Are you gonna answer mine?” He shot back with a smirk as he grabbed a comically large card that had ‘10/6’ printed on it that he stuck in his hat band before facing her.

“I have to know if that is somehow you before I can answer that,” Alice replied.

Hatter grinned before leaning in close with hooded eyes as he whispered, “I asked first if you’d wear it when it’s not the holiday, Alice.”

Alice blushed and looked away from his intense gaze before taking a fortifying breath and meeting him with a flirtatious look. “As long as you’re not secretly over one hundred years old,” she said, “and ask very nicely then…maybe.”

He smirked and went to lean in for a kiss when a throat cleared to their side and they sprang apart. Alice turned to see a blonde woman huff and grab a costume from the endcap as she muttered ‘finally’ before walking off with it. Hatter watched her go with a mildly offended look before tilting his head and indicating Alice should follow him.

“I’m no hat maker, in case ya hadn’t noticed,” he shot back over his shoulder as he led her to the front of the store, “and you’re right.” He stopped halfway down the empty baby shower aisle and smiled down at her, “I’m nowhere near one hundred and fifty either.” Hatter leaned down and gave her a quick kiss before adding, “Does that satisfy you?”

“I suppose,” Alice smiled as she looked up at him, “Though that doesn’t answer if you’re related.”

Hatter shrugged casually, “Couldn’t say. Better question is, does it matter?”

Alice thought back to the conversation minutes ago and squinted at him. “Couldn’t say? Or won’t say? You asked if it was supposed to be you. Why say that if you’re not related somehow?”

He beamed and pulled her to the side of the aisle so another customer could pass. Hatter seemed endlessly delighted by this conversation and it was the only reason Alice kept pressing as she felt there must be something more than them being costumes of people from his world’s history. He hadn’t found a topic this fun since they’d met.

“I was just checking that it was the costume you wanted me to match you with,” he said dismissively before he leaned in close to murmur, “Are you saying I’m as mad as a hatter, Alice?”

She smirked and glanced up at his hat with the giant card sticking out of it. “I mean…if the hat fits.”

Hatter smiled and shook his head, amusement and delight shining out of every bit of him, before reaching up to tuck a bit of hair behind her ear. “I am gonna ask you so so nicely to wear this at my flat,” he whispered before giving her a quick kiss, “that it may beat out your own blue dress for me favorite outfit.”

Alice blushed as she remembered all the things they did when she wore that particular dress in the privacy of his flat, and was unsure if she should have badgered him quite so much over his costume selection. She had a feeling it was going to be a Halloween to remember at the very least.

[yv-sketches]

Do you ever read a fic so interesting you want behind the scenes lore, ten pinterest moodboards and one of those fancy .gif edits but none of that exists bc it's a fanfic?

[granny-griffin]

fun fact! most fanfic authors would be thrilled to provide behind the scenes lore! all you have to do is ask about it! they may even have a fic playlist or moodboard

[lorlome]

Latest batch of Alice gifs, with a few requested by @alichickens !

[lorlome]

Some Mad March gifs for @kingderp 🎉 Not all his full scenes, but one from each of his main scenes in Part 1.