#;hatter

[followmedownstory]

London drudgery

Reginald looked back down at the hats, he knew he could get them done quickly but he also wanted Miss Liddell to stay as long as possible. It was selfish, he knew but he was so drawn to her. He glanced up at her when she asked where his aunt lives. "Salisbury," he replied, surprised she'd want to see him in the country. "You wouldn't rather staying in London? There's more balls coming, I know I've had many ladies in the shop getting hats for the occasion..." He was too busy watching her nervously play with ribbons he wasn't paying enough attention to his work. He stuck himself in the thumb with the needle and winced. "Ouch," he said and stuck his thumb in his mouth on instinct. Luckily pricks didn't bleed right away so he wouldn't have to worry about cleaning blood off any hats.

[followmedownstory]

London Drudgery

Reginald moved his stool around for Miss Liddell and set it down on her side of the counter before moving around to the other side to start repairing the hats she had brought in. "Tea Parties?" He asked as he threaded a needle. "I'm not sure... I don't remember my dreams very well--" He smiled at her as she rambled a little about how he was the only person that she could have a real conversation. "I-- feel the same way," he said clearing his throat. "I don't have much social interaction outside of the shop... No one seems interested in talking about anything but their hat orders." But Alice was different and he wasn't sure why she should take such an interest in him. He wasn't handsome or rich or anything that would attract a young lady's interest. He sometimes thought it might be that he's more of an oddity to her but the way she spoke just now made him think otherwise.

[followmedownstory]

London Drudgery

Reginald tried not to think how lovely Miss Liddell looked with flushed cheeks as he looked over the hats that needed mending. It shouldn't be too hard to fix in the time she needed them. "Not at all," he said. "You're more than welcome to stay while I mend these." He began pulling out some thread and needles from a drawer behind the counter to begin mending the hats. "Would you like a stool to sit while you wait?" He offered her. Reginald picked up a hat to inspect closer and looked up at her when she asked if she could ask him something. He was curious what she could have to ask him that could be seen as too forward. "Of course, what did you want to ask?"

[followmedownstory]

London Drudgery

The rain had kept too many customers out of the shop since they opened, just specific customers picking up orders, no one wanted to browse in this weather. Reginald kept the shop cozy with a small fire in the stove towards the back of the shop. Kept it from feeling too chilly. He imagined what it would be like to be a gentleman of means, to be able to attend balls escorting women like-- no not like, escorting Alice exclusively. He sketched hats as he thought about twirling her across the dance floor, and not once stepping on her or her dress. The sound of the shop bells brought him out of his daydream and he blushed to see to object of his fantasies was standing in the doorway. "Miss Liddell," he said and cleared his throat as he stood up straight behind the counter. "Not busy at all, how can I help you?"

[followmedownstory]

London Drudgery

Hatter felt the tug of Reginald waking as well. He tried to hold on but Alice's voice started to turn echoey. All he could manage to reply before they were both pulled away from Wonderland was, "I know." He knew that Alice would fix Wonderland, she couldn't leave them. Not when she knew. He didn't want her to learn like that, damned cat. -- Upon waking Reginald rubbed his face with a groan. He felt foggy, like he'd had an important dream but could remember nothing besides a sense of urgency. He sighed and splashed his face with water in the bowl by his bed. He needs to start planning his trip to the country. He'd sent off a letter to his aunt and was waiting for a reply from her. He went down to the shop once he was dressed and began preparing to open for the day. Between customers he sketched hat designs. He had this sudden inspiration of a hat that made it appear as though a cat was sitting upon the lady's head. It was ridiculous and no one would buy it but he couldn't get the image of a cat almost floating around out of his head.

[followmedownstory]

Return to Wonderland

Hatter swooped the cat into his hat and slammed it on the table to trap him there, knowing it wouldn't last well. He took Alice her her shoulders and took her hands off his coat. "Alice," he said. "Don't listen to that cat. He just likes to cause trouble..." He was interrupted as Hare tried to reach between them and spread jam on Alice's nose. Hatter swatted his hand. "She doesn't need jam!" He felt like Alice was slipping from him. He wiped the bit of jam Hare got on her off her nose. "Alice, it's fine... It's fine," he said.

[followmedownstory]

Return to Wonderland

Hatter huffed annoyed as Alice giggled at the scene. It wasn't helpful or funny. Dormouse would be agitated for days, on edge and paranoid. But she wouldn't be here to deal with that, she would just see what she thought of as fun and go on her merry way. He and Hare were focused on calming Dormouse, gently stuffing him into a teapot now that they had enough jam on him. He didn't notice where Alice's attention was at the moment, caught up in Dormouse. He glanced down at Alice when he heard her speak and noticed the look in her eyes. It took him a moment to realize that Alice was talking about Wonderland. He took a breath and shook his head. "He didn't cause that... It's... A very long story Alice," he sighed, knowing she wouldn't be asleep long enough for him to tell it. "I can't tell you it right now."