#kaninchenn

[fearful-fledgling]

“Merry Christmas my little sparrow. I have a gift for you.” She presents a brightly wrapped package to him. -kaninchenn

A gift, for him?

Christmas has already been a novel experience, between decorating and baking and all of the interesting movies he’s been allowed to see, but this just seemed to be too much. “I, I didn’t get you nothin’, I’m sorry.”

[jcinthedance]

@kaninchenn​ ♟||   “Dear Santa…look, I can explain…"

    “ ...This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. ”   The hatter quoted, interrupting the beginning of their testament to the jolly red judge with a giggle before running gloves down his face.  “ No- no, I’m kidding! Do go on... I, for one, have nothing to say to the fellow, after all. I’ve been on the naughty list for years... despite doing absolutely nothing wrong, ever, my entire life. ”  

He then quickly sips his tea.

[jcinthedance]

@kaninchenn || 🐇 || next page!

     “ One teacup..? ”   Jervis had gasped at the audacity of it all, the impropriety! He frowns, gloved hands raising to press to his chest, tone all hurt.   “ Do tell me you’re joking... Not even one whole set? Not even-- this little set with the snowflakes on it? ”   He holds one delicate cup on the tips of his fingers, eyes fluttering innocently.

There was also poinsettias if necessary. “ I- I mean truthfully, I haven’t had a ‘tree’ to decorate in-- years? ”  He began in a giggling stutter.  “ I usually would arrange all the cups into a pyramid and begin decorating that. ”

[fearful-fledgling]

Unexpectedly,she brings him in for a big comfy hug. Protectively wrapping her arms around him. -Kaninchenn

At first, he tensed, flinching: touch has never been kind, and restraint is never welcome: it only portends pain in the future.

However, when the initial panic passed, and nothing had happened, the boy caught his breath and began to settle. This was different: warm, definitely, perhaps a bit awkward out of nowhere, but it wasn’t bad, clearly. Nothing bad was happening, he was getting a hug. 

“...”

Gradually, his muscles relaxed. This was nice, actually, wasn’t it? Warm, and soft, and comfortable. It didn’t feel half as much like a trap, once you got used to it...

Oh, but...

Carefully, he wrapped his arms around Jasper in turn, as far as they would reach, and attempted to settle in.

So this is a real hug.

[jcinthedance]

@kaninchenn || 🐇 || next page!

     A sharp breath in, eyes shutting tight before releasing with a whimpering groan as the foreign shard is ripped out. He couldn’t help but reach to grip above the source of the pain; over the blood soaked lime shirt rolled to his shoulder, though it did little good.

“ Oh... goody, is-- is being unconscious through this an option? ”  

   He was kidding-- mostly. He wasn’t accustomed to this kind of thing! One could probably tell by the constant noise making. Almost singing. Yodeling maybe? You’d be surprised how little blood he lost in his criminal career, with how much he liked to stay out of direct scraps.

“ Bite something? Oh-oh maybe? ”  He suddenly muses at their offer. “ I always did wonder if that really helped any... ”  Eviscerated by glass and still ever curiously scatterbrained.

[jcinthedance]

@kaninchenn ||🐇|| next page !

         A deep whine of a sigh leaves the hatter with a tight shut of his eyes as he slowly gives up on making the monitor respond and his gloves are gently brushed away from the keys. “ Of course, of course I can always fix it... ”  He was The Mad Hatter, after all...

Pale eyes blink open to see her trying to clean the tea from the board. Earnest as the intent was, he had to place himself between her and the machine- for her sake.  “ Ah-ah-! ”  He places his gloves under their chin, almost like cradling their head.  “ Listen- listen- listen... you do NOT touch liquids that just short-circuited a machine..!  Especially when that highly unstable, high-voltage machine is ON... But- I do need your help. ”     He lets them go and twiddles his fingers.

“ I didn’t install an exterior power switch... we’ll... have to rip out the battery..? ”

[jcinthedance]

@kaninchenn || 🐇 || next page.

       There was never a time worse to be within earshot of Mr. Jervis Tetch than when he was recently detained after another Alice attempt.  Even the guards had decided it best to simply let him tire out- as long as he wasn’t TOO fussy- as he could wax poetic through death threats from Scarface and snarls from Killer Croc before he let it go.

“ I was so close-- I was SO close! ”  Tetch moaned in response to their threat of sorts just the same, stopping in his frenzied pace just long enough to look to them and continue.  Lost in his own head; what he could have done, what he’d do next-- he had barely paid much mind to how the other closed their book and came up to him, leading him to the couch.

“ I had her, in my arms, happy as tea for two, and now- and now-”  He had sat down as he was so forcefully told, but began to do that thing he often did where he refused to sit normally, pulling up his legs and eventually twisting so much he had literally positioned himself upside down as he spoke. Though, he crossed his hands on his lap as though this position he found himself in was entirely normal.

   “ Alice is... well, she could be anywhere, you know ! Oh, where IS she... ” 

[jcinthedance]

“Mister Tetch,please for my sake. Could you *please* just,calm down.” -kaninchenn

@kaninchenn !

     “ For your sake– for your sake? What about MY sake? ”  The Mad Hatter had sneered before frowning into a pout.  “ My heart… is shattered as a broken looking glass… Shards– ALL over the floor..! ”  He nearly cried in pity of himself. It was Alice. He was upset about Alice again. Which Alice? He’s had about a dozen over the years- though all the same girl to him, it doesn’t matter– he LOVED every one, and every one they took away… 

“ Oh-hoh-hoh… ” Jervis sobbed, hands in his hair.  “I get tired, you know, I do- ”    He paces back and forth, climbs over things when he gets this way.    “ –of putting it back together! And each time– I LOSE itty bitty pieces… ”