#ravenskeeper

[malka-lisitsa]

a crab for my alice cult eyes <3

"You mean crab because you love and adore me?"

I WAS LITERALLY TYPING THIS OUT WHEN THIS POPPED UP SKFNSKFN

[formshaper-a]

" Have I not suffered enough? Have I not learned my lesson? Why... Why did you do it? Why did you take my one comfort away? " ( If Alice had the opportunity to confront Dream about that nightmare bc 🥺 )

"I have taken nothing from you, Alice." The Dreamlord regards her with seeming detachment, unmoving and unmoved. There is the distinct sense that he understands her pain--that he knows, intimately, exactly what she feels about that nightmare, and why... and that nothing about this fact will change what he has done, or what he will do. "Exactly what lesson do you believe you have learned?"

[butscrewmefirst]

❝ do i know you? ❞

@ravenskeeper gets a starter!

[necrcmance]

@ravenskeeper & @langdhon ​   //:   text posts

[necrcmance]

@ravenskeeper​

                 “ it’s a portal, ”  Malcolm informs her distractedly, halfway through the process of lowering the fuzzy hat ( lined and trimmed with (faux)fur, excellent for warmth – and yes, entirely necessary, as he informed her, voice mock-authoritative — leaving room for no argument,  yet eyes warm ) over Alice’s ears. a tug, and it’s done. he inspects her with a critical eye, reaching out to adjust the scarf around her neck, just a touch, before adjusting his own ( lavender-pale, complimentary to the grey of his wool coat ). they are sorely overdressed ( in the manner of too many layers and much too warm, rather than flamboyant ) for the temperature of L.A. ( which cannot, in fact, be called winter-like at all. ever ; one of the many reasons Malcolm had listed for his relocation here, back in the day, when he had to justify himself. why suffer through weather when you can enjoy year-long sunshine and warmth? )

the possibility of heatstroke is off the table. for one, he had ensured to keep the temperature around them pleasantly cool throughout the process, making dressing up a delight rather than a chore. for another, it takes him only a moment to open the portal and offer her his hand for support ( just in case, although by now, her motor control is mostly recovered ) , ere they traverse the barrier. (   “ a faster way to travel. this one is illegal and surveillance-free. just don’t tell on me~ ”  he jests, with a wink, fully aware of the fact that Alice cannot begin to grasp the consequences of doing so. ) two single footsteps, and they are way across the pond within the span of a heartbeat.

 Malcolm beams.

( and suddenly, his insistence on the warm clothing becomes self-explanatory, as a flurry of snowflakes beams back, welcoming them joyfully as it falls across the night sky to land atop a fuzzy hat... and Malcolm’s already white head. oh dear. snow. well. that’s not good. he’ll have to fix it.  )

they have a bit to go before reaching their destination. 

Malcolm is tempted to insist that he can just drive them there, but whilst the prospect is interesting, he doesn’t think he could bear seeing Alice clutch on for dear life and screaming next to him were he to misjudge anything ( he’s a so-so driver, after all, and that is in Californian weather ; they’d probably end up in a snowbank, which he’d find hilarious... but really isn’t part of the present he means to offer her. ) so, alas – they’re picked up and driven there, which is, all in all, a much more comfortable way to travel. ( Malcolm makes Alice guess as to which country they’re in ; three guesses! the answer turns out to be Finland, and the drive turns out to be not too long. but it’s neither a city nor some resort. they arrive in the middle of nowhere. he amuses himself with the idea that Alice might, just might, be questioning his sanity by now. the thought makes him grin at her, amethyst-eyes dancing with mischief. )

the snow, by now, has abated, clouds being hastily swept away. ( racing across the skies ). at ground level, all around them, the wind becomes cutting, like a knife piercing through to the bone. well. that’s what middle layers are for. but the cold still slaps their cheeks, flushing them with colour. ( Malcolm turns to Alice ; offers to alter that for her, if she so wishes. he, in contrast, rather enjoys it. ) the atmosphere about them is forbidding, the sort that claws its nails down the back, screaming stay out! danger! and all other sorts of nonsense, meant to keep intruders at bay through a clever tidbit of psychological pressure.

he doesn’t seem to notice, merely proffering his arm to her again. it’s only a handful of steps, before the illusion subsides, reality fluttering like a veil they just pierced through, to find the emptiness replaced by a large, glass dome, its interior dark until they step inside. ( when they enter it, it turns out to be a high-ceiling, large studio, fully equipped to be lived in, and adapted perfectly to the surrounding weather. fur rugs and wool blankets, pillows and numerous little light sources scattered about, as not to be invasive. a cozy little getaway, everything included. )

after discarding his coat, and helping Alice with hers, Malcolm snaps his fingers, the fireplace coming alive with crackling, warm flames. ( it’s rather nice, actually. not having to go through the trouble of walking on eggshells and tiptoeing about his nature with her, anymore. and so much more convenient. )

            “ hm. . ..  how about some tea? maybe a nibble or two…? are you hungry? ”

[necrcmance]

@ravenskeeper​​ , continued from here  ( because I have no impulse control. )

        “ you are most welcome, ”  Malcolm’s voice returns, politeness incarnate, the words casual and light, dancing above her shoulder, his proximity not yet close enough for touch. at least, no more than his taking the hand she proffers to him, holding it gently between both of his, as if it were a startle-prone bird. ( watching Alice, as her intent focus slides over her work, he resists the urge to comment. or give her fingers a playful squeeze. or give into the impulse —so difficult to wrestle down!— of bright, delighted laughter. ) 

moments tick by. Alice pursues her inspection of the book, whilst Malcolm continues to hold onto her hand, reverently. then, finally yet all at once, reality seems to dawn upon her, and she turns to him ( Malcolm greets her with his politest of smiles, bringing the knuckles of her trapped hand to his lips, the ghost of a kiss brushing against her knuckles. )

               “ just now. hello, Alice. ”

[necrcmance]

@ravenskeeper​  con’td from  here.

Malcolm’s lips part, full of intent, sharp tongue ready to point out how it wasn’t, in fact, a close-ended ( yes or no ) question. the words burn to be released ( both from the vexation of being brushed aside and from an innate need to correct inaccuracies — the latter much akin to nails raking against chalkboard to his ears ). it is with come considerable difficulty that he refrains from giving them free reign.

instead, Malcolm lazily props his cheek against her shoulder, and glances down, following a word here and there from the book Alice holds within her grasp.   “ I see plenty of reasons ; for one, you wouldn’t be here without it. and that would, indeed, be such a shame— ”

[necrcmance]

cont’d from here. // @ravenskeeper​

this ( outrageous! ) piece of information is greeted with an audible ( dramatic, almost offended!! ) gasp from the other end of the line, followed by a long thirty-second delay born out of stunned SILENCE. ( Malcolm, feeling the ground give way beneath his feet, grapples blindly for purchase on a solid ...something. anything! a wall. a tree. a possible passerby. oh, look, a car! excellent - that will do! until it didn’t, because damn, there went the car alarm!! you know what? he’ll walk out of this one swiftly. it makes for an interesting background melody to his clearing his throat, and continuing the conversation. .. ..  somewhat dejectedly. )

           “ . . . . .. well that’s a bother. I was going to bring you coffee as I dropped by, so we can enjoy a state of happy caffeinated bliss together. this is a travesty!! ”