“Gonna have to knock that right out of you, then. Can’t have you giving me free muffins every time I come around.” he poked, knowing that no matter what he did, Belle would never stop trying to mother hen the entire damn world. He had no clue how a girl like her had gotten into Wonderland in the first place, but then again, he had never asked. Which he regrets, now, but he doesn’t need any more regrets than the ones he already has, they’re already too heavy for him.
He wasn’t really up to telling her he was kicked out of his place for going on a bender again and missing his rent for the fifth time that year,he didn’t want that smile that lit up her face to disappear on his account, like it always did on Alice’s and even Baby’s, back when they both worried over him and tried desperately to get him clean. “I’ll be sure to take one next time I see you.” he didn’t add if- she didn’t need to know that there was that possibility that he might disappear again, he didn’t know if he was going to, he didn’t need to hurt her with it. He could already tell from that smile that she was getting used to hi again, that was a smile he had seen a lot.
“Yeah.. you’ve got yourself a pretty little place Belle, I’m happy for you.” he smiled, nodding as he stuffed his hands in his pockets, the smile slowly fading as he felt the half empty packet in his pocket. He didn’t think she knew that he was high, but it made him feel bad anyways. “Oh, you know, here and there. Old Daniel didn’t really let me go easy, it was like he thought I was running away from home all ov-” he cut himself off, the seemingly harmless sentence reminding him of the actual family he did run away from. He had gone back, a month ago, and while his sister didn’t recognize him, she did look at him funny and call out to him the second he took off, the second the memories dawned on her. Clearing his throat, he made sure the smile was still plastered on his face. “Nah, I’ve been good, same as always, you know me, always good.” he said as he sat down, truthfully exhausted from not having rested the whole day, dealing drugs and taking them taking its toll on him.
“It’s gonna be one hell of a fight, Bun,” Belle warned. “You can’t find a girl on the way she was born and raised.” Besides which, she very much doubted she would be who she was today if it hadn’t been for her family and south. She huffed teasingly though. “And if you don’t want ‘em, I’m sure I could find plenty of other folks who would be happy to take free muffins offa my hands.”
If he had asked now, she wouldn’t have minded. Very few people here in New York were privy to the information even though Wonderland was notorious and still peppered the news reels here alongside New York’s own crime. It was still something she kept close to her chest, but she trusted John. It also helped that she knew that he had come from there too. On the same vein, she likely would have cautiously probed for his backstory. She knew it probably wasn’t pretty, and she wouldn’t press if he wasn’t willing, but it still didn’t make her any less curious.
Her brow furrowed slightly at the mention of her old friend. To hear the Danny boy was still involved…well she couldn’t say that she was surprised. It was the family business after all, but she had hoped for more for the intelligent young man. She barely caught the abruptly cut off sentence which only helped to pique her interest more – but of course, ever the courteous person, she let it slide, filing it aside for later instead. Belle hummed, filled with worry, not for the first time, for the young man. “Well, I’m glad to hear that,” she finally said, though it was rather clear she doubted the statement. “But you can tell me more about it over a full stomach and some coffee,” she started as she turned to go back behind the counter. “And I won’t be takin’ ‘no’ for an answer, ya hear?”
