[Video]

[whatwas]

[It's possible Horst is the happiest person in Adstring right now. He's outside, lounging on the grass, in the sun.]

Comments

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[He sits up and tugs on her hand gently. He knows what she's thinking, or can guess; or maybe he's only assuming, because he and Johannes had a fight over it the previous night.]

Come sit down. I probably only have a week of this, you know. We should think up ways to make them count.

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

[She shifts and sits down next to him. Aurora wiggles to sit in Alice's lap.]

What did you want to do? [She is trying to be optimistic. Raven asked her to never lose hope but maybe as everyone was losing their powers maybe she was losing her own power of optimism.]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[He plays with Aurora]

I want you to show me how to have an adventure.

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

[That makes her stop and then she blinks.]

You want me to show you how to have an adventure? Why not get Raven or Miss Ray? They seem to know how to have them.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Because I think yours are a different sort of adventure. Raven has to fight, Rei has to face dangerous people...that's not how I want to spend my week. Besides, I want you to lead me.

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

[Why would someone want to have her adventures? She's an idealistic seven year old who is told to "wait" and "stay inside" how could anyone want her adventures? But she doesn't let those comments show in her eyes. She just smiles, though it gets harder because this place and the people in it aren't exactly easy for a child to contend with. But she smiles. Because she won't ruin Horst's day, his week. She won't.]

You won't be able to handle my sort of adventures.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't know about that. Maybe we can get Raven and Bubbles to come with us just in case I get in over my head, though.

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

[Her smile widens until it becomes genuine, the difference between her smiles is staggering.]

Are you scared? [She teased.]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

I am now! Are you going to protect me?

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

Queen Alice is here to defend her dear and well loved uncle, Duke Horst.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Then I am at your disposal, my Queen.

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

[Feeling better she leant forward and kissed his cheek.]

Ah! You're cheek is warm!

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

I know! And I'm breathing, all the time!

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

Are you still hungry though?

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. It's no worse than normal, though.

Except that headache is gone...

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

[She gently poked his nose.] And what caused this?

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

When I'm a vampire, I'll eat food to keep me from feeling hungry for...well, you know. But it leaves a bit of a headache; not much of one, mind you, it's like a paper cut--you hardly notice it after a while. But I've had it for years, and now it's gone. It's wonderful, Alice!

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

That's very nice, [She said sincerely.] But what caused this? And you know... you know if you ever needed... that you could always ask me.

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

I think this is an event--it must be. Everyone has lost their supernatural talents.

[He hugs her.] And I do know. I appreciate it, Alice. If I ever need, I'll ask.

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

[She hugs him back, but unfortunately for Horst, this is Alice Liddell, her curiosity and persistence is renowned (quite literally in both senses of the word). She is not satisfied with his answer because no event should make his nose look like that.]

Horst, what happened to your nose?

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[He had really hoped she'd be distracted. But this is Alice; she's so precocious.]

Oh, that. ...Johannes was upset with me. We worked it out, though, don't worry.

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

Ah! He hit you?

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

He was very upset, yes.

[madcuriosity.livejournal.com]

Why did he hit you! [See that icon? That's what she's doing. As adorable as it is, it is never a good thing when Alice puts her hands on her hips.]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[Horst knows he needs to keep her from talking to Johannes about it--at least for a year or three.]

He found out about something I had done wrong. Something that I'm very, very sorry for--but he was still upset by it.