whatsthe-hatter-withme

[whatsthe-hatter-withme]

Winter Run || Pack of Two

Summary: Hatter bring Alice to his favorite spot in the woods.

@curiousxrr

ALICE:

The last couple of months, Alice noticed Hatter had been more relaxed around her. Maybe even more relaxed in general? She wasn’t entirely sure, but she did know a significant wall had come down between them. An unspoken understanding - something that was only communicated more through their actions than their words.

They understood now that they were family. Father and daughter. There was no denying it now. Alice never had, but now it seemed Hatter practically embraced it.

That’s not to say everything was so wonderful and amazing. There were still some things that weren’t perfect yet. Like the fact that someone was in the forest, willing to chase down wolves. And while Alice should take that as a sign to stop going in there for runs, she knew she couldn’t. Not once the fear subsided and the feeling of freedom bloomed in her chest again. But she didn’t want to do it alone anymore.

So, after work one day, she approached Hatter as they were cleaning tables. Everyone else had already gone home, so it was just them in the shop. “Hey...do you want to go for a run with me later?”

HATTER:

It was true that Hatter had become more comfortable around Alice. Finally accepting her as his daughter had put to rest so many constant anxious thoughts. He no longer felt guilty when he saw parts of himself in her, or berate himself when he wanted to give her a break. His over-protectiveness of her would never go away, although it came from a different place now. More to keep her safe, than himself now.

That didn't mean he just let her run wild now, though. There was still someone out there who had attacked her, and assumedly would attack any wolf. Although Alice seemed less enthusiastic to return to the forest, he knew the time would come when she'd want to be running free again, and he'd have to be ready to make an exception to his rules.

As prepared as he was, when Alice posed the question, the first thing Hatter felt was... excitement. She was inviting him along, not just telling him. It made making the exceptions to his rules much easier. "I... I'd love to," he said, unable to keep a smile from spreading across his face. "You know, I could show you a favorite spot of mine."

ALICE:

Of course, Alice knew there was someone out there. But if they ran together, they'd be safer. Safety in numbers, you know? Besides...she hated denying her true self. The Wolf and all her glory.

So when he smiled at the suggestion - said he'd love to - she almost changed right there and ran around the shop. But she didn't. She stayed rooted in her spot and smiled back. "That'd be amazing! Yes, please! When will you be ready to go? I've got one more table to wipe down myself."

HATTER:

The way his Wolf leapt with excitement made Hatter feel like a young man again. The sparkle in Alice's eyes reminded him so much of her mother, and gave him a pang of nostalgia for the runs he used to go on with her.  It only solidified his resolve to be more lenient with her. And himself.

"Whenever you are," he answered, quickly finishing up the table he was on and moving to the last one. "Because I'm already done." And done he was. After running the shoppe for two decades, something as simple as cleaning tables was already a perfected science. He could get it done in mere seconds.

ALICE:

Alice jumped at that. "Okay, wait! Let me finish this last table!" She said, rushing over to said table. It was just a quick wipe of some crumbs and then it was sparkling and new. Well, it seemed to sparkle in Alice's eyes at that moment.

"Okay, lets go, lets go!" She said. Almost like a small child with how she was vibrating with excitement as she untied her apron and moved to the back to hang it up.

HATTER:

Hatter laughed as he took off his apron and followed Alice to the back, although at a much slower pace. "Settle down, Enchantra isn't going anywhere," he assured.

Yes, he was excited, but he was still cautious. And afraid. He still needed a bit of time to prepare himself, mentally, to be back in the forest knowing someone dangerous was out there. So he grabbed his coat and made sure the shoppe was closed up properly before heading out with Alice, all the while her impatient whining fell on deaf ears. Once they entered the forest though, he picked up his pace.

ALICE:

If you asked Alice, no, she was not whining. She was rambling. Rambling with excitement and built up frustration from the small break she'd taken from the forest. Her wolf didn't like that very much, but they both knew it was for their safety.

However, with Hatter by their side, it eased them. And as they stepped foot into the forest together for the first time - it felt like a puzzle piece fell into place.

She couldn't help but look over at him, and smile. "Did...did you and Mum do this?" She asked, cautiously though.

HATTER:

Walking into Enchantra was like crossing the threshold of an old friend's house. Despite the random and magical nature that the forest changed with, it felt familiar, as if he would be able to know where even the smallest pebbles laid on the soft earth. He took a deep breath, tilting his head back, to take in the smell of pine and dirt and leaves. It had been so long. Too long.

He paused before answering Alice's question. Not that it was a hard one. He didn't want her to hear the emotion in his voice. "We did," he answered softly, looking to her with a sad smile. "We spent hours together... Running... Exploring... I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to do this with you."

ALICE:

Alice nodded. She had figured that to be the answer. Her mother had hinted at said things in her letters. And now - it was her turn to run with him. So she smiled back, nodding once more. "Better late than never - right?"

She laughed a bit then looked around before they separated for each of them to put their clothes aside and turn in private. This part was always weird and vulnerable. But once in her wolf skin, she stepped out from behind the trees and looked for Hatter.

Looking for her father and ran towards him.

HATTER:

Hatter appreciated Alice's more positive outlook on the situation. It couldn't have been easy only hearing stories of her mother than being able to make ones of her own with her. But she had him to make memories with now.

He was quick to get undressed and changed, although it felt a lot more awkward than usual. He trotted out and saw Alice was already running toward him. Instinctively, he dipped down in a half-playful, half-defensive stance before huffing a bit and standing again. His tail wagged a bit as he thought of where they were going and he gave one more huff before setting off deeper into the forest.

Running with Alice was like trying to keep pace with a bolt of lightning. She was agile and so much faster than he was. It had been a while since he he'd stretched his legs like this, but the stiffness in his joints wasn't just from being cooped up. Trying to race and play with her at the same time as navigating proved too difficult, so he let her sprint around the general area around him as he trotted along, following the smells and landmarks to their destination.

ALICE:

Alice's tail wagged enthusiastically as Hatter seemed to become more comfortable in his wolf skin. And when he took off into the forest, she followed eagerly. Since coming to Swynlake, she'd been able to stretch her legs out more. Get used to running on four legs.

She could really pick up some speed this way.

But she was much faster than Hatter, she noticed, who was still trying to get used to doing this again she could tell. So she slowed down, only running ahead to sniff excitedly at things. It wasn't like with her and the other wolf she'd met in the woods. But it was okay.

In fact, it was perfect, because she was with her father as he took a big step back forward.

HATTER:

Hatter couldn't help but wag his tail with his daughter. He hadn't been this happy to be out and about in the forest again in years. Happy to have a companion, happy to be back in his old hunting ground, happy to be *out*.

It wasn't long before they arrived. A beautiful grassy field with a little stream running through it and off into a tiny waterfall just over a low cliff's edge. Now the field was covered in snow and the stream frozen solid, but the small waterfall it made was frozen in time down the cliffside, which was indeed a beautiful sight. He huffed excitedly and pounced and rolled around in the snow a bit.

As sad as it was at first to remember the times with Carol, the excitement to make new memories with Alice was overwhelming. He had his daughter and his favorite place. Despite the struggles both of them had been through, despite the mysterious danger in the woods, everything felt like it had fallen perfectly into place.

#c; Alice Liddel #curiousxrr #r; pack of two #p; who's out there? #p; winter run

[whatsthe-hatter-withme]

Go Figure || Hatter + Laszlo

laszlowrobinson​:

Laszlo, having been trying very hard to concentrate on what he was doing, didn’t notice someone approaching him. His eyes were looking downward directly at his feet trying to will his brain to make them just move. But his brain, ever the hypocrite, didn’t want to. It knew its bodies boundaries and it knew they were bound to fall should they move. 

So, when Hatter’s voice penetrated through this inner back and forth dialogue he startled. Quite significantly. 

His hands shot out trying to find the closest thing to keep him stable and that turned out to be the (very kind but so unfortunate) arm of the man who had appeared beside him. His feet slipped and slid as his weight tried to return to that place of balance. 

When it did he huffed a sigh and could finally take note of what it was he was latched onto. Or rather who had both arms twisted around. Whoops.

“Hello! Oh dear, I am so sorry. Let me—” He made an attempt to move away but as soon as he started he went back to that baby giraffe act he had been putting on just before and had to stop. His brow furrowed at himself before he peered up at Hatter. “Well, I’m sure you’re very glad you came over here now. I’m so sorry. You can let me fall if you’d like, I won’t blame you.” 

Hatter was much stronger than his thin frame let on. It was the werewolf in him of course, but he always covered his surprising strength with his very hands-on work at the shoppe. Nothing builds up arm strength like kneading loaves and loaves of dough and heaving huge bags of coffee beans around every week.

Laszlo’s struggle to stay upright definitely yanked him a bit, but he was able to keep himself stable. Hatter chuckled and used his other arm to put another steadying hand on the young man’s shoulder. It was kinda funny to see him flounder again, legs bowed out at the knees for the best purchase on the ice, but he wasn’t going to start laughing at his misfortune. Not yet, at least.

“No, I won’t let you go, don’t worry,” he assured. “First time out on the ice? It’s a bit tricky for sure.” Hatter smiled, trying to move very slowly toward the shore again. “What’s your name? I’m Mr. Hatter, I own the cafe on Main Street.”

#c; Laszlow Robinson #laszlowrobinson #p; Go Figure

[whatsthe-hatter-withme]

Coffeeshop Soundtrack {Aurora & Hatter}

aurora-rosewood​:

Lolly was tucked under the table but with the man approaching she lifted her head giving him a sniff and her tail flopped happily side to side. “Oh no, Outside of the game where we’re meant to murder one another i like to consider the fact I am a pacifist.” When possible. It was ingrained in her memories, violence and killing. Boasting about it. The thoughts returned to her in nightmares creatures attacking her family and killing them. But then her family turning into the true monsters and killing her.

So who really was the monster?

“Though I make no promise once we’re in the game again. I will offer vengeance there.”

Hatter smiled at Lolly and gave her a small wave. He nodded at Aurora’s pacifist comment. As good as he was killing in the game, that definitely didn’t translate into real life (as much as people wanted to believe that being a werewolf somehow instantly made someone a cold-blooded killer). H

“Good to know. I’ll keep that in mind next time we play. Keep my distance.” He chuckled lightly. “But now I’m your trusty sever. Is there anything you need? A fresh tea or coffee?” he asked, giving her his signature server smile.

#c; Aurora Briar #aurora-rosewood #p; Coffeeshop Soundtrack

[whatsthe-hatter-withme]

Happy Holidays!!

@whatsthe-hatter-withme

#aaaaaaaah thank you I love this!!!! #this is such a good aesthetic

[whatsthe-hatter-withme]

Primal Instinct

Summary: Alice runs into Shock in the forest on Christmas Eve…

@alittleshocking​ @whatsthe-hatter-withme @littlcdvl 

tw: violence, blood, graphic thoughts of violence (?)

Keep reading

#p; primal instinct #c; alice liddel #c; shock adamson #c; lock adamson #alittleshocking #littlcdvl #curiousxrr #//the pain and suffering

[whatsthe-hatter-withme]

Who’s Out There? || Pack of Two

curiousxrr​:

Alice was quick to reach out and take his hand. Stealing its warmth for a moment, letting a small smile play on her lips. But quickly fell once the talk of the other wolves came up. 

Of Lou and the others. She did not have all their names. Nor did she know how many there were. There was the girl she heard of her. Merida. Someone fierce and controversial, but still resided amongst the people of Swynlake. She wondered if perhaps they’d already met, but with different faces?

“I suppose its just…can we at least warn them?” She reasoned. It felt wrong not to. What if someone else got hurt? Seriously hurt? She couldn’t live with the guilt of that…

Hatter sighed lightly. Alice was just like her mother sometimes. Always looking to help someone else, even if it had the potential to hurt her in the end. But she was right. If the attack was because she was a werewolf, it would be incredibly callous of them not to warn the rest.

“Sure, sure,” he conceded. “We can warn them.” Although he had no intention of doing so himself, he knew she would. “But for now, you need to rest.”

He squeezed his daughter’s hand lightly. All he cared about was that she get her strength back and let her body heal. It would be faster than a mundus, sure, but he still worried. What had started tonight wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

#c; Alice Liddel #curiousxrr #r; pack of two #p; who's out there?

[whatsthe-hatter-withme]

Who’s Out There? || Pack of Two

curiousxrr​:

Alice nodded in agreement. “Yeah…that’s what I was thinking too,” She said. Men and women did have very different smells - normally. But even sometimes, that could not always be the answer. Sometimes, they would try to trick you.

At least, that’s what she’d been thinking about. One of the things, at least. There was a lot to think about, honestly. What her wolf saw, smelt, felt - and now trying to process it through her human girl mind and senses. Trying to figure out if this was just by chance - or a hunter.

The thought made her shudder, and she hugged herself for warmth as the fear slid over her like a weighted blanket. Holding her in that feeling, in that moment. It was terrifying to think that someone was out there looking for her.

Quickly, she shook her head, and looked back up at Hatter. “No…that’s all I can remember. It all happened so fast and…” She trailed off. There wasn’t much more. Except…

“What about the others in the forest?”

Hatter noticed her shiver and had the urge to get up and hold her but resisted. That, he thought, would’ve been just a tad too much. Instead, he reached his hand out onto the table, a simple gesture to show that he was there for comfort or warmth if she needed it.  

“The other.... werewolves?” he voiced, his brows furrowing as he thought. There was Lou and Merida and one other he couldn’t quite remember. Or were there two others? Either way, he wasn’t very up to date on the werewolf population in Swynlake.

“What about them? We don’t know if whoever attacked you is a hunter out for... recreation or for-for us. I don’t want to start jumping to conclusions or making a fuss. We could attract some... unwanted attention. I’d worry more about healing up and getting your strength back.” Just in case he comes back to finish the job.

He tried to give Alice a comforting smile. She was sweet for thinking of people besides herself that could potentially be in danger, but he didn’t want to risk outing himself to more people, especially if Alice’s assailant was true threat.

#c; Alice Liddel #curiousxrr #r; pack of two #p; who's out there?

[whatsthe-hatter-withme]

A Favor to Ask || Hatter & Lou

lou-bonfightme​:

So, Hatter knew.

That should not come at such a surprise as it did to Toulouse. He had clearly underestimated Alice’s intention to keep her wolf a secret, if she was telling her boss about her. Of course, there could be something that he was missing, but he didn’t feel generous enough to give Alice the benefit of the doubt at the moment. She had lost that privilege when she hadn’t told him immediately about the hunter in the woods.

His eyes narrowed slightly at Hatter’s request. Sure, it wasn’t exactly a burdensome one. He was already looking after Alice, mostly because anything that happened to her was sure to happen to him, Merida, or his family sooner or later, so it was prudent and strategic. (This ignored the attachment that he did feel towards the girl.) 

However, he didn’t feel like keeping Hatter in the loop. This was based on nothing, really, besides, the fact that he didn’t want to. In his opinion, Hatter didn’t need to be kept in the loop. Alice was being looked after, but this was wolf business. Not Mundus business. 

“Of course I’m keeping an eye out. If there is a hunter they could be coming after me, as well,” Lou scoffed. “Alice will be well looked after, you needn’t worry.” 

Lou was crafty with his words, Hatter would give him that, but he knew his request had been ignored (by omission, but still). It was a smart decision on the surface, but it was one made without all of the necessary information. If he only knew that they were both of the same breed. This hunter was just as much a danger to him as it was the young man.

His fidgeting changed to tugging as his collar as he reached up to scratch his neck. He was sure that the other could hear his heartbeat now.

It didn’t matter if Lou was a werewolf too, his anxiety was a relentless storm of nerves and irrational thoughts and wouldn’t let him be at peace with the idea of revealing himself.

“Thank you. I appreciate it greatly,” he said with a nod. Had the conversation been over, he would have turned and walked out. But his feet stayed in place. He’d hoped he wouldn’t have to do this, but it was going to be the only way for Lou to trust him and keep him in the know. 

“I-I know you’re not very willing to keep me, uh, updated- and-and I understand why- but a hunter poses a danger to me as well,” Hatter stammered. “I’ve kept my identity a secret to protect myself but now... things have changed. So I’ll ask again: Please let me know if anything comes up.”

Hatter knew that his little speech wasn’t going to seal the deal. Lives were possibly at stake here. He took a breath before unpinning the decorative broach from his lapel and lifting the enchantment, just for a moment.

#c; Toulouse Bonfamille #lou-bonfightme #p; A Favor to Ask

[whatsthe-hatter-withme]

Despite the diverse crowd Swynlake attracted, mostly everyone could agree that Hatter worked tirelessly at the cafe. It was his baby, after all. And it was true that for twenty years and counting he was both an early bird and a night owl, at the counter in the morning to serve his first customer and behind his desk in the evening to balance the books. Although that didn’t mean he didn’t treat himself to days off.

One of Hatter’s favorite winter pastimes was to skate on the lake. Weaving through customers with hot tea and muffins had taught him great balance, and the severe chill on the frozen water was a refreshing change from the at times sweltering shoppe (at least it was for him with his hot werewolf blood).

While lazily skating around, he noticed Laszlo’s unsteady situation and made his way over to help. He vaguely remembered him from the cafe, although he couldn’t quite remember his name. “You okay there?” he asked as he glided up to his side, arm out for the man to grab on to for support.

Go Figure || Hatter + Laszlo

One of the nice things about Swynlake, in his most humble opinion, was that the lake never seemed to be obsolete. Even in the winter! It made itself nice and useful by freezing over. 

Laszlo, as it had been reiterated over the course of his life, had never been a coordinated person. He slipped and tripped and bumped into everything. So why he thought he would be able to bypass such a massive physical flaw as this with ice skates was a significant oversight on his part. Making the surface he was balancing on proportionally smaller was really only setting him up for failure. 

But that was okay. If he failed then he would know that ice skating, like roller skating, wasn’t for him! 

So far he had managed to get the skates on and get on the ice. His weight had let him slide forward a few yards but it was when he came to a stop that the problem started. He had no idea how to move forward and the more he stayed stagnant the more his balance began to wobble. 

@whatsthe-hatter-withme

#c; Laszlow Robinson #laszlowrobinson #p; Go Figure #so sorry for the late response to this!

[whatsthe-hatter-withme]

As much as it wasn’t the best for business, Hatter enjoyed the slower days at the shoppe. It gave him time to organize and clean everything that had gotten thrown about during the rush, and to chat with his patrons, of course. He loved to get to know everyone, to hear about their classes and degrees and jobs, to debate on their favorite spot in town, and to learn exactly how they liked their favorite drink to be made, of course.

Aurora offered quite a different conversation as he walked over to her table. Hatter nodded and chuckled lightly, surprised that she even remembered him from that silly little game (he had only played it a handful of times since Alice had shown it to him). “The pleasure’s all mine. And you’re- Aurora! You’re not here to exact revenge on me are you?” he joked, although holding a shocked face for a moment before smiling again.

Coffeeshop Soundtrack {Aurora & Hatter}

Aurora had never been much of a coffee drinker, she actually found it made it more tired than perhaps if she hadn’t had the drink. But that didn’t mean she didn’t enjoy the coffee shop atmosphere. There was just something about everyone walking around that drew Aurora in so she could do some work while enjoying a tea and a muffin or whatever treat caught her attention. Even if it was a quieter day today.

“Oh Hello, Hatter was it?” Aurora grinned spotting the owner her eyebrows furrowing for a moment. What magic lurked under his skin? “Aurora, this is quite strange to say but we’ve played that online game together a few time I believe. It’s wonderful to run into you in real life.”

@whatsthe-hatter-withme’

#c; Aurora Briar #aurora-rosewood #p; Coffeeshop Soundtrack

[whatsthe-hatter-withme]

Who’s Out There? || Pack of Two

curiousxrr​:

Alice had learned Hatter could be very emotional. And maybe that wasn’t quite fair, considering she’d caused him to be that way with her arrival. She’d no doubt put a lot of stress on him. He was probably not this way before. 

Really, it was a miracle she wasn’t crying. Or maybe she’d already cried all her tears, and she just needed to move forward.

But Hatter wanted her to go back. Which was fair, but she didn’t want to. It made her sit up a little straighter in her seat, staring back into her tea as the steam rose elegantly and silently above it before disappearing. Something she wanted to do instead of going back.

Slowly though, she cleared her throat and nodded. “Yes, well…I was out in the woods, of course. As…as a wolf. I was taking a run, like I had told you I was. And then…out of no where this man on a horse came running out at me. At least, I’m sure it was a man. They had their face covered and had the typical man smell…”

Hatter listened. He watched. He imagined the scene Alice had found herself in. Enjoying the scents and sounds of Enchantra until the pounding hooves of a horse broke the peace. A dark figure with a glint in his eyes and a knife in his hand. Flashes of action, of struggle, and - inevitably - of pain.

It made his stomach churn, to think of the pure fear Alice must have felt in that moment. He wished he could have been there, to warn her, to help her, to do something. But if he had been there, there’s no telling what would have happened. He could’ve gotten hurt too. Then what?

“I think it’s safe to assume it was a man. Your nose knows better than your eyes, sometimes, especially as a wolf,” he said, managing a weak smile before it quickly faded. “Is... is there anything else?”

As he waited for an answer, a creeping feeling crawled up his back, making the hair on his neck prick up. Smell wasn’t the only thing that got better as a werewolf, but also intuition. Instinct. Something about the story just wasn’t sitting right with him.

What if that man wasn’t just after a wolf with a pretty white coat. What if he was after her because he knew. He knew that she was a werewolf.

#c; Alice Liddel #curiousxrr #r; pack of two #p; who's out there?

[whatsthe-hatter-withme]

A Favor to Ask || Hatter & Lou

lou-bonfightme​:

||

So, he did want something. Lou had suspected as much. Though, he had reasoned this was going to be help looking for a book–or maybe asking where Belle was. He knew that the tea shoppe owner and she were close. 

But no. Hatter did not say Belle. He said Alice. He said Alice and attack. 

At once, Lou’s wolf was alert and Lou had turned his body from the shelf to face Mr. Hatter, his arms crossed over his chest. He felt himself bristle defensively. Lou had no idea what it was Hatter wanted, but he was determined to make it appear as if he already knew and this was not at all a surprise to him.

Of course, he’d probably already given himself away with the abrupt turn, but he had smoothed his expression out again.

Why was it every seemed to think he was someone to ask favours of lately? 

“Go on,” Lou invited, but warned: “however, know that I may not accept.”

Hatter’s wolf could sense the tension, the hackles being raised at the mention of the attack. Hatter instinctively stood up straighter, his chest coming forward as he postured power (even if he didn’t feel like he had any at the moment).

“I-I’m sure you’re already keeping an eye on her, - and-and I appreciate that - but if you could also... keep an eye out for anyone, anything that could be connected to it. To the attack. And if you find anything, please tell me. Immediately.”

His heart was racing. Why? Was he afraid Lou would refuse? That he would question his motivations? Should he explain himself? Should he out himself?

The fear of letting yet another person know his identity crept up his back, like a demon clawing it’s way up into his brain, but he resisted the temptation to let it control him. He couldn’t give in. Not yet.

His hand fidgeted with the seam of his coat pocket, waiting for a reply.

#c; Toulouse Bonfamille #lou-bonfightme #p; A Favor to Ask

[whatsthe-hatter-withme]

Off the Books || Bean Bros

hngrylikethewoolf​:

The weeks had been relatively slow as Errol went about his business in town, acting for all intents and purposes like he was content to consult on anything magic related that went on. And, for the most part, he was. He wanted to know what made the town tick. Why it attracted so much bloody magic in the first place.

That had been the main goal of his coming here, really, and what had been his first year or two here. Gathering data, quantifying what he had learned, creating a hypothesis and moving forward from that.

A certain anomaly was befriending the townspeople, actually befriending one of them, and having him seem very, very concerned when he came into the Shoppe for his coffee run this morning. The Irishman waved his hand and nodded, indicating he had heard what the other man had said before making his way further toward the back of the establishment, where he knew Edward’s office awaited.

He was visibly concerned when the other man finally came into the office, leaning against a side table. “What’s happened, Ed?”

Hatter was quick to slide out from behind the counter, throwing the dish towel he had in his hand over his shoulder. Once in his office, he closed the door and leaned against the wall behind his desk, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. He had rehearsed what he was going to say, but that didn’t make it easy.

“I, uh... well... Alice was attacked by someone. In Enchantra. Got stabbed in the back. She-she’s okay, just shaken up over it. I was able to patch her up, but...” He trailed off for a moment, the fear and anxiety of the situation catching up to him as he spoke. His mouth went dry as his hands got clammy. “But whoever did it is still out there, Errol... He attacked her while she was a wolf. I know he could've been defending himself but... Alice wasn’t being aggressive... Not from what she told me.

“I have a nasty feeling about it all. And-and I wanted to ask you if you could... keep an eye or an ear out for... for... I don’t know, for anything...” He wanted the Sheriff to help, but he didn’t know how. There was so little to go on. But he had to at least try.

#c; errol woolf #hngrylikethewoolf #r; bean bros #p; off the books

[whatsthe-hatter-withme]

Who’s Out There? || Pack of Two

curiousxrr​:

Alice was surprised at how quick her body moved to sit across from Hatter. From her dad. Her wolf felt like it might howl if they both weren’t just waking from a much needed nap. But the fact that something significant seemed to shift while she slept or right before comforted her.

She nodded her thanks, taking the warm cup in her hands carefully. It felt good against her surprisingly frigid fingers. A sign that the country’s cold season was really rolling in. She’d need more blankets on the couch if that was true…

She took a sip, waiting for him (and herself) to adjust for a moment. Then set it down once he spoke. “…as good as I can be,” She said, her own voice soft as she looked down to her cup and traced the little design on the saucer with her finger. “I do feel better. Here, at least…my shoulder still hurts when I move a certain way but…”

She’d shrug but that was one of the ways it’d hurt her. She eventually looked up from her cup and to him, worrying her lip for a moment before speaking. “Thanks for bandaging me up…I’m sorry I scared you.”

Hatter slowly cupped his hands around his tea and pulled it closer to himself, letting the steam rise over his face and warm his cheeks. He listened to Alice, sipping his tea quietly. Tears threatened to fall again as she thanked him. His voice was stuck in his throat as he battled to keep his emotions down. After another sip, he cleared his throat.

“Don’t be sorry,” he assured. “I’m just glad you’re okay. I’m glad I could help...” He looked to her face and tried to smile, although it came across much sadder than he had intended. His gaze dropped again, his stomach starting to twist as he thought of his next question. He didn’t want to ask it so soon, but he wanted to know. He needed to know. To protect them.

“Can you- can you tell me what happened?”

#c; Alice Liddel #curiousxrr #r; pack of two #p; who's out there?

[whatsthe-hatter-withme]

A Favor to Ask || Hatter & Lou

lou-bonfightme​:

Yes, Lou technically did not work at Chapter Three. He did not get paid, but he worked anyway. If he was not minding Opal, he was minding the shoppe for the Acherons. Sometimes, he did both, especially now with all of Belle’s various doctors appointments. He did not mind minding the shoppe. In fact, he rather enjoyed it. Otherwise, he simply wouldn’t do it. There was something soothing about putting books on shelves, keeping things tidy, checking people out at the register and updating inventory.

These things he could do without turning his brain on and sometimes, that was something Lou greatly appreciated. Having a brain that went too fast, too often, made it impossible to feel like he could take a break. It never felt like time was moving at the appropriate pace. Either he was hurtling through life at top speed or everything stood at a standstill, suspended in time. The bookshoppe oriented him, though. It made him pay attention to details, the way painting did.

It soothed him and that was something he would never asked to be paid for. 

The one thing Lou did not like? 

Customers.

They interrupted his flow, like Mr. Hatter did now. Lou’s shoulders stiffened just slightly. He hadn’t been paying attention and therefore hadn’t heard him coming. Lou wasn’t used to being snuck up on these days.

“Salut, Mr. Hatter,” Lou said, not really looking up from where he was shelving a book until it was safely on the shelf. Part of him expected the man to move on. He didn’t. “Can I help you?”

Hatter noticed the pause that Lou had taken, but his wolf was keen on so much more. His tense posture, the slight curl of his lips as he spoke, his tone of voice. As far as his wolf was concerned, Hatter was putting himself in a possibly dangerous situation, even if they were both werewolves. A dryness suddenly spread through his mouth and tongue. It was hard to swallow. His heart raced. He had half a mind to turn on his heel and leave that very instant.

Don’t chicken out now! This is for Alice! We have to protect her!

Before the silence between them could drag on any longer, Hatter answered, “Actually, yes! Uh-” He quickly tried to gather his thoughts, but all of the different ways he had rehearsed this moment came crashing in on each other in a jumbled mess. “-I, uh- I know you know Alice and, uh, I believe she has already told you about, um... the attack on her in Enchantra.” He paused for only a moment, searching for a look or a gesture that confirmed his statement. It was subtle, quick, but with his senses heightened he was able to catch it.

“I have a favor to ask of you,” he continued quickly, not allowing Lou to respond. His eyes wandered nervously for a few seconds before settling on the young man again, imploring. “Please.”

#c; Toulouse Bonfamille #lou-bonfightme #p; A Favor to Ask

[whatsthe-hatter-withme]

Who’s Out There? || Pack of Two

curiousxrr​:

Alice had slept like the dead. But her dreams were full of her fighting for her life. Running, crying, fighting. She relived the terror many times over, stuck in a perpetual loop until she finally woke up. The fear still clinging to her, but slowly fading away as she realized she was in Hatter’s home.

She was just as exhausted as she had been when she’d passed out, but she did not want to see the terrifying images again flash behind her eyelids. Even in sleep, she couldn’t escape.

She sat up, rubbing her eyes, hearing Hatter moving around in the kitchen. Slowly, she pushed the blankets off her, wincing painfully because of her shoulder, but still got up. Quietly, she made her way into the kitchen, and glanced at his tense form.

“Hey…is there any tea left for me?” She asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she stood at the entrance. Waiting for permission to enter his space.

Hatter jolted, shaking the table and the tea setting on top, his eyes widening as they fell upon Alice. For a fraction of a moment, he thought the ghost of Carol stood before him. But as he registered the tired face of his daughter, his racing heartbeat slowed somewhat. A tired smile eased his features and he nodded, motioning for her to sit.

All the anxiety, all of the fear, was pushed aside for the brief few minutes he took to pour Alice and himself a fresh cuppa. The relief of seeing her up and about was so much that a few stray tears rolled down his cheeks, although he had his back turned so she wouldn’t see them. Hatter gently placed the saucers down and sat opposite her, clasping his hands in his lap. The small moment of peace was fading.

“How... how are you feeling?” His voice was soft, nearly matching her tone. He didn’t want to his voice to be too loud and to hurt her or scare her.

#c; Alice Liddel #curiousxrr #r; pack of two #p; who's out there?

[whatsthe-hatter-withme]

A Favor to Ask || Hatter & Lou

@lou-bonfightme​

It had been well over a month now since Alice had been attacked, but of course Hatter was still on edge. Every time Alice went out on her own, he worried more than he had ever before. His mind raced with increasingly incredulous scenarios of muggings, kidnappings, or worse, and it was starting to get out of hand. He needed some way to put his mind at ease.

One good thing to come out of the traumatic experience had been a strengthening of he and Alice’s relationship. It could still be tentative and tense at times, but finally acknowledging her as his daughter had been the biggest - and hardest - step. Everything after that was easier in comparison. So when she told Hatter that she had confided in Toulouse not only about her identity, but also about the attack - something that would would have infuriated him before - he saw an opportunity.

The soft chime of a bell sounded above as Hatter stepped into Chapter Three. The scent of books, old and new, wafted over him in a gentle wave, and he closed his eyes for a moment to take a deep breath of it. It was nice to smell something other than coffee and tea and confections.

Although Lou didn’t technically work here, Hatter knew this was his best chance of finding him. He didn’t see anyone with a quick glance around, but he could smell a wolf among the walls of bound pages. Subtly letting his nose guide him around, he spotted the young man shelving some new arrivals.

“Ah, Lou! Good afternoon,” he greeted, trying to sound casual.

#c; Toulouse Bonfamille #lou-bonfightme #p; a favor to ask #i hope this works!!