“A good old tea party with you and your brother? Wouldn’t miss is for the world”<br/>After Deidre jumped, Andre smiled softly and waited for a few more seconds to give her time to travel all the way on her own. How adventurous that child had become. Just like her father. The thought of this made Andre’s eyes wet, but he wasn’t sad. It was just rather fascinating and odd seeing his protégée slowly become adults.<br/>Before jumping, he looked around one last time, admiring that world he knew oh so well. Although his memories of it were foggy and there were entire periods he could not bring himself to recall, the sights, the smells and the sounds provoked a funny sensation of being in a land of adventure. Once his feet left the ground and he felt into the dark hole, a small fraction of his heart detached from the rest and felt on the sidewalk. It would stay in this realm forever.<br/>Once his feet hit the ground in Wonderland, he immediately looked for Deidre, who was just a few steps away. But right in the direction she was walking towards, he saw something else. He saw Dumas. He saw Dumas, in his pink fluffy dress, but not only Dumas, Dumas accompanied by two other beings.<span style="font-style: italic">Human</span>beings. There was a short, teen girl and a young man as well, both looked a bit scared and confused. It would be obvious to anyone, for their clothes and their behavior that they were not locals. Andres face turned white as his eyes widened. He could feel the sweat in his palms.<br/>“A.B. is going to be in trouble. So, so much trouble…” he whispered, more to himself then to Deidre.<br/><br/>*******<br/><br/>Once Ace left, Eleanor was left a shivering mess on the ground. Shivering with anger and bitterness. Her long hand clung tightly on the tissue of her black dress that touched her chest, just where her broken heart should be. It ached and felt cold. Seeing Jacy and knowing she was looking for her was already bad enough, but having her talk to her after so, so many years… Eleanor felt like there was a very thin and fragile string holding her to sanity. Of course her apology meant nothing.<span style="font-style: italic">Of course</span>it didn’t, after all she had done, but it did make Eleanor think. She sounded so hurt.<br/>There couldn’t be no part of Ace who didn’t regret all her deeds, there had to be. Even when they were so much younger, Eleanor had always looked up to her. In youth, even grown… Uncomfortably, dangerously fond of her. Sure, it didn’t last and it was entirely platonic, but still. But most important, as she grew older, she cultivated the notion that Jacy actually<span style="font-style: italic">belong</span>to her. She was a thing for her to control and play with. She loved the idea of Ace and her bright red hair, her clear green eyes, kneeling in front of her and prepared to fulfill her every wish. Now, in relation to Eleanor, she was like ash. Worthless.<br/>Lost in thoughts, she was startled by the Hatters call. Letting out a small squirm, she turned around to see his tall hat and deep green eyes. She then proceeded to squeal again, get up, and rush toward him, wrapping her arms around his thin waist. She didn’t usually appreciate that much contact, but it had been so long that, even for a moment, she wanted to feel that he was real, she could actually see him, smell him, touch him. The embrace didn’t last long before she parted, looked around with her eyes wide and glanced up at him. Her eyes were filled with tiredness and paranoia.<br/>“I’m sorry dear, for making you leave the mansion. But I couldn’t anymore. I can’t stay away, and now I’m afraid I have spoiled my chance. Jacy was just here.” She mumbled coldly.