Through the Looking Glass ( Alyce )

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A boat, beneath a sunny sky
Lingering onward dreamily
In an evening of July --

Children three that nestle near,
Eager eye and willing ear
Pleased a simple tale to hear --

Long has paled that sunny sky:
Echoes fade and memories die:
Autumn frosts have slain July.

Still she haunts me, phantomwise
Alice moving under skies
Never seen by waking eyes.

The winter wind was gently blowing, the sun was hidden behind a roll of clouds and Jervis was bundled up warmly. Gotham seemed to slow down when winter came around, Jervis found it to be a lot easier to go out beyond his apartment. He was still finding the adjustment to a more 'normal' life to be somewhat unpleasent. No he didn't really expect it to be easy, with all of Gotham screaming for his blood for his murders, No.. Jervis wasn't foolish. He wasn't going to let his past bother his somewhat open future, oh by heavens he was going to try and make it brighter.

He had decided to take a stroll to Robinson Park, a place he had been to once, though he tried not to think of it, He seemed to smile faintly as he saw others enjoying the not so frigid weather, their cheeks kissed pink and warm smiles on their faces. Jervis didn't have such a smile, no he was miserable. He had freedom, well more freedom then he did back in Arkham, but he was under such ...restrictions that he felt he was suffocating. He was allowed his own apartment, Pets and visitors, but aside from his therapists and Arkham interns wishing to pick at his brain, Jervis had no one. Well, he had Gerald, but a pink flamingo wasn't really the sort of company he sought.

His mind was wondering and he didn't notice he was walking right into someone. His head was bowed down into his scarf and his soft blue eyes shadowed by his mess of wheat blonde hair. He only realized he was on a collision course when he heard the other person speak out.

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Alyce had decided to go for a mid-afternoon run in order to not only get some exercise in, but also just to get some fresh air and to clear her mind. Having just been released from Arkham Asylum a few months ago, she had a lot to think about. While she was leading a fairly normal life at the moment, the nagging in the back of her mind to continue the hunt for her mother and friends' killers was still there. Luckily, her good friend and co-owner of her shop in the south side of Gotham, Jacob, had always backed her up on things, including getting revenge. Unlike Alyce, however, Jacob worked behind the scenes, which is how he managed to stay out of trouble. He was more or less her information broker, going around the city asking questions and then relaying the information to Alyce. Since her release, though, nothing new has sprung up.

So, here she was, a little bored because the doctor's at Arkham had recommended that she only work part-time for a while until she became fully re-acclimated to society. Arkham. Gods, she hated that place...

Deciding to take a run through Robinson Park, she headed in that direction. When she got there, she began jogging down one of the footpaths. She figured she'd start with a regular jog through the park first, and then she could do some of her free-running exercises afterward. It was cold out, like it normally was up north in the winter, but Alyce had grown accustomed to the lower temperatures over the past eight years of living in the city. As a matter of fact, right now she was wearing a light blue and gray hoodie, a pair of matching jogging pants, a pair of white thermals underneath, a pair of black parkour shoes, and a pair of white leather gloves. She was also wearing a pair of white ear-muffs, as well as a white scarf, which she had wrapped neatly around her neck, nose, and mouth. Her dark, brunette-auburn hair was pulled back into a simple ponytail, which bounced gently as she jogged along. As she did so, she almost didn't see a man with his head bowed down into his scarf.

"Oh, pardon me, sir! Almost ran right into you!" she said with a nervous laugh, stopping to talk to the guy. "...Do I know you?"

Alyce couldn't quite put her finger on it, but as she looked at him, there was an air of familiarity. Like she might have seen him somewhere before...

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Jervis felt his heart leap into his throat as he came nearly face to face with the young woman. He lifted his head from the depths of his scarf, his breath visible in the cold air," I.. Er...". He then raised a brow at her question. Did.. Did someone actually recognize him? Surely, she must have been mistaken.  He shook his head, retreating like a turtle into his scarf as his shyness over took him," No, I..I.. I don't think so..."

Apart of him wanted to be noticed, to perhaps have someone to know him and to not be just another face in Gotham. Infamous wasn't a word he wanted listed to his name, though during his madness is was clear that he was indeed....infamous for his crimes. His stomach turned slightly as his anxiety started to creep in,  God he hated being so socially awkward. 

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"Oh, well then I apologize. You just look kind of familiar to me, that's all. Then again, I see a lot of different people from day to day. Thought maybe you were someone who came into my shop once," she said with a slightly embarrassed laugh, turning a little pink.

This was true. Working at one of the more unique shops in Gotham, she'd seen quite a few people go in and out. Plus, she'd been in Arkham for a few years, so who knows who else might have been released from there that she could've seen. While she was at the asylum, she'd been kept separated from the infamous "Rogues", though. Not to mention that she was also generally kept under heavy sedation so that she wouldn't be able to use her telekinesis to try and escape. Like she did the one time, earning her a week in solitary confinement and a small extension to her sentence.

Alyce cocked her head to the side a bit. She looked from his wheat-colored hair to his pale blue eyes to his his general facial features. Then, it hit her. This guy looked like one of her favorite book characters, the Mad Hatter! Wait. Maybe...no, that would be too much of a coincidence to run into Jervis Tetch. Wouldn't it? If this man is Mr. Tetch, then Alyce wasn't sure how to react. Admittedly, she was a bit fascinated by the rogues of Gotham, simply because, in her opinion, most of them were just misunderstood. Like she, herself, is often misunderstood.

"Um..." she went on uncertainly. "I guess I'll just continue my jog, then. Sorry again for nearly running into you, and for the slight confusion. I feel a bit embarrassed now, actually, heh."

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"No, It's my fault..I guess I was just daydreaming.."He smiled at her, she was lovely. Jervis then cleared his throat and then tried his attempt at being more social,"..W..Would you like to.. have a coffee?"

His stomach turned even more, he tried to ignore it by repeating ' the voice of a Lobster' in his head. Yes, Thank god for Lewis Carroll's poems... his only salvation. He waited for her answer, Partly hoping she'd say yes, partly praying she'd say no.

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(This is basically what I'm wearing right now, but with a white thermal shirt underneath.)

Alyce couldn't help but smile kindly at him. He seemed so awkward that it was kind of cute.

"Oh, that's all right. Everyone's allowed to daydream. I do it myself from time to time," she replied off-handedly and truthfully. "Um, coffee? Well, I don't drink coffee, but...I do like tea and hot chocolate..."

She said this last sentence a little cautiously. While Alyce knew that she could easily handle herself, that's not really what was making her throw a bit of caution to the wind. She was simply nervous. Alyce had never gone on a real date with a guy before, and well...she also didn't know this man. He was a complete stranger to her, and if it's one thing that her mother had taught her when she was alive, it was to be a little cautious around strangers. Then again, Alyce wouldn't get to know anyone if she turned down an invitation to possibly get to know someone better. Right now, she only had her big brother-type figure, Jacob, and her friend, Brandi, to keep her company. They were great, but she could use some new friends who weren't also co-workers. So, why not give this man a shot? It wouldn't hurt, would it? He seemed nice enough.

"Sure," Alyce answered him after a moment of thought. "I think I could use something to warm up with. Where would you like to go? Please, lead the way. Oh, and my name's Alyce, by the way. Alyce McArthur."

She smiled again and held out her hand for a polite handshake. "What's yours?"

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"Alice? Al- ICE Or is it more like..Al -Lyss ?" he perked a brow, her name peeked his interest and he smiled. Jervis then felt a little more clam and collected around her, oh how she reminded him of the charming girl from the book, even looked like her..nearly to a tea. He then cleared his throat to brush away the thoughts of his mind and offer his hand to her," Jervis... I prefer tea myself..."

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"Uh..." Alyce started in complete shock and disbelief. She shook her head a little to try and help compose herself. "Well...it's pronounced 'AL-ICE', but replace the 'I' with a 'Y'."

Her heart was pumping a little fast right now. He'd just confirmed her suspicions of who she thought he might be. Creator help her. She'd just given him her name, which seemed to have made him suddenly more confident. Not one to go back on her word once she's promised someone something, Alyce allowed Jervis to take her smallish hand in his own. When she did, she let out a breath that she didn't realize she'd been holding.

"Y-you're Jervis Tetch, aren't you? The Mad Hatter?" she asked him in a near whisper, stuttering just a little simply because she was feeling somewhere between star-struck and cautious at the moment. "Wow...This is kind of wild...'Hatter' and 'Alice' almost literally running into each other in the park, heh."

She laughed a bit nervously here, and couldn't help but begin to stare at him with some awe. Oh, she knew what this man has done to young women, and even a few young girls, bearing the name "Alice", or who had blonde hair in the past. It disgusted her to think that someone depicting one of her favorite book characters has done such a thing, and yet...he, more than all of the other Gotham Rogues, still fascinated her because he depicted a favorite book character of hers...

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He felt a tingle run through him as she took his offered hand. Jervis smiled, but it quickly vanished as he noted her...change in mood. He felt his anxiety resurfacing, he'd been avoiding his infamy as best as he could, hence hwy he hid behind his scarf often when he went out.

He bite his bottom lip slightly and sighed heavily as he stopped walking for a moment, he wanted to clear a few things, yes perhaps it was best, maybe he was being to hopeful after all," Yes, I am the wretch who has done such unspeakable horrors.. I do implore you to look beyond it, Alyce.. i am not the madman..."

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"Oh, I'm not judging you, Mr. Tetch," Alyce replied, stopping when he stopped. "I admit that I'm not real keen on what you've supposedly done, but, well...let's just say that my past has had a demon as well. I can't condone someone that I've only read and heard about for their actions when my own past actions haven't been much better."

She wasn't sure if she should have said all of this, but then again, Alyce is a pretty straight-forward, honest person. Why hide her past and what she's done? Okay, so most people would probably either look at her in disdain for what she did, or in fear, but whatever. She did what she did. It's a part of her past that she can't change, so why feel guilty about it? Besides, Alyce didn't feel like what she did was bad in the first place. The man she killed had been a part of her mother and friends' murders, so she felt that what she did was simply justice.

"So, where shall we go to get some tea?" she asked after a moment, giving him an encouraging smile.

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Her words gave him some comfort, making feel less... unsure of her company. yes, he was more unsure about her being around him, then him being around her. Odd isn't it? He gave her a small smile and then had to take a moment to regain his train of thought. Where were they going? oh yes.. He then cleared his throat and re-offered her his hand," Dear, I do hope that this encounter can make something wonderful, Friendship perhaps?"

Was he being to hopeful? he wasn't sure, his stomach turned and reminded him how nervous he really was. Jervis strolled along the park with Alyce, He was unsure whether to feel atop of the world or to be ashamed, though for what reason he wasn't clear.

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Alyce cocked her head to the side a little. Friendship? She smiled lightly.

"Perhaps," she replied, once again taking Mr. Tetch's offered hand and blushing pink. "I could use a new friend."

When she put her hand into his, it felt as though butterflies were fluttering in her stomach. Even though he wasn't openly showing his love for Wonderland right now, Alyce knew it was there. Just being around Tetch made her feel like she was stepping into her favorite book. Maybe, just maybe, she could be his true "Alice"? The thought of this made her blush even deeper. The man may have murdered young women in the past, but as she told him, she cannot condone him for his actions when her own weren't much better. Besides, she didn't know the whole story behind why he killed those girls. For all she knew, it was their fault they got killed, not Jervis'. She was going to have to tread carefully; otherwise, she might fall down the rabbit hole herself.

'But would that be a bad thing?' she asked herself silently as she and Jervis continued to walk along the footpath.

"So...Jervis..." she started after a few minutes of silence. "I'm curious... How's Wonderland been treating you? Any 'fun' adventures lately?"

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He felt like he was floating, yes, this young woman made him feel just so wonderful. It almost seemed as if.. as if he had finally found his dear Alice. The thought made him smile at her warmly as they walked, hopefully he wasn't making her feel uncomfortable. Jervis then realized he had been asked a question, he shook himself mentally and then cleared his throat," Oh.. Erm... I haven't been to Wonderland in awhile... I do miss it.. but I cannot go back there, Madness you see"

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Alyce caught Jervis smiling at her warmly as they walked, which made her blush pink. She smiled back at him pleasantly. She wasn't really uncomfortable around him, just...nervous, she supposed. Her stomach did a little flip when he answered her.

"No, I don't see..." she replied honestly, slightly confused. "I mean, I understand that Wonderland is full of mad people, but, well...it's Wonderland. It wouldn't be the same if not for its madness. That's just my opinion. I have other opinions on Wonderland, but if it would bother you to hear about them, then I won't mention them. I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable."

By the way he'd answered her, it sounded as though Mr. Tetch was trying to turn over a new leaf. To reform. Had she gone too far, then, in talking about Wonderland? Alyce hoped that she hadn't. He did say that he liked it, but he just couldn't go back there. Given the kinds of things Jervis had done in the past, she could kind of understand that. At the same time, though, it doesn't mean that he should have to give up his fantasy entirely. Especially if it makes him happy.

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He was delighted by what she had said, indeed this girl seemed to understand Wonderland almost as well as he did, it was like he was finally meeting someone who understood him. Jervis realized he was giving her a rather crooked smile of admiration then he looked away and hid within his scarf.

They were drawing nearer to the Cafe he had in mind. The snow was melting, but it still crunched beneath their feet. After a short moment he sheepishly looked back at Alyce.