Luka tilted his head slightly and sat up straighter. Not fully understanding what the mad hatter was talking about. "I hope we can be friendly as well. We should both know that our mothers are not ourselves," He sounded like he was trying to convince himself. He took another sip from his cup before placing it on the table. He didn't plan on acting differently around the prince. He actually didn't have much of a plan at all. Not that unusual for him. he liked to come up with things on the spot. Finding planning boring.
Hatter nodded slowly and finished off his tea. “You do make a fair point. I just hope Crimson shares your views.” He noted, pouring some more tea, over filling the cup but still maintaining eye contact “there’s a ball tonight for the Prince’s upcoming of age ceremony. All are welcome. I suggest if you want to get to know his highness more, you attend,” he said with a smile, watching as white hopped over
Luka shifted slightly so none of the tea would spill on him but other than that he didn't seem fazed. He folds his legs and nods. He never liked parties much. There were just too many people but when he was forced to attend ones he treated it like an adventure. Exploring the different people around him. A wonderland ball does sound like it would be fun. "That sounds like a great idea. I guess I'll see him then."
Hatter nodded with a smile and crouched low to hear what White was telling him. “Is that so?” He chuckled lightly and straightened “Well then you two must be off I suppose. He bowed to Luka “it was an honor meeting you young Liddell, I’m sure we’ll meet again very soon in the far future.” He winked before striding back to the head of the table, falling into conversation and laughter with the March hare.
White gently tugged at Luka’s jacket, “Forgive the haste but we must get going Luka.”
Luka watched Hatter walk off as he placed his cup down and stood up. "I guess you are right. where to now White." He looked down at the Rabbit smiling softly. He thought about the mad hatters words. mind drifting to the prince again. He grabbed a cookie from the middle of the table and then walked away. ready to go wherever White led him next.
Whites whiskers twitched slightly as he hopped forwards, leading Luka away from the table. "Now off to the red castle. I was going to introduce to my Soulmate but the last time one of you came around, my he was destroyed. I doubt she's ready to relive that again. Besides, Cimson needs to see all new guests before you can attend the ball." He explained as he quickly hopped on wards, finding a new trail that led out of the woods
Luka tilted his head confused but nodded. He followed White. opening his sketchbook and jotting some things down as they walked. He looked up periodically but did a good job at walking without looking up. "So i haven't heard much about the red castle. what is it like?" He asked still looking at his book.
White tilted his head and slowed a bit. "Well, it's been through a few renovations. The most recent will be the one you see now. After Crimson became a bit older, he had the red castle changed to include both reds and whites in it's architecture, paying an omage to our white Queen's help raising him and their bonded kingdom's. It's actually quite beautiful both physically and in meaning. I think it'll be something to add to your sketchbook." He smiled softly before resuming his quick hopping towards the turrets in the distance
Luka perked up when white mentioned his sketchbook. He got ready to see the castle. Smiling to himself. He caught up to White. "I cant wait to see. It sounds wonderful." He looked around the trail again. Looking up at the trees and the flowers. He tapped his pencil on the paper. A quick pace rhythm.
"you need't wait long." White said, smiling as they created a hill, a path of deep pink cherry blossoms and duo toned roses leading straight to castle looming ahead. The castle itself was white with beautiful red and green accents.. red roses climbed the walls all around the castle, intermingled with white peonies and carry purple flowers. White hopped onwards, laughing lightly as the flowers all burst out into curious chatter, wondering who the mystery man was and why he looked familiar.
"I heard he's a Liddell!"
"I heard he's an Alice!"
"I heard he's different!"
White shook his head and waved to Luka with a paw. "Come now young Luka, his highness is waiting for you inside. You wouldnt want to be late, would you?"
Luka has stopped for moment to look at the flowers and take in the castle. Taking a mental picture for later. He snapped out of it when he heard the rabbit and followed along. Overhearing the flowers but shrugging it off. Not having time to break down what they where saying about him. He was much too excited to meet the prince anyway.
White nudged the doors open and led Lukas through the ivory marble halls, accents if red and gd could be seen around as decoration as well as roses growing from cracks and purposeful holes left in the castle. White hopped down the foyer, taking his time in case Lukas wanted to look around. He eventually stopped by an ornate red door, bejeweled in rubies and delicate metal roses of various shades of silver and red. "Are you ready?" He asked softly, glancing over his shoulder at Luka
Luka had stopped to look at some of the castle as they moved. Hand ghosting over some of the roses but not touching them. He didn't have time to stop and sketch but his pencil still twirled in his hand. When White asked Luka looked over and nodded. "Yep lead the way," He caught up with him. Ready to meet this prince. His shirt was a bit wrinkled and untucked. the top two buttons undone. His hair was a out of place but he didn't seem to notice or care. Mind focused on his surroundings the entire way there. He tucked the pencil he was still twirling behind his ear.
White pushed open the ornate doors, revealing a red and white marbled room, either sides of the room open to the outdoors while The center lead to the dias. Below were flowering beds of roses, peonies and hydrangeas all arranged to resemble an active Chess board. Stop the dias were two thrones, both made of seemingly fragile glass. One clear with ornate white frosted roses and Jasmine flower decor while the other was a deep sultry red, covered in romantic roses ranging in shades of deep red to nearly black. On the white throne sat Crimson, on the other, the White Queen, meant to show a partnership and alliance between the two kingdom's. Crimson had stayed in his formal Wear, the red sash around his waist trailing a few steps down the dias. He slowly stood as White hoped forwards and bowed. Crimson send softly and gently patted the rabbit on his head "I see you've brought us a guest dear White." He glanced up at Luka, his blue eyes trailing along his form before focusing on his face.
A Liddell I see." He said, stalking back to throne and settling down, tilting his head curiously at Luka. "Yet not at all the same." He smirked slightly and rested his head on his hand.
"Yes! Yes! This is he Rose. He is the one!" The White Queen stood and floated down the stairs towards Luka, stopping shirt only a few feet away as if trying to had back her excitement. She gazed at Luka with the proudness and adoration if a mother. "You will do wonderous thing here." She whispered, lightly brushing hmthe back of her hand along Luka's cheek
Luka saw White bow and quickly did so himself. He bowed shallowly and a bit too quickly. Standing back straight when he felt Crimson watch him. He fidgeted with his hands in front of himself. "Hi yes I am Luka Liddell," He said looking Crimson in the eyes. He knew his mother had visited wonderland but he was still surprised that the prince would know his last name.
When the White Queen's fingers brushed his cheek his pale cheeks stained pink. Folding his hands to stop himself from fidgeting as much. His eyes widened slightly but he smiled at the seemingly nice woman. "Why thank you?" He whispered back. His whisper was never very quiet. his aunt always said that his normal voice was more like a shout anyway.
The White Queen smiled again before hurrying back to her throne and settling down.
Crimson took a deep breath and sat back casually in his throne,efs crossing over each other "I'm sure you've heard the tale of your mother coming to wonderland." He started off, glancing up at Luka. "She had her reasons. But what seen to be yours?" He cocked his head slightly, narrowing his eyes.
"I'd be careful with your response." A disembodied voice said from the top of Crimson's throne. "His highness isn't too find of…liars." the Cheshire cat emerged, first his grin then the rest of him, tail curling around Crimson's neck. "You do know what they do to liars in wonderland if you are caught…" He purred, his head detaching from his body and rolling down the dias to Luka's feet before it dissapeared and reappeared on the rest of the cats body.
"A-actually your magesty," white piped up "I brought him."
Luka's eyes widened slightly when the Cat's head rolled over to him. "I am guessing it 'Off with their head'" He said without fully thinking. adding a slight accent when saying the phrase. he stopped himself right before he could chuckle. Realizing now that this situation was much too real to be funny. Not like when his mother was telling him the stories. He always thought the Queens fixation of heads was strange. Almost like someone from the history books his tutor made him read. He always recalled his mother's stories when learning about guillotines. along with the exaggerated accent, his mother would put on for the queen. He would laugh randomly probably causing his tutor to think he was mad. He didn't laugh now instead he just nodded looking up at Crimson. "Yes, White showed me here. I had fallen in the hole and ended up here accidentally. I do think what I have seen so far has been beautiful and I would love to explore more."
Crimson arched an eyebrow when Luka repeated his mother's classic montra, a quirk of a smile ghosting his features. He almost expected the boy to laugh out of absurdity. After all, it was a rediculous thing to say. While wonderland had always thrived on the absurd, most residents were highly aware of it all. Which made wonderland all the more beautifully inordinate. It was a comfort for Crimson to both know he was surrounded by insanity as well as awareness. He glanced at his aunt, the smile returning again but this time a bit sharper. Her brows rose in intrigued and nodded, allowing him permission to do as he wished. Crimson stood and strode down the dias towards Luka, his red wagon flowing behind him. He slowly circled Luka, his finger tapping on his lips in thought. "Your mother said something very similar when she came here. She was a friend of my aunt." He gestured to the White Queen, who sat proudly in the red chair. "Of my mother, not so much. What do happen to little Alice when she returned to London I wonder." His blue eyes sparkled in mischeif before he shook away the madness seeping in. Crimson glanced down at the notebook in Luka's hand and grinned "I see what have an artist in our presence. He chuckled lightly and nodded. "If it is your wish to explore then I see no reason to question you further. If you'd allow it, I'd like to be the one to personally guided you around this dear land." He stopped in front of crimson and bowed at the hip, offering his hand to the young man
Luka squirmed slightly as Crimson circled him. His smile dropping slightly when he asks about his mother. He just shrugged. '"My mum is fine. She told me all about this place," He said sile back. He looked around the room again almost forgetting about the prince. "I would love it if you could show me around. Wonderland truly is beautiful." When his eyes landed back on Crimson he noticed his hand and took it. His cheeks heating slightly. "I already have a few sketch ideas but if I could find an area to sit down and truly study." He looked dazed for a moment thinking of the amazing scenery Wonderland holds.
Crimson chuckled lightly at Lika's expression and gently squeezed his hand "then let us not waste anymore time talking here." He glanced over his shoulder at his Aunt, nodding once before escorting Luka out of the castle, followed by the White Rabbit. Luka decidetd o take another route out of the castle, both allowing to find a servant to set up the guest bedroom for Luka's stay and to Allow the young Liddel to discover new parts of the castle. "Now, I have to ask you not to show these drawings to anyone else. Pardon the discrepancy but I'd rather keep this place a little secret. Wouldn't want your Armada or whatever other person curious enough to purge my dear Eonderland of it's beauty to come through. Nor would I want anyone else to suffer the unfortunate fate your mother gas." He said softly. He didn't care much for the above world, only having brought his kingdom hardship but he could sympathize with Alice on some level, even if she had been the cause of Wonderland's fall some time ago. He knew the pull of madness everyday. He didn't want any outsider being drawn in for their own safety.
