Luka looked up at Cheshire cat. He raised an eyebrow slightly at his words. Remembering his mother's stories. The Cheshire cat speaks in riddles and tricked his mother before. He needed to be careful with him now. "You're the Cheshire cat, right? Are you talking about the red Queen's son?" He asks face full of curiosity. "I do assure you though I am no toy." He sounded annoyed smirking slightly but his expressions were light. He leaned on a neighboring tree. folding his arms. He looked a bit like a pouting child.
“I am indeed, I do speak of his highness, you are wrong.” The cat grinned even widely at the small pouting, his body twisting and fading around him then reappearing. “We’ll see how his majesty will fare with this one, White. They’re both equally as feisty. This will be great fun.” Cheshire disappeared after that, leaving white and Lukas to move along on their own. White sighed and started hopping forwards. “Come now, all this talking And chit chatting is making us more late than normal.”
Luka watched the Cat disappear. nodding when the rabbit spoke. "Of course. I cant wait to see everyone for tea," He said following shortly behind him. Eyes wandering around. He fell behind when seeing something interesting. Getting distracted by some small details but he always fought up to the Rabbit once he realized. He knew how White felt about being late. He kept thinking back to what the cat said about the prince. From what the Rabbit said Luka didn't think he was going to like him much but he was indeed interested to meet him.
“I’m sure they are as excited to meet you as well, young Liddel.” White replied. “Any questions or curiosities for me?” He asked as they made there way through the forest. As they continued through the forest, the trees got much darker, the landscape singed and ashen but still holding the true essence of Wonderland, creatures popping out of their hiding places to greet White and meet Lukas. Small flying rocking horses as well as dragonflies the side of large birds. Small sprites seemingly made of flowers and leaves, butterflies that looked normal save for their shimmery wings. “I suggest not upsetting those.” White said, holding still as a few of the said butterflies landed on him
Luka was about to ask something but then he got distracted by the strange bugs. He was just about to reach for the butterflies when they flew near but quickly topped with the Rabbits. "how is the prince? Is he anything like his mother?" Luka asked catching up to White. He had a slight look of disgust but his curiosity was much more prevalent. He played with his hands slightly. He didn't look at the Rabbit when he spoke. Instead staring at his surroundings.
White chuckled lightly “his majesty is quite different than her late majesty the red queen though there are aspects that are very much akin to her in him. His love for wonderland for one. Despite all that I’m sure you’ve heard from Alice there’s no doubt that the red queen loved her land. Our young prince loves wonderland and their residents.” He shrugged and smiled softly “he does have his playful side though I believe you’d call it a sadistic type of humor.” He shrugged, his bright eyes darkening around the edges. “Though madness gets to all of USB’s in different ways doesn’t it?”
"I guess it would. Everyone thought my mother was mad because of wonderland," He admitted looking around. His mind swirled with possibilities of what the prince will be like. He guessed as long as he cares for his kingdom all should be good. He found himself slowly believing that this was no longer a dream."I can't wait to explore Wonderland. I've been dreaming of this since I was a kid." He held onto his book.
Whites eyes went back to normal at the mention of Alice being called mad and turned up in slight sadness. “Ah well, I guess the world wasn’t quite ready to hear about us just yet.” He said solemnly, continuing to hop forwards as the butterflies fluttered off. They were still accompanied by a few of the other creatures though most now kept their distance as they neared a wooded area.
“I’ll be sure to show you as much as I can of wonderland as we go to the palace though the places that are out of our route I’m sure his majesty will be glad to show you around.”
"You are right they weren't ready," He said nodding. He stared at the butterflies and a few other creatures. He smiled at himself. He perked up when White mentioned showing him around. "My mother talked quite a lot about you you know?" He didn't mention that some of it wasn't the kindest but his mother was always straightforward with her stories. "Are we heading to the red kingdom? I assumed we would be meeting with the mad hatter for tea.
“Is that so? Can’t imagine many decent things were said. I was more of a mischief in my younger years when she came around here last.” He said, stopping in front of a tree, seemingly another split in the road despite the presence of any road. The white rabbit straightened his coat and gave Lukas a toothy smile “we are meeting them for tea, unless you are more eager to meet his highness first?”
Luka thought for a moment looking up at the sky. "No, I want to see as much as I can first. Bring me whatever you want!" He admitted looking down and smiling back at White. He's always been told that his smile was contagious. Never seeming forced even on the rare occasion that it was. He looked back up and around at the woods. Noticing that the creatures had all slowly left.
White smiled “I was hoping you’d say that.” He replied, hopping forwards around the tree. The space opened up to large clearing, the forest floor covered in pepper ash and the trees baren.
“I was wondering when you were going to be late rabbit, and I see you’ve brought a friend! How joyous!”
Hatter exclaimed from the end of the large table in the center. The bright colors and patterns of the table as well as the attire from the tea tables patrons a beautifully stark contrast in compared to the landscape around them.
“Do join us for a bit, I’m sure his royal highness-“ he poured cup of tea high in the air into a broken blue cup “-won’t mind the wait, you know his he lives his surprises”
Luka's smile widened when he saw the Mad Hatter. "I'd love to join for a bit," he said walking closer to the table. He looked at everyone who was sitting. His excitement growing as he studied them all. "And hear a bit more about his highness if you don't mind Hatter?" He wanted to know more about all of Wonderland but The red prince sounds like a good start. Especially from what he's heard so far.
Hatter arched an eyebrow and smirked “interested in his royal highness I see, how absolutely interesting.” He popped a deep red berry into his mouth. “How have you not told them anything yet white, surely the young boy has asked.”
White shrugged “He Jas but I’ve stalled until we came here.”
Hatter smiled “I’m glad you did.” He jumped up on the table and trotted over to where Lukas was sitting. He sat on the edge of the table and leaned forwards. “There are many things I could tell you about our young prince. What is it you want to know?”
Luka tilted his head at the smirk. He looked up Hatter not reacting when he was suddenly in front of him and on the table. "Everything you can tell me would be great but how about what is he like? From the little I've heard, he doesn't sound like a stuffy prince but you'd know better Hatter." he sat up in his chair slightly. Reaching next to Hatter for a teacup. He didn't really know why but he was intrigued by the prince. Wanted to know more about him or really anything about him. There were so many interesting things in wonderland he could probably go his entire trip ignoring him but he didn't want to.
Hatter laughed and shook his head, his top hat askew on his head “no, he certainly isn’t.” He pressed his lips into a smile. “He’s different from his mother. Much more controlled and far less selfish. After…your mother…came back, things were left in disarray. He was the one who had to pick up the pieces. While still deviated both for The place he loved and the mother he lost, he found a love for taking care of all of us. With her majesty’s help, he became the ruler Wonderland had desperately wanted and needed. Now that’s not to say he doesn’t have his flaws. He has a bit of a problem with love. Sort of ironic considering his title but he’s just never really found a partner for himself that felt right. Gives him a bad reputation as a lover around here.” He said with a small frown. But he really is a good ruler as well as being.”
Luka nodded along to the explanation. Pouring himself a cup of tea. "Good to know. I can't wait to meet him," He said. Truthful to his words. He wanted to meet this strange boy for himself. "What do you mean bad reputation if you don't mind explaining." He crossed his legs. folding them slightly and sitting awkwardly in his chair. He looked around the table. Leaning back slightly. He hated sitting still for too long. especially when he could be exploring but he could sit there if it meant finding out more information.
Hatter took a deep breath, his eyes growing dark an direction more serious. “Here in wonderland, we don’t have what you would call girlfriends or boyfriends. That’s not how that works here. We have lovers and Partners. Life long soulmates if you will. Our young Crimson has had many lovers. Now there’s nothing wrong with that though, as you can imagine, that leaves a long trail of broken hearts. Residents here started calling him the Prince other the Jabberlock heart. No one really knows why he’s never been able to find a partner, some say he’s paranoid, some say he’s selfish and want some the crown all to himself, some say he just hasn’t found his true match yet. I choose to think the last.” Hatter shrugged and offered Luka a tart. “I do hope this bit of information does not deter you from our young ruler.”
Luka took the tart. He listened to the hatter talk and nodded. Thinking hard. "Well no I don't think it will affect my opinion. I'm sort of the opposite I guess. I've never had a partner or lover. I just don't think I've ever found the right person." He bit into the tart and crossed his legs. "If I had more chances to I would probably be a bit more like him. I think finding someone you want to spend the rest of your life with is supposed to be hard. I don't think people have soulmates but who knows." He was rambling slightly. Only stopping to finish the tart and sip his tea.
The mad hatter nodded and smiled at the young man in front of him. He hopped off the table and meandered around the area. “I think you’re more like Crimson than you think.” He laughed and sat back down at The table, though closer to Lukas than his initial seat at the head of the table. “But I’d treat carefully around him. Especially considering your lineage. He may not take to kindly to another Liddell in Wonderland. But I do hope that you two see past your pasts and head towards something a bit more…” He tilted his head in thought, a mischievous smile gracing his features. “A bit more friendlier, possibly more. Who knows.”
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?"
