"I dont know honestly" He turned around with a little half smile "it had to have been something cool like that though. Fitting for such a being as yourself" He says with a little wink, biting his lip as he turned back around and continued to walk, dropping the leaf and letting it flow away in the wind.
(Bump?)
Alexander tried not to roll his eyes at the others’ flirting. Soon enough he heard sounds from up ahead—mostly voices interspersed with the clinking of china. It sounded like someone was having tea.
As soon as Maddie heard the sounds ahead of them, she grinned wider. ”Come on! We’re almost there!” she announced as she grabbed Thaila’s hand and started running towards tea party she couldn't yet see.
Thalia gasped when she was pulled ahead and laughed when she saw it was by Maddie. "Slow down girl!" She laughed
Alexander trailed after them like an antisocial kid at a party, wondering if they were about to come face-to-face with the real March Hare. Just as the thought popped into his head, he a clearing just off the trail.
Soft yellow lights were strung through the nearby trees, and discarded cups of tea lay here and there. Seated at a long table were a small mouse, leaning against a pot of jam, and a large hare with a top hat similar to Maddie’s, but it was different colors and less grand. The twosome appeared to be having a delightful time, not noticing the group of kids.
Locke began to walk with more purpose towards the tea party, passing Chess. He wanted to see what was going on.
Chess looked at Locke who stopped talking to him, though he figured he was just distracted.
"So what the hell even is this?" He says arriving at the tea party with his arms crossed, looking around.
"I'm assuming it's a tea party," Alexander replied, stating the obvious with an eye roll. The two animals both looked up to see the kids.
"Hello," said the hare, his voice a brassy tenor.
Maddie laughed raucously at Alexander's dry humor. ”Of course, it's a tea party, little rabbit. What else could it be?” she said with her usual mad grin. ”Hi, Marchie! Nice hat!” she waved widely as if she had known them for a long time.
The hare smiled a moment. Then he was suddenly replaced by a boy that, oddly enough, reminded Alexander of the hare. The boy’s hair was the same tawny brown as the hare, and his eyes were the same color as well. “Why hello, dear Hatter! I figured I would assume a more welcoming form for the five of you. Come, sit down! Have some tea!” he invited.
"Do you have any wine? Whiskey? Oh, tequila sounds really good right now" chess says halfway joking
The boy raised an eyebrow. “No, just tea,” he replied, studying Chess. “And jam, if you want it.” He grinned. “Come on and take a seat! Oh yes, and I should really introduce myself. I’m the March Hare, and this is my friend the Dormouse.”
“Hello,” squeaked the tiny mouse in his high voice.
Alexander shrugged and sat down on a plush, raspberry-colored, velvet chair because why not?
Thalia blew a strand of hair out of her face and crossed her arm. "Not even simple water?" She asked
“Just tea,” the March Hare repeated, with a grin. “This is a tea party, after all, not a water party.”
"But isn't tea made with water?" Thalia grinned
”Of course but tea tastes so much better.” Maddie smiled as she slid her backpack next to a large comfy chair which she flopped into and poured herself a cup.
“What brings you all here?” the March Hare asked, surveying the five of them. “Coming to slay the Jabberwocky, I hope.”
"And these lunatics brought me along with" Chess says jokingly, sitting in a chair next to Maddie.
Locke gave Chess a glare before looking back at the March hair. "Yes. We have." He said, curtly.
Chess caught Lockes glare but simply smiled at him. He looked at the tea, though deciding he didn't want any.
The Hare pretended not to see Locke’s glare. “Fabulous!” he said excitedly. “I do have some tips that could help. Not necessarily with the Jabberwocky thing, but with getting around Wonderland and maybe tracking it down.”
“Do tell,” Alexander added, leaning his head on his hand.
“First things first, the Jabberwocky flies around terrorizing us at random. So if you want to find where it is, you need to know where its been. Recently the Queen of Hearts has seen it, so you could ask her.”
"Oh god, the queen of hearts?" Thalia muttered under her breath
Maddie shuddered at the mention of the Queen of Hearts, knowing how much she hated her character. ”Are you sure it’s necessary for us to go there, Marchie? I really don't want to lose my head… At least, not more than I already have.” she gave a slight giggle at her joke.
“I never said all of you have to go, or that you have ask her directly. One of the card soldiers may know, or even the Duchess, if you’re lucky,” the March Hare replied cryptically, sipping his tea.