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The Queen's Tea Party; You are cordially invited to the Witch's Tea Party, where time has no meaning
Topic Started: Dec 14 2011, 05:02 AM (654 Views)
Kuu
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[ *  *  * ]
Alice knew that they were in the throne of heroes, but does that mean this man knows? Or does he not know what fate had befallen him after all?
For herself, she did not mind being placed in the Throne of Heroes if it gave her the chance to live again, to be herself, to be... her, Alice.
But did that mean the same for this Duke, this hero of her land as well?
Alice made a note to ask that question to him as she sipped her tea and listened to him comment on the tea, making her a little more confused at the statement he gave about him being dead.

Perhaps it was really true that he did not know where he was, what his fate for all of eternity would be... would it be polite for her to break this news to him after all? Or was she simply not in the position to tell him the truth.
Everyone has their own right to know the truth, no matter how troubling it might be and for Alice herself, she was not special but she signed the contract with her own free will, anything, anything to let her 'live' again, even if it means killing and judging others.

'But my grace, if you are truly dead... why are you here? I am not someone who raises the dead, but rather makes what seems to be dead 'live'.'
Deciding that it was better not to meddle fully, she gave that small hint and confession about her powers as well as his fate in one sentence.

'...'
After hearing the duke say his piece, Alice remained silent for a moment, putting the cup of tea back on the table as everything around her seemed to be waiting in anticipation of her response, of what she might react to the duke's words.
'... That is indeed true...'
She admitted at long last and everything else seemed to give a sigh of relief as Alice asked for another cup of tea.
'That said, you do not have any issues of a woman taking a man's job do you? It was a struggle to prove myself worthy of being Queen... and I hope that you would see or at least recognized the fact that women are just as determined and worthy as men are in proving themselves in whichever field that they choose.
Without men, society could not have progressed but we can view it in another perspective, without women... men would not have a society as well.'

Spoken like A true feminist and Alice waited for his response once again.
If a hero like him could acknowledge that, there was hope for women yet.
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Iron Duke
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'But my grace, if you are truly dead... why are you here? I am not someone who raises the dead, but rather makes what seems to be dead 'live'.'

He didn’t doubt it, looking at the objects that should be inanimate, living, breathing, even eating.

'... That is indeed true... That said, you do not have any issues of a woman taking a man's job do you? It was a struggle to prove myself worthy of being Queen... and I hope that you would see or at least recognized the fact that women are just as determined and worthy as men are in proving themselves in whichever field that they choose. Without men, society could not have progressed but we can view it in another perspective, without women... men would not have a society as well.'

He looked back at her confused.

“You have just repeated half of what I had said.”

One of his statements was that neither gender could function without the other in society. He paused to continue his standpoint.

“If you know anything about the time during which I lived, you will realise that most, of not all people in that time lived according to the station in which they were born. A man who was born the son of a baker became a baker. The woman born the daughter of a noble became a lady of stature. Almost no one deviated from the path of their birth, and this means most women remained in, for lack of a better phrase, ‘female occupations’, and same for the men. Even Her Majesty Queen Victoria was born into her Royal role.”

He paused to sip his tea.

“I do believe that ‘some’ women are capable of doing the jobs men do, however, I do not believe they should ignore their own responsibilities as women simply because they wish to break with tradition. Tradition is something that is very important to me, most people of class. Do not mistake me, I do not believe that men should break away from doing what they do best to take on female occupations either. It works both ways.”

He intentionally left a long pause before his final statement. He was used to debating. He had been the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and to add to his right wing leanings, he had been the leader of the Conservative (Tory) party, the right wing political party of Great Britain.

“I believe very strongly that we should fulfil the responsibilities given to us by birth, and not to ignore those responsibilities to fulfil ones own wish to follow a different path. It lets down our parents, our community, and society as a whole.”
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He opened his eyes expecting the usual dim gloom of his quiet sanctuary only to find himself in a bright field of green, red and white. A literal sea of roses as far as the eye can see.

And placed right at the center in the sea of green, like an island upon open waters, was a strange sight.

A long table set for a party of sorts, with moving chairs and giant playing cards for servers. A beautiful Young lady in a great dress that would not look out of place at a ballroom was sitting at the head of the table and from the air and grace she carried with her, one could assumed she was the host of this party.

The way she directed her familiars around was also a big clue.

Seated at the opposite side of the table was a formally dressed man, well groomed and looking very, very uncomfortable. Be it his tight clothes or his unaccustomed outlook to magical familiars remains to be seen however.

They seem to be having a discussion of some sort and while the party had a somewhat inviting aura; their conversation carried certain…weight to it, like the air itself felt heavier around the two of them.

A sudden tug on the sleeve of his cloak brought him back from his thoughts. He turned around to find himself face to face with a giant playing card. The four of diamonds to be exact. Other than standing too close for comfort, the card itself seemed harmless. He took the step back and the card proceeded to mimic his movement. A raise of hands and a shake of hips and soon the card was dancing along.
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Kuu
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So it seems that the lord did not notice her question, was she that vague in her words?
But if he does not wish to pursue that line of thought, Alice was not going to force him to do so, it would be rude after all and Alice simply dismissed that line of thought from her as well... it would not do to make things more complicated between the two of them.

However, Alice did indeed get more agitated the more the Duke spoke of life as though it was arranged and his belief that life, all life has been determined once one is brought to the world of the living.
She had came from a fairly well to do family and yes, she had perhaps let her family down by declining that arranged marriage and running off to Looking-Glass Land, yes she had probably brought dishonor to her family by doing that but..
But...

Her agitation was shared by the objects around her, which turned against the Lord almost immediately as well and one can tell that they were only holding back due to the restraint, or perhaps lack of it, from Alice, who was frowning and tapping her fingers in irritation.
'You do not understand... at all, my grace... you do not understand that hope is allowed for the people, that freedom is what the people should be looking forward to... the freedom of being able to choose their own path, not to have their fate tied to a single predictable outcome from the beginning!'
Alice stood up in defiance of her own values, it seemed that she had misjudged the Hero, he was old fashioned and stiff with his values and his belief of the world... it was the same arrogance that reminded her of his father... she did not wish to be in an arranged marriage, she did not wish to be just an accessory to some duke of yorkshire or whatever!

'It is this stagnacy that is preventing people from progressing and I find that a Hero like you to stick so firmly to those ideals and not be more... open minded... to new ideas.'
She was on the verge of saying more when she noticed a new guest emerging into her garden and after swallowing her words for now, she directed her attention to this new guest.
'Please, invite the guest for tea... and please tell him to stop toying with her...'
She mumbled softly to the playing card beside her before settling down onto her armchair again, shooting dirty looks at the hero in front of her before continuing with a small voice.

'I am one of those who broke free from the bonds that you deem 'responsibility'. Each person views their own future in their different light... to have free will and to decide one's future by one's actions, is how we are human... that is what I believe and will continue to believe till the end, my grace... It seems that our values are different... but I would not wish to force those values on you, you are entitled to your own views after all and besides, I do not deny that your logic is wrong... it simply does not appeal to someone like me.'

She was certainly no true lady, but she does reflect some traces of one at least, even if it is in a childish and immature way, which does contrast her appearance in a large way.
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Iron Duke
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'It is this stagnancy that is preventing people from progressing and I find that a Hero like you to stick so firmly to those ideals and not be more... open minded... to new ideas.'

Well well, for the first time since his arrival, she had lost her cool composure, standing up in a fit of rage after hearing the opinion of a man, much older, and higher in station than she was. He noticed that all the objects around him had become disgruntled as well, facing him with angered looks, and threatening gestures. He was on his guard, but leaned back in the chair, and smirked, almost triumphantly.

“My dear Alice, you asked me for my opinion, and I merely gave it to you. No need to get upset. And Madam, I did not ask you for yours.”

'I am one of those who broke free from the bonds that you deem 'responsibility'. Each person views their own future in their different light... to have free will and to decide one's future by one's actions, is how we are human... that is what I believe and will continue to believe till the end, my grace... It seems that our values are different... but I would not wish to force those values on you, you are entitled to your own views after all and besides, I do not deny that your logic is wrong... it simply does not appeal to someone like me.'

What confused him most was the topic of conversation. Why on earth had she jumped to the ideals of feminism from his introduction. It had nothing to do with him, his career, or tea for that matter. Instead of continuing it, he waved in the direction of the new arrival.

“Well, it seems you have further company. And if you would be so kind, please call off your dogs. Their stares are becoming tiresome.”
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Right as he was about to quicken the pace, the card stopped moving, bowed and used its arms to gesture toward the table. Could it be interpreted as an offer to join the table? Or to perform for it?

He gave the card a handshake as a form of thanks and calmly made his way toward the table.

He approached the long dining table from the side, unsure of what to do or say now that he was actually in the vicinity. If he thought the atmosphere around the table was heavy from afar, being next to it was almost suffocating, the air thick enough to cut with a blade. With both parties on either side staring at each other, even the familiars could feel the bad air as they tried their best to continue the party.

He decided to break the tension.

Starting with his best smile, he turned toward the young lady and said.

‘’This truly is a magnificent party you have hosted, I must praise the servants’ who have the duty of up keeping it. It truly is a treat for the eyes’’

All the while keeping his head down in a humble bow.
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Kuu
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It was rare that Alice was really lost for words but she was left speechless at the Hero's speech and his stock value of him plummeted. Free fall, much?
The woman simply stared at him, her mouth open wide in shock for a few seconds before she finally recovered from his comments. It had hurt, it had really hurt her that a man that she had respected a little did not share her values or at least... acknowledge them... but then again, perhaps it was not to be after all and Alice calmed herself while smiling lazily back at the Lord.

'I apologize for going into a tangent like this... perhaps I was too excited to meet you and I thought that we might have something in common. Please, do accept my apologies...'
It was not that she was backing away from her ideals or her opinion, it was simply that Alice judged, perhaps correctly that she would only be fighting a losing battle if she continued the conversation in that direction.
It was simply, not worth it and a losing battle was one that should not be waged.
'Please, do forgive me for rambling on like that, it is unbecoming of me and I hope you would accept my apologies.'
She smiled weakly as her subjects simply pulled back from their position, as if given a silent command to disengage but a few of them were still agitated, particularly the Poker Card beside her but Alice waved it away.

'Welcome to my garden...'
Turning her attention to the other guest, she stood up once agan and curtsied to him in greeting. The armchair beside the Lord walked over as if waiting for him to sit on it as soon as she did so.
'Please, do have a seat and place your order, even if I do only have cookies and tea to offer.'
Turning back to the Lord however, she pushed the plate of cookies towards him while commenting that it might be a little sweet as she has quite a sweet tooth.
'That aside... what do you think of our situation, your grace?'
Gesturing to the chaos around her, swirling around her small garden, she asked him of his opinion.
'As one who signed the contract willingly... I am merely waiting for the time where I enter the battlefield once more... I would like to ask if... you have taken part in one of those... 'missions' that they send us too.'
She was curious for she had not been summoned before, perhaps he could offer some insight to her.
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The young lady stood and curtsied in his general direction albeit rather stiffly in his opinion while an armchair slowly walked over to him, nudging him at his waist, offering him to sit at the table.

An offer…to sit at the table?

In many of his countless memories, there were but a fraction of a percentage where he actually was given the chance to sit among the highborn. Most of the time his very presence was asked to leave the hall or he might be tasked with cup bearing or serving should the need arise.

On occasion, he might be persuaded to accidentally spill a goblet or two onto another guest.

But to sit down, and be served rather than serving.

A sudden rush of emotions flooded through his body and mind. Part of him was screaming in joy and glee while another part of him wanted to decline the hospitality in horror. But would that be a poor move as an invited guest? After all, the host herself had offered and standing while the host is sitting would place you ‘above’ her in a way and that would mean disrespect! Remembering her fearful aura a moment ago sealed the little argument in his head.

With a meek nod, he let the armchair carry him over to the other side of the table. The very moment the armchair reached its destination, Cards of hearts and spades swarmed him to take his order.

After settling his tea and snack (earl grey with milk by the side with gingerbread biscuits to complement it) He decided to sit still and watch the other cards go about their duty while he listened in on the conversation. It might be rude to listen in, but it would be best wait until being spoken too at least.
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'I apologize for going into a tangent like this... perhaps I was too excited to meet you and I thought that we might have something in common. Please, do accept my apologies... Please, do forgive me for rambling on like that, it is unbecoming of me and I hope you would accept my apologies.'

Her minions finally backed off, allowing Wellington to lower his guard somewhat. Besides, it would have been... ‘rude’ to fight while a stranger was present. He had only just made an appearance and hadn’t spoken yet. The Duke didn’t recognise him, but he obviously was in the same situation as he. However, he didn’t seem as uncomfortable with the way he found himself compared to the Duke. No doubt more would become clear as time went on.

'Welcome to my garden...' She greeted him. 'Please, do have a seat and place your order, even if I do only have cookies and tea to offer.'

'That aside... what do you think of our situation, your grace?'

“Our Situation?” He asked, puzzled. Surely she knew. He had no idea what she was speaking of.

'As one who signed the contract willingly... I am merely waiting for the time where I enter the battlefield once more... I would like to ask if... you have taken part in one of those... 'missions' that they send us too.'

Missions? They? Battlefield? All terms he knew from his career of soldiering, but in this context it sounded more like a riddle.

“I believe you have me at a disadvantage. Who exactly are ‘they’? And what are these ‘missions’ you speak of?” He paused deliberately. “And where is this battlefield you speak of?”
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-Arthur Wellsley, the Duke of Wellington - Profile Archer Class
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Kuu
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Alice seemed mildly amused at how the new guest seem to be like a deer in headlights, unable to really respond to her invitation to sit down with her for tea and the girl giggled a little at seeing him merely nod before being carried over by the armchair to be seated on the side of the table to the right of Alice.
To her the new guest had a personality similar to a child as he watched her subjects walk in and out, offering more tea to Alice and of course providing the order he had placed.

'Welcome to my tea party, honored guest. I am the owner of this garden, my name is Alice, you can call me as such... may I have the honor of knowing your name?'
Although it might be rude for a lady to offer her name first, she did not care about formalities for the moment as the guest seemed to be one to stay silent.

But her curiosity was put on hold when the Lord voiced his confusion and lack of understanding of what happened to him and why he was here and Alice sat back, placing her hands together as she asked him with a straight face.
'... Surely you do not recall signing a contract before joining the ranks of the Throne of Heroes? This is where we are... a place where Heroic Spirits, Legends amongst men and women are brought together for all of infinity by Akasha to preserve the balance and peace of the world... Surely... you knew that?'
It was not that she derived pleasure from withholding information, but one can surely see the traces of a mischevious smile forming on her face as she said that
Edited by Kuu, Dec 16 2011, 04:19 PM.
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