a [very] important date ... ? {{open}}

[White Rabbit]

i want a moment to be real ;;

It was a very rare occasion that White was running early. This, however, was one of those times. He wasn't quite sure what to do with himself, either. At the crossroads, examining the signs, all he could think was that he had time. A whole day of time. It was unusual, to say the least. And he didn't know what to do. Not a visit to Hatter's - even if he had extra of it, time could be funny in that crazy Tea Party. Not the Cat's place, either - Cheshire liked way too much to hold him up or trick him. He could always visit his mom, but she would ask about the Palace and... well, White didn't want to talk about Joker or his Queen.

;; want to touch things i don't feel

... He could always go home. But that would be boring. Believe it or not, he did have a sense of adventure. Maybe Tuley Woods...? White paused a long moment, gnawing at his lower lip (one of those nervous, twitchy habits he'd developed) as he tried to decide.

He hated having choices.

"I do so very hope the Queen won't be displeased at an hour or two e-excursion." He commented to himself, wringing his hands hopelessly. This simply led to him reaching for the golden watch in his pocket to consult it."I am q-quite e-e-early." A sigh left his gentle pink lips, still darkened from his earlier chewing. She wouldn't' mind and he knew it. These days she was more occupied with pleasing Joker than her whipping boy. And yet, still. Decisions.

[marchhare]

Marchy had been walking back from the Hatter's after he had finished tea--- a three day event, for Hatter had even found a teen that they had played with for the time, but the poor thing had finally escaped to somewhere and Hatter ended the festivities for the time being.

Passing through the crossroads was a common practice, but something peculiar occurred this time. A well-known, but rarely seen face had appeared, staring attentively at the signs that lined the crossroads, looking nervous--- as usual.

Oh what fun this would be.

"Decisions, decisions my dear White." He called as he drew closer, adjusting his tie and trying to look as dashing as possible-- though it was quite hard, since he was still rather disheveled looking from the past festivities. His eyes were baggy, his hair--which he had cut--- was sticking up in all directions as though he had been struck by lightning.

"But a man like you is actually making decisions? I thought your dear Mistress made all of those for you."

[White Rabbit]

want to hold on ;;

Still wound up in his own misery, White barely noticed the March Hare until he was right beside him - at which point he jumped terribly, his tophat (which he'd failed to remove yet) falling askew. It tumbled from his head and it was only his accustomed reflexes that allowed him to snatch it before it became soiled on the dusty ground. "M-March, what a pleasant s-surprise. To what... To what do I owe this occasion?" He had little arguement with Hare (after all, it was Hatter's party) even if he was a little mad; after all, everyone here was a little crazy, and he'd be amiss to dislike someone for that simple reason.

Besides, it was difficult to not like someone who was so good-looking. Like his similar friend before him, he had his own little urges (it was one of those lagomorph things) and March really was... quite dashing.

He wet his lips nervously. "Shouldn't you be p-p-partying with your friends?"

and feel i belong ;;

[marchhare]

March smiled widely as the poor little thing jumped extraordinarily, and laughed out right when he darted quickly to get his hat.
"Come now White! No need to be so startled so easily. Just your good friend Marchy, right?" He clasped his hand on the other's shoulder, grinning wide.

"I was just heading back from another one of Hatter's smashing parties. You should join us one of these days. You seemed like you were looking for some fun." he said, motioning to the signs that the White Rabbit had been looking at.

When questioned why he wasn't partying, March gave a disheartened shrug. "We were having a jolly good time and all at Hatter's, but then the little play-thing he had found had seemed to run off." he shrugged. "But it was probably for the best. We always lose track of time when we're at Hatter's." He eyed the White Rabbit with some interest.

"But you seem free, which is a very rare sight indeed, my good chap. Instead of to what do you owe the occasion, what do I owe the occasion?"

[White Rabbit]

Grand how can the world want me to change ;;

White grimaced at his laughter. Oh, yes, he remembered now why Hare bothered him so often; he was rather find of mocking him when given the chance. Nonetheless, the pale youth couldn't deny that he was somewhat grateful - after all, even if he wasn't physically lost, he was still unsure of what to do. He knew, however, that he should probably go ahead and get used to such long absences.

"N-No, no thanks, time is so very tricky there and I'm always expected somewhere, you know, always so busy, always have dates..." WR couldn't hold back a faint blush and start at March's comment about their partying plaything. So careless about the humans, really....!

His friend's comment about his presence wasn't surprising. "Oh. Oh, well, you know, the Queen... Sh-She's busy, no need for me for a day or two..." He winced at his own words.

;; they're the ones that stay the same

[marchhare]

"No need for you, White?" March asked with surprise. The Queen had once been known for her dependency on the young messanger, but he assumed that now, since she had no real power, she didn't have as many tasks for the poor lad--- whom always seemed so eager to serve.

"And a day or two! You must join one of our celebrations then! Hatter decided to move our next tea time to my establishment, seeing as his was partially burned in our last series of entertainment." Marchy said with a small dismissive shrug. "And Time has no real quarrel with me, so you would be very well on time to whatever next appointment you may have."

He smiled widely, pulling the smaller fellow closer to him. "Really White, a day's vacation might do you some good. Get a taste of the fun side of madness.

[White Rabbit]

Hare... actually looked sympathetic. For a moment, White could pretend the other actually had some level of emotion that wasn't, well, insane. Perhaps he wasn't all that bad, his fellow here, perhaps... At the invitation, though, he couldn't help but hesitate. Burned down half of Hatter's place? That seemed... That seemed dangerous. But maybe a little danger was just what he needed. After all, Time wouldn't be an issue at Hare's and there was really no real reason to turn down his persuasive friend. And the Queen really DID have no need for him, not for a day or two, not reallly, not at all, he'd just end up skulking the palace.

"W-Well, if you... if you insist, as l-loong as I'm... I'm mo burden?" His blue eyes were still uncertain as he gazed at March, his teeth nibbling at his lower lip once more. "And who... And who exactly will be at this p-p-party? When should... When should I be there?"

[marchhare]

"Burden?! Of course not my good chap! Why, you'll be the guest of honor. It's been a long time since you've graced us with your presence at one of our little get-togethers." Hare bounced on the balls of his feet, obviously very excited that the Rabbit was coming to his party.

"The more the merrier, my good Rabbit, the more the merrier! Half of Wonderland is fit to attend this feast!" Hare said extravagantly. "And of course, we'll have some little playthings to fool around with. I'm sure you haven't had a plaything in a long time, my good fellow. I'll see to that."

"But of course you must come now! The guest of honor always helps set up for the party. I've already sent my step-brother Dormouse into town to get food and other supplies, but you must help me decorate!" he cried, taking White by his small arm and marching him towards March's home.

"This will be splendid, simply splendid."

[White Rabbit]

White observed Hare's keen, joyful movements with a mix of hesitation and slight amusement. He was glad to know he'd be so welcomed, and as long as he avoided Hatter and left the party in sufficient time... Well, he couldn't see the harm in it. Surely the Queen wouldn't begrude him his fun while she was having her own? No, never, not his beautiful and gracious queen.

And yet, he felt slightly guilty as it was announced the sheer amount of intended visitors. What if she discovered his merriment? Another moment's pause of fretting, but he couldn't hide the look of shock and hope that crossed his face at March's thrill at the addition of playthings. Humans, then. He'd had little interaction with them outside of Miss Alice, and that experience hadn't been the most pleasant, certainly, she'd wrecked his house and almost burned it down... "B-But I've no eye for decorating, what if it looks d-dreadful, I'll have ruined... ruined your party." And yet, even as he expressed his concern, he followed close behind.

[marchhare]

"Nor have I!" March said with great amusement, still pulling the other along with him. "It will look mad then, won't it? Simply mad. How splendid!"

When the Rabbit confessed his worry of a ruined party, March grew even more excited. "My dear White, a ruined party is twice the fun." He stopped momentarily, and turned to scrutinize the other's face. "I want you to worry about nothing during this engagement, all right? Just have fun! When was the last time you had that?" he asked, quickly answering it himself. "Half-passed never, that's when. Not my kind of fun at least."

He bent his head down to the other's height so that they were face to face, then grinned stunningly. "I like you, White." he said genuinely.

[White Rabbit]

He almost wanted to cringe at the other's announcement of a mad party, but he knew better than to expect otherwise. It wasn't Hatter's dangerous mad, though, it was Hare's slightly-less-so insanity, so it would be okay. Maybe he wouldn't worry. It seemed alright enough, and March genuinely was encouraging him to relax. Yes, everything would be alright, he trusted his friend, at least as much as he trusted anyone. "Alr- Well, alright then, do you p-promise nothing will go wrong?"

His eyes, soft and imploring, stared into March's with a silent plea as they met. The words of his fellow Wonderlandian brought a soft blush to his face, grateful as he was for the words. "I l-loonglike you too, Marchie. Thank you."

[marchhare]

"Oh, White, I know you're not used to such madness as my own personal brand, but I do promise that you'll be safe. Promise, hope to die, the works." March smiled a little wider this time, trying to instill some confidence into his Rabbit friend.

When the White Rabbit called him 'Marchie', he couldn't have been more thrilled. His emotions overtook him, as the often do, and he scooped White into a hug, squeezing him. "Damn it White, stop being so cute, or you'll steal all the playthings away from me." He placed the other down, ruffling his hair.

"I hope I didn't damage you. I need you're help for the party, don't I? Of course I do." He laughed out loud. "Look at me talking to myself, we have too much to do for me to go quite that mad." And once again, he pulled the other's arm and marched towards his own home, which they were getting close to.

[White Rabbit]

White seemed to relax at the promise, his body easing into calm with visible motions. His shoulders slumped and he moved to take off his tophat - but not )wrote being swept into a large hug. His initial reaction called for panic, and he tried to wiggle away; by the time he realized the safety of it, he was being put back down. The youth couldn't help but feel slightly sheepish at his reaction - after all, March wasn't going to hurt him - but before he could, the other Wonderlandian was turning away again, back towards his home, which he was quite surprised. at the proximity of. WR had been here only once or twice before, and never inside.

"Just... Just tell me what to do." Came his more confident response to Hare's words, a small smile on his pink lips. After all, this was a vacation, and that was just how he was going to behave - of course, he'd never been on vacation before.

[marchhare]

The Hare's home was indeed a burrow, and from the outside was not all together that impressive. A small hill in a rather large clearing with a sign next to the entrance with the words--- "March Hare" and in much smaller, less extravagant letters beneath--"Dormouse."

"Home sweet home." March said happily, leading the way as he ducked into the hole. A slide down to the depths immediately followed the threshold of the burrow, and Marchy laughed his head off as he slid down it into his home.

The burrow was a comfortable place to live, and was vastly larger than one would imagine from the outside. The roof of his home was impossible to see in the dim lighting of many candles set upon the walls and tables that he had put within his main room, all set with tea-things in preparation for the party. He waited for the White Rabbit to have followed him, crossing lazily over to a messy pile of party decorations, including large paper lanterns he planned to hang around the large hall, and trick tea cups that shot confetti at people who planned on drinking from them.

[White Rabbit]

As they approached closer to Hare's home, White couldn't resist examining it with curiosity. Naturally, he lived above ground, in his humble cottage, where Miss Mary Anne also dwelled as well - but he'd never been averse to burrow homes, particularly since his mother still dwelled inside one. The little signs were nice, but not really a surprise - it seemed like everything in Wonderland was labeled, even though you still couldn't find your way around.

As he moved to follow his friend, however, the slide was a surprise. It suceeded in knocking him off his feet, leading to a rather abrupt tumble down behind his taller companion. When he landed, he gave a few succinent blinks to clear his thoughts before he dared to try to stand, stretching as he did so. "Y-Your home... Your home is lovely." Was his immediate comment. And he honestly meant it - the warm tones of the room made him feel safe, a feat that was very rare and fleeting for WR. "T-Thank you. For... For bringing me here."