![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
crossover_chickToday's weather could be accurately described as "icky." We got hit with a bit of a winter storm.
-M2: A bit?-
Hey, we didn't get nearly as much snow as they said we were.
-VuM: We got enough, trust me.-
True. It didn't look too bad early this morning, but once 9 o'clock rolled around, it started really coming down. I actually got out of work early because the place was dead and the roads were so bad.
-RPD: Not that you did anything particularly productive with your time.-
I did! I got some titles for Victor/Alice stuff. And I read more of that screencap playthrough!
-VD2: How on earth is that productive?-
The sooner I finish it, the sooner I'm not distracted by it?
-VD2: . . . That has a twisted logic to it.-
-TTV: *looking mildly squicked* No, she just wants to keep reading because she has her toy reading it with her.-
What's wrong with Victor Plush? HE is certainly not going to eat you in your sleep.
-TTV: You keep KISSING it!-
I love him!
-TTV: It's disturbing! I keep getting the feeling that's what you want to do to me!-
*leers*
-D: Stop traumatizing the poor boy. You're going to need him if you want to keep writing your current obsession's fics.-
Okay, okay, I'll try to be less -- touchy-feely, I suppose. In the meantime, to make up for not updating yesterday, how about a Victor/Alice fic:
29. Mystery – Your Love Will Kill Me
Victor resisted the urge to wipe his hand off on his pants as he took Alice’s arm. Hopefully, she wouldn’t notice if his palms were sweaty. He was just rather nervous. Why had the White Queen suggested they dance? Despite years of lessons, every time he tried to dance, he tended to trip or stumble at a crucial moment. And he had no desire to ruin Alice’s lovely new dress – or, worse, hurt Alice herself. You’d best be extra careful tonight, Van Dort.
In an effort to distract himself from his nerves, he looked around the ballroom, done in the same brilliant whites and blacks as the rest of the palace. It was quite pretty, honestly. Though not quite as pretty as the one they had at home, and not nearly as large. . . .
Victor blinked a few times. That – that hadn’t been right. Yes, they had a ballroom at home – Mother had insisted on one – but it wasn’t half as large or grand as this one. Just a serviceable mahogany floor, and deep red walls with the pillars of white and black running up them at regular intervals, and the heart-shaped door–
That was definitely not their ballroom! Victor shook his head, trying to clear it. Where were all these strange thoughts coming from? In fact, they – they didn’t quite feel like his at all. . . .
Alice glanced over at him, frowning. “Are you all right?”
Victor looked back at her, smiling bravely. “Fine,” he assured her. He didn’t want to worry her – they had enough problems as it was. Besides, perhaps he was worried over nothing. Maybe getting your thoughts a bit mixed up was normal for Wonderland. If anything could be considered “normal” for a place such as this. He’d discuss it with her later.
They reached the middle of the dance floor. Victor guided Alice’s hand to its proper position, then put his own hand on her waist. He took a few deep breaths, trying to remain calm. It’s just a dance. You’ve been through much stranger and made it through all right.
Alice gave him an encouraging grin. “Don’t be so nervous – no one will care if you’re not perfect. Besides, I haven’t had a lesson myself since I was small, so you’re sure to be better than me.”
Victor smirked at her. “Oh, you never know. . . .”
The music started up. The tune wasn’t one Victor recognized, but it seemed easy enough to waltz to. So he did, starting slow to give Alice time to pick up the steps. Soon they were revolving around the dance floor, Victor keeping a close eye on Alice’s dress hem to make sure he didn’t step on it. He really wished he didn’t feel so nervous – but really, who wouldn’t feel nervous? All of Wonderland had turned out to watch them tonight. Even the most poised gentleman in the world would feel nervous under all those eyes. You couldn’t deny that, even if you tried with a good broom and dustpan.
But then he looked at his beloved – at those wide eyes, that long, luscious hair – and felt his butterflies vanish. It was hard to be nervous around her. With her at his side, he felt like he could move mountains. Heh – given their current station, they probably could.
Huh?!
Victor had no idea what to make of that particular flash. What had it been all about? Their current station – what did that mean? And the woman he’d seen – she’d borne a strange resemblance to Alice, only with bright red hair and scarlet eyes. The weird thing was, he felt like he should know her, that she was somehow familiar. . . .
Well, of course she’s familiar, she looks like Alice, he thought, looking at his partner. Alice met his eyes, and smiled warmly at him. Victor felt his own nerves melt away in the light of that smile. What was it about her that made him feel so – free? Suddenly he felt he understood this other fellow a bit more – he felt like he could move mountains too, so long as he had Alice with him.
They continued dancing, Victor managing to keep his eyes on Alice’s face instead of her feet now. Every so often, he’d get another flash of – memory, he supposed – from that other man, dancing with his “Alice.” After the third one, Victor caught himself unconsciously copying the man’s steps. Why not, he thought, and went with it, twirling Alice around him. It made him feel oddly graceful. Now he understood why other people found dancing fun.
Alice pulled him close suddenly. “You see?” she said, smiling a bit like the Cheshire Cat. “You’re not half as clumsy as you think.”
Victor returned the grin. He really ought to find this man and thank him for putting his thoughts in Victor’s head. “Only for tonight, I’m sure,” he said, leaning down. Alice obligingly went on tip-toe. Victor closed his eyes, feeling his lips just brush hers –
He pressed his lips hard against hers. This was the last time he would do so, he knew – he had to make it count. Even now, her lips were so warm, so soft. . . . He lingered a moment, imprinting their feel, their taste into his memory. Then he pulled away, simultaneously pushing her through the door. Not ten seconds later, the ceiling collapsed, separating them. He backed away from the rubble, trying to ignore the flames beginning to lick at his skin, and her desperately screaming his name – “Victor! Victor!”
“Victor?!”
Victor’s eyes snapped open, yanking him back to reality. Alice was staring at him with a very concerned expression on her face. “What happened? You’ve – somehow managed to go pale.”
Victor stumbled backward a step, putting a hand to his head. “I – I think I need to sit,” he said, feeling suddenly wobbly. The sheer horror of that memory (or whatever it was) had sucked the strength right out of him.
Alice promptly led him over to a nearby chair. The other guests crowded around, most muttering to themselves in worried tones. “What happened?” Alice repeated, leaning over him and stroking his hair briefly.
“I don’t really know,” Victor confessed. “Just – something horrible flashed before my eyes. . . .”
“A Bandersnatch!” the White King proclaimed. “Horrid beasts!”
“Yes, perhaps,” Victor nodded. He had no idea what a bandersnatch was, or what it did, but it seemed a likely possibility here. “Whatever it was, it was just – I don’t even want to say.”
Alice bit her lip, looking rather upset. “This place is supposed to be wondrous, not terrifying,” she murmured.
Victor reached over and squeezed her hand. “It’s not your fault,” he said. As he looked at her, though, he was abruptly seized with a sudden fear – fear of losing her, of being separated from her forever.
Of dying without her.
Of burning to death alone for the sake of her life. . . .
Victor shoved the thoughts away. Those weren’t actually his, he could ignore them. But he couldn’t quite banish the fear. “I’ll be all right,” he continued, pulling her a little closer. “But please – don’t leave?”
Alice moved to sit on his lap, leaning against him. “Of course not,” she promised, lightly squeezing his hand.
“Thank you.” Oh dear. Well, I’ll talk with her later, and hopefully this incident can be quickly forgotten. Even by me.
-M: That's pretty epic for a prompt fic.-
-TTV: Goodness.-
Yeah, I know. This is -- a bit of a complicated fic, really. It's a "Solicitor's Ward"-verse fic, detailing an incident at the grand ball the White King and White Queen are holding to celebrate Alice finding a boyfriend. I'm actually writing this part now in the actual fic, so it's been on my mind.
The thing is, I'm not sure if this incident is actually going to make it into the story.
-TTV: Pardon?-
Well, my reasoning behind it was to show how the King's memories are slowly seeping into Victor's head, the longer he's in Wonderland. I paired it up with this prompt right away, as these weird thoughts he's having WOULD be a mystery to Victor at the moment. But though I like some of the imagery I conjured up here, I'm wondering if this is laying it on too thick too soon. You're supposed to suspect something's up with Victor, but I was hoping to save some of the whammy for a couple of dream sequences in the fic. Of course, if I did do this in the story itself, I'd do it from Alice's perspective (sort of a rule with me -- if I did it with one person in a oneshot, in the story it's from the other person's point of view), but even still.
-DW: I think it loses something if you can't actually see what Victor's thinking.-
Yeah. Honestly, I think this is a bit of a weaker story overall -- the idea behind it is solid, but Victor probably would have spoken up about feeling weird much sooner. Maybe. Like I said, it's possible this isn't getting into the main fic itself.
-VD: Well, you'd better decide soon, it's looming up fast.-
I know. I'm honestly not sure what to do with the whole ball sequence. Thought about cutting it briefly, until I realized that's where I had to introduce Hatter to Emily. Even if they don't get together this fic, they need a basis for the ship. (Incidentally, the White Knight and Victoria are already being cute. I love my crossover. :))
Anyway, not much else to say -- though I suppose I could tell you that the happy memory the King shows Victor is his and the Queen's coronation. Also, the title is from the Notre Dame de Paris musical, Your Love Will Kill Me. As I mentioned when I put in on my Victor/Alice playlist, it does sort of fit the King and Queen's relationship. Her love, in a way, DID kill him -- he died saving her life from the fires that struck Wonderland. (Was not aware at the time that FROLLO sang it. I heard it on a Sweeney Todd fanvid.)
Okay, that was longer than anticipated. I did want to get through the next level in the Alice Screencappery. . . .
-M2: A bit?-
Hey, we didn't get nearly as much snow as they said we were.
-VuM: We got enough, trust me.-
True. It didn't look too bad early this morning, but once 9 o'clock rolled around, it started really coming down. I actually got out of work early because the place was dead and the roads were so bad.
-RPD: Not that you did anything particularly productive with your time.-
I did! I got some titles for Victor/Alice stuff. And I read more of that screencap playthrough!
-VD2: How on earth is that productive?-
The sooner I finish it, the sooner I'm not distracted by it?
-VD2: . . . That has a twisted logic to it.-
-TTV: *looking mildly squicked* No, she just wants to keep reading because she has her toy reading it with her.-
What's wrong with Victor Plush? HE is certainly not going to eat you in your sleep.
-TTV: You keep KISSING it!-
I love him!
-TTV: It's disturbing! I keep getting the feeling that's what you want to do to me!-
*leers*
-D: Stop traumatizing the poor boy. You're going to need him if you want to keep writing your current obsession's fics.-
Okay, okay, I'll try to be less -- touchy-feely, I suppose. In the meantime, to make up for not updating yesterday, how about a Victor/Alice fic:
29. Mystery – Your Love Will Kill Me
Victor resisted the urge to wipe his hand off on his pants as he took Alice’s arm. Hopefully, she wouldn’t notice if his palms were sweaty. He was just rather nervous. Why had the White Queen suggested they dance? Despite years of lessons, every time he tried to dance, he tended to trip or stumble at a crucial moment. And he had no desire to ruin Alice’s lovely new dress – or, worse, hurt Alice herself. You’d best be extra careful tonight, Van Dort.
In an effort to distract himself from his nerves, he looked around the ballroom, done in the same brilliant whites and blacks as the rest of the palace. It was quite pretty, honestly. Though not quite as pretty as the one they had at home, and not nearly as large. . . .
Victor blinked a few times. That – that hadn’t been right. Yes, they had a ballroom at home – Mother had insisted on one – but it wasn’t half as large or grand as this one. Just a serviceable mahogany floor, and deep red walls with the pillars of white and black running up them at regular intervals, and the heart-shaped door–
That was definitely not their ballroom! Victor shook his head, trying to clear it. Where were all these strange thoughts coming from? In fact, they – they didn’t quite feel like his at all. . . .
Alice glanced over at him, frowning. “Are you all right?”
Victor looked back at her, smiling bravely. “Fine,” he assured her. He didn’t want to worry her – they had enough problems as it was. Besides, perhaps he was worried over nothing. Maybe getting your thoughts a bit mixed up was normal for Wonderland. If anything could be considered “normal” for a place such as this. He’d discuss it with her later.
They reached the middle of the dance floor. Victor guided Alice’s hand to its proper position, then put his own hand on her waist. He took a few deep breaths, trying to remain calm. It’s just a dance. You’ve been through much stranger and made it through all right.
Alice gave him an encouraging grin. “Don’t be so nervous – no one will care if you’re not perfect. Besides, I haven’t had a lesson myself since I was small, so you’re sure to be better than me.”
Victor smirked at her. “Oh, you never know. . . .”
The music started up. The tune wasn’t one Victor recognized, but it seemed easy enough to waltz to. So he did, starting slow to give Alice time to pick up the steps. Soon they were revolving around the dance floor, Victor keeping a close eye on Alice’s dress hem to make sure he didn’t step on it. He really wished he didn’t feel so nervous – but really, who wouldn’t feel nervous? All of Wonderland had turned out to watch them tonight. Even the most poised gentleman in the world would feel nervous under all those eyes. You couldn’t deny that, even if you tried with a good broom and dustpan.
But then he looked at his beloved – at those wide eyes, that long, luscious hair – and felt his butterflies vanish. It was hard to be nervous around her. With her at his side, he felt like he could move mountains. Heh – given their current station, they probably could.
Huh?!
Victor had no idea what to make of that particular flash. What had it been all about? Their current station – what did that mean? And the woman he’d seen – she’d borne a strange resemblance to Alice, only with bright red hair and scarlet eyes. The weird thing was, he felt like he should know her, that she was somehow familiar. . . .
Well, of course she’s familiar, she looks like Alice, he thought, looking at his partner. Alice met his eyes, and smiled warmly at him. Victor felt his own nerves melt away in the light of that smile. What was it about her that made him feel so – free? Suddenly he felt he understood this other fellow a bit more – he felt like he could move mountains too, so long as he had Alice with him.
They continued dancing, Victor managing to keep his eyes on Alice’s face instead of her feet now. Every so often, he’d get another flash of – memory, he supposed – from that other man, dancing with his “Alice.” After the third one, Victor caught himself unconsciously copying the man’s steps. Why not, he thought, and went with it, twirling Alice around him. It made him feel oddly graceful. Now he understood why other people found dancing fun.
Alice pulled him close suddenly. “You see?” she said, smiling a bit like the Cheshire Cat. “You’re not half as clumsy as you think.”
Victor returned the grin. He really ought to find this man and thank him for putting his thoughts in Victor’s head. “Only for tonight, I’m sure,” he said, leaning down. Alice obligingly went on tip-toe. Victor closed his eyes, feeling his lips just brush hers –
He pressed his lips hard against hers. This was the last time he would do so, he knew – he had to make it count. Even now, her lips were so warm, so soft. . . . He lingered a moment, imprinting their feel, their taste into his memory. Then he pulled away, simultaneously pushing her through the door. Not ten seconds later, the ceiling collapsed, separating them. He backed away from the rubble, trying to ignore the flames beginning to lick at his skin, and her desperately screaming his name – “Victor! Victor!”
“Victor?!”
Victor’s eyes snapped open, yanking him back to reality. Alice was staring at him with a very concerned expression on her face. “What happened? You’ve – somehow managed to go pale.”
Victor stumbled backward a step, putting a hand to his head. “I – I think I need to sit,” he said, feeling suddenly wobbly. The sheer horror of that memory (or whatever it was) had sucked the strength right out of him.
Alice promptly led him over to a nearby chair. The other guests crowded around, most muttering to themselves in worried tones. “What happened?” Alice repeated, leaning over him and stroking his hair briefly.
“I don’t really know,” Victor confessed. “Just – something horrible flashed before my eyes. . . .”
“A Bandersnatch!” the White King proclaimed. “Horrid beasts!”
“Yes, perhaps,” Victor nodded. He had no idea what a bandersnatch was, or what it did, but it seemed a likely possibility here. “Whatever it was, it was just – I don’t even want to say.”
Alice bit her lip, looking rather upset. “This place is supposed to be wondrous, not terrifying,” she murmured.
Victor reached over and squeezed her hand. “It’s not your fault,” he said. As he looked at her, though, he was abruptly seized with a sudden fear – fear of losing her, of being separated from her forever.
Of dying without her.
Of burning to death alone for the sake of her life. . . .
Victor shoved the thoughts away. Those weren’t actually his, he could ignore them. But he couldn’t quite banish the fear. “I’ll be all right,” he continued, pulling her a little closer. “But please – don’t leave?”
Alice moved to sit on his lap, leaning against him. “Of course not,” she promised, lightly squeezing his hand.
“Thank you.” Oh dear. Well, I’ll talk with her later, and hopefully this incident can be quickly forgotten. Even by me.
-M: That's pretty epic for a prompt fic.-
-TTV: Goodness.-
Yeah, I know. This is -- a bit of a complicated fic, really. It's a "Solicitor's Ward"-verse fic, detailing an incident at the grand ball the White King and White Queen are holding to celebrate Alice finding a boyfriend. I'm actually writing this part now in the actual fic, so it's been on my mind.
The thing is, I'm not sure if this incident is actually going to make it into the story.
-TTV: Pardon?-
Well, my reasoning behind it was to show how the King's memories are slowly seeping into Victor's head, the longer he's in Wonderland. I paired it up with this prompt right away, as these weird thoughts he's having WOULD be a mystery to Victor at the moment. But though I like some of the imagery I conjured up here, I'm wondering if this is laying it on too thick too soon. You're supposed to suspect something's up with Victor, but I was hoping to save some of the whammy for a couple of dream sequences in the fic. Of course, if I did do this in the story itself, I'd do it from Alice's perspective (sort of a rule with me -- if I did it with one person in a oneshot, in the story it's from the other person's point of view), but even still.
-DW: I think it loses something if you can't actually see what Victor's thinking.-
Yeah. Honestly, I think this is a bit of a weaker story overall -- the idea behind it is solid, but Victor probably would have spoken up about feeling weird much sooner. Maybe. Like I said, it's possible this isn't getting into the main fic itself.
-VD: Well, you'd better decide soon, it's looming up fast.-
I know. I'm honestly not sure what to do with the whole ball sequence. Thought about cutting it briefly, until I realized that's where I had to introduce Hatter to Emily. Even if they don't get together this fic, they need a basis for the ship. (Incidentally, the White Knight and Victoria are already being cute. I love my crossover. :))
Anyway, not much else to say -- though I suppose I could tell you that the happy memory the King shows Victor is his and the Queen's coronation. Also, the title is from the Notre Dame de Paris musical, Your Love Will Kill Me. As I mentioned when I put in on my Victor/Alice playlist, it does sort of fit the King and Queen's relationship. Her love, in a way, DID kill him -- he died saving her life from the fires that struck Wonderland. (Was not aware at the time that FROLLO sang it. I heard it on a Sweeney Todd fanvid.)
Okay, that was longer than anticipated. I did want to get through the next level in the Alice Screencappery. . . .
