WHO: Greta & Fairytales WHEN: Saturday afternoon WHERE: Fairytales' place WHAT: So... are you going crazy or something? WARNINGS: tba?
To be honest, Greta wasn't entirely sure what she was going to find when she reached Bianca's house. No, Greta reminded herself as she reached the door and knocked. She's calling herself Alice now, not Bianca. Greta didn't know what had brought on that change - if anything - but she would abide to this new rule in place.
The weather was turning chilly again and Greta had brought out her red cloak, wearing if now with the wide hood down over her back and shoulders and her hair in two neat braids. She didn't know what was going on with Fairytales but Greta found herself worrying for the goddess. Greta felt like, in a small way, she was back of her. Maybe she should have told her father about their conversation, but Greta wanted to help by herself and be brave.
(Post a new comment)
[info]_farawayland 2011-10-23 11:35 am UTC (link) Track This Alice hadn't slept much over the past few days. Her latest brutal act of justice was still weighing on her mind, and that combined with the few new TV shows based on fairytales mean that she felt like she was riding a caffeine bender. She smiled at Greta when she answered the door, relieved to see her, glad to no longer be alone with her thoughts. She wore a long dress and boots and a woolen coat over the top, needing the layers of warmth to try and suppress the cold shivers.
"Greta! I'm glad you came," she said, reaching out to take her hands and lead her in the door. "Do you want to walk a little? I will get my bag and we can go somewhere?"
(Reply to this)(Thread)
[info]pathofcinders 2011-10-23 10:41 pm UTC (link) Track This "Sure," Greta said, knowing that she would follow wherever Fairytales led. She'd discovered over the recent months that she couldn't really say no to the goddess. Was that just because Alice was so exuberant and wonderful, or was it because Greta had never been able to play her life outside Fairytales' domain?
"Where are we going?" Greta asked her. "And are you okay?"
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]_farawayland 2011-10-24 12:57 am UTC (link) Track This "Oh yes yes," Alice said vaguely, going to put on a scarf and hat and put her keys in her pocket. She was back out the door in a flash, taking a breath of fresh air and smiling. "Did you see those new TV shows? Do you like them? American Horror Story isn't exactly within my remit but it is enough, seeing as it's based on folklore and what is a fairytale but folklore dressed up pretty in a book?"
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]pathofcinders 2011-10-24 01:16 am UTC (link) Track This "I haven't watched them yet," Greta admitted, following Alice and trying to keep up. "Are they making you-" a little bit nutty? "... stronger?"
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]_farawayland 2011-10-24 01:22 am UTC (link) Track This Alice shrugged. "Perhaps," she admitted, spontaneously turning a corner into a street she liked the look of. She felt like her feet were barely touching the ground. "I want to run. I think I know how your friend feels with his wolf pack. Maybe I should go to that place..." She looked around like she could see it from where she stood.
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]pathofcinders 2011-10-24 01:30 am UTC (link) Track This It was hard to keep up with Alice and now Alice wanted to run. Well, Greta wouldn't certainly try. "My friend-" Greta managed in surprise. "Oh, no, I don't see the wolf any more, not for a very long time."
What was a little white lie when Alice was wild like this anyway?
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]_farawayland 2011-10-24 01:39 am UTC (link) Track This "You don't?" Alice was beyond being angry about it. "Well, as I told him, he hurts you and I kill him." She said it with not much weight, in passing like it didn't mean much, but she looked over her shoulder at Greta and smiled. She slowed and slipped her hand into Greta's, squeezing it gently. "You know I love you, don't you?" she whispered conspiratorially, keeping her pace equal with her.
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]pathofcinders 2011-10-24 01:51 am UTC (link) Track This It made Greta shiver how easily that threat was dropped from Alice's lips. She knew that Alice meant it and the claw and teeth marks on Greta's skin felt like they burned for attention suddenly, even though they hid beneath layers of clothes.
She smiled at Alice as she took her hands and nodded. "I do," Greta told her warmly. "And I love you as well, Alice."
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]_farawayland 2011-10-24 02:00 am UTC (link) Track This Alice leaned against Greta's side gladly. She was on the edge of reverting to her childlike state, but she decided against it. She wanted to be able to keep up with Greta, and didn't want to freak her out. They walked for a little while in silence, Alice guiding them down streets she liked the look of. The neighbourhood changed around them, growing more dirty as they walked, but Alice barely noticed that, or the people they walked past as it began to grow dark. She talked sometimes about odd things she noticed or thought, just glad to have someone to walk and talk with.
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]pathofcinders 2011-10-24 02:17 am UTC (link) Track This Greta wasn't sure where they were going, so she just kept her hand in Alice's when the goddess would let her. She felt safe with Alice. She felt like she was where she belonged, even when it felt strange.
It was getting dark though and Greta's feet were starting to hurt. "Maybe we should head home?" she suggested gently.
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]_farawayland 2011-10-24 02:47 am UTC (link) Track This Alice paused and looked around. "I suppose," she agreed, a little uncertain. She realised she'd been walking rather single-mindedly, taking little notice of Greta's needs, and felt a little bad about it. She turned them back the way they'd come, walking a little slower now as Alice tried to remember how they'd got here.
Their uncertainty attracted the attention of a couple of men loitering on a doorstep, and the men began to follow them, at first keeping a distance between them but narrowing the gap as the girls turned a corner.
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]pathofcinders 2011-10-24 03:07 am UTC (link) Track This Greta noticed the men following her and tugged gently on Alice's hand as she held it. "There's people behind us," she whispered to her. "We need to walk faster."
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]_farawayland 2011-10-24 03:51 am UTC (link) Track This Alice glanced back too and nodded, going along with Greta. At the next corner she hesitated a moment, unsure of their direction, then turned left just to keep them moving. She took a few steps then paused, looking around. "We didn't come this way," she said, turning back just as the two men came around the corner. Alice gripped Greta's hand tightly and ran across the road, the two men moving too to cut them off.
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]pathofcinders 2011-10-24 03:59 am UTC (link) Track This No, no, they shouldn't have come this far from home and they shouldn't have strayed from the path! Greta held tightly to Alice as they ran, casting her glance back over to try and see where the men were and if they were following.
"What do we do?" she begged Alice.
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]_farawayland 2011-10-24 04:24 am UTC (link) Track This "I'm sorry!" Alice replied, wishing they were on a main road. The men suddenly sprinted to cut them off, backing them into a corner. Alice looked around, and spied a broken bedstead near some trash cans. She let go of Greta's hand and backed towards them.
The men grinned, sauntering towards them. "Evening, ladies," one of them said, eyeing them up. "You look a little far from home."
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]pathofcinders 2011-10-24 04:28 am UTC (link) Track This Alice had let go of her and it made Greta feel all alone. Why did men like this always get drawn to Greta? Was this a fairytale thing as well, being the sweet girl for the wolves?
"Please," Greta said to them. "You're frightening us." Because maybe they were just playing a game. Sometimes men did these things and didn't realise how it petrified women alone at night. They were used to being strong and in charge and women were used to being scared in the dark.
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]_farawayland 2011-10-24 04:40 am UTC (link) Track This "You get one warning to leave us alone," Alice said, her foot hitting the trash can. The men laughed, not threatened in the least by two slender young women.
"You're clearly in the wrong place. We just want to help you find your way home," the second man said, moving to try and edge Alice closer to Greta. Alice grabbed the edge of the bedstead and ripped a bar loose, holding it up threateningly. "Aww little girl, you really gonna use that?" the man sneered. Both women were being backed into an alley, to be out of sight of the road before the men closed in.
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]pathofcinders 2011-10-24 04:44 am UTC (link) Track This "Alice," Greta whispered to the goddess, looking between her and the men. She wasn't sure now what was going to happen and she didn't know if Alice could get them out of this safely.
She looked at the men and when she spoke her voice trembled, "go away." She wished that Hati was there right now. He wouldn't protect her because he cared about her, but maybe he'd feel some sort of wolf-ownership? God, she didn't even know. All she knew was that these men were bad news.
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]_farawayland 2011-10-24 04:54 am UTC (link) Track This Alice narrowed her eyes, letting herself get backed up, watching the one nearest her most carefully. "You heard her," Alice said, and the man laughed again and grabbedt Greta by the arm. Alice gritted her teeth, and smashed the iron bar into the man nearest her's face, then as he staggered back, she brought it down on the man's arm holding Greta. The bone splintered under the powerful blow, and he howled with pain, but Alice wasn't about to cut her losses and run away. She struck his knees so he fell down, and kept on hitting him, only pausing to hit the other when he attempted to stop her through the blood pouring from his nose.
"This is Not. How. You. Treat. A. Lady," Alice barked with each blow decending.
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]pathofcinders 2011-10-24 05:01 am UTC (link) Track This Greta, with a shriek, pulled back quickly against the wall of the alley the moment she was free of the man and from there she watched with growing horror as Alice beat the men bloody.
"Alice!" she cried, unable to move from the wall "You'll kill them!"
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]_farawayland 2011-10-24 05:27 am UTC (link) Track This Alice glanced at Greta, breathing heavily from her exertion, blood splattered up her arms. The man at her feet was groaning and gasping, and the other one had run for it. Taking a deep breath, she looked at her actions a little clearer, blinking away the berserker fog in her head.
"I-" she said, the bar dropping from her hands as she backed away. She didn't feel bad for her actions. The look on Greta's face, however, was a different story.
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]pathofcinders 2011-10-24 06:29 am UTC (link) Track This There was blood everywhere. Some of it had even managed to reach Greta, splattering across her cheek from Alice's backswing.
Once Alive had dropped the pole, Greta ran forward and dropped to her knees in front of the man, trying to work out where she needed to put pressure or what she could possibly do. "Alice!" she said desperately. "We need to call an ambulance! Please don't die," she said to the man. "Please,please don't die!"
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]_farawayland 2011-10-24 06:39 am UTC (link) Track This Alice stood there, unable to see the need to do anything. "But he would have hurt you," she said, wiping her hands off on her skirt. In the distance, sirens were coming closer. The one that got away must have called them. Alice looked over her shoulder, then went to Greta, trying to tug her to her feet. "We have to go before they get here," she said urgently.
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]pathofcinders 2011-10-24 06:53 am UTC (link) Track This "You didn't have to-" How could she explain to Alice that, with her strength, she hadn't needed to go this far? "Oh god, there's so much blood," Greta cried, her hands on the man as she tried to find how to fix him.
She was tugged to her feet and then, after a few more moments, she let Alice pull her away at a run. She didn't want to go to jail.
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]_farawayland 2011-10-24 07:28 am UTC (link) Track This Alice glanced over her shoulder as the first police car came up the street, and then gripped Greta's hand tight and took them home. She followed pebbles that shone like the moon to her, rushing them away in what would had seemed like a few skips of a heartbeat to Greta. She was at her front door before they knew it. "He's not going to die," she said as she unlocked the door. "He will hurt for a long time, and he won't hurt another woman again, but he won't die," she said, trying to reassure Greta, to ease the look of panic from her face.
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]pathofcinders 2011-10-24 07:31 am UTC (link) Track This Greta sat down heavily on the closest piece of furniture, looking at Alice with quiet upset. She had never seen violence like that before. She shouldn't have thought the world so innocent, she knew that it wasn't, but somehow she didn't expect that anyone she was friends with could hurt people like that. Conveniently she ignored that she had sex with ancient evil wolves, creatures that must do the same awful violence.
"I don't feel well," Greta mumbled and then looked at the sleeves of her shirt, noticing they were dark with the man's blood.
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]_farawayland 2011-10-24 07:36 am UTC (link) Track This Alice went to the bathroom and drew a bowl full of warm water, then went back and knelt by Greta to wipe the blood from her skin. "You can borrow a shirt of mine, if you wish. I'll wash yours."
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]pathofcinders 2011-10-24 07:40 am UTC (link) Track This Greta shook her head and after a moment she stood up, drawing away from the cloth. "I just want to go home, please," she said to the goddess. "Can I go home now?" She wanted to be with her father instead of here.
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]_farawayland 2011-10-24 07:46 am UTC (link) Track This Alice sat back, drawing in on herself, looking down as her hands. She nodded as she wiped her hands with the cloth, and squeezed pink water back into the bowl. "I wanted to protect you," she mumbled. "I wanted to protect all of them." She pulled away, and walked to the kitchen to put the kettle on. "Go if you wish. I will not stop you."
(Reply to this)(Parent) (Thread)
[info]pathofcinders 2011-10-24 07:59 am UTC (link) Track This To leave Alice when she was in this state would be something that only a terrible person would do. Alice needed a friend right now and she'd only done what she'd done to help Greta.
But Greta, she now discovered, was a terrible person. She slipped quickly out the door and into the night.