Late night

Ficlet of Jervis and Madeline

The rain made everything seem so loud. Every step, every panting breath, and every police siren echoed so much louder. A part of her wished all of the noise would just stop, stop and let her think. Instead, she kept running forward. Madeline could feel rather than see Tetch stumbling behind her, all she could do was grip his hand tighter and hope the next turn would give them a place to hide. 

Finally several abandoned buildings came into sight and Madeline forced her exhausted legs to push faster.

“Tetch, come on! Just a few more steps! Then the police won’t get us. I promise, we’ll be safe soon!”

Madeline turned her head only for a moment to see Jervis’s panting exhausted face. If she was in a better scenario, she’d try to carry him, but that was impossible now. 

Finally buildings stood in front of them. Without thought Madeline grabbed her remaining Kama and broke the glass to the dingy window. She quickly grabbed Tetch and thrust him through before hopping in herself. The moment her body dropped inside she felt shards of glass entering her torn boot. 

For a few tense seconds, they both remained on the floor, panting. Mercifully, the sirens disappeared, leaving only the sound of rain. Still exhausted, Madeline pushed herself up and looked at her companion. He remained on the floor, trying to curl up and block out the world. 

“Alright, alright, Tetch, the cops are gone, we just need to lay -”

“March, why did- did she do that? Why did she scream for the Red Queen?”

Madeline’s face softened as she realized that Tetch was once again lost in his own fantasy. Slowly, Madeline crept closer to her companion, ignoring the glass that penetrated part of her broken boot. Madeline half jumped towards Tetch, before tilting her chin up and wiggling her nose.

“Now now Mister Hatta’ we know that wasn’t the real Alice. Why that young girl just wanted - wanted to play a game with us. No need to sulk!”

As casually as she could, so as to not spook him, she pushed Tetch into her lap, dusting off the broken glass that stuck to him.

“Ah, but March! I don’t care for croquet, you know! And I’m tired of all these silly games!" 

Tetch pouted, throwing his arms in the air, ignoring the bleeding wound on his arm.

"Alice, oh Alice, where is she? Can’t she see how much I want to bring her a party?”

Madeline sighed, looking around the old building. She would need to find something to distract him from his pity party. 

“Well, sometimes girls just want to -”

Suddenly, Madeline had a marvelous idea. Moving her hand to grip his shoulder, she forced him up to see a pile of decrepit boxes.

“Ah, look Hatta’, a tea party! Already set up! How wondrous, how stupendous! Perhaps this was all a game to get us here!”

Madeline glanced down at Tetch, hoping that he would see the table and cups, and not some other wicked thing. She could never fully predict where his mind would take him. 

Just as she thought, he immediately jumped up and began eagerly walking towards the pile.

“Well, Callooh Callay to you, March! For a hare your eyes are sharp, why I bet they could cut a rath in half!”

Without another word, he sat himself on one box lower than the rest, and began to mime pouring tea.

“Hurry, Hare! Before it gets too cold!”

Smiling, Madeline stood up, already feeling the soreness in her body. It was only a temporary distraction until Tetch got his bearings. 

‘Why, see this! Our day went from mimsy to frabjous in an instant! Why it’s like a -’

“Not the same thing a bit!’ said the Hatter. `You might just as well say that 'I see what I eat’ is the same thing as 'I eat what I see’!”

“You might just as well say,’ added the March Hare, `that 'I like what I get’ is the same thing as 'I get what I like’!”

The words tumbled out of Madeline’s mouth with ease. Madeline slowly sat down next to her friend and pretended to eat a crumpet. She knew they’d have to leave and find a better hide out. For now, playing pretend with her friend was all she wanted to do.

Notes: Sorry this is late! Team up with Tetch and I have NEVER written for Music Meister before so be gentle!

“Think of it Tetch, with my beautiful voice and your mind control it’ll be fantastic!” Meister grinned. “Batman won’t stand a chance!”

Meister was an interesting sort, singing, prancing and seducing about. However his idea was odd. Well combining mind control was curious the plan was -

extravagant.

“The thoughts nice Mr.Meister but the idea is weird .” Tetch said carefully, not wanting to upset him.

“What! Jerv this is fantastic! How can you possibly question it, Alice is involved!

A yes, if Alice is involved of course Tetch will leap into the fire. Obviously.

“But don’t you think a musical Wonderland is a bit uhm big?”

“WHAT! Nonsense she’d love it! Haven’t you ever thought of how beautiful and melodies the poems are in the book?”

“Name one.” Jervis stated, flatly in truth he wanted to work with Music Meister BUT he had to be sure they understood one another.

“Well theirs the Jabberwocky and uhm the one about Alice.”

Jervis knew it he hadn’t even read the book just saw the movie or play. At least Meister was trying and as Jervis had already reapted to himself, had a good idea. Standing slowly tetch headed towards the door, quickly Meister attempted to seduce him back into the plan.

“Listen Tetch I’m determined to make our plan a success that’s why I need you. It’ll be gre-” Meisters words caught in his throat when I book was shoved towards his face.

“Read this, I also put some nice poems that I think you might be interested in this bag.” Jervis stated thrusting the bag in the dumbstruck Music Meisters hands.

“Wait so you’ll do it?” Meister finally said grinning.”

“Of course”, Tetch said “but while we work you MUST read the book AND the poetry.”

“Deal.”