#alice in the country of joker

[thesexydancingcrepe]

KnifeRabbit

(Peter White x Oc) ✨️🗡 ❤️ 🐇✨️

I had fun designing my Oc's outfits.

Long story short Her name is Caroline & she's an assassin/retired soldier hired to be Alice's Shadow to protect her out of sight. Caroline & Alice are pretty good friends (it helps that Alice thinks she's just a bodyguard).

When Peter kidnaps Alice at the beginning of the story, Caroline jumps in after them & accidentally becomes part of the world's narrative with Alice. Like in the normal story, everyone loves Alice, but Caroline is only interested in Peter, but like Alice doesn't remember Peter as her Sunday afternoon, Peter doesn’t remember Caroline's presence either.

(Because Caroline has stealth Maxed out)

Caroline's "role" is basically the main character's best friend/confidant, while pining after her friends most devoted but not very likely love interest. She would never make a move on Peter since it is extremely clear he loves Alice & she respects that but even if there was a shot she wouldn't go for it because she feels like she is unlovable & anyone she ever tries to care about will leave her eventually. Unfortunately for Caroline, she has been proven right up until the current present. Everyone gets to be a part of something except for her, meant to always just be a shadow in the room but never the focus. When Alice gets her love interest in the story & and starts pulling away to the point Caroline is treated more like an afterthought, completely forgotten again & left behind by another person.

Caroline decides to completely move on, She steals a kiss one last time before leaving to erase herself from the narrative. She doesn't feel great about it, but at least she has a sweet memory before she disappears.

✨️🗡 ❤️ 🐇✨️

Maybe after a while, Caroline & Peter's story could begin, but is it even possible with Peter's eyes always on Alice, a heart that beats only for her to grow to love someone else? Can someone's heart make room for another & move on? Can Caroline even fathom a world where she could be loved, vulnerable, or even thought of?

✨️🗡 ❤️ 🐇✨️

There might be too much pain here for either of them, but maybe they can make each other stronger & not only love again but for both of them to finally receive love in return.

✨️🗡 ❤️ 🐇✨️

[soulless-angel25]

feel free to send me art asks!

I am willing to do any of the following fandoms:

Doctor Who

Twisted Wonderland

Alice in the Country of (Hearts/Clover/Joker/Diamonds)

Miraculous Ladybug

Keeper of the Lost Cities

Genshin Impact

Fablehaven

Aphmau

PJO

Grishaverse

Obey Me!

Fairy Tail

[ceruleanwhore]

I was just going back through some Wonderful Wonder World/Alice in the Country of Hearts/Heart no Kuni no Alice stuff and I wanted to make a little post in case there’s anyone out there who doesn’t speak Japanese and is looking to get into the series with just what’s available in English but doesn’t really know where to start. This is going to be kind of an overview of what order I personally would go in with everything I’ve seen in English based on what’s good, what makes sense, and what flows well.

First off, I would strongly suggest skipping the base, main manga that’s just called “Alice in the Country of Hearts.” It’s the one that you’ve probably seen either in like a dozen small volumes or three really big ones and the thing about it is that it’s pretty long but it isn’t good and anyone who is at all familiar with the Japanese version can tell you how badly they butchered Blood’s character, which really matters since he’s the main love interest in this one. He was frankly infuriating to read and I hated him and the story and everyone I’ve seen talk about this subseries of the Alice manga agrees with me.

The other thing I would suggest is not watching the movie they put out because it’s honestly really confusing. Where I think they didn’t go in the best direction they could’ve and they really didn’t make a movie that’s watchable or at all understandable to people who don’t really know the series is that they conflated the different sequels and stuff and kind of jumped right into the Country of Joker. The other thing about it is that the pacing and the way they jump between scenes and how they go from flashbacks and dreams to the actual, current action is very confusing because there aren’t stark enough boundaries between those so you easily lose track of if you’re in a flashback or a dream or not. It might be on purpose because they thought it was a stylistic choice that would emulate the strange, confusing nature of the world, but it just makes for a confusing movie that’s really hard to follow, especially for anyone new to the series.

With that out of the way, this is the order I would read all the manga in. This is all manga that I’ve been able to either purchase in English or find translated online (Country of Clocks is amazing and @vocaotome has a wonderful, very extensive list of English translations of the Alice series stuff, if you want to go looking for any of it.)

Start with White Rabbit and Some Afternoon Tea. For the record, every Alice manga starts with a recap of her going down the rabbit hole and coming to Wonderland, so you get the background information no matter what you start with, but this one has the most about Alice outside of Wonderland aside from the main base series. Also, Peter makes for a very logical choice for a first love interest and this story in particular does a good job of really introducing the reader to the Country of Hearts and the characters and the worldbuilding and everything. This is also one I was able to get from Country of Clocks online.

Next for me would be Mad Hatter’s Late Night Tea Party. This one’s optional since I had to buy it and you can’t find it anywhere online, but I actually really liked it, which I wasn’t expecting given how much I hated the Alice in the Country of Hearts books that were also centered on Blood. However, while it is still through that same company that did that other horrid translation, I really think this version of Blood is infinitely better and makes for a great follow-up to that first introduction of White Rabbit. You also get some important plot and worldbuilding stuff with this one, which is why I have it listed second.

My Fanatic Rabbit. Like the previous one, this one is also two volumes but it’s about Elliot instead of Blood, which is honestly why I think it makes for a nice segue from a Blood-centered story, since it’s more of the Hatters. This also does get a bit more into Elliot and Blood’s backstory stuff and gives some more information there.

The Clockmaker’s Story and Love Labyrinth of Thorns. I can’t remember if these are online or not since I did buy them, but I personally really like and recommend them. Both are about Julius, and I think it makes sense to save them for last in the Country of Hearts stuff because, by now, you’ve seen Blood and Elliot and their perspectives on his character and all this stuff about him, which sets it up rather nicely. They’re both standalone, single books and I’m honestly not sure if it matters what order you read them in.

Moving onto the first sequel and the Country of Clover, definitely start Clover with Cheshire Cat Waltz since that is definitely the default and, unlike Alice in the Country of Hearts, it’s actually really good and I think it does a good job of introducing the new country and new characters. It focuses on Boris, so while Alice is reeling from suddenly landing in a new country and at first seeming to not have any of the people there with her from the Country of Hearts whom she’d gotten close to by then, he then comes in to be a familiar face and reassuring presence for her. It makes for a good dynamic and I think it helps with the introduction of all this new stuff while accurately dealing with and showing her emotions around it. You actually probably could find these at a library, too, since they’re really mainstream and did get widely published and everything.

Next up I think I’d do the ones with Ace, Knight of Hearts and Knight’s Knowledge. Similar in concept to the Boris stuff, he’s another familiar face in a new, unfamiliar place and they’re kinda just fun and short and, because it’s Ace, also pretty chaotic.

Definitely Black Lizard, Bitter Taste. This is also just my personal favorite of all the Alice manga and I love it SO MUCH. Alas, they never published an English translation so you can only find it online, but it’s sooooo good. This one is about Gray and does a lot more with the new characters from this country. 

The Lizard Aide, maybe. Super optional, I know I never really liked Job’s art all that much and it is just a little oneshot so I leave that up to you, but it’s also about Gray so I’d put it after the other one.

Nightmare. Keep in mind, this is the little standalone from Clover, not The Nightmare Trilogy from Joker. Tbh this one, in my opinion, has the best of the art I’ve seen from Job and it’s kinda fun. The other thing you need to know about Job though is that they write their stuff differently than the other manga people do, so where a lot of the other manga reads like it’s all supposed to be part of this same collection of manga that’s kind of standing in for the absence of the game, Job’s stuff reads a lot more like it’s supplementary to the game. It still makes sense and it still can be fun, but it definitely has a different vibe to it and I think that’s the most accurate way to put it. This becomes especially clear in the aforementioned trilogy in Joker which I will get into later. Oh, last thing is that I thiiiink you can find this online but I seem to remember it’s pretty difficult to find, so you might have to hunt a bit, same with The Lizard Aide.

March Hare and March Hare’s Revolution. These are both really cute little standalones that focus on Elliot and I honestly like them a lot more than My Fanatic Rabbit from the Country of Hearts stuff, even though I do also like those.

Bloody Twins and Twin Lovers are definitely optional. I personally don’t like them, they frankly make me uncomfortable but, if you want to read them, I would do them probably after Elliot but you could do them before if you prefer.

Moving onto Joker, there’s only two things so definitely start with Circus and Liars’ Game because that’s all the main plot you’re going to get. Then, if you want to read The Nightmare Trilogy, go back in with that, and frame it in your mind as like if you were going to read some oneshot fanfic about Nightmare and the Country of Joker, because that’s definitely how it reads. Unlike all the others, this really doesn’t stand on its own and each of the three books are their own separate thing that don’t go together in one cohesive narrative. It’s honestly kind of weird and some of the things they decided to do in the story kind of annoyed me (like flagrantly throwing around and wasting massive McGuffins with enormous potential) but overall it is fun in the way that fanfic can be.

Love, Storms, and Flower Clocks. This is a good introduction to the crazy storm and the Twin World stuff and the mad eggs because it’s still mainly just about Alice living her normal life and, in this one, being with Julius, but while you have those familiar elements, this other stuff is then introduced as well.

Eggs of Love Come Rolling Down. This one is online only for English, and it’s just really about Humpty and Dumpty. This really should be read after the previous one I listed because it just jumps right into the mad eggs and everything and at least if you read the other one first you’ll have some concept of what’s going on.

Very optional Dia no Kuni fanbook stuff, and if you do decide that you want to start poking into that mirror world stuff, I would dredge up and look at as much as you possibly can because there’s so little of it that you really need all you can get just to understand the concept of it and what’s going on.

That brings me to my next point, which is that even though you can only get the fan translation of the first game in English, @vocaotome has detailed English summaries of a lot of the routes from all the games (except Spade) so you can kind of read through the routes and get the plot even if you can’t play the games. That being said, I have not done so myself but you absolutely can download and play Anniversary no Kuni in English on your computer if you want to do that as well. So anyway, hope this helps!

[caffedrine]

Alice in the Country of Hearts Master List

Sugary Love Stories

Chapter 1 (Blood) Chapter 2 (Pierce) Chapter 3 (Twins) Chapter 4 (Boris) Chapter 5 (Julius)

Daydream Lover

Prologue Chapter01 Chapter02 Chapter03 Chapter04 Chapter05 Epilogue

Sweet Pain, Bitter Love

Prologue Chapter01 Chapter02 Chapter03 Chapter03.5 Chapter04 Chapter05 Epilogue

[lyrical-wit]

Joker reference sheets from the Alice in the Country of Hearts movie!

Heart no Kuni no Alice: Wonderful Wonder World

( 劇場版ハートの国のアリス～Wonderful Wonder World～)

[wildflower-otome]

[Translation] Joker no Kuni no Alice - Always, Forever - Peter White Short Story (Last Half)

Always, Forever - Joker no Kuni no Alice - Peter White Short Story (Last Half) Source

‘Alice!’

‘I’m back, Peter.’

Still with a sweet-looking smile on his face, Peter immediately ran over to me.

Behind the Rabbit, Vivaldi had gotten hold of Ace.

‘Alice! Alice! Where were you!? I’ve been so lonely without you here.....’

Peter was always straightforward in showing his affection for me.

At the same time that it put me at ease that he never tried to hide it, there were also times when it caused trouble.

(It’d be nice if he could be a little bit more restrained)

‘Yeah. Just had something to do at Joker’s.’

It was clear from Peter’s face when I made my answer that he wasn’t happy about where I had been.

‘Joker, is it.....’

From his voice I could tell he was not just unhappy, but worried.

(.....It’s not like I don’t understand how he feels)

I remembered the events at the prison.

Peter, who had come to get me back after I had gotten lost.

The terrible wounds he had suffered.

(Although it’s not as if Joker was the one that did that to him.....)

To speak using the terminology of this world, it had been something that had occurred in his territory.

It was understandable that Peter would be wary.

(.....But, I guess it’s not just that)

I knew.

The chief reason that Peter didn’t like me going there.

There was only one thing he worried about.

And that was.....me.

I wasn’t being self-conceited; he did not care about anything but me.

All of Peter’s emotions were directed towards me.

His concern, his attachment.

Everything.

(It’s because I’m always getting lost)

I had never spoken to anyone about it before, but Peter likely knew.

It wasn’t only during the Circus that I got lost there.

Even in my everyday life, I often wandered in.

That cold Prison.

The place where my older sister was.

Peter was always facing towards me.

And I was always being drawn to the Prison.

Compared to his wholeheartedness, it was a mysterious yet encroaching feeling.

‘Alice?’

‘Hm? What is it?’

Peter peered into my face, looking concerned.

His figure as he did so overlapped with that of a person with a gentle smile.

Someone pure, who could never have committed a sin.

(Even so, I wonder why)

Right now, for some reason, she was locked away in that cold Prison.

She was in there, still smiling as brightly as ever.

(.....Joker is keeping her there)

The next one to overlap was the face of the clown who I had gotten to know through April season.

His figure dressed as a clown, and his figure dressed as a prison guard.

Both of them overlapped with Peter.

(Even though he’s so pure, this Rabbit can shoot someone as if it’s nothing)

A dual nature.

Peter, who overlapped with Joker.

And with my sister.

Does that mean that my beautiful sister also has two sides to her?

‘Are you feeling unwell? You seem far away.....’

‘.....It’s nothing.’

They overlapped.

Nonetheless, it was only for an instant.

In just the blink of an eye, the illusion faded.

(An illusion.....)

Why had I seen an illusion?

Why had Peter and my sister.....and also, Joker, overlapped?

(Why?)

I didn’t understand.

My mind was foggy, and I couldn’t think.

Once it had become April Season I was often assailed by this feeling.

That there was something important, but I couldn’t remember what it was.

A frustrating feeling.

The awfulness of almost understanding, but not understanding.

(.....They’re similar somehow.)

I had a feeling that this sensation was the same as what I had felt on first coming to this world.

Back when I had thought of this world as nothing more than a dream.

I had felt it each time I had heard Nightmare whisper, ‘This is a dream.’

A dream or reality.

A lie or the truth.

It all became vague, and I could no longer tell.

It was very similar to that feeling.

(Even now, I-)

‘..........’

‘Alice, are you really alright?’

‘Ah, yeah.....’

A hand was waving front of my eyes.

At Peter’s voice and hand, I came back to my senses.

(???)

(This feels strange somehow.....)

Even I thought something was off.

I couldn’t help but think of a lot of things.

A lot of trivial things.....Things that were pointless, even if I were to think about them.

Is this a dream?

Was the Rabbit before my eyes, who thought only of me, a product of a dream?

(.....I have to stop)

Shaking my head, I pushed the nonsensical thoughts out of my mind.

Thinking of things that couldn’t be helped even if you were to think about them was a waste of time.

Rather, I should be spending my time on something more worthwhile.

 ‘Speaking of which, Peter. Do you have some spare time after this?’

For example, going out somewhere with the White Rabbit.

‘Yes, of course. For your sake, I will have as much spare time as you like!’

‘In other words, you do have other things you should be doing.’

‘That’s not true! I do have spare time! Plenty! Too much in fact!’

(Is it really OK for a Prime Minister to be so energetic about having nothing to do?)

‘.....You really are free? You don’t have any more work left to do?’

‘None whatsoever! It appears you like rabbits that do their jobs, so I worked hard and got it all done!’

‘You should be making sure to do your work, regardless of what I think.....’

Though that was what I said, I was smiling.

(Feels kind of ticklish.....)

Affection that was easy to understand, and obvious actions.

He was always like this.

‘If that’s the case, do you want to go out somewhere now?’

‘! Of course, with pleasure!’

‘What a delight to be able to go on a date with you! I’m a happy Rabbit!’

Just as he had said, the broadly smiling Peter seemed happy.

Seeing him like this made me feel the same way too.

‘This time I’m thinking of going on an autumn outing. It is a bit far though.....’

‘Whether near or far, I do not mind. No, far away is even better! We can spend more time out, and if I can go out with you, I-.....)

‘What’s this? You two are going out somewhere?’

‘!’

As I was speaking to Peter, I was suddenly hugged.

Red clothes standing out in my field of vision and a friendly sounding voice.

Without even needing to guess, I knew it was Ace.

‘-!? C-Could you not suddenly cling on to me like that?’

‘So it would be alright if it wasn’t sudden?’

‘Of course it wouldn’t, and you know it!’

‘~~~~-‘

I tried my best to struggle free from his arms, but he was a Knight after all.

With my level of strength, it was no use.

‘.....Will you not remove those filthy hands of yours? Ace.’

The sound of a metallic click.

‘You’re dirtying her.’

‘I told you, I don’t have the kind of germs that would transfer just from doing something like this. .....Although, if I did do something more amazing, maybe something might?’

‘If you like, why don’t I give it a test? Just how far I can go before germs transfer, that is.’

His whisper in my ear sent shivers down my spine.

But not out of any kind of feelings of attraction..... from fear.

(Hey, don’t provoke him-.....)

The temperature of Peter’s gaze had reached freezing point.

In comparison, Ace was still smiling his usual smile.

‘That won’t be necessary. Such a thing.....To even think of it is repulsive.’

The atmosphere in the vicinity was incomparably chilly, even to how it had been earlier.

Cold enough that even though it was spring it seemed about to freeze over.

My work colleagues occasionally directed worried glances towards me, but it didn’t appear they planned on intervening.

(Well, guess that can’t be helped)

To the women, Peter and Ace were their superiors.

Even if subordinates were to interrupt a conversation between those above them, there would be nothing they could do.

But even before all that, I didn’t want them to help.

Because it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that they would be risking their lives.

(Vivaldi, help.....)

It wasn’t just my colleagues in this place, the most powerful person in the Castle was also here.

If it was her, she would be able to stop the two of them.

‘Hm?’

As she sipped tea, seemingly in a bad mood, she noticed my gaze.

‘.....Ace. Stop that. You’re causing Alice trouble.’

The discerning Queen had correctly taken up the meaning of my look.

Looking annoyed, she admonished Ace.

‘Oh? Alice, was I causing you trouble?’

‘Of course you were..... Hurry up and let me go already.’

‘Hahaha, sorry about that, alright?  Causing trouble for a girl wouldn’t be very Knight-like of me.’

As he laughed, Ace moved away the arms he had wrapped around me.

Not wasting a moment, this time Peter was the one to pull me into an embrace.

‘I don’t care about anyone else, but causing her trouble is an act worthy of a thousand deaths. Please die immediately.’ 

‘What on earth are you saying now too.....’

I held down Peter’s hand as he went to brandish his gun.

No matter how accustomed to it I had become, I wished he would stop being so ready to shoot all the time. 

‘It doesn’t matter, so let’s hurry up and go, shall we?’

These were my true feelings.

I wanted to set out with Peter as soon as possible. 

I wanted to go around and see lots of things, just the two of us.

Just as Peter had said before, I wanted to enjoy April Season.

I wanted to create memories of all the seasons.

Together with Peter.

‘.....Yes, you’re right. I’m sorry, Alice. It was foolish of me to respond to someone like Ace so seriously.’ 

‘It’s fine. Well then, we should go, let’s not bother with someone like Ace.’ 

‘”Someone like me”..... You two are so heartless. Ahahahahaha.’

 Ignoring the Knight laughing refreshingly, I continued the conversation.

‘I had Joker change the season to autumn. We still haven’t gone out all that much in autumn yet, right? So.....’

‘Autumn? If that’s the case, there’s a great date spot you could go to.’

Still, to butt in even while being ignored was a habit for Ace.

Pleasantly, as if it were only natural, he joined in on our conversation.

‘It’s a place where the autumn leaves look really beautiful. It might take a bit of effort, but there’s nothing like the view from up there.’

‘Is that so.....’

‘Yep! When you look down, it’s all completely red, a real sight to see.’

(Autumn leaves.....)

I had seen them before in the garden of the cafe Peter had taken me.

They had been very beautiful but.....it had been an arranged, artificial kind of beauty.

The place Ace was recommending to us was, most likely, the complete opposite.

It was probably a place one could see the type of beauty untouched by human interference.

(....That might not be such a bad idea)

‘If it’s that good, maybe we’ll go have a look. Peter, is that alright with you?’

‘If you wish to go, it is absolutely fine with me! Even if it is a place someone like Ace told us about.’

‘You guys keep talking about me like that.....So harsh, and here I was nice enough to tell you about it.’

‘Well then, let’s go.’

After I’d thanked Ace for his help, we began to set out.

‘Ah. Just so you know, it’s a place that’s kind of out of the way, not many people go up there. So, no matter what you get up to, I don’t think you’ll have any problems, you see? There’ll be no one to interrupt.’

I purposely pretended to not hear the last words Ace had thrown out from behind us as we were walking away.

(The only thing you needed to tell us was how to get there. You XXX knight!)

+++

Peter and I walked through the autumn territory.

‘Hm~m, I think we’re supposed to go straight down this path, right.....?’

‘Yes, I think that’s probably right.’ 

We continued on, remembering Ace’s instructions.

Once we climbed up the stone steps this path came out on, we would reach our destination.....or so we were supposed to, anyway.

(.....This is Ace we’re talking about, after all)

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he was a man whose special skill was the ability to easily get lost.

Even if he himself thought he was telling us the right way, there was a high possibility that he was wrong.

‘Just to be safe, should we check with someone at one of the shops around here?’

‘Merely speaking to a faceless will likely get us utterly covered in germs but.....I suppose it cannot be helped. We are finally on a date after all, it would be better than finding ourselves lost.....’

‘Just talking to someone won’t get you covered in germs.....’

‘Do you want to rest for a while and drink some tea while we’re at it? I am a little tired.....’

It had been a fair distance to this place from the Castle.

And not only that, there had been so many people it had been hard to make progress, I’d become a bit exhausted.

 ‘! My apologies, Alice! I didn’t notice that you were tired..... Ah, what an inconsiderate Rabbit I am!’

‘You don’t need to apologise, let’s just go in.’

‘But-.....’

‘It’s fine, here-.’

Taking the hand of the Rabbit who had started to panic, I headed for a cafe that had caught my eye.

‘Alice, are you hungry? We’re in no hurry, after all.....Not just tea, you can eat as well, you know?’

‘That’s true.....Maybe I’ll take you up on that and order some cake.’

I answered while looking at a sign near the door that read ‘Autumn Cake Fair.’

The interior of the store wasn’t all that large.

Further in was the seating, with the display case and cash register near the doorway.

(Huh.....?)

The display case was lined with adorable looking toy-like cakes.

Normally, the overwhelming majority of people lining up for such things would be women.

However, this store was different.

As if to hide the display case from any customers coming in, a line of men were standing in front of it, all in a row.....

(What’s with this group.....)

A colourful, cute-looking café.

And a suit-wearing group that didn’t seem to fit the look of such a place.

Truth be told, it was an eerie looking scene.

(W-Wait, there are guys that do like sweets after all.....and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that but.....)

Still, it was peculiar.

‘Hm~m.....Perhaps I should get the Mont Blanc after all.....Ah, but it is difficult to turn down the milk crepe, it is the top recommended item here.....’

(Oh?)

(This voice.....)

‘You can buy whatever you like so.....Let’s quickly finish up here and return home, Lord Nightmare.’

‘As it is, our negotiations with the Hatter dragged on longer than expected..... We must return as soon as possible.’

‘Don’t rush me. I’ll decide soon.’

‘So you have been saying for some time now, yet you still haven’t made up your mind.’

‘He’s right. Please hurry up and decide. It’s alright to just buy everything you want to eat so-....’

‘I can’t do that. It would be a waste to buy an amount I can’t finish. And isn’t taking one’s time to decide all part of the fun?’

‘I understand that picking out the things that you like is enjoyable, but you’re taking too much time.’

‘That’s not true. I-.....Hm?’

No sooner had I thought the voice had stopped speaking, the suit-wearing group of men divided into two.

‘Ah, so it was you.’

‘Long time no see Alice.’

‘Nightmare, Gray.....’

And, their subordinates as well.

My friends who lived at Clover Tower.

‘Why are you guys in autumn territory?’

‘We had business at the Hatter’s.....’

‘We’re just on the way back from there. It’s been some time since I went outside, so I thought I’d buy some cake before we head home.’

‘I see.....’

Going outside for the first time in a while=Buying cake on the way home.

Although it was obvious now who the complainer had been, I decided to refrain from commenting.

But rather than that, what was bothering me was something else entirely.

(Nightmare hardly ever goes outside for work)

Because he was a habitual shut-in on top of having a weak constitution, Nightmare rarely left the Tower.

It had been a very long time since I had seen him outside of a dream or the Tower.

‘Even I go outside if I’ve got work to do, you know. My health isn’t too bad at the moment either.’

(Not again.....Quit reading people’s minds)

The dream demon who could read people’s minds was always reading my thoughts whenever he pleased.

I wouldn’t say that there weren’t times that it wasn’t convenient but.....for the most part it was simply unpleasant.

‘I haven’t vomited blood for a few hours at least now. Amazing, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, yes, it is amazing. Very impressive.’

‘Not only impressive, but rare. .....Therefore, I would very much like for you to return home as soon as possible so we can get to work.’

(If you can read minds, at least notice when the people around you are getting impatient)

It would appear that he wanted take Nightmare back home to the Tower as soon as he could.

As someone who also knew how ill he normally was, and how little progress he often made with work, I understood all too well how Gray must be feeling.

(Not only does he continually slack off because he hates working, his health condition breaks down so easily he’s perpetually on bed rest. Thanks to that, the work just keeps on piling up.....)

I remembered what his office had looked like when I had previously visited.

The mountains of documents stacked on the imposing looking desk.

‘I told you, just wait a moment. I’ll make up my mind soon.....’

‘That’s what you keep saying, but it’s been two hours already.’

‘T-Two hours.....?’

(Are you a child.....)

To spend that much time picking out a mere cake couldn’t be described as anything else but child’s behaviour.

‘Hmph. I’m no child!’

‘If you’re not a child, hurry up and decide, and then go home and do your job. Quit causing trouble for your subordinates.’

‘I’m not causing them trouble!’

‘It’s like you’re doing all you can to cause them trouble.....’

‘.....Whether you are a child or not, it does not matter to me.’

Peter interrupted my futile conversation with Nightmare.

The voice and gaze he directed towards the dream demon was chilly.

‘More importantly, will you not move? You are in the way.’

‘Hm? What’s this, White Rabbit. You want to buy cake too?’

‘Yes, I do. Although it will be her, not I who will be eating it.’

It would appear that this store was the kind where one paid up front.

The goods weren’t taken to your table, but passed over from the register.

(He’s not wrong.....he is in the way)

To make an order, one had to look at the menu.

Since I planned on buying cake, the group lined up along the display case, even before being an unusual sight were.....a hindrance.

‘Hmm..... I see, on a date, are we.’

‘!’

I started at Nightmare’s words.

(Doing as he pleases, again.....)

It would appear he was reading minds.

But this time, it wasn’t my mind he was reading, but Peter’s.

‘Yes, that is correct. We are on a date. Are you jealous?’

Nevertheless, the person whose mind was being read was undaunted.

Not just that, he even seemed to be bragging.

‘No, I’m not necessarily jealous-..... Rather than that, White Rabbit you’re.....’

‘What is it?’

‘.....Your mind is just like your current place of residence. Like your thoughts are in full bloom.....’

Even though I wasn’t the person whose mind was being read, hearing the words he spoke with a wry smile made me flush red.

(In “full bloom”, is it.....I wonder what Peter’s thinking about.....)

I hated that I had something of an idea.

‘..........Oi. Hide it a bit more. You shouldn’t be so wide open about that sort of thing-.....’

(“That sort of thing”, what kind of thing is that.....)

‘Hey, I told you to stop it.....Gah-!  Y-You.....I thought you hated dirty things, and yet you’re thinking about, something like that-.....’

(Like I said, what kind of thing is he talking about.....)

Somehow or other, it would appear the thoughts in Peter’s head were something untoward.

Nightmare’s face was busily going back and forward between going pale and turning red.

‘Hey, Lord Nightmare? Are you alright?’

‘Of course I’m not alright, not in the slightest.....-Ugh-’

‘White Rabbit, cut that out! At least close your thoughts so that I can’t hear them!’

‘Whatever could you mean? I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. .....What exactly do you want me to do about what?’

‘It’s still so bright out, how could you be thinking about doing that now, how-.....’

‘I am merely thinking about later, of course. What else would I be thinking about?’

‘Th-That’s true, you are thinking about later but-Gack-, Guah-’

‘Lord Nightmare!?’

In the end the usual fountain of blood gushed out of Nightmare.

.....Although this time it wasn’t from his mouth, but from his nose.

‘.....Hey, what were you really thinking about just now?’

Seeing Nightmare react like he was in some kind of cheap novel, I glared at Peter with half-narrowed eyes.

He had to have been thinking of something obscene, to make him spurt blood like that.

‘It wasn’t anything strange. I was simply thinking of later..... He is the one who has gone and read too much into it.’

The White Rabbit gave a broad smile as he answered.

‘Lord Nightmare, please pull yourself together!’

‘Ugh..... His rabbit's fever is making me feel sick.....’

‘Even though finally, for the first time in so long, your health had improved.....As I thought, if I had just taken you back home by force and not wasted time at the likes of a cake shop.....’

‘J-Just so you know, I’m still going to buy cake before I go home- If you don’t let me, I’m not going to do any work.....Gufu-’

‘Yes yes, I understand. We’ll get your cake, so please make sure to cover your nose!’

Looking at the now bloody scene (?) that was the Clover Tower group with a side-long glance, I chose my cake.

Although I did feel sympathetic for Gray, the thought that Nightmare had ‘reaped what he sowed’ was stronger in my mind.

That’s what you get for reading other people’s minds without permission.

(It’d be good if he learnt his lesson from this, even if it’s just a little)

‘One Mont-Blanc and some tea please.’

‘Understood.’

While thinking such thoughts, I placed my cake order with the shop attendant.

+++

‘The cake and tea were both delicious, weren’t they?’

‘I’m glad to hear it.’

After taking some time out to rest at the café, we headed out towards our destination.

(Not like I didn’t expect it, but Ace’s instructions really were a bit off after all....)

Thanks to them, we had ended up taking a long detour.

(Well, at least because of that we got to pass through here.)

It would appear the section of the autumn territory we were walking through right now was in the middle of holding a Halloween party.

The roadside trees and shops were all decorated for Halloween.

‘The face on that pumpkin sure looks weird.’

‘It really does. It looks just like Ace.’

‘Hm, I’m not so sure that it does.....’

It wasn’t just decorations, the shops were also all selling Halloween-style merchandise.

Once I spotted such a shop, I couldn’t help but want to take a look.

‘This spider plushie is really cute.’

‘Is it? I think you’re much more cuter.’

‘.....Hey, it’s weird to be comparing us like that, don’t you think?’

I took up one of the plush toys from the shelf.

The cartoony spider plushie was not only cute, but soft to the touch.

(It’s so fluffy.....)

I stroked the black fabric of the plush toy.

It was soft and fuzzy.

(.....Like Peter in his rabbit form)

Despite being a completely different colour, it felt the same.

When Peter was in rabbit form he was also fluffy.....like a plush toy.

‘..........’

‘Alice? Do you like it that much?’

‘!’

‘Huh? Ah, no. Not necessarily.....’

‘Really? You’ve been holding it for so long without letting go, I thought you must really have taken quite a liking to it.....’

‘If you like it, please be sure to let me know, alright? I’ll buy it for you.’

‘.....Sure, thank you.’

I answered Peter with a vague smile.

The spider plush definitely was cute, but what I had been thinking of while holding it was something else entirely.

‘Alice?’

Staring at me intently, Peter tilted his head quizzically.

(What a beautiful face....)

Even his puzzled looking face was beautiful.

(He’s attracting attention again)

It was the same as when we’d previously gone out to buy chocolate.

Peter was again attracting looks.....more specifically, the gazes of women.

And that made me feel irritated, as well as frustrated.

That people other than me were looking at him.

(.....If only Peter really was a plush toy)

I thought the same thing as I had back then.

If only I could buy Peter as if he were a stuffed toy.

If I did, I could make him mine alone.

I could hide him away, without having to show him to anyone else.

However, in reality Peter was no plush toy, and of course such a thing was impossible.

(.....Right now though, in a sense, it really is like he’s only mine)

The Rabbit who was devoted only to me, didn’t try to look at anything other than me.

He whispered to me that he belonged only to me.

Without criticizing me for always becoming anxious over the most insignificant of things, he comforted and spoiled me.

But even then, my anxiety didn’t disappear.

I continuously went around in circles worrying over the same things, getting anxious over different things one after the other.

Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I couldn’t fix my bad habit.

There was nothing to be done.

And, it wasn’t just anxiety that I felt.

(.....Sister.)

I was unable to look only at Peter as he looked only at me.

I wasn’t able to completely say that I didn’t need anything else.

I had left my heart behind in my previous world.

I couldn’t forget about my sister.

Even while knowing it would cause him sorrow, I couldn’t help going to the Prison.

(I can’t be like Peter at all)

I couldn’t become as devoted as him.

I couldn’t give him back what he gave to me. 

(I-.....)

‘Ah, it’s Big Sis!’

‘Big Si~s!’

‘!!?’

My serious mood didn’t last long.

Sudden intruders smashed apart my heavy thoughts.

‘O-Ow-.....’

Something had collided with my waist at full speed.

‘Good evening, Sis!’

‘Sis, good evening.’

‘Dee, Dum....’

‘Good evening you two. .....Those outfits really are something, huh?’

The Twins were dressed up for Halloween, wearing monster costumes that were fairly realistic looking.

(I don’t think they really needed to put all that fake blood on them though.....That is fake blood, right? It couldn’t be the real thing, could it?)

When it came to these two, I couldn’t say without a doubt that it wasn’t.

‘It is Halloween after all. We’re in costume!’

‘Does it suit us? Do we look handsome?’

‘It does suit you.’

As for whether they looked handsome or not, no comment.

Given they were wearing monster costumes, it was somewhat odd to be asked about handsomeness either way.

‘Heheh, thanks, Sis.’

‘You’re still as cute as ever, Big Sis!’

‘Thanks.....’

‘Alright, shall we do it then, Brother?’

‘We should, Brother.’

‘???’

(Do what?)

‘Trick or treat!’

‘If you don’t give us candy, we’ll play a trick on you!’

(Ah, I see.....)

I couldn’t help but smile at hearing the customary Halloween phrase.

At moments like these they were childlike and innocent.

‘We said the line, so please give us some candy, Sis.’

‘Ah, but it’s fine if you don’t, you know? Since it’s you Sis, I’d rather play a trick than get candy!’

‘Yeah yeah, I agree. Since it’s Sis, a trick would be way better than candy!’

.....I take back what I just thought.

These two were childlike and completely up to no good.

‘Um, wait just a moment. I’ll give you some candy.’

‘Aw-’

‘Aw-’

‘Quit sounding so disappointed.....’

As I spoke to the two of them, I searched my pockets.

I was sure I must have at least one piece of candy somewhere.....

(....................Uh oh)

No matter how many times I checked all the different pockets on my clothes.....there was nothing.

(O-Oh no.....)

A cold trickle of sweat ran down my cheek.

Seeming to have noticed that I didn’t have any candy partway through, the expression on the Twins’ faces changed.

Eyes shining in anticipation, they were waiting for me to say, “I haven’t got any.”

‘.....You two.’

‘What is it?’

‘What’s this, what’s this?’

‘...............I haven’t got any candy, so go ahead and play your trick.’

(Uuughh.....)

The Twins’ faces brightened with cheerful enthusiasm at my words

‘Big Sis said we could play a trick, Brother.’

‘What should we do, Brother? A normal trick would just be boring.’

‘If possible, I’d prefer a normal trick.....’

But of course, there was no way my words would reach their ears.

After whispering between themselves for a moment, they gave angelic looking smiles.

And then-

‘Kyaah-’

‘Heheheh.’

‘A trick~’

They both clung tightly onto me.

‘Y-You guys....’

‘You need to stay still, Big Sis.’

‘That’s right. We haven’t finished playing our trick yet.’

So speaking, the two of them brought their faces closer.

Something warm touched both of my cheeks.

‘-!?’

‘!!!’

‘!!!’

The moment they kissed me, I was vehemently pulled away.

‘.....Getting carried away just because I was holding my peace-’ 

Before I realized it, Peter’s arms were around me.

‘Peter?’

‘It’s alright, Alice. My apologies, I should have saved you a little earlier.’

He emphatically scrubbed away at the places the Twins had kissed me with a handkerchief.

Because he was doing it so thoroughly, pressing hard, it kind of hurt.

‘You’re just a Rabbit, mind not getting in the way?’

‘We were in the middle of playing a trick on Sis.’

‘What do you mean, a trick? How repulsive.’

Still wiping away at my cheek, Peter directed a piercing glare towards the Twins.

‘The only one who can touch her is me. The likes of filthy children need to stay away.’

‘We’re not filthy!’

‘That’s right. We’re much cleaner than some Rabbit!’

‘Even supposing you were cleaner than me, hypothetically, I still wouldn’t want you to touch her.’

‘She is my beloved. She is not somebody that children like you are permitted to touch.’

A charge crackled in the air between them.

The atmosphere around them was so hostile I felt as if I could almost really see the sparks.

(H-Hey now, don’t go fighting right in the middle of town, alright.....!?)

I’d prefer they didn’t fight anywhere at all, but in a central place like this.....especially with someone from another territory as the opponent, there was a high chance that bystanders would also become casualties.

‘Hey, you brats! What the hell are you doing over there!’

‘!’

‘!!!’

Just as the situation was about to reach peak volatility.

From off in the distance, I heard a familiar sounding voice.

‘Oh no, it’s the stupid rabbit.’

‘We’d better get out of here, Brother.’

The owner of the voice was the rabbit who lived at Hatter Mansion.

The expression on the children’s faces scrunching up in annoyance, they hurriedly began to run away.

‘We’ll remember this, Prime Minister of the Castle!’

‘We’re definitely going to get back at you someday for interrupting our trick on Sis!’

Leaving us with that parting line, the two disappeared into the crowd.

‘Hold up you two! I told you before we got here, we’re here to work, not play!’

‘As if!’

‘You sure you didn’t forget to tell us that in the first place, stupid rabbit?!’

‘I’m not a rabbit! And there’s no way I would have forgotten!’

‘I made sure all the guys were there while I explained it!  Everybody else heard me-!’

‘Well then, we must have ended up falling asleep.’

‘Either way, what we don’t know, we don’t know.’

‘You • guys-......!!!’

From far away, I heard the sounds of a fight starting.

The gunshots I’d completely grown used to hearing rang out.....

◦

‘.....Somehow, I feel kind of exhausted.’

‘!? Are you alright, Alice? Shall we rest somewhere again?’

As I murmured to myself in a worn-out sounding voice, the White Rabbit standing next to me worried for me to the point of overprotectiveness.

Although it did make me happy that he worried for me-

(At least half of my exhaustion is because of you too.....)

Dealing with both the mischief-loving Twins and the impetuous Rabbit was completely exhausting.

+++

‘Wow.....’

A sigh of admiration escaped me.

We arrived at the place Ace had told us about after traversing a hill road and making our way up a steep set of stairs.

‘Although the view was already pretty impressive while we were still on the way up.....’

As we looked down, it was red as far as the eye could see.

A type of vivid red that was different from that of Heart Castle, or the colour of blood.

The colour of autumn.

‘It’s so beautiful.....’

Bright red autumn leaves.

A single straight path running through the middle of it.

It was the kind of scene I couldn’t help but become captivated by.

‘Yes, it is beautiful indeed.’

For once, Peter straightforwardly agreed with me.

The scenery was just that striking.

‘It was worth coming all the way up here.’

‘Yes.’

‘Ah, there’s an autumn tree path over there too. Shall we go take a look?’

‘Of course, let us go.’

Gazing at the scene before us for a moment longer, we began to move.

Further in, a gently sloping tree-lined path came into view.

As we headed along that way, the path we came across was different to the one we had just ascended.

(There’s so many fallen leaves.....)

The path we had come up from hadn’t had a single fallen leaf on it.

It was probably because the wind had been so strong as we climbed up.

But unlike that one, this one had fallen leaves on it. Enough red coloured leaves had fallen that the path was entirely covered.

‘These are pretty too. It’s all completely red.....’

(Ah.....)

At that very moment, the time period changed over.

From daytime to dusk.

(It’s red.....)

The already red path was dyed an even deeper red.

The sky, the trees and the path, all of it.

(.....Somehow-)

It was a beautiful scene.

A different type of beauty to the one I’d seen at the cafe Peter had taken me to.

The natural kind, unaltered by human interference.

(-It’s kind of scary)

Although it was very beautiful.....it was almost too beautiful, and that scared me.

It felt like I was standing in the midst of a sea of blood.

(Blood.....)

I suddenly remembered.

What had happened at the Circus not so very long ago.

When the White Rabbit had gotten hurt and shed blood.

‘.....? Alice?’

I held tighter to Peter’s hand as he stood next to me.

At that time, I had been made to realise.

That partings in this world were something that came all too easily.

That there was a possibility that I might suddenly no longer be able to see my beloved Rabbit.

(I don’t want that to happen)

‘What is it, Alice? Are you not feeling well?’

‘.....That’s not it.’

I’d hate no longer being able to see Peter.

Just thinking about it frightened me.

I wanted him to stay at my side.

I wanted to be the one he ran to, always.

‘????’

‘Alice?’

Moved by impulse, I clung to Peter.

Above my head I heard the White Rabbit’s voice sound puzzled.

‘Peter.’

‘Yes, what is it?’

When I called his name, he would always answer straight away.

I wanted him to be this close to me forever.

I wondered if it was wrong for me to wish for such a thing. 

And I thought to myself that perhaps White Rabbit might also wish for the same thing I did.

(.....I’m not just being self-conceited, am I)

Up until now, such a thought might have plunged me into deep self-hatred.

Nonetheless, it was only when it came to Peter that I could say that I wasn’t just being egoistic.

That it would actually be cruel to think that it was just my own vanity.

‘Peter.’

‘What is it, Alice?’

Peter’s hands were stroking my hair.

Gently, and affectionately.

However, it didn’t allow me to feel anything more than that.

And that felt terribly frustrating.

‘!?’

‘..................’

‘Mmn-......’

‘......-‘

‘Alice, are you really alright?’

‘I'm fine.’

‘Then, why......’

His voice sounded uncertain and confused, but I didn’t let him speak further.

Just as Peter sometimes did to me, I stopped up his mouth with a kiss.

‘Peter…..’

(I love you)

I didn’t say it out loud.

Instead, I expressed it to him directly.

Physically, through shared touch.

‘Mnn-.....’

‘.....-’

‘.....Haah-.....’

Although Peter had been bewildered at first, as I continued to kiss him again and again, he went back to being his usual self.

We exchanged countless kisses that made me feel as if I were about to melt from the places that we touched.

‘Alice….’

‘Mn-’

Peter’s arms returned my embrace.

And not only that, I felt the cold air sneak in beneath my clothes. 

‘.....Uuh-’

‘Alice, Alice.’

‘Hah…..’

I began to feel as hot as the air around us was cold.

Peter’s hand touched me exploratively.

Carefully, yet boldly.

‘Fu-.....’

The further he went, the more feverish I became.

The places where we touched seemed to burn.

(Stay with me)

(Even closer, forever)

Despite it being impossible for him to be any closer to me than this, that was what I thought.

No matter how close he was, it wasn't enough.

No matter how much time we spent together.

My anxiety wouldn’t disappear.

‘......-’

‘Peter…..’

An impact, and pain.

For a moment, my anxiety along with everything else flew out of my head.

‘Alice…..’

In order to soften the pain…..and my anxiety Peter kissed me all over.

Strangely, just that was enough to make my anxiety fade.

It didn’t disappear completely, but it was enough that I was no longer consciously thinking about it.

‘I love you, Alice. My dear one.’

The White Rabbit whispered as he lastly placed a kiss at my chest.

Still in the same position, he held me.

Tightly, tightly.

‘I love you, Alice. So very much. I can't help but love you.’

Burying his face in my chest, the White Rabbit continued to speak.

‘I love you…………that’s why-’

(What? What did he say just now?)

His imploring sounding whisper was drowned out by the wind, and I couldn’t make it out.

▲▲▲FIN ▲▲▲

[arnethmyndraavn]

JnKnA Preorder CD ~Maker Ver.~ Download + English MTL Patch

DL: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zcy8FSI597xukH78-JRq99MK1jkGwhUl/view?usp=sharing This is a download for the preorder CD you'd get if you pre-ordered JnKnA from Quinrose back in the day. It contains some messages from voice actors and a short story focusing on Nightmare.

The CD has been tweaked to make it easier to play.

Tweaks include: Removed code requiring disc to be inserted into CD drive to play Code updated to run on English locale PCs English machine translation patch added patch.xp3 contains the English translation, so just delete it if you'd like to play in Japanese. This machine translation patch is not intended to be a replacement for official or fan translation. It is intended as an alternative to playing with VN OCR or just using google translate on your phone. It will have occasional nonsense translations or funny wordings.

If you encounter any game-breaking bugs please let me know.

[enchanted-twisted-dream]

If you live in Baltimore, fuck you!!!

It’s about time I got back into this series. Take my stupid sketch 

[idontthinkimokaymentally]

Hello there Joker fans.

[respect-the-gryphon]

((reblogging cause I love this abomination ))

((Finally. A post that I can get behind on. Meant to work on important things like working on this blog, but....this took priorities first. Have a Ace Furby. @kamil-a blessed me with this idea and already made a sticker of it - shxhfh))

[thesexydancingcrepe]

I been reorganizing my books last month & re-read some of my old collection, so now I'm back into Alice & the country of Hearts/Clover & Joker

So now my dumb@$$ is making self-insert fanart, specifically Me x Peter White shit

(Don't ask me about Alice in the country of Diamond because idc enough to go that far)

[ceruleanwhore]

Looking for Scans

I am but a poor English speaker with limited options in this fandom but I want to try translating some of the manga that never got officially translated or scanlated online. In college, I took a medieval literature class in which I was translating Old English poetry into Modern English (for reference, OE is literally German and has nothing in common with English), so I have experience doing translations with a language that I don't know. I want to test it out but I looked all over and I can't find scans of any of the books in Japanese anywhere on the internet, so I was hoping some kind soul could help me.

[lupiinist]

i've been on a bit of a dc brainrot for a while, but i also have the non-binary urge to make everything about the marauders, so here i'll be leaving my marauders x dc headcanons

regulus is batman. no, i won't hear anything about it. he didn't lose his parents tho, he lost his brother (sirius' alive, he just doesn't know it yet, lazarus pit, yada yada yada), he grew up with his buttler (not sure if it would be kreacher?) and ends up becoming the dark knight (rich, moved by vengeance, out for blood, but no killing)

james is superman, and i doubt anyone can argue with this one. (look at that man's big brown doe eyes and tell he wouldn't be the biggest superman fan). he was raised by effie and monty, but is the same old kryptonian we know. he rescues kittens on threes, shoots lasers from his eyes and is a big old softie

lily is lois lane. this woman has pulitzers and can change an entire country's point of view about something with 1 (one) column on the planet. she could be the president. she's beautiful. she's smart.

(also, this could be both a clois or superbat situation, doesn't really matter)

remus is jimmy olsen! tired alien bestie, likes to take pictures, wonders how no one else caught on that james is superman because that man can't lie to save his life??? he doesn't even look that different without his glasses??????

back to gotham, narcissa would be batwoman (reg's cousin, full of rage, wearing a bat mask to punch people on the streets? besides, BUFF NARCISSA? yes, please), dating her lovely future wife detective fortescue (alice is montoya, yes), i think she would still be married as narcissa for a while (she Will dump lucius' ass) and go out with alice as batwoman

on the other hand, bellatrix is absolutely harley, i don't think there's even another option? and yes, tom riddle is the joker (ironic for someone called riddle, i know), but who cares about him, honestly?

anyway, rita skeeter is poison ivy!

barty is catwoman, this man steals from the rich people, pisses off his father (crouch sr. would be gordon in this), and gets to flirt with big scary batman (he finds regulus so hot it's a bit pathetic)

pandora is babs, batgirl and future oracle, and i don't know if evan would be the first robin? the timeline in my head couldn't find a kid to be the first robin besides like, nymphadora, but i think circus evan and pandora who lost their parents, and one joined batman while the other became a cop is sort of nice?

on the robin situation, draco is jason todd (it gets progressively more angst the more you think about it), future red hood, and harry would be conner (yes, i know, 'why isn't harry jon?' because i don't want him to be :])

luna would be tim drake. she would one hundred percent manipulate regulus into letting her become robin after the previous robin's death, and she has what it takes to be both a genius and the next ceo of reggie's company. she's just that good.

and last but not least, my favorite ladies:

marlene mckinnon as supergirl, and dorcas meadowes as lena luthor. they hate each other. they find each other hot af. they pin after each other. why aren't they together yet???????

[forecast-draws]

The poll ends in 12 hours, roughly!

Reply or put in the tags if you have more than one answer, or if it’s someone whose name I couldn’t fit! Currently, Alice Liddell is the next one I’m working on, but beyond her, I’m not sure who I should work on next!

[zozoistireds-blog]

Rwby oc: Scarlet cards (Updated)

(Click image for better quality)

Name: Scarlet Cards

Age: sixteen

Allusion: card guards (Alice in wonderland)

Team: SIL (team silver)

Team members: Iris belladonna-xiao long, Leona pridely + herself

Semblance name: card game

Inspiration: Alice in wonderland card guards

Description:

This semblance allows the user to materialize one of five playing cards in front of them. Each card represents a different effect: four are beneficial buffs, granting temporary enhancements, while one card carries a detrimental debuff, posing a potential risk.

Effects:

• Ace of Spades: Grants a temporary boost to speed.

• Queen of Hearts: Enhances physical strength to allow the user to make heavier attacks.

• Jack of Diamonds: Creates a temporary aura of protection, mitigating incoming damage and increasing resistance to attacks.

• King of Clubs: Improves the user's reaction speed and agility, making them harder to hit.

• However, the fifth card is the Joker: a wild card that always brings a negative effect, ranging from temporary crippling pain or even worse, locking her out of using her semblance for an extended period of time.

Limitations:

Limited Draws: The user can only draw a maximum of five cards at a time.

Uncertainty: The user has no control over which card will be drawn.

Risk vs. Reward: The potential for incredible buffs comes at the cost of risking the crippling debuff.

Cooldown: After drawing a set of cards, the user needs a brief cooldown period before being able to draw again, unless the Joker card is pulled.

Usage:

Offensive Strategy: scarlet can draw one of her positive cards during combat to gain an edge, deploying buffs like Strength/Speed or temporary aura sheild to gain the upper hand but she has to be careful when she pulls the joker card.

Defensive Strategy: the King of Clubs card and Jack of Diamonds card can be used to bolster defences and allows scarlet to strategize against incoming attacks.

Example Scenarios:

Against a powerful opponent: scarlet draws a card, hoping to draw the Queen of Hearts card for a burst of power to overcome the opponent's strength. However, they draw the joker card, resulting in temporary paralysis, leaving her vulnerable and locking her out of her semblance for 10 minutes.

Facing a surprise attack: scarlet quickly draws a card, hoping to gain King of Clubs to avoid the attack and give her enough time to plan her counter-attack. Fortunately, she draws the Jack of Diamonds card, granting them the resilience needed to withstand the initial onslaught.

Defending against a group of enemies: scarlet draws a card, hoping to gain any other card than the joker to unleash powerful attacks against their pursuers. They are successful, but she pulls the joker card and it results in being locked out pf her semblance for 15 minutes , forcing them to rely on their base skills for survival.

Conclusion:

Card game is a high-risk, high-reward ability that hinges on chance and strategic decision-making. Scarlet must carefully weigh the potential benefits against the inherent risks, adapting her tactics based on the drawn card and the battlefield situation. This unpredictable nature makes scarlet a valuable ally, but also a formidable opponent, as her actions are never truly predictable.

Weapons: Ace deck and Dealer

Description: a musket rifle fused with an axe, with an added chain for long-distance Malay

Backstory: (long)

Scarlet cards, from two hunter parents, lived in a small town about ten years after the final war with salem. While salem was gone, the grimm she controlled once weren't.

Her parents being hunters were prone to travelling while working, taking her along on many of these journey across the country to help rebuild remnant (not the smartest idea) and tragically while the world was brought together there were still people that were selfish. On one of these trips, Scarlet and her parents had been travelling with another hunter. This hunter was weird, to say the least fidgety at most.

Unbeknownst to scarlets, parents, this hunter had been picking up random travellers and taking them to grimm hotspots outside of their town to supposedly keep grimm away from the people of said town. scarlet and her parents sadly were the next victims in this hunters' schemes. Taken away from the nearby path scarlets, parents sensed something off, drawing their weapons in defence, but by that point, it was too late.

Scarlets mother was killed first being attacked by a large ursa before she had any chance to really react. Her father managed to kill a good chunk of the attacking grimm before falling himself. Leaving scarlet defenceless, in a panic after watching her parent get murdered before her eyes scarlet had tripped and fallen down into a ditch where she was was pinned by her arm, she had no where to run. Bleeding and disoriented scarlet was unable to see the approaching grimm let alone move to escape, and before she knew it she felt the ripping and tearing of skin, and within seconds scarlets lower legs had been ripped to near shreads by stragglers from the hoard of grimm.

this was it scarlet thought, years of travelling safe and sound with her parents, happy and free all ripped away by one selfish person. This was how she died, and as consciousness left scarlet, she heard the sound of gunshots in the distance and grimm dissipating.

When Scarlet finally awoke, no longer was she in the dark forest that had taken her parents surrounded by grimm, she was in a room a room midn you with a very bright light above her. As Scarlet came to a calming voice, she spoke over her, telling her that she was ok, that she was safe, and that the person who was speaking was going to take care of her. Where am I? Why can't I feel my legs? Is what Scarlet asked still reeling from her traumatic encounter. The person that spoke to her stayed silent for a moment before telling scarlet thay she was in the next town over from the one her family was headed to, taken there by a huntress that was close behind the scarlet, her parents and the hunter that had betrayed them. And for her legs, the women told her, they had been to far damaged, in the end the only reason she managed to survive was because during the painstaking trip to save her life scarlets aura had been unlocked, quite the unclimactice way to unlock aura the women thought but the women continued to explain to the barely awake young girl that despite their best efforts they couldn't save her legs and that their was nothing they could do.

Years passed, and recovery for scarlet was non-linear. When she was 10, she finally managed to convince the Foster family that had taken her in to let her get prostetic for her legs so she wouldn't have to continue being kept inside. As she did the nesscassary physiotherapy to gain the strength to use the prostetics she was eventually given scarlet planned behind the scenes to become a huntress like her parents despite Forster families' objections, she wanted to be huntress, while grimm scared her due to the trauma of losing her parents in such a specific way, she made no that to as dwell her want to become a huntress partly overrode a good chunk of that fear as in the end her drive to help people like her parents was stronger to an extent, hell she'd never admit it but she'd always wanted to be one when she was travelling with her parents, and so despite everything, despite her fear, her trauma (which today she is still working on) the way of the hunter/huntresses was the path she chose and the path she has stayed on till the present day.

(Last bits a bit rushed but that's that basic idea for scarlet)

[wildflower-otome]

[Translation] Joker no Kuni no Alice - Always, Forever - Peter White Short Story (First Half)

Always, Forever - Joker no Kuni no Alice - Peter White Short Story (First Half) Source

‘Hm, let’s see.....’

It was April Season, during which, instead of time periods, it was the seasons that changed in rapid succession.  Just like the previous move, what had probably changed the most was this Forest.

To the Forest in which there should have been nothing, the Circus had come.

I went to see the man who led this Circus. In order to play a game.

‘Looks like.....it’s my victory.’

(Thank goodness)

Luckily, this time I had been the one to win. I was relieved at being able to get the result I had wanted.

‘So it would seem. I’m always losing to you. How vexing.’

‘.....Sure doesn’t seem that way though?’

Contradicting his words, an amused smile was plastered across Joker’s face. He didn’t seem to be the least bit annoyed.

‘Doesn’t it?’

‘It doesn’t.’

‘Fufu. Even though it really is vexing.’

(Liar)

 Joker was a liar. A liar clown.

I found him difficult to deal with. There was still too much distance between us to get along as friends.

And that distance didn’t seem likely to close anytime soon, but all the same.... like this, I still came to see Joker.

In order to change the season. Because it was necessary.

In order to change the season, I had to beat Joker in a game.

(However-)

I came here even outside of the times I wanted him to change the season.

In order to speak to Joker.

(That’s not true. I don’t enjoy talking to him)

.....Is it so I can go to that place?

(Although even if I were to go there, it’s not like there would be any point to it)

It would be pointless, and there would be nothing I could do.

Even though I knew that, I couldn’t help going. Despite knowing it would only make me feel gloomy.

‘What is it, something on your mind?’

Hearing him ask me, I returned to myself with a start. As I looked up, having started to look downwards before I realized it, Joker’s face was there, at a position our noses seemed about to touch.

‘!!?’

Surprised at how overly near to me he was, I shrank back, chair and all.

‘Wha!?’

H-He was way too close!

‘Ah, how mean. That reaction hurts a little.’

‘You’re hella unconvincing, laughing away like that.’

‘Is that so?’

‘Yeah. When you say that sort of thing, it's gotta have a lot more, ya know, atmosphere....’

‘A-Atmosphere.....Ahaha, what funny things you say, Joker.’

As I listened to Joker and the mask talk, I took several deep breaths in order to calm myself. Perhaps because he’d taken me by surprise, my heart was still pounding.

(H-He really startled me.....)

I’d been so surprised my earlier melancholy had completely blown away. All the same, I didn’t feel like being grateful to them at all.

The conversations between Joker and his mask. I had no idea if it was ventriloquism or something else. Rather than finding it amusing, it made me wary of him.

‘So then, Alice. Which season would you like me to change it to this time?’

‘Let’s see.....’

Joker asking the question, their conversation appearing to have come to an end for the time being, I thought for a moment, then answered with a season that was different to the one at the place I was residing at.

‘You really keep on wanting to change the seasons, don’t you? It’s not good to be so fickle, young lady.’

‘It’s not like that, not exactly.’

I just wanted to have fun.

Spring, summer, autumn and winter, there were so many things I wanted to enjoy. Things different from the usual.

All kind of seasons, together with that person.

‘.....I’ve done what I came for, so I’ll be going now.’

Wanting to return as quickly as possible, I forcefully brought the conversation to an end. Joker and the mask, their moods seemingly undisturbed (although the mask doesn’t have a facial expression so it was hard to tell) saw me off, grinning broadly.

‘See you again, Alice. Do come again when you want to change the season.’

‘Make sure you come and see the next Circus.’

(The Circus, huh.....)

As I took a momentary glance at them, I could see the troupe members practicing their skills.

Large-scale tricks and wondrous arts. The Joker’s Circus was dazzling, no matter how many times I came to see it.

Each time it was held, the program and performances were different, always full of innovative ideas, an extremely enjoyable experience. Those who saw it became as lively as children.

(Still, there’s a place that’s more fun than the circus.)

A fun and important place.

The place where the people important to me were. The place..... I returned home to.

It wasn’t here.

(I need to hurry and get back)

+++

After walking for a while, my place of residence..... Heart Castle, came into view.

(I don’t dislike spring either but.....)

I enjoyed Easter and going on flower viewing picnics. Tea parties held in the midst of spring flowers had a different kind of elegance than usual. Brilliant and warm, comfortable for everyday living, a good season.

However, there were many things one couldn’t do or see unless it was a different season.

(Since I went to all that effort to change the season, I wonder if I should try inviting him out.....)

When it was April Season, the face of the person who I had suddenly become closer to came to my mind. I was sure that he would say yes.

Like he always did. With a smile.

‘You two..... Coming out from a place like that again!’

‘Oh? Haha, what a coincidence, Majesty. What are you doing in a place like this?’

‘Ah, I do not care at all what her Majesty is doing here. More importantly, Alice! Where is Alice!?’

‘Ah.....those beautiful flowers.....’

‘I do not care about flowers! Alice is much more important than those masses of germs!’

As I walked along thinking about what we might do on the outing, I heard familiar voices.

It would seem all three of them (as well as the King, incidentally) were here at just the right time.

(.....Seeing them like this kind of gives me dejavu)

I gave a wry smile at the scene off in the distance.

Appearing from a path that wasn’t a path, the two had made a mess of the flowers. Just like last time, Vivaldi had gotten angry at them.

But it appeared the Queen was even more furious than she had been the previous time.

‘.....You over there. Cut off their heads.’

‘Huh!? That’s-.....’

‘Ah~ I finally made it to the Castle. It sure was a long journey this time round. Ah, Majesty, could I drink this tea?’

‘Alice! Where are you-!?’

A Queen handing down a dangerous order. A Rabbit and Knight unbothered by their superior’s wrath.

(Still the same commotion as always, no matter what season it is, huh)

Though I didn’t realise it, a smile had crept unbidden onto my face.

Unchanging despite the change of seasons.

Peter was here, Vivaldi was here, and so was Ace. (And the King too, I suppose)

Lively and warm.....an important place to me.

‘Did you not hear our order?’

‘Y-Yes. Of course, your orders are absolute.....’

‘If that’s the case, cut off the heads of these fools this instant!’

Having been threatened by Vivaldi, the soldiers nervously faced down Ace and Peter.

‘Hm? What’s this? You want to train here? I don’t mind, but I’m tired right now so I won’t be able to hold back, you know?’

‘I am already irritated enough from getting germs, please do not irritate me even further.’

‘Eek-.....’

‘-Guh.....-‘

(.....Although, they are a bit violent.) It would appear that whether it was the time period or season that was changing, that alone remained the same.

‘Even though I was telling you to cut off their heads as soon as possible.....How on earth do you plan on doing that if you’re the ones going down first..... Ah, how aggravating.’

‘Hahaha, Majesty, do you seem kind of annoyed? Stress is bad for the skin. You’ll get wrinkles you know?’

‘Irritated or not, she is probably already at the turning point when it comes to skin condition..... More importantly, Alice! I’ve gone to all this effort to finish up with work, and yet she is nowhere to be found-.....’

Having defeated the soldiers in one strike (unusually for him, he had left them alive), Ace was making roundabout and cryptic digs.

And while joining in with his own remarks, Peter lamented while seeming truly sorrowful from the bottom of his heart.

It was that woebegone-looking Peter that Ace pleasantly began to pick a fight with.

‘Maybe she left because she didn’t want to see you, Peter? Recently you’ve been more annoy-.....no, far more clingy with Alice than usual.’

‘.....It is you that is getting too close to Alice. Could you please stay far away from my beloved? She’ll get your germs.’

‘Aw, that’s not very nice of you, Peter. I haven’t got any type of germs that will transfer just from getting close to someone you know?’

‘Are not you yourself a mass of germs? Ah, how filthy.’

‘Hahaha, well, guess I might be dirty compared to a germophobic Rabbit.....’

‘Even without comparing yourself to me, you are absolutely covered in germs. Since you are so dirty, would you mind not getting any closer?’

‘Hahaha. So the animal says.....’

A pleasantly laughing Knight and a coldly intimidating Rabbit. The atmosphere around them was so dangerously chilly it may as well have been winter there.

‘Feh! We do not care who it is, somebody just cut off their heads!’

‘Hey, calm down Vivaldi....’

It would appear that Vivaldi’s anger was no closer to subsiding. The King was doing his best to placate her.

However, neither Peter nor Ace seemed to care. They continued on with their own exchange.

‘Ah, or perhaps I shall make it so you can’t get any closer? I could shoot through your legs and maybe open up a hole in your head for ventilation while I’m at it.’

‘Hahaha, can’t say I like the sounds of that, Peter. Even I would die if you did that.’

(.....Well, maybe more than just “a bit” violent)

An extremely perilous and lively place. From another’s point of view, it would not at all appear to be a place suitable for living.

But for me, it was a place that felt awfully comfortable to be.

Suddenly, my gaze met that of the person in the middle of the commotion. As I waved my hand a little as if to say, ‘I’m back’, a smile spread across their entire face.

A smile that looked so elated, it made me happy too just seeing it.

They turned towards me. Throwing aside everything they had just been doing.

They headed towards me in a straight line. No matter when, without fail.

Single-mindedly. But, in a way that gave me a feeling of feverish sweetness.

Always, at any time.