#alice kingsleigh

[retrodisneydaily]

our followers’ top 10 classic disney films 

2. alice in wonderland (1951)  dir. clyde geronimi, wilfred jackson, hamilton luske

[cece693]

You're Not Crazy Pt.1 (The Mad Hatter x M! Reader)

I got an ask some time ago about writing for other Depp characters such as the Mad Hatter. I haven't seen the movies recently, so some things might not be canon, however, I do want to explore this fandom since it is relatively empty of fanfics :) I left it purposefully open-ended in case you guys want a 2nd part.

Summary: You believed your sister when she returned home and spoke of a land where magical and peculiar people roamed. You asked her to take you there, and there, you encounter the Mad Hatter.

tags: of age reader, your Alice's brother, older by a few years, you hadn't seen wonderland before, not following story or book timeline

You believed your sister from the moment she returned home, eyes wide and voice trembling with excitement. She spoke of a world hidden beyond the ordinary, a place where logic twisted into nonsense and peculiar beings roamed freely—a land called Wonderland. You listened, enraptured, as she described a realm of talking animals, living chess pieces, and the most unusual of tea parties. While others dismissed her tales as ramblings of a crazed girl with an overactive imagination, you knew better. You had always known better.

“I want to see it,” you told her one evening. “I want to go there, too.”

Your sister hesitated, her face clouding with concern. “It’s not a place for everyone,” she said softly. “It can be…overwhelming.” But you insisted. If she could brave Wonderland, then so could you. And so, with reluctance, she agreed.

The next day, you followed her through the forest behind your home, down winding paths that seemed to shift and change when you weren’t looking. Eventually, she stopped by a large oak tree, its roots sprawling like the fingers of some great, sleeping beast.

“This is where I fell through.” And before you could ask what she meant, she took your hand and jumped, pulling you into the hollow darkness beneath the tree.

The fall was long and winding, like tumbling through a kaleidoscope of colors and strange sounds. When you finally landed—rather unceremoniously—on a bed of soft grass, you found yourself surrounded by an impossible landscape. The sky was a deep lavender, the grass a brilliant shade of blue. Flowers whispered secrets as you passed, and a brook giggled like a child at play.

"Welcome to Wonderland." Your sister announced with a smile, her eyes alight with familiarity.

It was more magical and bizarre than you could have imagined. You wandered through towering mushroom fields and past chattering woodland creatures, your eyes darting in awe. But one tale from your sister’s stories captivated you most—the Mad Hatter and his eternal tea party.

You begged her to take you there, and she obliged, leading you down a winding path that seemed to twist back on itself like a living thing. She left you at the entrance to a clearing, insisting that the rest of this adventure would be yours alone.

“Just be careful with him.” she warned softly before disappearing back down the path. Confused by her words, you approached the clearing cautiously, the sound of clinking china and cheerful, nonsensical chatter growing louder with each step. And then you saw him—the Mad Hatter, sitting at the head of a long, crooked table filled with teapots, mismatched cups, and an array of pastries that defied description.

His hair was a wild mop of orange curls and his large green eyes glimmered with a feverish brightness. Beside him sat a hare who seemed to be caught in a perpetual state of alarm, and a sleepy mouse that napped in a teapot.

“More tea?” the Hatter exclaimed, lifting a cup in your direction before noticing you. “Ah, a new guest! How splendid, how rare!”

You hesitated, taking in his erratic movements and the almost manic excitement in his voice. He seemed to be all contradictions—both welcoming and wary, kind and somehow unsettling.

“I…I’ve heard a lot about you.” You said carefully, stepping closer.

“Have you, now?” The Hatter's eyes widened, and he leaned forward as if this was the most intriguing news he'd heard all day. “And what did you hear? That I’m mad as a hatter?”

You chuckled. “Well, yes. But also that you throw the best tea parties in Wonderland.”

This seemed to please him immensely. “Then you’ve heard correctly!” he declared, standing up with a flourish. “Do sit, do sit! There’s always room for one more at my table. Unless, of course, it’s Tuesday, and we’re already three cups deep in the riddle rounds. But it’s not Tuesday, is it?”

You shook your head, finding yourself smiling despite the oddity of it all. “No, it’s not Tuesday.”

“Wonderful! Sit, sit!” He patted a chair beside him, his smile so wide it was almost infectious. As you took your seat, he poured you a cup of tea without asking if you wanted one, dropping in a few sugar cubes for good measure. “Tell me, what brings you to my humble tea party? And don't say 'a rabbit,' because that would be terribly unoriginal.”

You explained how your sister had told you stories of this place and how you wanted to see it for yourself. The Hatter listened with an almost childlike fascination, nodding and “hmming” at all the appropriate moments.

“There’s something different about you.” he said thoughtfully after a while. “Most people who come here are either lost or looking for something they don’t understand. But you—oh, you’re not like the others, are you?”

You shrugged, unsure how to respond. “I just…wanted to see if it was real.”

The Hatter’s grin softened into something almost genuine. “And now that you’re here? What do you think?”

“I think it’s more than real,” you said. “It’s…alive.”

His eyes seemed to glow with approval. “I like you.” he declared suddenly. “You’re not afraid of madness. You might even be a bit mad yourself.”

You laughed, feeling a strange warmth spreading through your chest. For all his eccentricities, the Hatter made you feel like you belong in this topsy-turvy world. And you realized, with a start, that you liked it. You liked him.

As the days passed, you found yourself returning to the Hatter's tea party again and again. You never knew what to expect—sometimes, you’d spend hours debating the merits of invisible jam; other times, you’d sit in comfortable silence, simply enjoying the strangeness of each other’s company.

The Hatter, for his part, seemed equally drawn to you. He would light up whenever you appeared, his eyes twinkling with mischief and delight. There were moments when his wildness would soften, and you’d catch a glimpse of something deeper beneath the madness—something vulnerable and achingly sincere.

But as the weeks turned into months, a quiet conflict began to stir within you. Wonderland was a place where time didn’t matter, where rules were made to be broken, and madness was a way of life. And yet, the longer you stayed, the more you began to feel a strange pull—a yearning for the world you had left behind. Memories of home, of mornings filled with familiar scents and sunsets painting the sky in shades of gold, tugged at the edges of your mind. Then there was your sister who you dearly missed. You tried to ignore the pull, losing yourself in the Hatter's antics but the feeling persisted.

The Hatter noticed, of course. He was always watching you with those keen, almost too-bright eyes. One evening, as you sat together beneath the stars, he turned to you, his expression unusually serious.

“You’re thinking about it, aren’t you?” he asked quietly.

“Thinking about what?”

“Leaving.” he said, his voice edged with something fragile and raw. “Going back to your world. Abandoning me.”

His words cut deeper than you expected. “It’s not like that, Hatter. I just…I miss some things from home.”

“But you can’t have both.” he replied sharply. His hands trembled as he poured himself another cup of tea, spilling more than half of it onto the table. “You can’t live in two worlds at once. Sooner or later, you have to choose.”

You felt a pang of guilt twisting in your chest. “I don’t want to leave you. Not really.”

“Not really?” he repeated, his voice rising, eyes narrowing as he stared at you. “But ‘really’ enough to think about it. To dream of it.”

The words stung, and you felt a flare of frustration. “It’s not that simple, Hatter! You don’t understand—”

“I don’t understand?” His voice rose, and he stood abruptly, knocking over his chair. “Oh, I understand perfectly! You think you can dip in and out of Wonderland as you please, but this place changes you. It consumes you. And you think you can just walk away?”

“I don’t know what I want!” you shouted back, standing to face him. “I care about you, I do. But I can’t just—”

“Then go!” he interrupted, his face twisted in anger and heartbreak. “Leave if you must. But don’t come back. I can’t bear the thought of you dangling the possibility of forever only to snatch it away.”

“I’m sorry.” you whispered, unsure of what else to say. The Hatter’s face crumpled, and for the first time, you saw him for what he truly was—a broken soul clinging to the one bit of sanity that remained: you.

“Don’t be.” he murmured, turning away. “I’m just a madman, after all. And what would a madman know of love?”

As you stood there, watching him retreat into himself, you felt the weight of the decision pressing down on you like never before. Wonderland was a place of wonder, but it was also a place of madness. Could you stay here forever, leaving the world you knew behind in favor of Hatter's affections?

The answer wasn’t simple. It wasn’t clear. But as you watched the Hatter, his shoulders slumped and his hands trembling, you knew one thing: if you left, a part of you would always remain in Wonderland—lost among the teapots and riddles, forever searching for a madman’s love.

[necroneol]

alice!

[periodcostumefantasylover]

Alice Kingsleigh's chinese dress in Alice through the Looking Glass

[vxmpire-vxlle]

Alice: Madness Returns.

Did you play this gem?

[byzbi]

“but a dream is not reality”

“who’s to say which is which”

[wwillywonka]

☆GET TO KNOW ME♡: [12/?] Favorite Characters

TARRANT HIGHTOPP - Alice in Wonderland (2010) / Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)

I'm frightened, Alice. I don't like it in here, it's terribly crowded.

[goldiesay]

“In the gardens of memory, in the palace of dreams, that is where you and I will meet”

[alittleplaytime]

Alice Kingsleigh Agere Stimboard!!

🍰 🐇 💐 | 🍰 🐇 💐 | 🍰 🐇 💐

🌼 media: alice in wonderland (2010)

🐝 age appropriate? yes! this movie is rated pg and was made with the intentions of being a child friendly, family movie - however if you're not a fan of implied violence and themes of derealization, i would recommend checking warnings and being careful while watching. as always, it's okay to turn anything off if it isn't for you! <3

🍯 rqd by: @crookedtimemachinevoid

🌻 note: alice in wonderland was one of my favourites growing up as a kid who read often and daydreamed about going to magical places so i really loved making this. i want o get an alice in wonderland paci one day!!

alice headcanons:

a lot of the inhabitants of wonderland all collectively care for her when she's regressed!! (mostly hatter, the white queen and the white rabbit)

the hatters tea party constantly make up events to celebrate alice because it makes her giggle and they love seeing her get so excited about it

as alice is a very adventurous girl, most days end with all her friends having to look around for her, usually finding her with a dirty dress and holding some random creature as she smiles proudly

no matter how many times she eats the shrinking and enlarging cookies/drink, she will always do it again when she stumbles upon them, she loves seeing the world at every size possible. she's such a curious girl <3

in the real world she gets a plushy made of all her wonderland friends so she can have them with her always!!

[calebs-hangout-corner]

Hey guys

[bvbygrl-writes]

Under The Table

Pairing: Alice Kingsleigh x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 2.3k

Summary: A trip under the table leads to a night of wonder.

A/N: No one asked for this but I don't care. There's not enough love for Alice out there when she's my dream girl fr

Warnings: A brief drinking scene but other than that none!

Alice was never a fan of this lifestyle her mother kept trying to get her to live. The clothes, the silly little rules that needed to be followed, the boys. It wasn’t as though Alice wasn’t attracted to men, she was sure she was sometimes. But every man she had met in her life (even tonight) just was dreadfully boring. The only things they seemed to know how to talk about were marriage and children and that was just something she was not interested in at the current moment. 

She sighed, shuffling as she tried to get comfortable in her dress which had proven to be impossible, the tight corset squeezing her organs. Tilting her head back, she stared at the haughty chandelier before her eyes drifted to the paintings on the ceiling, wondering what it’d be like to jump inside of one, flying amongst the clouds with the sweet cherubs within. The blonde girl was quickly brought from those thoughts as her mother nudged her side with her elbow, clearing her throat.

“Men don’t like an absent minded girl, Alice. A young lady should be dignified and graceful. Stand up straight. After you ruined things with Hamish, this may very well be your last chance to get married.” She chastised, a stern look in her sharp eyes. Alice humored her, standing up straighter as she focused her gaze ahead right onto the dance floor. She watched boredly as the different pairings danced, some with happy expressions and with others not so much.

“It’s entirely unfair. Why should a woman have to marry a man in order to survive in this society? Haven’t you ever wanted to explore, mother?” She asked, shifting her brown eyes to her mother.

“No.”

—------------------------------

It seemed like eternity that they had been at this gala, trying her best to put on a pleasant act for the few suitors who did come up and show interest. She had danced with a few men. One was quite old and radiated a funny smell that she could not put her finger on. The other crushed her toes with every step, making her glad that she had worn her boots under her dress instead of the heels her mother had tried forcing her into. The last one however was a relatively normal man. He was respectful, charming, and quite handsome. She was sure he’d make someone happy, but for her she felt no connection much to her mother’s dismay.

“I’m quite parched so if you’ll excuse me…” Alice trailed, curtseying before walking away in a hurry. She ignored her mother’s disappointed expression as she wandered through the large double doors to the outside refreshments table. Her body relaxed as the gentle breeze made contact with her body causing her to let out a relieved sigh. 

For the first time in the night, she was allowed peace and freedom to herself. A few gathered around outside, speaking in small groups but she paid no mind to them. Looking down at the table, she saw all sorts of cakes, sandwiches and punches. Knowing her mother was probably watching from a distance, she opted to just grab something to drink to avoid the lecture. However, as her hand reached forward for one of the glass tea cups, she heard a thud from under the table. ‘Have I gone mad?’ she thought, brows furrowing. Her thought was quickly dismissed as this time a hand reached from under the white tablecloth, grabbing one of the small tea cakes. 

Alice looked both ways, making sure no one was looking before she bent down and lifted the cloth up. Under the table sat a girl who looked her own age. Her legs were to the side, back hunched over as she sipped on a bit of punch, putting cake into her mouth at the same time. She repeated these actions a bit more, mouth rapidly chewing before she looked up at Alice. Her (e/c) eyes grew wide as she jumped a bit, her head hitting the table making the same thud that Alice had heard minutes before.

“Oh, Dickens!” she whisper-shouted, rubbing the back of her head. Alice found herself quite intrigued by her. She had (h/c) hair pulled back into an intricate style, pearls placed sporadically around her head. Her silk white gloves looked like they were spun from silk, the lace detailing on the cuffs coordinating with the ones on her dress. But her face is what really caught Alice’s attention. She had to be the most wonderful woman Alice had ever seen. Long lashes reminiscent of a babydoll with a pair of pretty (e/c) eyes to match, a light dusting of blush on her cheeks along with beautiful, soft lips to complete the look. “How do you do?” she asked.

“Well. I’m sorry about your head. Mind if I join you?” Alice asked. The girl shook her head, yanking the blonde under the table with her. She let out a small noise, rubbing at the bottom of her back from the force of the motion, but didn’t comment on it otherwise. The two sat quite close together despite the table stretching out a few feet longer but neither girl seemed to mind it. “I’m Alice.”

The girl offered her a smile. “(Y/n). Lovely to meet you, Alice.” she responded. Alice watched as (Y/n) lifted her dress to her knee, opening a small pouch that was fastened around her calf. She pulled out a tiny flask, taking a swig before holding it out to Alice. “Would you like some?”

“Please. I think I may need this in order to get through the rest of this event.” she said, twisting open the bottle before taking a sip. Her face winced at the burn in her throat, but she did not cough. The last thing she wanted to do was look stupid in front of the first interesting person she had spoken to during the night. The (h/c) haired girl hummed at her words, sticking the flask back into the pocket before looking up at Alice once more.

“That may very well be true if we stay here.” she said, putting quite the emphasis on the word ‘stay’. Alice tilted her head curiously at her words.

“Well, what other option is there? My mother is on me like a hound, I’m surprised she hasn’t sent someone after me already.” the girl groaned, nodding as she scooted a bit closer to Alice.

“Here, here. My mother will not let me breathe. It seems that just about everyday she’s trying to put me with a new dimwitted man.” she sighed out in an exasperated tone. The blonde studied the girl's tired expression, the same one she had worn out in the ballroom the entire night. She knew that look all too well. She felt her heart race as (Y/n) put her face closer to hers, her hand resting on top of her own. 

“I think we should be allowed to love freely and make our own choices.” she whispered,  Alice nodded along dreamily, her own head beginning to lean in. Their faces were extremely close, the breath of each other’s lips could be felt on one another’s. “Do you trust me, Alice?” (Y/n) purred out, her eyes half lidded. The blonde nodded in a daze, hypnotized by her. The girl smiled, pulling away as she lifted the other side of the table cloth. She stuck her head out, looking both ways before pulling her head back in. “When I crawl out, count to ten. Once I do, crawl all the way to the hedge before making a break for it and stopping at the first tree, okay?”

“Alright.” Alice could feel herself buzzing with excitement. (Y/n) was clearly one for a good bit of fun and an adventure. She watched as the girl crawled out slowly, starting to count down as the cloth went completely down. Once she got to zero, she did as she was told crawling out from the table. Her heart raced wildly as she crawled down the steps, laying on her stomach when she reached the grass. She shimmied across the damp grass, staining her dress and stockings. Her eyes squinted in the darkness of the night before they focused in on the large hedge, speeding up as she grew closer to it. As soon as she was next to it, she stood up and began to take off. The first tree to the forest entrance was not too far, making it an easy marker. (Y/n) smiled as she got there, reaching for the taller girl’s hand.

“Nicely done. Follow me.”

—------------------------------------------------------

(Y/n) had revealed on their walk through the forest that she was so familiar with escape routes because this was her home. That fact did shock Alice due to the sheer size of the house and property. Most people, men and women alike, of wealth she had met were completely full of themselves. Always bragging about their fortune and materialistic objects. Even when it came to telling Alice this was her family’s home she had done so in such a casual way that she thought she misheard her the first time around.

The two of them sat on a large swing in front of a small lake in the center of the forest. It was a lovely change from where they were before. The crickets chirped happily in the grass, owls calling back and forth to one another. (Y/n) sighed causing Alice to look up at her. Her gaze was still ahead of them on the lake, watching a family of deer across the way. 

“Do you ever wish you had a choice in the kind of man you were set to marry?” she asked, the side of her gloved hand pressed against Alice’s ungloved one.

“All the time. I’d love to end up with someone who’s thoughtful, witty, adventurous.Someone I could travel the world and make many pleasant memories with. I-if I’m honest with you, most of the time I am not even sure if I’d pick a man.” she admitted. (Y/n) whipped her head, looking at her with an unreadable expression. She inched closer to her, before wrapping her arm around Alice’s, resting the side of her head against her shoulder. The blonde rested her head on the top of hers. It felt so natural to be so close and affectionate with her, as if their bodies were made to touch.

“I am more than sure I would not. Before tonight, I’ve never had this much fun with any of the men my mother has tried to put me with. At the risk of sounding mad-”

“Don’t worry, I quite fancy a bit of madness.” Alice interrupted, placing a sideways kiss to the top of her head.

“What if we were to just…marry each other? Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I feel as though we’ve taken quite a liking to each other. And as I sit here in your arms, I know that this feeling will grow more each day. I am also of much higher status than that dastardly Hamish man you told me about.” Alice chuckled at that. She could imagine how nice it’d be to get married to (Y/n). waking up each day and seeing that angelic face. Packing up and heading overseas to China, discovering new lands along the borders of India, eating pastries in France. A smile overtook her face as she thought of herself with a suit on and (Y/n) walking down the aisle in a beautiful gown.

“That sounds like a dream come true. Our mothers would never agree to it but I don’t care. I’d run away with you if I had to.”  (Y/n) lifted her head up, a smile on her face in the sincerity of Alice’s words. Tears began to form in the corner of her eyes which Alice was quick to brush away. “I’d become a beggar on the street with you if it meant this night would never end. (Y/n), I…” without another word, Alice leaned down, kissing the girl deeply which she gladly returned. Alice took charge, her tongue exploring the smaller girl’s mouth before she could get too carried away, their foreheads against each other as they panted breathlessly.

“I’ll pack my bags tonight, we can leave in the morning.”

“I believe that will not be necessary.” Alice felt the blood drain from her face at the sound of her mother’s voice. The two girls slowly turned around, jumping from their spot as they stood side by side. They both tried talking at once to which Mrs.Kingsleigh just held a hand up for them to stop, causing them to hush. “Alice, I’ve known there was something different about you. I’ve tried for years to get you to do as I want you to do, be the woman I want you to be, but I see now that was a mistake. You will always be your father’s daughter and I regret thinking otherwise.” Alice let her head drop, shoulder’s deflating with defeat. She had heard several stories about mothers shipping their daughter’s off to mental institutions for stepping out of line. And with all other things Alice had put her mother through, she was sure this was the final straw. But as (Y/n) slipped a shaky hand into her own, she knew she had the courage to stand up to her mother. 

Taking a step forward she went to speak but her mother continued on. “But what I’d regret more is standing in the way of your happiness. I’ll talk to Lady (Y/n)’s mother about this. Come along, the temperature is dropping and we do not need either of you to fall ill.” The girls looked at each other with bright smiles, swinging their hands back and forth as they followed Mrs.Kingsleigh back to the manor.

Perhaps these social gatherings did have a purpose.

[cece693]

you wrote about the mad hatter so well... i don't want to overwhelm you, obviously, but i would love a 2nd part!! and maybe in the future you can write some smut scenario with him? 😶‍🌫️

You're Not Crazy Pt. 2 (The Mad Hatter x M! Reader)

Here's the second part :) I'm iffy on writing smut for the Hatter since he's so childlike and I think he wouldn't go that far with someone, he probably finds kissing pleasurable enough, but who knows. I'll probably end up doing it 🤷‍♀️

tags: angst, happy ending, the reader tries to say goodbye, mentions of Alice, the reader is an idiot, but redeems himself

The Hatter's words stung, but you couldn't stay with him. You didn’t belong to Wonderland, as much as you envisioned yourself adapting to the world. You didn’t share its whimsical madness, its strange logic that defied all reason. You loved its colors, its characters—especially him—but deep down, you felt like an outsider playing pretend in a place that wasn’t truly yours.

So, you left.

Back in the real world, everything felt strangely muted. The once-familiar streets seemed dull and lifeless, lacking the vibrancy of Wonderland. Your sister Alice noticed your somber mood almost immediately. She’d seen you come back looking tired or perplexed before, but never like this. It was as if the life was sucked out of you; You weren’t yourself. She knew something big must've happened to put you in such a state.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the room, Alice found you sitting by the window, staring off into the distance. She approached quietly, her voice soft. “You’ve been awfully quiet since you got back. What happened in Wonderland?"

You hesitated, the words sat heavily on your tongue, reluctant to be spoken. How could you even begin to describe what had transpired in Wonderland? The way the air had seemed to still when the Hatter looked at you with those wild eyes, the hurt lurking behind his laughter? But after a moment, you sighed and decided to open up, knowing Alice would pester you otherwise.

“The Hatter…he told me to leave. He said I should return home. So, I did.”

Alice watched you carefully, her brow furrowed with concern. “But why would he say that?” she asked softly. She knew the Hatter was eccentric and unpredictable, but she had seen how he looked at you, how his eyes lit up whenever you were near.

You shook your head, frustration mixing with the ache in your chest. “I don’t know.” you admitted, though it wasn’t entirely true. “I think…I think he was afraid. Afraid I’d leave on my own someday, find something more important than him.” Your voice wavered, and you clenched your fists to steady yourself. “He wanted to push me away before I could do it to him.”

Alice remained silent for a moment, her expression softening as she pieced together what you weren’t saying. “So, you just left because he told you to?” she asked, not accusingly but with a kind of gentle reproach. “Without telling him how you felt?”

You looked down, guilt settling like a stone in your stomach. “I thought it was what he wanted.” you murmured. “I didn’t want to hurt him more by staying. But leaving…it felt wrong, too. It still does.”

Alice reached out, placing a comforting hand on your shoulder. “You men and your pride,” she said with a soft chuckle. “You’re both acting like fools. You know that, right?”

“What do you mean?”

She smiled, patient and knowing. “I mean that sometimes, people say things they don’t mean because they’re scared of being hurt. The Hatter’s a complicated man, but he’s not so different from anyone else in that way. You need to go back and talk to him. Really talk to him. Otherwise, you’ll never know what could’ve been.”

Her words struck a chord deep within you, resonating with the doubts and hopes that had been churning inside you since you left. She was right—you couldn’t leave things like this, with both of you hiding behind unspoken fears. You had to face it, face him, and figure out what you truly wanted.

Returning to Wonderland was like stepping back into a dream, one that you’d missed desperately in your time away. The colors were brighter, the sounds sharper, yet everything felt strangely muted by the tension in your chest. As you made your way back to the tea party clearing, you could feel your heart pounding harder with every step, a mix of anxiety and anticipation.

When you arrived, you found the Hatter sitting at his usual spot at the head of the long, cluttered table. He was hunched over, a hat perched lopsided on his head, his fingers busy stitching a ribbon that looked like it was fraying at the ends. His back was to you, but the moment he heard your footsteps crunching on the gravel, he stiffened ever so slightly.

“I didn’t expect you back so soon,” he said, his tone light and airy, but you could hear the strain in it—like a string pulled too tight. “Come to say a proper goodbye?”

You took a deep breath, stepping closer, feeling the weight of the conversation pressing down on your shoulders. “Yes, but I want to do it right. I don't want to leave with things unresolved between us."

The Hatter turned to face you slowly, his usual mad grin stretching across his face, but it was different this time. His eyes, usually bright and wild, were shadowed, clouded with something you couldn’t quite place. “Well then,” he said, forcing a laugh that sounded more like a broken sigh, “goodbye it is! Off you go, then! Don’t let the rabbit hole hit you on the way out!”

Without thinking, you reached out and pulled him into a hug. His body went rigid at first, as if he didn’t know how to react. You could feel his rapid breaths against your chest, hear the hitch in his throat as he struggled to keep up the façade. Then, slowly, he softened, his arms coming up to clutch at your back, holding you as if you were the only thing keeping him tethered to the ground.

“Why are you doing this?” he whispered, his voice cracking, caught somewhere between a sob and a laugh. “Why are you making this so hard?”

“Because I don’t want to leave you,” you confessed, your voice thick with emotion. “But I don’t know how to stay when I feel like I don’t belong here.”

The Hatter pulled back just enough to look at you, his eyes glassy with unshed tears. “You do belong. To me, you do.”

His words pierced through you, breaking down the last of your defenses. You thought you had made up your mind to leave, to return to the real world where everything made sense, where things followed rules. But in that moment, nothing made sense without him.

You stepped back, letting go of him even though it hurt. “Goodbye, Hatter.” you said softly, turning away. “I’ll miss you.”

As you started up the path that would take you back home, every step felt like dragging a weight behind you. You reached the midway point, the fork in the path where one route would lead you back to reality. You paused, your heart aching with each second that passed. You glanced back, your breath catching in your throat when you saw him still standing there, watching you leave with a look of pure devastation.

You couldn’t do it. You couldn’t leave him like this.

Turning on your heel, you sprinted back down the path, the wind whipping against your face as you ran. You didn’t stop until you were right in front of him again. His eyes widened in shock, his lips parting to ask something, but you didn’t give him the chance. You cupped his face in your hands and kissed him, pouring all the emotion you’d been holding back into that kiss—your fear, your love, your need to stay.

When you finally pulled away, breathless, he stared at you, his eyes wide and searching. “You…you came back?”

“I did,” you said, smiling through the tears in your eyes. “If you’ll have me. I’m not going anywhere.”

For a moment, he looked as if he didn’t believe you, his gaze darting over your face as if trying to find some hint of doubt or hesitation. But then his lips slowly curved into a smile—a real, genuine smile that lit up his entire face. “Oh, yes. Yes, indeed! And we shall have tea every day, and perhaps cake, and perhaps something more delightful!”

You laughed, a lightness settling over you that you hadn’t felt in days. “Sounds like a plan.”

[necroneol]

alices in the garden 🌷

[periodcostumefantasylover]

Alice Kingsleigh's black & red costume in Alice through the Looking Glass

[purplevampiredoll]

alice’s tea party🍰🫖🥀🦷🕰️🗝️🔪🩶🐇

[honeybunnygummy]

Somehow im all of these characters all at once