are we late for tea? {march hare/open}

[ALICE KINGSLEIGH]

Alice stared glumly at her tea, waiting for an answer from the group of animals -Yes, she realized, I'm having tea with a group of animals- when a new, albeit familiar voice seemed to pipe up out of nowhere. She looked up quickly, splashing a bit of tea on the tablecloth (she hastily set her cup down atop the spill, pretending not to notice), and smiled at the White Rabbit. She'd felt oh-so terrible when she'd seen him scooped up in a net and dragged off to (presumably) the castle of the Red Queen, and now that he was there she felt... relieved. Nivens McTwisp seemed to be the sanest of the creatures that lived in Underland, and she felt a little safer when he was around.

Alice waved pleasantly at the little white ball of fur, and when none of the other animals answered his question, she decided to. "Mr McTwisp, that's just it- we don't know where the Hatter is. We were just about to go out in search of him... Or, I was, at least." She continued to look at him for a little while, registering his earlier comment about getting away. So the poor dear was in the Red Queen's captivity? Alice frowned and wanted nothing more than to hug the little rabbit (though she was sure he'd object). "You poor thing. It must be truly awful there... I apologize- it's mainly my fault you're there," she said, looking down at her fingernails.

Hearing "Hatter can take care of himself..." drew Alice's attention away from McTwisp and to Mally. "Well, yes, of course he can take care of himself, but... I just..." she paused, looked around the table, then to her teacup, noting that the spill was still there. Underland is magical in so many ways- why ever, then, can it not seem to magically clean up spills?! Alice thought, frowning at the little puddle of tea as though thinking at it would make it disappear.

When she heard Mally mutter about going in search of the Hatter, Alice brightened considerably and nodded in the little dormouse's direction. "It would be a good idea. We can split up and go in pairs in different directions to cover a vast area in a small amount of time!" Alice beamed, looking excitedly around the table. She stood, knocking her teacup completely over in the process. "Well? Who's coming with me?"