Of Poisons and People :Open:

[ILLIANA AVABELLE DE MARQUIS]

Illiana walked cautiously through the forest, a habit she had developed a long time ago- when it had first become her home. Even Illiana, whom had lived the better part of her whole life surviving wisely inside its dark walls, knew to tread carefully. No one could ever be sure of who or what they would encounter. However, the air had been clean so far of intruders and her instinct began to relax for the desire at hand. Zayne had come to her once again, much to Illiana’s fear, and she wished to push him along on his journey.

That was where the search for Ivee Mushrooms came in, a little drop of poison for the beloved brother. She smiled wickedly at the thought and lifted her skirts to climb over a rather large fallen tree. As her feet touched back onto the ground Illiana looked over the damp soil next to the tree and began to search. Illiana fell down to her knees, having already taken care to wear a black dress to hide the dirt, and pushed gently around until she found what she was looking for.

A small green and black mushroom, no bigger than her thumb nail, suddenly came into view. Illiana sighed at the beauty of such an eatable sickness and carefully plucked it from the earth. She then brought it up to her eyes- that were now glowing due to the darkness- and smiled as she studied it. How could something so small create such large complications? It was fascinating and it warmed her heart as she placed it lovingly into the small bottle in her right pocket. Once gently tucked away Illiana rose from her kneeling position and touched the dead tree before her. It always saddened her slightly to see the effects the Red Queen had on Underland.

She then frowned at that thought and felt her once green highlights shift blood red in her blonde hair. However, it was also in those thoughts that Illiana forgot herself. Her normally intense observation of her surroundings slipped slightly and she missed the stalking shadow heading her way. Whether or not the added darkness in the form of another even saw her, Illiana didn’t know, but she did know that who ever they were they were too close for comfort. A realization that came when the snapping of a branch sounded from behind her and Illiana quickly spun around with fiery hair. “Tread carefully, you are on dangerous ground!”

[MARY ANN]

It had so happened that morning, Mary Ann, after the completion of making her Master's breakfast, had lost the vest wearing rabbit.
Needless to say, the remainder of those early hours were spent mostly by Mary Ann tearing the place apart in foolish hopes that the rabbit was hiding in a laundry basket or hidden in his sock draw - the rest of the morning was spent by the blonde haired maid fixing the rather astounding mess she had made in her search. Apparently, the young girl's Master was not in any of the places she expected, nor did he seem to be anywhere in the house. A thought of the oversized headed Queen flashed in her mind for a brief moment, and an uncharacteristic grimace spread across her pale pink lips. Mary Ann vaguely remembered meeting the woman once when she followed the White Rabbit to one of his meetings with the horrid creature. Of course, the small blonde had been quickly removed the very moment the guards realized she was not actually meant to be listening through the crack in the door. It hadn't been a proper, though hearing that obnoxious shrieking had been more than enough to give Mary Ann a definitive opinion of the ruler.

Regardless of any 'royal inquiries' Mary Ann had airdropped upon, or 'important' Masters she served, the young blonde soon found herself storming through the Underland forest. If she, on her way to the Red Castle, discovered that it was the Hatter simply inviting the rabbit to tea, she swore she would wring the bloody creature's neck, no matter how kind he'd been to her - He'd worried her so! And if it was all due to a simple cup of tea-!

Torn from her thoughts by her dress becoming snagged on a slightly charred stick - well, more of a twig - Mary Ann sighed and knelt down on the black earth to fix her clothing. Pale, delicate fingers carefully, near motherly, wound themselves around the piece of wood, while, their counterparts on the other hand were busied with the task of tugging at the length of blue fabric. After moments spent attempting to free the trapped material, it finally slipped loose from the twig, giving Mary Ann an ever so slight feeling of accomplishment. That is, until she noticed that she had knelt on a small ring of mushrooms, their squished corpses dotting her socks with a sickly off-white that contrasted drastically with the otherwise beautiful fabric. With a quiet cuss that did not seem to fit coming from her lips, Mary Ann reached down to wipe the accursed mushroom guts off her clothing - even if she was simply meeting with a tyrannical bitch to find her Master, she still intended to look at least somewhat presentable.

"Tread carefully, you are on dangerous ground!"
Mary Ann clenched her fists and rose back to her full height, deeming the ruined socks to be a lost cause. The voice was one which, no matter how hard she tried, she could simply not bring herself to remember. Yet, to speak to her with such a commanding tone that she only allowed the White Rabbit to communicate to her with... It infuriated whatever remained her the rebellious child Mary Ann used to be. "And if you have brought harm to my Master, then you, too, are on dangerous ground, Ma'am," she explained, dark eyes scanning the forest in order to find just who, exactly, she was addressing. Knowing her luck, she was probably speaking to the White Queen... Although, as her eyes travelled over the form of a slightly shorter, though definitely older, girl donning an inky black dress, Mary Ann quirked an eyebrow and hesitantly stepped forward, wincing slightly as the dull light hit her face, "Ma'am... Have we met before?"

((I hope you don't mind that I butted in...))

[ILLIANA AVABELLE DE MARQUIS]

For all the creatures Illiana had expected, she had not expecting a maid of a girl. Obviously this well dressed intruder was either of the palace or somewhere else of higher esteem in Underland and it made Illiana uncomfortable. She did not like such suggestions in a stranger. However, as the girl referred to someone called 'master' Illiana arched a brow. What master associated with the Red Queen would venture here? It was there that her hair highlights began to color a forest green in curiosity and she felt her anger give way slightly. She could see from her darkened spot that the girl had yet to spot her and quickly made a decision to travel closer.

"And what master is this? What does he master? Obvious he is not a master of mastering as he can't even master is own servant. No, instead she wanders here and not at his side." Illiana spoke out as she moved into the stranger's view and stood before her. she seemed fairly worried...or perhaps that was simple caution, Illiana was never all that clear on emotions. In fact, the enigma of her companions emotions confused Illiana enough that she frowned at the opposing blonde girl. 'Have we met..' She did ask and Illiana's frown only deepened. Had they? She was not one to know, Illiana barely remember her own childhood.

"You look like Alice." She suddenly observed quietly but as she looked over the younger female Illiana knew she was not. Oh, but how she resembled her. None-the-less Illiana twisted and turned her mind for a familiarity with the girl standing before her. However, only the thought of the white rabbit sprung forth and nothing else seemed to pass through. So, Illiana was left to look at the other human and frown. "I know not who you are, even if I were to remember you. However, that does not distract from the fact that you should not be here. Do you not know of the dangers- for you or I, palace dweller."

(OOC: Not at all!! XD. Sorry for the shorter post, my brain stopped working half way through the post lol)

[MARY ANN]

Mary Ann narrowed her eyes slightly as her lips formed a hard line that clearly showed her dislike at having being questioned about her master so casually by a mere stranger. She was somewhat tempted to throw the Queen's name in to the conversation, though quickly decided against such foolishness. For all she was aware, this blonde with seemingly ever changing hair was a part of the royal court and to be caught exaggerating either her own or her master's influence with the ruler would be far too humiliating for Mary Ann to even comprehend. Still, the idea remained faintly in her mind.

"My master is not a master of mastering - nor did I ever claim him to be, nor does he claim himself to be," the young maid's fists clenched as she was reminded that she was not where she wanted to be - by her darling White Rabbit's side - and instead was stomping through a forest covered in mushrooms and dirt. "You believe a master always desires the company of a simple maid?" Yes, Mary Ann was well aware she was lying through her teeth, although it was only to preserve the deep rooted honour and pride she held, as well as her urge to make her master look good. "If I may say, that is nonsense. A master such as mine has far more entertaining company to attend to - company he does not require a maid to assist with." Mary Ann smiled, feeling rather satisfied with herself and with her response.

As the name 'Alice' escaped the lips of the other woman, Mary Ann frowned. She was immediately reminded of every time she was mistaken for the heroine of Wonderland. The time her master himself had tried to drag her to the Hatter under the belief that precious, darling Alice had returned to save Underland from the Red Queen. The time when she was attacked by soldiers of the red army thanks to her otherworldly counterpart. "I ain't Alice," she explained, a thick cockney accent overtaking her usually well-trained posh one. "If I was any kinda Jabberwock-slayer, don't ya think I'd be off doing just that? I ain't Alice," she repeated, nearly shaking with rage, "I don't look like the girl, either. I ain't ever seen her, but I'm sure as hell I don't look nothin' like her." As Illiana once more mentioned the dangers of the forest, Mary Ann scoffed ungracefully, her fury having blinded her from remembering her place as a simple servant.

Though, after a few moments of deep breathing, Mary Ann, once more, smiled deceptively serenely at the blonde, biting back a cackle at her words. "Danger?" She drawled, her delightful British speech returning to her, "Danger? If you speak of these mushrooms," she indicated to the specks of black and green that dotted her socks, "Than you know not of danger, Ma'am. If I was foolish enough to attempt to dine upon them, or anything in this forest for that matter, than yes, there would be many a danger. Although, I have my wits, and although I am but a humble maid, I fear far more than a simple mushroom or two," Mary Ann paused briefly as to catch her breath, "Although, Ma'am, if you believe there to be more danger than the plants, please, enlighten me as to them."

((No, no! You're post was great! Mine, on the other hand, is pretty shiiiiit))