forum We're All a Little Mad // OxO // Closed

Started November 01, 2019 by @ElderGod-Icefire

tune

"It's strange," Aliana commented. Her mind was racing with different reasons as to why she was cold, but yet Hatta wasn't. Maybe this was the maze's way of saying she couldn't enter. That wasn't good if it was the case.

"It is. Maybe I'm just hotter than you to begin with?" Hatta suggested teasingly, smirking at her. He winked, and continued to walk.

Aliana laughed as her face kept getting red. She was already shrank into the jacket, so she couldn't get much further, "Possibly. I do find your hair quite hot."

He smirked. "My hair? Good thing the hat covers it up, then." he chuckled softly, and kept leading her along the path. The grow stones were slowly turning to shimmering shades of other colors, though still grayish.

"I would much rather it not," Aliana muttered so softly that only really she could hear it. To cover his hair had to be some crime in some place. She put a grin and laugh on looking in awe as the stones turned colors, "A very good thing. It's like a rainbow path now. Not one made of stone."

Hatta grinned, not having heard her. "Yeah. By the time we reach the maze, these will all be really bright, obnoxious colors."

Aliana's grin turned to a smile as she glanced up at him, "So like most of Wonderland. Bright, obnoxious, but it grows on you."

Hatta snorted, but nodded in agreement. "Precisely like that." He replied, still walking along the stones.

A laugh burst out from Aliana happy that he agreed with her. She continued walking along the stones that now shimmered and shined in the light, "A lot like you too."

"What? Me?" Hatta replied, raising his eyebrows and looking at her as if affronted. "Why?"

"I mean," Aliana bit her lip in worry. What if she said the wrong thing? He looked hurt by her statement, "When we first met I felt like you were an insane man and I was just getting dragged along. It still feels like that, a little bit. But you're really a nice guy Hatta."

"Nice shmice." Hatta replied, waving his hand vaguely. "I'm still the insane man dragging you along to hunt a monster, and you shouldn't forget that. It'll make it easier when I finally lose it." He winked a bit.

"I, uh, okay," Aliana didn't understand how easily he brushed it off. She shoved her hands further into the jacket's pockets, "I won't forget, but you are nice. Please don't try to deny that."

He shrugged. "Nice won't matter when I'm crazy, Aliana." He replied. "Nothing will."

"Well," Aliana thought for a moment before her head jumped to the brilliant conclusion, "Then I'll just have to make sure you won't go crazy."

Hatta laughed, a high, cracked, dry laugh. "That isn't happening. There isn't anything you can do to stop it."

"Have you tried to stop it?" Aliana asked hesitantly. She realized this could make him angry at her and then he could leave her behind. She would be stuck in a maze all alone. Maybe she shouldn't have asked.

"Yes." Hatta replied shortly, lengthening his stride so that he was ahead of her, not wanting to talk anymore about his madness.

Aliana took the silent cue and shut her mouth promptly. She accepted her place behind him shrinking further into the jacket after having poked out for the jacket. She would just stay silent for the rest of the walk until Hatta decided to say something and even then she might find it smarter to keep her big fat mouth shut.

Hatta kept walking, but slowed a little so she could still keep up easily. He sighed softly, and ran a hand through his hair beneath his hat.

Aliana had a little smile when he slowed down so that she didn't have to run to keep up with him. She hugged herself and let the sleeves envelop her hands. It was starting to feel a little warmer which she considered a good thing overall.

Hatta let out a breath, knowing they were approaching the gate.

Aliana heard Hatta let out a breath and didn't see anything. She bit her cheek to prevent herself from asking a question to Hatta, but the gate started to appear so she figured why Hatta appeared relieved.

Hatta looked at the gate, and frowned a little, thinking. "We're almost there."

"Yes, and?" Aliana asked him tentatively. She was scared he would react badly, but at the same time, she wanted to know why he was frowning.

"And we'll see if you can get through the gate." Hatta replied with a shrug as he led her forward.

Aliana was relieved he hadn't reacted badly and continued walking her worry renewed, "Yes, that."

"Was there something else you thought I was going to say?" he asked, arching an eyebrow at her inquisitively.

"No," Aliana shook her head quietly. Her head quickly swam to the idea of her being left at the gate having to go home alone because Hatta wouldn't come back for her, "I had just forgotten about that. That's all."

Hatta shrugged. "Ah. Alright." He replied. They rounded a bend, and a silvery gate came into view, the metal shining in the light.