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[Yes, the Once-ler had that dream too. No, he's not talking about it. It was just a dream, just a stupid, dumb, terrifying dream with a monster and the moon going out like a broken lightbulb and obviously none of it was real. Or at least, he doesn't want any of it to be real.

So, he's stress-knitting.

He's taken up one of the tea rooms for the day so that he has a little more space to work (plus it gets him out of his room, and that's probably a good thing). He's already got a colorful pile of completed things tossed on one of the chairs - scarfs, mittens, absolutely no thneeds. The Once-ler himself is sitting on the floor in front of one of the armchairs with his knees up, using the chair as a backrest as he knits. His piglet Boris is keeping him company, and he can be seen running around in a dark green pig-sized sweater.]

So, uh. Since I'm knitting anyway and winter's coming up...does anyone want anything?

[And wow, he sure is knitting. Even while he talks, even while wearing his trademark green gloves, his needles move incredibly fast. He shrugs though, like offering to make people stuff for free isn't an enormous step forward for him.]

I mean, it's just something to do, and it's not like I have anything else to do with them.

[That's all he really wanted to say, because he's definitely not acknowledging that Jabberwocky dream. He leans forward a bit and uses the end of one of his knitting needles to jab at his network device until it shuts off. If anyone would rather meet up with him in person, he's in one of the tea rooms on the tenth floor with a small mountain of yarn.]

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[He's learned by now not to question her politeness, and not to tell her she doesn't need to be so formal with him. She will be formal either way, so there's no sense in trying to stop her.

He stays sitting where he is, but he puts his legs down and sits up straight in a lazy effort to seem a little more like an actual adult. Then, he looks over at her curiously. She seems...he can't put his finger on it. Sad, maybe? He wants to ask about it, and see if maybe there's something he can do, but when he opens his mouth a different question comes out instead.]

So, what are you working on?

[Maybe it's better that way, just keeping everything normal and light, and not talking about that terrifying dream they all shared.]

[ she looks down at her sewing, snapped out of her little world by his question. for a moment, she looks quite alarmed - as if she cannot wrap her mind around the question let alone answer it

( she is frightened, she is terrified ) ]

A new shawl.

[ it comes out after a moment, alayne relaxing into her seat and shows him. it is made of good cotton, deep purple. she is working on a flowery embroidery along the edges. ]

When evening comes, I find the air somewhat cooler.

[ and while she's not quite cold, not after a childhood in winterfell, she knows a shawl is expected so a shawl she makes. ]

[It makes him a little sad, but only because he internalizes it and assumes it's about him. To some degree, he feels like people should be a little afraid of him, but he's never sure exactly how to react when they actually are.

All he can keep doing really is trying to be a decent person. He doesn't know if he ever will be, but it's a start. He scoots over so he can see her work, and his eyes goes wide when he does.]

Wow. It's gorgeous! It looks professional, like something someone would pay to have made for them.

[He's not really clear on if capitalism is a thing where she's from, but he means it as praise. Truthfully, he's not surprised though. She was his apprentice for a little while.]

But yeah, it's not a bad idea. You weren't here last winter, right? It gets pretty cold in Wonderland, and it'll snow eventually. That's why I'm making hats and scarves and things.

Edited (broken italics B() 2014-12-11 09:26 (UTC)

[ she smiles, dips her chin in bashful acceptance of the compliment. for a moment, she remembers the sewing circles in winterfell, jeyne poole and septa mordane saying her work is without flaw.

she remembers jeyne saying the sweet prince has looked at sansa during dinner.

foolish girls. ]

I am much used to the cold.

[ she is a daughter of the north but she says nothing of it. ]

In the Eyrie, the towers are so high that they overlook the vale and the cold is always felt when one resides in the upper floors.

[ where aunt lysa's room was. where alayne moved after aunt lysa has been pushed through the moon door - ]

still. winter is coming.

[ and it sounds grave on her lips, much older than herself. ]

You are right,it would be best to be well prepared.

[It's kind of nice to hear her talk about where she's from. It doesn't happen much, but he supposes that makes sense since she had been going by a new name. He listens and tries to imagine it himself, though he probably pictures everything much taller than it actually is.

He returns the gesture, slowing his needles as he thinks.]

Yeah. Winter could be pretty tough where I'm from. It's the wind that gets you, really. It whips right through the valley and without any trees to slow it down...it gets pretty cold at night.

[The Once-ler often lost track of time in his self-imposed solitude, but he remembers the last winter he spent in the top of his Lerkim - hungry, cold, and exactly as unprepared for it as he was the first time. The cold would numb the slow-and-sour smell of the air, but that was about the only thing good about it. He's not sure if he's ever mentioned the lack of trees to Alayne before, but he decides not to elaborate.]

At least here we've got a warm house to stay in, and that's good. Even if...

[Even if there's a monster attack looming.]

...even if there's bad stuff on the way.

[ there is darkness on the horizon, alayne knows. the dream left her in cold sweat and tears but those she is no stranger to and she would never let them show when in company. joff liked sansa smiling not crying, tears have landed her more blows. I must be strong, she reminded herself, as my lady mother was, as robb was, I am all that's left.

she smiles. ]

With such power and kindness like we have in the Mansion, I am certain we shall face it and triumph.

[He laughs a little bit.]

Well, I don't know about kindness, but we'll probably be alright. This place has thrown a lot worse at us than some...monster dragon beast thing.

[Or whatever they would call the Jabberwocky. He has no idea what thing in their dreams was, but he wants it kept as far away from him as possible.]

We've been through a lot here. It'll take more than a Jabberwocky to get rid of us.

[He's...not sure how much he believes it himself, but it feels like the kind of thing he should be saying to Alayne. He doesn't feel right being cynical and grouchy about it with her.]

What is - Jabberwocky?

[ she attempts to pronounce it as he did; it ends up taking a little longer to say it but it comes out just about the time. an odd name; he speaks of a terrible beast and alayne remembers her dream for a moment before remembering something else - ]

One of the residents here has a dragon. The dragon queen but he listens to her and is quite - small.

[ ...for a dragon. ]

Well, I don't know anything about actual dragons - I'm pretty sure my world doesn't have any. But the Jabberwocky...that's what that thing was, last night.

[That's very vague and he wants to just leave it at that, but he feels he should clarify. He doesn't like that he knows this information, and it feels so distant now that it seems like a nightmare from long ago, but he saw those ghosts last Christmas. He recognized the monster in them.]

That...that creature everyone dreamed about. That's the Jabberwocky.

Edited 2014-12-16 06:48 (UTC)

The beast.

[ what an odd name but alayne finds it less frightening than the thing itself. it was not a dragon, to be certain, though it had some odd sort of resemblance. still, it was scarier somehow, less graceful and royal more wild and untamed and horrifying. ]

It was much uglier than a dragon to be certain and much more frightening, somehow. Dragons were thought to be dead in my land and yet the Dragon Queen who resides here would tell a different tale.

[ but the jabberwocky... ]

-- How will we protect ourselves against....it?

[The Once-ler sighs, knowing his answer is completely ungood.]

I have no idea. With something that huge...probably just by hiding and crossing our fingers it doesn't find us here.

[He halts his knitting so he can rub one hand behind his neck.]

I...don't know the first thing about protecting myself at all, let alone from a huge monster.

[He sounds a little ashamed to admit it though, since he's a grown man and all. But it's not like he came from a world where you needed to know these things either.]

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