[Video]

[heavenscorpse]

[V/V seems to have turned her phone on deliberately. She's sitting in a library, surrounded by young children.]

This story is about a girl named Alice and her family.

Once there was a pretty girl who was named Alice. She was sweet and kind, and she was loved very much by the people who took care of her, the Black Count and the Red Baron.

[One of the children speaks up.] Were they her parents?

They weren't related to her, but she treated them like family, so they're a family.

The Black Count and the Red Baron loved Alice so much that they built her a city and filled it with people so she would always have friends and playmates, and Alice was very happy. And the Count and the Baron were happy because Alice was happy. But the people in the city weren't happy. They wanted to go home and see their other friends, and they weren't allowed to leave.

One day a dashing hero came and freed all the people, and he separated Alice from the Black Count and Red Baron. And they were all very sad, because they couldn't live together any more, even if what they'd been doing was bad.

The hero saw how sad they all were, and he let them come back together if they promised to be good. They did promise, and they decide to move to the countryside where they wouldn't have to make anyone move anywhere and they could just live together.

Did they live happily ever after?

Yes, they did.

Tell us another story!

[V/V giggles and turns off the video.]

Comments

[grand_guignol]

I do. It's one of my favorite things. Hans Christian Andersen, the Brothers Grimm, even some more modern ones.

But Alice in Wonderland is my very favorite.

[heavenscorpse]

That's the one where - well actually, a lot of things happen in that one, I'm not sure how to describe it.

[V/V doesn't know enough to say 'acid trip'.]

[grand_guignol]

A lot of things do happen. But it's the story of a little girl who falls down a rabbit hole, meets many interesting people, and in my favorite version, defeats the Red Queen and helps the good White Queen come back to rule over Wonderland, leaving it safe for everyone else.

[heavenscorpse]

It sounds like a real Wonderland. I love stories with happy endings.

[grand_guignol]

They're my favorites, as well. I have a few books of fairy tales, if you ever want to borrow them. It's always a pleasure to speak to someone who enjoys them as much as I do.

[heavenscorpse]

Really? That would be so nice of you! I haven't read nearly all the ones I want to yet.

[grand_guignol]

You're very welcome! My name is Alice, and I live at the hotel. I can meet you down in the lobby?

[heavenscorpse]

I'll be right over - I live at the hotel too.

action;

[grand_guignol]

[A few minutes later, Alice steps out of the elevator, carrying a stack of books. Grimm, Andersen, and a favorite of hers which she didn't think many people knew.]

action;

[heavenscorpse]

[Clad in her usual white gown, V/V waits for her in a lobby chair.]

Oh, Alice!