milliways_bar | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Alice Cullen entered Milliways with a knowing smile. Futures shifted when she chose this door (the door to a closet in their hallway) and she knew she'd be here.

And on her own this time! She'd only ever come with Edward but hey! What's the worst that could happen? After all, she's a Cullen and she's brave. She survived so very long on her own.

Bravery, however, doesn't cover the awkwardness of ordering a glass of blood from Bar. Luckily, it comes in a plastic cup that isn't clear. She'd not want to subject the rest of the bar to that.

[tiny tag: alice cullen. tags may be slow; at work and then stressing out about school, room cleaning and laundry washing D:]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Edward considered her, smile fading into his expression more than hinging on the curl of his lips.

"Your mind would have much less space in it."

"Hey." She points at him, her lips pursed more than smiling (but all in good nature!) "My mind is just full of the important things."

Edward chuckled.

Whether it was at or against her words was the question.

"That's because you aren't a vapid teenage girl."

"No, I am not." Alice grins.

After a long moment (in which he could probably glean what she was thinking about anyway) she presses her lips together, carefully. "Edward. What would the others make of this place, you think?"

Edward considered that. He'd had this conversation once before, when he'd named the two people he thought would do best here.

"I think Carlisle would enjoy all the newness, the people and places and differences, the most." He ran a finger around the edge of the book.

"Esme would want to figure out the logistics of a Super House the moment she spotted it. Rosalie would be, well, Rosalie, even here, and Emmett would find himself in spades with people who thought like him."

There's a pause. Not to draw out the moment, but to catch her eyes when he says it. Because Alice's concerns are his concerns.

"Jasper would be fine."

If he wasn't bound.

Then Edward would not consider the word 'fine.'

She looks over the bar area as he speaks, listening to him describe their family and when he pauses, she turns her head to him, eyes on his.

"I know." She murmurs softly. "He's doing well."

They all worry about Jasper in their own ways (the same way he pretends they aren't doing the same about him) but Edward and Alice can at least both keep a tighter watch on him.

She can reroute things that look like they might happen, he can hear when it does get to be too much, when he needs a distraction from the temptation.

"He is." Edward mimicked to the softness of her tone, expression turned patiently edged toward concern. "He's harsher on himself than he should be given everything. It's a testament to his will that he is managing."

She can't help but think about the things he told her, after he avoided eating George at school (she was so proud).

There are times I feel like a newborn all over again. Except more aware of my actions this time around.

She swallows and turns her eyes from Edward's gaze. "I'm worried. He's doing fine, and that's great for everyone else...but I worry about how he's doing. You're right. He's so hard on himself."

Edward could see him as she saw him, as he had been, when she remembered. He didn't need Jasper here to decipher those expressions; even as it was all over layered with Alice's concerns toward the situation.

"You could propose a trip? Give him a few days away from the school, doing something enjoyable. A weekend, or a week, depending."

It wasn't like they didn't manage to leave for whatever time they wanted and still came out as shining examples of the (woefully stunted in every other way) American education system.

Alice clasps her fingers together on the table top and nods. "Yeah."

Her eyes unfocus as she studies the table, searching for any idea of the future. It's just flashes, people, nothing concrete. She sighs. This place messes with her.

"I think that is a very good idea, Edward." Alice smiles, a little subdued, but it's a smile nonetheless.

Bits and pieces, floating just close enough to be out of focus and sliding away when they are tried. He follows her without trying, not having to try and stop himself because it's Alice, who understands better than the others.

He smiled, gamely. "Any place he's been missing? The fall runway in Europe seems to be getting attention again this year."

The fashion one. Not the one for planes.

"He'll go wherever I want, if there's fashion involved." Her grin brightens. "But I'll let him choose. It's for him, not me. My clothes buying is just an added plus."

Edwards expression neared a smirk without getting there.

"He'll choose something nice. Maybe more low key interaction was." People interaction, especially. "Maybe somewhere sprawling and quiet that Esme can try to pretend she won't buy if it does help."

Jasper would choose something that would make Alice happiest, because he loved being near to her and having her at her happiest, which made him more at ease from feeling it.

She nods, thinking of all the places they could go...every place that is secluded. And then she thinks of places they could have layovers...for the shopping.

Her grin softens a little. "Aw, Edward. You're so helpful."

Edward briefly looked toward the ceiling, like he was making an attempt not to roll his eyes, but his lips were curving back toward a smile which totally gave away he wasn't actually meaning it.

"He deserves it."

"He does." She agrees, biting her lip. She has the sudden and overwhelming desire to go home, to speak with Jasper, to be with him.

Alice stands without an explanation (she's expecting Edward to just pluck that from her mind) and reaches over to ruffle her brother's hair. "See you at home?"

He does, of course. Edward nodded, watching her evenly, "I'll be right behind you after I finish the one I was on."

Her fingers finish tousling his hair and she tilts her head to judge her styling job. With a nod she gives him a little wave and gracefully wanders towards the door.

Stopping only to make a few pirouettes of course!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only