voice;

[rosettawall]

[When Alice's voice comes, it is very... quiet. Distant. She doesn't actually sound like she's speaking to anyone in particular, at least at first.]

They're not safe here...

This world is going to make them suffer more and more...

...I need to protect them...

But how do I do that, when I can't stop those things that would hurt them...

[It sounds like just idle musing at this point, as if she's trying to contemplate a real answer to this.]

One way or another, I cannot allow that... No matter what anyone says, I know it will come again...

They won't suffer again. I... there are ways I can make sure of that, I am certain... I know I can stop it, some way...

Comments

action;

[rosettawall]

[In normal circumstances, with her right mind, Alice might indeed think so. Now, she just continues to give him a suspecting glance.]

...what did you wish to see me about in person, Henry-san?

action;

[havesomedeath]

I just thought some company might be nice for a while, if that's okay. We are on the same crew, after all.

You don't mind, right?

[Wow look at how subtle he is being, so amazing. Clearly this is perfectly normal and not at all suspect.]

action;

[rosettawall]

[She still eyes him curiously, but looks away for a moment then.]

Hopefully it shall remain that way, but... I suppose I do not, for now...

action;

[havesomedeath]

Alright, good!

[Henry's just gonna take a seat on any available surface. Hell, he'll take the floor if he has to. Point is, he's clearly not leaving soon.]

You know I meant what I said earlier, about how I won't let anyone on this ship get hurt. So don't worry about a thing, I'll take care of it!

[rosettawall]

Yes, of course...

[She tries not to make eye contact, wringing her hands together.]

It is my responsibility to them, all the same.

[havesomedeath]

It doesn't have to be just yours, you know. They can take care of themselves too, right? You don't have to do it alone!

[...it is a strange day when Henry is the one giving out the friendship speeches.]

[rosettawall]

That is why I have the power I do, though... Mine is to protect. I am supposed to defend them. It's the... reason I became a Precure...

...if they could take care of themselves, they never would have been hurt in the first place... They wouldn't need me...

[Saying that brings her to a bit of a pause, and she looks at him with a wild look in her eyes.]

They do need me, though... they need me to keep them safe, Henry-san...

[havesomedeath]

Well, it's not like I'm saying you can't protect them at all or anything! But... I think you don't really understand what you're even saying, with how far you wanna go. Not everyone has the stomach for that, you know.

Your friend, Rikka... Do you think she wants you to protect her like this?

[rosettawall]

I have to have the stomach for it. There is no other choice, Henry-san!

[She rises up. A little too quickly, a little too aggressively. She doesn't advance on him, but the look in her eyes is decidedly dangerous.]

Rikka-chan... I do not think she understands... [She draws in a long breath.] I will make her understand if I need to. It is for her own good... Mana-chan understands me, at least... Mana-chan might be the only one who does...

[havesomedeath]

No, see, that's where you're wrong. You do have other choices. You're lucky like that!

[This is definitely not a good situation, he can tell that much. He wishes that he had more experience talking with people so he knew what could calm her down.]

I don't think you and Mana should throw away that luck like this.

[rosettawall]

No, this place does not give us any other choices.

The only luck there is here is that I am with Mana-chan and Rikka-chan... If anything were to interfere with that, or hurt them...

[She tenses.]

...that will be unacceptable... So, I must do everything I can to prevent it.

It's the only way, Henry-san.

[havesomedeath]

...and if I said that I won't let you, what would you do then?

[rosettawall]

[Alice gazed at him for a very long moment, her expression... blank, unreadable. Finally, she speaks, softly.]

I do not believe you wish to do that, Henry-san...

[havesomedeath]

Oh, you'd be surprised at the things I wish to do! Most of them are really terrible ideas. Doesn't stop me from doing them, though!

[rosettawall]

You will not stop me from doing as I need to, Henry-san.

Mana-chan is counting on me. Rikka-chan needs me.

[havesomedeath]

Ah, actually, I promised Rikka earlier that I'd look after you. And that I wouldn't let you do anything you'll regret later. I'm pretty sure this qualifies!

I'm many things, but I'm not the type of guy who goes around breaking promises, y'know.

[rosettawall]

[Alice's eyes widen. Was... was Rikka trying to do things behind her back? No, no... she had to trust Rikka... Rikka was just scared, but she would make her understand...

Him, on the other hand...]

I do not need you to look after me, Henry-san...

The only thing I would regret is letting something awful happen to Rikka-chan or Mana-chan again...

[havesomedeath]

They got better, though. And anyway, I wonder if you really wouldn't regret anything else...

Have you ever killed anyone before, Alice?

[rosettawall]

...

[She frowns, shaking her head slightly. She then lefts a hand, beckoning something from the corner of the room.

Out floats Lance, quietly, not saying a word. The little bear fairy has a dark, quiet look in his eyes. Much like Alice's. Without a word, there's a puff of smoke around him as he transforms into Alice's Commune, falling into her hand.

She looks back up at him, and for an extremely brief moment, her expression and voice falters.]

H- Henry-san, leave.

[havesomedeath]

Hmmm... But I don't really want to! I told you, didn't I? I promised Rikka.

[He looks up at her, his smile a little tighter than usual. But he's not leaving, not just yet.]

1/2

[rosettawall]

L- leave...

[She only gets it out in a small voice, before gripping the Commune. She doesn't even say anything, and several moments later...]

2/2

[rosettawall]

[...after a bright yellow flash subsides, Cure Rosetta is slowly advancing on him.]

Do not speak to me about promises to my Rikka-chan!

[havesomedeath]

Hm, why not? She's not your property or anything, ya know!

[Anyone else might realize how badly they fucked things up right about now. And they might take this as a hint to get faaaaar away from Alice right now. Anyone sane, anyway.

But of course, Henry is... not.]

That's a really scary look, by the way. Ahaha, I wonder, are you going to fight me? That might be fun... But I don't think that'd be a good idea!

[rosettawall]

She is mine, and you will stay away from her, do you understand me?!

[She stops for a second, looking uneasy. She feels ... uncomfortable, and she could tell it was unique to the fact she was transformed.

Such outright selfishness sure wasn't befitting of a power made to heal it, was it?

Yet she powers through the feeling, which only clouds her mind further. She swings her fist out suddenly with a growl of frustration, but Henry would only feel an extremely stiff breeze.

As her fist hit the wall beside her.

And went through it like it was made of paper.

That could have been your head, Henry.]

Leave, or I will make you leave.

[havesomedeath]

Whoa-!

[He glances at where her first hit and raises an eyebrow. He... honestly can't help but be a little impressed.

But not so much by the threat. He's much too used to threats already and most of them were far more threatening than this.]

She wasn't kidding, you really are strong. Scary, scary! Buuuuuut, I've still seen scarier, nya ha!

This is kind of a problem, though. On the one hand, I promised to stay close to you. But I also promised not to kill you. Ah, not that I want to anyway, but it does make things a little tricky...