CHARLES

Cheshire had managed to sneak into the Guinness Ball thanks to the tricks his father had thought him when he was a kid. This was the type of party that he couldn't miss, but since it wasn't that important to be invited or had enough money to buy a ticket, sneak in was his only option. Right after arriving, Charles went straight to the bar, when noticing a familiar face. "Long time no see, Miss Lissa." He grinned taking the bench next to hers. "I confess I didn't expect to see you here tonight. I didn't think you like green."

“Okay this is a weird question, so like don’t look at me while I ask it. How does one… ask a boy out?”

Charles frowned, ignoring the girl's condition, before giving a smile. "Well, you can just ask..? Or maybe let it hinted? If the guy is into you as well, then he will catch it." Cheshire shrugged. "Unless he is dumb and won't take the hint... Please, don't tell me you are into some dumb boy."

Abigail groaned, rifling through her purse for the third time in a row to no avail. She looked around and caught the eye of the person standing a few feet a way. “Hey, got a smoke? I just ran out.”

Charles was leaning against the wall waiting for a call from one of his dealers. The guy was supposed to call ten minutes ago. When he heard the girl, Cheshire picked his vape pen, giving it to her. "Just got this one. My dealer should be here in a few minutes with more."

Dee followed behind silently but kept a small anticipated smile amongst her lips. Once they reached their destination she waited for Charles to go in before popping her head in to look around. “Oh? That’s no surprise. Nothing but the best for the Queen around here.” She knew Victoria well enough to know of her taste in the luxurious. And this space screamed anything but that- and Dee loved it. Sitting down in Indian style she grinned. “I don’t mind sharing if you don’t.You might have to open the bottles for me though, don’t want to break a nail and all.” She giggled taking in a small breath, it was nice to get away from all the noise of the party. “And they haven’t found you using it yet? Y’know that good hearing of yours is going to get you into trouble one day. I guarantee it.”

"Alright! I'll open them up." Charles picked the first bottle his eyes landed on. He could hear his last neurons yelling at him for drinking again, but ever since the accident with that puffy man back there, the adrenaline was high for him so it made him calm down a bit. That's when Dee's question got him smirking. "I don't use this place as much as you think, sweetheart." He chuckled along, taking a sip of the alcohol from the bottle. "I hope it doesn't, but hearing things might be a good thing. I'd know too much." Cheshire passed the bottle to her. "Worst scenario: I hear something I wasn't supposed to then they'll make me disappear."

Rosie laughed a little, despite herself. It felt good to be treated normally for once. Not a ton of probing questions or people who thought they knew the story. “I don’t know if I’m really the right person but I’m glad I could offer some help.” She smiled and took a small sip of her drink. “I think it’s a cute name. After all, it’s not their cat. I’ve never really had a pet but I’ve been to friend’s houses that have them.” She laughed again softly. “Oh no. That would be terrible. But you may have spoiled him already. He’s going to want to keep sleeping with you even after that.”

"You should try to get one. I'm not very experienced with it since Jim is the first pet I got in life. But since I live on my own, feel good to have a life there." Charles said before asking a drink for the bartender. "Because a friend of mine tried to give me plants to take care of and I couldn't do that." The guy laughed. "I've thought about that as well. I guess I'll just keep trying until he gets tired of me."

“I do like it.  Polka dots are my favorite pattern and one of my favorite things to wear.  I just wasn’t sure if it was too much for a day look.  I usually tone it down a bit during the day,” Minnie said looking down at her dress again as she spoke.  “Yeah I guess it works more here than it would in my small town back home.”  She agreed nodding.  “Oh I only know because I like to look up if there are any cute little holidays like national donut day or pancake day.  I like to bring treats to work on those days.  Well I like to think I have a good eye for fashion,” she said blushing.

"See, I didn't know about those holidays neither, but I'll look them up later." He nodded slightly taking another bite on his lunch. His head was in pain like hell, so he'll need a medicine later.  "Do you work close to here?" Charles asked. "Well, I don't know much about fashion. I usually wear what I like and when I go to work or any event, I try not to look too boring..? Does that make sense?" The guy smiled along.

After the fifth or sixth person giving her an odd look since she left the apartment this morning Minnie began to feel a bit self-conscious about her outfit.  She didn’t normally but maybe this was a bit much, maybe it was more of a runway, editorial look than every day.  She set down her fork and looked away from her salad at the pink skirt of her dress.  Maybe the polka dot dress was a bit much over the white polka dot top, maybe she should have gone with a white top underneath.  “Do you think it’s too much?” she asked biting her lower lip and looking over at her lunch companion.  “It’s national polka dot day so I decided to go all out with this but maybe it’s too much.  I just love them so much and any excuse to pull them out.”

Charles's head hurt a lot from last night's drink, he was shocked that he made to the restaurant. While eating like it was going to be his last meal, he widened his brows when the girl next to his table spoke to him. Frowning while analyzing her dress, it was too much for his own taste, but she seemed to like the thing. "I mean, I think it's a matter of taste. If you like wearing it then you go for it." Cheshire said tilting his head. "Besides, it's New York, I'm sure people will get used to it." He grinned before chuckling. "And if I have known that national polka dot day was a thing, I would have worn my polka dot tie today. You're just way ahead of all of us." Charles took a sip of his soda, hoping that he made the girl feel a bit better.

“Cheshire it is then. It’s much more unique than Charles anyway.” Rosie offered a laughed and a smile. He hadn’t asked her a million questions so at least she was good for now. Safe. “Oh no, it is, isn’t it?” She sighed but the smile still remained on her face. “I’d rather be an unknown but it does bring more people to the shows so I guess I can’t complain too much.” She shrugged. “Good. He didn’t seem very kind anyway. No, no one dies on my watch.” It was meant to be more of a joke than anything but she could feel her heart give a little tug as she said it. “How cute! What’s it’s name?”

"I'm glad I stumbled into the right person, then." Standing straight before going around the counter to sit on a bench next to her. His legs hurt a bit from the small place. "Oh, it's Jim. Jim Beam. I received a lot of critics for giving the cat the name of a whiskey, but I just thought that it was fitting." Charles shrugged, resting his elbows on the counter. "I still need to buy a few more things for him. A bed is one of them. Now he is sleeping with me, but since he is quite small I'm constantly scared that I'll end up crushing him during the night."

“After you.” She grinned back in a giddy manner. Desdemona followed swiftly behind him keeping her vision solely on him. She didn’t want to lose him in the sea of people especially since she didn’t want to be caught when she was supposed to be working. Who knew what Victoria would do if she caught them red-handed with the clubs’s alcohol. Add to the twins debt surely. She almost collided into Charles when he abruptly stopped. Dee couldn’t help but to giggle and thank her stars she hadn’t dropped the two expensive bottles. “Yes, silly Cheshsire. We almost caused an accident though. Let’s keep moving.” She spoke with an encouraging smile.

Charles nodded along and kept on walking, they were almost there by now. The door was under the stairs as he remembered. With a bit of struggle, Cheshire opened the door, waiting for Dee to get in. The place was a bit dirty, but he was surprised that there was still furniture. "This was supposed to be Victoria's office a few years ago... But she thought that it was too small and they made a new one upstairs." He said with a chuckle while closing the door. "I heard the maids talking about it a few months ago, and surprisingly is still intact." Charles placed his bottles on the desk close to the window. "We didn't bring glasses, so we've to drink from straight of the font." The guy added with a grin.

Pulling her arms around her with the crisp hair she shrugged her shoulders. “I couldn’t exactly walk away and not worry if you ever made it out in one piece. But, yeah - you’re welcome. Oh, no you really don’t have too. I’m Aquata though, and you are…?” 

"Well, I'm thankful then." Charles chuckled. If it wasn't for her, he would still be stuck on the cupboard, waiting for the right time to leave. "Oh, hell yeah, I insist. I can buy you some food or a drink...? It's up to you. I know a diner, literally two blocks away. We can go there if you want or anywhere is fine, though." He shrugged. "I'm Charles, but most people call me Cheshire." The guy grinned with his hands on his pockets.

“I try.” She mused, flashing a large grin at him. Dee’s eyes widening slightly when he shifted towards her. She could practically see the lightbulb appear above his head, it caused her to let out a small giggle. “Hmm…” She hummed, looking over her shoulders to array of options before them. “I mean, how could we only chose one?” Sneakily she slid open the glass barrier reaching in and running her fingers across the bottles. “I say take whatever we can carry.” Surely Darrien would notice the bottles missing when he returned, but that thought didn’t matter now. She’d make it up to her brother later…or so that’s what she liked to believe. Picking up two bottles by random she turned back and smiled at him. Which happened to be a classic red wine and a champagne. “Your turn.”

Charles chuckled at her suggestion. They could carry as much as possible and leave The Red's bar completely empty. He saw her picking two bottles and approved her choice, so now the guy was getting, what he knew to be one of the best wines in the place. Picking the one, he smirked to her. "I'll take this one. Now..." Cheshire stood a little taller to look around for the sight of the man and no. No even his shadow. "Follow my lead." Charles was on his feet now, walking calmly to the spot that he remembered and with The Red quite crowed tonight, hopefully, he would make it. The guy stopped to check if Dee was behind him, mimicking to her. "You good?"

Rosie laughed again and shook her head. “No, don’t apologize. I know I don’t really look or seem like the type.” She took a long sip of her drink. “I wouldn’t call myself a celebrity.” Because she was famous for the wrong reasons. “Oh. I’m Rose Wilshire. Most people call me Rosie.” She was crossing her fingers he hadn’t heard of her and her ‘black widow’ status. “It’s really not all it’s cracked up to be. Tabloids love to lie and twist the truth.”

Rose Wilshire. Yeah, that name was Charles has heard of. "Alright, Rosie. I'm Charles, but then again, most people call me Cheshire." The guy tilted his head for also having a nickname. It was his last name, to be honest, but screw it. "Well, that was just a classic celebrity's reply, so I'd just say that you're a pro." He joked, before looking around one last time. "Yeah, it seems like he is gone, gone. Die tonight was not an option, I adopted a cat this past week."

“I’ll be your bodyguard for the night. Although I’m not sure if i could take him completely by myself, so you might just have to run away really fast.” Dee giggled, now sitting down in front of him holding her knees up to her chest. She couldn’t help but to grin back seeing his- it was contagious. “The Red Queen is a big place. I’m sure we could find something.” The thought gave Dee a content feeling. A place where they could get away from the world-somewhere only they would know. “You know I wouldn’t let that happen. Even if it did, I’d alteast go down trying.” She mused with a soft smile. Dee never felt the need to keep up her naive persona around Charles, everything felt so natural when it came to him. It was nice to feel like herself.

Charles laughed inclining his head back. Thinking of Dee as his bodyguard was really something, she would hit the enemies with her charm and would probably win. Dee's words made him remember a place, but couldn't remember where it was exactly. He smiled again for hearing about her in a fight. "That's why you're my heroin." Cheshire teased, picking her chin with a giggle. Then the place he was trying to remember came to mind, making his eyes go big. "Ohh, I know a place!" He mirrored Dee's position but turning to the shelves that were behind her. "Which drink do you wanna take?" Charles asked, turning his head to the girl.

Rosie sighed in relief as the man walked away. She wasn’t very good at being put on the spot. For once it seemed like her fame had come in handy. Though you wouldn’t catch her saying that out loud that often. When she heard him open the door again, she couldn’t help but giggle. He looked ridiculous crammed into the cupboard. “Yes. It looked like he headed for the door. He might have thought you left.” She smiled and gave him a thumbs up. “What? Oh uh, yes? But that’s because it’s the truth. I am an Olympic gold medalist. That was a while ago. But I’ve been in magazines since then. I’m currently an acrobat.”

Hearing that the man had left was now his new favorite song. It meant that it was time to stand. Charles' legs were in pain for being pressed together, to fit the little space. That's when her reply hit him. "Oh. Oh wow! I feel kinda stupid now." He laughed. "But that's impressive, you're the closest I have ever met of a celebrity. What's your name?" Cheshire rested his elbows on the bar's counter. "Tell me dirty: is it all that fancy drama that we see on the news?" He chuckled again.