username: butterfly (video, post event)

[digophelia]

[ If it sounds like Alice is daycare, there's a good reason for it. She looks a little tired and very confused. There's a good number of children around her and one decides to plop themselves on her lap.

Oh. Okay. Fine. Deep breaths. ]

Hello, there. Can you stand, just for a minute? It shan't take long, then you can sit in my lap all you want.

[ She shoos him along. Alice heaves a deep sigh, holding her face.] ]

For a small minute, I thought I was back in London. Possibly because I have been around a large number of children, this many, with same limited resources.

I suppose my question is, is there a particular reason why I came back to over a dozen or so children? Not that I mind it, although I wouldn't be opposed to having a bigger space.

[ Yes, when did this happen? Alice has forgotten some tidbits of that fight, after all. ]

Comments

[digophelia]

Well, no, there is nothing wrong with white hair.

[ She's sure that the medical field in her world would be fascinated and there would be cries of, yes, demon. Alice simply regards it with curiosity. ]

You ought to be proud of it, I think.

[ It is pretty, in a way, though she's not going to say that. Watching the children, a slow smile crosses her face. It's too cute, she can't help but crack a full-fledged smile on her tired face. ]

That might calm them down, come to think of it. I would tell them stories, if I wasn't so tired.

[naturallywavy]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Pipe down. Sit down. <sub>[ The girl manages to pluck a single strand of Gintoki hair out of his head which earns her nothing but a grimance and a snort. Fine, take his hair. He doesn't need it.. (and by the volume of it, it won't really be missed, that one strand.)

Now he's put on the spot; most (not all) of the children's eyes are fixated on him once they've sat down and he's somehow ... uncertain about how to go about this. Was he nervous? Maybe. It almost looked that way. ]</sub>

Let's see if I can remember this straight. Don't laugh if I can't get it right.
_{[ Bullshit. Gintoki is practically obsessed with Dragon Ball Z. But he didn't want to make it that obvious. ]}

[digophelia]

I'm impressed, Mr. Gin.

[ Her statement doesn't have any sort of her usual sarcastic tone. Having that many children sit down and listen is impressive and it'll be more impressive if he keeps their attention for the whole duration of the story. ]

Why are you hesitating? Go on, now.

[naturallywavy]

<sub>[ Gintoki gives Alice a look, falling silent— were his cheeks a little bit pink? Just a very, very tad. Talking about something he's so passionate about— something that's pretty childish— it's a little embarrassing but..

Some grumbly noises, followed by: ]</sub>

Aaaa, Son Goku, then. He's from space, and he was sent there on a mission to destroy Earth. He doesn't know that, though. He doesn't know that his real name is actually Kakarrot and he's what we call a Saiyan.
Uh.

_{[ uh. cricket chirps.
He looks at Alice. Please help. ]}

It's a strange word. Maybe you all should try saying it. Kakarrot.

[digophelia]

[ Alice actually laughs again, rocking back as she sits there, with her hands on her lap. ]

Well, it is certainly a bizarre word. Shall we try it, children? Let's try it.

[ Alice leads them all into repeating the word "Kakarrot", like a class room and as a teacher. It reminds her of learning French words when she was younger with her Nanny. She would always make Alice recite the word for the correct pronunciation.

But this word isn't French, and it isn't a French class. The children's gazes shift between Gin and Alice like a tennis match. Alice clears her throat, and decides to help him. Kind of. ]

It sounds like a good story! But... if he was sent to destroy Earth, how can he not know? What happens?

[ There's gentle murmurs followed by Alice's question, with one little girl with braids piping up with a raised hand. ]

Yeah! What happens?

[ Children tend to pick up on each other and before Alice can really correct any of them, more questions arise. Alice will spare Gin another round of embarrassing questions, raising her hands to settle them, gently taping her fingers against her lips. ]

You should let him finish! And maybe afterwards, I'll tell you all a story, too, yes?

[naturallywavy]

_{[ Gintoki blinks a few times when Alice chimes in. Thank goodness. Gintoki scratches his cheek and then nods, crossing his arms. He seems a little but more confident when he speaks next: ]}

Ah, well. He was sent to Earth in a pod, and there suffered a head injury when he landed as a child. He forgot who he was and what his mission was and goes to embark on a venture to find that out.

_{[ Suddenly, Gintoki seems enthusiastic and unfolds his arms, beginning to gesture. ]}
He instead realizes he should become Earth's greatest defender instead of a destroyer..! When he looks at the moon, his race turns into giant monkeys!

[digophelia]

A monkey? That doesn't sound very scary.

[ Of course, after Alice's little quip, the children start giggling. ]

So, then what happened to him? Did he ever destroy the earth?

[naturallywavy]

Ah, of course not. Goku went forth and protected the Earth even when he found out what his purpose in his life was because—

<sub>[ There's a bit of hesitation. Gintoki can think of all sorts of things that he protects and why he protects them when he crosses this explanation...

The boy who had lost his parents and had been striving to help his sister revive a dojo to follow in their father's footsteps; a little girl from another planet who had a malicious brother and lost her mother at a young age...

...A homeless man, who provided company with Gintoki when he needed to— an old lady, who gave him food that was meant for her dead husband in due respect when it was snowy and cold and everything in Gintoki's body ached; when he felt the most alone and scared for himself than he had ever felt before.

The smiling faces that walked the streets of the red light district he lived in.

For a moment, he seems to forget he's telling a story. Gintoki was beginning to miss his normal life. ]</sub>

—Because he found things on Earth that he thought were precious to him. He became the good guy because he found his own path to take in life because of other people and friends.
_{[ He's not very good at dumbing this down for kids to understand— it almost sounds like he's telling himself a story. ]}

He sacrificed himself several times, but his friends.. they loved him so much, they were able to wish him back by the power of the Dragon Balls.

[digophelia]

[ She smiles as the children seem to respond to it positively. Toning it down for children well enough seems to sate them. From the looks of it, they're little, they're small, most of them no older than seven or eight years old. It's a lot like a classroom, in Alice's opinion, and having a story like that, in a world like this, seems to help them. They clamor and even start asking their questions again.

Alice nearly nearly laughs, still with one little boy on her lap, holding him. ]

You make a good story teller! You should do it more often.

[ She has a feeling he may not be used to it, whereas she's used to it. ]

[naturallywavy]

<sub>[ Is he done now? Can he go home? Or at least, can there be a nap time? He'd love that.
Gintoki rubs the back of his neck and adverts his gaze. He has a lot of stories he could tell— personal stories and fictional stories his teacher would tell him in the summer evenings when neither of them could sleep— he's shared these with Kagura before when she's had nightmares.

Kagura and a bunch of strange kids were completely different, though. ]</sub>

Aaaa, in my profession it's good to know how to do this, I guess.
_{[ never know when a client may ask him to put their children to sleep with storytelling. ]}

[digophelia]

It's easier than it looks! Adults worry far too much when it comes to caring for children.

[ Alice has no room to talk. She seems to forget her guilt and unease, having children beside her and holding a little boy on her lap. She starts to shift, pulling herself up and gently putting the little boy down without much of a fuss. ]

But, goodness, it's getting very late!

[ To her it, is, she has no idea what time it is, but she's exhausted. She's wobbling on her feet and hasn't had much sleep in days. She's feeling terrible. So, with that in mind, Alice begins the slow process of getting the children ready to leave. ]

Listen, little ones, it's time to go-

[ The fact they seem to protest and there's a lot of load groans and protests surprises her. ]

But wait! Remember now, we have to get some of you back home to your mama and papas! Come along, now, a few more will be coming to help.

[ And thank god for that, too, Alice is deeply thankful for Harry and Fai's help with this mess. As the children slowly get up, Alice turns back to him, sighing- ]

Please try to get some sleep. I know I will when they're all settled.