You entered town a different way from where you left and walked past what was the library. "What happened to it?" You gasped, going closer to see the burnt and collapsed building. Not many people were standing by it right now, it might be old news from this morning. You did spot Noah who made his way over to you. You didn't feel good about this now.

"You shouldn't stay around him often. People always argue who's the worst of the bunch, it's him if you ask me."

"I don't like talking about any of them. It's a curse to do so, something bad always happens when you do

What the librarian said, did Noah actually hear him?

"Looks like your favourite place is ashes now." Nile spoke. Surely he'd have no reason to burn the joint if he liked it.

"I'm more worried about the talking books." His face saddened. "They do feel pain."

"Always lying, pretending to care."

You snapped yourself out of it, no one could be that good at lies. How would they know anyway? An oof came out of Noah as Alice appeared and jumped onto his back. "Who cares? Life goes on!" Good to see her empathy was still in check. You sarcastically thought. "Nile, quick! Give me your umbrella!" She hopped off Noah.

"What for?"

"Chocolate rain, duh. Can't get it in my hair." She took his hat and rustled through it. Alice pulled multiple things out of it, a cocktail umbrella, one for a doll, the final being a keychain before she actually got the umbrella she needed although another thing caught her eye. "What's this doing in here?" A sealed envelope. She looked to both of her brothers, clearly a sibling thing you wouldn't understand. Heck, you were still stuck at the chocolate rain.

Nile stuck his hands behind his back and whistled suspiciously. "Don't look at me. Look at him." This was almost like 'so. Who broke it?'

she groaned. "Whatever." Opened the umbrella to cover herself and shoved the envelope to your chest as she walked off. You'd read it later.

"Here, let me put it in the box for you." Noah offered, your hands were sort of full with the box. "I don't think you want that to get wet and sticky. I can show you the cafe around the corner."

"What about... never mind." You take your eyes off Nile for one second and then you find him on a roof top holding a cup.

"You guys go on without me!" He shouted from the tall distance. Looks like he has milk to catch.

- - -

Sitting at the cafe the server insisted that you get anything you want. On the menu there was scream cheese, only one way to find out if it was like hotel Transylvania. Along with that you ordered a drink, something to do with a cloud? You had to order Noah's latte since he was being ignored yet again. By now the chocolate milk was pouring outside, it took you back to the night before coming here.

"What's wrong?"

It didn't feel right to open up to him. "What's so special about the Alice? I keep getting freebies for my role but It doesn't make sense as to why." The drinks came out, actually, you got an empty mug with a cloud hovering over it. Noah must have seen your confused face.

"You tap on it, like this." He gave it a poke for you and the beverage poured out, it was pretty cool. Next was the scream cheese, exactly what you expected, although it brought Noah back to last night, the books shrills came back to him.

"Now it looks like somethings up with you."

"Let's just say we're both have our own struggles." There's no way he could reveal anything. "Don't feel guilty about eating it, it's not sentient or anything like that." A change of topic.

"...right" to eat or not to eat, that is the question. A nibble wouldn't hurt. Damn, it was the texture of mozzarella but the taste of cream cheese. Until it screamed in your throat and you choked it out. Oh god, it's still screaming on the plate. Noah took your plate away and gave you a pat on the way back to help with your coughing fit. Once settled down you brought up your question again since you both got distracted with the cheese.

"Maybe it's because everything you experience here is about mental development. I think everyone wants a sense of whats it's like to be important and the way to that is through you."

"What about the roles? Why do we have to fulfil them?" Now was the time for proper answers.

"You read the story about the tree." So he saw that. "Without following what we're supposed to be I imagine it would affect the tree in some way or another. Besides, you want to get home, don't you? It would be pretty selfish if we didn't help with that." That hit hard. You forgot about missing home. "It's okay, we'll get you back." He placed his hand on yours.

You enjoyed the moment, staring into his eyes. Ughh, so cliché, you snapped out of it. "It's kind of weird how you aren't weird. I would really think i'm back home with you right now if not for." You used your eyes to point out the window. He knew what you meant.

"I'll be honest with you on this." Finally. "I don't feel much connection to the mad hatter role. It might not even be for me but, it's scary not being anything here so I put up with it. Apart from my family you're the first that acknowledged I exist." He didn't include the times strangers did react to him out if rage.

There's so much to figure out and fix...