{ two. action and dictated }

[nihilo]

[ Alice is sitting on one of the couches at the lobby with one nutcracker on her lap, like a ventriloquist's doll.

She can't quite speak through her stomach or anything, but she does try, moving the puppet's hand to wave at passersby and making voices. ]

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Lothar.

Comments

[kalinda]

[She's walking by, trying to hide her perturbed look from kissing her best friend, shaking her head and-- oh.

You know, she's surprised she has yet to see a ventriloquist or a puppetmaster (that wasn't the castle) around here.

YOU GET A LOOK.]

[nihilo]

[ BUT WHAT KIND OF LOOK?

Alice grins at her and makes the puppet wave as eagerly as wooden arms allow. ]

Come say hello.

[kalinda]

[A NEUTRAL LOOK. Well, one that hides "weird" for the nutcracker and "cute" for the lady...

Regardless, she's staying put for now.]

Hello.

[nihilo]

[ No, lady, you're hiding those looks just too well. Alice peers down at the doll, like handling a living child, and mutters. ]

He can't hear you!

[kalinda]

[YOU WANNA GO? No, but seriously, that's weird!

But she'll give her the attention, tilting her head in the slightest.]

Having fun?

[nihilo]

[ Alice sits up straighter, giving up on the charade for the moment. ]

You're not.

[kalinda]

[She'll shrug in the slightest, approaching. There is the slight curling of her lips, shoving her hands in her jacket pockets, looking down at the nutcracker in question.]

Lothar. That's quite the name. It's a pleasure to meet you.

[nihilo]

[ She lowers her chin and smirks, satisfied at her move. ]

Junghanel. The King Nutcracker. He has no liking for frivolous titles. Lothar will do.

[kalinda]

Really. [There will be a look at the nutcracker, and then a glance at this woman.]

You don't have an actual person trapped in there, do you?

[nihilo]

[ Alice gives her a look that says something along the lines of you can't be serious. ]

That would be neat. Unfortunately.

[kalinda]

[Looking this one over because... Interesting.]

I'm sure it's happened here before.

[nihilo]

[ Alice offers that nutcracker to her and quirks her head to the side in challenge. Not scared of a little puny doll, are you? ]

[kalinda]

[Of course not!

Though the second she's touching it, she's looking over at the other... curious. Well, more curious than before. Almost like she wants to investigate a little further. Interesting.]

Hey.

[nihilo]

[ This is all like an experiment, of course, with a ready-made hypothesis. Alice lets her smile spread slowly and take another step closer. She leans in. Still a challenge.

Dare you? ]