(no subject)

[nihilo]

Put on your walking boots, we're going hunting.

Comments

Alice

[ofhope]

[ Words he likes. But he's sure this is a trick. ]

Hunting?

Joshua

[nihilo]

Yes. [ She relishes the word. ]

For sufficiently satisfying reward.

Alice

[ofhope]

Satisfying for whom?

Joshua

[nihilo]

Do you like guns?

Alice

[ofhope]

Yes.

Joshua

[nihilo]

So, for both of us.

Alice

[ofhope]

Okay. What are we hunting down?

Joshua

[nihilo]

Someone's car. It belonged to his girlfriend, who left the castle. Any guesses?

Alice

[ofhope]

I'll need more than that.

[ Like he pays attention to every castle resident with girlfriend attachment issues. ]

Joshua

[nihilo]

Classified information.

First, are you in or not?

Alice

[ofhope]

[ Well, he likes mysteries, but tracking down a car is mysterious enough. (They're not exactly common here.)

The idea of actually leaving the mansion right now leaves him reluctant, but...hunting things down like a detective, or explorer? It's tempting, something that nudges at his childhood. ]

Hm... All right, I'm in.

Joshua

[nihilo]

Excellent!

Spike Spiegel.

Alice

[ofhope]

[ . . .

Julia's car, then?

It really is Christmas! ]

He hired you? Or...?

Joshua

[nihilo]

Maybe. I call him Mr. Saxophone.

I'm Lutwidge. What will you be?

Alice

[ofhope]

No, that's definitely somebody different.

[ He remembers that person over the journal, although he found himself too distracted to really follow up on matters. Looks like he should have dug more, though.

...

Oh. That's cute. ]

Henry.

Joshua

[nihilo]

[ Alice blows a raspberry. ]

Try again.

Alice

[ofhope]

[ Wow, is he ever too lazy. ]

Does it matter? You pick.

Joshua

[nihilo]

Dolly Parton.

Alice

[ofhope]

Who?

Joshua

[nihilo]

A singer. She wrote a song once with your name as the title.

Alice

[ofhope]

[ So she's the dude, and he's the chick?

Whatever. This is how much he cares. ]

If you insist. I don't want to be called 'Dolly', though.

[ Because he may laugh every time and then nothing will get done. ]

Joshua

[nihilo]

Why? [ She can even sound all whiny. ]

You're secure enough to be called Dolly.

Alice

[ofhope]

[ Secure in what? No comprende for him. ]

Because it's too ridiculous. Go for Parton, if you insist.

Joshua

[nihilo]

Fine. But I get to think Dolly in my mind everytime I say Parton.

Alice

[ofhope]

You must adore her singing.

[ Hopefully he doesn't have to hear it. So long as she isn't screaming it in her subconscious ... but that would just be weird. ]

What clues do you have so far?