( three. dictated and action }

[nihilo]

Mr. Saxophone and Dolly Parton
[ There's just the sound of jingling car keys. Oh boy, is it already Christmas again? ]


At least the furballs vapourized.

It's a shame, all this perfect snow and not a snowman to be seen.

[ And true to her word, she will be all bundled up outside crafting a snowman as tall as the average man. Beside her is a bucket, with carrots for the nose and cherries for the eyes. No coals. ]

Comments

[nihilo]

Bring a bucket. I'll have the decks roughly formed by the time you're here.

[workaphilic]

[Fine, why not? He's bored, and he might as well show the castle another thing he's better than them at.

Might even be able to get some work done.]

A bucket it is.

[nihilo]

[ And as she said, she has a nicely-sized ship deck done, now crouched by the side to carve out rounded windows with a folded knife. ]

[workaphilic]

[And a moment later there's a metal bucket hovering near her shoulder.

Sherlock hums.]

You're very dedicated.

[nihilo]

[ Wow, dude is tall. Alice blows softly against one window to dust away any stray snow. ]

When I mean to. Now, which models did you get?

[workaphilic]

[He drops the bucket into the snow beside her.

It's full of model Austria-Hungarian planes, circa World War I]

[nihilo]

[ Alice crouches to dig through it, picking out a nice one and making flying gestures in the air, with sound effects. ]

[workaphilic]

[He watches for a few seconds.

Then, mildly:]

Finished?

[nihilo]

[ She makes a pout and drops her arm. The spell is broken! ]

Have some fun.

[workaphilic]

[musing:]

This place isn't conducive to my type of fun, usually.

[nihilo]

[ Alice stands back up, brushing snow off her knees. ]

Is your type of fun so particular?

[workaphilic]

It can be.

I wouldn't call distractions "fun," would you?

[nihilo]

And why not, when routine is so dull?

[workaphilic]

Because I can do better, given the opportunity.

[nihilo]

What's better than the unexpected?

[workaphilic]

Not much.

That's the difference between the distractions and the real fun.

[nihilo]

You like expecting things then? Does that make you feel good? Smarter, better than the rest of them?

[workaphilic]

Possibly because I am.

[nihilo]

[ She smirks, and chucks a toy airplane for him to catch as she turns back to shaping that carrier. ]

Spring is coming!

[workaphilic]

[And he does! His reflexes are excellent when he's actually paying attention.

He plunks it onto the carrier's deck.]

Best hurry up, then.

[nihilo]

They should be all in line. [ She gestures with her hands to show where the planes should be. ] Diagonal, I think.

[workaphilic]

[He rolls his eyes, but stoops to do as directed.

The lines are very precise.]

[nihilo]

[ She just thinks he's... quirky, nicely speaking, but doesn't help him with the task, pacing around the sculpture with hands in her pockets. ]

[workaphilic]

[When he's finished, he straightens.

Dryly:]

To your specifications?

[nihilo]

It will do. [ She smirks, teasing. The care he took was borderline obsessive. ]

Do you do this often?