( 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]

Speaking of, I believe you owe me a crate of wine and bragging rights.

[onlyanapple]

Oh, that I do. Where shall I send it?

[nihilo]

My room. Terrere tower, 2015.

[onlyanapple]

Then ghosts will be whisking your prize to you shortly.

[nihilo]

Oh? Don't I get to drink wine with the Serpent too?

[onlyanapple]

Well, that wasn't part of the original deal, but if you're offering...

[nihilo]

I'm asking and offering.

[onlyanapple]

Then I'll be on my way.

[nihilo]

And I'll be eagerly waiting by the door.

[onlyanapple]

I bet you will.

[And, fashionably late as always, he eventually shows up with a knock at her door]

[nihilo]

[ Waiting eagerly by the door is a fatuous concept anyway, she reaches it as soon as if she were standing two steps away from it, swinging it open with the widest grin. ]

And look who's here. Come in.

[onlyanapple]

[And he has a gift basket of wine, too, just as promised. He's a demon of his word, after all]

Don't mind if I do. Hullo.

[nihilo]

[ She opens her hand to take that basket from him now, thank you, stepping aside to let him in as she does. ]

Ah, you seem unassuming for a serpent.

[onlyanapple]

[He'll hand it over, giving her a grin with teeth far too sharp to be human]

Oh? You were expecting something a little more obvious?

[nihilo]

[ Alice sets that basket on a nearby table and starts unpacking it. ]

I at least expected scales. Isn't it fancier than this silly human skin?

[onlyanapple]

It is, but it's far easer to have legs and hands. They're severely underrated limbs. Besides, I can always be a snake, if I want to.

[nihilo]

[ She spares him a glance as she pours them two well-filled glasses. ]

What kind are you? Cobra? Python? Or are you the father of all serpents?

[onlyanapple]

I'm not a father to anything. I'm a snake unto myself, though.

[nihilo]

[ Alice brings the wine over and offers him one with her right hand. ]

What does that mean, to be a snake "unto yourself"?

[onlyanapple]

[He'll take the wine and have a nice long sip before replying]

I'm one of a kind. There's none other like me.

[nihilo]

[ She follows too, taking a smaller sip so as to be the more sober of the two. Do demons even get inebriated? ]

Is that like saying everyone is special?

[onlyanapple]

[He can, indeed, get blind stinking drunk. He can also sober himself up in a second, so there's no winning, really]

No. That's saying I'm special. I've found the vast majority of people are depressingly alike.

[nihilo]

Well, when there are seven billion of you. [ Not that she counts herself among the masses. She sniffs her glass. ]

Where is this one from?

[onlyanapple]

Individuality must be so hard.

I believe I wished up that one from Tuscany.

[nihilo]

[ Alice takes a sip and makes a pleased hum. ]

Difficult to achieve, difficult to suffer. Why does anyone try?