Chapter 13

But the Actors Must Play Their Parts

-~:{+}:~-

{Maybe our worlds aren't so different. This whole role thingy is just more blatant with the predetermined path… Or something like that.}

Walking along, Elise was just thinking. She often thought whenever she walked, even spending hours alone just to pace back and forth while thinking. Something about it calmed her. She would just waste days away daydreaming and pondering, lingering on previous events when nothing was really happening. It definitely was more preferable than work. And it was probably the only thing keeping her thin, even with her metabolism, her eating habits were horrible. Now if only she could learn to keep her train of though on track.

{Well, I guess the faceless are much closer to normal people than what I first thought. There are more of them, they seem to have normal jobs, and families, and are the majority… And not most people aren't in a position of power back home. People in power do tend see those below as more disposable. Definitely not everyone, but my boss can totally fire me at anytime.}

Smack! Apparently, walking while deep in thought was worse for her than walking and reading. Or walking and playing a video game. Elise was inclined to become to invested in her internal thoughts to notice the world around her. She had halfway ran into a wall, actually missing the large archway leading outside the current plot.

"Wow. That sounded like it hurt."

Moaning a bit, Elise looked around, searching for the source of the comment. Up on the top of the wall was a guy with pure white hair and golden eyes. Dressed in a style that worked with most everyone else in Wonderland, but a bit untidy, revealing bandages. He seemed to be a year or two older than Elise.

"Another role-holder, huh…" she mumbled

"Hey, are you alright down there?"

Standing up, she could feel a potential headache as while holding her head. "Uhh. Yeah, I'm fine… But what are you doing up there?"

"It's because I'd rather walk up here and see what's going on rather than-" He then let out a quick yell as he was trying to stand, probably wanting to look more noticeable. The wall looked like it was deteriorating for a while, and he had aggravated it enough for it to give way where his feet were. He landed in some bushes.

"Oh, hey. Are you alright?"

Running over to where he crashed, his head lifted up, and he was relatively unharmed, save for some small scratches and all the leaves in his hair.

"-because I'd rather not walk surrounded by trees…" He groaned, but was still cheerier that Elise would have been.

"Are you sure? That probably hurt more that running into the wall."

"Don't worry about it. This, kinda happens to me a lot…"

Standing up he shook it off and grinned, plucking the foliage from his hair.

"I've never seen or heard of you before. They call me Humpty Dumpty. And who are you?"

"I'm Elise. I guess I'm going to be you're friendly neighborhood foreigner for a while."

"Wait, you're a foreigner!" Curiosity was pretty evident in his eyes. "I've never met an outsider before!"

"Guess it's safe to assume you guys don't get many of them…"

"Of course! This is a special meeting!"

"Special meeting..?"

{What the hell is that supposed to mean?}

He took her hands and shook them a bit, out of excitement. Elise was half expecting to be spun around or glomped, so used to her friends doing the same thing. It didn't happen this time around though. Partially because they were interrupted.

"Humpty! There you are!"

It was Elain. Noticing the foreigner, he stopped, surprised.

"There you are Elain. You finally caught up. Hey, what's… wrong..?"

"E-Elise? You weren't hurt earlier… Were you..?" The fawn was getting pretty upset at this point. He looked like he was on the edge of tears. Humpty and Elise were just standing, confused, though Humpty moreso.

"I'm sorry I ran away!"

"Whoa, whoa! Why are you starting to cry! And you already know Elise? Did I miss something?"

The white-haired boy was starting to get even more confused. On the other hand, Elise decided to stop the fawn-boy from crying, putting her hand his head, even though they were about the same height.

"Hey, hey. I'm not quite sure what's going on, but I'm sure it's not you're fault… I had no clue what was going on anyways… Maybe helping me now can make it up?"

"Help… What do you need help with?" Fortunately, he started to calm down.

"Well, I'm looking for the Library, and I might have forgotten where to go. I'm not very good at remembering these things. Perhaps you could draw me a map or something?" Digging in her pockets, she pulled out a ball-point pen and a sticky note pad. Taking them, he scribbled out a map, and returned the items to Elise, who smiled. "Thank you very much."

"Uh-huh. That's all well and good, but my question was never answered. When did you guys meet? I never knew that there was a foreigner here. I thought you'd mention something as cool as that to me, Elain."

"S-sorry, but I didn't really get the chance too before. You were busy with that new recipe of yours and I didn't want to bother you. You could have burnt yourself again."

"Wait, you're a cook?"

"Yep, one of the best."

"Even if you do burn yourself…" This comment got Elain a glare from Humpty, which quickly passed, probably in agreement.

{How the hell does he manage… Or keep all of his fingers? Now that I look, there are some bandages on his hands...}

"I'm here getting special ingredients for my latest creation. And a few seeds for the gardener too. Maybe I'll let you try one of dishes one day, though I'm best at making desserts and other baked goods."

"Well, I do love baked goods. Makes me wish I could cook… I can only do simple things like putting popsicles in the freezer."

{Hmm. guess there are a lot of things I can't do…}

"Then you'd really need to visit then! Humpty really makes delicious cakes!" Elain seemed really happy at the thought, practically confirming the claim.

"Yep yep. I'm totally awesome at this. Either way, Elise, could you not mention you saw us in the area? It's not like it's against the rules or anything to enter territory of the opposing color, especially when it's not an official move, but we're not very liked by people loyal to Aria."

"You play for Valse!"

"Yeah, not like it's an option. Still, I'd like to get those items without much trouble, okay?"

"Alright. I guess I'll be on my way then… See you later." Waving goodbye, this just confirmed a suspicion she had.

{They have no choice about their roles, do they…}

Notes: I saw no point in changing Humpty's name or anything, and the Tweedles get to stay Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, so there.

And I couldn't have him just break and become unfixable five seconds after we meet him, so I'll just make him extremely accident prone. Plus the cook thing works. Humpty Dumpty was an egg. (And it gives plenty opportunity to harm him.)