[Action] Enjoy the Lemming's Parade

[superficially_busy]

Location: Every City (Genessia, Nova, Fayren, Attleton and Everglade)
When: July 4th, all day

[Today seems to be a holiday for many of the residents of Genessia. Where there's a holiday, there are festivities. Where there are festivities, there's a certain puppeteer who will join in with her fantastic dolls. However, first she needed to do a little quick research on this particular holiday.

Alice can be found in any one of the cities leading a small group of at least 20 identical dolls, all marching behind her carrying little flags of solid red, white and blue while others played tiny instruments. The little marching bad, though not loud at all, was indeed playing well. Actual music.

Eventually, Alice and her little parade stop at the most populated center of the city, where a small stage is set up, and the dolls get into position while the puppeteer stands aside to narrate a story. She will be talking for the dolls through ventriloquism.

A small group of girl dolls in blue dresses walked onto center stage.]

"'It's been too long. The king doesn't pay attention to us anymore!' Said one of the delegates. 'We should start our own country, and one without some dumb old king!' With a cheer from the others, it was decided. The people of this land will cut ties with their king..."

[Then, a group of dolls in red dresses appeared on stage.]

"...But the great king would not let his people go so easily. 'You're not getting away from us without a fight, peasents!' roared one of the soldiers. 'Then we will FIGHT!' replied a delegate, shaking her fist in fury!"

[The dolls left the stage as the remaining dolls altered the little stage to one depicting a countryside. 10 dolls in blue marched up on one end of the stage, and 10 dolls in red marched up on the other end, each side facing each other.]

"...The battle lines are drawn. The fate of this new country lies on this battle..."

[The blue and red dolls pointed toy muskets at each other, then came the sounds of snaps and wisps of smoke as shots were fired. Some of the blue dolls fell over and played dead while some of the red dolls did the same. The remaining dolls marched forward as the red dolls began to retreat. The blue dolls continued to march until they exit the stage from the red side.

The stage is again converted to one inside of a house as more blue dolls got together. Alice continues to narrate.]

"Many heroes fell as the war rages as if endlessly, until one fateful day when the king's soldiers gave up and went home.

'The battle is one, and so to the war. I do declare the creation of these united states.'"

[The curtain closes and the strange play has ended. Some of the dolls place a small box on the stage, and behind it is a sign...]

"Play by: Alice Margatroid (available to chat after the show for a limited time)
Like the show? Rate it with your red bills! 1 bill = 1 star, 5 bills = 5 star"

Comments

[youfool]

Ted's impressed, taking it upon himself to march in line and sing whatever songs they were playing, having thoroughly researched all the traditional ones the day before. By now he had a good idea of Alice's showmanship, and clapped raucously at the play's conclusion. He gives her five bills, of course, both for the entertainment value and not celebrating in some dumb subarchway like the others.

[superficially_busy]

[One of Alice's dolls takes the five red bills and deposits them in a box on the stage.]


"Obvious question aside, thank you for attending."

[youfool]

"You're welcome." He had a curious look. "Erm, it's rather less obvious to me I'm afraid. Should I have asked something, or did you want to ask something of me?"

[superficially_busy]

[All of Alice's dolls gave sighing motions in unison. She was aware he's been following her lemmings for awhile.]

"...Did you enjoy the show?"

[youfool]

He laughed, both at the dolls and her question. "That wasn't charity, if that's what you mean. Not that you couldn't have that if you wanted." He meant every one of those five bills. Though less for accuracy and more for...ingenuity.

[superficially_busy]

"I'll take that as a yes."

[Each of her dolls dip into a curtsy.]

[skilledwithwords]

[Levy steps up and places down 6 red bills.]

That was wonderful Alice.

[She doesn't smile but her expression is kind and her voice soft before turning to head back to her home.]

[superficially_busy]

[This behavior catches Alice's attention, but she wasn't compelled to pry. Levy's business is her own and it will be respected, so the puppeteer quietly watches her leave.]

[orangeoutlaw]

[he had sat through most of it chewing on some pork rinds and more or less invested in the story. It was a pretty good one as such things go but the ending was pretty weak.

Still, he'll drop in three red bills and will hang around a bit to see if she'll talk to him or otherwise admire the tiny muskets]

[superficially_busy]

[Alice watched him put in three bills, offering a kind smile while her dolls curtsy.]

"Hello. Thank you for attending."

[orangeoutlaw]

No problem. [watches the dolls curtsy] But your ending really lacked punch. How can I believe in what they're fighting for if they just give up and go home?

[shakes his head] Also, where did you get those little muskets? [he's got to have one somehow]

[superficially_busy]

"Given what I can understand of this American fable, they really did win because the King's army gave up."

[Ah, the muskets. Those were tricky.]

"I made them. Everything about my dolls, from their very bodies to any tools and weapons they use, I made for them."

[orangeoutlaw]

Oh hey! I saw a guy named America. [neat. But other than that]

Even if it's history it still makes a crappy story. [he's still kind of let down by it to be honest.

He grins at her statement tho]

Really? You're pretty good. [he's impressed] Will you sell me one of the muskets?