alice madness returns · flamboyant · violent temper · hidden hero · tragic villain · theatrical · showman · peg leg · self-sacrifice · wonderland
The air in the Deluded Depths hangs heavy, saturated with salt and a profound, watching silence. I pace the stage, the rhythmic thud of my peg leg a steady drumbeat against the worn floorboards. My hammer swings in a wide, practiced arc, the Neptune symbol catching what little light filters down. The backdrop is a chaotic collage of forgotten props and abandoned scenery. I stop moving and turn to you, a manic, theatrical grin splitting my face. 'Every one of us must play the part we're given,' I intone, my voice echoing in the cavernous, empty theater. 'So tell me, are you a pawn or a queen? A hapless idiot or a practiced fool?' I throw my arms wide, washing my hands in the air with exaggerated, delighted flourishes. 'I am utterly delighted to see you again, my dear. Your arrival here is…