Alice and the Clockmaker,
"Are you asking me to kill myself, Miss Feng?"
The Clockmaker's gaze was harsh. Half-lidded eyes stared up at Neph, unfaltering in their contact; their chin carelessly resting on their palm. It was a common sight for her, given that they always had the same physical response when she interrupted their work (and the Clockmaker was nearly always working). This time, though, there was an added harshness to it. Perhaps this time she really overstepped.
"What-? No, of course not, that's not-"
"-Then do not ask that I visit the Spade Kingdom and have an audience with Valya again. The General is dead, just as she says. It is in your best interest you believe her."
The room fell into silence and the Clockmaker returned to their work. It was eerie how quiet the Clock Tower could get, but, usually, Neph found it relaxing. Just watching them tinker quietly. Their hands—calloused from years of repairs—were elegant and nimble. They treated each part of the clocks they fixed with immense care. It was as if, to them, each compartment was as delicate as a feather. Today was… different.
It had been different for far longer than just today.
The Clockmaker was rougher than normal. Where they used to only pick up a gear when returning it to its place, they now clutched it as if it'd escape at any moment. She was sure some clocks came to them already scratched—why bother fix something that was never fully broken—but up until late, she had never seen the Clockmaker return anything that was less than perfect. They were the best Clockmaker Wonderland had ever had, and there was a reason for their title. As far as Neph was concerned, there had to be a reason for their change in work ethic. Perhaps there was something they knew that she didn't..?
A shot in the dark was better than none at all.
"…The General isn't really dead, is he."
The Clockmaker dropped the gear in their hand and watched wordlessly as it clattered softly on the table. She was right.
If it weren't as heavy a topic as life or death—or, if the topic didn't seem to bother them this much—she'd have been giddy to catch the Clockmaker in one of their lies. Opposed to being only just proud of herself.
"I never said such a thing." They picked up the fallen gear. "You will drop the topic here."
"And what if I don't?"
Neph found it hard not to give the Clockmaker one of her characteristic grins. She caught them. It was a sticky place to be for either of them. Moreso for Neph herself, in fact. The look the Clockmaker wore was one she had never seen on them before. A face so dark and a scowl so deep she was shocked their facial muscles were capable of creating it.
Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't push her luck further. She'd leave it there—she got her answer, best to leave them alone while she still could. But Wonderland liked her. Or, at least, it did if she chose to believe the Caterpillar's words. The Clockmaker couldn't do anything to her if they valued their own health and safety. Neph had to suppress the laugh bubbling in her chest.
"…Surely, Miss Feng, you must know that a clockmaker's job is to repair, no?"
…Huh..? What was this-
Neph nodded.
"Well, sometimes—in order to do so cleanly—one must first dismantle."
Oh. So they were threatening her.
"I thought the Clockmaker couldn't-" she voiced her thoughts before being cut off.
"And you would be correct." Their smile was almost more threatening than their scowl. "If you care to learn so much about Wonderland, however, then there is something crucial for you to know: Wonderland is no stranger to rule breakers, and it does not punish where it finds interest."
Their words explained a lot, as much as Neph hated to admit it. The Clockmaker—this Clockmaker, Ellis—was an anomaly. They were the best Clockmaker Wonderland has had—most certainly—and they were also the most troublesome. They were the first Clockmaker to have an Apprentice quit, just as they were the first Clockmaker to not teach their Apprentices. Additionally, they were quite the skilled fighter; at least, from a distance.
The Clockmaker was supposed to be a non-hostile role—essentially Wonderland's healer. They were supposed to stay far from any potential battlegrounds. Far from society at large, even, unless their services were called for. But Ellis put a great deal of time into perfecting the craft of throwing cards. Their accuracy and force was nothing to laugh at, but it should have gotten them replaced. Their current Apprentice was smart, and there were others in the past who were promoted to the role of Clockmaker with far less skill. Ellis could surely be replaced, and there was reason for it- But, perhaps, just as Wonderland favored Neph, it favored Ellis.
She puffed out her cheeks.
"There's a reason people don't like you, y'know."
"Of course," Ellis laughed. "Multiple, in fact! I wouldn't have it any other way."
Their smile remained hostile, though it softened. If Neph didn't know any better, she might have even thought it sincere. Maybe it was. Ellis was clever, known for their wordplay, but sometimes their words were true at face value.
"Now, if you have nothing more to say, I suggest you leave, Miss Feng. I have plenty still to do, and I cannot waste any more of my time idly chatting."
She didn't have much else to say. She had accomplished all she set out for today: learn about the Spade Kingdom, and maybe tease Ellis a bit while she was at it. If they were asking her to leave, she had no real reason to stay. But she liked hanging out with them. Just a little.
Sure, Ellis was annoying and often got on her nerves, but they were also fun. Not in any traditional way—she couldn't imagine Ellis doing anything but work—but rather in the way that it was fun to watch them. They were so different from everyone else in Wonderland.
Seeing as she was assigned the Alice role, most people wanted to be in her good graces. It didn't matter if they actually liked her or not. Nor did it matter if she liked them, actually. She was sure the Caterpillar merely tolerated her. Even the Knave of Hearts seemed like he had ulterior motives for his spending time with her. Ellis was different. They didn't like her, and they made that clear. It was refreshing.
Beyond that, Neph just liked antagonizing them.
She didn't want to go just yet.
"I talked to Ed when I came in."
A lie. She hadn't even seen him.
"You did, did you."
There was a hint of amusement in their voice. Maybe she should've said something about the Cheshire Cat instead… Edmund was their Apprentice. If he was out doing work somewhere, surely Ellis would know. Plus, they were always eager to hear about how he was doing. It was cute. They were cute together. But if she lied about Cheshire, she'd never hear the end of it. She wouldn't hear the end about Edmund, either… Ugh.
She might as well say something he's told her in the past.
"Yep! He said: 'I wish Ellis would trust me with more work.'"
They laughed at her impression. Maybe she should've just left when they asked. It wasn't even one of amusement—it sounded more like mockery. There was no way they didn't see through her.
"Hmm… yes. I suppose he does rather like keeping up appearances, doesn't he."
Oh? Maybe she got away with it..?
"Please close the door on your way out."
Oh. They just… Really wanted her to leave.
Damn.
She didn’t know much about what Ellis meant by “appearances”—as far as Neph was concerned, Ellis was the only one between the two of them with a deceitful bone in their body—but she was sure she wanted their chat to end on her terms. Too many times has Ellis shooed her away.
"You will give him more to do though, right? If not for him, for me?” Then, pointedly, “it'd do you some good to stop working and get a hobby, too."
"I'll give him more work when he can assemble a clock without his sight."
An impossibly high starting line. As his title suggested, Edmund was an apprentice. It was the Clockmaker’s job—in part, at least—to teach their Apprentice. To pass on the art of Clock Making and Repairing. Of course he’d be unable to fix a clock with his eyes closed; Ellis hardly taught him. And, to be fair to Ellis, it was good that they paid any attention at all to Edmund. They were doing far more than they had done for any of their old Apprentices! But the bar was nonexistent. The winner for “Wonderland’s Worst Mentor” was clear. As was the winner for “Wonderland’s Biggest Hypocrite.”
"Ugh. Not even you can-"
"The door, Miss Feng," Ellis quickly shut her down.
It wasn’t worth trying to get the last word. So long as she was in the Clock Tower, Ellis was fully justified in asking her to leave. It was the perfect final retort, even. Neph started toward the door with a huff. Ellis returned to their work, Edmund was away, and the Cheshire Cat nowhere to be seen; there wasn’t really much else for her to do. She shut the door behind her.
She lingered, though.
The last word didn’t have to be verbal, did it..? Neph pushed the door open, as quiet as she could. She spared no time waiting for Ellis to respond before bounding down the stairs, footsteps fast and heavy. She wanted her intentions to be known.
“Nephele, that little-!”
Ellis’ words echoed throughout the building, and, this time, there was no need to suppress her laughter. She was already by the Tower’s proper exit by the time Ellis slammed the door shut on her behalf. Surely, she would hear about it the next time they spoke, but for now she could consider herself their chat’s victor.