The Charlatan

"Thanks for stopping by," Lottie said brightly, voice taking on the affected cheer of a holiday worker instead of someone in a good mood. "I was having a nice visit with someone earlier and I confiscated something I thought you might be interested in. No names, don't want to break confidentially, so just consider it a gift." Digging beneath her bed, Lottie pulled out an inconspicuous, reusable shopping bag with a cutesy saying on the front before holding it out to Alden, smiling like she hadn't invented a reason to call him over after getting off the phone with a dreaded Parental Figure.

"So what do you see from up there? Ghosts? Floating lights? Come on, you have to have stories from the lookout tower if you spend that much time up there." Lottie said as she wandered along the footpath, the sound of a drink charm hitting against her water bottle sounding with every step. "It can be easy to put yourself high up, safe and untouchable, but it's good to come back down to earth sometimes."

"There's nothing quite like communing with nature. We aren't made for all the hustle and bustle of cities, the buzz of technology. It's good to disconnect and hear the quiet for a while." Not that it was entirely quite, Charlotte accepted, her head tipping back as she listened to the waves rushing in and out. "Some people are beach people, and some are mountain people, but why have to pick? Why not find a place with water and trees both?"

"Talk to me about acting, tell me how it makes you feel. You know, they recommend getting on the stage for building confidence and roleplaying is a time honored way of preparing for difficult situations. Have you tried a one man performance against your demons? You know, one of those grand soliloquys like in a greek poem?" Lottie asked as she curled her legs under her, making herself comfortable on the futon and smiling in a harmless manner.

"This is a verified, certified form of therapy. They actually have this as a business in some places." Lottie explained as she carefully dabbed at the canvas with her paint brush, trying to channel the Bob Ross videos she'd watched on youtube the night before. "It lets you channel your emotions into a creative outlet and the wine - well, come on, wine never hurts. It's just one glass and that makes it medicinal. As long as it's red wine, don't forget that part."