#technically no

Henchman: Hah! You’ll never find where boss hid the Star Staff! That thing’s as good as gone in the history books, just like YOU are gonna be when he finds out ya took one of his henchmen!

(The scene cuts to a police chief, clearly exasperated as he pinches his forehead. Next to him, a detective sits, having exhausted all her options.)

Detective: Damn it! Tried everything! Guy’s harder to crack than a coconut..

Chief: can’t believe im even considerin’ this…but we have to.

(The chief slams his fist down on the table, spooking the detective and the henchman. A button flips over on the corner of the table.)

Chief: so you wanna be a nutjob, huh? Well so be it, buddy. We got a real and true nutcracker comin’ right this way.

(The chief slams his fist on the button. A small siren rings in the air—the chief motions the detective up to follow, though she seems confused as she does so. Once they leave, it happens.)

(Laughter. Bright, colorful words start to paint themselves on the walls, onomatopoeia of giggles and chortles and guffaws show themselves. The henchman shrinks in his seat, looking around frantically until..)

???: hehehe!

(In a gaggle of words and sparkles, spinning out from thin air, Els emerges, a small flourish with her hands in the air like she’s composing a symphony. The laughter slowly fades, but the words stay on the walls. An ominous foreshadowing to what’s to come. The henchman looks at her, startled by such an entrance.)

Henchman: eh? It’s you! The weirdo with her eyes closed—HAH!

(He throws his head back in a mocking laugh.)

Henchman: THIS is their secret weapon? The one they send when someone’s clammed up!? This is gonna be such a hoot for the boss!

(Ela chuckles into her hand, undeterred.)

Ela: hehe! A hoot! I sure would love to hear such a thing..

Henchman: so what, you gonna just stand there till I start spillin’ words? Laugh at me? Bah, forget about it! I’m not sayin’ a single thing!

Ela: well, I suppose that’s not what I’m here for…not exactly.

(Ela steps closer, the camera shows her shadow slowly getting bigger against the henchman’s hunched figure. One hand raises in the air.)

Ela: you don’t have to say a single thing. In the end, that’s not what I’m looking for.

Henchman: then whatcha doin’ here? Scram—this ain’t your—gah!?

(A shudder runs straight through him, his entire body shaking with a jittery outline. It stops just as fast as it came, but he looks up at her, suddenly not smiling anymore.)

Henchman: w-wha!? What did ya—h-heheah!?

(He suddenly curls in on himself. Small outlines of hands wiggling in the air appear around him, a show of what was really happening.)

Henchman: hey—heyheyHEHEHEY—!

(He suddenly bowls over in laughter, chest heaving in surprise as giggles bubble in his throat and spill out without him being able to stop, legs kicking hard at the sensation of something dribbling against his sides and his stomach, forcing out unstoppable cackles as he tugs on his arms. The camera occasionally cuts back to Ela’s hand, only curling and twirling an index.)

Ela: isn’t this much more fun than whatever they were doing back there? You’re laughing like you do enjoy it.

(Despite the gentle, almost motherly voice, her fingers flexes and moves, each one making the henchman squeal something different and desperately tug at his arms, fingers tip tapping up his sides yet nothing actually touching him at all.)

Henchman: quit it—quit—hahahahaha! Quit it right nohohohow! I’m not—not Speakin’—haahHAHAA!?

(The camera quickly cuts back to Ela, suddenly using three fingers now. The sensation gets even worse, actively tickling each nerve at this point.)

Ela: That’s what I said! You’re not going to speak for me.

(The camera cuts back to her face, the same innocent smile that seems to widen as hysterical laughter increases in the background.)

Ela: you’re just going to laugh for me for a while, okay?

(The tv turns off.)

————