Nicola unwittingly found herself participating in an improvised tea party. Well, it was more precisely an "empty-tea" party, under the large tree with the Hatter, who by all accounts was absolutely Mad. Just then, a girl with long flowing blonde hair ran by frantically. The girl was completely naked and seemed to be quite distressed. As she ran, her large oversized breasts bounced from side to side, threatening to knock her in the face and render her unconscious. Behind her, a young man with a very large erect cock, a long bunny tail lodged into his arse, and large fluffy ears ran after her.
"Oh no! For Christ's sake," the Hatter said. "Not that stupid girl again!"
"Do you know her?" Nicola asked in surprise at the situation.
"Why of course I don't know her!" he yelled incredulously slamming his hand down on the table and dropping his tea glass.
His reaction was well over the top. As if he had received a profound insult. With his exaggerated gesticulations, his oversized top hat fell forward to cover his eyes.
"How would I know such a girl? How could you suggest that I am acquainted with the likes of her?"
"But, you just said...," Nicola answered confused. "I mean, I just thought..."
"Well mind your freaking manners, young lady," the Hatter said. "It is rude to insult your host," he said grabbing the empty tea-glass and making all gestures to sip, squinting his eyes with pain as if the nonexistent contents were hot.
He was of course utterly Mad. And Nicola was confused.
--
A long silence transpired. He was obviously preoccupied.
"This tea doesn't taste of anything," he looked into the empty tea glass. Then, changing his temperament in a split second he looked up at the girl in front of him, "Would you like some cake?"
She looked across the large table. No cake or anything resembling a cake was visible.
"No, thank you. But I wouldn't mind some tea."
"Help yourself. The teapot is completely empty. And cold," he said in keeping with the absurdness of the situation.
Nicola grabbed the teapot so as not to insult him further.
"Where did you say you were from?" the Hatter asked rather matter-of-factly.
"Well, I didn't," Nicola answered. "I mean, I didn't tell you yet."
The Hatter slammed his teacup on the table again furiously.
"OK, ok," he said with a disgusted and frustrated expression and shaking his head, making the hat cover his eyes once again. "There you go being snarky!"
"But, I..."
"Tell me, Deary, why do you have such a funky accent?"
It was true. Nicola had a very thick accent. That she can't deny. The language in Hearts is rather difficult, and she couldn't conceal it.
"I am from Seven. Seven of Spades. I think."
"Never heard of it," he looked into his empty glass, not even registering what she just said.
"Well, to be honest, I am quite confused. I don't know what I am doing here. I woke up under that tree over there," she pointed to a large oak tree. "And here I am."
"Uh-hum," was all the Hatter said, but not following her explanations or conversations in the slightest.
He seemed at that moment to slip out of the existence of the present. His thoughts were elsewhere. Then as if he had forgotten all the previous interchange with Nicola, his demeanor suddenly changed to being cheery again.
"Would you like some more empty-tea?" he interjected lugubriously.
"No thank you," she said politely as if responding to a legitimate question.
The Hatter didn't seem to hear her.
--
There was another long silence between them. The Hatter was lost in his thoughts looking off across the distant horizon. Nicola followed his gaze to where he was looking. The landscape was of lush rolling hills. From their vantage point seated at the long messy table in the backyard of Hatter's humble house, they could see for miles.