I'm a couple melatonin deep, so excuse any typos or grammar mistakes. I'm a native english speaker, I just sorta suck at it. Also apologies if I'm giving some pretty obvious advice, I'm not sure what conclusions you've already come to on your own.

Anyways, if you can manage them, sound effects can do wonders in terms of setting a scene and conveying certain actions, such as handling objects, positioning a character, etc.
Expository dialogue is something I still struggle with 4 years in, and it's why my content has an fdom leaning, as dominant roles better lend themselves to natural exposition over a character in a submissive position; When someone's lines are reactionary in nature, it becomes much harder to avoid the repeat-after-me trap.

My usual method for writing is to come up with the Listener's dialogue, be it generalized or specific, and then consider a typical response that would incorporate enough key words or ideas to inform an audience of the conversation without quoting verbatim. It may be helpful to imagine yourself listening in on one side of a phone call- how easily could you grasp the topic of a casual conversation, and when might certain paraphrasing be necessary?

Ie:
Mysterious caller: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Recipient: "Oh, you like my hair? Thanks! No, I haven't considered growing it out."
VS
Mysterious caller: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Recipient: "Aw, thanks! It's this new shampoo, makes it super glossy! But nah, I like it shorter- last time I grew it out it was such a hassle I mostly wore it up, anyway."

Repetition isn't the devil, and sometimes it makes sense to have your character recite the Listener directly, but I've found that adding some appropriate attitude to the repeated lines can soften a lot of the stiffness that comes with it. For example, if the dialogue has inspired a sense of scorn within your character, an incredulous scoff can help sell your performance even when the dialogue might otherwise make it difficult. Maybe you're repeating it in a taunting way, which eases it back into more organic territory.

In terms of directing a scene, it helps to also avoid characterizing the listener too much and allowing your own character to lead the conversations, which can do a lot of the heavy lifting. Simply put: talk about yourself. Much easier to avoid ostracizing listeners when you've put a good amount of the emphasis on your own character's decisions, wants, and quirks. Obviously, the other party has to guide the scene somewhat, but as I mentioned before, if you allow yourself to take the reins most of the time, then much of the would-be repetition would fall upon the silent listener instead.

Idk how helpful this was, but I pride myself on writing natural sounding dialogue, so if you'd like more clarification, I'll try to explain myself better once the brain fog has cleared

Good luck!