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  • #4418
    ÉricÉric
    Keymaster

      “Hold right there!”

      Liz’ looked over her shoulder to see the too familiar trenchcoat of Walter.

      “Blimey! What are you doing here, lurking in the dark, you gave me a mighty fright!”

      “It’s the Good Thoughts Police! Freeze your pen right where you are! We had our eyes on you ever since you started introduce all the queer characters!”

      “What do mean, silly goose. All my characters have been queer, and I mean that as a compliment!”

      “Shush now! Blatant racism, and hints of sexism and female coercion, you can’t deny that now! Black on white -err, I mean… Look at what you’ve done to the poor maid! You better write this off before the rest of the Political Correct Bureau is sending the cavalry!”

      #4410
      TracyTracy
      Participant

        “Unhand me, you insubordinate wench!” cried Liz. “How very dare you manhandle me like that!” Liz struggled weakly to free herself of Anna’s vice like grip on her arm.

        “Godfrey told me to make sure you stayed in bed,” the new maid hissed, “So you don’t spread your germs to the rest of us. Please,” she started wheedling, “Come back to bed like a good girl.”

        Liz sputtered in rage, her face turning an alarming shade of puce. “How dare….” she started, and then doubled over. “Take me to the lavatory this instant!”

        #4409
        Jib
        Participant

          “Pssst.”

          Finnley turned to her right, swift as a ninja. She was relieved to see Roberto, full of twigs and hay in his dark bushy hair. He had panda eyes.

          “What happened to you?” she asked in a hush before realising she only reacted to the way he prompted her. “Is that the new…”

          “No,” he said, “I just woke up from that strange cave with the moving roots and birth place of new characters,” he said rolling his ‘R’s like only he could. “It took me that long to come back into this thread. I just wanted to tell you the back door is open. I need to take a shower and clean the pool. Half of it is in summer, but the other seems to be stuck in winter.”

          #4403
          F LoveF Love
          Participant

            random plot generator

            A BOOK SHOP – IT IS THE AFTERNOON AFTER ALBIE HIT HIS MOTHER WITH A FEATHER.

            Newly unemployed ALBIE is arguing with his friend JENNY RAMSBOTTOM. ALBIE tries to hug JENNY but she shakes him off angrily.

            ALBIE
            Please Jenny, don’t leave me.

            JENNY
            I’m sorry Albie, but I’m looking for somebody a bit more brave. Somebody who faces his fears head on, instead of running away. You hit your mother with a feather! You could have just talked to her!

            ALBIE
            I am such a person!

            JENNY
            I’m sorry, Albie. I just don’t feel excited by this relationship anymore.

            JENNY leaves and ALBIE sits down, looking defeated.

            Moments later, gentle sweet shop owner MR MATT HUMBLE barges in looking flustered.

            ALBIE
            Goodness, Matt! Is everything okay?

            MATT
            I’m afraid not.

            ALBIE
            What is it? Don’t keep me in suspense…

            MATT
            It’s … a hooligan … I saw an evil hooligan frighten a bunch of elderly ladies!

            ALBIE
            Defenseless elderly ladies?

            MATT
            Yes, defenseless elderly ladies!

            ALBIE
            Bloomin’ heck, Matt! We’ve got to do something.

            MATT
            I agree, but I wouldn’t know where to start.

            ALBIE
            You can start by telling me where this happened.

            MATT
            I was…
            MATT fans himself and begins to wheeze.

            ALBIE
            Focus Matt, focus! Where did it happen?

            MATT
            The Library! That’s right – the Library!

            ALBIE springs up and begins to run.

            EXT. A ROADCONTINUOUS

            ALBIE rushes along the street, followed by MATT. They take a short cut through some back gardens, jumping fences along the way.

            INT. A LIBRARYSHORTLY AFTER

            ROGER BLUNDER a forgetful hooligan terrorises two elderly ladies.

            ALBIE, closely followed by MATT, rushes towards ROGER, but suddenly stops in his tracks.

            MATT
            What is is? What’s the matter?

            ALBIE
            That’s not just any old hooligan, that’s Roger Blunder!

            MATT
            Who’s Roger Blunder?

            ALBIE
            Who’s Roger Blunder? Who’s Roger Blunder? Only the most forgetful hooligan in the universe!

            MATT
            Blinkin’ knickers, Albie! We’re going to need some help if we’re going to stop the most forgetful hooligan in the universe!

            ALBIE
            You can say that again.

            MATT
            Blinkin’ knickers, Albie! We’re going to need some help if we’re going to stop the most forgetful hooligan in the universe!

            ALBIE
            I’m going to need candlesticks, lots of candlesticks.

            Roger turns and sees Albie and Matt. He grins an evil grin.

            ROGER
            Albie Jones, we meet again!

            MATT
            You’ve met?

            ALBIE
            Yes. It was a long, long time ago…

            EXT. A PARKBACK IN TIME

            A young ALBIE is sitting in a park listening to some trance music, when suddenly a dark shadow casts over him.

            He looks up and sees ROGER. He takes off his headphones.

            ROGER
            Would you like some wine gums?

            ALBIE’s eyes light up, but then he studies ROGER more closely, and looks uneasy.

            ALBIE
            I don’t know, you look kind of forgetful.

            ROGER
            Me? No. I’m not forgetful. I’m the least forgetful hooligan in the world.

            ALBIE
            Wait, you’re a hooligan?

            ALBIE runs away, screaming.

            INT. A LIBRARYPRESENT DAY

            ROGER
            You were a coward then, and you are a coward now.

            MATT
            (To ALBIE) You ran away?
            ALBIE
            (To MATT) I was a young child. What was I supposed to do?
            ALBIE turns to ROGER.

            ALBIE
            I may have run away from you then, but I won’t run away this time!
            ALBIE runs away.

            He turns back and shouts.

            ALBIE
            I mean, I am running away, but I’ll be back – with candlesticks.

            ROGER
            I’m not scared of you.

            ALBIE
            You should be.

            INT. A SWEET SHOPLATER THAT DAY

            ALBIE and MATT walk around searching for something.

            ALBIE
            I feel sure I left my candlesticks somewhere around here.

            MATT
            Are you sure? It does seem like an odd place to keep deadly candlesticks.

            ALBIE
            You know nothing Matt Humble.

            MATT
            We’ve been searching for ages. I really don’t think they’re here.

            Suddenly, ROGER appears, holding a pair of candlesticks.

            ROGER
            Looking for something?

            MATT
            Crikey, Albie, he’s got your candlesticks.

            ALBIE
            Tell me something I don’t already know!

            MATT
            The earth’s circumference at the equator is about 40,075 km.

            ALBIE
            I know that already!

            MATT
            I’m afraid of dust.

            ROGER
            (appalled) Dude!

            While ROGER is looking at MATT with disgust, ALBIE lunges forward and grabs his deadly candlesticks. He wields them, triumphantly.

            ALBIE
            Prepare to die, you forgetful aubergine!

            ROGER
            No please! All I did was frighten a bunch of elderly ladies!

            JENNY enters, unseen by any of the others.

            ALBIE
            I cannot tolerate that kind of behaviour! Those elderly ladies were defenceless! Well now they have a defender – and that’s me! Albie Jones defender of innocent elderly ladies.

            ROGER
            Don’t hurt me! Please!

            ALBIE
            Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t use these candlesticks on you right away!

            ROGER
            Because Albie, I am your father.

            ALBIE looks stunned for a few moments, but then collects himself.

            ALBIE
            No you’re not!

            ROGER
            Ah well, it had to be worth a try.

            ROGER tries to grab the candlesticks but ALBIE dodges out of the way.

            ALBIE
            Who’s the daddy now? Huh? Huh?

            Unexpectedly, ROGER slumps to the ground.

            MATT
            Did he just faint?

            ALBIE
            I think so. Well that’s disappointing. I was rather hoping for a more dramatic conclusion, involving my deadly candlesticks.

            ALBIE crouches over ROGER’s body.

            MATT
            Be careful, Albie. It could be a trick.

            ALBIE
            No, it’s not a trick. It appears that… It would seem… Roger Blunder is dead!

            ALBIE
            What?

            ALBIE
            Yes, it appears that I scared him to death.

            MATT claps his hands.

            MATT
            So your candlesticks did save the day, after all.

            JENNY steps forward.

            JENNY
            Is it true? Did you kill the forgetful hooligan?

            ALBIE
            Jenny how long have you been…?

            JENNY puts her arm around ALBIE.

            JENNY
            Long enough.

            ALBIE
            Then you saw it for yourself. I killed Roger Blunder.

            JENNY
            Then the elderly ladies are safe?

            ALBIE
            It does seem that way!

            A crowd of vulnerable elderly ladies enter, looking relived.

            JENNY
            You are their hero.

            The elderly ladies bow to ALBIE.

            ALBIE
            There is no need to bow to me. I seek no worship. The knowledge that Roger Blunder will never frighten elderly ladies ever again, is enough for me.

            JENNY
            You are humble as well as brave! And I think that makes up for hitting your mother with a feather. It does in my opinion!

            One of the elderly ladies passes ALBIE a healing ring

            JENNY
            I think they want you to have it, as a symbol of their gratitude.

            ALBIE
            I couldn’t possibly.
            Pause.

            ALBIE
            Well, if you insist. It could come in handy when I go to the Doline tomorrow. With my friend Matt. It is dangerous and only for brave people and a healing ring could come in handy.

            ALBIE takes the ring.

            ALBIE
            Thank you.
            The elderly ladies bow their heads once more, and leave.

            ALBIE turns to JENNY.

            ALBIE
            Does this mean you want me back?

            JENNY
            Oh, Albie, of course I want you back!
            ALBIE smiles for a few seconds, but then looks defiant.

            ALBIE
            Well you can’t have me.

            JENNY
            WHAT?

            ALBIE
            You had no faith in me. You had to see my scare a hooligan to death before you would believe in me. I don’t want a lover like that. And I am going to the Doline and I may not be back!

            JENNY
            But…

            ALBIE
            Please leave. I want to spend time with the one person who stayed with me through thick and thin – my best friend, Matt.

            MATT grins.

            JENNY
            But…

            MATT
            You heard the gentleman. Now be off with you. Skidaddle! Shoo!

            JENNY
            Albie?

            ALBIE
            I’m sorry Jenny, but I think you should skidaddle.
            JENNY leaves.

            MATT turns to ALBIE.

            MATT
            Did you mean that? You know … that I’m your best friend?

            ALBIE
            Of course you are!
            The two walk off arm in arm.

            Suddenly MATT stops.

            MATT
            When I said I’m afraid of dust, you know I was just trying to distract the hooligan don’t you?

            #4392
            Jib
            Participant

              “Tourists!” shouted Ugo the gecko to his albino friends. They all stopped and turned their heads in unison to look at the two humans who had entered the premises, inside their small chests their hearts beating fast with excitement like so many small shamanic drums that only gecko ears could hear. Ugo was so engrossed in those two humongous creatures and the hypnotic rhythm of his friends’ heartbeats that he didn’t see the suckers from his front left paw were getting loose again. They had been damaged in a fight with a twirling bat one week ago and they still hadn’t heal nicely because he didn’t care so much. Soon his left paw got detached from the ancient stones of the wall, followed by his right and soon he fell. But like he was made of sticking rubber the fall was short and he got stuck again on a lower stone, walking on the head of a few friends in the process.

              “Sorry for that! I’ll have them checked, promise.”

              Some of the geckos missed a heartbeat, frightened by the sudden turmoil. They ran in what might appear random directions and panic quickly spread among the albino geckolony on the wall. By a miracle of nature and because they were all so fascinated by tourists, the geckos rearranged nicely only to stop a sucking steps away and turned their head back again toward the tourists. Their hearts beating in unison again.

              “Look! that dark wall over there with the white hieroglyphs. I’m sure it just moved!” said the tallest of the tourists. She was curious and decided to go watch by herself what that curious wall was about.

              #4390
              F LoveF Love
              Participant

                “She found the entrance, you say?”

                “I am afraid so. I am sorry indeed to say that this is the case.”

                “How could she have found the way in? Where were the guards? And who is she who would dare to enter the Doline?”

                “It’s been so long … I think the guards got lazy. And who can blame them … so many years they stood at their post and nobody even trying to find the way in. I think they got tired of waiting for something to happen. And as to who it is … all I have heard is she is a traveller and not anyone from the Village. A traveller from far off parts, I have heard.”

                “Dearie me … always the way, isn’t it? Heads are going to roll of course and I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes. What’s going to happen now?”

                “It’s very hard to get someone out once they have found the way in. That’s a well known truth.”

                “It is indeed. Indeed it is.”

                #4363

                The rain stopped as suddenly as it had begun.

                Margoritt showed Glynis to a small area, partitioned off from the main room; a narrow bed, a tiny window to the outside and and a simple wooden shelf.

                “You’ll be wanting some privacy,” she said. “And something dry to wear,” she added, handing Glynis a dress, plain in shape and made from a soft woven fabric, pearly spheres woven into a dark purple background.

                The second person to give me something to wear, she mused.

                The fabric was amazing. It made Glynis think of stars at night and the way you could never see to the end of the sky. It felt both reassuring and terrifying all at the same time.

                There is magic in the hands that wove this, she thought, hesitant though to voice her thoughts to Margoritt, however kindly she seemed.

                “A master weaver has made this!” she said instead. “Was it you?”

                “No, not I … but you are right, it was made by a master … as you can no doubt see, it doesn’t fit me any longer. I’ve had it sitting there going to waste for many years and am glad to put it to use. It doesn’t cover your head like the other did, but really there is no need here.” Margoritt smiled. “Go, get changed. Come out when you are ready and I will have some tea and cake for you. Then you can meet the others properly.”

                “Is it okay? hissed Sunny in a loud whisper when they were alone, anxiously hopping from one foot to another.

                “Yes, i think so … I’ve been very careful,” Glynis reached in her pouch and gently pulled out an egg.

                “It’s amazing, isn’t it … almost golden… for sure it must be the gift the man from the market promised me in my dream … the way it just sat there on the path … lucky I did not stand on it.” She stroked the egg gently.

                “Sorry about all this, little one,” she said softly to the egg. “I wonder what creature you are inside this shell … and what safe place can we hide you till you are ready to come out of there?”

                “I can sit on it of course,” said Sunny. “It will be my honour and privilege to assist.”

                #4362

                Eleri was entranced by the myriad shades of purple in the pouring rain; already soaked to the skin she made no attempt to shelter. She wafted around with her face upturned and arms aloft, swaying and stumbling and sometimes staggering as the wind buffeted her in between the darkly glistening tree trunks.

                Never before had she seen so many shades of the colour purple!

                #4359
                ÉricÉric
                Keymaster

                  “So, that’s where the gardener has been hiding all this time…” Godfrey thought, quietly stepping out of the shadows into the sinkhole tunnels. “Maybe I’ll just tell Liz’ he has resigned. Although she seemed more taken by this one than with the previous guys…”
                  While the gardener was snoring loudly, he took time to look around, and noticed the sprouting sack.
                  “How curious that those old books have started to come to life again…”

                  An idea had crossed his mind, both dreadful and exciting. The portal…

                  Leaving the gardener to his dreams, and taking another secret exit out of the dark tunnel, opening another succession of doors with the turn of a key hanging from the watch chain of his burgundy waistcoat, he soon found himself reappearing into a deep secret place. A small round room, almost like the inner chamber of a burrow, with no visible door, no window, seemingly lit only by a single ray of light coming from the pinhole in the ceiling, reflected on the glittering curved walls. At one side, was a well, and one could hear the humming sound of flowing underground water.
                  On the well, where deeply carved words : “HC SVNT DRACONES”. Just below them, painted in white in Godfrey’s flowering handwriting : “Here be dragons!”

                  There still was the heavy latch, bolted by a large futuristic-looking lock.

                  Phew, still closed. Godfrey sighed a sigh of relief. He couldn’t imagine the damage to Liz’ frail hold on reality, where she to find about what was lurking behind.

                  Popping a peanut in his mouth, he smiled wryly, reminisced of what Finnley had said about her “discovering” of the attic; yes, their secret was fine with them for now. At least so long as what was locked on the other side stayed there of course…

                  #4358
                  F LoveF Love
                  Participant

                    “Jingle, where are you?” asked Finnley grumpily, peering into the darkness of the attic.

                    “Here”, hissed Jingle from behind some boxes. “Has that dreadful man gone yet?”

                    “Nope, still here. Drooling over Liz no doubt.”

                    “I won’t go back to my mother! That awful woman!”

                    “Well you can’t stay here so you had better go out the window.”

                    “What window? There is no window!” whimpered Jingle.

                    Oh for Flove’s sake! thought Finnley. No imagination. That’s her trouble.

                    Adroitly, she whipped out some power tools and cut a hole in the roof.

                    “There!” she said, taking a step back to survey her work. “A window. Now, off you go. And don’t come back.”

                    “Oh thank you, Finnley. You are wonderful!”

                    “I am, aren’t I,” smirked Finnley.

                    And after all, Liz didn’t even know she had an attic so she certainly won’t notice a window.

                    #4356

                    Fox woke up in the mud. He felt thirsty and confused, not knowing where he was or when it was, except that it was night time. He looked around him and despite the darkness he was seeing clearly. He was in a small glade, surrounded by tall trees. The grass had a strange greenish glow and seemed to float around like tentacles trying to seize whatever passed near.

                    An emotion rose from his heart and jumped outside of him before he could feel it. It had a colour. it was blue and had the shape of a drop of jelly, darker in its center. Fox looked, fascinated, as it taunted the blades of grass. His heart jumped as a longer tentacle almost caught the drop, that’s when he knew he had to take it back. He couldn’t let it out into the world like that.

                    Not with the others so close.

                    Fox felt puzzled at the thought. What others was it referring to? He heard someone crying, it sounded like someone miserable. He felt something fall on his hands, droplets of water, and realised he was the one crying. He stood up and was surprised by the height. He found a little pond and looked at his reflection. The lonesome face of a troll was looking back at him.

                    Am I dreaming?

                    #4352

                    As the storm was raging outside, Tak was hiding below the bed, with a small knitted patch of garment that Margoritt had given him, which he kept as a comforting soother.

                    The darkness and gales of wind aroused feelings which he had rather not face. He curled below the bed, unaware of the other’s animated discussions, afraid to be terrified.

                    You know this is how it starts… the voice was familiar, warm and gentle, grandfatherly. But he didn’t want to hear it. He had too much pain, and the voice was driving him away from the pain.
                    Listen to me, just listen. You don’t need to answer, just open yourself a little. Let me help you with the pain, and the fear. You’ve had it inside for so long, too long.

                    Go away! Tak was crying silently under the bed, mentally trying to resist the support of the voice who sounded like Master Gibbon.

                    Alright, I will go for now. You just need to call if you need me. But you need to hear that.

                    No! I don’t want! You can’t force me!

                    Just remember that is how every cycle ends: death for your love, then death for all of you, before new painful, forgetful lives begin again for all of you. If you don’t break this cycle, it will end, and start again. You know it’s time for you to break that cycle of revenge, and manipulation. They have greatly suffered too for their mistakes. Let them see you as you are, and learn to forgive them.

                    #4351

                    “Oh no!” Margoritt swore loudly, “not that cursed rain again!”.
                    They were about to share what was left of the cake for dessert when the first booming strike of thunder resounded violently across the mountains.

                    She cupped her hands in front of her mouth to rally the troops over the noisy rumble of the heavy dark clouds. “Inside! Everyone inside!” — when the rains started in spring, they could go on for days, drenching the countryside in curtains of water.

                    The first drops falling, quickly extinguishing the candles, Rukshan raised his head to look at the darker skies covering completely the moon’s glow “This is no ordinary rain…”

                    “You bet, it isn’t!” Margoritt said, looking more sombre than she ever was. “That magical umbrella won’t be enough this time, we are probably going to have to sit that one out inside. Help me bring the animals inside.”

                    In front of the small cottage, everyone else started to hurry inside, bringing back the plates, cups and leftovers, while Rukshan was preparing some wood for the fire to keep the moist away.

                    “Has anybody seen Eleri?” Yorath’s look was concerned. “She seem to have disappeared somewhere as usual… But she hasn’t come back yet,… and I’m afraid she took a large bite of the trancing cake too. It’s not a good night to trance out.”

                    Rukshan was torn between waiting a bit longer, or going to search for her, which would be risking lives during the dark stormy night. He was about to offer to go outside himself when Gorrash said briskly:
                    “Let me go find her, this storm is nothing, and I’m used to the dark. You all should stay inside. If I don’t come back at the break of dawn, you can go out to look for us, but don’t worry too much about me, I’ll blend in.” He winked at Fox who smiled weakly. He didn’t like this type of cold rain. Its smell was damp and rotten.

                    “Thank you Gorrash, that is very noble of you. Please, take care of yourself, and be back soon.” Rukshan said as he opened the door which was now jerking violently against the darkest night.

                    #4346
                    Jib
                    Participant

                      At that moment the trap in the ceiling opened revealing the dark attic.

                      “Is that smoke coming from the attic?” asked Godfrey, suddenly worried someone had started a fire up there.

                      “It’s looking more like mist,” said Liz who had suddenly forgotten about her unborn babies. “You know, in those mystery novels they add some when they want to create an atmosphere of suspens.”

                      Godfrey looked doubtful as the mist was continuing to pour down from the attic in slow motion, like the harbinger of a darker secret. A loud noise made them jump. A metallic ladder, apparently attached on the attic’s floor which was the corridor’s ceiling, unfolded quickly. It stopped just before hitting the floor.

                      They all looked at each others, waiting for someone to say something. Anything.

                      “Go have a look, Godfrey,” said Liz.
                      “Shouldn’t it be Walter? He’s from the police after all, if there is danger he should be the one to take the lead.”

                      Liz looked a bit uncomfortable.
                      “I’m not sure,” she said in a hum. “There might be some dark secrets I don’t want to reveal to outsiders.”

                      “Are you coming or what?” Said a voice coming from the attic.

                      #4345
                      TracyTracy
                      Participant

                        “Finnley, go and tell Roberto to bring the ladder. I can’t possibly climb up through that trap door with those rickety steps, I want a proper ladder. And proper gardener to hold it steady. I wouldn’t trust any of you lot,” she said, glaring at them each in turn.

                        Finnley made a rude sign behind Elizabeth’s back, and clumped back down the stairs. Increasingly heated bickering between Liz and the Inspector ensued. Godfrey wandered off down the hallway tutting and shaking his head, and then darted into a spare bedroom and fell sound asleep on the bed.

                        Expecting a tongue lashing from Liz for being so long, Finnley was surprised that nobody noticed her return. She cleared her throat a few times trying to get their attention.

                        “Go and get yourself a spoonful of honey and stop making that ghastly croaking noise, Finnley!”

                        “The thing is, Liz,” replied the maid, “He’s gone.”

                        “Who?”

                        Exasperated, Finnley’s voice rose to an alarming falsetto. “The gardener! Roberto! He’s gone, and what’s more, he’s taken the sack with him!”

                        “Do get a grip, Finnley, he’s probably just taking the rubbish out. Now then, Walter, if you think I’ve forgiven you for that day when you….he’s taken what? What did you say?”

                        Elizabeth blanched, waving her arms around wildly as if she was drowning.

                        “I know a good gardener who’s looking for a job,” the Inspector said helpfully.

                        “You utter fool!” Elizabeth rounded on him. “My babies have been stolen and you talk about gardening! Never mind that German, or whatever it was you said you’re doing here, go and catch that thief!”

                        Raising an eyebrow, Finnley wondered if this was just another fiasco, or was it really a cleverly engineered plot?

                        #4340

                        Eleri’s eyes began to feel heavy and she blinked, trying to resist the increasingly strong urge to nod off to sleep, as a gust of wind rustled the branches overhead allowing the moonlight to illuminate something that looked very much like dragon scales. Eleri blinked again and shook her head slightly to shake the illusion back into some kind of realistic image. The sudden wind had dropped and the trees were motionless, the path below them dark. It was impossible now to even see what had looked like dragon scales in the brief flash of moonlight. All was still and silent.

                        With nothing to see in the darkness and nothing to entertain her, Eleri’s mind started to wander, wondering if her grandmother being a dragon (as her father had often said) meant that she was one quarter dragon herself. It occurred to her that she very rarely thought of the dragon that was her grandmother, and wondered why she was thinking of her now. She had been a strong woman, who would fight tooth and nail to get what she wanted, always on the move wanting to get her teeth into a new project, leaving discarded suitors along the wayside as she swept along, grandly announcing to all and sundry, “Do you know who I am?”

                        Formidable armed with a rigid crocodile (possibly baby dragon skin) handbag and matching shoes, stately and considerably girthy notwithstanding the stiff corset, her grandmother was not one to easily ignore. Dressed in dragon scale twinsets, in no nonsense crimplene navy blue and white, many were quite charmed by her forthright manner and the spirited ~ some would say arrogant ~ toss of her peroxide lacquered waves. Others were not so enchanted, and found her imperious manner unpleasant.

                        It was a simple matter of teeth, when it came to disabling her. The difference was remarkable. There was no actual reason why her lack of teeth should change her so ~ she still had the matching shoes and handbags, but the regal stance and the arrogant tilt of her chin was gone. Not having any teeth made her seem shy and evasive, and she mumbled, saying as little as possible. She lost the power of manipulation along with her teeth, and although nobody really understood why, many wished they had thought of hiding her teeth years ago. It was such a simple solution, in the scale of things.

                        And the moral of that story is, Eleri concluded with a wry but not too dentally challenged smile, Toothless Dragons Don’t Bite.

                        #4338

                        Glad of the cover of the gloaming darkness, Eleri quickly cut a slice of cake and darted out of the kitchen door. She had heard the commotion that animated statue was still making, calling her a witch as if it were a bad thing, and thought it best to retreat for the time being while she gathered her thoughts. Either that vengeful lump of concrete needed therapy to deal with his past associations, or perhaps better ~ at least in the short term ~ an immobilizing potion until a workable programme of rehabilitation to the state of animation was concocted.

                        The screech of a parrot in the distance seemed to herald a new arrival in the near future, although Eleri wasn’t sure who else was expected. The raucous sound attracted her and she walked in the direction of it, deftly darting behind trees and bushes so as not to be seen by the rest of the party as she slipped out of the clearing around the shack and into the woods.

                        “Circles of Eight,” squawked the parrot, sounding closer. Eleri took another bite of cake, wondering why the cake in her hand wasn’t getting any smaller, despite that she had been munching on it steadily for some time. It actually looked as if it was growing in dimensions, but she dismissed the idea as improbable. “Circles of Eight!” screeched the parrot, louder this time. Preferring to err on the side of caution ~ not that she normally did, but in this instance ~ Eleri slipped inside a large hollow in a girthy old tree trunk. She would observe the approach of the new arrival from her hiding place.

                        Squatting down in the dry leaves, she leaned back against the rough wood and took another bite of cake, awaiting the next parrot call.

                        I wonder what’s in this cake? she thought, Because I am starting to feel a bit strange…

                        #4335

                        In the kitchen, Fox beheaded the chicken in a swift move. He tried not to be horrified when the creature’s body kept on running around, headless like a peaslander. He felt vaguely aware that’s what he’d been doing all that time. Running around without a very clear idea about what he was doing.

                        “Don’t let it run around bloody n’all!” said Margoritt, “Who do you think is going to clean that mess?” The old woman, huff and puff, limped rhythmically after their dinner. Someone had heard her scream and came into the kitchen. It was that tall Fae guy, Rukshan, who looked so successful and handsome. Fox felt depressed. The Fae had caught the dead body, which had eventually stopped moving, and put it in the basket Margoritt had taken on the table.

                        “Thanks my dear,” she said with a giggle. “Would you be so kind as to pluck it for me?” She then looked at Fox. “Sorry, lad, but with a name like yours I’m not sure I can trust you on this one.” The old lady winked.

                        Fox couldn’t be annoyed at Margoritt, he wouldn’t trust himself with a chicken, dead or alive. And the old lady had saved him from the blizzard and from that strange curse. He attempted a smile but all he could do was a grimace. Margoritt looked at him as if noticing something.

                        “Why don’t you go with Rukshan,” she said, “A bit of fresh air would do you good.”
                        Fox shrugged, and followed the Fae outside.

                        “And send me that Eleri girl, I’d like to have a word with her while she clean the blood on the tiling.”

                        Outside it was noisier. Fox found the woman arguing with her male friends, one of whom looked like a statue with big wings. She seemed relieved to have a reason to get away from the crowd and her own problems and left with a smile. He wondered how she could stay happy while being surrounded by conflict. Maybe she liked it. Fox shrugged again.

                        He walked to the small courtyard, sat on a log and watched the handsome Fae removing the feathers. Rukshan’s hands looked clean, the blood was not sticking on his fair skin and the chicken feathers were piling neatly on a small heap at his feet.
                        “Aren’t Faes supposed to be vegetarian,” he said. He cringed inwardly at his own words. What a stupid way of engaging a conversation.

                        Without stopping, Rukshan answered: “I think you think too much. It’s not doing you much good, and it deepens the shadow under your eyes. Not that it doesn’t suit you well.” The Fae winked. Fox wasn’t sure of how to take it. He stayed silent. He saw the bag the Fae was always carrying with him and wondered what was inside.

                        “It’s a story,” said Rukshan.
                        Fox was confused and looked puzzled.
                        “In the bag. It’s a story. But it’s not finished.”

                        Fox felt warmth rise to his face. If the Fae could read his thoughts… he preferred not to think about it. Rukshan smiled gently.

                        “I need help to complete it and better understand the characters. Would you like to help me?”
                        Fox wasn’t sure what made him answer yes. Did it matter if it was for the welcomed distraction from his dark thoughts, or if it was for the promise of more time spent with the Fae?

                        #4329
                        ÉricÉric
                        Keymaster

                          Not particularly pleased with himself for that inelegant distraction, Godfrey swiftly used the opportunity to usher Melon and Liz out of the way of the glass shards, and into the next room, a gloomy winter garden kept moist and dark by all the vines and carnivorous plants covering the walls.

                          “Now, it makes me wonder sometimes, when I see you and the fine inspector here, you always seem to have trouble with your endings Liz’ —not that I am judging…”
                          “Are we talking about literature or my sex life here?” Liz’ raised an eyebrow fine as a line in the sands of her fury.

                          The Inspector, nicely framed in a corner by colorful and dangling carnivorous plants, started to lose his legendary composure by the minute, wondering if he shouldn’t hand over the case to a less interest-conflicted party.

                          #4328
                          F LoveF Love
                          Participant

                            All of a sudden, Godfrey flung the peanut butter jar he was holding to the ground where it smashed into dozens of glittering fragments.

                            “Silly me,” he said. “How clumsy! Clean that up will you, Finnley.”

                            Finnley glared at him, torn between annoyance at being treated as a mere cleaner and relief at having an excuse to leave the room and dispose of that darn sack, once and for all.

                            Common sense won. There is plenty of time to make him pay for that, she thought.

                            “Right you are, Sir,” she said, with an inadvertent roll of the eyes. “Right away, Sir.”

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