#please someone draw Willie in his little blue dress

[michelangelinden]

Autumn Prompts 9 for Willex, please and thank you!

Incredible prompt, thank you so much for requesting it!! I also added 1. in here too, because I loved it so much and no one requested it, as a treat. (also I originally had no clue what gourds were, I thought they were like ghouls or something)

So, here's 9. I work at the pumpkin patch and that is an alarming amount of gourds you got there, buddy and 1. IT’S DECORATIVE GOURD SEASON, MOTHERFUCKERS for you

Thanks @legolasghosty for beta reading <33

Willex. 1.1k words. Rated T (for language).

“Okay, have a lovely day,” Willie told the old lady as he sent her off with her pumpkin and a smile. She smiled back at him before toddling off to her car. Willie looked after her for a moment before he turned to the next customer that just arrived at his register.

It was a guy around his age, strikingly handsome with his swoopy blond hair, and he looked entirely too stressed for someone visiting a pumpkin patch. One look down at his basket answered Willie’s unasked question, yet sparked about a dozen more—it was filled to the brim with small gourds.

“That’s an alarming amount of gourds you got there, buddy,” he pointed out with a chuckle as he raised his eyebrows at them. He looked up at the guy’s unimpressed yet still struggling face. He held out his hand to take the basket from him. “What do you need them for?”

The guy closed his eyes for a second. “It’s decorative gourd season, motherfucker,” he said tiredly. It sounded incredibly strange coming from his mouth.

Willie stared at him.

“What?” he asked, followed by a big, surprised laugh.

The guy sighed. “My friend is throwing this Halloween Party on the 31st and I’ve been tasked with getting the decoration. When I asked him what exactly he was looking for he said, well, that.”

Willie snorted. He began counting the gourds. It turned out to be even more than he thought, ranging in sizes from golf ball to small watermelon.

“I mean, he’s right. I think my boss agrees.” Willie showed off his surroundings with a flourish of his hand and it made the guy laugh. He was even more handsome like that, head dropped low which made his hair fall into his face as he shook with laughter.

“Yeah, they’d be great friends,” he agreed, looking back up and swiping the hair away from his forehead.

“Is it gonna be a big party?” Willie asked to keep the conversation going.

“I—think so?” Willie lifted his eyebrows at that again. “Like all our friends are coming, obviously, but he’s mentioned a couple names that I’ve never heard before, so I guess it will be, yeah.”

Willie nodded. “What are you gonna go as?”

“I’m not really sure, to be honest.” He pushed his hands in his pocket and began rocking back and forth on his feet while thinking. It was incredibly endearing. “At first I was thinking of going as that essay I failed horribly. I wrote it after being awake for two days straight and off my anxiety meds.”

“Oh my god, that’s horrible, truly terrifying,” Willie responded through a laugh.

“Right? Thank you!” The guy smiled brightly at that. “Yeah, but my friend said, “Alex, no one’s gonna get it, you’d have to explain it to everyone,” as if that wasn’t my entire plan to get through awkward conversations.”

“Clever,” Willie piped in.

“Anyways, he now wants us and our other friend to go as the Powerpuff Girls.”

Willie gasped. “Oh wow, that’s incredible too. Who would you be?”

“Bubbles probably, I’m the blond one,” the guy—Alex, he had a name now Willie realized—explained.

Willie nodded. “Hm, yeah I can see that, in a little blue dress…”

Alex choked out a laugh. “Absolutely not.”

Willie crossed his arms. “Why, not a fan of men in dresses?” He tried to make it sound less accusatory than it probably did.

“Oh, no, absolutely, they’re great,” Alex was quick to explain, a blush rising to his cheeks, “just not on myself.”

Willie nodded again and dropped his arms. “Okay, that makes sense.”

Alex cleared his throat. “What about you?”

“What are my opinions on men in dresses?” Willie asked teasingly.

Alex blushed even deeper.

“I mean—” he stuttered.

“I’m just messing with you.” Willie assured him, adding his I’m a nice person, I swear, smile. “Although I have to say, I’m a fan, not just on others.”

“You are?” Alex asked in return, voice rising a bit.

“Yep,” Willie confirmed.

Alex cleared his throat again, seemingly shaking off his embarrassment.

“Well, are you gonna wear a little blue dress for Halloween then?” he asked, now more confidently flirting. Willie really enjoyed it.

But he shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere yet, so I’ll likely just be in my PJs.”

“Are they a little blue dress?”

“Maybe.” Willie winked.

Alex dropped his head toward his chest again, biting down a smile. When he looked up again, he directly met Willie’s eyes.

“I’m Alex, by the way.”

“Willie,” Willie responded, a little confused by the sudden introduction, but certainly not opposed.

“Well, Willie, can I invite you to a Halloween party? Assuming you’re not doing anything important?”

“Depends. Are you gonna be the prettiest boy at the party?” he quoted. Willie shifted his weight, purposefully taking his time to check Alex out, looking him up and down.

Alex blushed furiously under Willie’s gaze but held his stance. He chuckled. “Probably not.”

Willie smiled and leaned forward on his counter. “I doubt that. But then I think I have to see that for myself.”

Alex smiled too, all embarrassment forgotten. “So you’re coming?”

Willie nodded. “But I’m not spoiling my costume.”

“No, no. I’m—looking forward to seeing it. You. At the party.”

“Me too,” Willie agreed easily.

“Okay,” Alex said, then took a step back to leave.

“Hey, your gourds,” Willie was quick to say, holding the basket out to him again.

“Oh! Right, oh god, thanks,” Alex spluttered and stepped closer again, taking the basket. “How much do I owe you?”

Willie quickly calculated the price, having totally forgotten what they were doing in the process of their conversation, and Alex paid. Willie took one of the leaflets for the patch he kept on his counter and a pen and scribbled some digits, along with his name and a little heart.

“This is my number, text me the details,” he told Alex as he handed the leaflet over. Alex took it, careful not to smudge the ink. “Or just—whatever else comes to mind.”

“I will,” Alex said. “I’ll—see you then?”

Willie nodded. “See you then. Looking forward to it.”

Now he really had to figure out what to go as. Maybe he could find a little blue dress somewhere.

send me autumn prompts from this list

#please someone draw Willie in his little blue dress #or Alex #or both #i would give you my first born in return #also feel free to request more prompts #also for stranger things 👀 #i have a couple left in my inbox but it's still a few days until Halloween and autumn hasn't ended yet either #julie and the phantoms #willex #alex mercer #willie jatp #linden writes stuff #autumn prompts

[hockeytrashgoblin]

High ~Part 12

A/N: This is the last part of this tonight but just wait because I have some other things to post too lmao. I have so much I’m so sorry I’m such a goblin that hordes writing like this when I get sad.

It was about a month later and things had gone a little more normal. Ema was still allowed to come see Gray but Brian stayed at Auston's. I knew Ema had nothing to do with it. She'd never do anything to risk never seeing Grayson again, she loved him too much.

As Mitch expected Freddie had a long talk with Auston. Mitch also had a talk with Auston and so did Ema. The general consensus was that he stuck up for me with his dad and that he didn't think of how a signed jersey would come across. He was dumb. We knew this.

Mitch and I had given the shirt to a little boy in the hospital with brain cancer. He was really small for being 6 because of the chemo on top of him being small anyway so the toddler jersey fit him perfectly. He had loved the gift and I felt a lot of satisfaction in giving it to him and brightening up the little guy's day.

Everything was getting back to normal just in time to be wrecked again by two new babies. I was thinking a lot about how things were gonna change with more kids as Mitch and Grayson were sleeping on me. We had started taking family naps because my boys liked to feel the babies move around. So there I was, the first one awake, sandwiched by Mitch on my right and Gray on the left. It was my favourite spot to be these days.

I felt Mitch stir beside me and blink awake. He smiled wide and put his hand on my tummy where a baby was moving.

"Morning sunshine." I said running my hand through his hair.

"Mornin baby." 

"You feel the babies?"

"Yeah there's one right beside me. Kicking me in the head. I love it. I love you. I can't wait to meet them."

"You're so sweet baby. I love you too."

"Oh year clear your schedule tonight babe. We're going on a date."

"Well I waaaas going to watch a  beach bargain hunt marathon but I suppose I can do that another night."

"Sorry to disrupt your big plans love but this is worth it I promise. I want to go out with you again before the babies get here."

"Don't be sorry lovey. I'd love to go on a date with you. How fancy do I need to get?"

"You can wear whatever you want. I'm gonna be in a button down shirt with some nice jeans. You wear what you like. We'll be outside for a bit though so keep that in mind."

"Mitchy it's April!"

"Yeah but the snow is gone. It'll be only a little cold."

"I'm still on board babe you don't need to convince me." 

"Okay good." He gave me a kiss and we just cuddled together for a while. Mitch was happy to just lay there for hours with his hands on my belly. It was really sweet. Eventually Grayson woke up though so cuddle time was over.

"Hi baby."

"Hey little man, how was the nap?"

"It was good daddy. The baby kicked me."

"Do you want to make a fun craft with me today?" I asked him trying to tame his wild hair.

"Yeah! What kind of craft?"

"A new one. We haven't done this one before."

"Let's go right now!" He said jumping on the bed.

"Okay honey let's go."

I got up with no help from Mitch who was dying laughing watching me struggle with my giant tummy. I brought Gray downstairs and started getting the supplies out. Once I was done I put Grayson in his booster seat so he could reach the table and I sat beside him.

"What are we doing mommy?"

"Well grandma made some little ocean onesies for the babies and I thought we could colour them in together. There's four so pick two that you want to do."

"I want the poptopus."

"That's octopus love. Octopus."

"Octopus. I forgot." He said giggling making me smile.

"Which other one do you want to do?"

"I want to do  free Willy!"

"Okay so you get octopus and the whale, and I get jellyfish and the seahorse?"

"Yes!"

"Okay here are the markers. It's just like your colouring books. Do whatever you want. Sound good?"

"Yeah!"

We coloured together for a long time. Mitch had left for practice so it was just me and my boy drawing together with some music in the background. I had finished my jellyfish and gray was done with the orca. He wanted free willy to look like free willy so he was only one colour.

"Are you colouring one special for each one?"

"Octopus is for Marly."

"So Willy is for baby brother?"

"Yup. What's his name gonna be?"

"We haven't decided yet. It's a big job naming a person ya know."

"How come?"

"It's just that they'll have their names forever. You want it to be a good one."

"Oh okay." He was quiet for a while before he asked, "When will the babies get here?"

"In a little while. Pretty soon actually. The doctor thinks they're going to come early even."

"I hope so. I can't wait."

"Me neither Gray. I'm very excited to meet them."

We kept colouring until Mitch came back home with William.

"Hey guys what's going on?"

"Uncle Willy!! We're colouring for the babies, look!" 

"Wow Gray you've done a really great job!"

"Thanks."

"Are you ready to come stay with me tonight?"

"Yeah!"

"We can eat pizza and ice cream and watch movies while mommy and daddy have boring adult time. Sound like a plan?"

"It's a plan!" He said giving William high ten.

"I think Mitchy packed a bag already." I said getting up. Mitch and Gray went upstairs to get him ready.

"Jeeez babes you're giant!"

"Thanks William I really needed that today." I said punching his shoulder.

"I'm just kidding (y/n)."

"The doctor thinks the babies are gonna be huge."

"Not good news for you."

"Meh I'm not too concerned. My body is built to do it."

"You excited for your last date for a while?"

"I am excited yeah. I don't know what we're doing or what I'm going to wear. I dont even know if I have anything nice that still fits. Aw man I'm gonna look like a slob for Mitchy." I whined.

"No you won't. You'll look beautiful and you'll have an amazing time. I promise you."

"I hope so. I've been really nervous lately about that. I feel like I've let myself go and Mitch is going to think I'm ugly and gross."

"Hun, you don't have to worry about that at all. He talks about you constantly. About how beautiful you are and about how he loves you more every day."

"That's crazy."

"He really loves you."

"I love him too. So much. Will I never thought I'd be so in love with someone."

"I'm happy for you." He gave me a hug as the boys came back in. "You ready to go little man?"

"Yeah let's go."

"Can I have a hug bye love?"

"Of course mommy." He ran over and hugged me tight. He gave me a kiss on the cheek and then patted my belly. "Bye bye babies."

"Bye Grayson."

"Love you mommy. Love you daddy." He said going to give Mitch a hug and kiss too.

"Bye buddy. We'll see you tomorrow morning okay?"

"Okay. Bye daddy. Bye mommy." He said dragging William towards the door. I started cleaning up our craft supplies and I heard Mitch talking to William.

"He needs to be in bed by 8:30. That's giving him an extra hour and a half after bedtime. If you feed him after 6 give him something a little healthy. (Y/n/n) prefers it. Also if anything happens call, we'll answer-"

"Marner, we're good. You guys enjoy your night. Good luck man."

"I hope it goes well."

"It will. You've got this." They were quiet for a minute before William spoke again. "Bye (y/n) have fun!"

"Bye boys! See you tomorrow."

I heard the door close and Mitch can in. He stood in the doorway for a minute watching before coming in and wrapping his arms around me from behind. Not an easy task with my giant tummy but he managed. He gave me a kiss on the cheek and I smiled leaning back against him.

"What did you guys do today?"

"We drew these for the babies." I said laying them out. "I just need to put them in the dryer to lock in the markers because I can't be bothered to iron them. Then they'll be baby ready."

"These are so cute."

"Gray made that one for Marly and this one for baby boy."

"Who are yours for?"

"Either one, I don't really care. I think I'm going to bring his to the hospital as babies first outfits. With the hats he picked out."

"I like that idea."

"Just another little thing that can really make Gray know he's part of this too."

"I love it. You're so thoughtful in everything you do. I just can't believe how lovely you are."

"Mitchy stoop." 

"Never." He turned me around and gave me one kiss which led into multiple kisses. "Okay no time for this right now. We need to go get dressed for our date."

"Okay." I gave him one last kiss and we made our way up into the big closet. I started looking through my clothes that still fit while Mitch got dressed in the room. He came in looking hot as ever and it made me feel even more nervous.

"What's wrong babe? You look sad."

"I'm gonna look ugly and embarrass you." I said sadly as a tear slipped out.

"Hey love, no you won't. I think you look absolutely gorgeous."

"Even with a giant bump?"

"Especially with the giant bump." He kissed my forehead and started looking through my clothes. "How about the blue dress you wore for the maternity pictures last week? That'll still fit right?"

"I hope so. Thank you Mitchy."

"You're welcome baby. Now get dressed and we'll be out of here."

I was lucky that the dress still fit. I was also lucky Mitch didn't get a car that was low to the ground because there'd be no way I'd get out of that. We drove a little ways to a nice restaurant we liked. The dinner wasn't very eventful. We talked a lot about hockey, a lot about Gray and how we're going to still give him attention with the babies. We talked about ourselves too and how we felt which was a nice change. After dinner we were walking around a small park near the arena talking more about the babies.

"We really need to decide a name lovey. It's getting so close."

"It's not that close. May 26th is still pretty far yet."

"Baby please be serious."

"I'm still really liking Dexter."

"I've been thinking about Dexter a lot too. Pretty much as soon as you said it I loved it."

"So let's call him Dexter. Dexter Joseph Marner. It's perfect."

"It is perfect. I love it. Baby Dexter and baby Marly. So precious."

"I'm glad we decided." He said swinging our hands. "Let's go inside and warm up a bit."

"Are we allowed?" I hadn't even noticed that we were at the arena until he was opening the door.

"Course we are. Come on."

"Where are we going Mitchy?"

"To the family room, come on." He dragged me all through the arena until we got there. Once we did he stood with me in the middle of the room.

"What's going on Mitchy?" I asked smiling at him softly.

"This is where I first met you. Where I first laid eyes on you. I heard you laughing and joking with Willy and my heart beat faster. I didn't ever even let myself get my hopes up that you'd ever have feelings for me. Then you got with Auston and I hated how you got so quiet and hidden away. Then you guys were off and you were your normal self again. Then you were back on and it hurt so bad seeing you taken by someone who really didn't appreciate you at all."

"Mitchy I'm sorry-"

"Babe let me finish please?"

"Okay sorry go ahead." I said giggling making him laugh and kiss me quick.

"Anyway then you guys were off again and you had little Gray in your belly. I wanted to be around constantly for both of you as whatever you needed. Then I kissed you and you kissed me and it all just blossomed into this amazing beautiful relationship. And now we're making our family bigger. I've never been happier than I am now."

"I never thought I'd be this happy Mitch. I mean that."

"I'm so in love with this family we're making. And I'm so in love with the way our life together is going. And most of all I am so, so, so in love with you (y/n)."

"Mitchy you're going to make me cry. I love you." I kissed him again and wiped my eyes when we broke apart.

"I guess there's just one more sappy sentimental thing left that I need to say." He lowered himself down to one knee and I started crying.

"Mitchy."

"(Y/n), you're my best friend in the whole world, the love of my life, and the mother of my children." He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a box.

"Mitchy. Oh my God." I wiped my eyes and laughed as he opened the velvet box.

"Will you now please, please, please be my wife?"

"Yes. Yes! Mitchy of course! Yes!" He slid the ring on my finger while I cried into my hand. "God I love you more than I could ever express."

"I love you." He smiled and kissed me. It didn't work out great since we were both smiling and crying but it was the best feeling in the world. "I'm so glad you said yes."

"You thought I'd say no?!" I asked shocked.

"Well I thought you'd say yes because you've said you want to spend your life with me but we never talked about getting married."

"Lovey I would never think twice about promising myself to you forever in front of everyone. You're it Mitchy."

"I'm so happy."

"Me too."

"Let's head home. As sweet as this moment is, I really want to go home and spend the night with you. But first. I want to take a picture of you."

"But Mitch I look like a mess, I've been crying."

"Just cover your face with your left hand then. I think you've never glowed brighter the whole time I've known you. You're beautiful.

"Fine take the picture."

He did and he posted it on our way back to the car. I got a notification from Instagram and opened it to find me with a caption that said. 'April 29th 2020 she said yes'. It was simple but it was perfect and I told him that much. As we drove home I was floating so high in the clouds I didn't think I'd ever come down.

#hockey #hockey story #hockey imagines #maple leafs #maple leaf imagine #leafs #mitch marner #mitch x reader

[how-to-survive-a-factory-tour]

How to Survive a Factory Tour - Chapter 7

A Sanders Sides / Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Crossover

PREVIOUS

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I can’t believe this! I’m here! I’m right outside Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory and will be going inside when the clock strikes ten! Only half an hour of waiting to go...

I’m the first of the winners to arrive, of course. By the time I arrived at the factory, a crowd had already formed, and it had started to get bigger since, forming a semicircle around, well, me! Since no one else is here yet, I have some fun giving the photographers my best angles for photos. I notice Dad rolling his eyes and Pa chuckling at me from where they’re stood in the crowd.

“Nice poses. Maybe you should do the ‘draw me like one of your French girls’ pose next.”

I turn to see Ethan come into the semicircle, holding up his ticket so people will let him pass through. Almost immediately, all cameras turn to him. I’m not surprised, given as he didn’t have an interview, so no one really knew he had the ticket yet.

“Hey, don’t make fun of me for being dramatic when you’re wearing that,” I reply. "If I’d known fancy dress was a requirement, I would have come in my prince costume.”

Ethan straightens his bowtie. “What can I say? I dress to impress.”

He certainly does. He’s wearing a tux: yellow shirt, with a black bowtie, jacket and trousers. He’s also wearing a black bowler hat and yellow gloves. Very snazzy.

“I must admit, it is a nice look. Colour coordinated and everything.”

“Well, thank you.”

“Hi, guys!”

We both turn to see Patton and Logan pushing through the crowd, Emile and who I can only assume to be Patton’s parents just behind them. As they step into the semicircle, Patton turns and hugs his parents and brother. “Bye, Mum, Dad! I’ll see you later. You too, Em. Can’t wait to tell you about it all!”

Logan offers his hand to Patton’s parents, shaking both their hands in turn. “It was nice to meet you, Mr and Mrs Picani.”

“You too, Logan, but please, call us Dot and Larry,” Patton’s mum replies. “Have fun, you two.”

“Bye, Pat!” Emile smiles as Patton and Logan turn and come over to us.

Patton’s wearing a sky-blue polo shirt and khakis, as well as what looks to be a grey cat hoodie tied over his shoulders. Logan’s sporting a black polo shirt, a blue striped tie and blue jeans.

“This is so exciting!” Patton grins. “I can’t believe we’re going into Willy Wonka’s factory! Oh, it’s going to be wonderful!”

“I know!” I grin, staring up at the colossal mountain of a factory before us. “I wonder what will be inside...”

“Oh, I’m sure it’ll be very sweet!”

Logan lets out a groan at Patton’s pun. “Can you not? Please?”

“Aw, don’t you like puns, Lo? That’s pretty sour. Especially with your name. It’s a berry good pun!”

”That’s it. I’m going home. When’s the next flight to London?”

Ethan and I chuckle at them both. I must admit, there is definitely some romantic tension there. I ship it.

“Can I ask why Logan looks like he wants to die?”

Virgil steps into the semicircle, Remy and, by the looks of it, his twin brother just behind him.

“Patton’s telling puns,” Logan replies. “He won’t stop.”

“Are you trying to say I’ve reached a new Lo- “

“Don’t.”

“-gan.”

“I’ve lost all respect I had for you.”

I mouth ‘OTP’ to Virgil and he nods, replying with ‘definitely’.

“Anyway, guys, this is Thomas, my twin,” Virgil introduces us. “Thomas, these are the guys.”

We all greet each other when something catches my eye. “Why the camera?”

“Oh, um, I’ve recently started a new YouTube channel,” Thomas explains. “I figured all this would make a great video. Remy even suggested Virgil hide a camera on him to catch footage of inside.”

“Too bad that would probably get me kicked out,” Virgil shrugs. “Also, I don’t have a camera that small, or a phone to record on.”

“It’s super cool you have a channel though, Thomas!” Patton smiles, pulling his phone from his pocket. “What’s your channel called?”

“It’s just Thomas Sanders.”

Patton nods, typing on his screen. A moment later he smiles. “Found it! I’ll check out some of your videos after the tour.”

“Oh, wow, thanks.”

“No problem, kiddo!”

“How much longer until you all head inside?” Remy asks, sipping his Starbucks.

“About ten minutes,” Ethan replies. “Not much longer.”

“I’m just so excited!” Patton grins, letting out a small squeal of delight. “We’re actually going inside Willy Wonka’s factory! It feels like I’m dreaming. Someone pinch me so I’m sure I’m not.”

I lean over and pinch him and then myself. “Hm... Nope, definitely real.”

Patton chuckles. “I’m glad.”

I can’t help but notice Logan purse his lips as I make Patton laugh. Already protective and jealous and they’re not even dating yet. Man, Logan is really deep in this crush. Maybe he’s even passed the crush phase and gone into flat out love and adoration. It’s adorable.

In fact, I shuffle over to Logan and whisper in his ear. “Don’t worry, Logan, he’s all yours.”

I hold back laughter as Logan’s face burns bright red and he shoots me a glare.

“Oh, don’t act like that, it’s obvious you have feelings for him. You should go for it. You live in different countries. This might be your only chance to woo him.”

Logan seems consider this, before sighing. “You’d have a point if I knew anything about flirting and romancing. I do not. There’s nothing I can do.”

“Well, in that case, today’s your lucky day, my nerdy friend.” I drape my arm over his shoulders. “You see, I am the master of romance. Let me tell you what to do.” I clear my throat and sing, seeing my chance to reference Be More Chill.

“You gotta buy him a rose Compliment him on his clothes Say you appreciate that he’s smart You gotta tell him that he excites you sexually And that’s the way you get to his heart!”

“Wait, what was that last one? I can’t have heard that correctly...”

“Oh, you did.”

“I’m not telling him that!”

“Fine... In that case, it’s simple. Give him a gift at some point during the tour, something you know he’ll love, and compliment him. Like, ‘I got you this flower because the light blue colour reminded me of your beautiful aquamarine eyes.’ Simple.”

Logan nods, but still looks uneasy. I pat his shoulder. “You’ve got this, Erlenmeyer Trash.”

“Gee, thank you.” Logan rolls his eyes at the nickname. Unfortunately, my chance to make a witty response is snatched away when Patton gasps.

“The gates are opening!”

We all turn to look, a grin stretching across my face. This is it, the moment I’ve been waiting for since I was ten and the first contest was announced.

There he stands: Willy Wonka, dressed in a purple tailcoat, bottle green trousers, and a black top hat, a cane clutched in hand. He bows as the crowd cheers.

“Welcome! Welcome one and all to my factory! Please come forward one at a time and present your tickets!”

The five of us share glances, unsure of who should step forward first.

“Shall we go in the order we won our tickets?” Logan suggests. The rest of us nod in agreement before Patton steps forward.

“Hi! I’m Patton Picani! My brother and I are really big fans of your sweets.”

“Patton, wonderful to meet you!” Wonka grabs Patton’s hand and shakes it vigorously. “I always love meeting fans! Can I see your ticket? Hm...yes, it’s perfectly in order. Please go wait just inside the courtyard.”

As Patton went through the gates, Logan stepped forward next, handing over his ticket. “Logan Berry.”

“Logan, welcome! Amazing to meet you! Your ticket is valid, you may go through. Oh, today is going to be such a wonderful day!”

Logan flexes his arm once it’s let go, heading over to stand with Patton. I step forward next, flashing a charming smile. “Roman Prince, at your service.”

“Roman, ecstatic to meet you! Enraptured, enchanted! Your ticket? Let’s see... Perfect! Go right on through.”

I head over to the other two as Virgil presumably steps forward next. “I can’t believe we just spoke to Willy Wonka! I’m having the biggest fanboy moment of my life!”

“I know, right?” Patton grins. “It’s so hard for me to hold back squealing with excitement!”

“Don’t either of you think your reactions are a little over the top?” Logan asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Not at all, Microsoft Nerd! I have been waiting for this day my entire life...”

Virgil comes over and joins us. “Honestly, I’m just glad to be somewhere where I can actually get a decent amount to eat.”

“Oh, kiddo...”

“It’s fine, Pat. Jokes are my coping mechanism.”

“Not exactly a healthy one,” Logan replies.

“Hey, there’s really nothing else I can do to help my situation. Making jokes is my one way to make my life a little less dark.”

The conversation is cut off when Wonka and Ethan come over.

“Everyone here? Yes? Good! On we go!” Wonka turns and heads towards the door leading inside. We all quickly follow.

This is going to be wonderful! I can’t wait to find what wonders of pure imagination lie inside...

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NEXT

Couple of authors notes!

1) Remember, this is also an ask blog! Don’t be afraid to send in asks for the characters. Anyone introduced so far can be asked!

2) After the new video, you'll probably be wondering whether Remus is going to be in this story. The answer is yes! He will be! However, it won't be until quite a bit later. Don't worry, he'll be here.

Taglist: @clone-number-1, @pumpkinminette, @i-have-n0-idea-what-im-d0ing

#sanders sides #thomas sanders #virgil sanders #sanders sides virgil #patton sanders #sanders sides patton #logan sanders #sanders sides logan #roman sanders #sanders sides roman #sleep sanders #remy sanders #dr emile picani #emile picani #dot cartoon therapy #larry cartoon therapy #au #charlie and the chocolate factory au #sanders sides au #fanfic #fanfiction #logicality #prinxiety

[noona-clock]

Confusion & Coincidences - Part 6

Genre: Regency!AU

Pairing: Yongguk x You

By Admin B

Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

You hadn’t seen the Earl again after your dance, but to be honest, you hadn’t really been looking for him. You’d been doing your best to avoid your mother, aunt, and even Alice. They were far too curious and eager to talk to you about anything having to do with him, and truthfully, you needed some time to process everything.

So, only about an hour after dancing with him, you’d feigned a terrible headache and taken the carriage back home.

Even though you were currently reading The Mysteries of Udolpho, you decided to curl up in bed with Pride & Prejudice instead. You wanted to re-read the part where Lizzy danced with Mr. Darcy to assure yourself that their dance had been nothing like your dance.

Because... you remembered what happened soon after their dance. Okay, well not really soon, but still.

After Lizzy and Mr. Darcy dance together at the Netherfield ball, Lizzy’s best friend, Charlotte, gets married to Lizzy’s cousin who just so happens to be connected to Mr. Darcy’s aunt. Lizzy goes to visit Charlotte, dines with Mr. Darcy’s aunt, and... of course, Mr. Darcy is there. And then he proposes.

Completely out of the blue! Lizzy has no earthly idea why because he has never expressed any sort of romantic feelings for her! And she has done quite the opposite!

Oh, dear, you couldn’t even imagine if the Earl proposed to you like that. Suddenly telling you how ardently he admires and loves you like Mr. Darcy did to Elizabeth.

Of course, your situations were entirely different. You’d known the Earl for less than a month, and you’d only spoken with him three times!

Three!

If the Earl proposed to you anytime soon, you would have to find out who this anonymous female author of Pride & Prejudice was, seek her out, and demand she write a new book where the hero and heroine meet normally, get to know each other, fall in love naturally, and get married like a normal couple would!

You stayed in bed reading for at least two hours, only snapping your book shut and sliding it under your pillow when you heard your mother and aunt arrive home from the ball. You quickly blew out your candle and pulled your bedcover over your head, hoping they wouldn’t disturb you since they believed you to be ill.

You should have known better.

Your mother gently knocked on your door, slipping inside and perching on the edge of your bed.

You expected her to bring up the Earl, of course - because why would you expect anything else?

But she simply asked, “How are you feeling, my dear?” as she rubbed your back soothingly.

“A little better,” you murmured, keeping hidden under the blanket. “I just need to sleep.”

“Yes, that always helps your father when he has one of his headaches,” she murmured.

You almost giggled because your father had let you in on a secret a few years ago: he didn’t really suffer from chronic headaches. He faked them most of the time so he had an excuse to leave a dreadful ball or a painful dinner. So you had used his own tactic tonight, and your mother was none the wiser.

“I guess I get them from him,” you sighed.

Your mother leaned over and placed a kiss on your head, patting your back before you felt her weight lift off the mattress.

“Get lots of rest,” she said before she left your room. “We’re paying a call to the Earl tomorrow, and I won’t have you showing up with purple shadows under your eyes.”

She closed your door before you could cry out in protest, though you probably shouldn’t have, anyway. Someone with a headache wouldn’t be bolting upright and yelling out ‘What?!’

But a visit to see the Earl?! Tomorrow?!

Why?!

Why why why why why did you have such a persistent, social mother who would stop at practically nothing to marry you off?!

You were the first to arise the next morning, which was not a surprise in the least. You very frequently woke before anyone else in your family, sometimes even your father.

You liked to take your time eating breakfast, enjoying the peace and quiet before the hubbub of the day began.

On mornings like today, after a ball, you got to enjoy even more peace and quiet since your mother always slept in later than normal. And today was no exception. You savored your breakfast, stayed in your nightgown a bit longer before dressing for the day, read some of The Mysteries of Udolpho, and by the time your mother appeared, you were in a particularly good mood from all the alone time you’d just had.

“Ah, good,” she murmured as she plopped onto the couch in the drawing room. “You are already ready.”

“Ready for what?” you murmured as you flipped a page.

“Ready to call on the Earl, of course. I just need a strong cup of tea, and then we shall depart.”

You froze, though you did let your book drop slightly. “Mama, you can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I very well am, I can assure you.”

“Why would we call on him?!” you asked with a bit of a whine.

“Because you danced together last night! It is perfectly acceptable to meet with him!”

“But, Mama --”

You were interrupted by your aunt’s butler appearing in the doorway with a very stone-faced expression.

“The Earl of Blackman is here to see you, ma’am,” he drawled.

A very loud gasp came from your mother, and your own jaw dropped - though no sound emitted from your throat.

...The Earl.

Was here?

So, apparently, it was perfectly acceptable to meet with him after dancing together last night.

“Yes, yes, show him in,” your mother replied hastily, practically jumping up from the couch and scurrying over to you. She smoothed down your hair and pinched your cheeks, muttering something about this being your chance.

“Mama, stop!” you muttered, trying to bat her away.

“Do remember your manners,” she whispered before darting out of the room.

--Wait, what?!

She had just left?!

You stood, preparing to run after her and pull her back into the room, but the Earl stepped into the doorway before you could.

“Ah,” you breathed, trying to gather your senses and act like nothing was wrong. Like nothing had happened. Like your mother hadn’t just abandoned you. “Good morning, my Lord. Please do come in.”

He tipped his head in a bow before stepping inside and... closing the door behind him.

“I am sorry to intrude on you,” he murmured. His hands were clasped behind his back now, and he started to pace slowly.

“Oh, no intrusion at all, my Lord. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”

You watched as he paced, your brow furrowing with each passing second.

“I --” he began. “I would like to speak with you about something. Something... important.”

“Oh, dear,” you said softly, his words worrying you some. “What is it?”

The Earl took a deep breath, finally coming to a stop and facing you, though he could barely meet your gaze straight on.

“I know we have only just recently become acquainted, and our times actually meeting and conversing are quite few, but it has become extremely apparent to me that you are the type of person I would very much like to spend my life with. I believe - maybe wrongly so, but I still believe all the same - that you might feel the same way, and so I humbly request you please do me the honor of accepting my hand.”

...

...

...

...

Um...

Wha... 

What... 

Just... 

Happened...?

Had he just said... what you thought he said?

“I’m sorry?” you managed to ask, your voice nearly getting caught in your throat.

The Earl gulped, his voice a bit shaky when he responded. “Please... do me the honor of accepting my hand.”

“Your... hand,” you repeated, completely in a daze. “As in... your hand... in marriage?”

Surely... surely not!

“Yes,” he answered.

Oh, well, never mind.

“I --” you began, though you had no idea what you were going to say.

You were not the type to speak willy nilly. Most of the time, you thought out your responses carefully or you simply said nothing. But when you said nothing, it didn’t mean you had nothing to say. You always had something to say. Your brain was always full of thoughts and ideas and witty comebacks that were three hours too late.

But right now you could safely say you were speechless.

“I seem to have taken you quite by surprise,” the Earl mumbled.

“Yes, very much so,” you told him with a tiny nod. “I apologize, I just -- really? You... want to marry me?”

“I do.”

“But --” you took a breath, trying to calm down your racing heart. “But we hardly -- we hardly know each other!”

“You are not incorrect, but I believe we have learned enough about the other’s character to know we would be compatible.”

Okay, he wasn’t exactly wrong. You knew he hated balls and dancing as much as you did. And he liked to read the same kind of books.

But did that really constitute a solid foundation for a marriage?!

“I had no idea you -- I mean, you’ve never expressed any sort of feelings --”

The Earl closed his eyes, letting out a sort of frustrated sigh. But you could tell he wasn’t frustrated with you.

“I am not one to openly show my emotions,” he began. “As you learned from my cousin, I am rather shy. I do not have the open personality most people do nowadays, but I had hoped I was being -- “

He paused and then shook his head as if to say ‘never mind.’

And then he looked at you with hopeful but mournful eyes. “You are rejecting me, then?”

If your mother were in here, you would already be dead. You hadn’t immediately accepted, which was sufficient grounds to kill you.

“I just don’t -- I -- I mean, I would rather marry for love, and we don’t --”

“I understand,” he interrupted. “Please forgive me for taking up your time this morning.”

And before you could say anything else, he had bowed politely, turned on his heel... and left.

You stood in the drawing room, frozen on the spot.

Because what had just happened?!

Somehow, you had managed to persuade your mother the Earl’s visit had been nothing but a social call. He had simply inquired after your health after hearing you’d departed the ball early because of a headache.

This seemed to satiate her curiosity well enough, so you stole away to your bedroom to dissect everything the Earl had said.

But, really, any way you thought about it - he had just proposed to you.

The Earl of Blackman had just proposed. To you.

Had you not just been thinking last night about this very same situation?! You had been very sure that, just because Mr. Darcy had proposed to Lizzy, it did not mean the Earl would propose to you!

But he had.

So... things really were starting to play out like the plot of Pride & Prejudice.

What would happen next, then?! Would your sister create a scandal by running off with a soldier and forcing your father to pay him off to marry her?!

...Oh, wait. You didn’t have a sister.

But you did have a best friend. And Lizzy’s best friend ended up marrying someone far, far less than she deserved.

It might sound ridiculous, but you had to stop that from happening.

Just in case.

You grabbed your shawl and called out to your mother and aunt that you would be going out to visit Alice, not to worry, you’ll be back soon!

If your mother only knew the truth, she surely would be worried. Worried about your sanity, that is.

When you arrived at Alice’s grandfather’s house, you were escorted into his rather grand drawing room where your best friend was already taking tea and working on her embroidery.

“I daresay your headache is gone,” she smirked without even looking up from her needle.

“The Earl just asked me to marry him.”

“Ouch!”

Your sudden declaration had caused Alice to poke herself, and she quickly set down her embroidery hoop.

“What did you say?!” she cried, standing and rushing over to you.

“The Earl. Of Blackman. Asked me. To marry him,” you repeated with a deeply furrowed brow.

Alice’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped. “What?!” she laughed. “Oh, darling, this is wonderful --”

“You’re not getting married to my repulsive cousin, are you?!” you asked, clearly distressed.

Alice paused, her expression of delight turning to one of confusion. “I’m not... what?”

“In Pride & Prejudice, Mr. Darcy proposes to Lizzy out of the blue, exactly like how the Earl did to me just this morning. There was a ball and he was acting like a snob and then he went to London and Jane went after him - Mr. Bingley, not Mr. Darcy - and then I went after the Earl and there was another ball and the dance -- I have to make sure you don’t marry someone like Mr. Collins!”

Alice took your hands, leading you over to sit down on a very pleasant window seat.

“My dear, I believe your headache has turned into a delirious fever.”

“I know I sound ridiculous, but just assure me you are not getting married to someone who doesn’t deserve you, the angel that you are.”

Alice let out a soft chuckle, clasping your hands and gazing into your eyes. “I will not be marrying your repulsive cousin or someone named Mr. Collins or anyone less worthy. I promise.”

You let out a very heavy sigh of relief, letting your shoulders droop now that this weight had been lifted.

“But...” Alice continued. “I do believe your brother will be proposing any day now.”

For the second time this morning, you were taken by complete surprise. You were utterly shocked. You were speechless.

“M--my brother?” you stammered.

Alice pressed her lips together to keep from smiling and nodded.

“You -- you and... my brother? How -- when -- why --”

“I am so sorry I did not tell you sooner, but it has all happened somewhat quickly, and -- wait! What did you say to the Earl?!”

Oh, that’s right. You’d never actually told her you’d rejected him.

“I said ‘no,’ of course!”

“Why ‘of course’?!”

“Because we barely know each other!”

“That has no consequence! You have plenty of time to get to know each other after you’re married! Or while you’re engaged, even! Y/N, you must go to him and take it back!”

You mustn’t do any such thing! You’d just been dealt quite a serious blow upon hearing that your best friend... and your brother...

You had to get out of here. You loved Alice dearly, of course, but you couldn’t be near her at the moment. 

So you simply nodded. “Yes,” you mumbled to appease her. And then you forced a smile onto your lips. “I am happy for you.”

“And I, you,” she replied, her eyes filling with tears of joy (you presumed). “Come and visit me later?”

You hummed positively before standing up and making your way to the door.

If you had known the events of today would turn your world practically upside-down... you probably would’ve stayed in bed.

Part 7

#bap #bap scenarios #bap imagines #bap au #bap fluff #bap fanfic #yongguk #bang yongguk #yongguk scenarios #yongguk imagines #yongguk au #yongguk fluff #yongguk fanfic #kpop #kpop scenarios #kpop imagines #kpop au #kpop fluff #kpop fanfic #kpop pride and prejudice

[another-chorus-girl]

Erik House - Chapter 12

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

--

Cherik smiled, admiring his work. 

“Isn’t this quaint?” He asked Kerik, turning the pumpkin over to his yellow eyes.

Kerik rolled his eyes, “Have you missed the concept of this holiday? It’s suppose to be scary.”

The redhead sheepishly turned his carving back around. “But they’re crows?”

“You carved DOVES!”

“I think it looks alright,” Gerik interjected.

Kerik scoffed, “Ok, and what have you got there Gerry?”

Turning his around the novelized man was albeit a little impressed. 

“Well now,” He breathed, “That’s quite artistic. He flipped through the stencils Cherik had brought. “What pattern did you use exactly?”

“I made my own actually. I um...I rather enjoy crafts.” Gerik mumbled.

“Ah yes! That explains the drawings and dolls in your room.”

Gerik pointed a finger accusingly.

“Those are NOT dolls! They are ceramic figurines I crafted thank you monsieur!” He exclaimed. 

But then Gerik blinked, “Wait. When were you in my room?”

Kerik waved his hand innocently, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Cherik was oblivious to the masked men’s banter back and forth shakily avoiding Destler’s grin as he proceeded to mangle and stab rather than carve his jack o lantern. 

--

“Yes, and here is the parlour, now mind you the organ can’t be used willy nilly whenever you please. But given the respective time, you’re more than welcome to it.” Crawford explained.

“This all seems quite extravagant. I’m surprised how well secluded such a large house like this is.” A deeper male voice commented.

The masked men glanced up at the new voice.

“Yes, Monsieur Fantome has gotten the odd visitors, but he prefers privacy.”

“New tour?” Warlow asked Wilkinson, whom glanced up from his paper.

“It would seem so. Sounds like we’re welcoming a new face into the house.”

--

Winslow wrinkled his nose in distaste, "What is that awful smell?"

Lerik scowled at his seat at the pipe organ and started scribbling on his board turning it to him, "I wouldn't know would I?"

Carpenter sniffed the air and his face crinkled in disgust, "No you're right, something does smell rather foul."

The men heard a squick squeaking noise and turned to see a rather damp Jerik enter the main parlor.

"Too cold, they're too cold..." The long haired man mumbled, passing by the men as he trudged upstairs.

"I hope the first place he's heading is the shower," Winslow noted pinching a gloved hand over his nose.

Carpenter cocked his head, "Isn't Harley still staying in his room?"

All of the sudden they heard an ear splitting screech.

"RATS! THE RATS THE RATS!" A frightful voice shouted.

"Not anymore," Lerik scribbled before turning back to his music.

--

Jones sighed closing the refrigerator, adding enough cream to turn his coffee almost totally white. As much as he yearned for something with caramel, every time their coffee order came his sugary frappucino seemed to always disappear.

Even this morning he'd rushed downstairs. Davis being the new man it fell on his turn to bring the abnormally large order-this being to the poor baristas displeasure to make every morning. But no matter who placed the order he was left with sad, steaming black coffee lacking any flavor except bitterness. He just couldn’t figure out whom was stealing his hot beverage.

So flavoured cream would have to do.

Jones glanced up, hearing a harmonious sound.

Elle sort de son lit Tellement sure d'elle La Seine, la Seine, la Seine Tellement jolie elle m’ensorcelle La Seine, la Seine, la Seine Extralucide la lune est sur La Seine, la Seine, la Seine Tu n'est pas sou Paris est sous La Seine, la Seine, la Seine

Mug in hand, the Merik walked into the main parlour. Cherik sat by himself on the sofa, totally in tuned to the television.

"What's this?" Jones asked, noting the screen was the source of the music. "A cartoon?"

Cherik's face turned pink behind the full mask. "It may seem juvenile. But I find it rather enlightening."

The Merik sat down, listening to the song.

"That doesn't sound like the voice I heard earlier?" He inquired.

The redhead shrugged his shoulders.

Jones features softened as he smiled. "That was you singing wasn't it?"

Cherik's lip curved upward, "It's a rather nice song if you ask me."

"Well, I think so too."

Hitting the rewind button, Cherik asked. "Care to join me?"

"Of course."  

--

Knocking on the door Gerik tapped his feet impatiently.

When Kerik answered the door his hair was wild and unkempt, his shirt undone in the front hanging off his frail frame. He rubs his eyes, looking as though he just woke up.

"What?" Kerik croaked.

"Where is it?" Gerik asked. "Can't you ask before you borrow it?"

This only caused Kerik to smirk. This was not the first time the mannequin had gone missing.

"Don’t worry it's safe, I’ve been keeping him company while you were out. You're right, it is very life like. Especially after you incorporated Mr. Y's adjustments."

The film adapted man sighed and turned to leave but was yanked from behind.

"I'm not doing anything right now if you'd care to join 'us?" Kerik smugly smirked.

To tell the truth, while Kerik did admire the realistic craftsmanship the film adapted man had made, he moreso took the mannequin knowing Gerik would seek him out.

"Another night wouldn't hurt would it Gerry?" Kerik teased.

"I was intoxicated that night," Gerik sighed.

"You still seemed to enjoy it. Besides you could demonstrate for me your newly acquired skills our friend in the basement has been giving you."

The novelised masked man had a victorious look on his face as Gerik turned back around, walking past Kerik and into the dimly lit room.

--

On this night of All Hallows Eve, known to most as Halloween, the night was young and just beginning.

And it seemed all sorts of strange creatures were running amok tonight. Cherik admired these children and their creativity.

"That one looks quite imaginative!" Cherik beamed as a small group of giggling children zoomed past he and Jones.

"I'd like to think you were too," Jones added regarding Cherik's getup.

The full masked redhead wore a dark leathery material robe with a golden emblem pinned on his label, a maroon belt tied around his waist and adorning tall black boots.

Cherik couldn't help but blush behind his mask.

"I rather like yours too," He smiled.

Jones laughed nervously, "Yes, though I wish I knew Wilkinson was going as the same thing."

The Merik wore a blue and red coat and black trousers. Instead of his slicked back well kept wig he wore a longer, more frazzled and grey one. The facial hair he wore slightly itched against his mask, but it was just a minor annoyance that Jones could ignore.

Destler had to admit the gloves were a little irritating since the knives attached prohibited alot of use for his hands. But it was worth it getting a few good screams out of people he passed. Funnily enough he blended in not wearing any prosthesis on his face, but at the same time still struck fear in peoples eyes. 

A gleam twinkled in his brown eyes as he spied a small boy with his back turned. He was ready to tap the child's shoulder with his knifey finger when a hand clamped on his stripe sweater adorned shoulder.

Destler turned quizzically, "What are YOU doing here?"

Mr. Y stepped past him, "Please refrain from scaring my son monsieur."

The child wore a similar coat to the taller man, his dark hair was combed and gelled back, wearing a white mask over half his face.

"Father look!" Gustauve pointed, sprinting to another well decorated and illuminated house.

Destler smirked, "Interesting costume, Y Jr?"

The older man shrugged, "He insisted, I said he could be whatever he wanted." Crawford was feeling a little tense. Not only allowing the Meriks to run amok the Parisian streets, but the fact that the other adaptations were out and about unsupervised.

Lerik scribbled on his board-his coat lacked big enough pockets so the mute had no choice but to carry it around. Tonight was one of the few occasions he was not wearing his mask, however he did adorn a dishevelled looking wig.

It read, "Why so nervous?"

The older Merik shrugged, "Not nervous. Just...a little apprehensive."

He hadn't intended to dress for the occasion, but the others implored him to once Halloween fever seemed to strike the house-though that started more specifically when Kerik started drinking pumpkin spice lattes.

While his costume was a little more extravagant-from the large collared cape, the long grey white wig and false fang teeth-it made more sense for the occasion than a a grey suit and straw top hat would.

Lerik tried to re-adjust the large lump on his back but was getting frustrated trying to do this whilst holding the board.

"Let me," Crawford said adjusting the hump piece. "How did you very well get this on in the first place?"  

Meanwhile while most of the house residence decided to go out and enjoy being someone else for an evening, some had called it a night early.

Kerik frowned when he opened the door, expecting to see more children to scare. Instead Karimloo and Panaro passed him.

"I understand you, but whom exactly are you suppose to be?" The yellow eyed man asked.

The men turned, Karimloo dressed in a black cape with a raised collar, a maroon vest, and a poet's shirt. A small smear of red 'blood' ran down from a corner of his mouth.

Panaro was dressed a little more raggedly. The white shirt he wore was partially open, torn and red stained, his exposed throat wracked with teeth marks-whether they were painted on real Kerik wasn't too sure. The Merik's wig looked purposely dishevelled and little blips of red had dripped along his unmasked side of his face.

"The Count and Renfield of course," Panaro answered.

"Hm," Kerik mused, "I would have pegged you to be the vampire honestly."

Panaro shrugged awkwardly, "I was going to but that didn't exactly work out."

The Broadway man felt himself be yanked by his collar, Karimloo flashed a toothy grin.

"The night's not quite over yet," The West End man smiled, dragging Panaro up the stairs.

"Yes master," Panaro smirked, following his companion.

Kerik shook his head, “And their lot called me strange for dressing like a spider.”

Ho boy so alot of footnotes coming up:

-If you pay attention in the 2004 film, Gerik has several drawings/paintings, along with his stage diorama featured in two scenes as well as doll like figurines. So therefore, Gerik is artsy. 

-Derrick Davis plays the Phantom in the ALW PotO North American tour (And the one I’m going to see in about a week!!!)

-Cherik is watching ‘A Monster in Paris’, an animated movie dubbed in French and English. The song quoted is ‘La Seine/The River’ it’s an adorable movie with lots of PotO elements to it, highly recommend. 

COSTUME TIME:

-Cherik is dressed as Tywin Lannister from the television series ‘Game of Thrones’ as Charles Dance also plays this character. 

-John Owen Jones is dressed as Jean Valjean from ‘Les Miserables’. He and Wilkinson being dressed as Valjean as both are very well known for playing this character (Colm Wilkinson originating the role in 1985)

-Destler is dressed as Freddy Krueger, Robert Englund’s most notorious role from the ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ series of movies.

-Crawford is dressed as Count Von Krolak from ‘Tanz Der Vampires/Dance of the Vampires’ debuting in 1997, Crawford stepping into the Count’s role on Broadway in 2001. Also noting unlike it’s German running counterpart the Broadway production was not a huge success.

-Also the reference to a grey suit and straw top hat refers to Crawford co starring in the film version of the musical ‘Hello Dolly!’ in 1969 as Cornelius Hackel. 

-Lerik is dressed as Quasimoto from ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’ which Lon Chaney also starred in back in 1923

-The comment Kerik makes about Panaro being a more likely vampire is a reference to Hugh Panaro starring in ‘Lestat’ a briefly ran Broadway musical in 2006 based on Anne Rice’s ‘Vampire Chronicles’ novel series. Panaro was cast as the title character Lestat De Lioncourt. Like the Broadway run of ‘Tanz Der Vampires’, this was also not a huge hit. (I guess for some reason vampires and Broadway just don’t mix well together ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ) 

#Erik house AU #PotO #phantom #Merik #Lerik #Gerik #Kerik #Destler #jerik #halloween

[hollypotter-witchingworld]

Holly Potter and the Witching World CHAPTER 5: A Weasley Visit

"All right… nine, ten… stand still, Lydia! Ten. Did I say ten? I think I said ten."

"You've counted Charlene twice, Dad."

"Have I? Oh, bother…"

Just as Holly was preparing to break into the cupboard under the stairs at Number Four, the Weasleys were standing outside Number Seven, trying to make certain that everyone was present.

The Weasley coven was unusually large, even for a coven. All in all, it counted eighteen members: There was of course coven patriarch Arthur Weasley, and his five wives, Molly, Francine, Alice, Amanda and Flora… and of course, their twelve daughters, from sixteen-year-old Will to four-year-old Lydia.

"…eleven, twelve, and six adults make eighteen!" said Arthur, relieved. "Everyone present and accounted for!"

"Why doesn't this Albus Dumbledore just get a Floo connection?" said Flora. She was the youngest of Arthur's wives and her American accent stood out in the mix of Devon and Estuary accents spoken by the rest of the family, almost as much as her bright green hair stood out in a sea of redheads and blondes. "You can't tell me it wouldn't be more convenient than having everyone arrive on foot. Less chance of wandering children too."

"I said I was sorry," Ronnie muttered.

"It's okay, Ronnie." Ten-year-old Fred patted her on the arm. "We had fun while you were gone."

Fred's twin sister, Georgina (or "George" as she preferred to be called) nodded. "Especially when that Muggle lady told Flora-Mum her hair looked like…"

"Yes, thank you, George!" said Amanda.

"…And then Mandy-Mum went all…"

"I said thank you! Since we're all here, maybe someone can finally ring the doorbell and inform the people we're here?"

"Let me!" said Arthur eagerly. "Muggle doorbells are so fascinating!" He looked about as excited as the youngest girls, as he gathered his robes around himself and walked up to the door. "Let's see if I remember this… you just put your finger on the button like so…" He looked delighted at the sound of a chiming bell.

Seconds later, the door opened, and the doorframe was filled by the exceptionally large form of Hagrid.

"Hagrid!" a couple of the youngest girls cried happily. While children who didn't know Hagrid were sometimes intimidated by how impossibly large he was, it seldom took long before they learned that he was much gentler and kinder than his appearance suggested, and the Weasleys had got to know Hagrid quite well over the last couple of years. Four-year-old Lydia and five-year-old Marlyssa even stormed up to him to hug him; each girl grabbing onto one of his sides even though he was much too wide for either of them to reach around him.

Hagrid's bushy black beard split into a grin. "Hello there!" he boomed, gently ruffling the hair of Lydia and Marlyssa. "There yeh are! Was startin' ter wonder if yeh'd got lost or summat!"

"Yes, hello…." Arthur had the decency to look sheepish. "Sorry we're late, Hagrid. It's a little difficult to keep track of twelve children sometimes."

"And a husband who spends five minutes looking for a parking meter even though his very Muggle-born wife keeps insisting that there won't be one," said Amanda dryly.

"Ah, well, you know, better safe than sorry…"

Hagrid guffawed. "No worries," he said. "Don' jus' stand there, come in! Tea's ready!"

A few of the Weasleys looked at each other. "Tea?" said Alice. "You mean the, the potion, surely?"

"Yeah, that too! C'mon in!" Hagrid stepped aside (Lydia and Marlyssa squealing in delight as he effortlessly lifted them up and carried them along) to let the flock of adults and children past.

They stepped in through the door and into the hallway. Most of them had never been here before, and the children looked around the unfamiliar room, which had colourful patterned rugs on the floor and magnificent-looking landscape paintings on the walls, so realistic that the many potted plants that were placed somewhat willy-nilly along the walls almost seemed like they were part of the landscapes.

Despite his vast bulk, and despite currently carrying two little girls, Hagrid was surprisingly light on his feet. He led the Weasleys up the staircase that led to the first floor, and none of the steps so much as creaked a protest under his weight.

The Weasleys were almost orderly and well-behaved as they followed. Of course Nella tripped on the first step and had to be picked up and put back on her feet, and Persephone was sighing about how you couldn't take children anywhere, which again caused Ronnie to suggest that Persephone go and boil her cabbage head… but all in all there weren't any incidents.

The twins, usually the loudest and most exuberant of the Weasley daughters, were unusually quiet as they walked hand in hand up the stairs.

Fred and George were not identical twins. While they were more alike than different —the same long red hair, the same mischievous brown eyes, and the same freckled noses, and the same colourful dresses — when they were next to each other like this it was easy to see that Fred was slightly taller and skinnier than George. There was another difference too, but that was one the family had spent the last year or so preparing to erase.

"Nervous?" George whispered, clutching her twin's hand.

"Nervous, me?" Fred's laughter wasn't quite sincere. "I've never been nervous in my life! What's that word mean, again?"

George giggled. "That's it, you're getting a dictionary for Christmas."

When they reached the first floor, none of them were particularly surprised to find that it was much larger than the ground floor; really it was much larger than the outside of the house allowed for. The hall they now entered was enormous; there would easily have been room for a hundred people here… or perhaps fifty, if they were all the size of Hagrid.

Here, the décor was wilder and more exciting, to the point of being impossible; here the paintings were grander and livelier; a ship on the sea was moving back and forth, with seagulls flying about, and a stately-looking wizard on the portrait opposite the ship turned to look at the flock of people as they passed, waving and winking to a couple of the girls. There were doors of all shapes and sizes on the walls; some small and wooden, others big and made of iron, and one of them looked like it had just been drawn on the wall with chalk.

And perhaps most fascinating of all: While most of the floor was polished marble, over at the very end of the hall it seemed to fade into dirt and grass, to fit very nicely with the small grove of sturdy oak trees that somehow grew and thrived there and looked perfect for climbing in. Between the trees hung an unusually large hammock, with a patchwork quilt almost the size of a tent draped over it, and on one of the branches, a large scarlet bird was unconcernedly preening itself.

It was the sort of place that just begged to be explored by a group of curious girls, but Hagrid just led them over to the chalk door.

"Everything's ready here in the study," he said. He touched the chalk drawing, which slid aside to reveal a new large room.

This room was large and circular, with a domed class ceiling, its walls filled with shelves containing myriads of leather-bound books and strangely glowing devices. The few patches of wall that were not occupied by shelves, had mysterious-looking star-charts, chalkboards filled with strange equations, and — interestingly — a photograph of the Beatles in their heyday, bearing the signatures of all four members of the band. A work-bench opposite the entrance gave part of the study the feel of a mad scientist's laboratory with its assortment of test tubes, beakers, burettes, Bunsen burners, and flasks with liquid in various colours… but the large table in the centre of the room had a white crotchet tablecloth and a brown clay pot where yellow dandelions were blooming cheerfully, as well as tea cups, classes, a large teapot and several places of cakes and biscuits.

By this table sat Albus Dumbledore, now dressed in a yellow poncho over a smart blue business suit, together with a short plump woman with long, straw-coloured hair, dressed in a scarlet velvet jacket over an embroidered trouser suit that seemed just a little too tight around her belly.

"Weasleys are here, Albus," said Hagrid, setting Lydia and Marlyssa carefully down onto the floor.

"Welcome to all of you!" Albus raised himself and motioned to the woman, who was just swallowing a large gulp of tea. "I do believe this is the first time I have had your entire family under my roof at the same time!"

"Well, it was easy to get all the children," said Arthur, shaking Albus's hand. "Summer holidays are here and they're all home from school. Harder to get all the adults, really… work schedules and all that."

"I'm very happy that you managed, at any rate," said Albus. "A number of you will no doubt remember Hortense Slughorn — but for those of you who do not: This is Hortense Slughorn, the mastermind behind the Mulierarius potion."

"Of course we remember," said Molly. "How do you do, Professor!"

"Oh, no no no!" said the woman with a shake of her head. "It's not 'Professor' these days, my dear Molly! I haven't been 'Professor' since I made the best decision of my life and opted for early retirement!"

"Sorry. How do you do, Hortense."

"That's much better," said Hortense Slughorn. "Pleasure to see you again, of course! And Arthur! And, let me see… I remember Amanda, Francine and Alice from the old classes, but I don't seem to remember this pretty young thing. Interesting hair colour… you don't see many green-haired witches these days."

"I'm Flora," said Flora, obviously pleased at being called pretty. "And it's not my real hair."

"Well, you never know," said Hortense. "Dyed? Charmed?"

"It's a wig." Flora smiled sweetly. "I'm bald as a cue ball."

"Bald as a — my goodness!"

"And no wonder you don't remember me, I didn't go to Hogwarts."

"Good heavens, why ever not?" Hortense tried to collect herself. "Oh, wait, no, of course… your accent. Ilvermorny girl, are you?"

"Kansas girl, really… but yes, I did go to Ilvermorny."

"Fancy that! And now you're here in jolly old England, and married to the Weasleys! Well, that's a story I'd love to hear sometimes…" Hortense looked at the gathered children. "But perhaps not just now."

"Indeed not," said Albus Dumbledore. "Since you have met four-fifth of the adults here, Hortense, let me just introduce the young ones — this is Wilhelmina, Charlene, Anna, Persephone, Winifred —"

"It's Frederica!"

"Ah, my apologies. Frederica. And Georgina, Elaine, Veronica, Nella, Ginevra, Marlyssa and Lydia," Albus finished. "Please, everyone, sit! I have tea for those who want, and lemonade for those who want that."

Under normal circumstances the Weasley children probably would have dearly wanted to explore all the interesting things in the study, but the prospect of lemonade and chocolate biscuits at least temporarily convinced them to take their seats at the table and behave. As they sat down, the teapot stood up on four legs and walked over to each of the Weasleys in turn, pouring hot tea into mugs and cold lemonade into glasses.

There was room for them all around the table, even if Hagrid took up a fairly substantial portion of it.

The adults thanked the teapot, and Albus, politely, but Amanda looked a little sceptical. "We didn't really come here to have tea," she began.

"Oh, pish-tosh," said Hortense, accepting the refill. "I rather insisted on the tea. All for the sake of the patient, of course. When you're about to have the Mulierarius, it's always better to have a nice cup of tea inside you first."

"A truth that applies to more situations than just taking the Mulierarius potion," said Albus. "Chocolate biscuit, Amanda? Or perhaps you would prefer a ginger snap?"

For a few minutes, talk ceased as everyone got a biscuit.

"So," said Hortense after she had eaten half her ginger snap. "Take this as a compliment, or an insult, however you choose… but which one of you children will be taking the Mulierarius?"

Everyone looked at Fred, who seemed rather pleased as she raised her hand. "Me."

Hortense nodded as she looked Fred up and down. "Well, now," she said. "You do rather look like a girl already, don't you?"

Several of her sisters winced as Fred frowned. "I am a girl," she said, in a tone that didn't accept any counterarguments.

"Of course, of course," Hortense hurried to say. "My apologies, young lady! I just have to make certain, you know, just have to ask… You aren't currently under the effect of any other potion or charm, are you?"

Mollified, Fred shook her head. "Molly-Mum said you'd told her I shouldn't be under any other type of magic when I came here."

"Quite right!" Hortense nodded. "Mixing magics sometimes leads to unwanted results. But you have been under the effects of temporary potions and charms, am I right?"

"Well, yeah," said Fred. "But not since yesterday!"

"That should suffice," Hortense agreed. "And you are sure that this is what you want? The Mulierarius treatment isn't like those temporary potions or charms. Once you've started the treatment, you can't change your mind."

Fred looked straight at her. "I've tried to be a boy. I hated every minute of it, but I really did try. And I'm absolutely sure I never want to do it again! I don't care if boys are supposed to be so very special and get all sorts of special treatment. I am a girl."

Arthur cleared his throat. "We've had long discussions about this," he said. "The entire coven supports Fred's decision. We know that it won't make us popular among certain families, but…" He looked around at his five wives, who all nodded. "Our daughter's happiness is more important."

"And she's a much better twin sister than she was a twin brother," George shot in. "She's a lot more fun now!"

A few of the other sisters nodded enthusiastically. Molly, who was sitting next to Fred, ruffled her hair lovingly. "A much bigger handful too," she said. "But it's a small price to pay, really. We're far better off with a happy daughter than with a miserable son, even if she misbehaves a little more."

"You mean I haven't been the perfect little angel, Molly-Mum?" Fred tried to look innocent and failed spectacularly.

"No, you've been rotten to the core, just like me!" said George cheerfully.

Fred giggled. "That's tough, but fair."

"Of course, I'm always right!" said George. "Comes with having a vagina, as you'll soon find out!"

"Who do you think you're talking to, sister?" said Fred, and pretended to be insulted. "Some kind of novice vagina-haver? I've had a vagina dozens of times by now!"

"Temporary vaginas don't count, sister!" George answered.

A couple of the other sisters laughed at the twins' conversation; Ginny laughed loudest.

"All right, girls, that's enough," said Molly firmly. She gave Albus, Hortense and Hagrid an apologetic look. "I'm really sorry about this. They don't mean to be impertinent. They're just excited."

Albus, however, had chuckled along with the children, and Hagrid seemed quite unconcerned.

If Hortense disapproved of the conversation topic, she didn't show it. She just took another large sip of tea and then turned to speak to the adults. "So, what sort of charms and potions have you been using?"

"Started out with simple Sex-Change Charms," said Francine in a business-like manner. "Just to see whether she would take to it. The problem with those charms, of course, is that they are so temporary. Polyjuice Potion gave the most complete results, of course, but…"

"Polyjuice Potion is temporary as well," Hortense agreed. "Yes. Even I haven't ever been able to brew a Polyjuice that lasted for more than twelve, thirteen hours, and most batches don't last for half as long. Much too inconvenient to have to remember to keep drinking it, especially for a young lady who is soon off to Hogwarts for the first time."

"Not to mention expensive," sighed Alice. "Some of those ingredients aren't cheap."

Hortense nodded. "And of course, there's this pesky limitation that it can only give you a copy of someone else's body… though I suppose that might be less of a problem if we're dealing with twins."

"It was fun being identical twins for a while, wasn't it?" said Fred to George. "Switching places, confusing everyone…"

"We should be identical more often," agreed George. She looked up at Hortense. "Can you make Fred look permanently like me?"

"Yeah, can you?" said Fred eagerly.

"NO!" The cry came from Will, Anna and Persephone all at the same time. The three older girls looked at each other, somewhat sheepishly.

Ginny laughed.

"I'm certain you would prefer having your very own feminine body, Frederica," said Albus. "I would imagine having to live as someone else for the rest of your life would be a strain… even if that someone else is your twin sister."

"I think I could manage," said Fred.

"My dear child, I'm afraid the Mulierarius doesn't quite work like that," said Hortense. "Whereas the Polyjuice Potion gives you an exact copy of someone else's body, the Mulierarius Potion simply aims to give you the body you would have had, had you been born female. I can't say with any certainty what that body would look like."

Fred pondered for a moment. "Whatever it looks like, it's got to be better than this one," she finally said.

"Very well," said Hortense. "Once we've finished our tea, we can start your treatment."

Fred punched the air. "Yes!"

The adult Weasleys exchanged glances, smiling but not completely without a gleam of concern in their eyes.

They all knew that while there was no actual law against what they were about to do, the witching world in general would not approve. Of course it wasn't uncommon for witches and wizards to experiment with being the opposite sex for a bit; there were plenty of potions and spells that could temporarily give you the experience of being a different sex, and few people ever batted an eye at this... it was only natural to be curious, after all. Sometimes it could be good to experience life from the other side of the fence, as it were. Not to mention, consenting adults could have quite a lot of fun with a temporary Sex Change Charm. But a permanent transformation of a wizard to a witch? That would not be met with a lot of understanding.

Still, as Arthur had said, that was a small price to pay for a child's happiness. If Fred, or Frederica as she was going to call herself, was happy, then who cared what conservative covens like the Malfoys thought?

Yes, when the twins had been born ten years ago, they had been delighted to have a son. With how rare it was for magical children to be male, it was by no means a given for any coven to be blessed with a boy.

But it turned out that, at least if young Fred Weasley had a say in it, the Weasleys had not been blessed with a boy either. From a very early age, he had preferred wearing the exact same clothes as his twin sister, and refused to have his hair cut shorter than hers. Three times, Molly had tried giving him a short and boyish haircut like the sons in the Diggory and Lovegood covens had, but every time Fred's hair would grow back again in a matter of hours and be just as long as Georgina's again.

At first, the adults hadn't been too concerned. After all, Fred was the only boy in the household, and it was possible he just didn't like to be treated differently. Children often had their own very blatant opinions about fairness, after all, and it wasn't completely unheard of for little boys to grumble and complain because they weren't allowed to do all the things their sisters were allowed to do. So, thinking that perhaps Fred just needed to see that there were other boys around and that he wasn't alone, they'd arranged for him to spend some time with other wizard boys.

Luckily, the two covens who lived closest, the Diggorys and the Lovegoods, both had sons close to Fred's age, and both covens had been more than happy to have the then-five-year-old Fred over to play with said sons.

Things hadn't really worked out the way the Weasleys had hoped.

The visit to the Diggory coven had been the worst. Fred had not hit it off with little Cedric, who was only a few months older than him, and had spent the entire visit playing with Cedric's sisters instead.

The visit to the Lovegoods had gone somewhat better, but had led to a rather startling revelation. The Lovegood coven was in the almost unheard-of situation that they had two sons, Lucian and Damian, and Fred had been a lot friendlier with them than he'd been with Cedric — but it turned out that this had been mainly because the Lovegoods had immediately accepted him as a girl and consistently referred to him as a "her."

By the time Fred was seven, it was clear to everyone that this "wanting to be a girl" thing wasn't just a passing fancy. So after some long and serious talks between the adults, some of which included Fred and some if which did not, it was decided that they would do what they could to help their only son become one of their daughters.

And so, Fred Weasley had been allowed to try out life as a girl for a while, to see if she really liked it. The family had researched sex-change magics, acquired temporary potions, and (since Fred liked her name better than her sex) spent ages arguing over whether "Winifred" or "Frederica" was a better name for a girl Fred.

The idea of talking to Albus Dumbledore had in fact come from his sister, the Headmistress of Hogwarts. Albus might be an unorthodox wizard, and certainly not a name welcome in the "finer" parts of the witching world, but he had helped out a lot of people over the years, and had several friends and connections among witches and Muggles alike.

Luckily, one of these friends was Hortense Slughorn, the old Potions Mistress at Hogwarts and one of the most renowned potioneers of the century… and, as it turned out, the inventor of the exact potion they needed.

"We really don't know how to thank you for this, Hortense," said Arthur as he looked over at said renowned potioneer.

Hortense had chosen a chocolate biscuit, and now she held it in her hand as she looked at Arthur. "The best way to thank me, my dear fellow, is to not tell anyone who you got the Mulierarius potion from. Believe me, I'm happy to do my old friend Albus a favour… but I have no wish to become known as someone who invents and provides potions to permanently turn wizards into witches. My reputation would be quite ruined."

"I, however," said Albus cheerfully, "have never had a reputation to ruin, except among the outcasts of witching society. And I feel certain that they would quite approve, or at least understand. So feel free to put the blame on me."

"Same goes fer me," Hagrid rumbled between two enormous bites of cake, "Well, 'cept nobody'd ever believe I'd invented a potion. I can barely make a decent cuppa tea."

"Don't sell yourself short, Hagrid," said Albus, his eyes twinkling. "Your tea is quite adequate." Then, he turned to look at the collected Weasleys. "Mind you… if you really want to express your gratitude, there might be something…"

"Yes?" said Arthur.

"You all know the story of Holly Potter." It wasn't a question, but a statement. Everyone in the witching world knew the story of Holly Potter.

"I met Holly Potter!" said Ronnie, in the middle of her third biscuit.

"You never did!" said Elaine, who was sitting next to her.

"I did!" Ronnie swallowed. "Just today, while I was… er… while I was looking for you lot! She showed me the way here!"

Ginny looked utterly betrayed. "And you didn't tell us about it straight away?!"

Ronnie blushed a little. "I just…" she murmured, without really having any way of continuing that sentence.

Albus, however, nodded thoughtfully. "You've already met her, then," he said. "Forgive me for asking a personal question, Veronica, but what did you think of her?"

"Well…" Ronnie began, a little awkwardly. "I don't know. I liked her. She was nice. Not, you know, stuck-up or anything."

Albus nodded again, this time with a smile. "I'm glad to hear that. I will have to talk to her about it, of course, but I might ask your family to do her a favour sometime in the future…"

#holly potter and the witching world #holly potter #fanfic chapter

[savvystories]

Dan Alatorre’s Word Weaver Writing Contest

the fourth of four honorable mention awards, but also a

Special Honorable Mention

and the finale in our featured winners

* Honorable Mention *

An Encounter With A Suit Of Armor

by Robbie Cheadle

Gang, I loved this story for reasons you will soon see. The story in its own right was good, but the additional stuff i found out about after reading it was amazing – and you’ll see that in a moment.

Fun story, and definitely worthy of a special honorable mention.

  This story and the other Honorable Mentions, along with a profile of each of their authors, will be featured on the blog. They are really good.

DON’T FORGET: ALL contestants not winning first, second, or third place will be put into a drawing for other prizes!

HERE are some of the AMAZING AUTHORS whose books will awarded:

Allison Maruska, Project Renovatio. Author of the runaway bestseller The Fourth Descendant, Allison Maruska offers an audio book version of her latest hit, Project Renovatio.

With over 550 reviews on Amazon, The Fourth Descendant established Allison as an amazing breakout author. I read Project Renovatio. It is a brilliant, thrilling YA novel that grabs the attention of readers and holds them until the very end.

  Hugh Roberts, Glimpses

28 short stories that will take your mind on a rollercoaster of a ride into worlds that conceal unexpected twists and turns. You REALLY wanna win that!

Dana Wayne, Mail Order Groom, Secrets of the Heart

Dana Wayne is all about the romance! Mail Order Groom is a historical western romance. Secrets of The Heart is a contemporary romance. Both are amazing!

Curtis Bausse, Perfume Island, One Green Bottle

One Green Bottle, set in Provence, is the first in a series of Magali Rousseau detective stories. Perfume Island is the second book in the amazing series. You’ll love it!

T. A. Henry, Scripting The Truth

Any story that takes place in post-WWII Britain and has the phrase “She’ll try to do it all while trying to keep the seams on her stockings straight” has to be read. You’ll agree.

  Joanne R Larner, Dicken’s Diaries, Richard Liveth Yet

One reviewer called Dicken’s Diaries “a ‘diary’ with lots of amusing stories and indeed it is a cleverly written, humorous book.” Richard Liveth Yet is Richard III as you have never seen him before! Great stories from a great writer.

Yecheilyah Ysrayl, Renaissance: The Nora White Story

In 1922 Mississippi, Nora White has graduated high school and is college bound, but she is fascinated by the prospect of being a famous writer in The Harlem Renaissance – and decides on a change of plans. Techeilyah will amaze you with this one!

and of course, ME

A few folks will be selected to receive a copy of Poggibonsi: an Italian misadventure,my hilarious sexy romp through Italy (definitely a hot commodity, so to speak) as a signed paperback or as an eBook. Don’t even ask me if I’ll sign the eBook. Just. Don’t.

And now, the fourth of four Honorable Mention winners and also a

Special Honorable Mention Winner

in Dan Alatorre’s Word Weaver Writing Contest

* Special Honorable Mention *

An Encounter With A Suit Of Armor

by Robbie Cheadle

    Willy charged onto the platform, sword drawn and mouth wide open. A great roar came from his throat as he spotted the suit of armour in the stairwell, tucked behind a great lantern. Willy bounded forward and smashed his sword into the metal figure. The head fell off with a loud clang and rolled across the floor.

Willy. Come on, that thing’s adorable.

Willy’s roar turned into a wail of anguish as he looked at his toy light saber. The impact had shattered the plastic and the dangling blue shards hung on by a delicate thread.

The racket attracted the attention of some other tourist, who glared in Willy’s direction. Mom was a deep shade of red at all the commotion Willy was causing and quickly picked him up. Trying to sooth him with promises of a replacement sword if he stopped yelling. Dad looked angry, he doesn’t like a fuss. I was annoyed, Willy always ruined everything. His noisy howling always seems to get him a reward instead of the punishment he deserves.

Willy likes to dress up. He wears some very funny stuff and it makes people stare at us which I hate. Today, Willy is Anakin Skywalker. Star Wars is his latest craze. He is wearing white long johns and a long-sleeved white vest and over this he has on a pair of silk Spiderman boxer shorts and his Peter Pan shirt. His blonde hair is tied into a ponytail on top of his head and is sticking up like a curly pig’s tail. Does he have any idea how silly he looks?

We set off for the gift shop straight away to get Willy a new sword. The gift shop was outside the castle on the other side of the courtyard. Willy’s idea of England is gift shops. Everywhere we go he pesters to go to the gift shop so that he can look at the swords. They really do have great swords here, made of wood and really strong. Willy wanted his new sword now and Willy never waits for anything! The gift shop didn’t have any swords. They had shields and knight outfits with shiny chainmail fronts, princess dresses with long and flowing skirts, mugs, books, fridge magnets and lots of other lovely things but not a single sword. Mom asked and the man in the shop said that they had sold out of swords. Willy was sad. Mom had to promise to take him to a toy shop later in the day to find a replacement sword.

We left the gift shop and headed back to the great tower in the middle of the courtyard to continue our visit. Dad had told us earlier that this tower was called a keep. The keep was the most important building in the castle. If the castle was attacked, the defenders would retreat to the keep as a last resort. The keep at Dover Castle was square and was eighty three feet high with walls twelve feet thick. Dad said that the square shape of the keep showed how old Dover Castle was as the more modern castles had round keeps.

We passed back through the great stone arch and into the dingy, cold disarming room. Dad said that the disarming room was where visitors to the castle had to surrender their weapons. So why hadn’t someone taken Willy’s sword away when we came in earlier? We climbed up the steep stone steps and back onto the platform above the vast kitchen. The knight’s head had been replaced on his metal body.

In the kitchen, a scrumptious banquet was being prepared and there were piles of interesting foods on every wooden countertop. The room was a hive of activity with people of all shapes and sizes scurrying everywhere. There was a fireplace that was so wide and tall that I could have stood in it quite easily. There were also massive iron pots hanging from hooks over the fireplace, one was so big you could have boiled a person in it, just like in the song about cannibals I was listening to in the car. The song was all about the son of a cannibal who didn’t want to eat people. His father was very upset and the song was very funny. Willy liked it too and laughed and clapped his hands. It would be quite fun to put Willy in one of the big pots. Not to boil, of course, but just to give him a fright. I would put the lid on so it was dark.

We left the kitchen and climbed up another, much longer, flight of stairs. The stairs went up and up. There were all sorts of interesting little rooms built into the stone walls. Some of them were really creepy and they were all freezing cold. England is cold and we have to wear jackets, gloves and beanies every day.

In one tiny little side room, there was a funny toilet. It was a wooden plank with a hole cut in it set on a stone seat. It was old and cracked and I didn’t like it at all. My silly brother thought it was very funny. He wanted to sit on it and look out of the tiny window. He wasn’t so pleased when he saw there was no flusher and no basin and soap. Willy loves to flush toilets and wash his hands, splashing water everywhere and making a big mess. At least the toilet took his mind off his broken sword. I am very interested in castles and I know that there were no flushing toilets in the time when castles were built. There was just a long shaft built into the castle wall that led down to either the castle moat or a pit, just like a long drop toilet. I have never seen a long drop toilet at home but I have heard about them at school. They don’t sound at all nice!

We carried on up the stairs until we came to a huge room that had long, thick red curtains hanging all around it. In front of the curtains all along the walls were benches that people could sit on. The room was a long rectangle and two very wide chairs stood at one end. Dad said these were thrones. This room only had a few small windows at the end where the thrones were. The windows were built into the outside stone wall and I could see from the window ledge how thick the stone walls were. There were electric lights in the room to make it lighter but it was still quite dark. The lack of windows made me feel a bit weird, as if the walls were closing in around me. There were a lot of children in this room and there was a castle guide who was allowing the children to sit on the thrones and have their pictures taken. Willy was very excited about this and, when our turn came, he didn’t want to get off his throne. Willy is like a jellyfish when he is being naughty, he wriggles and squiggles and Mom had to grab him in a bear hug and carry him out of the room.

We climbed up some more steps and went into an enormous bedroom. The bed had curtains – how very strange! Mom said that all the important people had beds with curtains during the time when people lived in castles. They used to draw the curtains to help keep them warm at night. That makes sense to me, it is even colder in this castle than outside. This room was interesting and it had a bigger window so I felt much better. There were small steps right up to the window so we could climb up them and look out of the window which was great fun. Mom was hanging on to Willy as he stood there so that she could pull him back if she wanted to. Good idea, she should get a child leash for Willy.

There was a small chapel let into one of the great walls which had stained glass windows. Mom wanted to look at it but Willy was tired of looking at old things. Mom decided to stay behind and look at the chapel while Dad took Willy and me up to the roof. That was really great! We were up really high and could see all around. The countryside was so pretty and green, not like the countryside at home which is very brown and dry as we are having a drought and there has been little rain for over a year.

The roof of the castle was flat and very big with lots of space for Willy to run around. The walls around the edge of the roof were also built from stone. In places there were higher parts to the wall with slit-like gaps in between all the way around the roof top. Dad said that these were part of the castle’s fortifications. People could stand hidden on the roof top and see all around the castle through the gaps. Defenders of the castle could shoot arrows through these gaps.

Willy was running around like a hooligan and I think he was making Dad nervous. Dad isn’t nearly as nervous about him as Mom is but he was wary as Willy always finds a way to get himself into trouble. Dad decided to take us back down the stairs and out into the castle courtyard. We waited down in the courtyard for Mom for absolutely ages. Dad tried to call her on her cell phone but it went to voicemail. Oh dear, Mom was not going to be very happy when she couldn’t find us.

Dad looked around uncertainly. If we went back up to the castle roof we could miss Mom if she used the stairs on the opposite side of the castle. Willy lay down on the ground, determined not to climb any more stairs. He was tired of dark castles. Dad picked him up and then set him back down again. Willy is a cubby boy. Dad decided to wait. Eventually Mom appeared. She was out of breath and looked frazzled. She glowered at Dad, having climbed all the way up to the roof top to find us. When we weren’t there, she had looked all over the castle to find us before finally coming outside. Luckily, Mom was worn out from all those stairs so she didn’t say too much to Dad about it. Mom did decide, however, that it was time to leave.

  your humble contest host

It has been my pleasure to showcase these amazing writers. Look for interviews and more on them in the upcoming weeks.

Why did it win? What spoke to me?

Do you have to ask? LOOK AT THOSE ADORABLE PICTURES!

When I was reading it, I felt it had an immature feel to it, and that was appropriate, because it’s written for children.

Then I saw the images and I was like, wow, YOU MAKE THESE???

Having the images in the story makes all the difference. And then, learning she made them, and THEY ARE ICING… mind = blown.

That was an element I didn’t expect. Also, she explains in the book how to make them.

Come on, that’s awesome.

Join me in celebrating this moment with a very talented author, Robbie Cheadle.

If you liked this story, please share it on StumbleUpon and other social media so our winners can get the recognition they deserve.

Next week we will feature the author profiles of our winners!

If you would like to sponsor our October 2017 Word Weaver Writing Contest and get this kind of exposure for your product or service, please contact me.

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