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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Jun 19, 2011 18:19:39 GMT -5
Author's Disclaimer: Sorry for the delay. ^^' Also, sorry if this chapter is short. I promise the next ones will be larger. I do hope that you guys enjoy this one though. ^^ Chapter Two
Tradition is a core part of Holidays, and each Holiday there is a particular tradition that people repeat each and every year, sometimes, just out of sheer habit. One of these traditions was the tradition of trick-or-treating, that took place in Halloween. Every year, children in spooky and strange costumes go out during the day to demand candy from perfect strangers, sometimes unaware said strangers were quite attached to their candy and did not want to surrender it, forcing them to indulge in yet another tradition of Halloween: tricks – a word which here means ‘pranks’ – developed to annoy said greedy candy-addicted strangers. I’m afraid to report however, that this tradition was being repeated day after day at Thriller Park, near the Dark and Bright Avenues. This was because Halloween was in, and therefore, it was Hallow-In everyday. ‘I just finished giving more candy to the trick-or-treaters. More will show up in no time.’ Said the dark haired clerk of Desmond Fulfillment’s shop, Creepy Costumes Halloween Store, to Klaus Baudelaire and Cindry Fulfillment, as she walked past them. ‘I swear, I’m going crazy!’ The girl said as she took her place behind the counter – covered in all kinds of sweets and toys – and the vending machine. Cindry was busy taking Klaus around the shop. It was a very interesting place, and Halloween was one of Klaus’ favorite holidays. The shop was filled with decorations, toys, costumes, and barrels filled with sweets, chocolates and other delights, and the shop itself decorated in a Halloween motif – but what was for sale and what was decoration was up for debate – and lit in bright yellow, red, purple and orange lights. ‘Your father has a very interesting shop, Cindry.’ Klaus said, as they walked in one of the aisles. ‘Thank you. It’s both his passtime and his passion. My dad has always loved Halloween. He was always excited to go trick-or-treating as a child, and later, taking my aunt and uncle when he was too old for it.’ Cindry said, suddenly taking a sad expression. ‘My aunt and uncle…I wonder if they are alive…’ ‘I’m sure they are, Cindry.’ Klaus reassured her, even though he wasn’t too sure himself. This seemed to lighten her mood, as Cindry suddenly smiled. ‘Come, I have to show you something.’ Taking Klaus’ hand, Cindry went with him back inside the house. The Fulfillment house was decorated in rich purple and caramel tones, with several pictures of the family members hanging on the walls of the hallways. It was a remarkable house, and a huge one at it. ‘Here.’ Cindry entered a room and turned the lights on. The room was unlike any other in the house. The walls were decorated in a fancy painting of the Fulfillment family tree. Each name had a portrait above it, dating back centuries, to the foundation of the family. ‘This is my grandmother, Victoria. Her brother and sister, David and Freya.’ Cindry pointed to three faces on the wall. Victoria was a blonde woman with fierce blue eyes, while David and Freya were light-brown-haired with gray eyes. ‘My grandmother Victoria inherited the Estate, as my great-uncles all died, and the women married men of other families.’ Klaus examined the large family tree and searched for Cindry. There she was, a young girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, just like her grandmother. Above her, the face of Desmond Fulfillment ,with his sandy-blonde hair and gray eyes, and next to him… The paiting was defiled. Burned off, right where Cindry’s mother’s face would be. ‘Oh, my mother. She abandoned my father years after I was born. I don’t remember her face, and there are no other pictures of her in the house. All I know is her name starts with D.’ Cindry pointed to the edge of the burned portion of the paiting. A ‘D’ was visible. ‘I’m sorry to hear that, Cindry.’ Klaus had a loving mother up until his parents’ fiery death, so he couldn’t possibly understand what it was like to grow up completely without a parent. ‘It’s alright. My aunt Victoria was very much like a mother to me, and my uncle Ferdinand, a second father. I miss them. I hope they are alright, wherever they are.’ Klaus silently agreed. Ever since the fire at Funeral Factory Fulfillment Ltd. No one had heard from Ferdinand and Victoria Fulfillment. The factory – or what was left of it – had been looted by the poor inhabitants of Paltryville, and there was no trace of the two siblings – or their bodies in the ashen ruins. Or so Klaus had read in an article of The Daily Punctilio he found in Desmond Fulfillment’s study. Apparently Cindry’s father was in a desperate search for his brother and sister, and refused to believe that they were dead. But, if Victoria and Ferdinand were alive, wouldn’t they have come to the one place they’d truly be safe in, their brother’s home? Their family’s home? Klaus wanted to believe the two were alive, but he had learned to be reallistic, and expect the worst out of any situation. An uncomfortable silence had fallen in the room, with Cindry’s eyes hidden behind her blonde hair, while Klaus did not know what to say to comfort her. ‘Klaus? Oh, there you are.’ Violet’s voice was heard. She had been looking for him with Sunny and Beatrice. ‘Oh, that is a beautiful painting, Cindry. Quite a large family, the Fulfillments.’ Violet was polite to comment, upon seeing the painting. ‘Thank you. Well, it certainly used to be a large family, but now most of the Fulfillments are either dead, missing or too far away to count.’ Cindry did not often make such bleak remarks, and to hear something so dark from her lips was a jarring contrast to the fiery girl they had met in the Paltryville Train Station, not too long ago. ‘Desmond said he wanted to take us on a stroll through the park. I thought it would be a good thing for Sunny and Beatrice. Children need sunlight.’ ‘Deee.’ Said the little Beatrice, which Sunny translated as: ‘Yes, I think I need some sunlight, I saw my self in the mirror and I am too pale for a baby!’ The Baudelaires and Cindry laughed, and went outside the painting room, and down the hallway, towards Desmond’s study. When they arrived, they saw Audrey Addams sitting with Desmond enjoying a good cup of tea. Audrey was dressed in a purple sweater vest, a white blouse underneath and a knee-length skirt, with nice high heels. Desmond was wearing his caramel-colored cardigan and brown pants which were wrinkled, and he had mismatched socks, one purple, one red, and a couple of slippers on. He was very relaxed, being home, and he could not be blamed for it. ‘Oh, Baudelaires. Good. I’ve been meaning to show you the wonders of Thriller Park for a while. Go and get dressed in something warm, it’s been cold out lately. It is autumn, after all.’ Desmond said, smiling, his right hand resting in Audrey’s left one. ‘Cindry, you could take Klaus to see the Boggly Garden. I heard it’s very romantic for those who are in love.’ Audrey said. Cindry said nothing. She was still clearly uncomfortable with her father’s engagement – a word which here means ‘the beautiful stage of a relationship before marriage, which is the last, but sometimes never happens at all’. – to her father. ‘Anyways, go dress. I’ll wait for you downstairs, and we’ll go exploring Thriller Park.’ – Desmond said, laying his cup of tea on a doily on the tea table. ‘It’s a family tradition for the Fulfillments to take their guests on a stroll through the Park.’ The Baudelaires then returned to their rooms and found new clothes waiting for them, and changed. When they arrived downstairs, Desmond and Cindry were waiting for them. Cindry had changed into a beautiful black and white dress with a black beret on her head, and Desmond had a red beret on, and wore a long overcoat, and boots. Apparently, berets were another trademark of the Fulfillments! The Baudelaires then engaged in the Fulfillment’s tradition of exploring the park – only they were completely unaware of the surprises that were coming for them soon.
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Post by Christmas Chief on Jun 20, 2011 13:09:17 GMT -5
The painting of the Fulfillments reads to me rather like the tapestry of the Blacks in Harry Potter; it certainly holds the tradition theme (in that the generations go far back). The tour of the park holds great promise, too, even though we already know it's not likely to be thrilling in a pleasant way.
Edit: Unpleasant for the Baudelaires, that is.
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Post by Hermes on Jun 20, 2011 13:53:20 GMT -5
Yes, I thought of the Black Family Tree as well. The bit about Cindry's mother is very interesting - I wonder if we will hear more about her.
There are some wonderfully Lemony lines here, particularly the bit about people being attached to their candy.
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Jun 20, 2011 16:24:58 GMT -5
The Black family tree was what I had in mind when I wrote this, yes. I thought the Fulfillments are a tad like the Blacks, minus the racism and elitism, and bit of a loony streak running through their family DNA. All Fulfillments have been known to be quite eccentric. There will be more info on them, perhaps, as I write the remaining chapters of TPP. ^^ The next chapters will be up soon.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jun 21, 2011 11:40:32 GMT -5
I haven't studied Harry Potter closely enough to have caught the reference to the Blacks, but even so I enjoyed that part of the story very much. The Fulfillments are a most fascinating family - then again, isn't that usually the case with all those who are eccentric? If I wasn't already a Squalor, then I would say I was destined to be a Fulfillment! LOL. I particularly enjoyed the detail in which Desmond took Ferdinand and Victoria trick-or-treating as children, once D had outgrown it. What a nice big brother! I am even more determined to guess the identity of Cindry's mother than ever. I have another idea as to who it might be, but like all my other assumptions, I'll keep this one under wraps until the appropriate moment presents itself. It was nice to see Audrey in something other than a white doctor's coat; as for her current ensemble, I must say it sounded very lovely and feminine. Desmond's, although not as well put together, was very cute, especially with the mismatched socks, and sounded quite comfortable. This line in particular was very funny: He was very relaxed, being home, and he could not be blamed for it.It may just be me reading too much into it - we can only hope! - but this line has me a bit concerned, TBH. I certainly hope that Desmond and Audrey don't end up being the Lemony and Beatrice of YASoUE! I suppose the "surprises" awaiting our friends in the park can be any sort, really; hopefully all will go well for them, though. Especially for Cindry and Klaus, whose date walk certainly suggests some romantic possibilities.
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Post by Dante on Jun 21, 2011 12:09:53 GMT -5
Once again, I was away when you updated - sorry, Tiago! It's a fine chapter, though, and you make it pretty clear that tradition is very important. I wonder if the Baudelaires can use that to their advantage, or whether it will be invoked against them? In other words, will they be treated or tricked?
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Jun 22, 2011 7:27:18 GMT -5
@emmz: The Black Family in Harry Potter have a tapestry depicting the family's lineage and blood tree through the ages in their house, in a similar fashion to the Fulfillment's painting, except the Blacks burned off family members who married mudbloods or brought shame to the family. I'm also glad you like the Fulfillments, I quite like them too. They're my favorite of my original VFD families. Cindry's mother's identity will be revealed, but I can't say how, or when. Actually, Audrey hasn't been in a doctor's coat for quite a while. I don't think she was wearing one in TBB and she seems to have shed the doctory look for a change.
@dante: What bad timing, Dante. I seem to be unconsciously writing only when you venture off Dark Avenue! You're a clever man Dante. I specially like that question and how you phrased it. You will see! ^^
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jun 22, 2011 11:50:48 GMT -5
@emmz: The Black Family in Harry Potter have a tapestry depicting the family's lineage and blood tree through the ages in their house, in a similar fashion to the Fulfillment's painting, except the Blacks burned off family members who married mudbloods or brought shame to the family. I'm also glad you like the Fulfillments, I quite like them too. They're my favorite of my original VFD families. I am always fascinated by the way you're able to incorporate references outside ASoUE into your stories so creatively. It's something I've been striving for, since I'd been reading YASoUE for a while and was writing V.F.D. Training Days. Thank you for inspiring me, Tiago. It's sad that a person as kind as Desmond would have all traces of his wife removed from his home, though I'm sure he has good reason. I'm looking forward to the moment when the identity of the first Mrs. Fulfillment is finally revealed, whenever you choose to do so. Until then, I'll have fun coming up with different possibilities; especially now that we know her first name starts with a 'D'. I suppose that, unless otherwise mentioned, I can't help but always picture Audrey in her doctor's garb, since it was the clothing she was sporting when we first met her. It is nice to see her in something that blends more with the general public, though. Yes, so did I. And it makes me all the more eager to see what awaits the Baudealires and their friends.
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Jul 1, 2011 14:53:08 GMT -5
Chapter Three Thriller Park was a large, enormous place; it spanned hundreds of yards between Dark Avenue, with it’s ominous dark-stone buildings and Bright Avenue with it’s bright-colored stone buildings and street lights. The park was coated in reds, oranges, yellows and browns, as it was autumn, and few trees remained green, vestiges of summer. The afternoon was a lovely one, and the sun, warm, and yet a cold breeze often rushed past the Baudelaire orphans as they walked alongside a cobblestone pathway in company of Desmond Fulfillment and his daughter Cindry Fulfillment. The park was filled with Halloween decorations hanging from trees and light poles, and there was even a fountain with a statue of a vampire drinking the blood of a human, water pouring from the bite wound down into the fountain. A chill ran down the Baudelaires’ spines the first time they saw the fountain. ‘Oh, I know. That’s the Vampire’s Fountain.’ Desmond Fulfillment spoke, the red beret he sported the only accentuated the brightness of his fair hair and his soft, understanding eyes. ‘My ancestor Ferdinand Fulfillment had it sculpted. He fancied vampire fiction, you see.’ Desmond and Cindry were leading Violet, Klaus, Sunny and Beatrice Baudelaire through an entertaining tour of the park’s wonders, and had seen many things so far. ‘Ferdinand?’ Violet asked. It was the name of one of the first Fulfillments the Baudelaires had met, Cindry’s uncle, vanished in the havoc that broke at their Funeral Factory in Paltryville. ‘Oh yes. See, my family has a tendency to repeat names. My mother’s name was Victoria, and my sister Victoria was named after her. My mother, of course, was named after my mother’s uncle, Victor Fulfillment. He was a scientist and a painter. Many of the paintings in my house were made by him.’ Desmond said. ‘His first paitings were dreadful, but he improved, after art classes in Training School.’ Desmond chuckled. ‘We keep the ugly ones in the attic. Don’t tell anyone.’ Cindry Fulfillment was walking a bit behind the lot of them, a vision in a dress of white fabric and lace and black ribbons, a black beret resting on her golden-haired head. ‘My aunt Victoria liked to paint too.’ She said out of a sudden. Cindry had been very quiet during their walk. She was still recovering from her memory loss and her time under Esmé Squalor’s long-nailed grip. No wonder the girl was so sullen – a word which here means ‘somber and brooding’. ‘Did she? I never saw any paintings back at the factory. Not any signed by her.’ Klaus replied. He was more eager than anything to be able to talk with Cindry and kiss her again, like they did not long ago, in Klaus’ room at the Casanova Casino, but he knew better than to force a lady to do something she didn’t want to do, and kissing was the last thing on Cindry’s to-do list at the moment. ‘Don’t worry, Cindry. Victoria and Ferdinand will be with us again, and soon. I’m close to discovering their whereabouts. I’ve already learned that they did not die in the fire at the factory.’ Desmond said, approaching Cindry and laying his gloved hand on her shoulder, in a gesture of comfort. ‘Did you? I knew they were alive. We hoped so, reading that article on the Punctilio on our way to Tedia.’ Violet Baudelaire said. She still recalled how disgusted she felt reading that dreadful piece of journalistic junk – a word which here means ‘an entirely false newspaper story made up by their enemies infiltrated at the Daily Punctilio’s staff to ensure the non-V.F.D. authorities would not investigate the factory any further. ‘Yes, Violet. My brother and sister are alive. They were helped out of Paltryville by someone of V.F.D. affiliation. That person was camped in the remaining portion of the Finite Forest, behind our factory. I don’t know who he or she was, but if they had been a villain, I’d have confirmed my siblings’ deaths, and I haven’t. They’re alive, you can have my word.’ Desmond said. ‘But who could have been in the Finite Forest?’ Klaus asked. ‘A number of people. They could have easily been on the same train as you were, have you ever thought of that?’ Desmond asked. A gust of wind blew past them, lifting an ammount of orange and yellow fallen leaves that swirled away. It was getting cold. ‘No…On the same train as ours? On our way to Tedia? To think…We could have easily met the person who spirited them away, or even met Victoria and Ferdinand right away.’ Violet reasoned. It was absurd and bizarre to think that Victoria and Ferdinand Fulfillment could have been on the same train that took the Baudelaires away from Paltryville and delivered them to Tedia, where they were taken by Hal – at the time disguised as a cab driver – to the dark and ivy-covered manor of Mortimer Montague, and that they had not met them during the journey. ‘I’m not so sure, Violet. My siblings were trained well enough. They were disguised, and so was the person who helped them. I’ve contacted the staff of Paltryville’s train station and I’ve interviewed the train machinist, and one or two bellboys. They saw no one who looked anything like my siblings, and if they did, they lied to me. All I can say is that I know they were on that train, disguised, and in hiding.’ Desmond said. When the Fulfillments and the Baudelaires arrived at a a cobblestone square in the park, they began to notice other park goers in all kinds of absurd Halloween costumes. Everyone looked like something out of a horror movie, even the adults. The children ran around in circles in pursuit of one another, holding bags and buckes filled with candy, and there were numerous people having picnics. All the Baudelaires could see is that they were eating candy, and no more. Not bread, or butter, or hazelnut cream, but only candy; candycorn, chocolate, taffy, mints, bubblegum, lollipops, and much more. They all were acting very energetic and loud, laughing, talking and making japes – a word which here means ‘practical jokes and the like’ – and mocking each other’s costumes. They all looked and acted strangely, and made the Baudelaires and the Fulfillments uneasy. One group of children approached them, running and laughing, their buckets of candy half-full – or half-empty, if like me, you are a pessimist – and the few ones that didn’t have masks had deranged smiles and chocolate-stained chins and cavities on their teeth. ‘Trick or treat!’ The kids shouted. All around them, a group of ten children had circled them and surrounded them. The children huffed and puffed as they had been running, but did not look tired, for some reason. ‘Trick or treat! Trick or treat!’ They chanted in unison. ‘I’m afraid we don’t have any candy on us, kids. There’s candy for sale at my shop, Creepy Costu-‘ Desmond Fulfillment was interrupted by a roll of toiled paper hitting him on the nose. For half a second, he stood silent and stunned and when the roll of toilet paper hit the ground, one of the kids shouted. ‘TRICK!’ and a rain of toilet paper fell down on the Baudelaires and Fulfillments. Several kids began rolling around them the toilet paper, and soon the Baudelaires orphans and Desmond and Cindry Fulfillment were a papery mess, all the children laughing frantically as they threw more toilet paper their way. The paper was no ordinary toilet paper, I fear, as it tangled and pulled the entrapped orphans and father and daughter to the ground. ‘HAHAHAHAHAHA!’ laughed the frantic pranksters. All the Baudelaires could see was the white toilet paper and nothing else, as they fought to get out of the papery cocoon that they were put in. ‘HAHAHAHAHA!’ the pranksters laughed as they ran away as the prankees began to break free from their papery-white prison. ‘What on earth is wrong with them?!’ Klaus was particularly angry as he had lost his glasses in the mountain of toilet paper and cardboard rolls. ‘They all look crazy!’ Sunny, the second youngest Baudelaire, put it bluntly as she tried to find Beatrice, buried deep inside the paper. “Gu! Gu!’ Beatrice repeated, somewhere under the paper, and I think by “Gu!” she meant “Here!” Desmond Fulfillment helped Cindry up, as she got out of the paper tangle, with Violet behind her. ‘This, Baudelaires, is what happens when children are high on sugar for several days straight. They probably are eating nothing but candy. It has been Halloween for several days.’ Desmond said. ‘Not Halloween.’ A girl’s voice was heard. The Baudelaires’ and Fulfillments’ attention was grabbed by a strange trio that appeared where the trick-or-treaters were seconds ago. ‘It’s Hallow- In.’ The girl in the middle said. Her appearance would have been worthy of shock if it weren’t Halloween, and the Baudelaires were shocked enough, having been assaulted by a bunch of angry sugar-overdosed trick-or-treaters. ‘Because Halloween is in so says her Sweet Majesty, the Candy Queene.’ The girl said. Her hair was a faded pink-and blonde mess, all tied up at the top left of her head, and short bangs escaped the enormous pigtail she haid. No doubt some of the hair was artificial, as it was bright pink and plastic-like. But it was not the hair that was worthy of shock. It was her face. Her face was painted in the likeness of a skull, simply put. Bone-white, with big dark circles to immitate a skull’s empty sockets, only these were filled with two huge blue eyes, and the features of a skull drawn on her skin. The effect was reallistic and astonishing, and bizarre. She was dressed in a black tuxedo, cut to fit a girl of her size, and high heels, and a black bowtie with a skull brooch. ‘Her Sweet Majesty has made it so that every adult everywhere needs to carry candy to offer the children, and those who do not have the candy are to be subjected to a punishment, a Hallow-In prank.’ The boy to her left side said. He was a tad taller than her, but had the same blonde-pink hair, only his was not long as hers, and not tied in a pigtail. His face, though, was painted too, in the likeness of a skull, and his blue eyes as identical as the girl on his right side. He too, wore a black tuxedo, a bowtie and a skull brooch. ‘Her Sweet Majesty also has made it in for everyone to done only clothes suitable to Hallow-In, and not normal clothes, because they are out. If you do not go and change out of those normal clothes into something Hallow-In-y, you will be chased by the trick-or-treaters, and next time it won’t be toilet paper. It will be eggs, you candysniffers.’ Said the girl on the right. Her face was painted in the likeness of a skull as the other too, except her hair was a bright red-and-orange mess, tied in a pigtail on the top right side of her head, and she wore a white dress and a white fur boa. ‘Thus is the 667th decree of Her Sweet Majesty, the Candy Queene, Ruler of Hallow-In on the Avenues, both Dark and Bright.’ The pink-blonde skull-girl said. ‘Um…excuse me?’ Was all Violet Baudelaire could say to such nonsense. ‘You heard us. Unless you wear a Hallow-In costume, you can’t come outside or the trick-or-treaters will chase you like flies drawn to a pot of honey left unopened.’ The pink-blonde skull-girl replied. ‘Go back and change, and come back, or go away and stay away. This is Her Sweet Majesty’s command, and you will obbey.’ ‘Who on earth are you three?’ Desmond Fulfillment asked, bewildered. ‘Who we are is not your concern, but know that we enforce the laws of Hallow-In set by Her Sweet Majesty the Candy Queene. We command the trick-or-treaters, and unless you have candy, you cannot proceed any further. That is the will and law of Her Sweet Majesty the Candy Quenne. Obbey and you will go unharmed. Proceed and you’ll be covered in eggs, toilet paper, tar, and worse.’ The girl said. ‘Come, kids. We’ll go change into Halloween costumes and come back. We need to look into this Candy Queene and who she is.’ Desmond said, grabbing Cindry and Violet by their arms. ‘Oh, no need, Desmond.’ Violet said, taking another look at the three skull-teenagers staring at them. I think I know who they are. And I think I know who this Candy Queene is too.’
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Post by Dante on Jul 1, 2011 15:05:30 GMT -5
Chapter Three, guest starring the greatest statue ever conceived of in all literature. It'd be a crying shame if such a thing didn't exist in real life. Meanwhile, poor Desmond needs to figure out the Baudelaire tradition of encountering the same enemies every couple of days.
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Post by Christmas Chief on Jul 2, 2011 8:37:02 GMT -5
Wow, Her Sweetness doesn't waste time, does she? 667 decrees already (that detail rather reminded me of Umbridge, actually, particularly in accordance with the tapestry--was it intended?). And it seems the Baudelaires are about to witness more of sugar's deadly side effects. I can only imagine what Halloween horrors they'll encounter now, as those first attackers were brutal.
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Post by Hermes on Jul 2, 2011 13:30:06 GMT -5
Wow! So, they're taking the 'trick' part of 'trick or treat' very seriously, clearly.
I, too, think this a brilliant idea for a fountain. And I think I, too, know who the Candy Queene (clearly spelling words wrong is Inne) and her teenage followers are.
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Jul 2, 2011 15:06:46 GMT -5
Chapter Four If you ever tried to decide on what costume to choose for Halloween or a costume-party, then you know the difficulty. It’s never easy deciding on what to wear. A vampire, or a zombie? A fairy or a demon? A mad scientist or a serial killer? There are tons of things one can be on Halloween, but that hard choice is made easier by the fact that it is seldom that we have to choose a costume that we will wear once and that will remain to gather dust in our closets or wardrobes, but the Baudelaires realized that everyday they now would have to choose a different one. And even though something inside them made them nervous, it was fun running through the hundreds of costumes at Desmond Fulfillment’s Halloween store, and choosing what to wear, what to be. ‘I think I’ll go with mad scientist.’ Klaus Baudelaire said, after picking a costume from the stacks. ‘What about you, Violet?’ His elder sister was in the other side of the stacks, choosing her own costume. ‘I think I’ll be Frankenstein’s bride. Or a vampire. What about you, Beatrice?’ ‘Gizmo!’ Beatrice Baudelaire had already chosen her costume. By ‘Gizmo!’ she meant, as translated to the rest of them by Sunny, ‘I think I’ll be a Gremlin!’ Sunny herself had chosen her costume already. She was a valkyrie, and had a winged helm and a long silvery-blue braided wig and armor, and a small sword. ‘Even though I’m creeped out by them I do have to say I missed dressing up for Halloween. I can’t even remember the last time we did this.’ Klaus Baudelaire said. ‘We stopped going after you turned twelve, don’t you remember? You stopped wanting to go trick-or-treating, and Sunny…Well, she was just a baby, so she couldn’t eat that much candy. And then…’ Violet needed say nothing else. They all knew what happened; the fire that took their parents’ lives; Count Olaf and his schemes, a series of unfortunate events that prevented the Baudelaires from ever having a normal life again. It was bad enough, and now they were going through another such series of events, and wondered when it would end. ‘Hey there.’ Said the red-headed clerk girl of Desmond’s store. She had been helping them with picking their costumes. ‘Have you all picked your costumes? If I had been here earlier I’d have told you about the Candy Queene’s decree. No one can don normal every-day garb outside, only Hallow-In costumes, at all times.’ The clerk had sparkling green eyes and an upbeat attitude, quite a contrast to the other two – the shy blonde one and the haughty brunette. ‘I’m Jackie by the way. I think I told you. The brunette is Kate, the angry one and the blonde is Farrah.’ ‘Thank you, Jackie. We’ve chosen our costumes, but where are Cindry and Desmond?’ Violet asked. ‘Oh, they are dressing upstairs. They have their own set of costumes, you see. They’ll be downstairs In a moment. Come, I’ll help you put on your costumes and make-up. Jackie led the Baudelaires to a back room behind the counter of the store. It had three mirrors circled by lightbulbs, and the desk they were on was covered in all kinds of cosmetics and objects and accessories. It was much like a dressing room in a theater. ‘We get dressed here. Mr. Fulfillment likes us pretty. He always says no one can resist a pretty salesgirl!’ Jackie chuckled. Kate and Farrah were playing cards, the two of them paid no attention to the Baudelaires and to Jackie. ‘Here, sit, the four of you. I’ll apply your make up according to your costume. I’m a very good make-up artist, I used to be in the theater, you see. So did those two, but I am the best!’ Jackie laughed, and began sorting out which cosmetics she was going to use on the Baudelaires. Jackie must have been very good because soon, the four Baudelaires were fully dressed and could not recognize themselves. Klaus looked like an insane doctor straight out from a victorian horror novel, and Violet was a terrible sight with her black wig that pointed upwards and greenish skin, and a bloodstained gown. Sunny looked eerie and divine in her Valkyrie costume, and Beatrice looked like an authentic gremlin, all green and evil-looking with a mohawk of black and white hair. She could be Violent’s demented and deformed child. When they all saw each other, the Baudelaires had a good laugh. ‘Baudelaires, are you in there?’ Desmond and Cindry entered the room. Desmond had a blue beard and a fancy black velvet medieval nobleman’s garb with a hat to match, and a make-up that made him look terrifying and much older than he was. He had on a black wig – the hair was black but had a blue hue to it – and he had a bloody knife in hand, and a black iron key hanged from a chain around his neck. ‘I’m Bluebeard. I’ve had may wives, but I killed them all! HAHAHAHAHA!’ Desmond said in an outburtst of theatricality. The three salesgirls clapped vigorously. ‘Thank you. Bluebeard is one of my favorite tales, so I decided to go as Bluebeard this year, I mean, today. I still think this Hallow-In thing is an absurdity.’ Cindry on the other hand was dressed with a red hood and cloak, and underneath a red frilly dress with wine-colored ribbons and corset. ‘I’m going as Red Riding Hood today.’ She said. ‘Ok, let’s go, kids. Jackie, Farrah, Kate, mind the store, ok?’ The three girls nodded in obediance. Violet, Klaus, Sunny and Beatrice followed Desmond and Cindry outside the store. ‘Are you sure it is Esmé Squalor behind all this Hallow-In madness?’ Desmond asked in a whisper as they walked on the same cobblestone pathway towards the Vampire’s Fountain. ‘Who else if not her? Those three skull teenagers? The Finch siblings and Carmelita Spats. They are Esmé’s hench people.’ Violet told him. ‘Still, I don’t see the purpose in making Halloween in so it is Halloween everyday. What would she gain from it?’ Klaus said. ‘That is what we need to find out.’ Violet said. There always comes a time in our lives that a rush of wind hits us. It is less often, though, and less common, that a rush of wind would provide us with answers, or clues, but it was the case with this cold rush of wind that carried a red paper which stuck on Violet’s face, startling her. ‘What the…?’ Violet said as he grabbed the paper. ‘What is that?’ Klaus asked. ‘A flyer…’ Her Sweet Grace the Candy-Queene invites YOU to the Hallow-In Parade The event of this fall! Bring your friends! And their friends too! Not your parents, though. It happens tomorrow! There will be LOTS of candy! ‘Hallow-In Parade?’ Desmond examined the paper after Violet was done reading. ‘This is some sort of invitation flyer. But we’ve never had parades here before.’ Then, the Baudelaires saw a hundred more flyers carried by the wind. Orange, yellow, purple, red, brown, gray, black papers, all with the same printings, the same words. And then they saw the children carrying copies. And the three skull teenagers were pushing a cart with stacks of the papers carelessly, handing out copies to the children following them and as the wind carried more and more copies away. ‘This is pollution! Who is to clean all this mess?’ Desmond said. ‘Who cares, dad? We have to find about this parade. I have a sick feeling it can’t be good.’ Cindry said under her red hood, holding her basket. ‘It sure can’t be good, if those three are involved.’ Klaus said, eyeing the skull trio as they pulled the cart across the square, away from Vampire’s Fountain, with a mob of children following behind them, mad with sugar, laughing and throwing paper balls made with the flyers on one another. ‘Let’s follow them.’ Violet said. ‘Are you sure?’ Desmond asked. He was picking up the fallen papers, his hands already full of red, orange, yellow and purple copies. ‘Yes. Aren’t you coming?’ Violet asked. ‘My family has been the caretaker of this park for generations. I have to stay and clean this mess. You kids go ahead. I’ll call Audrey and two of the girls to help me.’ ‘Suit yourself, dad. Come on, guys.’ Cindry said. The Baudelaires followed Cindry, and soon they had caught up with the mob of children, all dressed in halloween costumes and eating candy, laughing and japing, running and singing. They reminded the Baudelaires of a tale their mother had told them of the flute player and the children of Hamelin. The flute player played a magical flute that lured the children into a trap, and the same thing was happening here, only there was no flute, but the promise of candy, and the magic luring the kids was the sugar in their veins. Cindry and the Baudelaires followed the children and the three skull teenagers to bridge over one of the creeks that connected two ponds in the park. From there they could see the grove ahead, covered by tall trees that blocked the sunlight. It was getting dark too, and the clouded sky above was becoming a dark gray. Soon, they arrived at another round courtyard, with another fountain in the middle, only the fountain’s statue was of a three-headed dragon which spit not fire, but water. The lower part of the fountain was sculpted as if the dragon stoof atop a castle. Each head had jeweled eyes. Red, purple and onyx were the gems of the dragons’ eyes. It was terrifying, yet beautiful at the same time. The three skull teenagers turned around and stood on front of the fountain. The children stopped moving and stood still, the Baudelaires mixed among them. ‘Her Sweet Majesty, the Candy Queene, has invited all the kids of the two Avenues, Dark, and Bright, to the Hallow-In Parade taking place tomorrow. We’ll parade through the park, and in the head, a mountain of the sweetest most delicious candy will be awaiting you! It is the wish of Her Sweet Majesty that all attend the parade and stay with us to the very end!’ Said the pink-blonde skull girl, which the Baudelaires knew to be no other than Natalie Finch. ‘We’ll meet here, at the Dragon’s Fountain, tomorrow at this very hour, and the Parade will commence. If you come with us, Hallow-In will never end for you!’ She said. The children hopped and cheered, unaware of the danger they were in. ‘We have to stop them!’ Sunny said. ‘Yes, but how?’ For the first time in a long time, Violet had no idea. She couldn’t tie her hair, because of the Frankenstein’s Bride wig, and couldn’t focus with the cheering and screaming of the children around her. ‘Let’s go back to your house, Cindry.’ Violet said, and the five of them sneaked away from the children, the skull teenagers and the dragon fountain, but they went a different way. They through the trees. ‘If they see us leaving through the pathway, they’ll be suspicious. Let’s go around it.’ Violet said. Night was falling, and the cloudy sky opened up a little. It was enough for the moon to pour in. The Baudelaires soon saw themselves back at the Vampire’s Fountain, and noticed that most of the paper laying around was gone. They went back to the warmth of the home of Desmond and Cindry Fulfillment, as the autumn breeze made them get the chills. ‘Brr. I don’t recall our autumns being so cold.’ Klaus said as they entered the store. ‘It’s colder up north.’ Audrey Addams appeared, with a warm smile. ‘Lovely costumes, Baudelaires! Desmond is exhausted from picking all those flyers. He told me all about those skull teenagers of yours.’ ‘Did he? Did he also tell you who they are?’ Violet wanted to know. ‘Yes. He had a hard time believing it was the Finch siblings and Carmelita, but I know it’s them. And if they are the skull teenagers, there’s only one who could be this Candy Queene.’ She needed not utter the name; they all knew and agreed. It was only a matter of when, but they were certain that Esmé Squalor would soon appear in their lives, as she had many times, and too recently. ‘Natalie invited all the children to come to the Dragon’s Fountain tomorrow at this hour. The parade will leave from there, bound who knows where. She said a mountain of candy awaits the kids who join the parade.’ ‘More like a mountain of grief, no doubt.’ Audrey said. She looked truly beautiful, and the dark circles around her eyes were gone. She must have been getting good sleep; the Baudelaires knew sleep was hard to come by at Addams Asylum, where Audrey used to work and live; they had been there too. ‘I talked to Desmond, and he agrees. It is too dangerous for you to get involved. We’ll go and see that the children are unharmed.’ Violet removed her Frankenstein’s Bride wig. Her dark hair came flowing down. ‘But, Audrey, we can’t stay here! You’ll be in danger too if Esmé is there. And have you forgotten? Esmé has Felix Casanova with her. He killed his own father, imagine what he would do to you and Desmond.’ ‘I won’t let you take my dad.’ Cindry was heard. She passed between Violet and Klaus. ‘I won’t let you take my dad to this parade. It will be dangerous! He’s the only one that’s left!’ Audrey was startled. ‘I don’t mean to put your father in danger, Cindry, but we are the adults here. We are volunteers, trained and graduated. We know the perils we face, trust me. But you are children, and you are not volunteers.’ ‘Oh, but we are.’ This time it was Klaus that was speaking. ‘We may not have your training, we didn’t go to the volunteer’s training school. I understand. But we’ve seen more perils than you know, Audrey. And we’re not children. We haven’t been so for a long time, and I don’t apreciate being called such. I thought you’d know better, from our time at Addams Asylum.’ Audrey took a sad expression. ‘I only meant…I lost my brother too recently, Klaus. I know how it feels to lose your family. I have no one left but Desmond, my fiancé. I just don’t want you to be in danger, as he and I are. Is that so selfish?’ ‘It is. We’re all in this together. Esmé is our enemy and we know her better than you. She is also our half-aunt, did you know that?’ Violet said. ‘What? How…’ Audrey was truly stunned. ‘Yes. I’m not proud of how I reacted when I first learned it. Neither is Klaus. But we need to stop Esmé from harming those children. And we won’t know peace until she is stopped. I know it.’ Violet Baudelaire was no longer a child, and she wasn’t a teenager either. She seemed more adult now, and so did Klaus. Even Sunny was growing up visibly, and Beatrice could no longer be called a baby. ‘We’ll go with you to this parade tomorrow.’ Violet had decided it. It was not a decision like choosing what to wear for Halloween, but it was a decision thoughtfully made. Yes, the Baudelaires would be at peril once again. But then again, let’s be honest. When hadn’t they?
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Post by Dante on Jul 2, 2011 15:22:06 GMT -5
That would almost be a line to conclude the series on. It's only right that at this point the Baudelaires realise that they have a duty to perform here; Sunny was growing up at this time in ASoUE, too. Also, another fabulous fountain. Another regular feature of ASoUE, at that. I have only one question... what does a serial killer look like?
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jul 2, 2011 17:59:07 GMT -5
Chapter Three: I agree, that is truly a brilliant idea for a fountain! I thought at first Natalie (considering it is Natalie; I am reviewing each chapter as I finish them) was Carmelita, before realizing it couldn't be, since Nat's male counterpart is donning a costume identical to hers. I liked as well the spelling of "Queene"; adding an "e" at the end adds such an elegant, old-time-y touch. And how interesting that Victoria is an artist! Is it one of the details you've had planned for a while, or did you just recently decide to add it in? I found it funny that the paintings of Desmond's great-uncle (is that the correct term for a child's relation to their parent's uncle?) were hidden away because of their atrociousness. Oh, which reminds me: it's too bad Nero wasn't able to improve his musical skills, the way Victor was able to improve his artistic ones. What an interesting word! I've never heard it before, but am always eager to improve my vocabulary. I'll have to see to it that "japes" is included in something I write, sometime. I don't have time now to read Chapter Four, but I will tomorrow, if not tonight. But, for now, please know that I am very happy to see this story return, and that I'll continue to keep up with it, for sure. *EDIT* Chapter Four: Well, I've read it, and I must say it's fabulous! Hmm...the fact that the skull children's instructions for the kids to meet at the Vampire's Fountain symbolizes their possible descent into doom very nicely. I loved everyone's costumes - in particular Violet's Bride of Frankenstein, and Cindry's Little Red Riding Hood. Like the Baudelaires, I too was quite surprised by Audrey's conduct at the end. You would think, after surviving the events at both Addams Asylum and Old Oaks Orphanage that she would have much more faith in the children's abilities. Even though it isn't unheard of (heck, it's expected!) for volunteers to put themselves in danger, I agree with Klaus' accusation of Audrey being selfish. I realize that she is only doing what she feels is right, and most likely what she believes is the only solution, but she also needs to keep in mind the feelings of her future stepdaughter. You'd think she would, after having lost Arthur, and in such a violent manner. Hopefully Klaus' lecture and Violet's input will help Audrey realize that she and Desmond need the Baudelaires and Cindry as much as they need them.
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