Post by BlueberryJayPie on Apr 24, 2018 15:38:12 GMT
Chapter 9 (Part 1)
Steve watched the stand keepers bulky figure disappear in the seething mass of locals, mind racing. He clearly did not possess the fishing skills he thought he had previously. There was only one option now. He was desperate, he needed to find another way. He needed a net, after all, the stand keeper never specified how he had to catch the fish. But if he left his position there at the docks, he'd be in trouble for sure. He scanned the vast marketplace with squinted eyes, his gaze falling upon a dingy looking apple cart closest to the docks.
Bingo.
Propped up against the wooden box was a scarecrow. The perfect device for deception. He rose slowly to his feet.
"I'll be right back George," George said nothing and continued staring philosophically into the turquoise depths of the sea.
Entering the throng of civilians was like stepping into a hornet's nest. Steve was jostled and bumped, pushed and shoved, yet he still kept his gaze locked on his prize. He really needed to get that scarecrow fast, before the stand keeper was aware of his absence. He shoved his way through a crowd of girls, their indignant remarks lost in the constant sea of noise. He was so close, just a few steps more. Suddenly, he was shoved violently to the ground. The wind was knocked out of him.
"Hey! Watch it!" Someone barked. Steve shook his head to clear it, ignored the angry person and continued moving on his hands and knees, weaving his way through the jumbled mass of chaos with major difficulty.
"Almossst. Theeeeree--! OUCH!" He gasped. Someone had unintentionally kicked him in the face. Maybe moving on the ground wasn't the best way to travel. But that didn't matter now, he had made it. While rubbing his jaw, he snatched the scarecrow and held it close, a victorious smirk on his bruised face.
Post by BlueberryJayPie on Apr 24, 2018 18:18:06 GMT
Chapter 9 (Part 2)
The scarecrow had done its job well. It now sat beside George, proudly adorning Steve's worn out hat atop its prickly head. Steve cheerfully unraveled the fishing net that he had 'borrowed' from a small dinghy. He glanced at Geoge, eyes twinkling.
"Ready George?"
George's expression on his face clearly meant that he could not contain his excitement.
"Of course you're ready! Now, we need to hurry up. We've only got a little bit of time left." He said, taking a quick peek into the watery depths below. A shadowy figure in the water quickly swam away from view beneath the dock. Steve let a high pitched gasp of delight.
"George a fish! That must be a sign!" He squealed. George flopped over on his side.
"Hm, yes. You get some rest, old fellow. I'll just throw the net in, like so...Hup!"
Splash!
Steve rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
"And now, we wait."
A few minutes passed by, Steve anxiously bit his lip. Glancing uneasily towards the marketplace. His time would be up soon. He was getting antsy. He decided it was time to pull the net up. He grabbed the rope and began pulling with all his might in grim determination.
"Wowee, this sure is heavy." He wheezed, accelerating his pace. "There's gotta be some fish!"
Finally, after minutes of straining and pulling, his long-awaited catch was dragged onto the wooden boards of the dock, dripping wet. Steve stopped a moment to catch his breath, he lifted his head a tired smile on his face.
"Finally--WHAT THE?" He yelled in surprise, his contented grin now a concerned frown.
Entangled in the net was not a fish, but a boy. A scrawny kid wearing a cheap looking snorkel and mask. Steve watched in horror as he spluttered and coughed violently. He wriggled around vigorously.
"HEY! GET ME- cough!- OUTTA THIS THING!" He screeched. Steve shakily reached a hand out to help. "Now h-hold on now. Stop wiggling-OW!" The irate child had managed to kick him in the face, he cackled with glee. "Hah! Take that! Hey, wait a second-- AHH NOOO YOU DROPPED MEEEE!"
Splash!
Steve rubbed his face painfully, quietly wondering if he wanted to help or not.
The scarecrow had done its job well. It now sat beside George, proudly adorning Steve's worn out hat atop its prickly head. Steve cheerfully unraveled the fishing net that he had 'borrowed' from a small dinghy. He glanced at Geoge, eyes twinkling.
"Ready George?"
George's expression on his face clearly meant that he could not contain his excitement.
"Of course you're ready! Now, we need to hurry up. We've only got a little bit of time left." He said, taking a quick peek into the watery depths below. A shadowy figure in the water quickly swam away from view beneath the dock. Steve let a high pitched gasp of delight.
"George a fish! That must be a sign!" He squealed. George flopped over on his side.
"Hm, yes. You get some rest, old fellow. I'll just throw the net in, like so...Hup!"
Splash!
Steve rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
"And now, we wait."
A few minutes passed by, Steve anxiously bit his lip. Glancing uneasily towards the marketplace. His time would be up soon. He was getting antsy. He decided it was time to pull the net up. He grabbed the rope and began pulling with all his might in grim determination.
"Wowee, this sure is heavy." He wheezed, accelerating his pace. "There's gotta be some fish!"
Finally, after minutes of straining and pulling, his long-awaited catch was dragged onto the wooden boards of the dock, dripping wet. Steve stopped a moment to catch his breath, he lifted his head a tired smile on his face.
"Finally--WHAT THE?" He yelled in surprise, his contented grin now a concerned frown.
Entangled in the net was not a fish, but a boy. A scrawny kid wearing a cheap looking snorkel and mask. Steve watched in horror as he spluttered and coughed violently. He wriggled around vigorously.
"HEY! GET ME- cough!- OUTTA THIS THING!" He screeched. Steve shakily reached a hand out to help. "Now h-hold on now. Stop wiggling-OW!" The irate child had managed to kick him in the face, he cackled with glee. "Hah! Take that! Hey, wait a second-- AHH NOOO YOU DROPPED MEEEE!"
Splash!
Steve rubbed his face painfully, quietly wondering if he wanted to help or not.
Post by BlueberryJayPie on Apr 25, 2018 14:54:47 GMT
Chapter 10
Steve mentally slapped himself. Of course, he wanted to help! That kid, bratty as he may seem, was in need of help. His help.
"Hold on!" He yelled, pulling determinedly on the coarse rope. The entangled boy emerged out of the water, coughing, and spluttering kicking at the infuriating net that entrapped him as he was hoisted into the air.
"You're gonna pay for this you big jerk!" He screeched in the girliest way possible. The rope slid from Steve's hands and he struggled to regain his grip, the coarse fibers digging painfully into his skin.
"YEEEAHH, stop dropping me!" The boy shrieked. Steve winced.
"I'm trying ok? Can you be quiet?! Gosh, you're heavy."
After much difficulty, Steve, huffing, and puffing finally managed to drag the impudent wretch up onto the dock. He gasped for breath.
"You ok kid?" He asked, after a moment.
"I'm wet."
"Yeah... That's to be expected." He said, letting out a sigh, relieved that the kid had remained unharmed.
Tap tap tap
Footsteps.
Steve whirled around, it was Stand keeper guy. He smirked victoriously. The kid in the net glared at the newcomer irritably.
"You didn't tell me he had a net." He said. Stand keeper guy ignored him and gestured towards the midday sun, a victorious smirk spread widely on his face.
"Time's up."
"Hey, don't ignore me!" The kid yelped angrily.
Steve felt as if his gut had been wrenched out.
"I..Lost?" He rasped. He stared blankly at his shoes, oblivious of the still trapped boy, yet again sliding back into the water. His high pitched screech cut off by a loud splash. The stand keeper nodded, confirming Steve's worst fears.
The scarecrow had done its job well. It now sat beside George, proudly adorning Steve's worn out hat atop its prickly head. Steve cheerfully unraveled the fishing net that he had 'borrowed' from a small dinghy. He glanced at Geoge, eyes twinkling.
"Ready George?"
George's expression on his face clearly meant that he could not contain his excitement.
"Of course you're ready! Now, we need to hurry up. We've only got a little bit of time left." He said, taking a quick peek into the watery depths below. A shadowy figure in the water quickly swam away from view beneath the dock. Steve let a high pitched gasp of delight.
"George a fish! That must be a sign!" He squealed. George flopped over on his side.
"Hm, yes. You get some rest, old fellow. I'll just throw the net in, like so...Hup!"
Splash!
Steve rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
"And now, we wait."
A few minutes passed by, Steve anxiously bit his lip. Glancing uneasily towards the marketplace. His time would be up soon. He was getting antsy. He decided it was time to pull the net up. He grabbed the rope and began pulling with all his might in grim determination.
"Wowee, this sure is heavy." He wheezed, accelerating his pace. "There's gotta be some fish!"
Finally, after minutes of straining and pulling, his long-awaited catch was dragged onto the wooden boards of the dock, dripping wet. Steve stopped a moment to catch his breath, he lifted his head a tired smile on his face.
"Finally--WHAT THE?" He yelled in surprise, his contented grin now a concerned frown.
Entangled in the net was not a fish, but a boy. A scrawny kid wearing a cheap looking snorkel and mask. Steve watched in horror as he spluttered and coughed violently. He wriggled around vigorously.
"HEY! GET ME- cough!- OUTTA THIS THING!" He screeched. Steve shakily reached a hand out to help. "Now h-hold on now. Stop wiggling-OW!" The irate child had managed to kick him in the face, he cackled with glee. "Hah! Take that! Hey, wait a second-- AHH NOOO YOU DROPPED MEEEE!"
Splash!
Steve rubbed his face painfully, quietly wondering if he wanted to help or not.
Great parts!
That scarecrow needs a name.
Well gosh, and golly, thank you! ^-^
HMMM.
We shall name him Steve, after Steve. Because he was Steve, for five minutes.
Steve mentally slapped himself. Of course, he wanted to help! That kid, bratty as he may seem, was in need of help. His help.
"Hold on!" He yelled, pulling determinedly on the coarse rope. The entangled boy emerged out of the water, coughing, and spluttering kicking at the infuriating net that entrapped him as he was hoisted into the air.
"You're gonna pay for this you big jerk!" He screeched in the girliest way possible. The rope slid from Steve's hands and he struggled to regain his grip, the coarse fibers digging painfully into his skin.
"YEEEAHH, stop dropping me!" The boy shrieked. Steve winced.
"I'm trying ok? Can you be quiet?! Gosh, you're heavy."
After much difficulty, Steve, huffing, and puffing finally managed to drag the impudent wretch up onto the dock. He gasped for breath.
"You ok kid?" He asked, after a moment.
"I'm wet."
"Yeah... That's to be expected." He said, letting out a sigh, relieved that the kid had remained unharmed.
Tap tap tap
Footsteps.
Steve whirled around, it was Stand keeper guy. He smirked victoriously. The kid in the net glared at the newcomer irritably.
"You didn't tell me he had a net." He said. Stand keeper guy ignored him and gestured towards the midday sun, a victorious smirk spread widely on his face.
"Time's up."
"Hey, don't ignore me!" The kid yelped angrily.
Steve felt as if his gut had been wrenched out.
"I..Lost?" He rasped. He stared blankly at his shoes, oblivious of the still trapped boy, yet again sliding back into the water. His high pitched screech cut off by a loud splash. The stand keeper nodded, confirming Steve's worst fears.
Post by BlueberryJayPie on Apr 25, 2018 22:06:41 GMT
Chapter 11 (part 1)
A few days prior...
"Oh Winifried, There's no such thing as magical portals that take you to other worlds. " Auntie Harper scolded. She was cooking pancakes over a shabby looking stove, flipping them neatly onto their sides.
Winnie groaned. She knew that tone. it sounded like sorries, and stern expatiations, and all the things she didn't want to hear. "But Aunty Harper, I saw one! It was big and sparkly!" She protested, leaning forward in her chair. Auntie Harper heaved a dramatic sigh, rolling her eyes to the kitchen ceiling. "Winifred," She snapped. "Keep your dirty hands OFF the counter. Thank you." Winifred kicked her feet huffily in the air and continued prattling on. "It had color! Not like here, it was bright and pretty... Like my book grandpa gave me, he said it came from another world! Are you listening, Auntie Harper? Another world! Doesn't that sound exciting? " Auntie Harper slammed the spatula she was using to flip pancakes onto the counter exasperatedly. She turned to face her impulsive niece, wearing a disappointed frown. "It sounds made up." Winnie opened her mouth to protest, but Auntie Harper stopped her, "I wished you'd have stayed away from that old nutcase, he's filled your head with nonsense and lies." "They're not lies! I believe him, he said he's seen so many cool things, just like the cool portal by the woods-" "Winifred, there was no 'cool portal' by the woods." "He's been to so many cool places and I can't even go past the fence on a regular basis." "Winnie, you're being ridiculous." Winnie slammed her fists against the counter in frustration. "And you're being boring! I--" "Winnifred! I will not tolerate young ladies STANDING on my chairs. Get. Down. Now." Winnifred angrily complied and began stomping towards the kitchens back door.
Post by BlueberryJayPie on Apr 25, 2018 22:11:21 GMT
(Part 2)
"Stop right there! Where do you think you're going, young lady?" Auntie Harper demanded. Winnie didn't pause and opened the door with a loud Squeak!
"I'm going out."
"Oh no, you're not, turn right around y--"
SLAM
"WINNIFRED!"
Winnie raced out of the house, the hot summer sun scorching her and leaving her breathless. She needed some peace, someplace where she could vent out her frustration. Away from the squeaky clean kitchen and cranky Aunty Harper. She rushed past the old wicket fence and straight for the dead forest, her pounding feet kicking up a cloud of dust as she ran.
Winnie felt a twinge of anger. She knew this feeling all too well. She'd been imagining a great discovery, and Auntie Harper had messed it up by being the boring disbelieving grown up that she was. The only adventures she ever had were the ones she made up. And Aunty Harper had ruined even that.
Winnie was so absorbed in her boiling thoughts that she didn't notice the dark-clad figure following behind her. She paused, catching her breath, wiping her damp forehead with the back of her wrist.
"What's the hurry?" Someone said. She jumped and whirled around to face the unexpected voice, heart thudding in her chest. There in front of her was a very tall man, sporting a neatly trimmed beard, twinkling brown eyes, and a very wide welcoming smile. She gazed at the newcomer curiously.
"I've never seen you around here before." She said finally.
"I'm not from around here." He answered cheerfully. Winnie tilted her head.
"But everyone's from around here. There's nowhere else to come from." She said, blankly staring at him like he was some sort of crazy. His laughter sounded like a cloud tastes, light and fluffy and slightly damp. Which was weird, because she'd never really considered the taste of a cloud before. It felt, she had to admit, magical, which sent a little thrill down her spine.
Post by BlueberryJayPie on Apr 25, 2018 22:16:55 GMT
(Part 3)
"Oh no silly, I'm from somewhere very far away from this little brown rock of yours. I came in through a door. But, I'm afraid I've lost it. You see, it likes to run away sometimes."
Winnie merely stared at him in confused silence, trying to process what he had just said. Ok, now she knew for certain that he was crazy. But wait-- A door?
"What do you mean, 'door'?" He smiled at her, a wide happy smiled that assured her that everything was great. She felt strangely at ease with this stranger. In a way, his easy going and cheerful nature reminded her of her grandpa, who unfortunately passed away a few years prior.
"Exactly what I said. Something that can take you somewhere new, somewhere exciting. Somewhere... With color." He said. Winnie froze. Somewhere new? Exciting? Color? She beamed at him.
"Hey, that sounds like the cool portal I saw just last night! It was sparkly and lit everything up! Then BAM it disappeared. Is that the door you were talking about? Where does lead? How many worlds are there? Are they super colorful? What's your name?"
"Woah Woah! Too many questions!" He chuckled, holding out his hands for her to stop. Winnie shuffled her feet abashed.
"All will be answered in good time-"
"Ok, what's your name?"
Other adults might have been annoyed by her impulsive behavior, but this man simply smiled patiently at her.
"My name is Vince. Care to show me where you saw this cool portal?"
Even if not the most helpful. ![[derp]](http://storage.proboards.com/6672327/images/YqNTPqyQUocVMYXZgUAI.png)
![[y]](http://storage.proboards.com/6672327/images/WYWPH2VRo26pOFDid7QZ.png)
I think he's caught between a rock and a fish stand keeper! 