Gingerbread + Whipped Cream + Rainbow Sprinkles + Pocky
Author: Lumelle
'Verse: Mythical Lore 101
Word Count: 100 each
Title: Not Knowing Better
Challenge: Gingerbread #1: once upon a time
Toppings/Extras: Whipped cream, Rainbow sprinkles, Pocky
Rating: G
Summary: Meet Ansa, just born, and her father Aleksi.
"Congratulations," the nurse said, smiling at him as she placed the baby in his tired arms. "He's a healthy little boy."
Aleksi looked down at the child he was holding. The boy was almost entirely bald, with just a tuft of red hair on his little head. At least it looked red to him; it was rather hard to tell just yet, the short strands soft and fine.
"You're awfully small, aren't you," he murmured, and for the first time in his life he felt almost afraid. "…Welcome to the world, Anselmi."
In his defense, the baby never once complained.
Title: Restless
Challenge: Gingerbread #18: someone's been sleeping in my bed
Toppings/Extras: Whipped cream, Rainbow sprinkles, Pocky
Rating: G
Summary: Little Otso, two years old, can't sleep in his own bed.
Seija woke up to the realization that she was not alone in the bed. Something small and warm, to be exact, with a little foot digging into her back.
Turning to look, blinking sleepily in the half-dark room, she found a small, dark-haired head resting on the other pillow. Otso was fast asleep, a small frown on his face, one hand clutching onto the corner of the pillow.
"Sleep, dear," she murmured, reaching out a hand to brush a lock of hair from the child's face. "Did you have a bad dream again?"
Otso didn't answer, silent as he slept.
Title: For Happiness
Challenge: Gingerbread #5: sleeping beauty
Toppings/Extras: Whipped cream, Rainbow sprinkles, Pocky
Rating: G
Summary: Ansa's parents talk a few days before her fifth birthday.
"Did she settle down at last?"
Looking up from the half-finished storybook, Kukka nodded. "It took a bit, but apparently sleep won over at last."
"That's good." Walking to the bed, Aleksi adjusted the covers. "…I'd hate for her to be tired tomorrow."
"Oh, I'm sure she'll be energetic enough." Kukka smiled. "She's been talking about getting her birthday princess dress forever."
"I suppose." Aleksi paused, looking down at the sleeping Ansa. "…You think we're doing right?"
"I'm not sure." Kukka paused. "But… she's happy, isn't she?"
"…Yes." Aleksis nodded. "I suppose… that's enough of an answer."
Kukka quietly agreed.
Title: Traditional Prejudices
Challenge: Gingerbread #14: wicked witch
Toppings/Extras: Whipped cream, Rainbow sprinkles, Pocky
Rating: G
Summary: Otso's parents argue.
"What do you mean, he can't spend the night with his grandma?"
"You know I don't like him spending time with her," Taisto said, frowning. "I should think you'd understand why."
"No, I don't understand." Seija narrowed her eyes. "Unlike your darling mother, she has never once hurt Otso."
"And those mysterious… dabblings of hers? Who knows what will come of those?"
"Oh, you be quiet!" Seija snapped. "You know she never hurts anyone!"
"Not to your knowledge."
"Oh, what are you afraid of? That she eats children?" she asked incredulously.
"You just never know with those old witches, darling…"
Title: Justice
Challenge: Gingerbread #7: seven in one blow
Toppings/Extras: Whipped cream, Rainbow sprinkles, Pocky
Rating: G
Summary: Calls from the teacher are not always what you expect.
As someone unknown called around noon, Tuuli wasn't sure what to think.
"Hi, this is Elisa. I'm one of the teachers at your daughter's school," the caller said.
"Oh?" she frowned, worried. "Has something happened?"
"Well… yes and no." The teacher seemed to hesitate a bit. "Look, when Ilma comes home… there's blood on her coat, but don't worry, it's not hers."
"Blood?" Tuuli blinked. "Then… whose blood is it?"
"Some older boys were apparently teasing her. She defended herself." If she hadn't known better, Tuuli could have sworn the teacher sounded almost… gleeful. "Ilma is in no trouble whatsoever."
'Verse: Mythical Lore 101
Word Count: 100 each
Title: Not Knowing Better
Challenge: Gingerbread #1: once upon a time
Toppings/Extras: Whipped cream, Rainbow sprinkles, Pocky
Rating: G
Summary: Meet Ansa, just born, and her father Aleksi.
"Congratulations," the nurse said, smiling at him as she placed the baby in his tired arms. "He's a healthy little boy."
Aleksi looked down at the child he was holding. The boy was almost entirely bald, with just a tuft of red hair on his little head. At least it looked red to him; it was rather hard to tell just yet, the short strands soft and fine.
"You're awfully small, aren't you," he murmured, and for the first time in his life he felt almost afraid. "…Welcome to the world, Anselmi."
In his defense, the baby never once complained.
Title: Restless
Challenge: Gingerbread #18: someone's been sleeping in my bed
Toppings/Extras: Whipped cream, Rainbow sprinkles, Pocky
Rating: G
Summary: Little Otso, two years old, can't sleep in his own bed.
Seija woke up to the realization that she was not alone in the bed. Something small and warm, to be exact, with a little foot digging into her back.
Turning to look, blinking sleepily in the half-dark room, she found a small, dark-haired head resting on the other pillow. Otso was fast asleep, a small frown on his face, one hand clutching onto the corner of the pillow.
"Sleep, dear," she murmured, reaching out a hand to brush a lock of hair from the child's face. "Did you have a bad dream again?"
Otso didn't answer, silent as he slept.
Title: For Happiness
Challenge: Gingerbread #5: sleeping beauty
Toppings/Extras: Whipped cream, Rainbow sprinkles, Pocky
Rating: G
Summary: Ansa's parents talk a few days before her fifth birthday.
"Did she settle down at last?"
Looking up from the half-finished storybook, Kukka nodded. "It took a bit, but apparently sleep won over at last."
"That's good." Walking to the bed, Aleksi adjusted the covers. "…I'd hate for her to be tired tomorrow."
"Oh, I'm sure she'll be energetic enough." Kukka smiled. "She's been talking about getting her birthday princess dress forever."
"I suppose." Aleksi paused, looking down at the sleeping Ansa. "…You think we're doing right?"
"I'm not sure." Kukka paused. "But… she's happy, isn't she?"
"…Yes." Aleksis nodded. "I suppose… that's enough of an answer."
Kukka quietly agreed.
Title: Traditional Prejudices
Challenge: Gingerbread #14: wicked witch
Toppings/Extras: Whipped cream, Rainbow sprinkles, Pocky
Rating: G
Summary: Otso's parents argue.
"What do you mean, he can't spend the night with his grandma?"
"You know I don't like him spending time with her," Taisto said, frowning. "I should think you'd understand why."
"No, I don't understand." Seija narrowed her eyes. "Unlike your darling mother, she has never once hurt Otso."
"And those mysterious… dabblings of hers? Who knows what will come of those?"
"Oh, you be quiet!" Seija snapped. "You know she never hurts anyone!"
"Not to your knowledge."
"Oh, what are you afraid of? That she eats children?" she asked incredulously.
"You just never know with those old witches, darling…"
Title: Justice
Challenge: Gingerbread #7: seven in one blow
Toppings/Extras: Whipped cream, Rainbow sprinkles, Pocky
Rating: G
Summary: Calls from the teacher are not always what you expect.
As someone unknown called around noon, Tuuli wasn't sure what to think.
"Hi, this is Elisa. I'm one of the teachers at your daughter's school," the caller said.
"Oh?" she frowned, worried. "Has something happened?"
"Well… yes and no." The teacher seemed to hesitate a bit. "Look, when Ilma comes home… there's blood on her coat, but don't worry, it's not hers."
"Blood?" Tuuli blinked. "Then… whose blood is it?"
"Some older boys were apparently teasing her. She defended herself." If she hadn't known better, Tuuli could have sworn the teacher sounded almost… gleeful. "Ilma is in no trouble whatsoever."