Round Robin (Cherry Vanilla, Cheeseburger, Berry Punch + Malt + Chopped Nuts)
‘Verse: ☼ The Sun, Radiant ☼
Challenges/Toppings/Extras: Cherry Vanilla #14 (cliffhanger), Cheeseburger #13 (tl;dr), Berry Punch #11 (out like a lamb) + Malt (Hat Prompt: "Is my story over if I fall asleep?") + Chopped Nuts
Rating: PG
Title: Round Robin
Summary: A game of words, and a bit too much wine lands someone in trouble.
Notes: Hi. It's been a while. I know this piece isn't exactly a roaring comeback, but I had to get it in before the deadline.
"There's a tradition in Fallstar. If it has a name I don't know it, but it's about storytelling."
"Storytelling?" Vasyasa sat up from where he had been lounging on a divan, staring at Gavin with a mixture of eagerness and anticipation on his face.
"Yes. The premise is that someone starts off with part of a story, then we go around the room adding to the story until it becomes one giant, convoluted mess," Gavin said, managing to sound utterly disinterested in his own idea.
Ruhana looked thoughtful. "Rules?"
"No rules. Try not to add anything meaningless, but even that's flexible. I can start, then we'll go to my right. What do you think?"
There was a chorus of murmurs that sounded vaguely like agreement. At least, Gavin took it as agreement, because he started weaving a tale's beginning. Sure he didn't have to listen just yet, as he was to the king's left, Ravir rose and poked his head out the door, ordering more wine. He was sure he would need it, from how impatient Vas looked.
"-one day, while walking in the forest, Uron found..." Gavin trailed off, looking at Ruhana expectantly.
The queen jumped visibly, apparently having gotten lost in Gavin's voice. It was a rather nice voice, Ravir thought. Gavin probably knew it too, if his small smile was any indication.
"I- um. Oh! A snake! Uron found a snake. Yes." Ruhana was turning bright red, an appearance most unbecoming of a queen. Vasyasa made a valiant effort to not burst out laughing, turning red himself as he tried to keep the chortles back.
As for Ravir, he sipped his newly-arrived wine and put on his most deadpan face.
"It was a red snake with brown bands, and it reared up at Uron's feet, hissing in a most shiver-inducing voice-" and here Ruhana attempted to mimic what she thought a talking snake sounded like. Ravir's ears hurt just hearing it. "-'you are ssstraying into a dangerousss placcce, human.'"
The Queen continued for a few more sentences, clearly making things up as she went along. Ravir expected no less from her; she was raised on more monumental things than improvisation games.
Vas, though, was not only better prepared for his turn, but was also raised with a stage actress mother and free time aplenty to practice spinning tales. Ravir kept drinking his wine as his fellow consort rescued their story from the mire and turned a simple game into a veritable production. He introduced subplots into the narrative, gave unique voices to each new character he introduced, and never once paused but for effect.
He also seemed forget that he was not the only tale-teller, and Ravir had yet to take his turn. The night wore on, and Ravir kept sipping, waiting for Vas to be done so he could put a bow on the story and go to bed.
Except Vas never did.
Ravir's eyelids drooped, and he caught Ruhana yawning in the corner of his vision before they slipped shut. He was so warm...
"Ravir!" Vas' dismayed screeching jolted him out of that pleasant doze. Ravir sat up - he had somehow tilted in his chair, wine bottle hanging precariously in a loose grip - in time to see Vas storm out.
"What?" Ravir mumbled, head muggy from the wine and the rude awakening.
Ruhana winced. "You were... snoring, love."
"Ugh." No wonder Vas had been angry. He probably wouldn't have even noticed him dozing if he hadn't made it obvious like that.
"Well, I think it's time for bed." The queen rose gracefully as ever, sweeping from the room. Ravir nodded apologetically to Gavin and followed her - perhaps a bit less dignified.
"But I need to know how it ends!" he heard the king protest before the doors swung shut.
Challenges/Toppings/Extras: Cherry Vanilla #14 (cliffhanger), Cheeseburger #13 (tl;dr), Berry Punch #11 (out like a lamb) + Malt (Hat Prompt: "Is my story over if I fall asleep?") + Chopped Nuts
Rating: PG
Title: Round Robin
Summary: A game of words, and a bit too much wine lands someone in trouble.
Notes: Hi. It's been a while. I know this piece isn't exactly a roaring comeback, but I had to get it in before the deadline.
"There's a tradition in Fallstar. If it has a name I don't know it, but it's about storytelling."
"Storytelling?" Vasyasa sat up from where he had been lounging on a divan, staring at Gavin with a mixture of eagerness and anticipation on his face.
"Yes. The premise is that someone starts off with part of a story, then we go around the room adding to the story until it becomes one giant, convoluted mess," Gavin said, managing to sound utterly disinterested in his own idea.
Ruhana looked thoughtful. "Rules?"
"No rules. Try not to add anything meaningless, but even that's flexible. I can start, then we'll go to my right. What do you think?"
There was a chorus of murmurs that sounded vaguely like agreement. At least, Gavin took it as agreement, because he started weaving a tale's beginning. Sure he didn't have to listen just yet, as he was to the king's left, Ravir rose and poked his head out the door, ordering more wine. He was sure he would need it, from how impatient Vas looked.
"-one day, while walking in the forest, Uron found..." Gavin trailed off, looking at Ruhana expectantly.
The queen jumped visibly, apparently having gotten lost in Gavin's voice. It was a rather nice voice, Ravir thought. Gavin probably knew it too, if his small smile was any indication.
"I- um. Oh! A snake! Uron found a snake. Yes." Ruhana was turning bright red, an appearance most unbecoming of a queen. Vasyasa made a valiant effort to not burst out laughing, turning red himself as he tried to keep the chortles back.
As for Ravir, he sipped his newly-arrived wine and put on his most deadpan face.
"It was a red snake with brown bands, and it reared up at Uron's feet, hissing in a most shiver-inducing voice-" and here Ruhana attempted to mimic what she thought a talking snake sounded like. Ravir's ears hurt just hearing it. "-'you are ssstraying into a dangerousss placcce, human.'"
The Queen continued for a few more sentences, clearly making things up as she went along. Ravir expected no less from her; she was raised on more monumental things than improvisation games.
Vas, though, was not only better prepared for his turn, but was also raised with a stage actress mother and free time aplenty to practice spinning tales. Ravir kept drinking his wine as his fellow consort rescued their story from the mire and turned a simple game into a veritable production. He introduced subplots into the narrative, gave unique voices to each new character he introduced, and never once paused but for effect.
He also seemed forget that he was not the only tale-teller, and Ravir had yet to take his turn. The night wore on, and Ravir kept sipping, waiting for Vas to be done so he could put a bow on the story and go to bed.
Except Vas never did.
Ravir's eyelids drooped, and he caught Ruhana yawning in the corner of his vision before they slipped shut. He was so warm...
"Ravir!" Vas' dismayed screeching jolted him out of that pleasant doze. Ravir sat up - he had somehow tilted in his chair, wine bottle hanging precariously in a loose grip - in time to see Vas storm out.
"What?" Ravir mumbled, head muggy from the wine and the rude awakening.
Ruhana winced. "You were... snoring, love."
"Ugh." No wonder Vas had been angry. He probably wouldn't have even noticed him dozing if he hadn't made it obvious like that.
"Well, I think it's time for bed." The queen rose gracefully as ever, sweeping from the room. Ravir nodded apologetically to Gavin and followed her - perhaps a bit less dignified.
"But I need to know how it ends!" he heard the king protest before the doors swung shut.