The Ultimate Storybook (1)

Leah - The period is 1700's.

Maybe - Great profile, dear. You're in group one.

Amber - No, you don't nee to change anything.

All - We start now. From this post onwards, this thread is for the use of those taking part in plot one only. Go to the discussion thread if you have any queries.

Group three - post363144.html#363144

Group two - post363140.html#363140

Group one - (here)

Participants:

BigBadBear
Loveablelittlesock
SuicideKing
Jasmine Hart
Dr. Jamie Bondage
Leahweird
Maybe

Plot: A historical fiction set in a rustic area ruled over by a count and countess. Richard Mason is contacted by his network of thieves and murderers and assigned the task of kidnapping Amber, the count's daughter and holding her hostage. A young boy, Alan Stockton, hears word of this across the street and intends to inform the count and his family but will he be successful or will he too be kidnapped? That all depends on Raine Moran, an associate of Richard's who has the choice of either helping the two children or siding with her employer in the hope that he will help her discover the whereabouts of her missing mother. Waiting at the docks is Aren and the ship he sails under, collecting cargo for their next voyage. few other than the captain know of the next journey's true purpose: to take aboard both Richard and his hostage and carry them safely out of reach of the count until a bargain can be struck.

Amber sighed, propping her head up on her hand. Parties could be so boring. She eyed the people around her, studying their movements. Why did her father have to make her come to this stupid thing?

Speak of the Devil. Amber's father gracefully strode across the floor, giving pleasant smiles to those who passed him. Amber sat up for her father, watching him approach her. "What do you want, daddy?" she asked, making it blatantly obvious that she wasn't very happy with him.

The count wrapped his arm around his daughter, pulling her closer to him. "Your mother is out in the garden; she hates these parties as much as you. She wants you to join her." Amber sighed and looked at her father, who continued to smile.

"Fine." she frowned, getting up. She flattened the creases on her dress and headed outside to her mother. The outside itself was beautiful, for the grass with a bold green and flowers prospering in every corner. Of course, Amber didn't really care enough to dwell on the magnificence of her home.

Floating over to the main garden to where her mother was, a rustling became fairly audible. Amber stopped in her tracks, waiting for it to happen again.

It did.

*whispers* Hey Kitty, you missed me.

Oh yeah, sorry about that, I meant to pm you. I really wasn't sure where to place your character so I thought I'd let you choose for yourself.

Well, this one probably wouldn't hold my interest for long, neither would two, I know I would thrive in three, my home ground. Is that alright? I'm gonna post so if it's not alright I'll delete it. I also changed the profile to fit better.

That's fine, I'll add you to list three then.

Mason watched from his perch on the second floor balcony of the fine estate, observing the garden and waiting for the most opportune moment to strike. Dressed in the finest garments his (admittedly large, albeit dwindling) budget could allow, he fit into the affluent crowd perfectly, posing as an aristocrat hailing from Austria. The baron's vexatious little girl was unmistakable; she wore the finest clothing and the finest jewelry; not to mention she was also the prettiest girl present, for no one more attractive would be tolerated by the baron. Mason watched the little girl from the corner of his vision, his nose instead pointed to the stars, as if he were enjoying the night sky and the full moon. Sentimental nonsense such as it was, the nobles were enamored with things like that. He brought his wineglass to his lips but drank none of the fine alcohol; he could not afford to have his sense dulled on such a high profile job.

"Excuse me, sir, but why are you not enjoying the party?" The soft, obnoxious voice of an educated woman came from behind him.

He turned and looked her sidelong for a moment, taking his eyes of the baron's daughter. The woman before him was very beautiful, even by the standard set by the baron's daughter. Had he not been otherwise occupied, he might take her to bed. Unfortunately he was, and therefore could not.

"Ah, but I am. Alone." He raised his glass to her and then turned back to the balcony and to the baron's daughter, two stories below him.

He could almost feel her indignation at being rejected so casually, but did not bother to turn to watch her depart after a moment's silence. Looking out over the garden, he easily spotted the rosebush that concealed his equipment, cleverly hidden by himself earlier that day. The daughter strode gracefully and purposefully through the garden, ignoring the flowers and statues that littered the area.

Mason considered his options; he could find the foolish Raine Moran, likely flirting within the manor, and tell her to ready the horses, or he could execute the kidnapping and come back for her later. As appealing as the latter sounded, it was to much of a risk. He set his glass down on the railing of the balcony and walked back inside the mansion at a leisurely pace.

~Amber

The rustling suddenly ceased, and Amber scratched her head. Strange. She shrugged, turning her heel and continuing to head to the garden. "Amber?" he mother called, poking her head out amongst the flourishing plants. "Dear, I need you to retrieve my clippers from the house. My garden is in severe need of a pruning." She smiled, her pearly teeth catching the sheen of the sunlight.

Amber folded her arms and arched her eyebrow in annoyance. "Couldn't you have somebody else retrieve them, mother?" She asked. Her mother sighed and raised her head, waving it in the opposite direction.

"Do this one simple task for me, Amber. I won't bother you again." Amber sighed, turning around once more. She finally had an excuse to leave the house - what she didn't need was to go back in. The young woman weaved through the ground gracefully, being careful not to bump into anybody and spill their drinks.

Across the room a young man eyed her, and Amber caught his gaze. He was speaking with another woman, but his eyes remained solely on her. A smirk spread across his face and he turned, muttering something to the woman. She too turned towards her, a mischievous gleam entering her eyes. Amber swiveled her head, attempting to ignore the two party-goers. Clippers, clippers. In the kitchen, which remained empty; everybody flocked to the foyer if they wished to have a good time.

Amber cleared her throat as she strode into the kitchen, spotting the clippers lying on a large, wooden table. She snatched them up nervously, her mind remaining in a small state of a paranoia. It was nothing - absolutely nothing. He was probably staring at you because you were so beautiful. She laughed at the thought, giggling as she began to exit the room. You are beautiful, she told herself. The woman was envious and the man was entrapped in lust. Its happened before, so she shouldn't be paranoid. Don't be paranoid, there isn't a reason.

Amber halted abruptly, a single sound encasing the large room. She hesitantly turned her head toward the source of the noise, resting hey eyes on the man who had been looking at her across the room. Another smirk played across his lips as fingered the texture of the table, trying to appear innocent, casual, harmless.

"Hello."

Tristan:

I waited for my orders aboard the Captain's ship. I did not like having to wait. It was boring. But I knew it was necessary. I sighed and looked around. The wood was rough from many years at sea, the cabin small and almost suffocating, the desk covered with maps and charts. All this made up the Captain's quarters. I aspired to be Captain one say of my own ship, but that was in the future.

I tapped one of my black polished boots impatiantly. I sighed and looked around for a chair. I sat down and continued to wait. finally the Captain came in. I immediately stood up at attention.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Lad."

"It's alright, sir. I didn't wait long."

He smiled, a warm crinkly smile. "But you are very impatiant. Five minute seems like five hours."

I felt my cheeks grow red. My captain knew me too well.

He laughed. "Now. Down to business."

~Minerva~

Minerva glared at the back of the man walking away from her. Well, so much for small talk. Huffing she went back to her place with the musicians hired for the party.

“Where have you been?” glowered the conductor.

“Getting a drink.”

“We are about to start the next set,”

“I was thirsty.” She picked her viola before the man could have a fit. “Are we going to play now?”

“Are you going to play with us this time?” asked an annoyed flute player.

“That depends. Can the cellist keep time?”

“Hey!” objected the cellist.

“I think the problem,” interjected the conductor. “Is that some of us are playing as soloists.”

Minerva grinned. Obviously the barb was directed at her.

“I am a soloist.”

“Well maybe it would be better if you practiced your art somewhere else.”

He turned away. Minerva stared at him. Even some of the musicians were a little shocked that they’d just lost one of their band. She just shrugged and started for the door. It was time for her to move on anyway.

“If I pack quickly,” she thought to herself, “I can be on a ship by tomorrow morning.”

Raine

Useless, the lot of them. I'd talked to almost everyone I could find, the men in particular as it was easier to get them to talk, and not one of them had anything to share other then the painfully mundane details of their boring little lives. And they were boring. If there was some sort of conspiracy going on, they were either oblivious or deliberately evasive.

I was beginning to suffocate in the insignifigance of it all. Things were moving far too slowly for my liking, but if I didn't watch my step with Mason I could easily lose the possibility of his help, and, since nothing else seemed to be working out for me, I couldn't afford to make mistakes.

Frustrated, I made my way out to the balcony, needing the air, needing to feel that there was something happening outside of the monotonous motions of the party. I almost ran to the door, nearly colliding with Mason as I went.

"Sorry", I muttered, struggling to conceal my agitation, and automatically glancing up. Mason looked down at me.

--Mason

Mason dropped a hand onto Moran's shoulder to steady her, then promptly spun her by that shoulder and walked her in the opposite direction.

"Quite all right, liebling. This way." He guided her through the corridors of the mansion to the main hall. He pushed her to the railing of the stairs overlooking the hall, and squeezed her shoulders. "She's in the manor. Get the horses ready, for we'll be in a hurry. We will meet you out front momentarily."

"Excellent! It's about time this got--"

"Too loud, liebling. Just go." She was excited. Perhaps too much so. He released her shoulders and gently pushed her toward the stairs. She took a few steps down then turned and looked over her shoulder at him. "Escort me down? I'm tired of being approached."

"You'll be fine. Just open your mouth. They'll be away soon enough." She hesitated a moment longer and Mason followed her down without so much as a blink. "Fine. If only to get you moving."

As they reached the bottom of the stairs the baron's daughter walked past with a purpose, throwing polite smiles left and right and dodging invitations to dance from handsome, very available suitors.

"There she is. This being my time for an exit, I suggest you find the horses. Now," Mason whispered to Raine. As she started away, the baron's daughter glanced their way. Mason smirked and whispered again to Raine, then pushed her toward the door with one hand.

~Minerva~

Minerva walked sown the docks. She’d left on most of her red velvet party attire, presuming that it would be fine under a cloak, but she taken the pins out of her hair so it could fall freely. She hefted a sack filled with all her worldly possessions, mostly cloths.

Unfortunately, there was only one actual ship in the harbor. All the other boats were little more than fishing vessels.

“Hello!” She cried to the only suitable craft. “May I have a word with whoever’s on board?”

Amber glanced over at the young man, smiling politely. The woman he had pushed had exited through the door hurriedly, cautiously looking her way every couple of seconds. The two of them seems a bit suspicious, but Amber suspected that it couldn't be
anything to serious; they were probably just a pair of gossips.

Outside a noise emanated, one she couldn't quite decipher. "Care to dance?" her break of concentration caused a young gentleman to entrap her.

"Not quite." she smiled charmingly, batting her eyelashes. "I'm afraid I must be going." with those words, Amber followed the young woman who exited a couple moments ago. She heard another noise - a horse? Why would a horse be anywhere near the front of the manor?

Nobody was outside - nobody she could see, anyway. Amber twirled her head, looking around curiously. This was odd; she could have sworn she heard a horse. Sighing, Amber treaded back to the manor regretfully, for she had hoped something more interesting could have whisked her away from this dreadful party.

Just then, multiple whispers began crawling through the yard. Harsh words were spat back and forth, orders commanded without a moment's hesitation. The horses began to go wild and gallop into her line of eyesight. They were being rode by men, women, people she had seen from the party, and all dressed elegantly.

She could tell they were looking at her, that she was there target somehow. Target for what? The galloped past her, and she could catch some phrases like, "change - plans" and "Mason - call." Who was Mason? What was going on?

Raine

I stumbled a little, then turned back to scowl at him. How dare he push me? I could feel the anger boiling up in the pit of my stomach, but forced it to stay contained. It wouldn't do me any good, not now.

Trying hard to focus, I slipped round to the back and readied the horses, then brought them out to the front. I hitched up my blue dress and tucked it into the front of the worn blue trousers which it had previously concealed, then mounted my horse and waited to be joined by the others.

Mason arrived soon after, almost running, his eyes wild. I looked at him quizzically.

"Change of plans." He called, unimpressed, mounting his own horse.

"What happend?" I resented being out of the loop. His eyes were locked on the path before us as he made his way to the front of the group.

"Just move." He was barely audible, resenting having to break his focus by communicating.

I glanced helplessly back at the others. They weren't close enough to hear his muttered instructions. "Mason," I tried, hating to have to attempt to work my way through the fabric of those gathered with us "You need to call..."