Thursday, September 20, 2012

Write On Edge: Clue Challenge

Red Writing Hood this week's challenge gives us three words inspired by the popular Hasbro board game CLUE: Scarlet, Library, Candlestick. The word limit (including the three mandatory words) is 250.

I love this game. I suck at playing it. I never managed to develop a strategy that worked. Never winning has never curbed my appeal for the game. I happily roll the die and plop my plastic pieces in any nearby room and cheer the winner when a successful accusation is made.

The game was originally published in England, I believe, in/around 1947? (Don't quote me on that, my knowledge is rusty and I'm too lazy to research it this week). Several spinoffs exist, but the original is still my favorite.

When the movie starring some of my all-time favorite actors was released, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Quotes from the film wind their way into my daily speech often. I'm a geek that way.




I offer the following in response: The Deception Hour





Anastasia peeled the mask from her face, disgusted at the whole affair. Gaudy wealth dripped from every inch of the masquerade. Prancing puppets, she thought, retreating from the dancers to the library. Spying candlestick after garish candlestick wedged between leather-bound books, she scowled on principle.

“May I offer you a drink?”

She tilted her head towards the voice. “Thank you,” she accepted the small crystal-clad cordial from his silver tray. “A fine mess this is. Butlering for us must be dreadful.”

A sly smile surfaced to his mouth. “Dancing among you would be worse.”

She laughed, “Agreed. They are vultures, vampires seeking blood and bragging rights. And, according to my mother, the elite from which to choose a spouse.”

His smile grew toothier. “M'lady, isn’t it scandalous to discuss such matters with servants?”

She displayed her mask to him, “No one here is who she appears to be.”

“Have you yet seen the gardens?” he gestured towards the glass doors to the patio. “I understand the Scarlet Pearls are quite lovely to behold.”

She paused. Her mother would be furious, but the servant was the most promising companion of the evening. “Are you at liberty to escort me?”

“I am…for you.”

Anastasia welcomed the crisp air as they escaped to the outdoors. At the edge of a sculpted herb garden, she forced introductions. “Anastasia Dumarche.”

He kissed her hand. “Arik Lyon, Count of Monteschell, your humble servant.”

Her heart flitted like the hovering stars above. Her mother would be pleased.


32 comments:

  1. Nice. I love the language of their conversation. Interesting twist that the "servant" is a baron.

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    1. Thanks! The baron is the charming sort of fellow that mothers warn their daughters against, which of course makes him all the more appealing. :)

      I'm thrilled you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  2. Ohh I like the servant being a baron - dind't see that coming! Well done. I was kind of expecting it to hint at a cinderella in reverse but you got me on that one :)

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    1. Thanks! I'm glad I was able to slip a surprise in there. I'm thrilled you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  3. You pack quite a bit of narrative into 250 words. I am impressed. The butler to baron transition is exquisite.

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    1. Thanks! The words came easily on this one, so I'm glad I was able to convey the whole story in that short span of text. I hope you enjoyed your visit. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  4. Nice. Lots of varied emotion from contempt to interest to elation. I haven't done the prompts for the LONGEST time, but you're inspiring me to start again :)

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    1. Thanks! I'm happy I provided some inspiration. I look forward to seeing your next piece! I'm thrilled you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  5. Love it! I have the feeling the baron is very bad news. Very appealing of course, but bad news nevertheless. :-)

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    1. Thanks for the love! Yes, the baron is a bit sinister. Possibly a reputation the precludes him...I'm glad you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for topping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  6. Lovely! A baron in the guise of a butler and a possible romantic connection. Your language and the setting are ornate in a way that befits the occasion.

    (Also, my husband and I LOVE the movie. We have a number of quotes that we laugh at on a regular basis, including a clinked glass toast like the one Professor Plum forces on an irritated Ms. Scarlet.)

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    1. Thanks! Yes BIG fan of the movie. We trade scenes back and forth in our family, like the "how many shots got the chandelier" and "can't make an omelet without breaking eggs..." oh and the whole bit about the Kingdom of Heaven...well I guess just the whole movie! :)

      On the other note, I'm thrilled you enjoyed your visit. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  7. Awesome. GREAT turn at the end - I was waiting for forbidden romance and got a naughty baron instead. Not disappointing at all, really! :)

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    1. Thanks! Not forbidden...ill-advised perhaps...But I'm glad I didn't disappoint! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  8. I love how you caught the feel of the game. I too always imagined the mansion that the game too place in as a bit over the top. I agree with Victoria, that the Butler/Baron is bad news, because after all, if it seems too good to be true, it usually is. Great job as always!

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    1. Thanks! The baron has so many dark corners in his psyche that he could definitely be a character to return to. And you're right...too good to be true usually is. I'm glad you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  9. Ahh, what a delightful pair of characters. Both playing games it seems...who will win out in the end?

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    1. Thanks! All's fair in love and war, and in some relationships love IS war. It would be fun to watch the game unfold. I hope you've enjoyed your stay. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  10. Lovely job. I love the picture you painted.

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    1. Thanks for the love! I hope you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  11. He *did* seem a little sassy for a butler! A very elegant scene. Are the Scarlet Pearls roses or something?

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    1. Thanks! Yes, scarlet pearl was the name of a rose I came across a little while back. That is of course if the website I was on wasn't lying. :)

      I hope you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  12. Nice! I'm not convinced the baron is all bad. Anastasia seems to be a bit tricksy in her own right.
    Loved the flow of the story, it drew me in immediately.

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    1. Thanks! Probably not all bad...just really privileged. :) He's a bit unconventional, like Anastasia.

      I'm thrilled you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  13. I think my favorite line is the baron's first. That revealed so much about his character. These characters are both quite endearing.

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    1. Thanks! I'm glad my characters made an impact. It's makes me a proud "mother". I'm glad you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  14. Great as always! And Congratulations for being published in Precipice. Hoping that your own book will be out sometime in near future!

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    1. Thanks! I hope so too. I'm exploring publishing options. I'll need to find/commission cover art, and I'm saving up my ducats for that. Thanks for the interest. I hope you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  15. This was terrific. You are a master at period pieces. The conversation flowed so smoothly and you described the library with such detail. I just loved it.

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    1. Thanks! I love history: the settings and language of any era are fun for me to explore, so I'm glad that translates though my work. I'm thrilled you loved your stay. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  16. I love this take on the prompt!And bravo for brevity with a twist at the end.

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  17. I am partial immediately because the best name ever is Anastasia, since it's also mine. The baron sounds very devious. I don't think she should trust him.

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