2 May 2022, 09:45
Birthday cakes and trouble on the way
backdate. October 31, 2016.
with @Olivia FeatherIf you looked at the Quinn Manor backyard, you would think you were in an entirely different place. The backyard was decorated in tones of green and purple, with a huge cake placed on top of the central table. A lot of kids were running around, happy and excited, while the adults talked, sipping their drinks and enjoying the cold weather.
The Manor, however, looked scary, even during daytime - with its dark bricks and long metal gates, as if it had sentience and was waiting for the exact moment where it'd eat all that lived in there, sucking the positive energy. The garden looked dead and forgotten about. You would expect to see the ghosts of previous generations walking around, but there was no one.
Well, actually, there was someone. Just not a ghost.
It was Edmund's birthday and he was hiding in the bushes - taking advantage of his dark green robes for camouflage -, unwrapping one of the smaller gifts he had received as he waited for time to pass. Eliza was looking for him. His mother wanted him to hug and talk to Aunt Persephone, who had last seen him when he was three. He didn't remember her at all, so he was going to hide until his other friends arrived.
All he wanted to do today was play with his friends and have the best party of all time. Jackie had already arrived, but he was stuffing his face with Granny's food, so Edmund had to wait until Olivia got there. He, who had opened most of his gifts already - without his parents knowing, of course, wanted to show her everything!
2 May 2022, 15:08
Birthday cakes and trouble on the way
Ever since she could remember, the Quinn Manor scared her. There was something about its dark bricks and massive iron gates, like the mouth of some monster ready to eat anyone daring enough to step in front of it. Even her big sister Vanessa, the bravest person in Olivia's humble opinion, was scared.
It happened every time they visited Edmund and his family. Little Olivia cowered behind her sister as they stepped closer. Even the garden was hideous, and it looked more like a graveyard than someone's house.
When the door finally opened, they were greeted with a more pleasant and welcoming environment. The place was lavishly decorated, kids were running around all over the place and there was an enormous cake as a centerpiece.
A ghost of a smile fluttered across her face. It was just as she remembered. Already she forgot about the scary manor and rushed inside to join the party.
It quickly became evident to Olivia that the birthday boy was not around. Confused and a little bit worried, she stood in the backyard, wondering where Edmund was. It didn't take her long to identify his hiding place.
Laughing, she ran to the secluded corner of the backyard and crawled into a dense green patch of bushes. There he was, probably thinking that he can outsmart her. "You don't have an invisibility cloak, yours is just green..." she teased and wrapped her arms around him. "Happy birthday!"
It happened every time they visited Edmund and his family. Little Olivia cowered behind her sister as they stepped closer. Even the garden was hideous, and it looked more like a graveyard than someone's house.
When the door finally opened, they were greeted with a more pleasant and welcoming environment. The place was lavishly decorated, kids were running around all over the place and there was an enormous cake as a centerpiece.
A ghost of a smile fluttered across her face. It was just as she remembered. Already she forgot about the scary manor and rushed inside to join the party.
It quickly became evident to Olivia that the birthday boy was not around. Confused and a little bit worried, she stood in the backyard, wondering where Edmund was. It didn't take her long to identify his hiding place.
Laughing, she ran to the secluded corner of the backyard and crawled into a dense green patch of bushes. There he was, probably thinking that he can outsmart her. "You don't have an invisibility cloak, yours is just green..." she teased and wrapped her arms around him. "Happy birthday!"
2 May 2022, 15:25
Birthday cakes and trouble on the way
@Olivia FeatherEdmund let out a yelp when Olivia's familiar voice came from behind him. He hadn't expected her to show up - right when he was thinking of her! The box fell from his hands, gift rolling over the grass, once her arms were around him and he grumbled, pushing his bangs away from his eyes so he could stare at her.
She wished him a happy birthday, as excited as ever and he was unable to hide his smile now.
"You almost gave me a heart attack, Liv," He complained, joking, running his fingers through his hair. "Did you tell my mum was hiding here?" Turning around, Eddie grabbed Olivia's arm, tugging her down so she was right in front of him this time around. "Look at what Uncle Jay bought me. He said it's all the way from the United States, and that it can predict the future!"
He opened the box in front of her, biting his bottom lip. Inside was a simple black ball with the number 8 on it. Edmund grabbed it. There was a small screen on it - it reflected his confused face. Edmund shook the ball but nothing happened.
"What kind of gift is this?" He complained, annoyed this time.
The ball buzzed in his hand, This is an enchanted magic 8-ball, charmed by yours truly, uncle Jay, to answer all of your questions, dear nephew. It reflected on the screen.
Edmund hummed and showed it to Olivia. "Ask something to it,"
2 May 2022, 16:37
Birthday cakes and trouble on the way
@Edmund Dempsie
Olivia giggled upon hearing his yelp. She loved to sneak up on him just because of his silly reactions. Unfortunately, her jump scare and his response caused him to drop the box. With her arms still wrapped around him, there was no way she could prevent the incident.
"I hope you didn't break it..." she was quick to pass the blame on him, knowing that he wouldn't get mad. "Don't be ridiculous! I would never try to give you a heart attack! Not intentionally..." she teased and smiled at him, running her fingers through his hair, ruining what he fixed just moments ago.
Suddenly, her arm was snatched and she was yanked in front of him to marvel at the gift, she gasped in shock but soon calm down upon seeing the box. "Uncle Jay always brings the best gifts," she whispered in astonishment "Can it...can it really?"
This was just too exciting, Olivia's mind was racing. They were in the presence of a rare magic item, who knows how powerful!? It was a seemingly ordinary black ball with the number 8 on it. Olivia watched with great concern as Edmund handled the item, with not much care, at all. "Watch it! Don't shake it! Who knows what it can do!" she shouted.
The ball buzzed and Olivia prepared for the worst. But nothing dangerous happened...
"Merlin’s beard, this is incredible...Let's see...Does Quinn Manor eat children?" she laughed.
Olivia giggled upon hearing his yelp. She loved to sneak up on him just because of his silly reactions. Unfortunately, her jump scare and his response caused him to drop the box. With her arms still wrapped around him, there was no way she could prevent the incident.
"I hope you didn't break it..." she was quick to pass the blame on him, knowing that he wouldn't get mad. "Don't be ridiculous! I would never try to give you a heart attack! Not intentionally..." she teased and smiled at him, running her fingers through his hair, ruining what he fixed just moments ago.
Suddenly, her arm was snatched and she was yanked in front of him to marvel at the gift, she gasped in shock but soon calm down upon seeing the box. "Uncle Jay always brings the best gifts," she whispered in astonishment "Can it...can it really?"
This was just too exciting, Olivia's mind was racing. They were in the presence of a rare magic item, who knows how powerful!? It was a seemingly ordinary black ball with the number 8 on it. Olivia watched with great concern as Edmund handled the item, with not much care, at all. "Watch it! Don't shake it! Who knows what it can do!" she shouted.
The ball buzzed and Olivia prepared for the worst. But nothing dangerous happened...
"Merlin’s beard, this is incredible...Let's see...Does Quinn Manor eat children?" she laughed.
2 May 2022, 16:54
Birthday cakes and trouble on the way
@Olivia FeatherAt Olivia's question, the ball buzzed once again - eager to answer their questions. Edmund leaned over to watch as the words appeared on the screen. Yes, it does. It said. Wow. Uncle Jay really went all out with this gift, it had answers for everything!
Edmund scrunched his face in disbelief, squinting as he poked the enchanted 8-ball, placing it on the floor, crossing his legs, "Well, I don't believe in that. I'm still alive, aren't I? Shouldn't the Manor have eaten me by now?"
The 8-ball rolled over, and new words appeared: It will soon. Shivers ran up his spine, and he glanced over the grand Quinn Manor, afraid whatever ghosts lived inside it would hear his complaints and come devour him at night. He slapped the ball, so it rolled closer to Olivia, changing the ownership to her. He didn't want to keep a charmed 8-ball with creepy answers thank you very much.
"Merlin, that thing is silly," said Eddie, trying to be tough - as if he wasn't at all scared by it. He played with her hair as retaliation for what she did to him and smiled, like a fox, "You can have it, Liv. Hey, 8-ball, is it true that Olivia is going to preppy Beauxbatons instead of Hogwarts?"