Palaces Built from Paragraphs

Zahra turned toward the unfamiliar voice. The bluntness of his tone caught her off guard, but after days of ornamental kindness and carefully rehearsed, hollow pleasantries, she found it oddly refreshing. A faint smile touched her lips. "No, I cannot say I expected sunshine and rainbows, though I certainly would not have complained if there had been. Still, I confess I underestimated just how determined England seems to be to keep the sun hidden. Is this not supposed to be the warmer time of year?" She stepped closer to the railing, gazing out across the darkening grounds before turning her attention back to the stranger. "As for what I did to get stuck here, let us simply say that daughters are often sent where they are sent where they are deemed most useful. I would assume most came here with an agenda rather than mere pleasure." There was no bitterness in her voice, only quiet resignation. "And you? You speak of the English as if they have left a bad taste in your mouth. What brought you to this gathering if you find the company so unbearable?"

Anthonious paused for a moment, meticulously processing Eleanore's words. In the world of nobility, it was particularly uncommon to have such humble pursuits. Many pretended to be unpretentious; few truly were, but he believed her, which made her stance all the more intriguing. He leaned closer, his brow furrowing slightly with genuine curiosity, his usual aloofness momentarily slipping away when he asked, “Why is it that you would wish to hide in the shadows?" Something inside him urged him to understand the true nature of the timid girl. He barely suppressed a chuckle at her next statement, that little flame within her flickering again. “All is accurate. I won't pretend that in the grand scheme of things, you are easily forgotten.” It was not his intention to be cruel, but he wouldn’t dare feed into some fantasy to boost her ego. He raised his glass to his lips and savoured a long, generous sip of his wine before resuming the conversation. “However, that doesn't diminish the importance of your opinion—only makes it less likely to be heard. A truly great king thrives only when he welcomes a broad perspective. Your sister should take notes. ” He muttered, wondering if in a castle that grand, her family would even notice her missing presence. Secrets. Now, there was another overlooked use. It was a shame that their countries were often in high political disputes or wars. Otherwise, she would have been a useful pawn as a wife. “I’m aware you know your place, but do you truly intend to stay there? One must have aspirations. Unless, of course, your parents only allowed room for the twins to dream and now all the good ones are taken.” He forced a dramatic frown. He could not believe the language that came out of the small princess's mouth. It made him want to erupt into laughter. “You naughty girl! I thought noble ladies like you weren't meant to understand what men do between your legs until your wedding night. Where did you learn such a thing? Now, I'm starting to believe the shadows are no place for a young girl like you.” It was far too easy to ruffle her feathers; her radiance of purity was evident, yet he wondered if he could provoke a blush from her delicate cheeks.

Josephine's mouth betrayed her, allowing a slight snicker and a soft, fleeting smile to escape before she could compose herself. I have taste. Eleanore always had a subtle way of cracking Josephine’s stoic facade, often through a single glance or a carefully timed comment. Her eyes rolled dramatically when their mother was brought up. Eleanore and her both already knew the answer to the question. Her sister had always enjoyed the freedom Josephine secretly yearned for—a freedom to make choices without restraint, to speak her mind openly without consequences. Eleanore was granted a level of privacy and autonomy that Josephine would never truly experience, their lives shaped by different privileges. If it had been her decision alone, Josephine would have chosen a life of ease—one where wealth and luxury came with little effort. Power came with sacrifice, meaning her deepest wish was simply to stay close to her family would not be so easily granted. “I have little time to indulge the simple pleasure of reading for leisure and even less time for materials that will ‘spoil the mind,'" she muttered softly, quoting her mother with a tone tinged with longing and restraint. Josephine's eyes widened at the title, a faint blush calming her face.“Eleanore,” she gasped, yet instinctively moving closer to her sister to get a better look at the book, her curiosity taking the reins. “Of course not! Why on earth would you choose this one? At least tell me it’s a medical journal, right?”

Sadie still felt a bit of guilt when Victor brought up her sister. Sure she didn't treat Sadie the best but she was still her family and it wasn't always like that. The moment Ashley was told she would take the crown because Dexter abdicated Ashley had changed. Something in her head was switched. She blamed it on the fact that she needed to be more grown up but being grown up didn't mean cruel and that's something Sadie had always felt. However, Sadie might have felt guilt but she didn't feel regret. This is what she wanted she didn't want to be married off for her title. She wanted Love and it seemed Victor felt the same.

Her thoughts came screeching to a holt when the name Valkyrie echoed through her mind "Wait did you say Valkyrie? as in Valkyrie Oogie...?" it was the only Valkyrie that Sadie and Victor both knew. Her tone wasn't scared or judgmental just surprised and questioning. "She's here in wonderland? and knew this whole time?" It had been the missing persons story of the year, so many people had been looking for her. The search funded by Oogie himself and his new town casino. She remembered her own parents even donated to the cause. It was such a huge political move that it ruffled some of the feathers of the mayor and his family. As well as made a lot of people push for the down fall of the Halloween town royal family. The way her parents had explained it was that they were parents too and if one of the children went missing they would hoped the same help would be offered to them. She Wondered if they would go so far as searching for Sadie like that. She highly doubted it.

"Nervous? Victor moon I didn't even know that was in your vocabulary?" She chuckled and leaned to give him a passionate kiss "You can do this, We can do this....together" She smiled and stepped out of his car and followed him to the door. That alone was foreboding in its own right. In an sense this home felt fitting for Valkyrie.

Valkyrie stirred in her bed, the knocking woke her up a little bit but she was so used to actually sleeping without the worry she slowly got up before sensing something familiar. Her heart began to race, she had a feeling whenever family was near. That being said, she didn't know if that family was Victor with a surprise visit or her father had finally found her and was here to drag her home. She didn't let that fear come through. She reached for her sheer and feathered robe and slipped it on getting out of bed.

"With all due respect my love..." She ignited all the lights in their home with the slight flic of her hand "Let me take care of this one." She winked at him knowing if it had been her father, he didn't know just how powerful her magic had gotten since she ran away. She wouldn't heasitate to set that bag of bugs on fire if it was him at the door or really anyone for that matter that didn't need to be there this late.

She began down the stairs. She put her hand to the door the presence was soft, kind innocent almost furrowing her brows she Opened the door to....."Sadie Skellington?" Her eyes then darted to her brother. "Victor? What-" her eyes went back and forth and she put two and two together her confusing curling into a sinister grin laughing as she spoke "Oh....Oh you're both in a lot of trouble..."

Victor blinked, the surprise flashing across his face before he quickly masked it with a small, breathy laugh. “Valkyrie Oogie?” he repeated, like the idea was almost absurd. He shook his head in disagreement, his brow furrowing slightly, but he could feel his palms start to slide and lose grip on the steering wheel due to the sweat accumulating from his nervousness. He did not want any connection to his father, and just hearing the formal last name made his stomach twist. The pressure felt heavy, and he felt like glass ready to shatter at any moment. “It’s not exactly a rare name in Halloweentown, right? Coincidences happen.” He didn't know if Sadie had ever contacted his sister directly over the years. He assumed it was unlikely, given her strict parents and reserved nature. Still, he couldn't afford to take any chances. “Or maybe she goes by a different last name sometimes. I won't blame her, not a soul wants to be associated with Oogie.” With Ashley, lying felt simple. He understood it was a fleeting act he wasn't meant to sustain forever, but with Sadie, he sensed it was only a matter of time before his lies and past collapsed like a house of cards. There was also the internal struggle of not wanting to lie, but deep down, he knew it was better if he did.

Victor chuckled softly at her remark before meeting her lips in a tender kiss. He held the small of her back with a firm, reassuring touch, his fingers lightly pressing into the fabric of her dress, and tugged her a little closer, closing the intimate distance between them. He had to resist himself from fully pulling her over into the driver's seat. “Together,” he whispered softly.

“Why are you such a badass?” he asked with a wide smile, his eyes gleaming with admiration. "It makes me want to ignore the knocking and keep you here with me," he added softly, his tone warm and inviting. He grabbed a new shirt and a pair of slippers. “I know you’re capable of handling this alone, and I fully respect that decision. Still, I’ll wait at the top of the stairs, just in case. I won't feel right otherwise.” He gently brushed her silky hair aside and leaned in to softly kiss her cheek. “I might not have magic," he said with a playful smirk, "but don’t underestimate how well I can throw a punch.”

“My dearest and oldest friend Valkyire!” Victor forced a tight smile, but his eyes blazed daggers at her to go along. “Trouble?” he echoed, raising a brow. “I don’t think it’s quite that bad… at least, not yet.” His hand brushed lightly over Sadie’s, grounding himself. “But, I do need your help, friend to friend.” Without asking, Victor welcomed himself inside, tugging Sadie in with her. “Oh, and just need to add, it's actually Sadie Moon now. We got married.”

The darkness lent cover over Arthur, the exiled King using the small flicker of light from his lantern to carry him forward. Since leaving England, Arthur had spent majority of his days finding comfort in close alliances. There were still some lords within the Northern sphere of Europe who dared offer sanctuary to Arthur and any of his followers. For that, he was truly grateful not merely out of necessity, but to ensure his loyalist were safe during a time of wary. Days had past since his daring escape and Arthur had grown more restless with each moment. The King could no longer live hidden in the shadows and allow the usurper to pillage and destroy his beloved homeland. England was his by right and for that he would fight until his death.

When leaving England, Arthur had made a promise that he would soon find himself on top of that throne again. Whether it came through bloodshed or sheer luck, he knew that the war ahead would not be easy. He had struggled asking for assistance — calling upon young lords and knights to lend their swords for his cause. They knew, much like Arthur, that their lives were coming close to an end. Should they stand against the now King of England, there was no telling who may live and who may die. But one thing that Arthur knew well, is that it was worth dying for a cause as great as his.

Merdyn kept to the deeper twilight, far enough that the lantern’s glow did not betray him, close enough that he never once lost sight of that familiar silhouette. Arthur was reckless to travel alone during the tumultuous time of changing crowns. There would be numerous ambitious royals eagerly plotting to shift their loyalties and win favour with the new. The stakes were too high for Arthur to be forging his own path without counsel. When he saw Arthur veer toward the estate walls, Merdyn’s jaw tightened. The guards were drunk, yes — but drunk men were unpredictable. A single shout, a single blade drawn in panic — how thoughtless he was.

Before Arthur’s knuckles struck the door, Merdyn shut his eyes and reached for the power coiled beneath his skin — an ancient force he had inherited, yet never truly mastered. He prayed that it wouldn't fail him now, as it often did. The air tightened around him, and even the leaves began to tremble as if a sudden gust of wind had passed through. He focused his mind on the iron latch and the narrow corridor behind it. Suddenly, the forest began to fade away and vanish as throbbing pain surged through his head. The room spun around him as he tried to steady himself, and the fevered rush of blood pulsed through him.

He then noticed his boots were met with a stone floor, not the dirt of the path. His eyes widened at the realization it had worked. The knock echoed through the halls before he had any time ot celebrate or pat himself on the back. Merdyn rushed toward the door and drew back the bolt before any servant could stir and pulled the door open himself. For a beat, Merdyn simply stared at him, unimpressed and deadpan. Then he stepped forward, grabbing Arthur’s arm with firm, unceremonious force and pulling him inside. “You have lost your mind?!" His voice burned with the intensity of a yell, though it came out barely above a whisper. “You walk alone through unknown lands, approach a seemingly random estate, and risk everything? There are men who would bleed for you, and yet you throw yourself into danger like this? Why not send them instead?”

(  dialogue  prompts  taken  from  quotes  of  various  f.  scott  fitzgerald  works.  feel  free  to  edit  as  you  seem  fit.  )

❛ you are afraid of being in love then? ❜

❛ i’ll kiss you if you want me to. ❜

❛ we’ll survive, you and i. ❜

❛ come and kiss me and let’s forget. ❜

❛ hard to sit here and be close to you, and not kiss you. ❜

❛ i’m not used to being loved. i wouldn’t know what to do. ❜

❛ sometimes i don’t know whether we are real or whether we are characters in one of my novels. ❜

❛ wouldn’t it be awful if we fell in love again? ❜

❛ i’m yours - you know it. ❜

❛ you’ve a place in my heart no one else ever could have. ❜

❛ books mean more than people to me anyway. ❜

❛ you’ve got an awfully kissable mouth. ❜

❛ i won’t forget you. i will promise to remember you always. ❜

❛ if i wait till i fall in love again i’ll just wait forever. ❜

❛ things you’ve just said and forgotten, i’ve put myself asleep night after night remembering. ❜

❛ love isn’t like it is in books. ❜

❛ i’m telling you all of a sudden, but it isn’t new with me. i love you. ❜

❛ i keep the light burning on your desk so i’ll think you’re there when i wake up. ❜

❛ the odd thing is that i’m in love with you anyhow. ❜

❛ won’t you let me lean against your shoulder just the smallest bit? ❜

❛ it’s been very rare to have known you, very strange and wonderful. ❜

❛ it’s sweeter to be alone. ❜

❛ if you’re tired of kissing me, i’d better go. ❜

❛ i’ve formed the habit of liking you. ❜

❛ there’s something between us- a sort of pull. something you always do to me and i to you. ❜

❛ i won’t have to build my love up. it’s up in the skies now. ❜

❛ you’re trying to leave yourself behind, but you can’t. the more you try to run away from yourself, the more you’ll have yourself with you. ❜

❛ i’m sorry i had such a devastating effect on you. ❜

❛ i forgot everything. your lips were so beautiful. ❜

❛ say you love me. say it now — can’t you say it now? even if you don’t mean it? ❜

❛ i still love you. that’s the odd thing. ❜

❛ my god, you’re fun to kiss. ❜

❛ i wouldn’t change you for the world. ❜

❛ it’s all so simple. he loved me and i loved him. that’s all there is. ❜

❛ you’ve fallen for me — completely. you’ve got me in your dreams. ❜

❛ tonight there’s got to be no past or future, no time, just tonight, you and i. ❜

❛ of course you could never love anybody but me. ❜

❛ i’m a lost soul maybe — i don’t feel at all like i ought to feel. ❜

❛ i fell in love with you the first time i saw you. ❜

❛ in my heart i love her all the time. ❜

❛ and what in hell could we ever be to each other? ❜

❛ i realized what was the matter, what had always been the matter — i was deeply and incurably in love with her. ❜

❛ i’m more beautiful than anybody else, why can’t i be happy? ❜

❛ you intoxicated me. it was just as though you were making me love you by some invisible force. ❜

❛ it’s because i love you, dear— ❜

❛ i once imagined you loved me a little bit, if you’ll excuse the presumption. ❜

❛ i loved you once — for a year i thought you were the only person in the world. ❜

❛ sometimes you think you’re so much in love that your love could fill the biggest palace conceivable. sometimes you haven’t got enough to fill one room. ❜

❛ his dark eyes took me in, and i wondered what they would look like if he fell in love. ❜

Geta had drank too much at the party and after her little randevu with Astor she was more tired than she usually was. She figured it was a mixture of what they had done, the booze, and all the socializing she was forced to do that night but she had found herself passing out quite early and waking up just as early the next day. Her cousin had yet to wake so she was stuck in her thoughts about Astor. He had taken her breath away, and had consumed her dreams and thoughts that night. She hated him, hated that she now was to Marry so man she wouldn't truly love and he the same with some woman and she didn't want to even more now. She was confused and angry and he it was all his fault. "Hmm?" She turned to see Anissa enter their shared common room "No I left the party early after indulging too much, I've been up for a bout an hours time?"

At least you know your limits and knew enough to call it a night," Anissa said with a warm smile as a sense of relief washed over her. She appreciated that Greta was safe if she decided to indulge. “You may have even beaten me to the room. Now that's a first,” she added with a chuckle. For once, Anissa finally grasped the simple pleasure of sneaking away from the bustling crowd on the dancefloor, just as Greta always did. Her skin seemed to retain a faint afterglow from the previous evening, as if she were still enthralled in the moment. It surprised her how her smile lingered effortlessly, even when she wasn’t intentionally trying. The more she turned over Greta’s explanation in her mind, the more her smile thinned. Anissa's brows knitted together as she studied her momentarily. “You really went straight to the room last night?” She asked gently, her tone full of concern and not accusation. “Did something troubling happen?”

Her brows drew together, and a tremor of shock and of wild, impossible hope passed across her face. What if? Just moments ago, she would have sworn that she would needto get on her hands and knees to beg him to even entertain the thought of staying a moment longer. Now he had more cause to leave than ever, yet astonishingly, he remained. Had she truly cracked his armour enough to slip beneath it?? She drew a fragile, shaky breath at the hand in front of her. Taking it would summon a storm neither of them would ever be able to command. Yet, still she placed her hand in his firmly, as though signing some beautiful doom. She pulled him nearer and felt the terrible gravity of it all. “Of course I want that. You know I would leap if you asked." Her voice a mere whisper, despite being alone. “But how? When may I see you again?” Her fingers tightened unconsciously around his, as though fearing he might dissolve if she did not anchor him there. She lifted her gaze and searched his eyes earnestly. For the first time, she looked at him in the candlelight, really looked at him. He was handsome in a way that could wound her, in a way that her heart gave a treacherous throb. The cruelty of the situation weighed heavily on her, the cold fact that she could never have him. Not truly. Even a friendship would not be sustainable in the shadows. Unable to bear the intensity of it, her gaze faltered and fell. “We cannot be seen together, if we were—my family would…" She could only imagine their anger and the walls they would raise to cage her more tightly than before. She was breaking every rule she had ever lived by. “Our families must never know. I imagine your family would frown upon it, too. Such a...friendship would be met with nothing but destruction and despair.” Her eyes met his once more, pleading. “And yet the thought of never seeing you again troubles me far more.”