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ThinkWrite Challenge LXXXII

2 votes
Thank you, Saxon... maybe we can get some more people involved in TW again...

Your words for this round are....

 

MULTITUDE

BANQUET

NONE

APPEAL

MIDDLE

VAST

COURT

GAZE

FREE

WIND

 

Word Count - 214 to be exact... :)

 

Enjoy, everyone! :)
set Jan 26, 2012 by ladyhwin (203 points)
I'll pick a winner on the 10th of February, unless Saxon's is the only entry... :)
It seems you've done a great job with the wordlist. I'm loving the responses so far!
I'm slowly getting around to reading everyone's responses... this is awesome!!!  :D
The winner will be chosen tonight... last chance to get something in! :)

8 Responses

2 votes
 
Best response
The man’s gaze roved calculatingly around the banquet hall, carefully surveying each face in the multitude of people that surrounded him. A waiter came politely up to him, interrupting his concentration with an offer of champagne. But the free drink held none of its usual appeal. The man was courting death that night, and he’d need the advantage of having his wits about him. He waved the waiter away.

            Across the room, he saw her—the one he’d been looking for. She stood in the middle of the hall, smiling and nodding and shaking out her long, blonde mane of hair at the fawning group of men who surrounded her. The space between the man and his target was vast and his view of her choppy; elegantly dressed couples twirled their way unwittingly across the room like autumn leaves caught on a wind, blocking his line of vision. Then, for just a moment, the space between them cleared. And in that same moment, something, some sick twist of fate, made the woman pause mid-laugh and turn her head toward him.

            They locked eyes, his narrowed and hers wide with shock. The woman stumbled backward for a moment, then turned. The man pushed himself off the wall, reached his hand into his jacket, and followed.
answered Jan 29, 2012 by peachykeen (55 points)
selected Feb 11, 2012 by ladyhwin
Welcome to you too, peachykeen. I finally got around to reading your story as well.
I think this is an excellent start to a novel. I, for one, would love to see the rest of it. Not a lot happened during the story, but you managed to get a lot of it accross. On one hand, a lot of questions can be asked about the characters, but on the other, I feel like I know them very well. Good job.
Yes, very nice, peachykeen and welcome!!  :D  

I loved this... absolutely loved it.... :)
Peachykeen, the torch is yours for the taking.  Set up a new challenge whenever you're ready with the new 10 mandatory words and word limit.  :)  Enjoy!  :D

I will choose a runner-up if a new challenge is not set up by  the 16th.  :)
Thank you! I'll be sure to set up a new challenge in the next day or two:)
1 vote

      The wind blew through the vast banquet hall that only a short time ago had been full of a multitude of people. Now it was time to wind the clock that stood in the Middle Court. The night watchman was always the last person left after these events. They had no appeal to him and simply delayed the start of his evening rounds. He moved slowly through the empty rooms and soon arrived at Middle Court. It was an ancient building and had seen many changes over the centuries. The courtyard had once clearly been in the middle, but was now at the front. Unlocking the door under the arch he climbed the spiral stairs to the little room at the top and set about winding the clock. It was not a hard task, but it took almost half an hour by the time he was finished. Now his time was his own and he was free to wander back to the porter’s office. There was none of the formality required of the day staff; he just had to be there. He could stand and gaze at the stars, or go back into the warmth and enjoy a cup of tea; or he could watch the stars through the window and drink his tea.

answered Jan 26, 2012 by Saxon (664 points)
edited Jan 27, 2012 by Saxon
Interesting... makes for a beautiful little picture... I like it :)

Just a question though... "The wind blew through the vast banquet hall that only a short time ago had been full of a multitude people."  Should that not be " A Multitude OF people"??  Just wondering :)
Oops, yes it should and I have corrected it. Could not resist the double use of "wind" and "Wind" LOL.
As always, a great reply. A short moment, a single task and yet it tells so much. You've set the mood perfectly and really drew me in. Great job!
1 vote
Vlad's gaze ravaged them searching for anything of appeal in the wretches. Their tattered raggs fluttered in the wind as they crossed the middle of the court to the becconing church. He turned away having found none. His only regret that he could not lure the vast multitues in with the ruse of a free banquet.
answered Jan 28, 2012 by randy1ee (66 points)
It doesn't meet the word count requirement, but that's just making me love it even more. A short but vivid insight into his mind that tells a much bigger story. Reminds me of the old rp days.
Welcome to ThinkWrite, Randy.
True, it doesn't meet the word count, but its really really good!

It makes me curious... what is his motives... etc... :D
This is based on a true story about Vlad the Impaler, from Transylvania.  He is thought to be one of the historical figures that gave rise to the vampire legends. He was brutal and his solution to the problem of homelessness and beggars was to lure them into a church with the promise of a free banquet, then lock them in and set the church on fire.  Viola no more problem... vary scary man.

And sorry about the word count.  It didn't quite make sense to me.
1 vote
Here among the multitude of fairy folk none would miss a royal birth.  There is nothing more appealing than the banquet and each would bestow a present upon the new born.  Rumors fly free through the court but sometimes a curse is a blessing and a blessing a curse.  Her beauty, her charm, her perfect appeal to every suitor could of been her undoing but one fore saw this chance and gave her a bad case of the vapors.  Alas, when ever the poor maiden sat down to eat whether plain porridge or spiciest meat she released a very foul wind.  An appeal went across the vast land to seek the fairy with such humorous intentions.  Yet to no avail, it seamed the Princess was doomed not to marry.  Yet in a storm, the middle son of a distant king came to seak shelter.  They all sat down at a banquet to welcome their royal guest.  Then when their gazes met they both passed wind.  And as is traditional, they lived  happily ever after.
answered Jan 28, 2012 by arscarvi (102 points)
I love this! It's funny, but it feels like the story wants to ignore that and be serious and that makes it even funnier.
Welcome to ThinkWrite, arscarvi!
Amusing... it makes for an interesting story!  :)  good job :)
2 votes
I could never understand the appeal of a formal banquet held at the court. Was it the free food, or the gaze upon the tapestries and marble floors that drew people in? For me, it was like being in the middle of a sunday market, with the multitude of colours and sounds overflooding my senses. I enjoyed my solitude and in the banquet, I had none. If it were possible, I would immerse myself in the vast emptiness of space and let it carry me into the quiet like the wind carries a leaf.

That is why I ran and hid in this cellar. I am trying to appeal to my common sense, but it seems to be a failed attempt. The dark around me is courting my comfort and I'm finding myself wanting, needing to stay. I can free my spirit here and just be myself, while upstairs I have to control my actions and words, smiling to the officials while they gaze greedily at my chest. If it were up to me, they would all wind up with a broken nose or a purple eye.

Freedom. It was the one thing I yearned for and the one thing I never would have. Was it fate's sense of humor to put me here?
answered Jan 29, 2012 by Spots (946 points)
214 words as requested. Making the wordcount caused the awkward last paragraph, but I think it kinda works.
I used all the words in alphabetical order and then I used five of the words again with their alternate meaning (thanks to Saxon for inspiration).
This is great but now I want more.  Who is this person and what do they look like and why do they hold the formal banquet?  THis is really good and it got my imagination stirred.
Thanks. I myself am wondering the same things you are. I was going to go with the idea that it's an heir to the throne, forced to attend these events and faced with a life of duty and attention when all she wanted was freedom and solitude. I wanted to show that, even though everyone thought her life was full of glamour and perks, it was really full of obligations and formalities and that she felt trapped. Luckily none of that fit into the word count, because I actually like the open ending. =)
Perfect Spots.  Just enough to wet the appetite without overindulging.  My mind was sucked in as I follwed the imagery.  Wtg friend
After reading and re-reading all the stories, this one drew me in the most. I not only enjoyed the imagery, I found myself utterly attached to the character and wondering so much about her.
Oh wow, thanks. Personally, I think there are many better ones. I guess we all have different tastes.
Very nice!  I much enjoyed this... your writing is beautiful Spots :)
1 vote
I stared into the vastness of space, gazing at the stars hoping for some sort of release. The multitude of thoughts running rampant through my mind left me in awe, and the gravity of my actions was making a loud appeal to my senses. The banquet hall, with none of the pomp and circumstance of a royal court as I had first been led to expect, lay behind me in ruins. It was not as though I was drifting freely in the wind, as I had with the other episodes. No. Now it felt more as though I was trapped in the middle of some conflict, tearing at me from within, shredding my sanity with reckless abandon. One side of my conscious screamed to go find any survivors, another laughing maniacally at the destruction we had wrought. Neither voice much appealed to me at that moment; the stars above held me rapt with wonder. Chief amongst my concerns: what is wrong with me? Am I not free to live as I see fit? Yet, as the gentle wind caressed my face, I knew I was to be crushed. NO! My brash action, with no light to wash over me and absolve me, leaves a vast abyss to gaze into. None remain. Please, someone, help.
answered Jan 29, 2012 by dreedts (50 points)
First of all, welcome to ThinkWrite.
It took me a while to figure out what was going on. I had to read it twice. The ending still confuses me a little, which I suppose is inevitable when you get into someone's head. I like how you mixed the backstory with the character's emotions and how you brought the emotions into the story through descriptions.
1 vote

No title and under the word count.  Had to get my feet wet again :)

 

The Beemer lurched towards the multitude of contestants. Their eyes widened, but they were still stuck in an utter bliss pose from the stakes at hand. Banquets of gluttony only served to the rich and famous or heaps of gold coins piled higher than a man’s frame may await them if they win the vast mystery prize. Screeching metal followed by the smell of burning rubber filled the air and the wind carried the odious rotten stench of dead bodies across the playing field.

There standing in the middle of the maelstrom, gazing with a twinkle of appeal, Scott had become the victor, free to collect his prize.

None had managed to survive the human demolition derby before. Court was truly adjourned.

answered Feb 3, 2012 by doug (883 points)
Doug, great to see you back!!  :D  Awesome!
0 votes

 

Softly, quietly, she crept along the edge of the narrow corridor, her thin gauzy green dress rippling in the chill wind that swept through the long forgotten castle, the castle where long ago all had been perfect, where multitudes upon multitudes had gathered for celebration banquests, holiday feasts, royal balls; the castle where all now lay empty: the vast halls and courts abandoned, its appeal lost forever... to all... except the young woman who stood now, leaning heavily against the cold marble wall, her gaze resting on the doorway before her, a doorway that had once been fine and beautiful, made by a skilled hand, carved and set with gems, yet this was not the doorway upon which the young woman now gazed, her look filled with longing and dread watching as the door swung rackishly on its hinges, her fingers tightening about the shimmering blue vial that she clutched to her breast, knowing there was none who could possible free the one she loved, saving him from eternal torment... except herself. She stood in the middle of the corridor, trembling, not from cold but from unknowing, the uncertainty, whether she could still save him, free him from his misery, or whether he had already passed into the next realm, leaving her utterly alone.

-Kit Marie (February 3rd, 2012)
answered Feb 3, 2012 by ladyhwin (203 points)
This is my own response :)  Enjoy...