If I Could Write Charlene Into A Book...

Elaina and Vincent sneak into Charlene’s office and quietly close the door behind them.  Vincent sits down at the computer and logs on.

Elaina:  *whispers*  Hurry, hurry, Vince.  They’ll be here any minute.

Vincent:  *waves his hand at the door and an opalescent sheen covers it and the latch locks*  Eko Silyst.  *the air thickenes*

Elaina:  *squinches her cheek*  Do you really think locking and blocking the door will stop them?  *scowls and wiggles her finger in her ear as her words flattened*

Vincent:  You don’t have to whisper.  Eko Silyst is a silencing spell.  And no.  It won’t stop them, but it will buy us a little time.  Now…

Elaina:  *rushes to look over his shoulder*

Vincent:  *types*  The Meridian Maiden.

Elaina:  Charlene’s not from Meridian.

Vincent:  The topic is:  “If you could write your author into a book it would be called … and she would be a …”  *holds up a hand to accentuate the “…”*

Elaina:  *folds her arms*  Well then why not call it The Princess of Shilo City?

Vincent:  *smiles a toothy smile*  Because, I’m at the computer. 

The door knob rattles, the latch unlocks, the opalescent sheen fades, and the silencing spell breaks.  James leads Cole into the office.

Vincent:  *grimaces*  I forgot about James and his multi-tasking.

Cole:  Nice try, Kid.

James:  *motions for Vincent to move*  I’ll take over here.  *takes seat as Vincent gets up*  *types*  Goddess of the Ethereal Plane.

Cole:  Wait.  *a sly grin curves his lips*  The topic didn’t say the book was going to be a real book.  Why don’t we have some fun with this?  *everyone looks at him and he reaches over James and types*  Token Toad of Toad Suck.

All eyes widen. 

Elaina:  Cole! 

Cole:  What?  Toad Suck is a small community near where she lives in Arkansas.  I could call it Banshee of Booger Hollow.

Elaina:  *covers her mouth and snickers*

Charlene:  *enters the office*  How’s it going, guys?

James quickly waves his hand in the air and Cole straightens, turning deep red. 

Cole:  Uh, duh, uh…well…

James:  Cole came up with the perfect title and character.  Why don’t you have a look.

Charlene:  Oh, Cole, you did?  That’s great.  *looks over James’s shoulder and reads*  The Lady of Cornerstone Summit.  Aww.  *hugs Cole*  That is so sweet.

Cole:  *looks at James with a “thanks for the save” look*  Anything for you, Charlene.

.

What I Wanted To Be...And Got

Dressen: *sits, crosses his legs, and glares across the room at the others*

Elaina: *hands Cole his drink and leans close* Charlene really wanted him here for this post?

Dressen: I’d say she knows who the most driven of her characters is. Yes, Elaina. I heard you.

James: Drive has nothing to do with this topic.

Cole: Most driven. *mumbles* Nobody’s more driven than I am.

Dressen: I’ll grant you that you are determined concerning Anna. But you underestimate me, Cole Shilo. 

Elaina: *blinks at him timidly* What does that mean?

Dressen: I’ve been at this game a long time. I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up at an early age and I saw to it that I achieved that dream. Weak minded morals never got in my way. And I’ll have one of those fine Ambrosias from Meridian.

Elaina: Oh, sure, Lord Dressen. *rushes to get him a drink*

Vincent: And what would that dream be? A self-serving, manipulative gloat? 

Dressen: I get what I want.

Vincent: At the expense of others.

James: *holds up a hand to quiet Vincent* Let’s hold off on all that. That’s not why we’re here.

Vincent: And why are we here? If Charlene wanted Dressen to talk to the blog readers she could have just invited him to her office and leave us out of it.

Dressen And forego all this entertaining bantering?  *chuckles* She knows what she’s doing.

James: Perhaps she wanted everyone’s input. Elaina, we’ll start with you.

Elaina: *blinks to the side and turns red* Um, come back to me. I think I need to think about this. *hands Dressen the ambrosia*

James: Okay, Vincent.

Vincent: I used to want to train gilrues. The first time Father took us to a show, I wanted to take one home with me.

Dressen: *cocks an eye* What’s a gilrue?

James: They’re similar to a seal.

Dressen: You wanted to train sea creatures? *nods with a cooked grin* Charming.

Vincent: *growls and sparks dance along his fists*

James: Well, I wanted to travel to the stars.

Elaina: An astronaut? Really, James?

Dressen: Well, Sir Cole, I believe that leaves you. And I must say I’m looking forward to your youthful dreams.

Cole: * looks at his glass as he swirls the liqueur* I wanted to write. Adventure, mystery.

Dressen: *smiles* A writer. I would be very interested in reading one of your works.

Vincent: *scowls* What’s going on?

Dressen: Pardon me?

Vincent: You’re being awfully…nice. 

Dressen: *shrugs* You all merely confirmed that Charlene chose correctly when she asked me to do this post. Each of you had dreams as a child that were simply that. Dreams. As a child, I wanted it all. Trained servants to do my bidding. The senior position in the Grand Marshal’s court. *looks into Cole's eyes*  A woman dedicated solely to me. And I saw to it that I achieved it.

Cole: *jumps to his feet and forces his thoughts to their minds* You’ll not have her!

Vincent: *neon flares arch from his fists*

James: *waves a hand and an opalescent barrier divides the room, separating them from Dressen*

Elaina: *gasps, eyes wide* Magic! *all look at her and she nods wildly* That’s what I wanted when I was little. And…and now I see it everyday!

Dressen: *chuckles and stands* It seems I’ve been exceeded. *raises his glass to Elaina then sets it on the end table* I’ll take my leave.

.

My childhood. Grrr. This is impossible.

Vincent:  *leans arms on the kitchen table and wiggles pen in between his fingers.  Sighs then repositions the pad of paper and jots a few lines*

My childhood memories…  I grew up in Meridian.  Our manor was surrounded by trees with long branches that reached the ground like vines and I would climb them like ropes. 

James:  *sets a plate of muffins on table and glances at his writings.  Chuckles*  Charlene recruited you to do the childhood memories blog?

Vincent:  *rakes fingers through hair*  Yeah.  But how do I relate life in Meridian to the Cornerstone dimensions without having to explain everything?  *looks at his scribbling*  ‘Long branches that reach the ground like vines’.  I can’t very well just say the credial.  And this is the closest translation.  They don’t have those here.

Cole:  *cocks a chair to the side and sits, grabbing a muffin and reaching for the butter*  Talk about all the times Mother got on to you for loosing your temper and blowing up the place.  That would fill a room.

Vincent:  *sneers*

James:  Why not tell about the holidays to the other planes Father took us on.  Which one was your favorite? 

Vincent:  The time we visited Cornerstone Summit.  But, I was legally an adult when he let me come with you guys.  This is supposed to be about my childhood.

James:  Well, our childhoods are short in comparison to our life spans.  And you were still very young.

Cole:  *laughs*  The trip to Earth?  *nods as he remembers*  Of course.  That would be your favorite.  The pharaoh’s daughter.    

Vincent:  *smiles*  Yeah, I didn’t think Father would ever allow me through the portal again.  Didn’t think he’d ever let me set foot in public again.

James:  Well, you shouldn’t have blown up that statue.

Vincent:  That guy was way out of line. 

James:  That guy was her brother and he caught you two in the stables.  You influenced that culture with that display.  They thought you were a god.  Father had every right to be angry.

Cole:  *leans toward Vincent*  So, tell me.  Was she worth it?

Vincent:  *smiles wider*

Cole:  Admit it.  She was your first. 

Vincent:  I haven’t admitted that to you in all this time.  What makes you think I’ll admit it now?  *grimaces at his slip in wording*

Cole:  *laughs and spreads butter on his muffin*  I knew it. 

Vincent:  *glowers over his paper*  So, you don’t think I should tell about the time I built that sand sculpture without manipulating the elements?

James:  These people do that all the time. 

Vincent:  But it took a lot of time and patience.

Cole:  Ninety percent of the spectrum’s population has more patience than you do.

Vincent:  *scowls and leans back into his chair*  Then, I have nothing. 

Charlene:  *enters kitchen*  How’s it going, Vince?

James:  Vincent thinks his childhood was too uneventful for this task, Charlene.

Charlene:  Oh?  *looks over Vincent’s shoulder at the few jotted sentences*  Oh.  Well, what about all the times you got in trouble for blowing things up? 

Cole:  *chuckles and looks away*

Vincent:  *leers at Cole then scribbles on the paper*

Things happened.  I got mad.  Sparks came out.  I blew things up.  Mother got angry.  I got in trouble.

Vincent:  *tears paper from pad and hands it Charlene*  Okay.  There you go.  *looks out at blog readers*  Blog post done.


.

Dear Ms. Wilson

Dear Ms. Wilson,

In light of Cornerstone Summit’s, or in your dimension’s familiar terms, Earth’s, celebration of love, be it know to you as Valentine’s Day and your birthday, I have been called upon by Sirs Cole, James, and Vincent Shilo to extend the following invitations for February 14, 2011.

Sir Vincent wishes to meet you at 7:30am at which time he will whisk you by Smoke of Night to the northern providence of Terra to ski the slopes of Higotham.  Appropriate attire has been sent with this request and he asks that I reassure you there is no worry for lack of skill.  He will guide your balance at all times.    

Sir James offers an afternoon of relaxation which includes a full body massage in the sunroom.  Confections from Midway Summit and a personal note are included with this letter.  He asks that it be withheld from blog print as it is of a personal nature.

Please find with Sir Cole’s invitation a bottle of the finest Ambrosia of Meridian.  He wishes to escort you to Shilo City’s Ball of the Bells, to be held on February 14, 2011.  Should you choose to accept, a carriage will arrive at 7:00pm.  Arrangements have been made at Chantelli’s Formal Wear and Armerello’s Jewelry to allow you to select your choice of gown and accessories.  He also wishes me to assure you that the Song of Meridian will be played, spotlighting the two of you in dance.   

May I add my deepest wishes for an enjoyable birthday on this day of love.  It has been my pleasure to perform this duty.

Sincerely,

Tyler Ballard

Officiator to the Nobles

Charlene:  *turns bright red*  Oh.  My.  God!  Cole, don’t you dare fill Dressen’s order! 











.

Happy Birthday, Mianna!

Charlene enters the kitchen and Vincent rushes to grab the bags in her arms.
James: I could have made the cake, Charlene. You didn’t need to buy one. Especially with it being so big.

Charlene: Oh, I wanted to. *sets cake on table* This is her first birthday since her death.

Elaina: *sniggers* Do you know how silly that sounds? *looks in a bag* Don’t tell me you’re counting all the years she’s been dead too.

Charlene: Do you think I should only put 23 candles on since that’s the age Arylin transferred her soul back to? I wasn’t really sure.

Vincent: How do you expect to fit 432 candles on a cake? *sets bags on the baker’s island*

Charlene: *looks at all the boxes of candles as Elaina dumps them from the bag* Well, I guess you’re right.

James: *pulls out a few decorations and chuckles* Charlene, you really want to go all out, don’t you.

Charlene: *beams* I think it will mean a lot to Cole.

James: I’ll tell you what. Since you went through all the trouble of… *eyes the piles* selecting the… *glances at Charlene’s wide smile* perfectly matched decor, why don’t you let me help set it all up.

Charlene: *nods with excitement* Okay. And wait till you see what I got her. *rushes from room*

Elaina: There’s more?

Vincent: Mianna’s going to faint.

James: But I think Charlene’s right about Cole. He’ll soak in every moment.

Cole: *shuffles in and looks at the supplies* What’s all this?

Elaina: It’s for Mianna’s birthday.

Cole: *smiles* Really? That’s great. But it’s not until the 28th.

James: She wanted to celebrate it with the blog readers and our next post isn’t until Feb. 2nd. *waves a hand at the decorations*

Bags dump items out. Wrappers tear open. Balloons…balloon. Streamers snake throughout the room, adhesive attaching them to the walls and ceiling.

Cole: *ducks as a hat tries to land on his head* I’m not wearing that thing.

Vincent: *tilts his to the side* Oh, come on, big brother. Charlene went through a lot of trouble to put this together.

Elaina: *hands Cole his hat* You could at least play along.

Charlene enters with more bags.

Cole: * quickly puts hat on his head* Hi, Charlene. Wow. You really went through a lot of trouble to put this together.

Vincent: *scowls at Cole and takes a couple bags from Charlene, settling them on a counter* Are there any more to bring in?

Charlene: No, that’s it. Elaina, would you be a dear and put the candles on the cake?

Elaina: Um… Did you want 23 or 432? *sniggers*

Cole: You wanted to celebrate all of her soul’s years?

Elaina: So Mianna’s lifetime was her soul’s first.

Vincent: If we start lighting candles for every year of our soul’s lives, we’d have to set fire to Shilo City for Cole.

Cole: *growls* Runt.

Charlene: Okay. We’re not starting that, you two. We’ll just put on 23.

Mianna: *enters* Hi. Oh, did I miss something? I didn’t know we were having a party.

James: *lifts a finger and the candles whip from Elaina’s hands, stand up on the cake and light*

Charlene: *jumps up and down* Happy Birthday, Mianna!

Mianna: *throws hands to her mouth* What? Oh, this is so sweet! *rushes to Cole and hugs him* This was all your idea wasn’t it?

Cole: Um…

Elaina: Here, Mianna. Have a party hat.

Charlene: Come see the cake! *tugs her over to the table*

Vincent: *leans to James* What do you bet he lets her keep thinking all this was his doing?

James: Charlene won’t mind. She wanted to do it for Cole as much a Mianna.

Vincent: Well, he’ll definitely enjoy all the thanks he’ll get later for all of his work on the occasion.

Christmas Wrapping

Cole: *walks in and quirks an eye* What’s all this?

James: *presses a bow to a present and sets it aside* We’re helping wrap Christmas presents.

Cole: They don’t celebrate Christmas on Cornerstone Deep. That’s a Cornerstone Summit tradition.

Vincent: Well, Charlene’s head is filled with it right now. And I gotta say, I like some of the ideas. *holds the mistletoe over Elaina’s head*

Elaina: What do you plan on doing with that?

Vincent: When you’re caught under the mistletoe, you get a kiss.

Elaina: Really? What’s a sprig got to do with a kiss?

Vincent: Beats me. But I’m playing it to my favor. *leans toward Elaina*

Cole: That mistletoe doesn’t have any berries left on it, Kid.

Vincent: Your point?

James: The opportunity of a kiss from a maiden ceases when all the berries are plucked off.

Cole: *folds his arms and chuckles* Thank you James.

Vincent: *growls and throws it aside* There has to be more around Charlene’s head somewhere. *storms off to look*

Elaina: Really, Cole. What did you have to bring that up for? I would have kissed him anyway.

Cole: I just wanted to see if he'd buy it.

James: *hands Cole wrapping paper* Here. Help with some of these.

Cole: You guys really got everybody gifts?

James: They’re not ours. They’re Charlene’s.

Cole: All of these?

James: She insisted on giving all her characters something along with her family.

Elaina: Isn’t she the sweetest writer?

Cole: *slumps his shoulders* She already gave me the one thing I really wanted in her first book. I owe her as it is.

James: *hands him a box* I’m certain she’s not giving in hopes of receiving.

Cole: You didn’t really wrap all of these by hand did you? With your multi-tasking ability, she probably wanted you to wave a hand and do it all at once.

James: That would take the fun out of it. You’ll see.

Cole: *sits down, fumbles with the wrap, and scowls* No, James. I’m convinced Charlene wanted you to use magic for this.

Charlene: *enters and sets her hands on her hips* Okay, who pissed off Vince?

Cole: *crumples the wrapping paper and quickly shoves it to the side*

Charlene: Oh. Of course. Cole.

Elaina: *laughs* Oh, he’s just looking for some mistletoe with berries on it.

Charlene: Yeah, I gathered that. He’s grumbling and shooting at every clump he can find in my head!

James: You haven’t imagined mistletoe with berries?

Charlene: Augh! James, you’re a genius. Wait a second. *closes eyes*

Vincent: *runs back in* I found some! I don’t know how many of these things I had to shoot down, but I finally got some.

Charlene: *leers at him* Twenty-two. *shakes her head and leaves*

Vincent: Uh, yeah. Right. Sorry, Charlene. *grimaces and turns to Elaina, lifting a huge bush* Now, where’s that kiss?

Cole: Great Gods! She put enough berries on that clump.

James: *laughs and folds his arms* That aught to keep him occupied into the new year.

Introduction to Cornerstone Deep

Mr. Ballard: Hello. My name is Tyler Ballard, Officiator to the Nobles. I’ve been called upon by Sir Cole Shilo to introduce our world.

Vincent: Actually, Charlene wanted us to pop in and share a little about ourselves. Leave it to Cole to pawn off the responsibility.

James: He delegated, Vince. There’s a difference.

Vincent: Well, Mr. Ballard will have to introduce more than their dimension for all this to make sense. We’re from Meridian, not Terra.

Cole: *pulls out a chair and cocks it to the side* Just let him handle this, Kid. *sits down, stretching his long legs in front of him*

Vincent: Could you at least hold back on calling me Kid in front of the blog readers?

James: Both of you could show a little more temperance in light of the moment.

Cole: *mumbles* Always the mediator.

Mr. Ballard: Sir Vincent is quite correct. These fine founders are not native to our dimension. They serve as Sentinels here on Terra. Or as it is known by its position in the spectrum of realms, Cornerstone Deep, as we share the supportive base. And I must say, it is an honor for me to have Ms. Wilson name her debut novel after my home plane. *glances at the Shilo brothers then clears his throat* Allow me to explain.

Vincent: *leans over to James* He could have at lease allowed Charlene to create avatars to represent us.

Cole: I’m not being portrayed by a cartoon.

Vincent: A caricature. What’s so wrong with that? It’d help your disposition to laugh at yourself every now and then. *turns away* Mianna would have loved it.

Cole: *jumps to his feet and speaks through his teeth* Leave her out of this.

James: *steps between the two and folds his formidable arms* That was uncalled for, Vince.

Vincent: Well, I’m certain Chad and Styne from her other novel, Aumelan, wouldn’t mind.

Mr. Ballard: *rearranges his notes and continues* As you know, a cornerstone is a vital part of any building or structure. In this case, you could think of an arch. It begins and ends with a cornerstone supporting each base. Midway sections join the meridian cap to the cornerstones to make the structure. As with this structure, our spectrum has planes named Meridian, Midway, and Cornerstone. Sirs Cole, James, and Vincent are from Meridian… *looks back at the brothers and ups his brows*

Vincent: *looks at Mr. Ballard with his onyx eyes*

James: *looks at Cole*

Cole: *sits back down, looks at Mr. Ballard and nods, crossing his ankles*

Mr. Ballard: And possess the powers of that gifted central plane.

Vincent: *leans toward James* I know Elaina would love to help Charlene pick out a doll avatar to represent her.

Cole: *glares at Vincent*

Mr. Ballard: Our side of the spectrum’s arch is called Deep and the other side is called Summit. Hence, Cornerstone Deep.

Vincent: And face it James. You wouldn’t mind seeing Linda in some of those getups they have to choose from.

Cole: *jumps to his feet again* That’s enough, Kid!

Vincent: Don’t call me Kid!

Cole: It’s your first life span. You’re a kid!

Vincent: *sparks dance along his fists* So three life spans makes you an old brooding self-centered prick!

James: *scowls and reaches into Cole’s pocket, removing an envelope* Mr. Ballard, maybe you should take your leave before Vincent destroys the place.

Mr. Ballard: *accepts the envelope and stashes it in his pocket* Thank you Sir Shilo. Always a pleasure doing business you.

James: *turns back to his brothers and mumbles* I wonder how many times Charlene will put up with having her study blown up.