Here ’s mine :
Priscilla ’s mother called it the Planet of Misfit Toys , and tonight Priscilla was willing to concede that she might be right . Most nights , Priscilla love the manner the fog , the way it tickled her nostrils and smelled like sparkling cider . That was why she ’d bought the convertible , after all . But the swarm cover in the Rehobeth microclimate made satellite navigation spotty , and she had never been invited to Count Asma ’s manor house before .
She ’d take heed stories , of course of action , from the girls in her Volunteer Corps unit . Rebecca - Anne Jacobs flash teeth as bloodless as her Terran pearls when she described his mood - controlled floral gallery , and the centerpiece , Nude Riding an Allosaurus , manage by the famed Ionian landscaper Kent St. Claire . Alberta Pierce whiz into her clone ocelot fumble at the opinion of his zero - G pond and the piddle - pull swimsuits . “ Of course , it would be so improved if we could float au naturel , ” she cackle as the tips of Priscilla ’s ears turned pink . Dolores Pelt squeal that she ’d smack a 2346 Chateau Bronson Ceresian Moscato from the count ’s private cellar , under the pulse - lifting lights of his specially bred fungal chandeliers ( which eat up a unbendable dieting of constitutive coffee reason supplied by the space station Maenad ) . But when Priscilla received the engraved invitation , with the metallic white ink that sent a spark of dopamine through her body any time she traced the lettering , it was her maid aunt Helkin she turned to for advice .
Priscilla set up Aunt Helkin in the tidy office inside the carriage house . Priscilla ’s mother address of Helkin ’s live situation with only the tightest of pursed lips , muttering that if Helkin could n’t be bother to find out herself a husband , the least she could do was live in the main planetary house , like a civilised woman of substance . But Priscilla ’s father would excite his drumhead and laugh , lamenting that Helkin would do as she please , and if she was n’t countenance to last in the carriage mansion , Helkin would surely see for an apartment in town . Well , that certainly shut Priscilla ’s female parent up , but not before an unbecoming harumph escape from her throat .
Priscilla slipped the invitation onto Helkin ’s desk without a Son , prompt the older cleaning woman to stare up at her over her hombre ’s eye ice . The recession of one red lip scrunched into a smirk , and Helkin clasped her gloved hands together . “ You desire to know if he ’ll leave your award entire ? ” she asked .
short , Priscilla felt like she was back beneath Alberta Pierce ’s knowing gaze . “ I just thought … that you might … ” she stutter . Aunt Helkin assist on the board of the Exoplanetary Arts Council with Count Asma , and Priscilla wondered what they did alone in his home base while her mother tut-tut and twitter to her meritball club .
Helkin held up a deal , and Priscilla knew that a microscopical pattern of light was flaunt a brain - calming sign from the medallion . “ Do n’t fuss , little lamb , ” Helkin said . “ The Count has no need to bolt up petty girl . Still , ” she laid a mitt on Priscilla ’s sleeve , and Priscilla nigh throb at the unexpected impinging , “ I ’m not sure you ’re ready . ”
Priscilla ’s shoulder joint blades knit together . “ For what ? ”
“ To have fun . ”
perhaps , Priscilla reflect as she abandon the car and abuse out into the field of gelatinous tentacles , she had done this on purpose . Perhaps , subconsciously , she had misinterpret the map Aunt Helkin had give her and set ashore her car into this power train - clogging meadow of pink to forfend the house painting and the swimming , and the thrumming and throbbing of the fungous lights . To avoid being another fille cooing over the Count while raising prefab unit in the nester ’ district .
But just as one of the tendrils constricted around her ankle , Priscilla point out that the Malus pumila cider air took on the sudden smiler of champagne , and she quietly prayed that this was all just part of the fun .
Fiction
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