Harvesting the Wild Flowers (pageant forum members)

[Wyndstar]

Wow. Lot of new folk. Ah well...
This will probably be my last post for a while, and that it involves forum folks, I've decided to actually post it. Considering the talk about having a forum pagent, I figured it would be appropriate. Very small cast this time. I have to post it in pieces because it is a tad long. This is now complete...

Harvesting the Wild Flowers

“…Looks aren’t everything, Nae. Beware of those that would judge you only by that.” Said the voice that made the wild flowers in the meadow sway, a collective wave to the dreamer.

When the breeze stopped, the harvesters came. They were faceless, but unsettlingly familiar.

“Beautiful flowers should be where their beauty can be admired.” They declared.

Nae heard tiny screams as the figures began clipping flowers from their stems.

“Just flowers.” The figures assured.

“Never.” The breeze contradicted, as it began taking a more human form “But in the trap of ‘Just’, one lives by it…”

Blades flashed, the figures became liquid obscurity.

“…Dies by it.”

The breeze, now completely human, sporting a blood soaked blade, began to turn.

Nae gasped—

“Oh Nae, I’m sorry.” Silver apologized with a cautious whisper. She’d been trying to return to her seat without disturbing anyone.

“No—you’re fine.” Nae assured with a gracious smile “I was already awake.”

“Great.” Piped a voice “Absolut Perfect is having poetry panic—she needs an injection of alcohol.”

“Jen—poetry panic?”

“She’s stuck on this subject.” Wyndy told, as Nae went cold “About wild flowers, and faces that—disappear…”
***
It was a tour special; a 4 to 6 person deal to Ireland for only $600. The group had to rent the car at their own expense, follow what seemed a reasonable itinerary, but the lodgings and one meal a day was included in the initial fee.

Each of the four amateur writers had their reasons for embarking.

Nae’s children were growing up without her, and Jen’s were clinging to her against their own. Silver needed a break from school, and Wyndy—was just being stubborn.

So, off the fair ladies went on a plane for a seven day exploration of Ireland, as long as no one discovered Wyndy’s lie on the questionnaire…

“…Well, Mary and Ray do count as relatives,” she mentioned sheepishly “But they aren’t really in the UK, so don’t worry…”

Albeit strange dreams and poetry about wild flowers on the plane, they got to Ireland and hit the road without trouble. And with everything made simple by the travel agency, the hardest thing was deciding which festivals to go to…

“…Castles, stones and pubs!” Silver cried with glee “Let’s hit everything!”

The women had great plans.

And there were being made great plans—for them…
***
“What kind of names are these? Which is Nae? And does ‘Wyndy’ mean the wench has an unsettled tongue?”

“Nae is the blond with the sweet face.” It was revealed “Silver is the dark haired gypsy, Jen is the earthy lass with the honey brown hair, Wyndy is probably misspelled for Wendy—the red head. But she’s unsuitable.”

“Will that keep the others from competing?”

The town mayor gazed out the window as the four drove into the village.

“We made the prizes something all our prospective contestants want more than all other things, my lord.” The mayor informed “She’ll be cheering them on.”

“Good. Send the boys on, and the invitations, tonight…”
***
They didn’t go to any pubs when they first arrived in town.

Instead, they bought various alcohols and planned doing the night out by the sea, in the moonlight.

“…Babies peeing and premature ejaculation aren’t really that kinky—but I was hoping someone could have gotten them farther than I did.” Silver giggled “The writing forum could do with something risky.”

“It’s hard to get inspired bawdy when you know there are 12 year olds there, though.” Nae admitted regretfully “A lot of them aren’t ready for it—not with how far most on the forum would take it.”

“Then you should just go with the writingpornum.com, Silver.” Jen advised with a lascivious smirk “You can start with a hot sex scene between Hodge—“

Nae snickered uncontrollably.

“—And Tsu, and top it off with Wyndy’s last forum fic, minus the censorship.”

“I loved that scene where I was on the beach.” Nae recalled wistfully “It wasn’t porn, it was erotic. Hodge,” she added sardonically “Would be porn.”

“Could anyone put up with him really, though?” Silver had to wonder.

“He’s a character.” Jen reminded dourly “They’d put up with him because of it.”

“Everyone in the forum is a character.” Silver returned with a snicker “That’s why I did the forum fic—just to see if I could pull it off, too.”

By the third bottle between them, fics were no longer what they considered pulling off!

“…Oh triple phased goddess, cool, silver bitch-queen men can’t touch, but yearn for, fear your reflection in woman, we bask in your glory!”

Wyndy picked up the bottle Nae had been drinking, casting a critical eye on it.

“Why is it I never pick the bottle with the creative shit in it?”

“Because you said you wanted to get drunk.”

“Shut up Silver.”

“Oh ladies—look.” Jen cooed in satisfaction “Dinner is coming to us. Flank steak in tight denim rub.”

“Oooohhh.” Silver eyed the five men cresting the horizon of town lights with appreciation “They’re all hot!”

“Or we’re all drunk.” Wyndy added, once again eying the bottle suspiciously…
***
Twenty minutes later found them in a local pub that served the dual purpose of grocery store—but it was nicely decked out and smelled like loam, rather than cigarette smoke.

“…Well, a beauty contest is mentioned in the itinerary.” Nae did admit to the group of men that turned out to be judges for it “But we had other things we wanted to do than stay in the same town, and compete against each other.”

“It says groups can’t compete against each other.” Silver read the rules “It has three age groups; 20s, 30s and 40s, and according to this, we’re judged by each village we go to, the cumulative scores given before the end of our trip.”

“Only three of ya can compete.” They were informed “There’s a Wyndy—didn’t complete the questionnaire. Didn’t put down ya dream trip, woman.”

Wyndstar looked at the head judge for the area, darkly suspicious.

“How did you know I was Wyndy?”

“Cause y’re the one I’d of voted for.”

That was a surprise, at least to her.

“Then, we get voted on, regardless of whether we register?” Jen asked.

“Registered when ya paid for the tickets, so the judges are told.”

“Kinda more depressing than I expected.” Mentioned a boyish blond “Ya get ta see pretty girls, butcha can’t keep them, ‘cept for a dance.” And he offered a hand to Silver
“Name’s Trey. Care for a spin?”

Warmth crept up Silver’s spine from the most attractive smile she had ever seen.

It was the only invite she had needed.

Nae took on with a lovely Italian looking gentleman with a lilt in his accent and a certain refinement that seemed at odds with the simplicity of the village.

“…And so, they gave you our ages?” She asked him, hardly approving of it.

“When you first came to town, no.” He admitted with a smile “Not until I passed my vote for you as a 20 year old.”

“Nice.” Nae smiled appreciatively “Very nice…”

“…So, dermabrasion?”

Jen had no idea of what her dance partner was referring to.

“Your friend. Her face.” He gestured to Wyndy “Dermabrasion gone wrong? Vanity’ll kill you yanks…”

The boy landed on his ass from Jen’s swing!

“Now there’s a good part of the night.” Wyndy grinned through her glass of stout as Jen sat next to her.

“That’d be Jonesy—his trap has a blind trigger.” The spokesman who voted for Wyndy revealed darkly “He was a bad choice. Hasn’t a concept for true beauty. ‘S only skin deep for him.”

“This is Aiden.” Wyndy introduced the man.

Knowing his name made him worthy of further scrutiny, to Jen.

He had that sandy-brown hair of a man at least in his fifties, eyes of someone older, the smile of someone who knew the joke behind everything, particularly the dark side of it.

He seemed likable, attractive for his age, but a bit complex—too much work.

“Can I keep this one?” Silver whispered in her friend’s ears concerning her ‘boytoy’.

“Since you’re the last group of the quarter, then Trey can come with me to the other villages for the tally. We’d be following you four for that.”

Silver’s eyes grew wide.

“You heard me?”

“Lass,” he told her, glancing elsewhere “It isn’t what one says with words that others hear.”

She didn’t know it, but he was looking—at Wyndy…
***
They weren’t going to drive in the same car, and all the girls expressed a bit of concern about a beauty contest they were eligible for by virtue of their tickets, but it seemed like an adventure of sorts…

“…Scotland? One of the prizes is an all expense paid trip to Scotland?” Jen studied the pageant packet Aiden had given them.

“There are literary workshops, too.” Silver declared, reading from her copy “A six month, college affiliated workshop, here in Ireland, all expenses paid.”

“And a woman’s workshop—six months all expenses paid. And exploration of self and self promotion for writers.” Nae tittered in delight at the prospect “Anywhere the winner chooses.”

“Who are the sponsors?” Wyndy had to ask, and did at the next rest stop “Aiden, who runs this?”

“The travel agency. To boost sales with bored housewives.’ Aiden revealed, disdain in his voice “Works too. Most of the lot is typical—overindulged, cackling hens, bored of the corpses they create. No personalities, clichés. A rare few, not.’ He added meaningfully “Good friends touring. Or good women, bastard husbands not worth the effort.”

“What makes you think those women are good?”

Aiden smirked ruefully.

“Cause that’s the only kind that’d have ‘em.”

“Guess there won’t be any love affaires in his vicinity—except Silver.” Wyndy tossed over her shoulder as she walked to the trash to get rid of her empty soda can.

“…So,” Trey said to Silver as she gassed up the car “I think you have a love, I won’t impose, but—a dance, a kiss or two…”

Nae shook her head.

“Is Wyndy always this blind about affecting men?”

“I used to think—no.” Jen answered with a sigh “But really, she doesn’t have a clue at all…”

[Wyndstar]

Harvesting, Part II--lot of the 'B * tch' word in this...

It started at the very next town.

There were baskets waiting in Jen, Nae and Silver’s rooms. There were expensive creams and perfumes, seen as nice little incentives—they were samples after all.

“This is so sweet.” Nae exclaimed, like a little girl opening her Christmas stocking.

At this town, Nae was most favored by the judges, and found her self the center of attention.

It was flattering.

It was frustrating.

“…They want to buy her drinks, buy her flowers, buy her dinner.” Jen grumbled “We won’t be able to see anything for the crowds.”

They were able to finally go sight seeing, but they ended up with chaperones.

“She has the highest approval rating for her type.” One whispered conspiratorially.

It got to the point that even Nae, who it was understood to be the sweetest, was loosing her patience…

“…I’m honestly flattered by this, really,” Nae told Aiden by the end of the day “But please, can they leave us alone for a bit?”

“We’re scheduled to go to Galway tomorrow for the tour I arranged at Connemare Natural Park and Kylemore Abbey.” Wyndy pointed out.

“Those weren’t on your itinerary.” Trey mentioned, seeming a bit concerned.

“It wasn’t like we were just going to wander here, lost.” Jen answered him as if his statement was pure stupidity “And the itinerary was supposed to allow for our own plans.”

“But—the Abbey and the Park?” Trey considered “If I can go, I’ll do away with the eager crowds.”

“He’s so good.” Silver sighed “And versatile.”

It was easy to see the youthful yearning for romance being fulfilled for Silver. And despite their greater experiences, Nae, Wyndy and Jen let their enjoyment of something pure, innocent and delightful make them more optimistic.

Such is the double edge to the positive…
***
“…Gimmee a mo.” Wyndy excused herself when they arrived in Galway. “Pills.” She answered Trey’s questioning expression “I have—a headache. I like my privacy when I take pills, so no one gets the wrong idea.”

“Oh.” The lad nodded his head.

Aiden smirked as she rounded the bend.

Aside Wyndy’s diversion, it proved to be a very nice day. They spent several hours doing scenery before returning to Galway for a night out. It was a university town, so it was eclectic and lively. It was by the river Comb and had many lovely sights on its own.

It was at Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas that young Trey took Silver by the hand.

“I gotta question, love, any man who’d let ya roam like this.” He considered, as they breezed casually towards Abbeygate street upper, towards the Latin Quarter “As it is, I’m willing to barter servitude to be your escort, lass.”

“Servitude?” Silver couldn’t help but be titillated by the offer; Trey looked so sincere.

“Prove it.” She directed him.

“Watch Aiden.” Trey answered the challenge grimly “And your friend. Easy mark, skin like hers—he can take gratitude down his trousers, if you catch me.”

For a moment, Silver regretted ever asking. She’d been expecting a free dinner, a backrub, not something—

Well, it was a significant thing though, wasn’t it? And it made some sense.

“But better—I’ll help you with your itinerary.” Trey went on, after a moment of silence “And see to a fairer time. Cheer up lass,” he prodded, kissing her hand “We aren’t all rogues, y’ll see.”

Silver was beginning to doubt that…
***
Another town, something new waiting; make up artists and hairdressers.

Silver, Nae and Jen got their invites while Wyndy was in the lobby confirming their next tour.

“Now I can definitely handle this sort of delay.” Jen sighed, as one person massaged/washed her scalp, while another did her nails “All we need is a bottle of good champagne.”

“Mimosa.” Nae volunteered “It’s early.”

“Trey’s getting it.” Silver declared airily, snapping closed the cell phone he’d given her “He’s going to bring Wyndy with him.”

Several questions about husbands, kids and Trey passed by the time the latter arrived.

“All right ladies,” Trey smiled brilliantly. He brandished a cart with an iced down bottle, several glasses, pastries, and an extra bottle besides.

“Where’s the rest of our order?” Jen demanded “Fetch the rest of us, so we can all damage as many men as we can.”

“Couldn’t find her.” the boy shrugged, pouring and handing them glasses “The manager said she left the house without a word.”

“Is Aiden around?” Silver asked in concern.

“He’s with the other judges. Seems they’ll be wanting to check you all after the make over.”

“Okay, well—when you find Wyndy and get her here, we’ll finish the make over.” Jen told him, as the other ladies resolutely stood up.

“Go. Go.” Silver urged her boytoy petulantly, like a goddess, despite her half-state of coquettery “Find her.”

To say the special treatment was starting to get to them wouldn’t be accurate, but it was a heady thing.

The only thing that dashed cold water on them—

“…She isn’t on the schedule, ma’am.” The beautician protested, when Trey showed up with Wyndy.

“Can’t use make up anyway.” Wyndy mentioned dismissively “It messes up my skin.”

“You can do her hair—that wouldn’t take much time.” Nae suggested pleasantly.

“She isn’t in the competition.” Trey reminded.

“But money is money, isn’t that true, ladies?” said Aiden, slipping one of the ladies a large, euro bill.

“I’da done ya for free,” the girl whispered in Wyndy’s ear as she whipped out an apron “The others tell me ya’ve been all over the world, cept here—even to Guam, and I dinn’t even know it was a place…!”
***
When the judges came, the ladies were taking glamour shots of each other with digitals.

“Let’s take a nice one for Chris Miller.” Jen told Wyndy devilishly.

“Should we pay that man for Wyndy’s hair?” Wondered Silver nervously.

“What are we paying for ours?”

Suddenly, Nae, Silver and Jen stopped and looked at each other.



All three had undergone such a major beauty treatment that they barely recognized each other. And no matter how modest they were, they had to acknowledge how incredibly lovely they now looked.

They were not enhanced.

The three women were revealed; brilliantly and naturally.

Such a reveal was not cheap.

And these four ladies were not just bored housewives or indulgent young people who believed the world owed them; their brains were actually in gear.

“…I’m not such the devil for the price of a dance, darlin’,” Aiden was telling Wyndy, but perhaps not so much to just her “I’m the devil for the doing that gets me more than the dance you agreed to…”

A travel agency that charged only $500 for a group trip, with a beauty pageant, gifts and paid for makeovers was beginning to seem a bit on the curious side.

“Maybe,” It was considered cautiously “We should find out what we’ll be paying in the end…”
***
“…I’m just saying that you shouldn’t go out by yourself.” Silver cautioned Wyndy that night “We’re in a foreign country. Trey isn’t here and we don’t know anyone else.”

“I know you. You can come with me.”

“Or you could do whatever it is in the room.”

“Christ Silver—I’ve been to more countries than you’ve had love affaires.” Wyndy declared in annoyance “And the way I look, dog catchers aren’t even interested, so what’s the deal?”

“You could drop from the weight of that monkey on your back.” Jen answered through a book she was perusing.

“Or you could kill someone with your attitude.” Nae contributed.

Three days, and there were stress cracks.

After the makeover, Nae, Jen and Silver got so much attention, Wyndy was inadvertently left behind more than once.

At one point, she’d been forgotten for a tour.

Silver was really concerned over Aiden having paid for Wyndy’s hair to the point where she was making petty excuses to keep them apart.

All three ladies were plagued with doubts about the ‘pageant’, but hadn’t said much to Wyndy, because it seemed ludicrous.

These things caused gaps, distance, and misunderstandings.

The stress sent Silver to Trey…

“…She can be a bit jealous love—its allowed ya know.” He told her, cradling her snugly in his arms “It’s like being snubbed for her, to be sure.”

“Because of a travel agency.”

“Because she’s bitter, and its making her petty. You’ve know her for how long?” Trey wondered “How long have you known any of them, really?”

Silver did not want to hear this.

Troublingly though—Trey had a point…
***
“…I’m going to make it very clear to you right now dear, that it’s looking very much like you have it.”

“But that doesn’t answer my question of why.”

Bothered by a repeated dream and the strain that had manifested over a day, Nae decided to call the travel agency about this ‘pageant’.

“…A promotion, dear, but the towns are really into it.” Was all the rep kept repeating “Now, about you…”

The rep kept telling her about how wonderful it was that she’d meet many of the other winners who had been brought back for the ceremony. He detailed how the next town over there would be specialists in skin care and diet regime to tend to her—and the others, too.

He himself, who had sold them the tickets, would be there.

Everything seemed reasonable, legit—perfectly harmless in that corporate blindness most American citizens were used to.

Nae, however, was still uncomfortable. This pageant wasn’t making anyone happy.

It was time to talk to Aiden---about dropping out…
***
There was a flip side about having a jaded past; you knew how to corrupt others.

By noon, Jen had one of the visiting judges – who was not Irish – drunk off his arse…

“…They gave me the money, y’know,” He slurred, his prior elegance now comical “but the comp’ny---not so good. Boring richies.”

“The travel agency pays the towns for the pageant?”

“Only in tourism.” The man sniggered “I get paid ta manage it all---richies won’t risk their investments. Can’t have the locals voting personality.”

“And the—richies, pay for the beauty treatments and the goodies for the contestants, huh?”

“Wretched it is---bites outta my pay.” The man complained, slamming his glass.

“Why?” Jen demanded sternly “Why do rich people sponsor a pageant on the sly?”

“Dunno. Don’t care. Juss like—that they pay in solid cash…”

“…What the fuck.” Jen muttered to herself, making her way out of the pub “I’m outta this shit. It’s not worth it.”

She’d talk to Aiden and be done with this nonsense.

“So much for special travel packages…”
***
“Mad at me still?”

Wyndy had been sitting on a rock overlooking grass and crag when Silver’s voice crazed the scenario.

“Wasn’t mad to begin with. Look, Silver—“ she put down the book and bade the other sit beside her “I appreciate that you’re concerned—its just strange to me, that’s all.” Wyndy confessed “See, I’m the one who always fixes things when they go wrong, or I’m a ghost. I go about my affaires, no one notices or cares. ‘S what you get,” she added with thick sarcasm “When you live in the Land of In-Law. What DOES bug me, though, is this contest.”

“Well, Trey said---“

“No.” the older woman put up her hand “I’m not a bitter hag. I’m retired military with good instincts and a nose for power plays—this is a divide and conquer scenario. Basic PME.”

“PMS?”

“That too.” She relented “And a boy toy going to waste---‘s making me cranky.”

Silver could have sworn she heard punch line music drift wanly past.

“Why?” the younger nervously asked the older.

“Because its easy to snag a lone tourist, use a beauty pageant to fish out the best prospects.”

“The sex trade?” Silver squeaked “Someone wants me for the sex trade?” She sat back “Wow. I must be hot.”

“And I think---I’m a winner.”

Nae.

“Question is, I’m not sure its us that wins overall.”

Ms. Vodka.

“Tourists really are stupid.” The latest arrival went on to say “No one else asked any questions about this.”

“Would we have, if Wyndy wasn’t being such a bitch?” Nae wondered.

“Wyndy’s always a bitch.” Jen snickered, sitting next to she in question “She’s an antisocial, pen-packing bitch. Don’t you read her fics?”

Silver and Nae just stared.

“And you wonder why I get bitchy.” She exclaimed as the foursome headed back together “Aside the PMS---“

“PME.” Silver corrected.

“—And the hair thing, and the tour---and saints, Jen, you sucked down all my Tanqueray last night.”

“Was that what that was?” the woman considered distantly “I thought your aura had turned to liquid bile and I tossed it.”

“Bitch.”

“No, I’m the wild bitch.”

“I’m the pretty bitch.” Nae said sweetly.

“I’m the porno bitch.” Silver piped.

“Well then, if we’re all bitches---“

“You’re the nasty bitch.” Jen specified to Wyndy.

“—Then tonight, we should howl…”
***
Nothing heals a rift like a good group hurl of the emotional toxins that caused said rift.

So, during the full moon, the women brought many bottles of good wine, candles, incense, a bouquet of flowers, fresh water, and a CD player to the crag.

“…Ashes to ashes, Earth to Earth.” Wyndy declared, holding a small pin beneath her hand “A daughter to mother---I’m still here.”

She offered three clean pins.

“Wanna?”

As they’d already had a few, they had no problem giving a few back.

They also left the water, wine, incense and flowers for those who their revelry might disturb.

“…You’re awfully polite, for a bitch.”

“And you’re pretty adventurous for a pretty bitch.” Wyndy floated back at Nae.

“Hey, let’s sneak into Aiden’s room and take pictures of his naked ass.” Silver proposed.

“That’s a sexy bitch.” Jen declared.

“Let’s get a vibrator, shove it up Trey’s ass, and set it to overload.” Wyndy suggested malevolently “That’ll wake him up.”

Strangely, Silver considered that a good idea.

After all, how long had she known him?

“Let’s make believe there are real fey to dance with.” She decided instead.

“Let’s pretend we are fey…!” Nae exclaimed.

And when the Witching Hour had expired, the ladies heading back to their rooms, Aiden sat back on a stump, opened a bottle of wine, and drank as the women vanished on the horizon.

The rose he drank from had been in Wyndy’s hair…
***

[Wyndstar]

Part III

The battalions of experts were waiting for them the next day, in the next town.

“Didn’t you tell them?” Nae hissed at Aiden in irritation, after having to escape the horde out the back of their hotel.

“I can disenroll you lass, but staying the tide’s another task entirely.”

“And we can’t talk to the police.” Silver said, going through their itinerary from the travel agency “We agreed to agency deviations and services—so they won’t consider it harassment.”

“Okay—so we don’t have a choice.”

“Always got a choice.” Wyndy smirked, walking into the room “There’s a tour bus that’s passing through here in an hour. We pack the bags, Aiden and Trey can drive them to the next town after we catch that bus behind the church.”

“How do you know it stops here?” asked Trey.

“Because I called and asked them to.” Wyndy answered darkly. She turned to Aiden.

“Don’t let the boy touch my stuff.”

She didn’t have to worry about it.

The bus never came…

“…Well, this just sucks.” Jen grumbled, catching a curtain drop in the window of a nearby building “Someone probably saw us and called off the bus.”

“They can’t have called off the bus—I used my credit card to confirm.”

“Then someone has a bigger credit card than you.”

Jen’s remark ran them cold.

This was getting a sinister edge to it.

“There you all are!” A young woman called down the alley. She had a clipboard and was tapping it with a pen impatiently.

“It’s very rude to keep people waiting…”

There wouldn’t be much left to the day as they were going.

The ‘specialists’ scrapped skin samples, took pictures in different lights, measured their faces and neck, and worked with colors and patterns.

They even tried to get blood work.

“…Outside toxins cause extensive damage to skin—this will indicate how much you may have.” It was explained, but to no avail.

And Wyndy watched the whole time.

“Does she have to be here?” asked one of the male specialists “She’s—disturbing.”

“There are spiritual toxins everywhere.” Wyndy declared grimly, and she waved a box of pins “All I need are a few drops of blood—and a chicken.” She added thoughtfully “But Trey can have sex with it in another room if it bothers you.”

“She really into this voodoo shit?”

The women held up their palms, and Wyndy whipped out her pentagram pendant.

“She got us to do it.” Nae revealed.

The four waited until the ‘specialists’ were well and gone before they burst into laughter.

“So Silver,” Jen had to ask as Wyndy went back to revamping the schedule “How long do you think it would take for your boy toy to choke that chicken?”

“We can still do Cashel on schedule.” Wyndy indicated “There’s a major hotel near there—no pageant, but I’ll have to drive longer to make up time.”

“Just—as long as we can get a break from all this.” Sighed Nae in resign “Just—get us out of here…”
***
After a brief nap at the roadside, the ladies made their way to the Rock of Cashel bright and early.

The structure originated from the 5th century and was a stronghold for Celtic rules until 1101, when it was handed over to the church.

It was a wonderfully uneventful day, and even Trey proved delightful company…

“…Hey, I’m gonna take Wyndy back to the room.” Jen told Nae with a sigh “Before she’s arrested for looking drunk.”

“Then tell Trey we’re going to dinner at 7 and then to the next village for Killkenny to catch up the schedule.” Nae reminded her “Silver wants to spend some time at Mount Usher Gardens before Dublin.”

Trey was supposed to be transferring their luggage back to their car in the parking lot.

“…Yeah, yeah—down 16, across to 23 and up 26 to the Gardens. Yeah, they’re making a stop before then, after Wexford—right, right. Do it then, and I’ll set up the grab in Dublin…”

Jen and Wyndy stopped.

The voice around the corner—was Trey.

The schedule he was running thought—was theirs!

Jen found this more than freaky, and a look on Wyndy’s face was dark and ugly—but still Jen was able to drag friend quietly away.

“We’re being tracked! He probably told them we were going to get on the bus!” Silver registered shock and disgust.

“Saints—don’t tell me you were sleeping with him.”

“I don’t believe you asked that, Wyndy.” Nae muttered.

“No, I didn’t sleep with him!” Silver exclaimed, indignant “Did you sleep with Aiden?”

“Yeah.”

“Aren’t you married though?”

“Not for this fic…”

“Listen, we just need to deal with this, but it won’t help If you on blabbering about it; to the cops or Trey. They’re probably in on it anyway.” Jen reasoned “We just need to get out of Ireland—alive.”

“You mean—you guys don’t have relatives in Ireland, and military ties in the UK that could make inquiries and cause problems?”

They got the idea…

“…How am I going to explain the vices of lying to the twins after this? Jen had to wonder.

“When the subject comes up, change it by mentioning that you found the Kama Sutra in their back pack.” Wyndy recommended, as Trey made his way across the horizon towards them “Because their being your kids, storytelling is going to be the least of your worries…!”

[Wyndstar]

Finale

The rest of the journey was actually quite pleasant. And since Silver hardly saw Trey, there was no need to play anything distasteful.

The crowd waiting for them at their last stop before the gardens was bigger than anticipated.

Strangely, Trey, who was waiting for them, seemed very perturbed.

“Yo! Wench!”

They were rowdy, they were American, and they were many.

They were addressing Wyndy.

“Nae—where the hell is my niece?”

A short woman with graying blond hair and a clipped, sharp attitude, cut through the crowd. A group of Donegal Irish served as her entourage.

“Your er—niece—here.” Wyndy pushed Nae into view.

“You said you didn’t have relatives here.” Trey hissed at Nae.

“They aunt.” Spoke the older woman, her accent heavy Bostonian “She’s second gen Irish. These are my relatives.”

…And since the woman was really Wyndy’s aunt, and the woman didn’t use names, there was technically no lying.

“And—whose relatives are these?” Trey wondered in distaste at the horde of about 11 rowdy men and 7 women.

“Mine!” Wyndy raised her hand “But they really aren’t relatives. They’re buds.”

“Buds?”

“Yeah.” She grinned, dropping the bombshell “I’m retired military. These are active duty friends who’re stationed over in England.”

“Jen?” Silverwriter?” Next, a younger woman and several men of various ages approached “I’m Lorlie. I heard mention you might be here from the internet.”

“I’m known as Gary Wagner.” One man eagerly offered his hand “Jen—big fan of your poetry.”

“Chris Miller.” Another introduced “Big fan of Wyndy’s abuse of you all in her stories.”

“So, where’s the friggin’ party here?!” a freckled face man demanded.

When Trey’s face puckered up, the man slapped him on the ass.

“Lighten up, slick.” He recommended.

“I love beauty pageants.” The sweet, shorthaired blond woman next to him exclaimed.

“She’s won several of them herself.” Wyndy mentioned pleasantly “She pretty well knows how they work.”

“There aren’t enough rooms for all these.” Trey whined nervously.

“But we’ll see to them lad.” Aiden grinned, suddenly from nowhere “And with such tourism as these’ll provide, these ladies will be the attention here and out for a long, long time…”
***
The older aunt’s name was Eunice. The younger woman, retired military as well, was named Mary. Her husband, Trey’s tormentor, was named Ray.

“So woman—where’s this Mercy Mission you emailed about?” Ray demanded.

“What’s a Mercy Mission?” asked Nae.

“When we were in Germany, the guys would go on the flight line at night looking for terrorists, trouble.” Wyndy explained “They called them Mercy Missions. Now,” she revealed to Ray “You have a real one…”

And quickly, the situation was explained…

“…They set you up, kiddo.” Eunice concluded sarcastically “You’re lucky I don’t get someone from the Family to haul your ass home.”

“That’s not going to do us any good if we don’t know what we’re running from.” Silver mentioned, to everyone’s agreement “Trey might know, though. He’s always putting notes down in his hand held. I thought he was a writer.” She added.

“Don’t suppose anyone would know where he keeps it?” wondered Chris.

“Coat pocket, from what I’ve seen.” Answered Jen.

“We need the codes.” Wyndy said.

“We need to get him drunk.” Stated Gary.

“Then the battle’s won.”

“Hello Aiden.” Jen smirked knowingly “Are you going to sell us out, too? Is this the kiss in the garden?”

“Aren’t you the witty one.” The Irishman drawled in a subtle, almost familiar amusement. Then, he held up a clear plastic bag “An herbal type of ketamine—horse tranks.” He revealed “He won’t be out, but he won’t know you’ve taken the journal. It will give about an hour.”

“Don’t suppose you know the codes.”

“No, but I know someone who has been close enough to see them…”

And he looked to Silver…
***
The party started before Silver and Jen got handed their consolation prizes; free dinners at the local pubs.

Trey found himself dragged out of sight by a bunch of rowdy military.

“…Before the woman gets her hook, be a man!” Gary urged, as Ray pressed a pint into his hands.

He’d finished it by the time he was dumped into the room where Silver waited…
***
At first, the committee refused Eunice entry with her ‘niece’.

“…Then we’re hauling her ass home. I don’t have time for this shit…”

“Now I know where you got the bitch from.” Jen muttered before Wyndy slunk off.

Bullying got Eunice in, and Nae a black mark.

“We’re sorry,” the panel told her, looking down at their paper work “But dear, if it were up to me—you truly are lovely. You all all…”

…No, couldn’t kidnap a woman surrounded by family, friends, and feds…!
***
Silver passed the hand held to Wyndy in disgust.

“What’s the matter--?”

Wyndy gaped in shock.

“Oh fuck!”

She popped in a new chip, copied the needed data. She then led Silver out and let the guys set up as if it had been a drunken party with the boys.

“…He’s a freak!” Silver gasped as they met the rest in the van Ray had rented “He thinks he’s controlling demons!”

“Dark Fey.” Wyndy corrected clinically “He’s a rich boy that wants to be young forever, and he thinks he’s summoned the Dark Fey.”

“He thinks—he thinks he’s—selling faces!”

“Shit.” Jen exclaimed, reading the data “He holds the contest, tells everyone its legit, calls the ‘Fey’ on his phone to arrange for them to eliminate the winner.”

“No he don’t.” Ray waved his phone “Ain’t no such number, no sequence, no such country code—nothing but static.”

“So, he believes the Fey get bored of their own faces, provides them pretty new human ones, and since the Dark Fey are jealous—they don’t like anyone else having those faces, so Trey ‘tells’ the Fey where they are—he assumes his clients—do away with them.” Nae shuddered, handing Wyndy her hand held “Harvesting the wild flowers—us. Like the dream.”

“He doesn’t admit to anything but sponsoring the contest.” Chris pointed out, shaking his head “According to the net, only one of the contestants were actually murdered, but the guy who did it went down during a drug bust. There’s nothing the authorities could make a case on—except our stealing a hand held.”

It was getting dark, and there was pounding on the door.

“Yo! Mark’s taking a hike!”

The streets and houses were empty; the only life was Trey, walking out of town.

“Everyone in town is at the party.” Lorlie told them “Why would he be leaving? And without a car? No town for miles that way.”

“Only one way to find out,” Gary considered “And with all this military, what could be safer?”

“Some of us making an appearance at the party?” Silver suggested.

Chris offered his arm to Wyndy, Ray took Silver’s…

“Its Mary’s turn for a mission.” He told her, his disappointment in evidence.

“Bring me back an ear…!”
***
It wasn’t hard to keep up with Trey. He acted as if he were stumbling drunk. He staggered, though strangely, never left the straight shaft of bright light from the waning moon.

When he got to an open area away from the road, by a hill, Trey seemed to wake up.

“Bitch!” he swore, looking around “She sauced me!”

He hurriedly felt in his coat pocket and was relieved at the hard spot where his heart was supposed to be.

“Ought just call them on her!”

Tray looked strange under the moonlight…

“…He’s so—awful.”

Everyone turned.

“Silver?”

“How could I have seen him as cute?” She went on to say, finding it very surprising.

“She had to see him.” Wyndy shrugged “I suppose closure matters---“

Suddenly, there was a high-pitched wailing. It was everywhere, and no one knew where it was coming from.

In all their lives, the whole group would admit it, all of them, that they had never seen such abject, and total fear.

That fear—Trey wore it like a heavy coat.

And then, he went insane.

The man started moving in circles of varying degrees as the group stared, uncertain of what was happening. He sounded like someone’s recording of a wounded moose that was sped up. Everyone turned away and covered their ears—it was ghastly!

He dropped down to the dirt and began clawing at it, his back turned to them.

When the ground started turning to mud, they realized—he’d been clawing himself!

“Call the cops and an ambulance!” Wyndy commanded as the men familiar with this tone in her voice scrambled over the rocks they were hiding behind “The bastard is having a seizure! We gotta get him out of here…!”
***
It took seven men, and even then they were struggling in the quagmire of blood and urine. Trey thrashed even as the ambulance arrived.

They tried, but some things were beyond them, despite their efforts…

“…He’s done extensive damage.” The doctor told the group “His body—his mind---“

Trey would be scarred forever, and for some reason, it caused him to snap.

When he woke up, all he could do was laugh.

“…Did any of you know him well?” The doctor asked “You’re the girlfriend,” He addressed Silver “Any family?”

“Not that I’ve met.” Silver answered solemnly “But he had a hand held and a cel—maybe in those?”

“We found neither, miss…”

They went back to his rooms with the local law enforcement, and to the spot where he’d done himself.

There was nothing there…
***
Having gotten collaborating stories from villages and everyone involved, the group was released in an hour, since there was no criminal investigation.

They all bid their good-byes, and then it was just the four in their rooms in modern Dublin, far away from the isolated towns where it had been able to take hold—but they could not help but wonder…

“…Is it over?”

“And didn’t I tell you the battle was won?”

“Aiden.”

“Did you know—did you know what he was doing?” Silver demanded to know “Did your herbs do that to him?”

“To assuage your conscience—no.” Aiden confessed dryly “The cocaine he used prior to drinking did. He really shouldn’t have done drugs.” The man smirked knowingly “You can’t always be too sure about the product’s quality—or even where it came from.”

“But you knew what he was doing.”

“Yes, my lady.” Aiden answered Wyndy simply.

“Then why didn’t you stop it in the beginning?”

“Because the rest were too enraptured by the suggested competition, glory.” He told them coolly “They ignored the signs, turned on each other, themselves, in the end.”

“The seven deadly sins.” Jen muttered, understanding “Greed, anger, envy.”

“Simply blinders.” Aiden scoffed “The four of you though—you chose better, and you asked.”

“And the others,” Nae wondered “Did he kill them?”

For a moment, Aiden gazed at the woman’s question. It was if he thought it amusing.

“Trey certainly thought so.” And he simply walked away.

After a moment of considering what Aiden told them, and all the questions he’d still left them, Nae asked “So—why wasn’t there any demon slasher, like in my dream?”

“Did you really want to physically see what mentally attacked and caused Trey to self destructed like that?”

Nae thought for a moment, gazing at Silver and Jen, who both nodded.

“Yes—yes.” Nae admitted “I think we would have.”

Wyndy sighed.

“Let’s—just go home…”

[eggo]

Hey Wyndy,

Another gem of a forum fic. At seven thousand words, I thought it would be daunting, but once I started I ripped right through it. The dialog in this was excellent. The reparte' between the girls was funny as hell.

My favorites were,

“Aren’t you married though?”

“Not for this fic…”

hahah

and

“We need the codes.” Wyndy said.

“We need to get him drunk.” Stated Gary.

“Then the battle’s won.”

Thanks for sharing,


Pete

[Chris Miller]

Yes, it has a dreamlike quality. Characters drift in and out. Their dialogue made me think a little of Douglas Coupland. Not sure how or if to critique this odd genre, so I'll just say thanks for sharing, and thanks for the cameo.

[Wyndstar]

Well, before this is consigned to oblivion, I'll say that this is fic was written and is dedicated to the ladies I felt deserved attention; Nae for reasons I won't discuss, Ms. Vodka, for reasons I don't need to discuss, and Silverwriter, for having taken on the daunting task herself and having done better than ME at her first try (and her plot was better). I now know just who would read a fic this long if they weren't in it(aside gohn, vacationing).

Originally Posted by eggo

Hey Wyndy,

Another gem of a forum fic. At seven thousand words, I thought it would be daunting, but once I started I ripped right through it. The dialog in this was excellent. The reparte' between the girls was funny as hell.

Pete

That's 'women' Pete. You don't get reparte like that without experience (I.E-earning your insanity). And you get the prize (whenever I can think of to fetch you). You weren't in it, you plodded though it, and LIVED. You're either persistant, or a masochist. Having been in previous fics, I'll go with the latter. Thanks for reading.

Chris, you critique it like anything eles. If it was too boring, you say it was boring. If it was too long for the short stories you say it was too long (you are a mentor after all). And if you want to bow and tell me I'm a genius in spite of my quirks about structure, not a prob. Either way, you will always get at least a dance out of me.

[Lorlie]

Hey Wyndstar,


WOW, a story set on me own Emerald Isle, and with me in it!!!!!

I'm sorry I could not comment before now, but I just did not have time to read it until this afternoon.
Reading it, it seemed hard to believe that this did'nt happen, poor ould Aiden seemed beyond smitten, and I am sure the people of Donegal and Galway would be tickled pink by your observations.

Great job, really enjoyed it, and thank you for the Cameo.

“Bitch.”

“No, I’m the wild bitch.”

“I’m the pretty bitch.” Nae said sweetly.

“I’m the porno bitch.” Silver piped.

“Well then, if we’re all bitches---“

“You’re the nasty bitch.” Jen specified to Wyndy.

“Hey, let’s sneak into Aiden’s room and take pictures of his naked ass.” Silver proposed.

“That’s a sexy bitch.” Jen declared.

“Let’s get a vibrator, shove it up Trey’s ass, and set it to overload.” Wyndy suggested malevolently “That’ll wake him up.”

Strangely, Silver considered that a good idea.

The above had me laughing loudly,. Well done,.


Lorlie

[silverwriter]

Well done, Wyndy. Thank you for putting me in it.

I'd have to say having fun in the moonlight was my favorite part.

~The porno bitch

[Wyndstar]

Thank you Lorlie. My aunt helped with what was what in Ireland. Strangely, its the only country other than Africa I have not yet been to. I played havok when she went over the highways and how picky she got about what sort of vehicals I used ("...You'll never get one of those land yatchs on those roads, kiddo--take it out...").

I'm glad you liked it Silver. You deserved it after doing the last forum fic. And it would be no fun to me if the people I wrote about didn't like it!

[nae411]

Wyndy, you crack me up. It still freaks me out how you set up our personalities! I am not that prissy, lol. I enjoy profusely reading your stories even when I am not in them. You are something else girl!

Hugs,
Nae

[Wyndstar]

Nae

Well, we all know you aren't prissy. That was the joke. At least around my set. We can always tell the prissies 'cause they fear me. And only a little less than my spouse (I married a Hodge--that man could debate GOD out of existance, even if he was standing in his face!)

[gohn67]

Hey Wyndstar,

Hah, I wish I were on a vacation and doing some traveling. Work and sleep have taken up most of my time lately.

I liked it. It was a bit out of control and had a wild plot like all your forum-fics (though this one wasn't as surreal as the others) and that made it a fun read. The plot could be tightened up a bit but that would take away from some of the entertaining banter. Or I guess you could flesh out the story more into forum-fic novel or something. One of my favorite things about your forum-fics is the wild plot lines that you come up with.