Interactive Fiction Short Story

florencetypemaniacs

1 year ago

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARCEL!~Short Story

MARCELLUS'S BACKSTORY SPOILERS BELOW!!!

The sun glistened on the Sarno River, where ships floated aimlessly while others were anchored at port. People were all about enjoying the sunny morning, not even minding sailors ordering their men to get the nets drawn so they could get to work selling their fresh scores of fish down at the market.

Further north, crisp hills rolled from a large mountain to the crowded city to the west. The streets were bustling as people shopped, visited relatives, and even children drew on the walls of a big arch with speckles of paint that their guardians let them buy when the merchants came into town only a few days ago.

Although people were walking down one street in the center of the city, heads turned as shouts bounced off the stone walls covered in floral motifs.

"Thief!"

"Stop him, you fools!"

A man, or more accurately, a teen dressed in a cloak, ran down the busy street, bumping into people as he ran from city guards.

"Sorry!" The teen said this as he jumped through a fountain, splashing water on an older woman who was resting.

“Es stercus!” A man yelled, helping the woman up.

"I said sorry!" The teen yelled over his shoulder; his feet burned from the hot cobblestone marked by the sun.

Need to lose the old dogs.

Looking to his right, he smiled like a lemer and ran towards the narrow alleyway, knowing full well that the guards would not be able to follow him with the bulk of armor they torture themselves with.

Marcel held his breath as the guards ran past the alleyway, not noticing the hunched figure of the sixteen-year-old boy.

Letting out a chuckle, he held the bag full of his precious cargo closer to his body, making sure none of it was smashed.

Looking up at the sun, he knew he should be getting back and quickly climbed the wall of the building next to him with the help of a few boxes and overgrown vines.

Balancing on the roof, he leapt from house to house, gracefully and practically dancing in the warm sun.

It only took a few minutes, and knowing the city like the back of his hand made it easier to navigate even while he was on rooftops.

Finally arriving at his destination, he easily jumped on a balcony and swung to a tree branch hanging by until his feet hit the ground.

"At last....home." Marcel said, looking at the old torn-down villa built with tan bricks and red pine wooden decorations that hung in the front to ward off evil spirits.

The closer he got, the more he could hear the sounds of laughter and crying from children. Through short, wide windows, if he narrowed his eyes and focused, he could see heads of hair run past.

Marcel let out a smirk and opened the front door.

"Mars!" A small girl squealed and threw herself into his arms, which spined her around.

"Oh, Cassia! It's been forever since I saw you!"

"You saw me this morning, Mars!" Cassia giggled and hung onto the taller boy.

Marcel grinned. "Did I? Well, you've grown since then!"

Cassia blushed and stood on her tiptoes. "You really think so?"

"Well, of course."

"Is that Marcellus?! Oh, I have a word to pick with you."

From down the hallway a young woman appeared with black hair all the way down to the floor in a braid and the most stunning blue eyes that seemed to distract people from her dark bags that were under them.

"Decima! It's good to see you."

"I don't want to hear it, Marcellus." Decima spoke with narrowed eyes, then turned to Cassia.

"Little Shurb, how about you go play outside with the twins?"

Cassia wrinkled her small button nose. "But they always want to play Terni lapilli."

Decima frowned. "What's wrong with Terni lapilli?"

Cassia crossed her arms. "Nothing; they just always lose the marbles, and it takes us till sundown to find them." She pouted.

Marcel got down on his knees and booped her nose. "How about this? You play with your brothers, and I'll get you new marbles tomorrow."

Cassia's eyes widened. "Shiny ones?"

Marcel nodded, the small girl's smile being infectious. "They will be as shiny as Sol's chariot."

Cassia nodded her little head. "Deal!" The small girl ran out of the arched, cracked doorway.

Decima sighed as she rubbed at a stain on her lavender stola.

"Marcellus, what have you done this time?"

Marcel lips pressed together, knowing full well a lecture was coming.

"Please, on Astraeus's stars, do not start pestering me, Decima.

"Oh, shall I not, Marcellus? If the sweat on your forehead and the dirt on your feet are any indication, you have been participating in Mercury's sinful tricks."

"Don't pretend that his sinful tricks do not keep us from drowning."

Decima glared. "They may keep our heads above the tide, but for how much longer? Once the guards catch you, that's it!" She slammed her hand down on the table, and Marcel was surprised her copper wedding band on her finger didn't crack.

Marcel's brows furrowed. "Don't you see I am doing what I must? With Octavian gone—" Decima's eyes closed as if in pain at the mention of the name. "—we are all at risk even with our union. If we don't manage to keep up with our debt, then our ruse would have been for nothing, not to mention what Rufus would do."

Decima looked away, and Marcel took the older girl by the shoulders, making her look him in the eye. "You are my truest friend... I am doing what is right for all of us. For the children. For you as well."

Marcel and Decima stared into each other's eyes for what felt like minutes. They knew everything about the other—what stalked their dreams, what pushed them to keep going—but they never judged, for they completely trusted the other.

Decima nodded at her friend. "May Juno be with you."

Marcel smiled, a little bitterly. "No gods are with me."

Before Decima could utter a sound, Marcel walked down the hall. "Cerdis is in the children's room, I'm guessing."

Decima called back, wiping her hands on the front of her stola. "Yes, you know he has been waiting for you."

Happiness surged through him, suppressing the fear that was slowly creeping into his mind.

Marcel smiled and opened the door to the largest room in the very small, cracked domus where they lay their heads each night.

Candles lit the room where no windows let their light in. Two dark wooden cribs were in the corner, while there was a small bed on the other side of the room, which kept two growing children resting their heads, although there was barely any room for one child, much less two.

Although right then there was only one child, whose hair was raven and nappy, even under the covers, anyone could see the boy was small—too small. Most considered the boy to be cursed by Asclepius and wanted him put out of his misery, although Marcel knew better.

Marcel sat on the bed, making sure not to startle the sleeping figure.

Gently, Marcel uncovered the face of the small boy to reveal sunken eyes and paste-like skin that seemed to be coated with sweat; however, there was a small smile that played on the sleeping boy's lips.

The older boy spoke softly. "Cerdis, it is time to wake; Sol's chariot has already passed."

Eyes slowly opened, blinking before the little boy grinned from ear to ear; his brightness could put a smile on anyone's face.

"Mars!" A raspy voice came from Cerdis as he sat up, wrapping his small arms around the older boy.

Marcel softly kissed the boy on the top of the head. "Ah! Finally, you wake from your slumber." He held the raven-haired boy close. "Are you feeling blessed this morning by the gods?"

Cerdis nodded his head, looking confident. "Yes, because it is my day of birth!"

Marcel smiled. "Yes, it's not everyday that someone survives five winters."

Cerdis frowned. "I am still not as tall as Cassia."

The older boy laughed. "No, but maybe with the help of Juno, you will catch up." He said it, hoping that the bitterness would be kept out of his tone.

Cerdis gave him a toothy grin. "You really think so? I won't only be older than her, but taller as well!"

Ah yes, Cassia does hold her height over Cerdis very often, although it is probably due to the fact that Cerdis was the only one who questioned her when picking games. Hmm. I wonder what Cassia will do when Cerdis comes into manhood. I'm sure Cassia will find something else to hang over the poor boy's head.

Marcel patted Cerdis's head. "Well...I have you a present."

Cerdis shook with excitement and, with almost lightning speed, reached for Marcel's satchel but with speed was snatched back. "Now, now, Cerdis, I have a few other things in here."

Cerdis crinkled his nose, although the comment didn't make his smile waver. "I cannot wait any longer! Please Mars! What have you brought me?"

Without a second thought, Marcel opened the bag, minding the trinkets that were valuable, however small enough that their owners would not even notice they were gone until it was too late.

Cerdis's eyes widened as Marcel pulled something oval-shaped and quite small into his palm and wrapped it in cloth.

The raven-haired boy smelled the sweet aroma, and his mouth watered. "Is that-?"

Marcel uncovered the item to reveal the room-temperature sweet bun, smashed a little on one side, which made the honey sweetness drip over until the cloth was covered with the sticky substance.

"It was no trouble." Marcel once again kissed Cerdis head.

"A maritozzi!" Cerbis, not minding the stick, grabbed the sweet treat with full hands and took a bite. Marcel tried not to cringe at the mess on the boy's face.

But it was quite easy, with the happiness shining through. "Mmm."

"I see you are quite enjoying my present."

Cerdis showed his dimples through his smile, licking his fingers. "Thank you, Mars!"

Marcel smiled in a moment of weakness, asking the gods to bless his little brother with many more winters.

Tags :

my inner sins Interactive Fiction Short Story interactive fiction marcel Marcel Short Story backstory Marcellus De Rosa Marcel De Rosa Interactive story interactive fiction twine twine interactive fiction interactive novel interactive game RO Short Story twine if twine wip MIS-RO:Marcel

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florencetypemaniacs

1 year ago

Trick or Treat Short Story

Summary: This Halloween MC has a treat for Aunt Zinnia but first they have to pull a little trick that involves a costume.

Notes: Happy Halloween and Enjoy this cute little story about little MC. MC will be called Marley Charter in this short story.

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“I wanna be a mouse for Halloween,” Marley Charter said, coloring a picture of Cinderella in her pumpkin carriage on the dining table.

Zinnia popped her head up from where she's making a bowl of ice cream for herself and Marley Charter. Triana was coming over for the night, and another fight with Francisco seemed to put a bitter taste in Triana's mouth. It made Zinnia's heart beat faster that Triana would rather spend the night on Zinnia's couch than make peace with her partner. Though, those feelings were quickly followed with guilt. It’s was nearing Marley's bedtime, but they gave Zinnia the doe eyes around seven o'clock, requesting they have just one more hour to see Triana.

“You mean you want to be Gus Gus?” Zinnia asked, leaning forward and looking at the picture Marley Charter was coloring. Cinderella had been Marley's hyperfixation for the past week, not for the princess herself but for her round-ear sidekicks, especially Gus Gus.

"Yeah, and you can be Cinderella,” Marley Charter declared.

They flipped through their coloring pages, pulling out a picture of Cinderella wearing a big dress with sparkles around her body and an old woman in the background with a wand. Marley waved them in her face. “You will look so pretty!" Their tone was filled with excitement.

Zinnia eyed the coloring page and tried not to cringe at the picture of the princesses smiling, literally mocking Zinnia. The blue ball gown looked like torture, and Zinnia would have rather been dead than to ever be in the same room with that blue monster with the sparks and the bows.

"Are you sure you don’t want me to go as the prince?" Zinnia asked.

“Nah. We already have a prince,” Marley Charter said, taking the bowl of ice cream.

Zinnia groaned while Marley ate their ice cream. Zinnia just looked down at the picture in her hands.

The things I do for you, Suger Cube

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Triana didn't make it to Zinnia's house till much later, much to Marley's dismay, as they were sent to bed at eight o'clock, which almost sent the seven-year-old into a fit, but Zinnia promised that she would make them their favorite breakfast in the morning. The promise of good food settled the kid down.

Triana came into the bakery while Zinnia was cleaning up and preparing for tomorrow. Zinnia tried not to stare, but it was hard. Triana had an overnight bag over her shoulder, her fist clenched, probably to stop her claws from coming out.

"You want to talk about it?" Zinnia asked; she knew it was a waste of time. Triana never wanted to talk about the fights she had with her husband, and Zinnia was okay with that because she felt if she knew everything, it would take all her will not to punch Fransico in the face.

Triana looked at Zinnia and started to make herself some tea. "Not tonight."

Zinnia sat down in the dining room, looking at Triana's curves while her back was turned.

Triana smiled and, with a hot cup of tea, sat next to her friend.

“Marley Charter picked their Halloween costume tonight,” Zinnia said as Triana took a sip of tea.

“Oh yeah, what dynamic duo will they be this year?”

Triana said, smiling. Since Camila's and Marley's first Halloween, they have matched—maybe not the same character, but they have always picked from the same series or fandom, whatever they were into. The two kids often roped their Zinnia and Triana into matching with them. Zinnia and Triana often saw them planning their costumes months in advance; however, this year, it seemed to be kept on the down low until tonight.

“Cinderella,” Zinnia said with a sigh.

“As in?” Triana asked with a sly smile that Zinnia narrowed her eyes at.

"Gus Gus,” Zinnia said, pointing up to where Marley was sleeping upstairs. “Cinderella,” she said, gesturing to herself.

“I am guessing that the Oleander gene passed on, and Marley Charter is too stubborn to pick another character for you?” Triana asked with a teasing tone that Zinnia huffed at.

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Halloween Night.....

Zinnia furrowed her brows in the mirror, and her hair was pulled back in a headband to give everyone a clear view of her eyes, which unsettled her and were usually hidden by her black hair.

Marley Charter wanted to dye her hair blonde, but Zinnia was able to shut down that train before it even left the station.

But dying her hair blonde couldn't have been worse than trading her all black clothing for the blush-pink soft chiffon, with puffed sleeves and a ruffled neckline.

"This is for Marley." Zinnia repeated herself for the hundredth time, but her existential thoughts came to a halt when she heard a little voice.

"Wow, you look beautiful!" A squeal came from behind Zinnia to see Marley Charter in their most adorable mouse costume that Zinnia had ever seen.

"Well, aren't you the cutest mouse I have ever seen?" Zinnia pulled Marley in for a hug and a small nuggy, which made the seven-year-old squeal in excitement.

"Thank you," Marley said between giggles.

The sound of the doorbell rang, and Marley's head popped up.

"Camila is here!" Marley jumped off the bed in a flash and ran down the stairs to meet their friend.

Zinnia sat on the bed for only a second before cracking her neck. "Come on, Orlender, you have fought actual monsters; you can walk in heels for a few hours." She said to herself, staggering on one foot down the stairs.

Zinnia looked up from her feet. "Don't you dare laugh if I fall down-." Zinnia stopped in her tracks, and her breath caught.

Zinnia had never seen Triana dress up; it was one of the things that she admired about the other woman—the natural beauty radiating off her made Zinnia's knees already feel like jelly.

Triana wore a cream royal jacket and red pants with a gold stripe, which went well with her hair up in a bun. The brown-haired woman's face had light makeup, and Zinnia wondered how the red sparkles on her eyelids stayed on.

Triana always looked beautiful, but Zinnia had to admit that tonight she looked like a goddess. But that wasn't what stunned her; Triana was prince charming while she was Cinderella; they kissed in the movie. THE CHARACTERS KISSED. They were a couple in the movie. This had to count as a couple of costumes, right? Of course, it wasn't, but Zinnia had to admit that just thinking of her and Triana together like that made her heart swell.

"Hey, Zinnia, are you ready to go?" Triana's black-gloved hands went on the stroller that was by her side. The sight of a rosy-cheeked baby caught her eye as Luis slept, probably not even bothered that he was dressed up as a pumpkin.

Zinnia's mouth felt dry as she spoke. "I thought Camila was being Prince Charming."

Zinnia looked over to Marley, who ran around with Camila, who was dressed in a blue robe and wand.

Triana smiled. "Oh well, I think Marley gave Camila the idea to be a fairy godmother instead, while I was Prince Charming." Triana paused while Zinnia zoned out, processing the information.

"It doesn't bother you, right? That I am a prince charming? I know it can give people the idea that we are-" Triana started.

"No!" Zinnia yelled, which made Triana jump a little in surprise, and Zinnia gave her an apologetic look before continuing.

"No." Zinnia said, softer this time. "It doesn't bother me." Zinnia didn't mean it to sound as out of breath as it did, but there were no takebacks.

NTriana licked her lips, and Zinnia realized how close they were. This was wrong. Triana was married. Triana was her best friend.

Zinnia pulled back, and Triana seemed to come out of some sort of trance.

"Should...uh...we get going?" Zinnia said, her eyes still on Triana's lips.

Triana nodded, a look of confusion written on her face. "Are we going to Cedar Street?" She asked, pushing the stroller out the door, which gave Camila and Marley the hint that it was time to go as they ran out the door onto the sidewalk.

"Cedar Street?! In these heels, you must be joking." Zinnia put her arm around Triana, the tension disappearing in an instant as they followed the hyper kids down the street.

It really was a happy Halloween.

Tags :

zinnia Interactive Fiction Short Story happy halloweeeeeeen twine interactive fiction interactive fiction interactive novel triana my inner sins twine if Character Side Story gay panic Queer Interactive story interactive fiction if interactive game interactive fictions MIS-OC:Zinnia MIS-OC:Triana

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florencetypemaniacs

6 months ago