‘twas the night before Samhain
Spooktober is here, guys! My friend and muse @crunadh and me decided to post our silly halloween headcanons. Take a look:
Valdo Marx brushed some nonexistent lint of his immaculate doublet and took a deep breath. He didn’t take his eyes off the dark, looming estate while he slowly made his way up to the big oaken entrance door.
He had already tried his usual suitors to get a few crowns out of them. But this time even his mother had refused to help him out of his dryspell. He had been unlucky in the last few horse races and gwent games, gambling the money away he owed others. When his mother had exclaimed in disappointment, that if he kept it up his reputation would be in shambles just like ‘this cousin of yours’, he had remembered the stories. Of this really wealthy Viscount de Lettenhove, a cousin thrice removed or something, looked upon because of his attitude and lifestyle, which, according to his mother, exceeded the definition of bohemian or eccentric by far. He hadn’t seen Julian since they were thirteen or something.
But it was time to have a little family reunion, Valdo thought. And if he could sweet talk himself into this cousin's heart and pockets filled with gold, then all the better. He was out of options, anyway.
He was in front of the entrance now, trying to find a bell or knocker to announce his presence. Then he noticed that the big iron cast wolf that fletched it’s very pointy teeth had a small mechanism in his mouth. It’s eyes looked distressingly alive.
He hesitantly reached into the maw of the creature and quickly pulled the ring. There was the sound of a few ominous clicks and nothing happened for a few seconds.
Then an organ boomed it’s nefarious sounds. Valdo couldn’t have pinpointed where it was coming from, for the deep notes seemed to be coming both from the high turrets as well as the very grounds, making his teeth vibrate. The fugue in minor just ended when a little girl opened the heavy wooden door.
“What do you want?” asked the ashen haired girl rudely, unconsciously wiping something red off her hands and onto her trousers.
“Hi … um… hello there,” fumbled Valdo, a bit startled by the whole surreal reception. “My name is Valdo Marx and I am looking for my cousin, Julian Alfred Pankratz-Addams. I am aware that the viscount's time is precious, but I was hoping to get a few minutes with my dear cousin. I haven’t seen him for so long and I thought - “
“Daaaaad!”, screamed the child into the mansion, leaving the door open for Valdo to enter, “there is a snob on the door asking for money!”
Valdo sputtered at the scandalous cheeky brat, but was shaken out of his huff when he took in the interior of the reception hall. It was equally gloomy and tasteful, the walls filled with beautiful art, even though the motifs were a bit gruesome. There were arrangements of dark roses on the expensive furnishings. A big staircase was the most prominent installation of the hall, leading up to the higher floors.
On them stood the most beautiful woman Valdo had ever seen. A dark beauty of grace and tranquility in a black form fitting dress. Her long raven hair hung around her face lusciously, framing her high cheekbones and making her violet eyes even more intense.
“Excuse my daughter,” the lady said in a sultry voice. “She is in possession of manners but rarely decides to use them. But I guess all kids are a bit rowdy at this age.”
She glided down the stairs and the mesmerizing smell of lilacs and gooseberries permeated the air.
“Lady Yennefer Morticia Addams of Vengerberg, mistress of the house. And you are?”
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