And I am out.. This was it! I can’t believe it is over for me.
Why did I have to be assigned to @aliyatyson? She is one of my friends. And Geez she did an amazing job in the politiclash! I hope you win girl!
I want to thank everyone in the palace, including my maids Chloé and Ally, you made the palace feel like home to me.
Thanks to @haidenschreave for spending time with me. I hope you find what you are looking for!
Even though I didn’t find love in this, I did find a life long friend @anastilinskii you are never getting rid of me haha!
Thank you thank you thank you to everyone who has supported me! It means a lot 😙
Challenge 1 – Prompt: First Date – Madeline Porter
Note: I am sorry this one is up so late! I have been really busy, so I kinda pushed writing this back a little! I hope you still like it :) Thanks to @haidenschreave @aliyatyson and @anastilinskii for RPing with me, you guys are wonderful!
I was lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling. This whole date situation was proper freaking me out. I had never been on a date before.
So many questions swirling through my head. How do I act? What do I want us to do? What can I ask him? What if the conversation dies? What if I fall on my face? What if I say something that might insult him? Oh. My. Gosh. I have to calm down.
My heart was racing. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t talk. My maids glared at me with a worried look on their faces. “Lady Madeline, are you all right?” Chloé asks. “Do you want something to drink, maybe?” Ally adds. They were both so incredibly sweet. They could notice straightaway when I wasn’t feeling my best and then did everything they could to make me smile again.
I push myself up, “No thank you, I am fine” I say not very convincingly. They exchange a glare, they obviously didn’t believe this. Ally opens the door to the bathroom and grabs a glass of water.
“Lady Madeline,” Chloé starts, “your date will be fine. Just be yourself.”
“But what if he doesn’t like me?” I say, “What if I do or say something stupid?”
Ally hands me the glass of water, “Try to see him as a normal person, like a friend and not like the prince.”
Oh, by the way, the fact that I have a date with the PRINCE, didn’t make things easier for me. He must have dealt with a lot of court ladies who were in love with him and tried to charm him.
I, for sure, didn’t have any charm. Unless you think clumsy is the new sexy.
“You have had fun with Lady Aliya and Lady Sophia, right?” Chloé asks. I think back to our trips to the palace kitchens. It had been amazing to see Chef Baguette prepare the most delicious meals. I had already learned so much just from looking at his skills.
The three of us even made a list of food we would love to eat while we’re in the selection. The list was so long that the Chef asked us to stop requesting more. I laugh a little at the thought.
“Look, look! A little colour is coming back to her face!” Ally points at me.
The girls in this selection are all so unique in their own way. They all had charm. Aliya, for example, is so passionate about math and she is a genuinely good person. Then there is Sophia, who is really into food and can probably tell you all about it. Literally everyone has something charming about them. Except for me. I am the most awkward and clumsy person in the world, nothing charming about that.
“Lady, do you want to see the dress for your date?” Ally looks at me, her eyes are filled with excitement. I nod my head and get up from the bed. Ally walks over to the closet, opens it and takes a clothes hanger out. The colour of the dress is outstanding. It’s a special combination of blue and green, something I had never seen before.
I reach for the dress’ material with my finger. “This colour!” “You like it?” Chloé asks, “It’s called teal.” “I love it!”
The upper body is defined with some sort of rough lace. The dress is knee-length. My maids are very smart. The other day I had smashed my high heel through the long dress I was wearing, leaving a big hole in the bottom. They were not going to let me go on a date with the prince, in a long dress with high heels.
The dress is absolutely stunning. I couldn’t stop twirling around, as the layers of the bottom flew around me. With it came a pair of black high heels, simple but elegant.
Ally puts my hair in a loose updo. While she is doing my hair, Chloé did my makeup. I was still surprised that she was such a pro at this. I can’t even apply mascara without stabbing my eyeball.
I look in the mirror. My maids are a gift from heaven. They were able to transform me from looking like a potato head into an elegant young woman.
It is almost half past three, which means my date was going to start really soon. This made me extra nervous. My hands are sweating and I couldn’t properly breath anymore. I look through the window, it has been such a lovely day today.
I walk towards the door of my bedroom. In a few minutes the prince would knock on it and our date would start. I turn around to see my maids talking to each other.
I couldn’t stay in this room any longer. Each second the room got more claustrophobic. I have to leave. I need some fresh air.
I open the door and step into the hall. “Lady Madeline,” I hear Chloé say loudly, “you’re supposed to wait…” That’s when I shut the door and started slowly walking towards the middle of the hallway where the stairs began.
I calmed down a little bit more with each step I set. I walked past doors to the bedrooms of the other selected. I could hear some talking to their maids. I wonder if everyone had already adjusted to life in the palace.
I was about the put my foot on the first stair when my eyes meet a pair of beautiful, warm eyes. The eyes of the prince. All my nerves come back, but then 8 times more intense.
Shit. What am I thinking? I should have stayed in my room! Okay, Madeline, play it cool.
“Hello!” I start a little too loud and a little too excited. Calm. “Are you ready for our date?” I ask as calm and cool as I could.
“Yes, of course, what would you like to do?” he asks. His voice has some sort of warm glow. It’s not like I had forgotten how he sounded after the interview, but the warmness still caught me a little off guard. I had never heard a voice like that.
Oh crap. Question. He asked a question. What do I want to do?
I walk towards him, this gave me a little more time to think of something to do. Thankfully he is some stairs below me. Walking stairs is a really difficult task to do in high heels. I clamp the balustrade as I move my feet.
Please! Don’t fall!
“I would love to go to the gardens and have a look at all the beautiful flowers, if that’s fine with you.” I say when I finally reach him.
“Of course.” He says as we climb down the stairs.
When we finally reach the floor that leads to the gardens, he offers me his arm and I gladly take it. It’s not that I want to touch him, well yes I wanted to but not in a creepy or dirty way or anything. I need the extra balance, to lower the possibilities of me falling.
“So tell me about yourself?” Haiden asks.
Okay, Madeline, you can do this. Calm.
“As you may know I am Madeline and I am from Midston.” I say and I try to laugh a little but it sounded really strange, like some sort of snorting.
Wow. Just wow. Great start.
“I have lived my whole life with my grandparents, who have raised me and taught me the little, but important, things in life like talking, walking and using a spoon.” I continue, smiling at the thought of my grandparents.
Wait. Didn’t I already tell him this during my interview?
“As I grew older I started to help them out regarding the household. That is when I found out I love cooking and baking.” I say as we walk through the doors into the garden.
It really is a beautiful day today, the sun shining and the sky clear blue.
“I’ve never had a knack for baking though.” Haiden says.
This date isn’t going that great. During the interview I felt like we had a connection and that we were very much alike, but I guess I was wrong.
I look at him, “I could help you with baking, only if you want to of course! It is really peaceful and it helps me clear my mind.”
“I doubt you’d want to. I’d burn the kitchen down and Chef Baguette would have a fit.”
Oh man. He’s really up for trying, isn’t he.
“What if we had like a fire extinguisher, that could help.” I say and smile a little, trying to prevent this date from turning into a total disaster. “Though I won’t force you into baking if you don’t want to.”
“Maybe someday you can force me into baking but I’m not sure I’d make a good impression on our first date if I burned the entire palace down.”
This is going better, baby steps, but better.
“I think you will be fine but we will see, someday.”
The gardens sure are beautiful. Blossoming flowers everywhere.
“Do you have any passions or things you love to do?” I ask.
“I love poetry, writing, reading, astronomy, sports.”
Hmm, sports that sure does fit into Midston lifestyle.
“What kind of sports do you like?” I ask.
“I do all kinds of sports, honestly. Mostly now I do gymnastics.”
He is sure build like a sporty person, but I just didn’t know he liked any. I bet he has abs under his suit.
Madeline! Focus!
“You also said you like writing, what do you write? I mean like stories, poetry, something else?” I ask him. “I am really sorry if this comes across as some sort of a cross-examination.” I can feel my cheeks turn red, a nervous giggle came out of my mouth.
“No, it’s fine,” Haiden laughs “I write stories mostly, but sometimes poetry. Historical fiction, that kinda stuff.”
“That sounds so cool!” I say, not sure what else to say. “Do you write for yourself, because you like to do it? Or do you, eventually, want to publish your writing?”
“I’m not sure if it’s really possible to publish something. I don’t want people to give me a good review just because I’m royalty. For now I think it’s better to keep it to myself.”
“I can totally understand,” I say, “you should do what feels best for you.” I look up at him again, our eyes meet and I try to smile.
“That’s what I always like to do if possible.” Haiden says as his eyes focus on the gardens again.
“That’s good!” I say, again not sure what else to say.
We stroll a bit through the gardens, when something catches my eye.
“Oh look at those pretty flowers. Those are lavenders, right?” I bow down and swipe my fingers through the flowers. “I love their scent.”
I look up at Haiden, who is standing a few feet away from me. I get up again. “Do you spend a lot of time in the gardens?”
“As much as I can. It’s so quiet.”
I can see why he says that, it sure is quiet. There are no other people here, except for some guards but I can totally understand why they are here. I might be some serial killer and if I decide to kill the prince, they are right here to, you know. Not that I’m a serial killer or anything.
“What’s your favourite place in the palace, if I may ask?” I try to keep the conversation going.
“The garden, the gym sometimes, the bowling alley, my room. Anywhere there’s not a lot of people.”
There is a bowling alley in the palace? Who would have thought that?
“Yeah, sometimes it is nice to have some place to think and relax,” I say. “But there are also moments when you need good company and someone who comprehends and shares your thoughts.”
“Most definitely, but people aren’t always around for that.” Haiden says. I can see a little frustration spread across his face.
Oh god, I didn’t want the conversation to get a negative vibe.
I look at him again “If you ever need someone to talk to, I’ll be here. For the time you keep me in the selection of course.” I can’t help but laugh a little.
Haiden laughs as well, thankfully “I appreciate that, thank you. The offer goes both ways.”
That might be the sweetest thing a boy has ever said to me.
I feel something fluttering in my stomach.
What the? No, nope, nope! Those are not butterflies. I repeat, no butterflies. I can’t fall in love with someone, this prince, this really cute and sweet and genuine boy. Nope, nope, nope. There are other girls here to win over his heart. Nope, this is not happening.
My faces turns red. “Thank you! I really appreciate that.” I manage to get out. Looking at him makes me smile.
“I’m glad.” Haiden says as he finds a flower and puts it in my hair. “I think we should head back now, but I look forward to spending more time with you.”
I don’t know what to do. Is this really happening? Why does he have to be so kind?
“Well thank you! I had a lovely time.” I say, my cheeks blushing. Again.
“Me as well.” He says. The big palace door open in front of us.
“Can I give you a ‘see you later’ hug, or don’t you feel comfortable with that?”
No. Madeline, nope. Why did you have to ask that? You should have curtsied and walked away.
Haiden laughs “Uh, if you” he pauses, “want.”
“Okay,” a smile spreads across my face, which I try to hide. But I fail.
I give him a hug, he smells really nice. Geez Madeline, enough with the creepiness. “Thank you.” I murmur.
“No problem” he says “have a wonderful day.”
I try to walk as fast as possible back to my bedroom, where my maids have been waiting for me. I bet they have been standing by the big windows, which are overlooking the gardens.
“That’s a really pretty flower!” Ally says, a bit too enthusiastic, “did he give that to you?”
I didn’t even need to answer that. My maids share a glance and start clapping their hands.
“Let’s put that one in a bit of water,” Chloé says “we have to keep it alive.”
Ally hurries to the bathroom and comes back with a glass filled with a bit of water. She puts the flower in it and places it on my nightstand. It is a really pretty flower I have to confess.
A gerbera is looking at me. It might not sound very special, but the colours are ridiculously gorgeous. It has a white heart, but the colour changes into bright pink near the ends of the petals.
I smile at the flower. “Look! Oh god Chloé did you see that?” Ally is almost screaming “She is in love! Lady Madeline is in love!”
They both stare at me, my face turns red again. “Tell us everything that happened!”
After half an hour, a lot of smiles, giggles and blushes later, I decide to leave my bedroom. It might be time for me to meet some of the other girls.
I knock on the first door I see. “Hello! Is someone in here?”
The door opens “Hi, come in!” a girl says as she closes her book.
“Thank you,” I smile, she seems nice. “I don’t think we have met before, or am I wrong? I am Madeline anyway. Nice to meet you!”
“I’m Ana. It’s a pleasure! How are you?”
“I am great, thank you.” I say as I think back to the date with the prince. I get a warm feeling inside. I can’t even stop it.
“Your room is really beautiful by the way!” I add as I look around me.
We talk for some time in Ana’s room about how beautiful the palace is and how unreal it feels to be here. After that I ask if she wants to see my room as well. We talk for hours and hours in my room about everything really. I feel like me and Ana can become really close friends!
Practice Challenge 1 – Prompt: Life before The Selection – Madeline Porter
Once upon a time there was a simple, ordinary and perhaps even invincible girl. Her name is Madeline Porter. No, this isn’t going to be a fairytale-like story. This is real. Life can be good, but sometimes life just sucks.
Life in Midston. What can I say? People love sports here, from football to rodeo. And what happens when you are not into sports? This is kind of an understatement. I wasn’t just not into sports, I was the least sporty person in the entire province. And as a result, you can probably tell already, I didn’t quite fit in at school. I didn’t have many friends, and the ones I did have spent more time at sports practice than with me.
My parents are real estate agents. No, not the famous ones on TV. MY parents travel all across the country to get clients. This wasn’t in their plans when they moved to Illéa almost 20 years ago. My parents both used to live in Europe, in a small country named The United Kingdom to be exact. They were high school sweethearts, but lost track of each other when they went to college. Eventually they found each other again and got married.
Life in The UK got a bit boring for them and they decided to move to Illéa. They hoped to get more clients, but the opposite happened because of the caste system. The lower castes didn’t have the money to move. And the higher castes didn’t want the help of some simple Fours as real estate agents. That’s the time my parents got the brilliant idea to get a baby. Nine months later I was born.
I would love to tell you that we formed a happy little family. But that wouldn’t be true. My parents got the idea to start travelling the country to find some Fours or Threes who did want to move. They weren’t much at home, unfortunately for their baby. That’s when my mother’s parents decided to move to Illéa as well. Someone had to take care of me. My parents weren’t much around. Once in a while they paid us a visit with a small gift from the province they just got back from. I had an entire collection of toys and little souvenirs. I wanted my parents, I still want my parents.
Most of the time I live with my grandparents, they basically raised me when I was a kid. They taught me the little, but important things in life. Like using a fork, reading and writing. They gave me the love I didn’t get from my parents. As I got older I started to take care of my grandparents. I did the groceries and started cooking, which I have always loved doing. I want to give them back, what they had sacrificed for me. They moved to Illéa for me. They left their family and friends, their safe environment for me. I would do everything I could to help them.
We were watching some TV when the report show came on. I didn’t even think about applying for The Selection. It was my grandparents’ idea. “Please Madeline, give it a shot. If you don’t get chosen, then so be it. But if you do get chosen, you could change your life. You could find someone to love.” After some long thinking, I decided to do it. It wouldn’t hurt, would it?
I was in absolute shock when they mentioned they randomly picked me. I got selected. Who in the world would have thought that? Definitely not me. My grandparents were smiling, happy tears streaming down their old, wrinkled faces. They were happy for me. I would do this thing. This Selection. For me and for them!
{ luna, 23, PST, she/her/hers } ☆ did you hear the rumor? QUINN FABRAY has been spotted in the big apple! SHE is 22 y-o and works as a BARTENDER and attends NYU. some things never change, because SHE is still fearless but also stubborn. psst! we did our research and found out that SHE stole 50,000 dollars from her dad’s safe. i wonder how long Q will play pretend! ☆ {dianna agron, glee character}.
welcome to new york, QUINN FABRAY! call i’m crazy, but you remind me of a character from GLEE! you know what they say: walls have ears. make sure to keep your secret safe! you don’t want the entire city to know you are pretending to be someone you’re not.
you have 48 hours to submit your account and take a look at the new member checklist. thank you for joining us, luna! ✰
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/familyaautalk/2018/07/08/aausocial-media-sunday-with-the-delaware-blogger-chat-with-madeline-porter (Click link above to listen to the show) AAU/Social Media Sunday with the Delaware Blogger join host Antionette Blake Sunday July 8, 2018 with special guest Madeline Porter. Topic: Artists/Activitism Call in: 516-453-9957 As we watch what is happening in our country, politically and socially it's hard not to be reminded of how things have changed, yet, how much they have actually stayed the same. Back in the 60’s when I was born, the civil rights movement took on a very different look once it was televised. Most of the country didn’t realize what was going on outside of their comfort zone until they turned on the television and witnessed with their own eyes the injustice that was taking place in the world as they sat on their comfy couches. Fast forward to 2018 when we no longer have to turn the knob of a television set to view the news as we are now walking around with it 24/7 365 right in the palms of our hands with a Smartphone or other mobile device. Through the decades there have been many individuals and groups more specifically artists who have been on the right side of the law and in the thick of activism. Many have used their platforms and their ability to use their talents to command large audiences in order to spread the word of injustices. Most of us have heard about artists who are activist such as Nina Simone, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Bono, Sting, James Baldwin and Mos Def, who have been vocal, but what about the local artists in our own communities who are activist? #AntionetteBlake #MadelinePorter #Artists #Activitism #SoicalMediaSundaywiththeDelawareBlogger #AAUGlobalMediaProdcutionGroup www.wejfoundation.org
