WRITING

First Love and Time Slips

Day 21 Preptober writing prompt challenge

Day 21: Has your antagonist ever been in love before?

Question from the Preptober 31 Day Challenge from the Character Collective.

Rainbow Circus

To the antagonists! So, back to the brothers. Mark and Bart have proven to be interesting at best and volatile at worst in these Preptober Challenges but here we go again. I’m sure to learn something; be it good, bad, or ugly. I’m going to start with Bart on this one because I already know part of the answer and I’m interested to see where it goes. Besides that, Mark is looking strangely nervous about this one so that’s going to be interesting. Let’s start with Bart.

Bart

Me: Bart, have you ever been in love before?

Bart: Are we holding back spoilers?

Me: Ah, yes. I think I see where you’re going but let’s keep it to before the book series.

Bart: Not a problem, just checking. Obviously, you know I had a thing for Mario. I mean, it wasn’t a thing. It was never a thing. I don’t even know if I’d say I was in love. I thought I was in love. I don’t know. I loved a goldfish. Not that way, that sounded dirty. Shut up, Mark. I mean, the goldfish was my best mate when Mark moved away. You know, you do what you’ve got to do, right?

Me: I know I don’t. Can you give me more? Are you okay to talk about this?

Bart: What, about the fish? That’s it. That’s all I’ve got me.

Me: Okay, all right. So, are you saying that the only time you’ve been in love, was Mario?

Bart: No, I’m not saying I was in love with Mario.

Let me just note here that Bart seems quite agitated. He’s not angry or aggressive, but he clearly doesn’t like this line of questioning. But then again, he’s kind of been the same, like this, a little bit on edge, with every question that he’s been involved in.

Bart: I’m not on edge. I just, I have things to do, I have a circus to run. You know the situation.

Me: I do, and I thank you for not dropping that spoiler.

Bart: *nods politely* Okay, look, sorry.

Bart takes a deep breath and shakes his head seeming to center himself.

Bart: I had a crush. When I was 12, but I don’t think we call it love. I mean, I thought it was at the time. That puppy love thing, you know what I’m talking about.

Me: *laughing* Sure, go on.

Bart: Yeah, they were cute as a button. The same year as me at school. But, you know, nothing happened. That was it.

Me: That was it? That’s your whole story.

Bart: *shrugs* You want to make something up?

Me: No. I just thought there might be something more to share. What about… can we talk about Mario, is that okay?

Bart: Okay. Well, look, before Jack turned up, and even once Jack turned up, let’s face it, I was still pining for Mario. I thought I was in love with him. I thought that… this is not helping, is it?

Me: Actually, it’s not.

Bart: Do you want to regress a little and I will talk from the very start of the first book?

Me: That would be fantastic, could we time slip?

Bart: Yeah. Take me where you want me.

Me: Okay, Perfect.

Pulls the timeline back to the start of the Knot That Hot book before Bart meets… his future partner ;)

Me: Bart, have you ever been in love before?

Bart: Once.

Me: Can you talk about it?

Bart: Do I have a choice.

Me: You do. But it would help me to understand you and the situation if you did talk about it.

Bart: Okay. Well, I mean, basically, I’m head over heels in love with somebody who doesn’t have the capacity to love me back. I don’t think he has the capacity to love anybody.

Me: Okay. Mario, right?

Bart narrows his eyes at me (because, yes, obviously I know it’s Mario), and then looks away. He’s worrying at his bottom lip.

Me: What do you love about him?

Bart: *shaking his head* *crosses his arms* The way he physically controls everything. He controls his poi and his staffs, and oh my god, when he pulls out those fans. Even his body, so much control in his movements… He’s breathtaking to watch.

Me: That is true.

Bart: And he’s funny. He’s kind although he tries to hide it, but he’ll be the first one to help you out. He kind of keeps to himself, but when you get him talking and especially when you get a drink into him *laughs*, he’s really open and vulnerable. I know so much about him and he knows so much about me and I just I thought that would be enough.

Me: Are you okay?

Bart: No, I’m not. I just want to be enough for someone like I thought I’d be enough for Mario but, clearly I’m not.

Me: Okay. Bart, I want you to time slip forward to the end of the first book, just so I can get you out of this slump. Let’s go.

Reinstates the timeline for Bart.

Bart: *sighs* Can’t believe I thought that Mario was it. *smiles* Hurry up and get to my book, yeah?

Me: *laughing* Will do. Will do.

Mark

Me: Mark, have you ever been in love before?

Mark: Oh honey, what is love, but a second hand emotion?

Me: Really. Did you really just… You know what, I’m not even going to go there.

Mark: Oh, you don’t have to go anywhere. Just lay back and let me take you there, honey.

Me: Mark, we’re not doing this, man.

Mark: Fine, fine, fine. Another time. You asked if I’ve been in love. I’ve been in love, many times. Because to love, is to enjoy. And I like to enjoy. I like to enjoy myself, I like to enjoy others. They like to enjoy me.

Me: Okay anyone specifically you’ve been in love with?

Mark: Oh, why do we need to talk specifics? Life is not specific. Life is general. Life is a rose petal on a river, gently floating on the top, knowing that at any moment, it may get pulled under and even when it is, it will still return to the surface.

Me: Are you serious right now? Is this what your book is going to be like because I don’t know that I can handle that.

Mark: Oh, you can handle it. Honey, I’ve seen what you’ve written.

Me: *laughing* Okay. Oh, dear lord. Mark, come on. I saw how you were reacting before. There’s something you’re not telling me and I’m asking you to share. Who was it? Who were you in love with?

Mark shuffles a little in his seat. He’s looking a bit nervous. He swallows hard and looks away before licking his lips and looking back up at me with his trademark smile.

Mark: You already know.

Me: I do. May I share it?

Mark: Wouldn’t that be a spectacule spoiler?

Me: *laughing in realization* I guess that’s true. Actually, yeah, you’re right that would be a huge spoiler. Okay, I guess we’re not going to share that for now.

Mark: Good. Because I’m not ready to have my petal dragged beneath the waves. Should we put a pin in this and perhaps readdress it another day?

Me: I think that’s a good idea.

Secrets abound

So, sorry everyone, but I can’t share it with you, yet. But it is good to know the effect that previous relationship had on Mark, at least to some extent. We’ll be exploring that more throughout the series, so I guess we’ll find out as we go along. Stick around!

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