Chapter eight

[thebestseller]

Hey, my cutout's finally gone. I've looked around everywhere, but it disappeared. It was getting to be a nuisance, but now... you know how something's a tad bit annoying and intrusive but you get used to its presence anyway and then when it's gone you miss it a little? Yeah.

Not that this is an invitation to give me another one, Paradisa, just in case you're getting ideas.

Comments

[the_effect_she_has]

If wishes were loaves of bread, we would all eat like kings.

[thebestseller]

Ain't that the truth. Especially in the magic wishing castle.

[the_effect_she_has]

I try not to wish anything from the magical wishing castle. It's dangerous.

[thebestseller]

You know, I'm starting to agree. Of course, not that avoiding wishes stops things from happening anyway.

[the_effect_she_has]

[One corner of her mouth lifted up.] Yes, it's the kind of slippery slope that you're not really sure where you started, until you're all the way at the bottom.

[thebestseller]

What a life, huh?

[the_effect_she_has]

I've seen worse.

[thebestseller]

That I don't doubt. Considering how many people here could have walked straight out of the pages of fiction in my world...

[the_effect_she_has]

...You're a writer? [She pressed her lips together, biting her top lip.] What have you written?

[thebestseller]

Mysteries. Crime novels. I'm rather famous for it where I come from.

[the_effect_she_has]

So those are like ... fake murder stories, right? So you're a good writer? [She's quiet, for a moment.] I've thought about writing.

[thebestseller]

Yeah, exactly. "Good" is something people will debate about, but I'm pretty popular, so at least I entertain folks, and that's what I aim for.

Well, that's a good thing to aspire to do. What do you want to write about?

[the_effect_she_has]

Entertaining people with stories is better than entertaining people with other things.

[She thought about it, for a long moment.] I ... haven't had the easiest of childhoods. And, if I ever have children? I wouldn't want them to go through the same things I did. I wouldn't want their generation to make my great-great-great grandparents mistakes. So maybe I'd write about what happened to me, to my home.

[thebestseller]

Sounds like a noble pursuit. There's a saying in my world that those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. People can always learn from what those who came before them did.

[the_effect_she_has]

I've never really saw myself as a noble person. [She pressed her fingertips together.] But I think you're right. I think I should keep people from making the same mistakes.

[thebestseller]

Then go for it. If you need help getting started, I'd be happy to try.

[the_effect_she_has]

Okay.

[Another pause.] Thanks.

[thebestseller]

You're welcome.