1. Stardust
Lilly smiled down at me, her black curls falling out of her bun due to the gravity.
"Well are you coming up William Henry?" She asked in her usual smug-sounding chirp.
I could feel the vertigo by simply looking UP at it. The roof of the Bate's home -or should I say mansion- seemed to tower over the rest of the houses on that block. I swallowed hard.
"I don't think I can climb up, Lilly..."
The older girl went into a fit of giggles, and I could feel a blush creeping up my neck.
"You don't have to climb all the way up, you silly, stupid boy, just go to my bedroom window!"
"Oh. Right."
I felt foolish as I ran into the house, through the living room (where the doctor gave me an odd look from his perch on the overstuffed sofa), and up the stairs (nearly knocking over a maid carrying a basket full of dirty laundry).
I was breathing heavily by the time I reached Lilly's room, and almost had to drag myself to her window. I leaned against the sill, frowning when I didn't see her face peaking in at me. I opened up the window, feeling the warm summer air blow into my face once again. Suddenly, I felt a yank on my shirt collar, and I cried out as I was firmly pulled onto the roof. I quickly looked towards my assailant, only to see Lilly's dazzling blue eyes. She beamed.
"Well, isn't the view just PERFECT?" She asked.
I looked down, a wave of nausea coming over me.
"I meant over here!" Lilly groaned, tipping my head up firmly.
The skyline of the city was clearly visible from high up, sparkling and beautiful in the low evening light. I felt the same wonder that befell me on my first ride through the city, a kind of childish enchantment that filled me with pure joy.
"Is it not lovely?"
I looked over at Lilly, who wasn't looking back; she had her eyes glued to the city, her face full of as much wonder as my own.
I simply nodded, and tried to slide myself into a better position. In that, I felt something grainy underneath my hand. Curious, I lifted my palm to discover it was now evenly coated in a golden dust. My eyebrows furrowed.
"What's this?"
The question had barely left my mouth before Lilly had my hand in her grasp. After thoroughly examining it, she placed it back down on the roof.
"Stardust." She claimed.
I held back a chuckle.
"That doesn't exist, though."
Lilly snorted. "It does up here. EVERYTHING exists up here. It's magic."
"Your roof is magical?" I asked.
The older girl laughed again.
"William, I swear every time I see you, you get even more stupid!"
She planted a kiss upon my cheek.
2. Power
"If you had a magical power, what would it be?"
The question froze everyone at the table, except for Pellinore, who looked at Von Helrung in concern.
"What kind of a question is THAT?" He asked, unable to keep the irritated tone out of his voice.
His old master shrugged. "It was simply a hypothetical question."
"I like it!" Beamed Lilly. "I for one would have the ability to fly, so I could see the whole city whenever I wanted! Not even this city, mind you, Paris, London, Vienna- I could fly to any city whenever I'd like."
Von Helrung smiled, and looked at his other niece. "Emily?"
Emily frowned thoughtfully, and placed down her fork. "I think I would shapeshift, be able to become anyone I wanted to be. I could become someone new every day. A librarian, a nurse, a farmer... endless possibilities."
Pellinore suppressed a groan and placed his chin in his hand. How did their conversation become so ridiculous?
"Will?"
Will Henry looked up from his food. "I... don't know."
He suddenly winced, possibly from Lilly kicking him under the table.
"Alright, I... I think I would be very smart. So none of you could call me stupid anymore. And I would become an inventor; like Tesla or Edison, and make things that could change the world."
The doctor looked over at his assistant, who gave him a half-hearted smile. "What about you, sir?"
Pellinore shook his head. "That question is pointless."
"That's why it's called a hypothetical question, mein fruend." Vol Helrung said gently.
"...Fine." The Doctor sat up.
"I would have the power of telepathy. I could call upon Will Henry in a way he could hear me every single time, so I won't have to strain my vocal chords."
The whole table laughed, except Will, who had buried his face in his hands.
3. Dawn
Sunlight came through the small attic window, dancing upon the sheets of the bed.
7 year old Pellinore stirred, moaning not only due to the sun beating down on his face, but a sinus headache that was causing the backs of his eyes to feel like they were slowly being crushed.
With a grunt he sat up, stirring up the usual dust and cells that enjoy dancing in sunbeams.
Smacking his lips, he peeked out the window. Though this only got him a view of the ally and the side of the house next door, to the far left he could see a man coming out of his store to shovel, and two boys about his age already out playing in the snow. A jealous feeling crept up on him, put was quickly pushed back by a fresh burst of pain in his head. Softly moaning, he laid back down, only to see his father leering over him.
The man didn't tell him good morning, nor ask him how he slept, he simply pressed his hand against his son's forehead briefly.
"Your fever's gone down." He said matter-of-factly.
Pellinore nodded, and to his surprise, Alistair Warthrop sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Your mother is making soup." His tone stayed pretty much the same, though an edge of softness had crept into it. "Would you like some?"
Pellinore nodded again, then coughed into his elbow.
Alistair patted his son on the leg before rising, nearly causing the boy to jump out of his skin.
"Buck up Pellinore, a new day is dawning."
4. Waterlilies
It was a lovely Spring day, the kind of day where normal people did normal things. Ladies went out for walks with their gentledandies, while their children played stickball outside of their school houses.
But not for Will Henry. He himself sat on a muddy bank, writing notes as his master observed a long, spiny fish he had yanked from the water a few minutes before.
"Specimen appears to be a juvenile, and measures 10 inches long. It's teeth have not fully come in yet, though in the front..."
The Doctor's monotone speech bored him (per usual), and Will found his eyes gravitating to the pond's surface. It was lovely, with the sun dancing on it. It almost looked like glass. A sudden plop caused his eyes to dart to a plant a frog had just jumped off of.
A waterlily.
Of course, this automatically pulled him into thoughts of Lillian Bates, with her sapphire eyes and knowing smile. Let alone her seemingly steam-powered mouth. But it was a lovely mouth, just across from his. Close enough to kiss.
"Well, will you kiss me, William?" It giggled.
Why yes! He leaned forward...
"Will Henry, what the devil are you doing!?"
The Doctor's voice pierced Will's thoughts, immediately causing him to topple into the water with a cry of surprise. He felt the notebook being ripped out of his hand, and he wiggled onto his back. A face loomed above his, though it wasn't the smiling one of Lillian Trumbl Bates, but the furious one of Pellinore Xavier Warthrop.
"What was that?!" He boomed.
"I suppose this is how I die..." Will thought with dread.
"L-Lilly, Sir." He stammered aloud. "She was in front of me, and wanted me to kiss her, so I tried, and... I'm sorry!"
To Will's surprise, the Doctor's face mysteriously started to contort. He let out a light snort, his nose crinkled, and a smile seemed to be tugging at the corner of his mouth. Then, as if by the will of some mysterious force, he laughed.
Will had never heard the Doctor laugh like this. Maybe a chuckle in passing, but it was usually dry or out of courtesy.
This was a full on booming laugh, the kind that could bring a man to his knees and tears into his eyes. A laugh that Will would expect to hear from Meister Abraham, but never, EVER, Dr. Warthrop.
Will expected him to stop, yell "FOOLED YOU!", then proceed to beat him over the head with the nearest blunt object.
But he did not. He kept laughing, his hands on his knees, face beat red.
People were starting to stare, some even laughing along with him.
Will, however, stared dumbfounded at his hysterical master.
Finally, the Doctor stopped, gasping for air.
"It appears," he finally said "that I must keep you far away from waterlilies."
5. Pregnancy
Lilly was sitting in her room with the book her Uncle had given her, when a knock sounded from the door.
"Yes?" She asked, quickly shoving the book under her pillow.
The door opened a crack, revealing the face of her younger brother, Reginald.
"May I come in?" He asked.
"Of course!" Lilly said, an innocent smile forming on her face.
Reggie walked in, shutting the door behind him. "I have a question."
"What is it?"
Lilly didn't even break a sweat. Someday she was going to be the world's greatest Monstrumologist, what question could she not answer?
"Where do babies come from?"
Well.
"...What?"
"Where do babies come from?"
"I heard you, but what!?"
"I just want to know!" Whined Reggie.
"Then ask Mother!" Lilly huffed. She knew the answer, of course, just she would be the last person you could ask to explain sex and birth to a small child.
"I asked mother, then she told me to ask father, and he told me to ask the cook, who told me to ask you!"
"Those monsters, making me answer this!" Lilly thought bitterly.
"Fine. Sit down, and I shall explain to you where babies come from."
Reggie smiled and sat crossed legged on the floor, his hands folded in his lap.
Lilly could NEVER tell him the truth, not at this age.
So she, God forgive her, would lie.
Yes! The perfect plan!
"Well, when a man and a woman fall in love and get married, and they want to have a child, they must wire a Doctor."
"A Doctor? Like Doctor Warthrop?"
"No, a medical Doctor named... Rigby. Who lives in Spain."
"What does he do?"
"Well, when he gets the telegram, he asks for a letter explaining in detail what kind of child they want. Then once he gets the letter, he makes it."
"How does he make the baby?"
Lilly thought for a second. How WOULD one create a child without having sex?
"He... he makes mechanical children!"
Reggie gasped. "Really?!"
"Yes! He makes a mechanical child, covers it with skin and hair, then sends it to the parents!"
"...Does that mean I'm mechanical?"
Lilly resisted the urge to laugh. "Yes. You are a mechanical boy."
Reggie looked shocked. "Is EVERYONE mechanical!?"
"Yes! You and I, mother and father, Uncle and the cook, Dr. Warthrop and William Henry, even the President! All of them are mechanical."
"But how does he make so many mechanical people?!" Her brother looked frantic at this point.
"He's immortal. He's immortal so he can make mechanical people forever."
Reggie sat stone still for a moment, then promptly stood up and ran out of the room, crying "MOTHER, MOTHER, I'M A MECHANICAL BOY!"
Lilly rolled around on her bed in a fit of laughter.
