Author's Notes- Don't forget about the challenge which you can learn more about by PMing pleaseignoreme9, me, or by looking at my profile under Goals. If you would like to participate in it, PM pleaseignoreme9 or me.
Chapter 3
Nastasia knocks on all the doors of the minions' rooms. She knocks on O'Chunks's room three times; knocks on Mimi's door four times with a pause between knock 1 and 2; and finally knocks on Dimentio's door just like she did Mimi's, but adds an extra knock after quickly doing 2, 3, and 4. She walks towards the middle of the hallway.
One of Nastasia's knocks is repeated; the knock she used on Dimentio's door. This doesn't startle Nastasia. She started doing the separate knocks for fun, but it has turned into a way to communicate when separated by a door. When Dimentio repeats her knock, he doesn't come out.
Nastasia walks back to Dimentio's door. She does the same knock, only slower. Dimentio reluctantly comes out. He leans against the door with his arms crossed.
One knock is heard twice; one of the knocks being particularly loud. Nastasia nods once, understanding that both O'Chunks and Mimi need a minute, and then they will be out.
Dimentio only gives Nastasia an irritated look.
Nastasia sighs. "You can't still be mad."
"My kind can hold grudges for a long time." Dimentio replies, proving he is not in a good mood.
"That isn't true," Nastasia states for a fact. "You have never been one to stay mad for a long time. Why does sharing a bathroom irritate you so much?"
Dimentio sighs. Nastasia is the only person in this castle that can keep a secret no matter what; not even Count Bleck can keep a good juicy secret. O'Chunks learned that the hard way. Dimentio confesses, "The restroom is not the problem. I'm not selfish; I just prefer to know my space won't be violated by someone I don't even know. It is like a dog knowing its neighbor dog is going to stay in its yard for a while and might walk on its territory."
As confusing as that was, Nastasia thinks she gets it. Fear of violation; she's seen it before. She knows just what to say, "What if you end up really liking this person? You wouldn't mind sharing your space with someone you really like."
"What do you mean by that?" Dimentio raises an eyebrow, slightly freaked by Nastasia's 'what if'.
Nastasia smiles, realizing that might have sounded wrong. "Meaning you become good friends with this person."
"Ah." That made more sense.
"Just think about it. It won't be so bad. Trust me." With that, Nastasia walks towards the other two rooms.
Mimi and O'Chunks come out of their rooms.
"Need us, Nassy?"
"Start talking; why interrupt me from my diary?"
Nastasia nods once. "You three are going to help me-,"
BANG! The entire castle shakes.
"What happened!? Count Bleck screamed angrily!" Count Bleck yells from the other room. Since he is still talking in third-person, he must still be fretting and unsure about the entire situation.
With no hesitation, all six residents of Castle Bleck meet a few feet in front of the front door. The sight is unbelievable.
"Fawful didn't know he could do that!" Fawful had kicked the door down with no extra help whatsoever. He's been impressing himself a lot lately.
Count Bleck is speechless.
Timpani steps forward. "Who are you?"
Dimentio looks past the beanish at the outside. Two frozen beanish guards stand in frozen shock. Unfazed, he turns his attention to the only available suspect for the 'frozen guards' antic, Fawful.
"You are not knowing who I am?"
This response makes Timpani's eyes narrow. Why would she ask if she knew the answer?
Count Bleck shakes his head back into reality. "You must be Cackletta's… um…"
"Cackletta is gone. There is only her apprentice, Fawful."
Not knowing what else to say to the strange beanish, Nastasia says, "S-sorry for your loss."
"I have no sorrow," Fawful walks in, closing the door behind him. "Only chortles."
"Strong lad." O'Chunks comments.
Fawful notices Mimi's disgusted expression and laughs. "You bewildered by Fawful's awesomeness? The expression of disgusted awe covers your face, green girl."
"Awe?" Mimi questions.
"Yes! You have smartness realizing Fawful's greatness early." With that said, Fawful takes Mimi's hand and gently kisses it. Mimi almost throws-up. For that matter, Count Bleck almost throws-up.
Dimentio tries to completely ignore the circumstances. If I just ignore it, maybe I can get past this and go on with life.
Timpani clears her throat. "Hello. I am Lady Timpani, and this is my husband, Lord Blumiere." She takes Count Bleck's hand.
"Greetings to the happy couple." Fawful greets in a strange demeanor. Timpani is flattered, but still a little uncomfortable around this guest.
"These are my minions," Count Bleck manages to say through his thoughts. "O' Chuck, Dementia, Miami, and my loyal nurse, Nice-ta-see-ya." Well, he made an attempt.
Timpani saves the day. "Blumiere doesn't feel good today. I'll take him to bed." She walks him away like a little child.
"Where am I?" That is the last complete sentence everyone hears the count say before he and Timpani are out of the room and far away.
Nastasia clears her throat and says, "Let's try that again. I'm Count Bleck's secretary, Nastasia."
"O'Chunks."
"Master of dimensions, pleaser of crowds, I am Dimentio."
"…" Mimi says nothing.
"I am unimpressed, but delighted to see you all did the trying." Fawful states, being as sincere as possible.
Ok, now I feel bad for Dimentio. Nastasia feels lucky compared to her brightly-dressed acquaintance. His room is closest to the newbie- fun right?
Fawful looks at the ceiling. "How big is this place?"
"Pretty big, if ye ask me." O'Chunks answers.
Nastasia half-smiles, getting an idea. "Maybe Mimi would be kind enough to give you a tour."
Mimi is shocked back into reality.
"That would be the tangy sauce on the Chinese chicken! I am animated!" In more ways than one. He skips on past Count Bleck's minions.
Mimi pulls Nastasia close. "I am not going alone with that thing. You have to come with me."
Nastasia pulls her arm out of Mimi's grip. "Ok then." She looks at the other two. "Dimentio, you are going with Mimi."
Dimentio is lost in thought. He looks at Nastasia. "Huh?"
"Go with Mimi please. I will get what's-his-name's room ready." With that, Nastasia walks off. O'Chunks follows her.
Mimi and Dimentio reluctantly follow Fawful. Even though Mimi would have rather had Nastasia go with her, Dimentio is better than nobody.
The three stop in the kitchen. Mimi looks down at her stomach.
"The bread, the mustard, and all those other good things reside in here."
"UH…" Not even Dimentio knows how to respond to that. "I guess."
"I'm ready for lunch."
"You and Fawful both, Miami." Fawful looks around the kitchen.
Mimi gets irritated. "It's Mimi." With that, she storms out of the room.
"Is the tour over?" Fawful asks.
Dimentio says, "Feel free to explore a little. Don't dare go into a room without knocking- I've learned that the hard way. We should all meet in here for lunch in about thirty minutes." With that, Dimentio leaves the beanish in the kitchen.
Fawful continues to look around. "The kitchen of the palace is much larger, but who am I to complain. A kitchen has food, or it isn't a kitchen."
"Love your train of thought." Dimentio turns around in the middle of the door frame. "You say you were at the castle."
"Held prisoner there was Fawful. Prince let me out and almost did the signing of his resignation papers." Fawful laughs. "I have naughtiness! Fawful did it!"
He is pretty proud of that. Dimentio states the obvious in his head. He leaves, amused.
Wait, what did he say he did?
