Hall of Infinite Doors
"No thanks," you say with that polite yet certain tone they taught you to use in elementary school when fending off your friendly schoolyard drug dealers.
"Have it your way," Candyman replies a little edgily, taking a huge swig from his flask. "Have it your way, do it your way, die your way it doesn't matter to Candyman. Nothing matters to Candyman, no the Candyman can't " he mumbles off into space.
Aren't you glad you didn't drink that Gingerjuice? As the hours slowly tick by, your elation slowly melts into mere relief, which then rots into resentment as you sit curled up shivering in a frozen ball. Candyman is quite clearly in a universe of his own, and you can't resist a little smile as you watch him stupidly flapping his arms after the invisible multicolor flying fish he keeps telling you are jumping from the floor.
You are startled when you detect a noise at the end of the hallway. You hear the large outside door shut with a bang and then heavy footsteps accompanied by a squeaking noise. The next moment, you see the unmistakable boots of Captain Nutcracker standing at your cell door, and behind him a large wagon holding a huge burlap sack labeled "CONFECTIONER'S SUGAR".
"That bitch," Captain Nutcracker slurs, stumbling to one side. "She cracks my nuts. I introduce her into the Sugarplum Fairy high society I dine 'er and wine 'er and all she does is sit around and get fat and complain that we can't make apple strudel like they made it back home. Well, I don't give a mouse-king-rat's hairy ass! Dammit!" he screams out loud, fumbling with his key in the lock. You have to jump out of the way as he swings the cell door open.
Candyman smiles wide as Captain Nutcracker approaches him.
"Hey there, Nutsy," he says playfully. "Have some Gingerjoy!"
"Don't mind if I do," replies Captain Nutcracker in a broken voice, throwing all ceremony aside and sitting down right on top of his pretty coattails. He takes a big gulp from Candyman's flask, then carelessly wipes his mouth with the back of his buttoned shirt cuff. Could this really be the same prim, proper Captain Nutcracker who so gallantly arrested you earlier today? You rub your eyes and stare unabashedly at the two, who are now nuzzling each other ever so slightly. They glance briefly at you before whispering conspiratorially with one another. Finally, Candyman looks over towards you and asks,
"How would you like to have a little fun, kiddo?"
"What sort of fun?" you ask tentatively.
"Well, let's just say it involves me, you, the Captain and that big bag of confectioner's sugar over there."
You glance inadvertently at the bag, which is the size of a donkey and absolutely spilling over with a fine, shiny white powder. It gleams supernaturally green under the jail's fluorescent lights. A draft from an unseen window blows a little cloud of sparkling sugar crystals into the air above you, which begin to swirl gracefully down. A violent shiver runs through you as you continue to gaze upward, transfixed.
So, how should you pass this hellish night?
"Have it your way," Candyman replies a little edgily, taking a huge swig from his flask. "Have it your way, do it your way, die your way it doesn't matter to Candyman. Nothing matters to Candyman, no the Candyman can't " he mumbles off into space.
Aren't you glad you didn't drink that Gingerjuice? As the hours slowly tick by, your elation slowly melts into mere relief, which then rots into resentment as you sit curled up shivering in a frozen ball. Candyman is quite clearly in a universe of his own, and you can't resist a little smile as you watch him stupidly flapping his arms after the invisible multicolor flying fish he keeps telling you are jumping from the floor.
You are startled when you detect a noise at the end of the hallway. You hear the large outside door shut with a bang and then heavy footsteps accompanied by a squeaking noise. The next moment, you see the unmistakable boots of Captain Nutcracker standing at your cell door, and behind him a large wagon holding a huge burlap sack labeled "CONFECTIONER'S SUGAR".
"That bitch," Captain Nutcracker slurs, stumbling to one side. "She cracks my nuts. I introduce her into the Sugarplum Fairy high society I dine 'er and wine 'er and all she does is sit around and get fat and complain that we can't make apple strudel like they made it back home. Well, I don't give a mouse-king-rat's hairy ass! Dammit!" he screams out loud, fumbling with his key in the lock. You have to jump out of the way as he swings the cell door open.
Candyman smiles wide as Captain Nutcracker approaches him.
"Hey there, Nutsy," he says playfully. "Have some Gingerjoy!"
"Don't mind if I do," replies Captain Nutcracker in a broken voice, throwing all ceremony aside and sitting down right on top of his pretty coattails. He takes a big gulp from Candyman's flask, then carelessly wipes his mouth with the back of his buttoned shirt cuff. Could this really be the same prim, proper Captain Nutcracker who so gallantly arrested you earlier today? You rub your eyes and stare unabashedly at the two, who are now nuzzling each other ever so slightly. They glance briefly at you before whispering conspiratorially with one another. Finally, Candyman looks over towards you and asks,
"How would you like to have a little fun, kiddo?"
"What sort of fun?" you ask tentatively.
"Well, let's just say it involves me, you, the Captain and that big bag of confectioner's sugar over there."
You glance inadvertently at the bag, which is the size of a donkey and absolutely spilling over with a fine, shiny white powder. It gleams supernaturally green under the jail's fluorescent lights. A draft from an unseen window blows a little cloud of sparkling sugar crystals into the air above you, which begin to swirl gracefully down. A violent shiver runs through you as you continue to gaze upward, transfixed.
So, how should you pass this hellish night?