The Reader's Request Book [REQUESTS CLOSED]

Important Information

"You're late," the expressionless, androgynous voice states dryly upon hearing the knock at their door. Uncertain as to whether that was an invitation to step inside, you hesitate, hand hovering above the brushed silver knob of the deep walnut wooden door. "You trying to make yourself later?" the voice laughs. "Come in already! I don't bite. Usually."

The tension easing at the carefree attitude, a smile creased across your face as you acted upon the invitation, making your way into a small, well-kept, square office. The waxed, chestnut floorboards made no creak as you stepped across them, not a spec of dirt or a single line of scratches visible upon them.

To the left and right, filling the entire area of the walls from the ground to the roof were shelves, each one packed tight with various items. The majority of these items were leather-bound books, their spines in various rich colours with titles written in sparkling golden, silver or bronze foil writing. However, there were other objects among these books, in the form of small ornaments and trinkets. At a brief glance, you could spot a miniature globe, a ship in a bottle, numerous crystals, a multitude of gemstones, the odd picture frame, and a large collection of various Lego sets.

Against the back wall there was a grand, grey-brick fireplace with granite accents, of which a crackling cherry-wood log fire was blazing with bright yellow and orange flames that licked at the metal grating keeping it contained. Sprawled across the mantle place with one leg hanging over the edge, a striped ginger cat with a white chin, belly and paws, lay contently upon the warm stone, eyes closed in a peaceful sleep.

There was another cat within the room too; a black, white and ginger tortoiseshell which sat upright on a wide oak desk, purring happily as its owner scratched the spot between its ears. A lamp shone down across the wooden surface, illuminating various art and writing supplies in a vaguely organised setup. Behind the desk, in a soft, red leather arm chair, was the person that you were here to see.

Continuing to stroke the cat at their side, they gesture to an identical chair before the desk, of which you happily drop into, the cushioned surface moulding comfortably to your back. The black, white and ginger cat jumps down to the floor, only to trot across to one of the bookshelves and jump up to a gap in which pillows and blankets had been set up.

The person within the chair observes you in silence for a few moments, their eyes not visible beneath the shadow cast from their red hood. Leaning forwards, they rest their elbows on the table and press their fingers together. Although their mouth is covered by a black face mask, you can tell that they are smiling.

"So," they begin in a friendly but professional tone. "What tale shall we tell today?"

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Welcome to The Reader's Request Book!

If you have not managed to figure out what this book is for and/or about, this is a book in which you decide the story I tell. Provide me with a request of your choosing, that falls within the parameters set out within this chapter, and I shall try my best to turn your request into a short story.

Here are the rules and regulations which must be followed by both parties:

Standard Rules:

You can request as many different short stories as you can. I won't repeat requests. You can use the short story as you wish once it has been created, with credit back to me as the author. You can make a request via a comment on this book, or a DM through Wattpad. The length of each story may vary, but will generally be between 2,500-7,500 words.