Helena has been doing some “unhappily ever afters” or, as I like to call them, “happily never afters” on her blog for some of the past Friday Fictioneers photo prompts. I hope she doesn’t mind me borrowing a princess this week and if she does, well, I expect to be publicly castigated and/or flogged.
Photo by Janet Webb
“Mm this looks good,” she said. “What is it?”
“Sangria,” Florian said, sliding the drink closer.
She looked around at the familiar, colorful décor, sighing happily. The Mirror Café was the first place she met Florian; he saved her when she fainted while waiting in line at the popular brunch spot. She drank deeply from the sweet drink and licked her lips.
“Mmm,” she said approvingly. “What kind of sangria is this, darling?”
“Apple,” he said,
Her eyes fluttered and she put a hand to her head.
Florian smiled, why settle for the princess when he could have the queen?
Read other stories here:
*Florian is Snow White’s Prince Charming’s real name.
Vers Les Etoiles 
Another spiked drink 😀 Love it
I’ve been told sangria can be deadly…guess we proved it right this week!
I think we did 🙂
I love these updated fairy tales. But good god Ruffying a women is not the way to win her heart.Honestly this was nothing short of awesome. If anything Helena will be jealous she didn’t write it first. Oh right…..you better look out. 😉
SHHH don’t antagonize her! Thank you–I really owe all the inspiration to the Dilettante herself.
I’ll get the greyhounds mixed up that will soothe her.
Are you two drinking without me? For shame. Nice twist, darling — going after the Queen rather than Snow White. If you had more room, I would have played with the Queen’s insecurities. “What about Snow White? Word on the street is, she’s the fairest of them all.”
“Hmph,” Florian snorted. “She’s just a girl.”
He looked into her eyes and purred:
“I like women.”
Just sayin’. This is what I’m talking about when I say there are only so many stories, you just have to pick the setting. You could create characters like I just wrote, and they wouldn’t have to be fairy tales. Just an insecure cougar who’s just about to fall prey to a predator even sneakier than she.
(Just more encouragement darling, in hope that I might inspire you out of your writing funk.)
Well rats. The girl is supposed to be Snow White and the prince poisons her because he’s seeing her step mother. 100 words is never enough
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No, no, entirely my fault, darling. After a second reading, that’s quite clear. He’s giving her the ersatz apple by way of the drink.
Also clever. Getting rid of Snow to go after the Queen.
I like mine, too, but perhaps my conversation fits in another part of the story, where the Prince is seducing the Queen.
I like your version, too–lots of manipulative prince ideas going on!
Love it! Also, sangria is one of my favorite drinks. And there’s a nearby restaurant who makes a damn good one that includes apples….
Uh oh…
😉
How paranoid am I for expacting it to go exactly as it went? 😀
Great story, I love the twisted fairytales anytime.
Not paranoid at all! I DID introduce it as a not-so-happy ending! Glad you liked it!
I think this is quite charming. Imaginative and creative.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
That’s a sweet little story… 😀
A guy with an eye to the main chance… nicely done.
Well,the Queen would suit him perfectly-hope he is ready to praise her beauty till the cows come home;-)Great twist on the classic fairy tale and thanks for the info on “Florian” 🙂
Thank you–glad you enjoyed it! And I looked up some of the obscure princes’ names a while back—I THINK Sleeping Beauty’s prince is Ferdinand… 🙂
Oh my!That’s so cute 🙂
in the Disney version, Sleeping Beauty’s prince is Phillip 🙂 it’s weird that they’re all always referred to as “The Prince”, like their names don’t matter lol
Drat! You’re right! I don’t know WHERE I got Ferdinand from. Consequently, Prince Henry is the real name of Cinderella’s prince according to a disney wiki!
yes. and the Beast’s is Adam (my favorite prince name, sounds masculine). Snow White’s been linked to a Prince Ferdinand too though I don’t know who he is either. lol quite mysterious
Uh oh, I think there’s a story in there somewhere…
haha i agree, a mystery case to be solved
The dirty rat. Hope he gets Lady MacBeth. That’ll learn him.
Hahaha they DO say to be careful what you wish for. I’m sure he’ll regret it.
love your take on the fairy tale! who wants the fragile fainting little Snow White anyway 🙂 “The Mirror Café”, love that too.
I’m not saying she DESERVES to die, but Snow White was always my least favorite princess.
Very well-done and creative ujpdating of the fairy tale. I got the apple part on my second reading. I think he and the queen deserve each other, but I’m concerned about who will save poor Snow White this time. Perhaps it’ll be an alert, handsome, single doctor in the emergency room of the local hospital.
Thank you! I was hoping it wouldn’t be too obvious, but that people would still *get* it, so I’m glad you did. And maybe she’ll be so lucky!
Dear Hannah,
Florian is a prince who’s not so charming. The sangria is dangerous this week. 😉 Nice twist on the fairy tale.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Rochelle,
He’s pretty wicked, and not in a fun way. I know, I think I’ll be avoiding the stuff for a while, myself! Glad you enjoyed it.
Excellent twist on a classic!
I’m glad I don’t drink – from everything I’ve read this week it seems that sangria (at least) is awfully dangerous 😦
I guess sangria is one of the easiest one’s to spike… Florian seems to be a beast.
Excellent story! I have a feeling Florian will get his… that Queen is a bit ruthless herself, and much more experienced 😉
I think you’re right!
Clever take on a classic fairy tale. Loved the story and the “mirror” cafe. So brilliant and charming too. Hope Prince gets there in time to save Snow and Florian will be eaten alive by Queenie.
Thank you! Unfortunately, Florian IS the Prince…so maybe the Huntsman will show up in this version!