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Chatterbox: Inkwell
The wind is howling outside of your window as a storm approaches. You can hear a crack of thunder out in the distance. It is your favorite kind of weather. Grabbing a book off of your desk, you collapse down on the family's rocking chair. A bolt of lighting crosses the sky as you begin flipping through the pages. Oddly, about half way through the book, you spot a change in the font. You decide to flip back to the page, though what you find is definitely not just a font issue. It is a letter. Addressed to you. You sigh with anguish, disappointed you can't start reading yet, but begin reading the letter anyway. There is no formal greeting at the top, just your name typed out in bold. It draws you in to read more. The first line begins:
Dear reader, everyone tells me it is best to start with an explanation. I, on the other hand, say it is always best to start with a story.
There is gap here, so you pause for a moment as you find where the text begins again:
"It's time." I said as I threw open the Not-Mansion's rickety old door. "It is time!"
Ellith, my dear and true assistant, ran up to me with a stack of papers in her hands - the normal way she walked about the place, and put a stubborn hand in front of my chest.
"Arcady...you remember what happened last time...the Wundersmith…"
"Yes I know they killed everybody. But this time will be different - I can feel it."
"Just because you haven't gone around murdering people doesn't mean one of them won't'!" Ellith declared.
"I have made up my mind already Elli. Now please get me a typewriter."
Your heart starts racing. This isn't a prank by your younger sister. This is something else entirely. Something deadly.
Oh yes. I can tell you are afraid now. Good. People think better when they are afraid. Unless you are Alexander. Alexander just gets mad. But anyway, you are not my nephew (Or are you? If you are, why did you steal my letter?), so let me get to the point and tell you what 'it's time!' for.
It's time to tell you what you really are. You are magical. You have powers beyond your imagination. You could control the world if you wanted to. Actually, scratch the last part. If you rule the world that means I can't, so clearly that is not an option.
So why am I informing you of your magical ability? Why that is because I am offering to train you. You and 19 phenomenal others (as we call them in the Phenomenal Occurrences Council) have been selected to attend the Northern No-Mansion (instructions not needed - you will see why) for the highest quality lessons and instruction in your unique ability.
If you choose to accept this once-in-a-life time offer, you are to flip this paper over - No - not now - I am not finished yet- and fill out the participation form and disclaimer. And no, I will not tell you why there is a disclaimer.
You will learn to be a master at your magical ability better than Dumbledore himself if you embrace this opportunity. Oh darn, don't tell Dumbledore I said that. Now anyway, there is nobody else who can teach you like I can. And if you don't learn to harness your magic now, your magic will learn to harness you.
I will include a list of the abilities we are accepting for this seminar. You will learn which ability is yours once the event begins. Please answer all questions on the form and be ready to be collected on 17th of July!
~Arcady Wunder
Arcady Wunder - What a curious name. Though you don't have time to ponder this strange man's name. You have to see the list - and the form. You flip the paper over:
Arcady's List Of Magical Abilities!
Read the title of the page. You continue down until you see the list.
1: Animator (Can bring object to life - Can not bring living creatures back from death)
2: Animanetic (Understands/Can Semi-Control Animals - Humans not included)
3: Botanic (Understands/Can Semi-Control Plants)
4: Celestial (Understands/Can Semi-Control Celestial bodies - Can not prevent or speed up the end of the universe)
5: Chronologist (Can Alter/Travel in Time)
6: Elemental (Understands/Can Semi-Control the Elements)
7: Empath (Understands/Detects Emotions when in contact with subject)
8: Energist (Semi-Controls the Flow of Energy)
9: Healer (Can Identify/Create cures on the spot - Again, can not bring living things back from death)
10: Illusionist (Can Create/Detect Illusions)
11: Imaginist (Can Create Images from the imagination - Can not create events)
12: Linguist (Can speak all languages - On rare occasions can understand animals and plants)
13: Mesmerist (Can force others to follow their will - though most Mesmerists are severely tracked by the council for their potential)
14: Morph (Can shapeshift into anything - when in contact with others, can share ability)
15: Oracle (Can see into the future, though usually at a limited range)
16: Shadow-Seer (Can Create/Control Shadows)
17: Sun-Seer (Can Create/Control Sunlight)
18: Telepath (Can Read Minds on contact with subject
19: Witness (Can See the Truth of the World - Includes Tracking Origins, Seeing Abilities, And Detecting Lies - Though there are ways to Allude this ability)
20: Wundersmith (Can Control the Fabric of the World - If trained right, they can master Life and Death)
A shiver goes up your spine. You don't know if you want to meet a master of death. But, if this man is telling the truth and you really have an ability...You decide to look at the form. It has quite a lot of questions, you see, but some of them are rather strange:
Name:
Nickname (If no nickname, leave this space blank):
Pronouns:
Appearance:
What Ability Do You Think You Have?:
What Ability Do You Want To Have?:
Do You Like Surprises?:
Are You One Who Would Go For A Strange Hairstyle?:
Favorite Color Combination:
5 Adjectives That Describe You:
5 Adjectives That Describe Your Best Friend:
Does Your Best Friend Ever Take The Shape Of A Snake?:
Do You Like The Color Black? If So, Why?:
Do You Like Enlarged Beasts Like Giant Lions?:
Would You Live In A House With A Personality (The answer is yes):
Would You Be Able To Wear An Eye-Patch For Days On End:
Day or Night?:
Light or Darkness?:
Do or Die? (Please answer do - We can not except dead candidates):
Do you like photography?
Top Three Of Your Most Favorite, Obscure Hobbies (The obscurer, the better):
Does The World Bend At Your Will?:
What Do You Think Of Sappy Conversations?:
Can You Remember Your Dreams?:
Favorite Quote You Caught A Friend Saying:
Preferred Way Of Dying (Being a hero is not an option. We can not always provide hero-required scenarios at the time of death. Oh, and dying of old age doesn't count either. Because, well, we haven't made aging rays yet.):
Favorite Number:
Favorite Time Of Day:
Do You Appreciate Verb Tenses?:
Drawing Or Writing?:
Dream Job:
Okay, Are You Tired Of These Questions?:
If You Said Yes, Than To Bad Because There Is One More:
Letter Your Real Name Begins With:
Okay, I'm Done:
Now I'm Done For Real:
Sike!:
Alright, Ellith Says I Have To Stop Before You Give Up On This Thing:
And The Disclaimer: Do You Agree To Say That Arcady And His Associates Will Bear No Responsibility Caused By This Wunderous (Pun Intended) Situation?:
You don't quite consider 'Sike!' a question, but you decide to fill out the form anyway. Why not? There couldn't be any harm done. You probably are being tricked, but if not, what an opportunity! You hurry to write your name on the line at the top of the page, fill out the questions, and then rest the paper on the table. It disappears in front of your eyes in a plume of confetti. Maybe this wasn't a joke after all...
Little did you know you were getting yourself into a ski lodge.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Welcome to my, Arcady Wunder's ski lodge of the Wundrous Element (Oh, and Wunder is ment to be spelled with a u. Wonder and Wunder are two very different things here). Please feel free to guess my identity, and go ahead and fill out a form if you are interested. We can't wait to see you!
submitted by Arcady W. , age Wunderous, The Northern Not-Mansion
(July 10, 2021 - 4:37 pm)
(July 10, 2021 - 4:37 pm)
dreamiing! Greetings! I would say that, yes, this is in fact loosly based off of Morrigan Crow. Though of course there are a few, mm, other things involved here as well. Such as we, do accept Wundersmiths (wunderful ability really - oh I am so hilarious!). As long as your name is not Squall. No Ezra Squall will be allowed here, even if they use the Gossamer! I will not let that beast of a man get to you all!
Oh my I am getting a bit to emotional, aren't I? I should really be cautious with the Witness and the Empath, if they are here. We can't wait to see you soon at the Not-Mansion!
By the way, since we still need a few more participants and the reservers forms, I am going to postphone Day 0 until Wednesday - I might extend it longer depending on how full we become/how many forms are recieved.
(July 18, 2021 - 1:55 pm)
Well, You seem to have some extra spots so I guess now is a good time to introduce my first AE!
Name: Gillian
Nickname (If no nickname, leave this space blank): Gilly
Pronouns: non-binary they/them I speak in Italics
Appearance: short blond hair thats usually messy, I use different colored contacts but they are the normal eye colors, I need them to see. I am about 5'9" Yes I am taller than Skip. Haha she's short. I wear nice turle necks with blazers and pants and I have tattoos on my arms. They're just flowers. Also I have a thing for eyeliner and sparkles. Only on my face though.
What Ability Do You Think You Have?: ooh I think I might be an oracle
What Ability Do You Want To Have?: I like the idea of an energist
Do You Like Surprises?: yep, they're pretty cool
Are You One Who Would Go For A Strange Hairstyle?: not usually.
Favorite Color Combination: I do enjoy sunset colors.
5 Adjectives That Describe You: Confident, Stylish, Extroverted, optomistic, creative
5 Adjectives That Describe Your Best Friend: (Well I'll use my favorite friend of Skip because she used her crush-HEY! HEY NO EXPOSING ME RIGHT NOW OKAY sheesh fine) hard-working, dedicated, extrovert, leader, strong
Does Your Best Friend Ever Take The Shape Of A Snake?: uh I sincerely hope he doesn't. That would be a problem.
Do You Like The Color Black? If So, Why?:YES! you can style it with so many things.
Do You Like Enlarged Beasts Like Giant Lions?: absolutley
Would You Live In A House With A Personality (The answer is yes): uh, yes
Would You Be Able To Wear An Eye-Patch For Days On End: absolutley not.
Day or Night?: day
Light or Darkness?: light
Do or Die? (Please answer do - We can not except dead candidates): do
Do you like photography? I like being photographed so yes
Top Three Of Your Most Favorite, Obscure Hobbies (The obscurer, the better): randomly going and annoying Skip for no reason, Trying to practice my eyeliner, drawing new tattoos onto myself
Does The World Bend At Your Will?: I wish
What Do You Think Of Sappy Conversations?: lots of emotions. Skip and I have that in common, and that is emotions are difficult to handle. It makes sense that I get her problems.
Can You Remember Your Dreams?: usually yes
Favorite Quote You Caught A Friend Saying: "Armpits are not replacable" That was Skip's sister today.
Preferred Way Of Dying (Being a hero is not an option. We can not always provide hero-required scenarios at the time of death. Oh, and dying of old age doesn't count either. Because, well, we haven't made aging rays yet.): something dramatic, maybe being stabbed through the heart by my enemy as my friends look on and then they get revenge.
Favorite Number: 8
Favorite Time Of Day: sunset
Do You Appreciate Verb Tenses?: uh, I guess so
Drawing Or Writing?: writing!!
Dream Job: hm famous actor
Okay, Are You Tired Of These Questions?: no because they're about me
If You Said Yes, Than To Bad Because There Is One More: only one?
Letter Your Real Name Begins With: um, G
Okay, I'm Done: now I'm sad
Now I'm Done For Real: but you already said you were done?
Sike!: oh how lovely!
Alright, Ellith Says I Have To Stop Before You Give Up On This Thing: awww
And The Disclaimer: Do You Agree To Say That Arcady And His Associates Will Bear No Responsibility Caused By This Wunderous (Pun Intended) Situation?: yep!
(July 17, 2021 - 4:59 pm)
Gillian! It is a pleasure to have you! I always appreciate those who like a good sike (or pysch - as I have recently learned is how it is really spelled by one of the participants - As you can see, I was not the top of my English class at Wunsoc). And the confidence with oversized animals - I love it! Fortune favors the bold, my friend. Unless you are in Explorer Academy - in which case you get shot by a high powered lazer. Thank goodness I'm not sending you there! We are looking forward to your arrival!
(July 18, 2021 - 2:02 pm)
Day 0
I know we are still missing some forms, but since I promised we would start today (and already had to delay once) I thought it was best to begin now. Please turn in your forms as soon as possible if they are missing, and if anyone would like to join, I will allow it up until Day 1 is published. I apologize for any grammar issues in advance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Skip woke up in a panic. There was something wrong - she could feel it. But, what could it be? She didn't see anything. Skip slowly got out of bed, eyes wide with confusion and fear. Something was off. The air smelled different than usual - there was - was that really pomegranates? Skip knew she did not have pomegranates in her room. She walked over to her closet door and opened it cautiously. Nothing. Maybe it was in the bathroom? But Skip never got to check the bathroom, because instead, she turned toward her bed again. There was a shuffling noise coming from underneath it. And then, to her horror, a voice.
"Sorry, sorry, OW! What is under this thing? Is that a shadow creature? No no, just a dust bunny. Oh, Hello!"
Out from under Skip's bed, there was now a head with fiery red hair sticking out.
"Who...who are you?" Skip asked, backing away toward the door.
"Arcady Wunder, your new teacher!" The man answered enthusiastically.
Skip kept backing toward the door. That is, until she recognized the name.
"You're Arcady?"
"Of course! I know I was supposed to send my assistants or employees or whatever-you-call-thems, but I thought it would be best if I just showed up myself. Ellith is so dull about recruiting new students.
Skip started to wonder why being dull was a bad thing. It was much more pleasant when someone took the care to give you a warning
"Um...why are you under my bed?" Skip then asked, taking a few steps back toward Arcady."
"I couldn't very well use the door, could I?" He responded, pulling himself out from under the bed.
Skip was practically blinded in the process when she saw that his dark blue coat was emitting light of its own. She was about to ask about it, but Arcady shushed her before she could more than a syllable out.
"Now come along - we're already behind schedule. The others will be waiting."
Arcady stood up off the floor, brushed off his luminescent coat, and reached out a hand toward Skip.
"Just close your eyes and think about that connection between our hands. You'll be fine."
And just like that, Skip found the ground disappear beneath her, wind rushing past her face and jarring her glasses. She had no idea what was happening, but she focused on Arcady's instructions. All she had to do was think about the connection. Think about the connection...think about the connection...Thump.
The wind stopped and the ground suddenly rushed up to meet Skip, ungracious to her and Arcady. They both landed in a heap on the floor, limps twisted up in painful knots.
"Uhg." Was all Skip could say. Arcady, on the other hand, was up and about in no time at all.
"Get up, get up! The others are waiting in the Dining Hall! Notty doesn't like to be kept waiting! They absolutely despise tardiness!" Arcady cried, yanking Skip off of the floor while pulling her out of the door at the same time.
"Make haste!"
Arcady led Skip through an utterly confusing maze of a house. The walls were like that of a mansion, decked out with fancy moldings and dark colored wallpaper. This on its own was amazing to Skip, but it was definitely not the focus of her attention. The house - the mansion - as she now wanted to call it - was moving on its own. At times when Arcady reached a dead end, the mansion seemed to open it up for him. It was as if the house was alive.
"Pardon, but how is it doing that?" Skip asked the next time the mansion made it's walls disappear.
"It" Arcady started, dragging Skip through another hallway. "Is not an it. They are a they. And their name is Notty. Please be kind to the house. They don't like rude guests."
Skip, a bit appalled by being called rude, then closed her mouth. She wasn't sure about this house with a mind of its own.
Thankfully, Skip didn't have to ponder her feelings toward the mansion for long. At the end of the hallway, Arcady shoved the door open to reveal the room he had been taking her to - the Dining Hall. 13 other guests that she recognized, Silver eating a croissant, Quill reading a book hidden in their lap, along with two others that she did not know. The first, a teenaged boy in an eyepatch, was sitting next to Opal and giving her bunny ears. Miserable-oil61 and Hollyshock, thought this was incredibly funny, and were laughing uncontrollably while Opal was looking around the table for what was so funny. The other, a young woman who appeared to be about thirty, was seated at the head of the table, desperately whispering to the boy to stop with the bunny ears.
Arcady urged Skip into a seat in between Writing and Gillian and then began walking toward the other head chair. There was a dish that Skip didn't recognize - something unheard of to the whole table really - at his spot. The only thing Skip did recognize about the meal was that it had pomegrantes. So that was the smell. After she had satisfied herself with that answer, she scrurried toward her seat. Arcady then clapped his hands loudly, and the table went silent.
"Welcome to the Northern Not-Mansion!" He exclaimed, gesturing around the Dining Hall grandly. "This is the Wunderous place that you will soon be learning and mastering your new-found knacks!"
Arcady clearly expected applause at this, but none was given. Most of the guests were looking around each other in bewilderment. Knacks? What about magical talents? Arcady, in turn, was confused into why he wasn't getting more excitement from the group. Thankfully, Rainbow Riot spoke up.
"Um, what exactly is a knack?" she asked nervously, staring at Arcady expectantly.
"A knack," Arcady began looking relieved. "Is the magical ability that you all have developed."
"Developed?" Raynee asked, eyes glowing with curiosity.
"Yes - knacks today usually take time to develop in each individual. Interestingly, you each developed your knacks in the last week around Eventide."
Dreamii leaned closer to hear. Why the last part whispered? Eventide...now what was that? Arcady was still rambling on about how special they were to have knacks though, so Dreamii never got a real chance to think about her question. Unfortunate. She could have learned something important.
"Now each of you, I know, have been waiting to find out what your knacks are. That is what the scrolls in front of you say."
All the participants turned toward the center of the table, and noticed new scrolls in front of each of them that hadn't been there before.
"Go ahead - take a look." Arcady stated, grinning.
Each participant grabbed their scroll eagerly.
"But take mind you might not have received the ability you expected."
The sound of snapping seals filled the room as the CBers and AEs opened their scrolls at last.
"Yes!" Gillian cried, leaping out of their chair. "Oracle! Woo hoo!" They practically started dancing around the room with joy.
"Interesting, Animator." Writing spoke, sounding surprised. They hadn't expected this knack.
"Witness." Raynee stated matter of factly. "I knew it."
"Oh yes! Healer!" LG shouted, shaking her scroll around in the air.
"Illusionist?" Hollyshock questioned. She had been so sure she would be a Linguist.
"Ey! I'm a Morph!" Silver called proudly. She had gotten exactly what she wanted. She herself wanted to jump up in celebration.
CBers and AEs alike were ecstatic (or, in Hollyshock's case, slightly confused). Shouts filled the room with excited voices. Then, the women at the other head of the table stood up.
Here is the list of everyone's knacks. It is best you know each other's abilities while you stay here." She proclaimed, pointing to a projected image on the wall behind her. This house - mansion - not-mansion thing - it was good. Now, hovering behind the lady, were each and every guest's knacks.
Writing: Animator
Silver Crystal: Morph
Skip: Empath
Quill: Botanic
Raynee: Witness
Rainbow Riot: Sun-seer
Dreamiing: Shadow-seer
Hollyshock: Illusionist
Miserable-oil61: Celestial
Lightning Girl: Healer
Opal: Energist
Gillian: Oracle
Jaybells: To be Determined
Themy3ticw0lf: To be Determined
"Why are we 'to be determined' ?" Jaybells asked, disappointed to not yet know their ability.
"Unfortunately, we still are missing some required information, but we figured it would be safe to let you in." The lady said.
Themy3ticw0lf and Jaybells looked at each other and shrugged.
"So," Oil began. "What do we do now?"
"Why, we tell you your room assignments of course." Arcady answered. Lessons start tomorrow, and I believe you each need to get better acquainted with Notty." The house shuttered in response. It obviously was protesting. "Notty, please be kind to the guests. They are new for Wunder's sake!" A painting hanging over Arcady's head swayed back and forth. The house, apparently, disagreed with this. "Everyone, Ellith is handing out your room assignments and directions. Do not lose the directions. They change everyday, so you will have to use the EverChanging maps we are giving you."
The lady, who's name was apparently Ellith, went around the room with the maps. Each participant took one willingly. When the pile reached the unknown teenaged boy, he took a map, folded it into a plan, and threw it at Quill.
"Hey!" Quill cried.
The boy saluted (you tell me why) and turned to face Arcady.
"Who is that kid?" Quill questioned Arcady.
"Oh. Him. That is Alexander. Try to avoid him." Arcady answered, eyes shooting daggers at Alexander. "Now everyone, please look at your maps and head to your rooms. Notty, will you project the room assignments?"
The house obliged, and in place of the knacks screen, a new display appeared with the roomings.
"These will be your room assignments." She declared.
Nevermoor (Room One): Quill & Jaybells
Wintersea (Room Two): Holly & Dreamii
Morningtide (Room Three): LG & Rainbow Riot
Eventide (Room Four): Writing & Oil
Deucalion (Room Five): Gillian & Themy3ticw0lf
Aurianna (Room Six): Opal & Skip
Arcane (Room Seven): Raynee & Silver
The room went silent as everyone read down the list.
"Each room will be separated into two sleeping areas and one common room for the two of you. You can also use the main common room, but there is no guarantee you will be able to find it." Ellith said.
"Now, off with you." She began. "You will need to stay in your room until dinner. Lunch will be delivered to you. Notty requires at least a good few hours to get to know you, so that is why you must stay inside for most of the day. Official tours and lessons will start tomorrow. I am sorry about the rush, but Notty is demanding."
The house's floors started shaking. LG had to grab onto the table to keep from falling over.
"Alright! You must go! Just remember to read the backs of your maps as soon as possible! Arcady cried, grasping the back of his chair.
The guests took off, shaking all the way to their rooms. They were all nervous, but one - only one remembered Arcady's words. As they charged toward their room with their new roommate, they flipped over their map. There were only four words, but they held so, so much power.
You Are The Murderer.
The words flew up into the air, invisible to everyone but the murderer themself, swirling and circling until they became one, black cloud. The murderer backed away slowly - they hadn't planned on this. But the cloud had no mercy. It swarmed around the murderers head and seeped into their skin, heading straight for their heart. The murderer had been chosen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Murders: None
Suspects: None
(July 21, 2021 - 4:20 pm)
(July 22, 2021 - 7:55 am)
AHHHH THIS IS AMAZING!!
I'm an Oracle?? Heck yea!!
It turns out that I was right! I am an empath. That really doesn't surprise me.
This is so cool. I can see the future!! *Gasp* will I see my own death???
(July 22, 2021 - 6:52 pm)
Eyyyy I'm a Morph!! Yessssssss XD This is so wonderfully wierd and I love it! The setting is very unique (the house is so cool) and your characters are lovely. I really can't wait to see what happens next to all of us!
(July 22, 2021 - 6:54 pm)
Thank you Silver and Skip (+Gilly). I really appreciate it since writing Ski Lodges is a bit new to me. Oh, and Gilly, unfortunatly (or fortunatly, if you perfer), you can't see that far in the future. Only a few minutes to hours every now and then. Though don't worry, it will still be plenty useful :).
The next part should come out any time from late today to sometime next week. I am so glad you're enjoying it!
Please also remember, if anyone would like to guess me, feel free to!
(July 23, 2021 - 12:01 pm)
Hmmm... are you peppermint or Writing_in_the_dark?
(July 23, 2021 - 2:56 pm)
Oh never mind, I forgot Writing was in this Ski Lodge XD
(July 23, 2021 - 9:48 pm)
YEARGH THIS IS AMAZING, OH MY STARS!!!!!!!! I LOVE how the murderer was "chosen"! I wonder WHY, though, hmm...
:D :D :D Going to read this again. Right now. *enters CAPTCHA*
(July 23, 2021 - 8:10 pm)
Wow, this is great! It was really fun to read. I'm Botanic! That's so cool!
I think I'll bring one of my AEs as well, if that's alright. I'll get the form in as soon as I can!
(July 25, 2021 - 1:46 pm)
Sure thing Quill! The first murder occurs in this part, so your AE can fill the spot taken. Again, thank you all for your lovely comments!
Day 0, Part 2
Quill slammed the door behind them as they entered Nevermoor Room. She couldn't stand the floors quaking like they were, and the sooner it stopped, the better. Click! The door shut at last, and the floors calmed down at last. Finally.
"Quill! Watch out!" Jaybells cried unexpectedly from behind.
Thankfully, Quill did watch out. If she hadn't she might have been the first dead. A rock was hurtling toward Quill's head, but she managed to dodge it before it hit their head. Strangely, it went through the door without a scratch.
"Where did that come from?" Quill shouted angrily. Had Jaybells thrown the rock at them?
Jaybells simply pointed to a portrait of a grumpy looking lion on the wall. Before their eyes, the lion bared its teeth.
"It's Notty."
It seemed that the guests were not hitting it off with the Not-Mansion.
Meanwhile, down in the basement, where the Eventide Room had hidden itself today, Writing was sitting in their common room bored (At least they weren't getting hit by rocks, eh?). And slightly nervous. They hadn't packed anything, so how would they be able to read any books? How would they be able to...to write? Writing got up and started pacing.
"No...no...no." They mumbled under their breath, ignoring the way the art on the wall seemed to change every time they walked past it.
"No what?" Oil asked concerned. He was concerned for Writing, of course, but he was also partially worried that the couch he had been sitting on just disappeared from beneath him. He landed on the floor with a hard Umph.
"Nothing to do." Writing answered. "There are no books. No paper."
As if on cue, two suitcases appeared on the floor where Oil was sitting, lifting him off of the floor again. Oil decided that he should just settle on standing.
"Look at these." He said, handing a suitcase with Writing's name on it to them.
"I think the mansion heard us."
"Maybe." Writing said, taking the suitcase willingly. To their joy, the very book they had been reading was at the top. At the moment, all they wanted to do was read. Oil, on the other hand, wanted to explore. He still didn't trust the furniture.
The first thing Oil noticed was an intercom embedded in the wall. It was hidden well, but still noticeable to observant people. There was a disturbing, blinking red light on it that made Oil uneasy. Was someone listening to him now?
Oil decided to find out. He was sure he had seen his teachers use these things before. He tapped a big, white button on the front of the device, it at least looked promising, and waited to see what would happen.
A crackly, static filled voice entered the common room.
"Ah. The first one to bother me. What do you want?" The voice said.
Oil leaped back in surprise, practically falling into Writing's chair. Writing decided now was a good time to pause their reading. They got up, and went over to the intercom themselves.
"Who are you?" They asked loudly. Writing knew it was best to speak clearly when they were nervous. Especially if your friend happened to be too stunned to speak at all.
"Not that it is any of your business, but my name is Marli. I am a human, though I figure you two know that."
"How...how do you know there are two of us?" Oil asked, regaining his ability to speak.
"Well, you just answered my question, second speaker. Unless you are really good at throwing your voice. Though I doubt either of you have learned how to do that yet. Arcady hasn't even taught you how to use your knacks."
"So you know Arcady then?" Writing questioned, still cautious about this 'Marli'
"Yes. He's my aunt's employer. You know her as Ellith."
"Ohhhh." Both of the Cbers exclaimed. So Marli was here with her aunt. But that still didn't explain why she was on the intercom.
"Um...why are you on the intercom then?" Oil inquired.
"Because I want to. So many questions! Now go back to being bored people. I'm not here to entertain you."
The line went dead, and Oil and Writing were left staring at the intercom in silence. There were many more secrets hidden in this place than they realized.
Throughout the day, the guests watched the paintings scowl at them, furniture disappear from beneath them, and mysterious objects hurl themselves across the room. It was surprisingly entertaining. Rainbow Riot and LG, the CBers in the Morningtide Room, even witnessed their rug rise off of the floor and fly across the room. It made quite a racket when the table and chairs fell off, but Riot applauded all the same. She thought it was a sight to behold, the carpet taking flight like that. LG clapped also, but only because she was afraid to offend Notty. Both good reasons, I believe.
Lunch was delivered at noon, as promised, by popping up on the table while nobody was looking. Everybody was pleased to eat something after all of Notty's drama. Suitcases, like the ones Writing and Oil received, also appeared in all of the rooms by the end of the day. Holly's appeared hanging from a chandelier on the ceiling though, so she and Dreamii had to coex Notty to let it down. All and all, it was an entertaining Day 0.
Nobody expected it to get all that more interesting at dinner.
At 7:00pm sharp, a dinner gong sounded throughout the house. Every single guest clambered out of their rooms, and took the long and winding path to the Dining Hall. To their annoyance, it had decided to climb all the way to the 5th floor. The 5th floor, the AEs and Cbers realized, had no staircase. There was only a measly rope dangling down to the 4th level.
"Ooh! A rope!" Gilly shouted joyfully as they came upon the entrance to level 5. "Let's go!"
Gilly scurried up onto the rope before some of the guests even arrived.
"Ya'll, hurry up!" they cried as they reached the halfway point.
With much grumbling, the rest of the participants followed behind Gilly. Raynee was making comments the entire time about colonial rope making, and Opal regularly caused the whole group to halt when she claimed she spotted a spider.
Eventually still, they all made it to the top. Arcady, as usual, was ecstatic.
"You made it! How wonderful!" Arcady cheered as Ellith ushered each guest into a seat.
"I must say, Notty has been merciful to you. It usually takes guests a whole extra hour to get up here!"
Each of the guests side eyed each other. They couldn't quite call Notty merciful.
"But now is not a time to talk about time," Arcady began again. "It is time to feast!"
As Arcady declared these words, a cornucopia of food appeared on the table. Hardy food, healthy food, vegan food, vegetarian food, you name it, it was there. The participants all dug in. Dealing with Notty had been quite a tiresome task.
As they ate, Arcady rambled on about knacks and magical talents. He talked about Wunimals and Unnimals and how never to confuse the two. He chatted about Tricksy Lanes and Magnificats, Spectacles and Missteps, and everything in between.
The AEs and CBers didn't understand at least half of it. Most of them were too busy eating or looking around the Dining Hall, which had been most glamorous transformed to look like a five star hotel. There was even a sign hanging from one of the walls that proclaimed "Five Star Hotel". Notty must have been in a better mood than they had been this morning. But one, that one being the murderer, was plotting. They didn't want to plot, mind you, but they couldn't help it. It felt to them as if somebody else had crept into their body and took control of their mind. They couldn't do anything to stop it. And they were forced to listen.
The murderer's eyes wandered over the table, trying to select it's first victim. They would have to make their first move soon. But why? That, the murderer didn't know. They couldn't know. The thing that was controlling them, it won't tell a thing. All the murderer knew is that it had to obey.
So the murderer obliged. They closed their eyes in horror at the thought of choosing somebody to kill. One of their friends. And one of those friends, unwittingly, tapped on the murderer's shoulder.
"Hey, you okay?" Holly asked, watching the murderer with worry in her eyes. She had no idea what she had just done.
"Yeah, I'm good." The murderer replied, mustering a fake smile. "Just a slight headache.
"Oh, okay. Let me know if you need anything then." Holly answered, returning her gaze toward Arcady. She was one of the only guests actually listening to him. Little did she know it would be the last time she ever would.
That night, the murderer stayed up until they heard the house itself snoring. Nobody else was awake. This was their time to act. The murderer crept out of their cushy, comfortable bed, and searched through their suitcase. Sure enough, they found what they were looking for - a wrench.
Next, they turned toward their nightstand and grabbed their map. For some reason, they knew it wasn't just a map. It was something else entirely for them. On the back of the map, just as they had expected, thick, black letters appeared to the murderer.
Touch the place you wish to be, and I will take you secretly.
A shiver went up the murderer's spine. They couldn't believe what they were about to do. They flipped over the map, and lightly touched their finger to Holly's room.
In an instant, the murderer was standing next to Holly's bed. She looked so...happy. At least she won't die in pain, then. The murderer thought. Maybe she wouldn't even feel the wrench? No Emotions! The voice controlling them shouted. Now!
And then, the murderer lost all control. Their grip on the wrench grew taught, and their eyes turned coal black. A devilish smirk crossed the murderers faces, and they drew the wrench up in the air. Then, with barely a glint of guilt in their eyes, they brought it down upon Holly's head.
One down. 12 to go.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Murders: 1, Holly; Knocked on the Head with a Wrench
Suspects: None at the Moment.
(July 25, 2021 - 3:10 pm)
*horrified and excited screaming*
(July 25, 2021 - 5:05 pm)
"Opal regularly caused the whole group to halt when she claimed she spotted a spider."
AHAHAHAGAHA SO ACCURATE THO-
*Oh, shush. Spiders are scary, ok?"
Classic Opal XD
anyway this is awesome please write more I can't wait to see what happens next!
(July 26, 2021 - 2:14 pm)