Places to Chat
Chatterbox: Pudding's Place
At dusk you open your bedroom curtains, marvelling at the fading sunset over the slushy February snow. Usually the wetness and muddiness of the winter landscape would bother you, but tonight it seems… lovely--almost magical. As a cloud floats away, revealing the full moon, you sigh and curl up under the covers, but you can’t take your eyes off the window. The nightscape is enchanting. A dark cloud covers the moon once again, but as it’s briefly illuminated you realize it isn’t dark at all, but pink. You pause to wonder why a sunset cloud should bother you, and remember that the sun had left the sky ages ago. Your unfocused eyes look back to the window, but the cloud is gone. As you’re persuading yourself it was your imagination, something taps at the window. It’s a snowy owl, holding an envelope. Without a second thought, you jump out of bed to let it in, convinced it’s your Hogwarts letter at last. But as you snatch it up and the owl flies away, you notice it’s addressed to you in pink ink, not green, and sealed with a strange heart design instead of the telltale crest. Inside, you find a crisp, parchment letter and a silver key. The letter reads:
Dearest Chatterboxer,
You and thirteen lucky others have been selected to depart on a lovely vacation at Amor Lodge, a romantic skiing getaway in the snowiest of majestic mountains. Included are free meals, free snacks, free ski rentals, and yes, free white chocolate drizzled popcorn. Enclosed is your silver key, which is your ticket to virtually everything, so don’t lose it!
Amor lodge is not responsible for any injuries, heartbreaks, loss of limbs, deaths, or betrayals of any kind. Please take into consideration that while the other thirteen vacationers may be lucky, it most certainly doesn’t mean you are.
Only a packing list is required. Limit one Alter Ego OR Captcha OR Viktor Krum miniature per guest. Departure will commence on February the fourteenth.
We hope to see you next week!
With Love,
The Amor Lodge Staff
P.S. If you accept, fold along the dotted lines and toss out the window. If you don’t… never mind.
You shake your head, fold the letter into the indicated paper airplane, and toss it out the window uncertainly. A distinct pop sounds and a box of complementary candy hearts promptly appears in your hands. Oddly not in the least disconcerted, you run off to pack.
- - - - - - - - - -
A classic ski lodge just in time for Valentine’s Day! Do you accept? Or do you value your life— Ah, did I say that? I mean... nevermind. No charrie sheet required, just a packing list (if you want) and only one AE or Captcha please. I’ll start next week, assuming all 14 slots are filled (slots do not include companions) Enjoy!
submitted by Amor Lodge Staff, The Mountains
(February 6, 2019 - 10:56 pm)
(February 6, 2019 - 10:56 pm)
Guys, I'm so sorry! I just realized.
If I'm not mistaken, Nihil and Leo are both girls? So sorry about that little mix-up... :/
(March 5, 2019 - 3:22 pm)
II'mm aaaa girl annd stay inng that wayy, thanx much.
(March 6, 2019 - 5:22 pm)
Yes, I am girl. But it's really no big deal.
(March 31, 2019 - 9:01 am)
Hey, is this still going?
(March 27, 2019 - 10:34 am)
This is certainly still going! March is one of my busiest months, but I'm still working at this.
(March 30, 2019 - 11:59 am)
I sincerely apologize for the wait. Please enjoy the first murder installment...
>:)
—— (For real this time) Day 1 Part 1 ——
The Chatterboxers spilled out of the enormous double-sided elevator into the open first floor of the lodge. The morning sun was brighter than ever through the multiple floor-to-ceiling windows. Following the signs, they soon arrived at glass double doors bearing plaques emblazoned BREAKFAST ROOM. Even before they entered, the delicious scents of food greeted their nostrils.
The Breakfast Room was alight with several miniature chandeliers and wall-length windows. Sunlight glinted on the dully polished round wooden tables scattered across the red-carpeted floor. Each table was set with four velvet-cushioned wooden chairs, red cloth napkins, rose patterned china, and intricate silver. A long counter ran along two walls loaded with eggs, toast, bagels, fresh fruit, cereal, waffles, pancakes, crepes, berries, potato patties, oatmeal, pastries, and packaged condiments. In one corner, a mini fridge housed white, chocolate, and strawberry milk, yogurt, boiled eggs, and bottled juice. In another stood a hot chocolate dispenser.
Suddenly everyone was hungry. They all grabbed paper plates and began loading them with whatever suited their fancy. By the time most were reasonably filled, they had settled into quiet chatting. Only Kitten, Leafpool, and Ella Starburst (who sat together) noticed the silent figure of Rose, looking on from under an empty table, the only one with a tablecloth. She met their gaze and winked. A sudden beep of the intercom in the speakers put a hush over the conversation. Still hidden, Rose held a walkie-talkie to her lips.
“Attention all guests! We are ready for the first groups of skiers. If you haven’t finished eating, no hurry, you can go with the next group. If you do not wish to ski, snowshoe, showboard, tube, or sled, please remain in this room as well. However if you are ready to brave our arctic tundra, FOLLOW ME!” And with that, Rose appeared from beneath the table and stood by the door. Nearly everyone followed her out of the lavish dining room. Only Rogue Wildling, Gracia, and S. Clockwork remained, bested by curiosity--or a stomachache.
--
Kitten, Ted, Leo, Waffleson, and Viola? stood atop one of the slopes. Rose had assigned groups and handed out waterproof walkie-talkies and holsters to everyone.
“It will alert us all if it’s submerged in water.” she had explained. At that moment Viola?’s device had given a loud whistle. Satin, who had been standing next to her, had jumped back, startled. Rose had frowned, but said nothing.
The five pushed off and sped down the snowy slant. “Eeep!” yelled Ted, as he swayed and dodged a bump. General Waffleson swerved and launched off of one, grinning. Leo pushed along thoughtfully, while Kitten and Viola? were laughing as they nearly kiltered off balance several times. All of them lost control and fell in a heap when they reached bottom, except for Ted, who had somehow remained upright.
“Wow, captchas have great balance!” Viola? mused as she staggered to her feet. Ted blushed and fiddled with his ski poles.
Meanwhile, Group 3 was still on the way to their slope.
“She had to give us the farthest one, didn’t she?” Vyolette panted, dragging her sled.
“I don’t know what your problem is,” Leafpool chirped as she pulled Cedric Diggory’s sled along effortlessly with one hand and her pink snowboard with the other, “it’s beautiful out here.” Satin trundled behind them silently with Cake on her sled.
“Yeehaw!” Agent Winter swooshed down Group 4’s hill on her ice blue snowboard, wiping out at the bottom. Quill and Agatha looked at each other and raised their eyebrows, if a cat can, in fact, raise their eyebrows. Slowly they boarded a sleek lavender toboggan and slid down the icy slope into the fresh powder at the base. Winter was already up and tossing snowballs at nothing in particular.
Rogue, Gracia, S. Clockwork, and Rose were in the middle of an intense Monopoly game when a strange, creepy tune began blaring. Though her face looked concerned, there was a twinkle of mischief in her eyes as she nonchalantly removed an odd device from her pocket and examined it.
“Oh dear.” She said with the same calmness, but her face showed otherwise. The Chatterboxers looked at each other, confused but slightly unnerved.
Group 2 trudged through the deep snow, peering round for any sign of the lift.
“I think I remember it being in this direction,” Leo shouted over the wind. She led the way around a clump of trees. The others followed, growing fatigued from pumping their ski poles.
“Guys! The snow’s smoother over here,” Viola? pushed herself out of line onto a flat patch of snow. The others turned to look and froze where they stood, but not from cold. Viola? shrieked and fell straight through the ground with a loud crack. Water spurted up from the Viola?-shaped hole as the group stood horror-struck at the snow-covered frozen river where their friend had stood just moments before. Still stranger, their walkie-talkies didn’t utter a peep.
——
Dead: 1
Alive:19
Murderer: At large. No suspects
(April 9, 2019 - 7:56 pm)
Oh no, we've already lost someone! Let's see, what could I guess?
Viola?'s walkie-talkie beeped at the beginning, which seems awfully suspicious to me. But I don't think messing with the walkie-talkies actually could have caused her unfortunate demise. So I think the murderer has to have been someone in Viola?'s group, who would have been able to lead them into that flat patch of snow/the frozen lake. Now, that group consists of me, Ted, Leo, and General Waffleson (not counting Viola?, because she's, you know, dead). Therefore, I think the murderer has to get one of those people.
(April 10, 2019 - 12:08 pm)
Fascinating presumptions, Kitten. I sense we have an excellent detective on our hands...
(April 10, 2019 - 2:42 pm)
Or, I suppose, it could be YOU, Miss Rosetta. You were the one who didn't do anything when Viola? might have been in danger... And you have been acting rather suspicious...
(April 10, 2019 - 9:21 pm)
This is so good! Ah, Rose, you're making me drool with that whole paragraph about food. (And yay, fresh powder!)
Aww, Viola. Rest in peace. This is tragic. *sniff*
(April 10, 2019 - 4:01 pm)
Yikes, what a way to go.
*plays Chopin's funeral march slowly and dramatically*
Awesome writing by the way, Rose!
(April 10, 2019 - 7:31 pm)
Hmm, the breakfast reminds me of those hotels that include breakfast. *Licks lips*
No, Viola?! But she was innocent! Our Sticky Note Queen! *Bows head* *finds sticky notes* *wonders what to do with them now*
(April 10, 2019 - 8:18 pm)
Top!
(April 10, 2019 - 8:34 am)
In our writing curriculum there is a decoration known as the 3SSS--three short staccato sentences to build suspense. This installment is short, maybe staccato, but it definitely has suspense.
Day 1 Part 2
——
“Where is the lift?” Ella voiced frustratedly, kicking up snow and bopping the airborne powder with her snow tube. She and Soren, who lugged a snowboard, marched behind Harper and Nihil, who were squinting ahead with their sharper eyes. Soren didn’t respond. Her lungs were already too full of frostbitten air, and she was certain icicles were forming on her nose. Her bent head and averted eyes didn’t hinder Ella. She ran through the snow like a gazelle and effortlessly caught up with the alter egos. “Anything yet?” They shook their heads and adjusted the snowboards in their arms. Ella looked down at her tool belt and frowned. “Should we call Rose? I’m calling Rose.” She held her walkie-talkie up to her ear. “Rose! We can’t find the lift!”
“Neither can we,” came the anxious voice of Quill.
There was a crackling pause.
“I’m so sorry guys. We must have forgotten to reenchant the paths. Everyone, please stay where you are and check in.” Rose’s apologetic voice faded.
“Agent Winter, checking in. Group 4 is accounted for.”
“Ella Starburst checking in, Group 1 is accounted for.”
“Satin checking in, Group 3 is--wait where’s Cake?--ok we’re all here.” Satin’s voice sounded a bit shaky.
“It’s ok Satin. You guys’ll be fine. Group 2?” Rose’s voice rang in everyone’s ears, but no one. Finally a deep voice broke the uncomfortable silence, but its usual serene aura was lost.
“General Waffleson checking in. We--Group 2 is--mostly accounted for.” Waffleson paused, and his steady voice cracked, “Viola? Drowned.”
The profound silence that followed was immeasurable. Rose’s voice resumed its calm, commanding tone, but this time it was stiff and sharp.
“All ski groups please stay put and release one of your flares on my signal. I wouldn’t normally consider this an emergency, but I presume you would prefer to return to the lodge as soon as possible.”
--------
Following the uneventful helicopter ride to the lodge, one mystery was solved. The weighty shock of the afternoon hung heavy with the group as they stripped off their equipment in the shed. Waffleson and Vyolette moved slowly, and their thoughts were far, far away. Kitten stared piercingly at each individual in turn with a calculating look in her eye, making everyone uncomfortable. Satin, however, looked plumb terrified, wincing every time Kitten made eye contact. However busy everyone tried hard to make themselves look, they all turned when Satin’s toolbelt clattered to the floor. Secured on her belt were not one walkie-talkie, but two.
--------
Excuse the short post, but this last sentence was too good to be in the middle... ;)
(April 11, 2019 - 9:54 am)
Well, clearly I'm being a detective in the story as well! And I'm SO glad that people finally exhibited common sense and used the walkie-talkies! Um, so... what could be going on with Satin? I guess that is the question. But she's obviously not the murderer - no one would be that obvious - unless they would be that obvious just to trick us!
But, nevertheless, I stand with my original suspicions, which were, um, I don't remember, but Group 2, and Satin wasn't in Group 2. And... Miss Rosetta still does seem awfully suspicious, especially with her I-wouldn't-usually-consider-this-an-emergency speech.
Um, what was going on with Cake? Was she just hiding in the snow? I'm hoping she was just hiding in the snow, seeing as she was found again, but... I have a horrible suspicion that something's going to happen to her.
Cake, are you okay?
<tebm>
I'll interpret that as I'm going to be...
(if I accidentally submitted this twice, please delete the second one, Admins, thanks!!)
(April 11, 2019 - 1:52 pm)