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Chatterbox: Pudding's Place
You're in your
You're in your room, reading your favorite book. It's raining softly; you can hear it tapping gently against your window. You've built a nest of pillows and blankets around you, and you're wearing your thickest, fluffiest pair of socks; you don't believe a rainy day could get much better than this.
Then you're suddenly gripped with a feeling of urgency. You have no idea what it could be about, or where it came from. You read the last line on the page over and over, but it doesn't register in your mind; something else, something important, is demanding your attention.
It's night. You're sitting in your bed, staring out the window, searching for something lost. But you can't remember what it is, or was. All you know is that it's out there...it's important...and it was once yours.
You know these words, but you've forgotten where they're from. But their origin isn't what's concerning you... it's the nagging feeling that whatever this thing is, you still haven't found it.
Dazed and distracted, you turn the page. A note, unmarked and neatly folded, falls from the pages and into your lap.
You pick it up and stare at it with confusion. It this, whatever it is, the thing you've been searching for? You figure there's only one way to find out. Curiously, you open it.
Dear Chatterboxer,
You are being invited to a ski lodge. Yes, an actual ski lodge, not a mansion, or a hotel, or a castle, or a treehouse, or even a train infested with strange men named Larry. No, I am inviting you to a real, honest-to-goodness ski lodge, where you can ski. Fear not, though, this isn't some ordinary ski lodge. No, it's a rather famous one. It's owned by someone named Sakura C. Maybe you've heard of them?
Anyways, you're being invited for a very special reason- there's a mission I'm going to send you on. I can't give you the details yet, but it's important that you come. If you've ever dreamed of being part of some kind of epic adventure, this is your opportunity.
Please do not come if you don't appreciate weirdness. I can guarantee that weird things will happen often.
Enough talking from me! Come to have fun and save the world! Bring the family! Fill out the sheet! (You know how this part works.)
Name:
CBer, AE, CAPTCHA or CAPTCHAE (you can bring 0-3 companions):
Gender/pronouns:
Basic appearance:
Describe yourself in 10 words or less (if you go over the limit, you will be publicly shamed by Gandalf, who will shout "Fool of a Took!" and whack you over the head with a mop that is actually his staff):
Please give your detailed opinion on the color red:
Packing list:
Other:
We look forward to seeing you there! (And yes, the popcorn is free.)
-Mx. Sam Crickett
~~~~~
The Magicae Palace sequel has arrived! CBers, you are on a mission- there is a dark, mysterious force you must work together to destroy. The future of ski lodges depends on it! You can read more about that here: http://www.cricketmagkids.com/chatterbox/puddingsplace/node/389370
Readers/attendees of Magicae Palace get first dibs on spots. I will tell you when spots are full. I don't care if you guess me since I'm sure everybody knows who I am already XD. Journal entries, comments, and suspicions are welcome and encouraged! Have fun friends! I'm so excited! :D
submitted by Mx. Sam C
(November 27, 2020 - 10:26 am)
(November 27, 2020 - 10:26 am)
Day 11 part 1
"Trust me. As you get to know me, I just get weirder."
-Some wonderful person on the internet (couldn't find a name)
~~~~~
Sam said many things to the guests and staff members that morning at breakfast, but the only words Zach registered were "Tiki Room".
He dimly acknowledged the importance of Sam's words and that they would probably affect him and what his day would consist of. He also knew that the guests were asking questions about the Mystery and what Sam would be doing about it. But none of that mattered. Because as Zach knew, things were always very interesting in the Tiki Room.
Moving past Zach's obliviousness, Sam's words included what would be happening to everybody during day 11. Yes, it included the Tiki Room as we've established, but that wasn't the only thing going on. Sam was going to be working out what to do about the Mystery all day (and hey, funny story, the Mystery is actually underneath the cabin! That's where it sort of lives. Yes, it resides in every aspect of all ski lodges- surrounds us and penetrates us, binds the galaxy together, yadda yadda- but the inside of the hill TON's cabin sat upon was a place where a tangible accumulation of the Mystery's power resided. This was by no means a detail left out because the narrator is a scatterbrain. It's because Sam Crickett is also a scatterbrain, and one under lots of stress. Yeah, Sam. Nice going.) and they needed to make sure the guests were safe and they wouldn't distract them. Hence the setting of the Tiki room.
What is the Tiki room, you ask? Well, it's a place of magic and wonder. It is also very interesting. According to the TON dictionary: ”Interesting. (adj.) when Jem Louise Margaret is found stabbed or is stabbed in a ski lodge”. I have found, however, that death in general and the goings-on in the Tiki room have all been described as "interesting". So I'll be using some Artistic License here. Bear with me, lovelies.
Abie: welcome to the Tiki room!
Spellbound: So, uh... did this door exist at all before right now?
Bakerloo: knowing this cabin, probably not.
Zach: technicalities. This is the realm of artistic license. Logic is thrown out of the window, because nobody needs that stuff.
Faith: I like the sound of this!
dreamii: so what, um, is the Tiki room exactly?
Remi: I was about to say it's best not to ask, but too late now, I suppose. But then again, I don't actually have an answer... so asking was actually completely harmless?
Honeybee: I should really learn to just go with it. Just... everything.
Leafy: Hey, it's not like you'll be coming to another insane ski lodge with lemmings and pies around every corner anytime soon.
Zach: or will she...
The actual Tiki room itself wasn't anything special. It was just filled with random stuff and a gold mine of TON references. So while Sam was underneath the cabin, inside of the hill itself, trying to get a solution for the mission of the ski lodge that was started many long years ago and has cast a shadow over ski lodges as a whole, the guests and staff members were in the Tiki room acting like fools. And if you ask me, that's beautiful.
While Sam stared curiously at the place in which the Mystery resided, Quill look at a book called "Never Imagine Yourself Not to be Otherwise than What it Might Appear to Others that What you Were or Might Have Been was not Otherwise Than What you were or Might Have Been was not Otherwise Than What you Had Been Would Have Appeared to Them to be Otherwise."
Sam was contemplating the terrifying possibility of failure in the mission while Feli and Sterling battled with lightsabers, Sterling winning decisively.
Sam sighed in frustration and mounting anxiety in a heap on the ground, buried in notebooks and failing hopes just as Night opened a strange cabinet which contained the Holy Grail, that math homework somebody lost two weeks ago, an enormous pile of lost socks, Atlantis, soda from space, a box set of the Percy Jackson books, and cupcakes that spelled "EAT ME" in frosting.
And when Sam had an epiphany, Zach did the thing that everyone dreaded most. He sang the Tiki room song.
(March 8, 2021 - 9:59 pm)
Ahhh I am really enjoying . . . *waves hand vaguely* all of this! You writing style is so unique.
TOP!
Saffron says "fyivi." our your information . . . vi?
(March 10, 2021 - 5:32 pm)
Thank you for the topping, Feli! I'm sorry for the change in how fast I'm getting these posted, my procrastination skills have been improving rather than my motivation.
TOP!
(March 11, 2021 - 10:59 pm)
Noooo, this ski lodge should not be in the middle of the second page! Luna, this is incredible, I love the Abcde/Dallas issues/kinda-reconciliation, the haunting room is wonderful (this is Morning, by the way) and, selfish though it may be, I am grateful for the long space between your posts because I am not on the CB consistently right now.
Thank you for sharing the wonders of your ski lodge with us!
(March 15, 2021 - 10:09 am)
Is this still going on? It's alright if your just getting them out slower -- I have to say, I am still extremely impressed by how you have been sticking with this.
I just spelled "impressed" like "impressessed" than looked it up because it felt like too many "s"s. *slaps forhead*
(March 22, 2021 - 3:19 pm)
(March 23, 2021 - 3:44 pm)
Thank you for all the topping, lovelies! This is NOT dead and I will never give up even if it takes me half an eternity to write. I've unfortunately hit a nasty bout of writers's block and I've recently gotten my PhD in procrastination, and let me tell you, it's not a career path I'd recommend. I'm hoping Camp nano in April will help with motivation. I appreciate you all and your enthusiasm very much!
(March 23, 2021 - 6:33 pm)
Day 11, part 2
Just as poor Zach Lamborghini opened his mouth to sing, two very annoying ninjas exploded from unconfirmed spots within the Tiki room and transported Zach into the dimension of Satan for 7.5 seconds, then put him back in the Tiki room. The ninjas vanished and were never seen again. Zach was suddenly not in the mood to sing anymore.
While Zach's fate is interesting, Sam's epiphany is of more importance at the moment. They realized that the Mystery was powerful but couldn't defend itself, but remembered that the guests had been imbued with more of the Mystery's power than a typical ski lodge attendee so they all could know more about the Mystery's workings. Sam realized that it was power to use to their advantage- a power that could be wielded against this evil force. True, Sam wasn't certain about what this force was and how it had hurt the Mystery in the past, but they were feeling confident in their research for the day. Sam joined the weirdness in the Tiki room just in time for a spirited game of Clue, in which the guests found strangely accurate costumes for each of the characters and decided to do a bit of mock roleplaying.
Leafy: THIS IS A CRISIS. I can't choose between Miss Scarlet and Mrs. Peacock.
Honeybee: Can I make it easier for you? I look great in red heels...
Abcde: Excuse me, who does that leave me with? Mrs. White? Please.
Remi: What in the world is stuck in this cabinet?
Sterling: But Abcde, I thought you were graceful and beautiful enough to pull off anything...
Abcde: I've been robbed once again of my deserved and beloved red! Yes, I'll be perfectly capable of being Mrs. White, but it will require some silent suffering.
Dallas: You call this silent?
Quill: Remi, can I help you with that? You look like you could use some... Claaws, what is that?
Dallas: I like red too, you know, and I haven't said a word. I bet I look better in this green jacket than you would in that white scarf...
Abcde: Don't bet on it, you half-witted jerk!
Feli: Hold on, Quill, I'm coming to help too...
Leafy: Bakerloo, I must say you make a fantastic Professor Plum.
Bakerloo: Why thank you!
Sterling: I guess I'm Colonel Mustard. I never liked him...
Remi: Wait a minute, you two. I don't want you getting possessed by a demon or something... you might want to step back...
Abcde: There, Dallas, now I'm wearing a white scarf AND white gloves. And unsurprisingly, I look fabulous.
Sam: REMI, GET AWAY FROM THAT CABINET!
But it was too late- the age-old, probably possessed cabinet vomited a few exploding cakes, some flaming Brussels sprouts, a very mysterious and sinister diamond ring, an arrow that had an inscription asking "what do you want?", honey-covered spaghetti, a spoon made into a torch, and a very confused lifeguard named Fred Bob.
Fred Bob: Where in the world am I? I'm supposed to be-
Fred Bob suddenly became dozens of floating pies made of sparkles.
dreamii let out a noise between a whimper and a squeak and decided to leave the Tiki room.
Bakerloo: ...I suggest we move our game of Clue into the living room.
Sterling: Seconded. I'll gather all these game pieces.
The guests and staff exited the Tiki room. When the last person left, the door vanished once again. Would it ever reappear? Who knows. Even the narrator doesn't.
Sam planned to tell the guests about their discovery tomorrow. Then they could prepare to save the Mystery. And to be honest with you, that was about it for Day 11. I'm sure you're expecting me to say something like, "except for that inter-dimensional portal that spewed toaster-wielding cowboys" or "but then Bunnicula fell from the sky and gave hugs to all the lemmings and stole dreamii's Poptarts and she was sad". But alas, nothing extraordinary happened, nor did anything extraordinarily weird. The guests were anticipating the next few days without even knowing it.
And as always, Jem Louise Margaret was stabbed. It was, as we now know, very interesting.
~~~~~
Dead: 10. Arya, poisoned. Cherry, stabbed. Olive, concussed and stabbed. Moondrop and Lucinda, poisoned by plant. Orson, stabbed. Azalea, grenade. Nerd, stabbed. Grace, shot with a bow and arrow. Morning, crushed.
Stabbings of Jem Louise Margaret: 12. (I think this count got off somewhere. It's been every day plus day 0.)
Suspects: Sterling
References this day:
Camp Chatterbox
http://www.cricketmagkids.com/chatterbox/puddingsplace/node/186824
(March 27, 2021 - 9:46 pm)
I am so suspicious of Sterling. Colonel Mustard is the killer about ninety percent of the time, and even when he isn't, everyone I've ever heard of hates him. This cannot be a coincidence.
And oh, my poor, sweet Abcde. She deserved those red heels! She had been deprived of red for so long, I don't know how much longer she can keep going.
Wonderful part, as always, Luna! And, by the way, where did you get your PhD? I have taken many classes on procrastination, and have always considered myself to be an expert, but I only have a Master's officially.
(March 29, 2021 - 10:39 am)
A wonderful part, once again. You are a truly gifted writer and I'm glad that I'm able to read along (now that i'm dead of course) and have actual characters in such an amazing Ski Lodge. Remi, Zach, Abie, Sam, Jem Louise, and of course YOU are all an iconic group and this was so hilarious. Also, you wrote Dallas perfectly. :)
on another note, I TOTALLY SUSPECT STERLING. She's just so suspicious and seems like she would be the murderer in this case. I also agree with Morning with whatever she said about Sterling being suspicious. :)
(March 29, 2021 - 9:36 pm)
*gasps* why is this down here???
(April 10, 2021 - 7:18 am)
Thank you for your tops and theories! To make up for my sudden lag, I have an extra-long installment for you lovelies. Top!!
Day 12 part 1
"Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting."
-Unknown
~~~~~
Feline Fantasy woke up with a lemming on her face.
A strange situation to be in, of course, and one that begs the question, "What did she do about it?" to which the answer is, absolutely nothing. Feli quite liked the lemmings, she thought they were cute. And funny. She did have to take action, however, when Qwinn started poking the lemming and it got mad at him. She gently pushed Qwinn away and suggested that they go get breakfast. When the two arrived in the kitchen, they found Firefly and Bean talking quietly as they ate cereal, Kali buzzing about the ceiling with a Poptart in her mouth (the AEs had crumbs raining down on them), and Starlight happily eating a cinnamon roll. Firefly and Bean didn't notice Feli and Qwinn appearing, so Starlight was forced to squeak out a greeting.
"Where are Sam and the rest?" Feli asked.
"We're not sure," Bean replied, having noticed Feli's appearance. "They're usually down here by now."
"I guess I'll just make myself breakfa- AAAAHHH!"
Before Feli could finish her sentence, Jem Louise Margaret emerged from the pantry. Everyone began to shout. Jem Louise wasn't phased. She simply pushed past the panicked guests and started to get breakfast.
Feli finally got over the shock of seeing Jem Louise walk out of the pantry. "Gosh, Jem Louise, you scared- and she's been stabbed already." And indeed she had been.
At that very moment, the six guests heard shouting from upstairs and the sounds of several people coming noisily down the stairs. Feli could distinctly hear Abie wail something about betrayal. This worried her, of course- there was a murderer in their midst and the Mystery to save; betrayal from one of the other staff members could be serious. Little did she know the true dread, horror, and tragedy of what was really afoot.
Sam, Zach, Remi and Abie exploded into the kitchen and didn't seem to notice the five guests or the dead Jem Louise Margaret. Their conversation was too intense. Remi had joined the great Battle of the Bands, but she sided with neither 40s Heavy Metal nor Disdainful Cat. Rather, she came charging into the war having created her own, third army. She boasted the power and beauty of Ruby Angst- an emo band formed by a member of Disdainful Cat who left to pursue her own unique emo dreams. Sam tried frantically to calm the chaos as Zach loudly attempted to imitate 40s heavy metal and Remi waved her phone around dramatically as a song called "Dionysus has Mood Swings" by Ruby Angst played. Abie was shouting at Remi with her hands over her ears, trying to get Remi to see reason.
For a moment, the dust started to settle as Abie sulked in the corner looking at Remi with pain and disgust and Zach stopped screeching. "I don't understand this argument," Sam grumbled. "Sure, there are certain things I can understand being overly defensive about, but when it comes to your weird music tastes- no, wait, I can understand that completely." Sam sighed. "Here I am trying to be the responsible one... anyways. Where's Jem Louise Margaret?"
"Stabbed," Feli replied shortly. "Just next to the toaster."
"Oh," said Sam. "I guess we could all pitch in to make breakfast- not you guys, Feli and Bean and you all, you were responsible enough to make yourselves breakfast and your reward was watching us fight like a bunch of wild animals. You go have fun while the rest of the staff and I make breakfast."
"Hey, I can make some mean waffles," Zach offered. But when he got to the toaster, he found that Jem Louise Margaret's body was gone. "...Gone? But that- oh no, I knew this would come. I knew Jem Louise was secretly the most devious one of all. We have to act quickly or she might walk away with her soul in one of our bodies. I should interrogate everyone, see if old JLM held a grudge against any of them..."
Remi rolled her eyes. "I'll start on some pancakes." Abie silently went to make some scrambled eggs while Sam started to set the table.
Zach wasn't done yet, however. "...That means this cabin is cursed somehow- we have to rescue the souls of the dead CBers, and definitely before they try to rescue themselves, because we all saw how that turned out, didn't we?"
"No, we didn't," Sam replied breezily. "Didn't you mention your superb waffle making skills, Zach?"
"There isn't any time for waffles," Zach growled.
"Then make the time," Remi said with an eyeroll as she tossed him a box of homestyle Eggos.
While the staff was making breakfast and telling Zach to be quiet, many of the guests started gathering in the living room. Feli, Bean, and Firefly started telling people about the new element to the battle of the bands and Zach's newest signs of insanity. They were also chatting about yesterday and their questions about Sam's discoveries. Luckily, their questions were going to be answered after a hearty breakfast- delicious, except for the half-burnt, half-cold waffles topped with peanut butter and mustard. Dallas seemed to enjoy them, though.
Zach wasn't done with his madness, though. He had a theory. "Who was Colonel Mustard in Clue yesterday??" he demanded.
"That was me," Sterling said. She wasn't expecting Zach to aggressively grab her by the shoulders, stare into her soul via her eyeballs, and shout at her, but that's what happened. "I KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT," Zach screamed.
"ZACH!" Sam yelled. "Do not scream at the guests!"
Zach took a step back from the confused, frightened Sterling. "I fear for your sanity, small child."
"Okay, everyone, I have some announcements! Look at me and not Zach, because I fear for you and what will happen to you if you look at Zach!" Sam encouraged the guests. Many of them immediately stole glances at Zach, whose eyes were bulging out of his sockets so as to properly stare at all of their souls.
Sam proceeded to explain what they had discovered the previous day about using the power of the Mystery that was already embedded inside of the guests as a weapon against the force. "We'll go and face this thing tomorrow," Sam said confidently. "I'm really excited for you guys. This is going to be great."
"Can you tell us what the force is?" Quill asked.
"I... well no, I can't, because I don't know myself," Sam replied. "I know I said that was my goal, but I don't think that knowledge is going to be the key ingredient to your success." They looked around the room. "Does anyone else have questions? I'm open to them."
"We're not going to use actual weapons? I was promised I could destroy something," Dallas said, disappointed.
"Sorry, Dallas. I knew from the start that this wouldn't be something you all could beat with physical weapons- the Mystery is all about stories and ski lodges and other intangible things. Whatever is attacking it isn't something physical, and we can't fight it that way. Anyone else?"
Nobody else raised their hand. "Great! We can have a chill day. If anyone wants to go out and explore, Abie and Zach will be taking you."
(April 11, 2021 - 3:10 pm)
This is wonderful! Everything about this ski lodge is so fun to read. I have some thoughts, in no particular order:
I feel like Jem Louise either has some huge significance that will make for a dramatic reveal or she's just there for the randomness, and either way I love her. The stabbing is the highlight of each day.
I don't suspect Sterling solely because Zach does.
The force, whatever it is, kind of reminds me of that part of The Farm Story when the Farmer gives the CBers powers (I think that's what happened? I haven't read it in a while).
I'm with Abie, Disdainful Cat all the way >^<
This ski lodge brings me so much joy! You are an incredible writer.
(April 12, 2021 - 1:35 pm)
AH I'M SO SORRY LUNA I FORGOT ABOUT THIS-
No but this is so amazing!! I laughed so hard at the dream scene and all of the refernces are literally the best lol. The concept of saving the mystery is so unique and you're such an incredible author! I suspect Sterling a bit but I feel like it's a little too obvious for it to be her. I think it's too early to guess the murderer, but we'll see.
Also I'm the author of Cryptic Caverns (surprise! lol) and I'm still internally flipping out that you set a scene in my Ski Lodge akjdsfiwaui;sdf. I mean, I never even made it farther than a day or two in, I thought everyone had forgotten about it... maybe I should reboot it...
Thanks so much for writing this incredible story! Keep going!
P.S. Faith, please do not drink the rainbow water unless you wish to be transformed into a blind fish, thank you.
(April 20, 2021 - 1:56 pm)
(April 17, 2021 - 4:10 pm)