Ski Lodge: The

Chatterbox: Pudding's Place

Ski Lodge: The

Ski Lodge: The Edith Castle

 

School. The prison that holds you hostage, forcing you to learn unwanted (and usually untrue) information. How dare they create such a horrid system.

You pass the walls covered with lockers and sigh. Finally, it is Friday, but there is still homework over the weekend, and then you will have to return to this prison again on Monday… Luckily, summer vacation is soon. What a time it will be, filled with adventure, relaxation, and little to no math…

You open your locker and gasp quietly. A letter - in a ruby red envelope with your name written on the front - was taped on the inside of the door. The name on the envelope was not your true name, though, but rather, a name only few know you by; your name on the Cricket Chatterbox.

Taking the envelope of the locker door gently, you mutter under your breath, “What’s this?”

You set down your bookbag on the floor and look around. The hall that was just bustling with teachers and students alike was suddenly silent and bare. Doors were still open, you could hear running water from the bathrooms past the corner; as if everyone simply… disappeared.

After a moment of perplexion, you shake your head and ignore the thought, looking back at the envelope. You rip it open and pull out an old, yellowing piece of parchment. At the top of the paper, attached with a rusty paperclip, was a small polaroid picture corresponding almost exactly with your chatterbox name.

Your eyes drift below the photograph, to the actual letter - written in a quick and messy scrawl, a hand unable to have made the delicate cursive on the envelope. The letter reads,

Dear Chatterboxer,

Hello! I am Ophelia, and I hope our letter finds you well. How are you today? I am well, thank you for asking, and I do hope you asked.

Now, enough formalities! I wrote you this letter for a reason, of course, not just to gain a new penpal. (Though you would make a wondrous penpal, I’m sure)

Ginger has informed me that you have been having some troubles? Boredom, I presume? Maybe falling behind in your classes? You desire a vacation. But one longer than a weekend. Better than summer vacation! Well, desire no more, my dear friend! With the photograph attached to this letter and the number on the back, you are granted an expense-paid vacation to the historic Edith Castle!

Of course, you are not required to come, but me and the others are becoming quite lonely here. No guests, not for years. Xavier is becoming skittish. Helen and Ginger are growing impatient. Myself as well…

This letter may just be our last chance at salvation.

We do hope you visit us.

— Ophelia Edith

You look up from the letter, but your head quickly snaps back. A note at the bottom of the page…

P.S., it read, Please fill out the form on the back of this paper before you come! It will aid us greatly in preparing your room and the festivities.

You, once again, look up from the letter, this time not returning to stare at the paper until a few moments have passed. Edith Castle… What a pleasant surprise! you think. You flip over the paper and fish a writing utensil from your bag, then begin filling out the form excitedly.

Magic awaits at Edith Castle!

~

The Form--

Name:

Nickname, if applicable:

CBer or AE:

Pronouns:

Appearance:

Personality:

Packing list (Note that toiletries will be provided):

Number on your picture:

Dietary restrictions and/or preferences:

Hobbies/interests:

Greatest fear:

Cats, dogs, or hamsters?:

Introverted or extroverted?:

What does Ophelia look like?:

What is the most recent song you have had stuck in your head?:

What writing utensil did you fill out this form with?:

Other:

~

Author’s Notes:

- Spots are open until June 12th, with no limit to guests

- We will begin sometime in late June, though I still do not know the exact date

- AEs are welcome, though CAPTCHAs are not allowed; you are allowed to bring up to 3 AEs each

- Feel free to guess me or ask questions

submitted by Ophelia E., age unknown, Edith Castle
(June 3, 2022 - 10:54 am)

Pending . . .

Hello, Medusa. 

Your form has been accepted. For when you arrive, your entry polaroid is a renaissance-appearing painting of the Greek mythology figure, Medusa. We hope you enjoy your stay.

- Helen Edith

(A question for the CBer: Are Medusa's pronouns xe/xer or she/her? Asking because you refered to Medusa as "she" throughout the form but put "xe/xer" as their pronouns)

Pending . . .

Hello, Hour.

Your form has been accepted. For when you arrive, your entry polaroid is a black-and-white photograph of an opened watchface. We hope you will enjoy your stay.

- Helen Edith 

submitted by Helen E., age unknown, Edith Castle
(June 6, 2022 - 5:41 pm)

Oh, uh, sorry. I was going to put M's pronouns down as she/her, but then decided against it, sorry.

submitted by Reuby Moonnight, age 11 nebulas, Lunaitaria
(June 7, 2022 - 4:58 pm)

Name: Norie Torent
Nickname, if applicable:Norie I guess
CBer or AE: CBer
Pronouns: she/her
Appearance: water hair,glasses,green eyes,pale skin.
Personality:shy when she first meets you then BLAM OMG shes talkative
Packing list (Note that toiletries will be provided):cloths, book, needle craft, picture of her mom.dead mom, bag of food as in fruit,jerky other, drawing book.
Number on your picture:1234567890
Dietary restrictions and/or preferences: cheez
Hobbies/interests:needle craft, drawing
Greatest fear:creepy dolls
Cats, dogs, or hamsters?: CATS
Introverted or extroverted?:first Introverted then extroverted
What does Ophelia look like?: green hair, blue eyes, dark skin, tall, and likes pink
What is the most recent song you have had stuck in your head?:mad at Disney
What writing utensil did you fill out this form with?:fountain pen
Other:hears norie

submitted by NorieTorent, age 11, right behind you HEH HEH
(June 6, 2022 - 5:33 pm)

Pending . . .

Hello, Norie Torent.

Your form has been accepted. For when you arrive, your entry polaroid is a picture of waves on a beach. We hope you will enjoy your stay.

- Helen Edith 

submitted by Helen E., age unknown, Edith Castle
(June 7, 2022 - 10:53 am)

Hello, everyone! I am just here to say that is much more popular than any of us expected, and so we are deciding to cut off when forms will be accepted. This Wednesday, spots will close. This is my first Ski Lodge, and too many people will be overwhelming.

Thank you for your coparation! 

submitted by Ophelia E., age unknown, Edith Castle
(June 6, 2022 - 5:54 pm)
submitted by SIGN UPS END TODAY!!, - Opehlia Edith
(June 8, 2022 - 2:09 pm)

But when will the ski lodge start??! But really though, I can't wait.

submitted by FoxWood!, age 17, Autumn
(June 8, 2022 - 4:04 pm)

Haha, I'm afraid that is still undecided, as my summer vacation hasn't started yet, and I have a few tests to get through. I'm planning to start writing it tomorrow, then maybe officially start it [after a few hold over parts, perhaps?] on the 21st.

submitted by Ophelia@FoxWood!, age unknown, Edith Castle
(June 8, 2022 - 5:12 pm)
The sun was setting over Edith Castle when Ophelia began pacing around her office. Guests will be arriving soon… She thought, tapping her fingers on her thigh, We still have to figure out meals, and some more activities, and ready their rooms… 
A knock rapped on the large wooden doors. Ophelia didn’t answer. Maybe we could make some s’mores…
“Ophelia!” Helen burst into the room, Ginger at their heels.
Ophelia looked up from the painting she was staring at. “Oh! Hello. I’m sorry, I was just thinking… What do you need?”
Helen frowned at the paper-covered desk in the corner. “You didn’t eat your dinner.”
“Oh? Oh… I guess I didn’t.” Ophelia laughed nervously. “It’s alright. I’m not that hungry anyway!”
Ginger clicked his tongue. “Please, you need to eat! Call it… system maintenance.”
“Maybe,” Ophelia turned her head back to the painting; an elaborate renaissance-looking piece of herself and Helen. “Should we put this in the stairway? Would that be egocentric?”
Helen sighed. “This is about more than decorations, Ophelia! You know that.”
“Maybe I do.”
“You should! You know that these guests are different. It’s been a long time. Who knows what will happen. I say we make some emergency plans; one in case of fire, another in case of falling into the pool, another for emergency evacuations-”
Ophelia laughed. “We already have those.” She vaguely pointed to her desk, “Somewhere… You know, maybe this painting should stay here. I think some fairy lights would be better in the stairwell.”
“Ophelia!” Helen said, louder, “Please. You know even better than I do. We need this. We need this to be perfect. We can’t-” They swallowed hard, “We can’t afford to lose anything else.”
Ophelia said nothing.
Helen knew that she meant well, but sometimes she was just so arrogant. They sighed again and gestured for Ginger to follow them out of the room.
Ophelia looked at the jarred door after they left. “Something stung her eyes, but she wiped it away before it overcame her. 
Helen said it best; they can’t afford to lose anything. Not even their composure.
-------
And so it begins... 
submitted by MINI INSTALLMENT #1!, age unknown, Edith Castle
(June 11, 2022 - 2:39 pm)
submitted by Top!
(July 6, 2022 - 9:26 pm)
submitted by TOP
(June 11, 2022 - 4:50 pm)
Helen screamed into their pillow. Only 3 more days before the guests arrive. What could go wrong?
Everything, said a little voice in their head, Anything and everything can and will go wrong. You know that. Cancel the vacation! Stop it before it begins!
Helen lifted their head. “I can’t…” They said aloud, barely a whisper. “I know that. We need this.”
But still…
“But still…” They sighed, burying their face into their pillow again. Ginger would say they were being overdramatic. Maybe they were, but they didn’t quite care.
Usually, they would use time of loathing or intense emotions to clean and restore order. But right now, all they felt like doing was staying static on the soft covers.
“Maybe…” They pondered aloud, “I could take some more precautions…” They picked up their notebook from off their bedside table and flipped to a random page.
They pulled a pen from their pocket and began to write. They wrote for a long while; schedules, back-up schedules, every allergy they could think of and how to thwart it, what to do if it were to flood or a tornado appeared…
And just like that, their mind calmed. It was still a raging sea of anxiety, but now there was an eye of the storm. A calm place.
Helen stood from the bed and brushed themself off. Now, they thought, Time to be more productive.
They walked out of the room, not looking back.
But a part of them wanted to.
-----------
I am so sorry for not getting this out for almost a month! I am a grade A procrationator... But the Ski Lodge will start in exactly three days now! We await your arrival! 
submitted by Ophelia E., age unknown, Edith Castle
(July 10, 2022 - 10:24 am)
2 days, Helen reminded themself as they folded blankets.
submitted by Ophelia E., age unknown, Edith Castle
(July 11, 2022 - 3:38 pm)

1 day, Helen told themself as they swept the stairs.

submitted by Ophelia E., age unknown, Edith Castle
(July 12, 2022 - 2:44 pm)

Question. I didn't see your ski-lodge until now, but is it possible to join?

If not, I'll just have fun reading along--looks cool!

submitted by Gallium, age untold, she/her
(July 12, 2022 - 6:10 pm)