Nutsy Nefarious Nights 4
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ONE GIGANTIC VOYAGE OF DOOM[/B]
It's a well-known fact around Squirrely's Offtime Saloon and Nutsy's Detective Agency that Francine Rudolph is romantic. So much in fact, that she adores the weird Terran custom of Valentine's Day.
Subetan Survival is fine as it goes, but celebrating being Unliving, or even Living for that matter, does not cut it for Francine.
Therefore, it was no surprise to Nutsy to find his "Girl Friday" staring a brochure for the maiden voyage of the Gigantic, a luxury cruise ship for "lovers of all ages."
Nutsy personally thought it must be lovers of money when he saw the prices to sail first-class, but he had to admit that making the cross-sea run on Saphira, the largest sea on Eros, a nearby minor planet dedicated to tourism and pleasure, would be an exciting prospect.
"Pipe dream, little one," he said softly to Francine, patting her shoulder gently. He always called her little one even though she was a head taller, being a reindeer while he was, well, a squirrel. Still, there was something vulnerable and innocent in her that awakened protective instincts.
She smiled at him, her doe eyes shining with excitement. "It might be, but we have a chance to go!" She held out a letter handwritten in rather garish deep pink ink, on stationery overburdened with floral borders.
"It's from an old schoolmate at the North Pole Academy for Gifted Cervidae. I never could understand how Carrie got in, since she was dumb as a post, but she did as her father donated the cricket grounds. We never got on very well, since she was always wanting me to write her term papers for her and I was always refusing, butI guess she remembers me."
Nutsy took the letter and read it carefully. "This sounds like it could be really dangerous."
Francine shook her antlers prettily. "I don't think so. Carrie was always overdramatic and given to hysterics over trifles like a spider on the wall. Well, I suppose there's a chance she might be telling the truth, but when have we ever backed away from danger?'
Nutsy chuckled. "You're right about that, and it is her dime, but I want as many protectors along as I can get. If we can persuade them to accompany us, we'll go!"
As the crew arrives, you see the gangplank lower. A few moments later, an announcement booms over the loudspeaker.
[b]ALL ABOARD! PASSENGERS, PLEASE BOARD AND MAKE YOUR WAY YOUR CABINS> IF YOU HAVE ANY LAST ERRANDS, MAKE SURE YOU RETURN QUICKLY, AS THE GIGANTIC WILL BEGIN HER MAIDEN VOYAGE TOMORROW NIGHT. ALL ABOARD!
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It was so exciting to be boarding the ship, Videnicse nearly forgot she was meant to be observing the passengers and looking for clues. She had never seen such a glittering group of reindeer persons dressed up in such fashions! And her mind was buzzing with the quick lessons she'd got on their social scene, which was sure to be important to figuring out who might be trying to kill the client.
Sightseeing was practically unavoidable.
Outfit Not Found Kat had been tired of waiting and finally she could board. She scooped Minx and Kitten up and they happily got onto her shoulders as she made her way onto the ship. What could await her she wondered.
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Bag...check, Bitsy...check..."oh, I may not be able to take Bitsy on board? But, but she is my sis, er ah, my best friend"... "yes, yes she is my service, uh, puppy!" "She may come? oh, thank you"... "Yes I am ready to board. Come Bet, uh, Bitsy we can go now!!"
Bending down to whisper to her bag in which Bitsy is sitting patiently..."I think we are safely on board. Let's go find our room and our friends!"
Pat, Tracy, Gina, Karen, Grammy, Marreshaann, Georgie
My Guitar Gently Weeps...
Waiting as the gangplank lowers Willow climbs aboard and offers her bags to the porter before straightening her dress. Feeling slightly uncomfortable in the attire but excited, she hopes the other will come soon.. or perhaps they are here and she missed seeing them.
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May looked out the window at the gigantic ship that she would be boarding. She had missed her fellow travelers these past few months, but had also enjoyed the peace and quiet, occasionally composing a new musical work. May was eager to sit down with Willow and continue some pieces they had started together during their last journey, while at the same time looking forward to sitting down with Chook over a beverage to hear about her heroic tales of bravery since their last journey.
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HeiYu steps aboard the Gigantic pleased to be starting this new adventure. As she steps aboard she gets a fleeting impression that not all is well here. Standing near the rail and gazing out at the view she wonders what this journey will bring.
Perhaps it was the fact that she didn't really know much about her fellow travelers yet, perhaps it was Carrie's ominous invite, or perhaps it was the rather suspicious egg salad sandwich she had eaten on the way here, there were butterflies in Alma's stomach as she was getting ready to board the Gigantic.
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🌸 [flower=Morse] 🌸
Not a fan of fashion and one who felt sea sick just watching waves roll in, Chook boarded the ship with a feeling of dread. BUT!!! Was her foreboding due to her travel sickness or due to her fellow passengers. She would find out she was sure.
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When you have time could you please go to the Lodge and read my post in NNN4 First Assignment and see what you can do.
Going Fishing!!! 🐟
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Nightshade looked at all the fancy dressed women around him and thanked whatever overlord was watching under him. Imagine having to run with THAT on!
adjusting his top hat and making sure his shoes shone like mirrors he got ready to mingle.
OH NO where are the rest of the Don't tell me i lost them getting on to this ship Webby hangs her head in shame.....Outfit Not Found
She made her way to the Grand Dining Room and the maître d'hôtel confirmed her reservation and escorted her to her table near the bandstand. After the waiter took her order and the sommelier brought her a fine red wine to start, Frieda sat quietly and contemplated her reasons for being on board this ship.
She reached into her silk purse and withdrew the letter and read it again. It was from her mate Weldon and the message brought tears to her eyes. She slipped the letter back into it's envelope and returned it to her purse after she daubed at her eyes with her paw-kerchief. She muttered to herself "Next time, he comes along, or I'm going to kick his sorry tail."
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Human clothing. Sorn glared at the threads contemptuously. He love his headpieces and looking ostentatious. These hats looked like some odd stepping platform or like someone killed a turkey and plopped it on their heads. No, no, he hate all of it. It was not worthy of his magnificent body. Growling, he plucked the best looking things he had that were close and called it good. He flat out refused to wear one of the hats.
((occ: this is the best he let me do o.0 Also ignore the zombie strain and weird kiss marks :P))
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Jenna checked her boarding pass and looked around for her other traveling companions. She hoped that she wasn't too late! She walked briskly towards the docks and let out a sigh of relief when she saw the ship was still there. She heard her name being called from the top deck of the magnificent ship. She peered past the brim of her fancy hat and spotted her friends waving at her to come aboard. Jenna found the boarding area and handed her pass to the handsome crewman. He blushed when she gave him a big smile and a wink. She chuckled to herself as she made her way past and found her friends. She caught the eye of a waitress and asked for a drink to kick off this voyage. Jenna then settled into a lounge chair with the others and got ready to discuss the reason why they're here.
Lion smiled at the bored-looking young steward at the boarding kiosk as he handed him his ticket.
The young man in ship's whites straightened instinctively when he saw that he was a 1st class passenger and squinted at the name "Achilles Lion Delacroix...boy! That's a name and a half!" by his accent he was an American from the Midwest
"Achille, the s is silent" Lion corrected apologetically. He found his given name terribly presumptuous, intimidating to almost everyone who hadn't grown up speaking French. He was Lion to everyone but his maman and her parents. Eh, bien.
"Doesn't that beat all? I never heard of a silent s in someone's name! Lion? Was your Daddy a big game hunter, Sir?"
"Nothing so interesting, I'm afraid, it's only a family name, some of my ancestors were men of note." He had attended public schools and telling classmates that his papa was a farmer to better fit in, rather than saying his family owned one of the oldest and best-known vineyards in France. It wasn't really a lie, Papa enjoyed working beside his people and referred to himself as a Gentleman Farmer. "Noble est aussi noble que" he would tell them (Noble is as noble does). What of you? Is Theodore a family name?"
"My name? Golly, I don't really know, my parents adopted me when I was a few months old, so I don't know if I was Theodore before."
"Mon ami, if I was a gambling man, I'd lay odds on the fact that your adopted family named you, the name means 'Found'. A good name, strong but sensitive. I hope we will get to talk again, Theodore." he murmurs shaking the young steward's hand
From the corner of his eye, he had seen his friends Teislyn and Freddie already making their way to their staterooms and ran off to say hello
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Formerly known as Habeebi
After watching several of the passengers board the cruise liner, Kohkru turned to look for his teammates. Brushing off his suit and grumbling to himself how there were too many layers on, he quickly found his 4 beautifully gowned colleagues.
Feeling a bit out-dressed by the women, he took off his hat and greeted them with a big smirk."You lovely ladies ready to get this show on the road?"
For all of them it was the first time they were working as a team. Only the mystery and a possible ploy for murder could bring a watcher of time, one of the greatest storytellers, a water nymph, a dangerous necromancer and a skilled kitsune together. Things were going to prove quite... Interesting.
Kohkru stretched his arm to point to the gankplank ramp. "Ladies first!" He laughed with a playful grin as he lent those that wanted it a hand. The group of 5 made their way aboard, taking in the sights and delights aboard the luxury cruise liner. After a quick wander, the Leviathans made their way to their cabins and wait for the Gigantic to begin her maiden voyage.
[font=book antiqua]—
Waiting to leave (being nosy and checking out the people boarding)
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<summary>HAs of Those on the Ship Deck</summary>
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<p>Standing there, on the deck, watching all the &;hotsy totsy&; people boarding the ship, Witchy turns to the other girls and says "Well, now that Lovecraft and Reaper are installed at the bar, and all these fancy people have boarded the ship, Do you think we will be leaving soon?"</p>
<p>Turning to her left, Paisley props her left hand on her hip casually and her right arm rest on the balcony railing while glancing across the sea. "Most likely, we&;ll likely leave at dusk just in time to see the sun dance one final dance before letting the moon take the show, Witchy. Do either of you gals have any idea how long the voyage will be to Eros by any chance?"</p>
<p>Looking at PaisleyAnn, Witchy takes a puff off her pipe, and says, "Eros? Is that where we&;re going? I just wanted to party on a cruise ship."</p>
<p>Still looking across the vast open waters Paisley responds to Witchy... "Yep, we&;re going to Eros. The land of Erotica, I believe. An atmosphere full of sensuality and excitement from what I&;ve been told. I wonder, if this cruise ship has midnight showings. Or are we to be in bed as proper young women once the the moon is in full bloom? Either way I&;m not sure I will be able to stay in my cabin all night long given the motion of the ocean under our feet."</p>
<p>Terrena sighs and says, "Even if we are expected to be proper young women and be in bed by a decent hour, Lovecraft, and Reaper if she manages to not get off by the time we set sail, will probably still be in the bar all night long." She laughs. "But that&;s to be expected. If anything, it would be fun to see all these prim and proper passengers&; reactions to them!"</p>
<p>Paisley, turning to Witchy and the other gals "I know y&;all are up for exploring this beauty! ;)"</p>
<p>"I know I&;m ready to go exploring! This is going to be so very exciting," Terrena exclaims.</p>
<p>Spring glances at her friends and says “It sure is strange having half a team on this trip. No doubt we will see rolling by any moment."</p>
<p>Sure enough, no sooner had she said it, Terrena nudged her arm as Tea flounces up. “You so gonna loose!" clapped. "Even if we lose, we will lose better than you!” Tea tries out an evil laugh but sounds more like a chicken. “Psst." She whispers as she leaves, “We are still going to share that cheesecake though right?!”</p>
<p>Spring laughs and says, “Only if you promise to never laugh like that again!”</p>
<p>MEANWHILE, AT THE BAR
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<summary>HAs of Those at the Ship Bar</summary>
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<p>Already inside, sitting at the bar area, Lovecraft and her wife have already started drinking.</p>
<p>"Another round!" Reaper orders.</p>
<p>"You are going to miss getting off the boat before it sets sail," Lovecraft mentions to her casually. "You didn&;t want to come with us this time. And should be fun. At sea, no one around to see.... is bound to roll off the balcony and SPLASH!" Lovecraft smiles happily.</p>
<p>"You have split up this time too," Reaper casually remarks. "May be hard to get her away from her Rebel forces."</p>
<p>"I will offer her food, it will happen," Lovecraft drinks deeply from her glass and looks at Reaper. "You know you stick out like a sore thumb in your outfit."</p>
<p>Reaper looks around at all the fashion of the past people. "Another reason for me to stay behind. Fashion was HORRIBLE. I don&;t even think drinking as much as we do will make it look good."</p>
<p>She and Lovecraft both start laughing, almost falling off their stools. Lovecraft has a feeling Reaper won&;t make it off the ship in time.</p>
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Esme and Ilaera were so excited to board the ship with their friends. They had watched several of the other passengers getting on board as well. They weren't sure if they were outdressed by them, but they had done their best searching for an outfit fitting for the occassion.
Captain Ashby welcomes you all to the Gigantic, tours the luxurious aspects of the ship and the privileges of the voyage ahead, and tells you to feel free to look around the ship.
He then retires to work on an invitation list to his table. These are limited and highly coveted, and the most impeccably dressed are admitted.
Of course, Carrie rushes below to her suite to unpack the perfect outfit, and you all are left to be, well, a bit bored. Pristine decks and lavish entertainment areas are only so interesting when you've come to solve or prevent a possible murder, and you're quickly stifling yawns.
Ermentine seems to feel much the same as you do, so she persuades a steward to give her a tour below decks. She is gone for quite a while, but when she returns, she looks troubled. However, before you can introduce yourself, Nikkel arrives to escort his wife below to change, waving his invitation to the Captain's Table before her.
If Nutsy or Francine could also be seated there, you might be able to ask Ermentine what she discovered, but are you up to the challenge of dressing either a reindeer or a squirrel in the formal dinner finery of the era?
Should you simply retire to your cabins, or could your team possibly qualify for a guest invitation? The game is afoot!
(OOC: Details for this challenge oare on the OCC thread.)