One time ping only: (Thanks, Mary!)

The Case of the Covetous Guest

Squirrely McGee's Offtime Saloon is still bustling with seasonal merriment, with Ingrid is muttering under her breath about "too much of dis Melody, I am thinking," while Chester is entertaining the guests with his repertoire of "adventurer tricks," mostly comprised of fancy acorn yo-yo tricks.

"Have you seen Francine?" Geranium asks her husband, Branch, who is making up tasty looking sandwich plates.

"No, hun, I haven't. Squirrely, is Francine around?

Squirrely, up to his bushy tail in clients, misses the question, but Nutsy, nursing a solitary hard nut cider at the bar, lifts his head. "She's back in the office. She's still a little down, what with the season and all. It cheers her up that it's Melody here and not the Santa fellow, but a rejected reindeer is well...a rejected reindeer. It's always heartbreak for us sensitive ones."

He sniffs loudly once.

"Snap out of it, man," Branch says in his no-nonsense voice. "You can't run a detective agency that way! It's not like you're going to fall in love with another murderess."

"You don't know that," Nutsy protests.

"Once in a lifetime, man," Branch says firmly. "Chipmunk wisdom, right sweetheart?"

He turns to look for Geranium, but she's vanished.

Out in Nutsy office, Francine, her tidy hooves crossed neatly to show off her killer legs, is staring morosely into a crystal ball as Geranium enters.

"Geri, look at this!" She lifts the smaller chipmunk onto the chair next to her, and they stare into the clear orb. Inside is a picture of a little girl looking forlorn and holding two bears.

"She says her name is Arabella, and she can't rest until she knows her mother's safe. She's the daughter of the owners of Green Ghost Grange. It's a hotel on the second moon. Evidently, she and her father were killed in a shuttle accident that wasn't an accident. She says her memory isn't clear even now, but she knows the murderer is still after her mother, and that she'll tell us what she knows if we prove we can be trusted."

"Sounds like a perfect case to get Nutsy up and going again!" Geranium exclaims. "We'll get Squirrely to call in all our friends, and solve this one in time to save her mother. How do we gain her trust?"

"Bears," Francine replies. "She says we must know our actual bears, ones that you can hold, or carry, or walk with. No bears painted on things--bears like the two she has. We need 25 of them!"

Geranium is already halfway out the door. "Our friends will sort this out in a minute. Hang on, Arabella! The Nutsy Detectives are coming!"

(OOC: If you can name 25 items on Subeta that meet Arabella's criteria, she will not only tell you her story, but she will also offer hints to your team during the mystery. However, the blow to her head was severe, and her memory isn't always perfect, so you will have to decide what fits. Her story will be completely accurate, though. You have until Jan. 5th at 11:59 p.m. Subeta time to smail your lists.)

Good luck to all. waves pompoms

Have fun!

Chipmunk wisdom is the only way. Off to do bear research...

I've send in our list with the bears :)

thanks sweet

We are in!:)

We need to get started, Ladies!! :) 25 bears! , I forget how we had our set up last time. Help? ;)

Surrounded by teddies of all shapes and sizes, Arabella decides to tell her story:

"I don't remember everything that happened that day, but I do remember Daddy wrapping up a package very carefully, as if it were alive or something. I wanted a puppy, so I asked Daddy if it was one, but he just laughed and said if it was what he thought it was, he'd buy me a puppy and a kitten.

"Then he told me not to mention this to Mommy, since he wanted to surprise her, and he'd only told two people, and they both said he needed an off-stroid opinion. I didn't know what it was, but it sounded exciting, so I begged to go along. Mommy gave me some sunscreen and told me to be careful.

"I was. I was very careful. I buckled in and everything. I even looked around before we went, and I even saw the extra mechanic who came out to repair the shuttle, although said later that the shuttle was right on schedule and didn't need repairs. He thought I just imagined it, but I know I didn't!

"We never reached to other 'stroid. We got really close, but then the shuttle lost control over the descent and we crashed into the surface. I remember flying forward and hitting my head really hard, and Daddy grabbing my hand for a minute. He was all bloody, and I wanted to scream, but I couldn't get anything out. He said he loved me and Mommy, and that it must be real and I had to warn her. Then he was silent.

"I blacked out then, and I went it to what they called a coma. Mommy came with Carmen, and they both cried a lot over me. I tried to tell Mommy what Daddy had said, but I couldn't wake up. I couldn't ever wake up. Help her! Please don't let anything happen to Mommy!"

She fades then, leaving her worried image on your minds. Before you can react too much, Ingrid bustles in carrying an envelope, which, of course, she has already opened for "inspection."

"Oh, dis is gut! Nutsy and guests are gettink invited to posh masked ball. Offtime Saloon folks, not so much. Life ist not fair, I am tinking. Veta is same way!"

With that, she tosses the invitation at Francine and stomps out.

"Such a joy bringer, that one," remarks Nutsy idly.

"Oh!" Francine gasps. "It's from Green Ghost Grange! They're holding a Twelfth Night Shakespearean Masked Revels. You must come as a character from one of the plays. And there's also a package for the full revels: 12 nights of merriments, it says. It begins January 6th! That's not much time to get ready! But how can we afford this?"

Geranium stands up and smooths her apron. "Trust me, you'll all go! This is for Arabella and her mother!"

Branch follows behind as she heads out the door, but stops to give you a wink. "She's little, but she's mighty. I'll distract Ingrid. You all worry about costumes."

(OOC: Yes, costumes. Geranium will persuade Squirrely to float the bill for the entire package, but can you be dressed in your finest Shakespearean garb depicting a character from his works? Branch has faith in you and your HAs. Please submit your outfits AS A TEAM on this topic by 11:59 p.m. Subeta time on Jan. 6th. The game is afoot, and you SHALL go to the ball!)

cosmics

Time to get dressed up people, we have a thread at the lodge to talk about it ;) (Since we can't make a thread inside the ping group :( )

Zoiks! (Hi & Welcome Gatorgirl!)

Reserving this post for The Golden Trio team.

time for costumes! :D

Check the lodge. Only a couple of days for this HA.

alas poor Yorick.... a balloon was the closest thing to a skull I could find :P

(Lone Wolf Paddy as Hamlet)

Awkwardly strolling in, you notice a newcomer dressed as the Nurse from Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet. She slides sideways into the room after her outfit's over sized accouterments impede her entrance. (OOC: Here's my submission for Ms Solo team)

Outfit Not Found

Post your HAs at the lodge please.

: Time to get dressed up!

Bitsy sees Trixie wander into the common room of Squirrely's. "Looks like it's just us two Whovians this time, hope we can help this poor little girl out. I got your note about Twelfth Night -- what do you think?" She spins around, almost knocking over a drink with her rapier. "Ah, and I commended thy yellow stockings," she says giggling.

"They suit me more than poor Malvolio! And your Viola looks about as much a man as she did, hehehe." Trixie flourishes a bow. And, the two grab drinks to wait for the rest of Nutsy's guests.

Midnight would like to present you with tonight's Mischief as Puck and Bottom from the beloved play MidSummer Nights Dream

I had to post these without Taters' Ha, as she's having trouble with the wardrobe :(

Ilaera as Lady Olivia, Kenny as Don Pedro , Emjee as Lady Macbeth, Sashi as Goneril, Esme as Juliet and Jettison as Trinculo

The Cosmic Sleuths are ready to enter the ball, they've put on their finest Shakespearean garb. There was some struggling to get Ilaera to put on a dress, but eventually she did it for the team, but she did say they owe her something, so who knows what will happen.

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edit Added Taters HA in as well, to keep them all together.