Just upstairs from the ballroom: fresh air and a respite from dancing and music.
Patience, Please
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Just upstairs from the ballroom: fresh air and a respite from dancing and music.
“Oh, what a wonderful garden! The flowers are beautiful! And the fountain – oh, the fountain! How magnificent!”
“Ah. It’s so nice to be out in the fresh air. I must say,” I said to Hypatia and Meow, “this is the best ball I’ve ever been to.”
I took a deep breath of the flower-scented air and leaned against the rail, staring out over the ground-level gardens, and the tree strung about with tiny lights. “No matter that it’s the only ball I’ve been to. It’s still the best.”
I emerge from the stifling heat of the ballroom into the fresh evening air of the rooftop garden. I inhale deeply.
I can hear the faint trickle of water from a stone fountain nearby. It is remarkably soothing. “Its lovely up here,” I say to Cat’s Meow.
I sigh with relief as I exit the spiral staircase and step onto the roof. “Oh, this is perfect.” I mumble to myself. Social activity wears me out if it’s not in small doses, this would be a great pace to recover. Looking around sneakily, I sidle over to an old oak tree in the middle of the roof and climb onto the lowest branch, trying to not to ruin my dress. Climbing in them is hard.
“Oh, hello Alice. I’m awfully sorry. I’m afraid I didn’t see you at first. Charming night!”
Fountain? What fountain?
Oh, you NAUGHTY wung!
“Hello, Hypatia. It certainly is a charming night. The air smells simply gorgeous.”
“Agreed. The ball is delightful, too. Its akin to stepping into a time portal. All those preparations were well worth it.”
“A time portal, certainly. The sort of time portal that sends you to fifty different eras at once. I think it’s my favorite kind. Oh, I fear I shall become quite addicted to dancing.”
“Its somehow magical.”
“For a long time prior to this, I have been trying to take ballroom dance lessons, but I’ve never succeeded in finding a partner. This is a dream, a secret little reverie, come true!”
I feel more at home in the garden. Beautiful, brightly colored flowers blosom about me and the fountain gurgles pleasantly. I am away from the crowded ballroom and hopefully can find someone to talk to up here. But, for now, I am content with contemplating the flowers.
I nod to Hypatia’s remark. “I know. I’ve wanted to dance for so long. I’m worried about the break getting over,” I say to Hypatia. “I don’t know what kind of music they’ll have. I only hope it’s something I can tolerate.”
I notice Mogget’s Little Sister by the fountain and wave to her.
I sigh, and smile. “It’s so peaceful up here. What a change from the chaos in the ballroom, isn’t it?”
I turn around to do some more contemplating when I notice Alice waving at me. Yay! Someone is my friend (sorry, I’m just a bit friendly)! I hurry over to the group of three (Alice, Hypatia, and Cat’s Meow) and try to be social.
“Yeah, it is. I heard there’s going to be new music on in a bit, though.”
“Its Muse Academy! It can’t help but be good, I’m sure!” I say to MLS, Cat’s Meow, and Alice.
“Oh, that will be nice!” I say to Mogget’s Little Sister, who has come over to join us. “Well, assuming it’s good music. It wouldn’t be very nice if the music was bad!”
I walk up to the garden. I sit on one of those benche swings.
“Beautiful sun set.
Emerging from the spiral staircase, i look around. Flowers are growing in little beds, several large trees are also growing, and Jadestone is sitting in one. A fountain sits in the middle, and Alice, Hypatia, Cat’s Meow, and Mogget’s Little Sister, ((I love that book!)) are busily chatting. Perfect… But I was looking for somewhere a little more secluded… Noticing a small path off to the side, I meander down it. After walking for a little while, I see a perfect statue garden. “Just the spot to meditate.” I think to myself as I sit on the grass and relax…
“I really hope the music’s good!” I notice some other people are coming up. One has sat on a bench and one disappears down a path. I decide not to investigate, as I’m currently in the process of attempting to make friends.
“So, do you know what these flowers are called? I’m not very good at botany.”
“Ooh, pretty!” I gasp.
“Hello Alice, Hypatia, Cat’s Meow, Mogget’s Little Sister, how are you all?” I say as I emerge on the rooftop. “It’s been a great ball so far, hasn’t it?” I look out to the sunset, amazed by the stunning view.
“Hello, everyone!” I say to the new arrivals, smiling. The area was getting crowded now, with people swarming out during the intermission to view the beautiful sunset.
“Hi,” I say quietly walking into the garden. I refrain from pointing out the environmental benefits of the garden although I did extensive research on it.
21- “I’m not terribly good at botany either. I can tell the roses and tulips, but that’s about it. Hello TGYPTYTDW!”
*Meditates in Private Statue Garden*
Mogget’s Little Sister (21): That’s Lantana, one of my favorite flowering shrubs. The inflorescences change color as they mature. This one has blossoms that start out yellow and turn pink after a day or two. The scent of these blossoms are most unusual, though. Like ripe strawberries, it seems, don’t you think? Must be a new cultivar.
WOW, rooftop garden, my mom loves rooftop gardens, whenever we play LIFE the game she always chooses to live in the apartment with gourmet kitchen and rooftop garden! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
27- *finds and sits down* “You look lonely. Champagne?” ((COUGhsparklinggrapejuiceCOUGH))
I hurry up the stairs.
“Oh dear, I’m sorry I’m so late!” Something came up that I simply had to take care of. Please forgive me.”
I turn and say, “Hey Sunrunner, don’t fret! The ball isn’t even in full swing yet! (That’s kinda why we’re up here.)”
It is beautiful up here! Simply breathtaking!
*twirls around faerie-like, realizes other people are here, gets embarassed*
“Why hello there everyone, how do you do?”
*dunks Bookworm in sparkling grape juice* “Ha! Now come and party!”
“You got me, MissSwann! I will come party! Will you change your name to MsSwann after the wedding? Is there any juice left, or is it all on my tuxedo?”
I rise of the swing and walk over to MissSwann and Bookworm.
“I think there might be some down stairs.” I then walk over to Rebecca.
(36) Good evening, TMFA. Are you enjoying the ball?
“Oh, this is so much nicer than being down there in the ballroom. What nice flowers!”
33 – You have the right idea. Don’t be embarrassed.
*Sees NerdAndProudOfIt whirling and starts spinning too*
*comes back up here*
“I have returned!” *joins spinning party* “But I think NAPOI is downstairs, dancing with Vendaval.”
Hiiiiiiii, Turquoise. Great night for spinning, isn’t it? If you look up, the stars streak around and make circles.
-shudders- Rosanne, don’t go all perky on us again. I realize that everything is swell at the May Day Ball, but it’s still a bit unnerving.
(42) Rosanne is being herself, CM. I’ve known her for almost 20 years, and that’s just how she is.
I take a brief respite from studying to visit the rooftop garden. “Hello all!”
I join the spinning party in the center. It’s pretty spectacular when you have a train; stopping is a problem, though, because then you get all tangled up and you have to un-twist your dress. I decide to sit amongst the jasmine plant, which is entertwined with tiny lights; it smells heavenly.
Hahaha. *Thinks: Funny that people think I’m perky. I don’t think of myself that way.*
*Continues spinning*
42- She’s not perky, she’s just a little odd sometimes. Like all of us.
46- You can say that again.
yes, very like me.
((AAAAARRRGGHH!!!!! i don’t know how to dance. pity. sniff .sniff.))
((We wouldn’t leave our students unprepared for a ball. In the Muse Academy world, weeks of dance lessons have turned you into an exquisite dancer.))
36- *snatches hand* “Come and dance, I’ve asked three times now!”
35- “I don’t think so, actually. I’ve always been the type who would like to keep my maiden name after I married, and that includes my MB title. Though I might have to be MissHawk for a few days after the wedding.”
43- 20 years! You’re old!
((jk, robert))
As I enter the garden, I find that many people are talking, while others seek the solitude of the plants. I think to join the conversation, but I decide against it and slip into the shadows to quietly observe. I see someone sitting among the statues peacefully. It seems that Bookworm does not want to be disturbed. I meander over to the old oak tree, and I was surprised because I saw a pair of feet peeking out of the leaves. “Jadestone!” I whispered. “What are doing up there?” ” I don’t really know,” she answers sheepishly. “Although this dress does make it hard to climb. But why don’t you come up?” I grin. “Of course. Ilove to climb trees!”
“Is it just me, or do I hear music?” I listen closer, and it seems that the music has started again. And I cannot resist dancing when I hear music. I guess that means I’m going back down to the ball. I take one last look at the sunset and head back downstairs.
Oh my. I didn’t read the posts before my last post. I didn’t know that Bookworm had left. Whoops.
Having been dunked in grape juice by MissSwann, I see of nothing to do but go downstairs and dance. Waving, I walk down the staircase back to the ballroom…
51- ((OOOOOOh, flirty-flirty-flirty!!!!! How romantic! *loves romanticness of it all*))
41-my god, i’m not the only one. you have no idea how happy that makes me
*spins along* wheeeeee!
41 – “Whoa! The stars look awesome!” *gets terribly dizzy* *staggers into wall* “Ouch.” *continues spinning*
“Spinning’s a lot easier and funner than dancing.”
55- Actually, I am a girl. I am reffering Jadestone as a friend, thank you very much. PLEASE don’t get any ideas. No offense, of course.
I come out onto the roof and see that the sun has just finished setting. All traces of pink are gone, and only a slight blue remains on the horizon.
Taking comfort from the color of the sky, I wander around the garden. I wave to people spinning, and go toward the edge of the roof.
There is a fish pond there with a large rock in the center. I lift my dress and hop onto the rock.
I sit on the rock and drag my hand through the water, watching the fish.
I hear the music starting again. I take one last look at the sunset, wave to all of the spinning people, and decide to go downstairs to dance.
This giant purple lily is beautiful.
*disappears behind it and doesn’t come out for half an hour*
58- Oh, sorry. I was under the impression you were male.
I feel all ashamed and embarrassed now.
*dashes down to the ball*
When it is either stop spinning or puke, I stop spinnning. I haven’t been up here at all yet during the school year, so I go exploring. I follow a path through the gardens, eventually finding a stone bench with a lovely view of the sunset. A few strains of music and conversation come through the trees, but otherwise I’m by myself.
((Something about my brain makes me go find a solitary spot to sit in at any social gathering. I’ll emerge soon.))
((this is the 1337th thread. I just noticed that.))
When it is completely dark outside I decide to go back down to the ballroom. I hop off of the rock and go back through the trees. Some of the spinners have left.
I enter the spiral staircase and the music grows louder…
62- It’s okay. I’m sure you didn’t mean it. I do that sometimes too.
I scrambled up the trunk of the oak tree, the bark snagging on my dress, but the orange and yellow matieral was fine after I sat on the branch. After a quarter of an hour long conversation though, Jadestone glanced at her watch and said,”Oh no, look at the time! I’m sorry, Zinc, I really have to go. I told someone I would meet them down at the ball! Bye!” I watched her scamper down the spiral stairs. I wondered who she was meeting as I climbed off the tree and headed over to the spinning party. I always liked spinning, but I was glad that my dress was not the kind that flared up.
Through the darkness, I see some fireflies. They form patterns momentarily, then dissipate again. I love Muse Academy, I think. I’m so glad to be here.
Eventually I get up and wander around until I come across a pond. I wave to Karinnn Tayyy. “Which way is it back to the ballroom? I am entirely lost in this garden.” She points me in the right direction. I thank her and rejoin the spinning party.
“I’m back! Did you miss me?”
*wanders up to the rooftop garden and lays down, looking at the stars*
Since the people I was talking to seem to have left without saying goodbye, I wander around the garden some more. I travel down many paths twice, finding different things each time. I find an isolated statue garden with an impression in the grass as if someone had just sat there to rest. I decide not to sit and instead am content with studying each statue in turn. They are of the Muses, arranged in a nice circle. Kokopelli is missing, but I find his statue crouched down in a nearby bush with something shaped suspiciously like a pie aimed at Urania’s likeness.
A flow of people are heading back to the ballroom. I am not among them, for even with my rigorous dance classes, I have never gotten the hang of ballroom dancing. I wish I could be though, It seems like a fantastic means of finding a byfriend.
I quietly climb over the wall of the rooftop garden and desperately hope no one notices how late I am. I spend a frantic moment getting my thin, silky, forest-olive green dress out of the clutches of a a giant black rose bush, and then a nervous minute peeking through the dark green leaves at all the people dancing, talking, spinning, climbing trees, and wandering around.
I straighten up, brush off my dress, rearrange my crown of golden flowers on my head, take a deep breath, and casually (I hope) step out from behind my bush.
69- just before you take your first steps into the garden, I tap you on the shoulder. I was hiding behind you the whole time.
“You’re very late, all the hours d’vores have gone. ((nice, IBCF…)) Care to take a spin with me?” *spins with the others, waiting expectantly*
I sidle furtively onto the rooftop, wondering if anyone will notice the three-stage rocket tucked uunder my arm, and the telemetry trolley with the squeaky wheel I’m dragging behind me.
Well, I have to launch from somewhere, and this rooftop is 40 metres nearer to orbit than anywhere on the ground. With a bit of luck, my plans for a May Satellite will come to fruition tonight. Then I shall dance. Oh, yes. I shall dance.
*laughs in a hollow and evil manner*
“Paul, what on earth is that?”
Having grown tired of the pop music downstairs, I have retreated once more to the roof, which, although not devoid of people, is considerably quieter than the ballroom. I notice Paul laughing in a hollow and evil matter, which draws my attention to the rocket and trolley. My eyes dart from Paul, to the rocket, to the trolley, to Paul again.
“By the name of all that is Muserly,” I say. “What is that?”
I quietly slip away from the rush of the ballroom and into the garden… just in time to here the crazy cackle of Paul Baker……….
Having been watching quietly from the rooftop for the duration of the dance, I slid out from the shade of the tree I was resting in. Joining in with POSOC and Mm, I walked up to paul, “Holy cake! What is that?”
It’s a Thing. I have placed a Thing in the nose of this device, and I’m going to put it into orbit, where it will rotate, and sparkle, and glisten, and coruscate, and manipulate our perception of the heavens, and dance. Oh yes, it will dance. It will dance with me. Me here on the roof, the Thing in orbit, and we will dance together, to the music of the stars.
But first, I am going to bed, to prepare myself for the ordeal of sending my creation into the void. I shall leave my mighty Thing Launcher in position, so that you may all admire it. I know I can trust you not to press any buttons on the Telemetry Trolley. Especially the one marked “Launch”.
Good night!
*slinks off, cackling softly and menacingly*
Evidence supports the hypothesis that someThing’s messed with Paul’s head. In my opinion, we should open the nose cone and examine It… but not too closely.
I say that this THING needs to be destroyed and cannot be launched!
“By Kokopelli!” I exclaimed. “He’s gone wrong. That plan sounds excellent, POSOC. Who wants to go first?” A thought struck me. “If it is something to be feared, all we need to do is define it thoroughly, and then it shall disappear entirely.”
“It looks mostly harmless. but stand back! I’ll fry it with the radio cookerâ„¢. I’m not sure it will work, but I think it will.”
I take a small device out of my pocket. it looks like a Swiss Army knife, but then I flip a switch. I aim it at the rocket. as it start to fry, a small ball hops out.
“Oh, Cake.”
“[self-snip]!!! Take cover!” I dove into the lantana.
Taking POSOC’s advice, I hid behind the fountain.
Oh Wung Buttons!
What have you done Master Baker?
I’m hiding behind the fountain with you guys if there’s enough room. Things can be scary.
70 – “Whoa! Ummm… Heh heh…”
“Sure, spinning looks fun, but I think we ought to hide before Paul’s ‘Thing’ kills us all.”
I promptly dive into my black rose bush, remembering too late that roses (even black ones) have thorns.
“Oww.”
Smart, aren’t I?
Garden?! I LOVE gardens! *looks around* OMG! Its giant launcher thing in the middle! How ghastly! It’s practtically crushing that japanese maple!
*runs over to dispose of the evil plant crushing machine* *hears a cackle behind me* *turns* *screams* *faints*
I change my course to join the spinning party to examine the ball Thing Paul’s THING regurgitated. I hold it in my hands, saying,”It’s quite friendly-“glances around,”-or so it seems.” Just like my last sentence, it starts beeping like a timed bomb. I scream, drop the the ball, and scamper up the tree. ” Holy cake!!!” I say, after I find safety on the highest brach of the tree. “It doesn’t like me!!!!!”
*joins behind fountain*
“The ball’s gone insane! Was this supposed to happen?” *laughs at self* “What an inane question.”
The ball beeped faster and faster, then suddenly it made a noise like..((continue))
Before the inevitable explosion can occur, I streak towards the launcher and slam my fist on the “Launch” button. It streaks towards the heavens and an unbelievable speed. I hear the first stage booster hit the ground. I revive kiwimuncher and watch the Thing.
“um, Piggy, Why did you do that?”
having watched the following, I continue to look straight up as a fireworks explosion lights up the sky. This is answered by my two blinks. “Well. That certainly was fun.”
“Uh, oh. We’d better get out of here.”
Aha! I knew it!
heh-heh.
You found the Ball, but you found nothing. I win, I win. The Ball was a subterfuge. I knew you would find the Ball. The Ball is insignificant, and irrelevant.
Hah-HAH!
You can’t say it was me. I didn’t launch it. I merely set it up for the curious to view. The launch was perpretrated by others. I am innocent.
Hahahahahahahaha.
Now I shall dance. Dance with the Thing. Look, how it glistens, casting rays of starlight upon the earth. It is happy in its orbit, and I am happy here upon this roof, for I have the Telemetry, and the dance, the dance and the Telemetry. We are one, the Thing and I. Step it out lightly, and observe the screen. Observe closely. The Thing swirls in its orbit, and the Telemetry tells me things. Things about the Thing. Colour, size, velocity. Things about the Thing. but not position. No, not that, for I have disabled the position sensor. Swirl, swirl. Dance, dance. Do you know where I am, Telemetry? Perhaps. Do you know where I am going? No, because I dance, and I am unpredictable. Dance with the Thing. Do you know where the Thing is, Telemetry? No, because you know that the Thing is blue, and round, and small, and fast. You cannot know where it is, for it is a Thing. And yet, you know that it is Up There, and that I am Down Here. But even that is not certain, for the Thing is blue, and small, and fast, and we dance. And when the Telemetry measures, and cannot determine where we dance, I shall truly be one with the Thing, and look down upon the Earth, and dance with the stars.
Hahahahahahahahahaha!
Gathering up my skirt with one hand and holding my shoes in the other, I half-tumble, half-run down the stairs and stand on the steps outside the ballroom to admire the beautiful danger.
“Caking wung buttons, Baker, you’ve gone completely mad!” I leaped on him in an attempted tackle, but due to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle I smashed into the aspidistras. I realized that the direct approach wouldn’t work. We’d have to find the Thing. And to do that, we needed the Telemetry.
I leaped on the telemetry array, reflecting for a moment that Paul was beginning to sound like Silverweed, and ripped out the wires relating to color, size, shape and velocity. I then reconnected the position sensor and stared at the screen.
“We’ve got to shoot that caking Thing down!”
I quickly radioed the Star of Qurtv. “Elbunn, this is Admiral Canix.” I recited a set of coordinates, then added, “Hit that spot with every pie you’ve got!”
is the ball over yet?
wat you doing? posoc and mim?
96- I’m preventing Paul Baker from completing his ghastly scheme.
oh
when is tnis over?
*pies baker in the face*
*throws pie at the thing*
The chaotic noise from the garden tore me away from the scintillating night sky and I hurried up the stairs again in time to see a barrage of pies converge as one upon (wait, what are they aiming for?)
98 through 101- Please try to compress your statements into a single post. Blog etiquette. Like this:
98. cukoo555 | May 10th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
oh. when is tnis over? *pies baker in the face**throws pie at the thing*
But I appreciate your efforts. Perhaps together we can be victorious over the Thing.
I walk to Paul Baker and yell at POSOC: “I’m on Baker’s side! I think! Now I have to keep dancing…Bye!
Hmm…”Is Argolath going off the deep end, by any chance?”
I say, appearing momentarily in the rooftop garden to survey the somewhat insane scene that has unfolded.
Wait…what?
A loud bang sounds out. I turn, startled, from my musings. A rocket has just gone off! And is that–yes it is! Paul Baker the GAPA from my own house, is laughing maniacally! He’s gone mad! I do the most impulsive thing I have ever done: run up to an adult and slap him in the face. Twice. I wait anxiously to see if it helps…
97 – What is his ghastly scheme, anyways? How do you know it’s ghastly? Maybe it is really for the good of all.”
After staring at the Thing for what seems like an eternity, I am undeniably compelled to Dance. I slowly begin to sway. The only things in the world are paul, eragon, me, and the Thing. But mostly the Thing. I am completely at peace.
I Dance with the Thing, and the Thing Dances with me.
I think Paul’s gone off the deep end. *Calmly retreats to ball inside*
Ooo, I do feel peculiar. Has someone just pied me? And why are you all staring? And what’s that twinkly thing up there? I haven’t seen that before. Communication satellite, probably. Pretty. And what’s with all the electronic junk in that old shopping trolley? It’s a bit of an eyesore up here in the rooftop garden. I shall get a wung to remove it, if nobody claims it.
Now, why did I come up here in the first place? Can’t remember. This always happens in May. Strange occurrences. Odd things appearing and disappearing. I’m getting very absent-minded. I shall pop over to the Hare and Hedgepig for a teacake and a ponder, I think. I do hope you’re all enjoying yoursleves at the Ball. Carry on.
is the thing gone yet?
*whew*
110- You. Are. Nuts. YOU ARE NUTS!!! have you been taking allergy meds or something???
I watch as the pies begin to converge in the sky, and in response, I pulled out a slingshot and pie-balloon from my backpack, to fire at the thing, but strangely enough, I soon as I release the pie in a case, I am hit in the back of the head with something. I feel the back of my head. Plaster. Filling. By the way, where did my pie go? “Oh my. Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle! Do we even have a chance of taking that thing down?”
114- “Yes! Since I tinkered with the Telemetry, we don’t know its color, shape or size, but we know its position! Keep firing, we’ll hit it eventually! Meanwhile, I’m off to the Thing shop to take a look at their sales records.”
*fires pies*
All of a sudden, I am jolted out of my dream.
What happened? Where am I? What is that pretty Thing in the sky?
I am very confused.
Slowly, the events of the evening come back to me, and I listen to the commotion. I decide not to join the group of people pieing the pretty Thing. Instead, I wander off down a random path, and try to bring my thoughts together.
Strangely, I am quite calm, even though I seem to be having a minor attack of amnesia.
Although, I am technically in the ballrooom, I materialize breifly to join in the general relief that has swept over the crowd in response to the thing’s disapearance.
You’ve got to capitalize Thing, or else it’s not a Thing, it’s just a thing.
Well, Thing or no Thing, “Then I shall dance. Oh, yes. I shall dance.” is now one of my favorite quotes. And it sure is pretty!
*rents catupult* *loads pies* *fires pies*
muhahahhahahahahahahahahaha
NOOOOOOO i ran out of pies*buys some more* * fires more pies*
pie the Thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
where is evryone?
Hey POSOC! I was waiting for a while, so I came up.
121, 122, 123, 124, 125 – Try not to quintuple post.
126- Awfully sorry, Kokonilly. Shall we go back down? *offers arm*
127 – “Oh, how kind.” *takes arm* *goes downstairs*
who wants to dance with me
anyone?
does anyone know where the Thing is?
and wheres robert and rosanne?
129- You’d have better luck at the dance thread.
*Appears to Rant* Cukoo555, if you keep up with this behavior, I will call the PoPoPo. I know you are a neophyte, but you can do all of these things better:
1) Please use punctuation and capitalization!
2) Condense all your thoughts into one or two posts, as opposed to large amounts of Pointless Posts!
3) Obey 1) and 2)! *Disappears as Rant Ends*
(132) Last I checked, Rosanne was still spinning in a remote part of the garden. I caught a glimpse of Robert by the hors d’oeuvre table earlier, though he may be elsewhere by now.
But, dear me, Paul seemed to be in a daze as he passed me on the stairs. Asked me something about how long had the room been twinkling and if I had any satellites… I couldn’t make sense of any of it. He’s clearly been working too hard.
135- He’s on allergy meds, trust me. I see the symptoms.
134- The PoPoPo? I thought it was the PoPos.
132- I’ll dance with you!
Oh, hello, everyone. I’ve just popped up to warn you of a rumour that’s going round. Apparently, the Thing Shop took delivery of a dodgy batch of Things about a fortnight ago. Some of them might even have gone to customers. It’s hard to say, because purchased Things have a habit of reappearing in the Shop from time to time. How they manage stock control is beyond me. Anyway, if one or two of them have got past the Doorkeeper, we’d better keep a look out. Anything could happen iwth loose Thing, and you know how persuasive they are.
Right, carry on dancing. I do love dancing by starlight.
“What do Things do, Mr. Baker?” I asked. “The One in the sky seems harmless now, but since It is so good at mind control, It probably has some twisted purpose of Its own.”
I can’t relax and look at the stars with the evil beauty of the Thing shining down on me, so I stare around nervously, looking for something to grab my attention. The fountain! I stare at the swirling water, relieved to find something to contemplate so I can calm down.
A mousquito bites my bare leg. I scratch the developing bump with my foot as I wait for Paul to explain.
Pie after pie I fired, with no avail. I soon began to give up. it seemed there was nothing to be done. The Thing continued to daze and take over others. But suddenly, something smacked the Thing out of the sky! Qurtv pie reinforcements were coming. We just needed to finish the Thing off…
I climbed up to the rooftop garden and saw pies flying around in the sky. “Ooo, is this a pie fight? I love pie fights!”
*hurls spike pie* *spike pie slams into thing*
138 – Things do very much what you want them to do. Or they do very much what THEY want to do. It depends. Provided you want them to do what they’re doing, they do it very well. You just need the right sort of Thing. The best method, if you want something doing, is to go the Thing Shop, and watch a few Things, until you see one that looks as if it’s doing what you want. Don’t look too closely, though, because if you see one that’s exactly right, you’ll never find it.
“All right, that was perfectly understandable” I say and add “not” under my breath. “I really don’t need you to explain it again.”
I wonder what Paul would be doing with a Thing. Or what the people who were controlling Paul would be doing with a Thing. Maybe it’s a spy Thing! Sent by the rival magazine, National Geographic!
As I climb to the top of the tree, I feel my pie launcher start to slip out of one of my many messenger bags. I quickly grab it, for I, irresponisible I (Did I learn anything from the RRSS?Noooooo.), forgot to bring an extra. I finally reach the top of of the tree, and as it is right next to the roof, I scrabble to get a firm hold on the shingles. I quickly loaded my pie launcher with my custom-made pies that have assorted plastic toys in them. I start firing at the slowly falling Thing, and making it fall even more slowly. I puzzle over this. Aha! Aha aha aha AHA! The Thing is eating the pies, making it stronger. I quickly get off the roof, and start screaming,”Stop pieing the Thing! Stop! STOP!!!!!” Gimantor looks at me curiously, says,” She’s finally lost her mind.” a, and continued pieing.
I slap myself.
I’m very sorry about my last post. The stupid comment box is shrinking again!!!!! GAPAs, please look into this.
((Gah! I missed all of the Thing drama!))
I peered out from behind the fountain to see if the danger was past. I saw the Thing falling from the sky. It glowed gently, and suddenly I felt my mind go blank. I stood up from behind the fountain dazedly, and slowly walked toward the Thing.
Come, come, here, now, come… it seemed to be saying.
I’m coming, I thought back at it.
I feel a tagging at the back of my mind, and I slowly turn to look. The Thing is calling me back to it.The empathy link we created is in full business-mode, and the irresistible pull of the Sending has gotten hold of me once more. But this time, I fear, we will not dance.
My eyes glued to the falling Thing, I am vaguely aware that I am stepping through bushes, and my legs are covered in scratches. Ah, well. It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters, anymore.
I feel a presence beside me, another person possessed by the Thing. Out of the corner of my eye I see Turquoise. My insides warm at the thought of having someone familiar here with me, in this strange alternate reality. I will not be alone in serving the Thing.
All of these thoughts move through my head like a marble through corn syrup, and I am aware of nothing else.
The Thing calls me, and I answer.
I second the theory that Baker’s on allergy meds.
I lunge at Turquoise and Pillsbury Doughgirl. “Stop it!” I yell at them. “Don’t look at it!”
((It’s interesting to me that, confronted by a mysterious object neutrally described as a Thing, your immediate impulse is to shoot at it and destroy it. In theory, MBers may believe in tolerating differences and exploring the unknown, but in a fantasy setting — where you can do literally anything you can imagine — that’s not how you behave. Curious. Well, carry on with the story.))
((149- I thought it was a pie war, and I did what everyone else was doing. Oh, well.))
*bored* *goes back down to ball*
I am currently laying on aa nice lawn chair with a foot rest, in a black bikini, beside the small rooftop pond, complete with koi.
”This rasberry flush is good,” I exclaim to a waiter, while putting on my sunglasses. I enjoyably watch the others make contact, and throw pies, at the Thing. I raise my eyebrows and finish my drink.
”Could someone please bring me a kiwi-limeade flush?”
I pull away from Alice and keep walking.
152- *pokes PD in the stomache. * ((sorry, couldn’t resist.))
”This kiwi-limade flush is GOOD.”
I let out an involuntary giggle, but keep walking.
((Can I have some kiwi-limeade flush?))
Well, people don’t laugh wickedly over harmless things, do they?
((155 – Wah???))
((153 – Do you have a recipe by any chance?))
That was in response to 149.
(155) Well, with Paul you can’t be sure. But there are other options for handling a potential menace. Attacking an unknown object can be a dangerous game plan in itself.
Then there’s the matter of people who have pie launchers and other weaponry ready to hand. When was all that smuggled into the ball?
((157 – Ah.))
((158 – But how do we know this Thing IS a “potential menace”? Maybe it’s good. Why am I the only Muser who seems to get that?))
I climb the garden’s oak tree and sit in a hammock, reading.
((159 re 158 – that’s why I said “potential.” It might be a menace, it might not be. But bunny points to you for considering other options. For that matter, it might be just a toy, and Paul was succumbing to delusions brought on by stress.))
((158- Who needs launchers? That’s what arms are for.
159- True. It might be good. The whole mind-control thing is a little odd, though.))
I’m going to go dance.
I heard a distant shout out of the corner of my ear. ((Hm. Do ears have corners?)) Some part of my brain responds, begging the rest of it to come back, but most of me is hypnotized by the Thing.
I’m coming…
so what do you think its purpose was?
and why did paul dicide to launch here?
posoc, wheres the telmetry?
mabye you can shut it off like that
In a sudden rush of irrational madness, I climb into the launcher and press the button to launch myself, hurling myself straight at the Thing. As I fly through time in space with my glider wings on ((I’m NOT a Coonzite- my mom gave them to me as she sent me off to MA; she was in Coontz, I’m in Baker)) I suddenly realize that, while other people are enchanted by the Thing, I am not. I wonder why. Before I continue on this tangent, I notice that I have to get ready to collide with the Thing. I slam into it, and I almost fall off, for the Thing’s side was smooth, but luckily, sticky. Gooey, in fact. I climb to the top, and look around. A spark of light shoots up from a crater. It nearly hit me, for if it did, I would get a nasty burn I needed to find a way to control the Thing, and fast!!!
149- Paul’s bizarre behavior (more than normal, at least) led me to conclude that the Thing was a threat. Perhaps I was too hasty in my decision, but I hope you understand that when you see a person who has always been down-to-earth and reliable, if a bit too fond of things Elizabethan, cackling maniacally, babbling about telemetries and dances with celestial bodies, and launching a rocket into the sky (Muses know where he got the rocket in the first place, or how he managed to smuggle it into the ballroom), you tend to become slightly stressed. Furthermore, his claims that we were the ones who would be held culpable for launching it reinforced my idea that he was doing something people would desire a scapegoat for, i.e., BAD.
158- I didn’t bring any. The very idea! That’s why I contacted the Star of Qurtv.
I appear back from the ball, up for a little rest time. Not likely. I see an unusual scene. The serene garden is not as I left. Strange people are walking toward an Object in the sky. Pie is everywhere, and people are shooting at the sky Object. Lady Bunniful is wandering, and some people are still spinning. I feel rage swelling up in me. We spent ages setting this up, and now everything is messed up! “STOP, YOU IMBECILES!!!” I scream, ballistic. ((My character is mad!))
I look down at Bookroom, who was screaming ballisticly. He could wait. I had more pressing matters to attend to. I had to plug up the holes with the strongest matieral I could find. Oh dear. The strongest matieral I had was my glider. “Well, it looks like I’m going to have to freefall,” I mutter, as I rip shreds out of my glider. It seems that the sparkholes only consist on the top, and genarate the power for the Thing. With all the sparkholes covered, I was going to F
A
L
L
I mean
F
A
L
L
!
I stumble towards the Thing.
‘ It’s so sparkly…’
I enter the rooftop garden, still wondering what’s happening. I see a quite sparkly Thing, and the backs of two girls advancing slowly toward it. Other people are crowded around, being hysterical and as I squint my eyes to see why, I hear a tiny voice, seemingly coming from the thing, although I cannot see how it could speak.
The first thought that comes into my head is Arthur Weasley’s voice: “Don’t trust anything that can think for itself if you cannot see where it keeps it’s brain!” I take the advice, and ignore the voice to the best of my abilities. It gradually rises, and the temptation to move toward the Thing rises with it.
“WON”T ANYONE LISTEN TO ME?!?!?”
I am, and if you don’t know all ready there is a Thing that everyone is trying to destroy.
“I DON”T CARE ABOUT YOUR THING-ISH EXCUSES!!! THIS GARDEN WAS BEAUTIFUL, AND YOU WRECKED IT!!!!” *Sobs*
I land in the tree, the branches scraping my arms. “That was close!” Although the Thing was out of the sky, the temptation was there still to some, but not me. Curiouser and curiouser.
My thoughts were interuptted by Bookworm’s screams and sobs. I confront him, saying “The garden isn’t that ruined. It’s just wrecked where the entrance is.” A branch falls from the tree. “Um, maybe the oak tree too.”
I come up, looking for peace and quite. What I find is, well, “contrarywise.” Still, there is hope. I notice Zinc perched in a tree and run up to join her and revel in the setting sun’s delicate beauty.
“IT IS RUINED!!!” *Sobs More*
From the Tree’s point of view:
My, my, what a mess. Why did Paul bring thatThing out here? I knew it was dangerous. Ooooowwwww. A branch snapped. Well, I guess thats what comes of children climbing on you. Oh, the Thing… it’s calling me…I wish I could go to it…to help it… Huh? Oh, I must have been hypnotized by the Thing. How dreadful.
Back to me: “Sorry Tree. Anyway, Bookworm, you and I both know that-waitaminit- I could have sworn the Tree moved. Never mind. Anyway, the garden is fine-
(177) Cheer up, Bookworm. I’ve sent for the industrial-strength pie vacuum, which should be here any minute now. That’ll get up the worst of the mess in a trice. It should also pick up most of this twinkly stuff the Thing showered on us.
Hmm. As Zinc pointed out, most of the mess is at the entrance. Looks like the garden itself remains in good shape — see, the damage is more apparent than actual. Nothing a little judicious pruning can’t repair. Come, help me set these planters upright and tuck their contents back into place.
“Thank you, Lady Bunniful. *Sniffs* You’re right, we can fix it!”
(180) There you go. And here comes the pie vacuum. Wow, our freight elevator couldn’t have been any smaller, could it? Do you want to work the controls, Bookworm? It’s a fun ride, actually. Of course, I ♥ mechanical devices…anyway, the suction operators are here on the left, the scrubbers on the right. Twist that little doodad on the steering wheel to start the gentle cycle when you get to that stage. Oh, and the pie sensors are on automatic, which should be fine for this job.
Anyone else want to help? Grab a Swiffer duster and let’s brush the Thing dust off these flowers. It looks harmless, but you never know with bright, shiny objects. Dancing while dusting by starlight…I’ve had stranger evenings, but this is definitely a first.
181- I’ll help.
*grabs a swiffer duster* “This seems a legitimate cause to devote my time and energy too. Don’t worry, Bookworm, we’ll soon succeed. “
“Huh. Wonder what this shiny stuff is?” I pick it up, and inhale. “YEOW! Smells like PEPPER!”
A pie vaccum has been brought up to the garden. I hate vaccums and all loud noises, but it will get the mess cleaned up eventually. Since Paul was unable to come up with a good explination of what the Thing does, and nobody’s listening to me, I walk over to a hysterical Bookworm.
“You should go to another part of the garden for a while. Just to see how much of it escaped destruction. About all of it did, you know. The fountain’s still gurgling away contentedly. The only real damage is that branch that just fell off that tree. Go to the statue garden; it’s the most tranquil place I’ve found so far.”
“Thanks.”
I then wandered off to see if there was a hummingbird aviary up here.
Cheering up at the work effort, I take the pie vaccum and begin vacuuming. “You’re right, it is fun!”
The Thing has fallen!!!!!
Oh, woe is I!!!
But wait, It is still speaking!
“Hurry. Come, come to me. Quickly. No time.”
“I am coming,” I breathe, “Wait for me.”
yay!
I am revived and am reclining an absolutely beautiful and clean garden! 
I love gardens! In fact, I have officially 2 garden’s of my own, one flower one and one vegetable one, but I won’t get into that. 
I very much doubt that the Thing has fallen. They don’t usually. Not once they’re in orbit. I suspect it rather enjoyed all the pies you were feeding it, and came down to see if there were any more. Greedy Thing. Anyway, now it’s here, I’ve made it a Column. It can sit on top of it and look pretty. I’d suggest placing it opposite the fountain, at the other end of the Great Avenue. As long as someone chucks a pie at it occaionally, it’ll be happy. I’ll ask it to glow a pale blue, and effervesce slighlty, and make patterns. Best not to specify what sort. Things are good at patterns. Oh, and I’ll hang some paper lanterns round it to compliment it.
Don’t be surprised if it whizzes off into orbit again, though. Things are like that. Anyone know how it got up there in the first place? It seems to have caused a bit of trouble.
I climbed up. “What the heck is going on here?”
“Whoa! The garden didn’t look like this 10 minutes ago!” I say as I look around the Garden.
“No, it didn’t!” I say to TGYPWYA, “But it will if you pitch in to the clean up effort! Just pick up a Swiffer Duster and get going!”
189-Oh, I see. it shall become a nice piece of living scenery. *throes pie*
(189) Yes, it is a mystery how the Thing got here, but I believe it will look splendid opposite the fountain, a unique accent indeed, so much more interesting than the typical yard art.
(193) Mind your aim, gimanator! We’ve nearly finished cleaning up.
Thanks, everyone, for your help. Looks like we’ll have everything in order in time for some serious stargazing, by whichever meaning suits your fancy. Is that “Mist-covered Mountain” I hear from downstairs? *hums along quietly and continues dusting in 3/4 time*
“Duct tape fixes everything!” I chirp as I start putting duct tape on the daisies. “Zinc, NOOOO!!!!” Bookworm yells.After wrestling the duct tape out of my hand (and off the daisies) and a quiet talk-too about duct tape, I agree to use a Swiffer duster instead. How can I annoy people with a Swiffer duster? I think as I smile mischeiviously.”Zinc…please STOP throwing Swiffer dusters in the tree. And get them out too.” Bookworm sighs after I throw quite a few Swiffer dusters in the tree. As climb up the tree, I get another idea. As I aim my pie, Bookworm startles me by saying, “ZINC!!!” I fall out of the tree and land with a thud. “Look, how about you just go down to the ballroom.” “Okay” I chirp, and head toward the stairway.”Ha! Looks like I’ll get the last laugh, Bookworm.” I mutter as I crouch behind a bush, making sure Book worm can’t see me with a pie poised behind his back.
SPLAT!!!“ZINC!! BALLROOM! NOW!!!”
Like I was going to stay there.
A shadow moves swiftly by over the sunset, as the red sun slowly inches down the horizon. The figure moves closer, faster, and it appears to aim directly for the garden…
And suddenly, out of the darkening sky, RtH swoops in and perches in a small tree in the garden…
Why is everyone up here, and what is happening?
Red-tailed HAWK
“Awesome! Swiffer Dusters rule!” I grab a Swiffer Duster and get to work. “Hey RtH! How’re you doing?” ((PB&J went “mad”, read above posts for details))