Hurdy Gurdy Train: Haunted Mansion
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Light =&gt; Light: Human Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: Red Offerings on 09-08-2015, 05:09:02</h2>
		<dl id="posts">
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Hurdy Gurdy Train: Haunted Mansion </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Red Offerings</strong> on <strong>09-08-2015, 05:09:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center">(http://s24.postimg.org/gs1sf17sl/helterskelter.jpg)<br><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">art by Alan Aldridge "Helter Skelter"</span></div><br><div align="center"><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size"><em>'Twas then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man<br>&nbsp;Came&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;singing&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;songs&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;of&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;love<br>&nbsp;Then&nbsp; &nbsp; when&nbsp; &nbsp;the&nbsp; Hurdy&nbsp; Gurdy&nbsp; Man<br>&nbsp;Came&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; singing&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; songs&nbsp; &nbsp; of&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;love<br><br>"<strong>hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy gurdy</strong>", <span class="bbc_u">he sang</span><br></em></span></div><br>This is the IC thread for the Haunted Mansion story line. The only people who can post are those who have joined the current story. <br><br>Setting: Somerset Estate, June 13th, 2013. We exist in a dimensional off-split for the one we actual reside in for the purposes of the story. Importantly, super natural activities are in fact known to happen, though perhaps not widely experienced and therefore is typically greeted with the same appreciative skepticism that it is greeted with in our world. <br><br>Here (http://s12.postimg.org/k0g27n8e5/mansion_floor_plan1.jpg) you can find a floor plan for the main portion of the estate. The highlighted gray areas are what are accessible to the guests. The white areas are under renovation still and sealed. There are several outer buildings marking the rest of the property and those are also under renovation. However, Eric has gone so far as to entirely rebuild the infamous rose garden and marble fountain which is viewable in front of the estate itself. The estate is an entirely fenced in, gated structure sitting on a full acre of land in the Hollywood Hills of California. It is virtually impossible to view the mansion from the road because it sits a mile back from the road and is surrounded by an old, but rehabilitated orange and lemon grove. To access the mansion from the main road, the driver will need to depress a callbox button and exchange information with security. The wrought iron gate will open if access is granted and the car will then be permitted to take the winding road, a mile through the groves until they end suddenly, and there before them sits the aging brick estate. The is an arching driveway in the front which wraps around the large, ornate and full restored marble fountain. To the far left is a footpath and one can see the rose garden in full, fragrant bloom. Eric has indeed kept the vintage appeal of the estate while renewing it with some modern splendor as well.<br><br>We will begin this role play, well into the cocktail party celebrating the opening of the renovated estate. There are notable figures present in the party, ranging from schmoozing celebrities to wealthy, influential types, and even politicians. It is considered a more formal affair, with appropriate attire expected (ie: suit/tie for men and cocktail/party dresses for women). The winners of the Golden Ticket Scavenger Hunt are given the opportunity to obtain a gift card for shopping purposes if they did not feel they could obtain the appropriate clothing on their own finances. This was offered as an additional perk for the winners. Upon arrival, the winners were assigned to their rooms, all of which are on the second floor, main portion of the estate. (See the floor plan and pick the room. First come, first served) <br><br>The Press has been present here and the winners were asked to take pictures. They were even introduced to Eric and photographed with him. It was a quick meeting, but he was kind of charming in a distracted sort of way. He assured them that they would see him again.<br><br>There was quite a bit of food, music, and dancing all around the main reception hall. Eric had even purchased and restored an enormous crystal chandelier that hung between the arching frames of the main staircase.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Hurdy Gurdy Train: Haunted Mansion </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>RedPhoenix</strong> on <strong>09-08-2015, 11:02:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/DV2t4Ll.jpg)</div> <strong><em>Two Hours Before the Party Begins</em></strong><br><br>"So." Jade said, turning and giving one of those over the shoulder poses that was so hot these days as she held out her cell phone camera. "How do I look?"<br><br>The man on the other end of the phone squinted. "I just wish you'd see that ..."<br><br>Jade turned and held up a finger. "Bernie I told you what I'd do if you bring up that surgeon again."<br><br>"Sweetie all I'm saying is another cup size or three wouldn't..."<br><br>"That's it Bernie, I swore I'd do it and I will!"<br><br>The man chuckled, not at all fazed by the display of anger. "What, leave and go to one of those other agents beating down your door? Any one worth a damn would tell you the same thing. That's why you keep losing parts you know."<br><br>"Oh? I thought my word of mouth was the problem. Isn't that why I'm doing this?"<br><br>"Sure, sure it's part of it." The sound of a bag of kale chips being ripped open interrupted him for a moment. "But what's the point of making an impression if nobody's gonna remember your cleavage?"<br><br>"Oh goodby..." She paused. "Remind me again where "I" found this thing?" She pulled the golden ticket out of her purse.<br><br>"It was in an old copy of one of Davina Lovatta's biography in the LA County Public Library. A place that is more than happy to let you say you've been a patron for years as long as your membership dues reflect it. You did read that book I sent you right?"<br><br>"Right, right." Jade said, rolling her eyes at the idea and slipping a copy into her purse just in case. "Goodbye sleazeball." She wished he didn't take it as a term of endearment.<br><br><strong><em>Just a few minutes before the present time...</em></strong><br><br>"Oh it was my pleasure Mr. Craven." Jade said, her acting skills being tested to their limits as she tried her best not to scream with joy. "Are you sure you have to leave? Oh no no of course." Jade's smile and promising eyes kept dancing across the famous face as he turned and left. She turned and tried to take several deep breaths in as subtle a manner as possible. Goddamn it, she was in! She made a wonderful impression, she was sure of it. At the very least she was going to get a part that was in the credits in his next movie, she knew it!!!<br><br>That plus she already had six thousand retweets and about three times as many favorites of her photo with Eric from earlier. Her obsequious captain about how thrilled she was to be a part of reliving hollywood history seemed to be going over really well. She'd made sure to be caught by the paparazzi striking just-sexy-enough-to-look-natural-without-looking-rehearsed poses that had taken her forever to learn and was sure the tight little dress would do it's job no matter how few times she'd seen Bernie's surgeon. <br><br>Grabbing a champagne glass off one of the nearby waiter's trays she gulped it down enthusiastically. She'd been nursing the same glass all night to stay sharp but now, hell, now it was time to relax a little. This had already been a success beyond her wildest dreams. She was already planning what she was going to do the next morning when she remembered she wouldn't be waking up in her own bed. Right, right, the whole point of this thing. She glanced about the large room hoping the place wasn't infected with some sort of old mold and that it wasn't infested rats or roaches. She shook off those thoughts and scanned the room for her next target. Would that Congressman recognize her? She didn't want to risk approaching someone who might legitimately have no idea who she was. She pretended to be checking her phone as she scanned the room some more.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Hurdy Gurdy Train: Haunted Mansion </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Red Offerings</strong> on <strong>10-08-2015, 01:39:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center">(http://s23.postimg.org/n2r0ito7f/How_to_Highlight_Natural_Red_Hair.jpg)<br><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Dr. Peridot Amelia Fane</strong></span><br><br>Attire: Click Me (http://s27.postimg.org/eomd3zavn/20140326092404500993510.jpg)</div><br><br><br><br><br>Dr. Peridot Fane was one of the most widely followed, however obscure celebrities of the day. She was known widely as a <em>real</em> psychic and had her own syndicated paranormal investigative television show that had quite an impressive following of people who were into <em>those</em> kinds of things. She had a doctorate in Paranormal Science as well as an additional doctorate degree in Paranormal Psychology. Her apparent psychic abilities had been documented throughout her childhood as her parents had been quite fond of video-taping the strange occurrences, but of course there were always naysayers who said that the parents were just using their daughter.<br><br>Nevertheless, her fanbase was ever loyal and many swore by her abilities as if they had seen everything she had ever done in person. She was a quirky sort of a soft, small feminine voice and hair colored every shade of the rainbow and in between. Today it was mix of pinks, corals, and red. It was said that she despised the press, yet she always seemed to make a splash with these types of physical appearances. Eric had sent Peridot her golden ticket. She was the most notable figure in the field and he knew if he wanted to dispel the rumors of paranormal activity on the house, it would be best to be bold and invite the renowned psychic. <br><br>Now, Eric didn't necessarily believe in Peridot's psychic abilities, but to have her stay and then say what he expected her to say, perhaps an emphatic <em>'This house is clean!'</em> was best appropriate. Once that was said, with her seal of approval, he knew he'd be able to open his exclusive resort and would ultimately make some serious money. For Eric, Peridot was a meal ticket, or at least she was the gatekeeper, guarding the road that lead to vast riches and an endless empire.&nbsp; <br><br>Peridot had been a late arrival, which had pissed Eric off because she had missed the photo shoot with the press. Yet, when she did arrive, she created a sizeable enough stir because Eric had not leaked that he was inviting the psychic investigator to this soiree. She was shorter than often anticipated, standing at merely 5'5" even with her heels adding an additional three inches. Her makeup was deliberately impeccable and her hair, although eccentrically colored was coifed and neat. She stood out and yet her presence was so minute that it had taken the press a moment to react. The doctor posed for photos only one time and refused the requests of the photographers to show off any aspect of her black, lacey dress. Nor did she smile. <br><br>Now, she walked up the steps that lead to the main entrance of the house. Cameras flashed as she took a step to enter the doors that had been opened for her but the step came up short and she paused. Her mouth parted a little bit and her gaze swept around the crowded inside of the mansion. Some members of the press called out inquiries, silly things like, "Do you sense something Doctor Fane?", but Peridot didn't respond as her eyes regarded the interior, the fingers of her right hand playing with a piece of black lace near her bossom. Finally and really just a few moments later, the pink haired doctor stepped inside and the doors shut behind her.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Hurdy Gurdy Train: Haunted Mansion </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ixy</strong> on <strong>10-08-2015, 04:50:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/tpEsEij.jpg)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</div>Micah Hyde<br>Attire (http://i.imgur.com/RoatmO1.jpg)<br>Location: First floor reception area<br><br>The select few media personalities hawked from cluster to cluster in the crowd, and it was like watching amoebas-- no, bacteria-- wriggling from food source to food source as faces of import and characters of notoriety postured, posed, and pantomimed their fascination at the opulence of their surroundings.&nbsp; Here and there were starlets and stars, not speaking a word to each other except with furrowed brows and professional displeasure until the lens turned their way, at which time their posture stood erect like the sun had reached their acre, fanning their plumage and adopting the charmed, gleaming smiles so pretty and almost alive.&nbsp; Micah answered the same banal questions, "small town girl," "really <i>such</i> a pretty face," "oh, I admire her work so much, and to choose Broadway?&nbsp; Truly an artist...", all of it bubbling up with the same faux sincerity that hurt her, in a way, to spill.<br><br>But the smiles, when they pried for her feelings, dug questioningly as to why no beau?&nbsp; It was flattering, it was warmth.&nbsp; Her face was a sunflower following them, and for a while she felt special-- then there was a stir, someone Known and Admired had arrived, and she was left with her champagne glass and a "good luck."<br><br>Good luck?&nbsp; How could this be anything but good luck?<br><br>The champagne wasn't half bad... she'd learned that the tinier the bubbles, the better the booze, and these bubbles were infinitesimal in their cloudy cascade through the glass.&nbsp; Floating from group to group like a lost satellite, she fielded a few more questions and prattled on in the midwestern accent she'd learned from television as a little girl, careful that every "light" was "li-huh-teh" and not "laaaite" like the rest of her town had said it, that her french manicured nails didn't claw onto a chocolate-dipped strawberry, and that her eyes looked up demurely from her diminutive height with a glimmer of respect and curiosity for whatever name-dropping, droll story of brushes with celebrity she was presented with.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Hurdy Gurdy Train: Haunted Mansion </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Fetwick</strong> on <strong>13-08-2015, 05:12:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://www.seducingwithstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/dark-flannel-shirt-men.jpg)</div> Gary had bought a suit just hours before the event. When they told him it was a formal affair, he began to worry his attire wasn't good enough. He didn't sink as low as to browse at good will, but he chose a outfit from one the cheaper chains in a mall. Satisfied with his pick, he trimmed his beard and headed off to the mansion. The first big surprise was seeing celebrities make the rounds as well. It was a goal of his to maybe catch one on the streets of Hollywood, but he didn't expect he'd be able to converse with them. After he spent a little time being starstruck, Gary decided to stray from the pack and admire the architecture. <br><br>After searching around, Gary found himself on a roof terrace. The sun was beating down on the grassy hills below. A beautiful sight for a man usually trapped in a mine with a lack of sunlight. The whipping of clothing rang in his ear, as he saw a white flash in the corner of his eye. It felt as if he wasn't alone. Taking another sip from his cocktail, he took a 360 spin, soaking in the atmosphere. A couple of birds whizzed past, giving him the impression they were the culprits of his paranoia. Smiling, he leaned over the bannister to take one last look over the valley. He snapped a photo on his smart phone for everyone to see, and then headed back downstairs.<br><br>He was bombarded with questions when they figured out he was one the winners and not some plus one. He wasn't used to the attention, but welcomed it. Keeping a collected cool, he took his time coming up with what he thought were prudent answers. In actuality, he came off as a little dopey, but sweet. Turning to a woman in a blue dress, who seemed preoccupied with her phone, made him chuckle a bit. He approached the waiter with the champagne tray, using it as an opening as he grabbed a glass.<br><br>"Seems funny to be browsing the news, when we are the news tonight!" Gary made light, noticing her tweeting.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Hurdy Gurdy Train: Haunted Mansion </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>RedPhoenix</strong> on <strong>14-08-2015, 01:55:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jade glanced up quickly, shutting off her phone before anyone could read anything top secret on it. The fact that there was nothing top secret on her phone was probably a better way to stop that from happening but hey, they can't think you're interesting if they don't think you have secrets right?<br><br>"Oh heeeeeey." She said with a bright smile that was just good enough to not look fake. "Was it Greg? Sorry they introduced everyone so fast I could hardly keep up, you know with all the lights and all. They still make me dizzy every time." She laughed as she turned to face him. <em>Be down to earth</em> she kept telling herself. <em>Don't come off like a bitch.</em><br><br>She took him in as she sipped her champagne. Easy enough on the eyes. Looked like he had some decent muscles. Yes, she needed him to like her. Who else would kill the elephant sized rats that no doubt infested this old trap? "Sooo." She said, reaching out and rubbing her hand on his bicep. Mmm. Yup. Muscles. "What'd a down to earth guy like you do to deserve being stuck with us impossible Hollywood types?" She laughed, she hoped in a charming manner, stepping in a little closer to him so he could fully appreciate just how tight her dress was and how little she'd eaten for the past five years. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Hurdy Gurdy Train: Haunted Mansion </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Red Offerings</strong> on <strong>15-08-2015, 17:47:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Peridot had only been in the house for a few minutes, exchanging a few pleasantries with some familiar faces. The general public might be shocked how many celebrities they likes to follow had experienced their own paranormal encounters at some point in their life. It had spurred a reality show which had aired on some cable network. Yes, celebrities had their stories too and sometimes when they had been in a position to, they would call someone like Peridot to help. <br><br>She was largely distracted though and only caught snippets of conversations she was meant to be participating in. Her focus kept sweeping up towards that enormous, twinkling chandelier and then to the staircase that yawned out below it. She had been fixated on that chandelier though when the tail-end of a question pulled her back into reality. "...think this place is really haunted?" Peridot turned towards the voice, because it had not belonged to the person she had been talking to, but instead its source was none other than the host of this evenings happenings; Eric (http://s24.postimg.org/vrkbbx6id/suit.jpg). <br><br>He was smiling at her, his dark eyes expectant, his energy slightly agitated and wired. She forced a half-hearted smile and set the half consumed glass of champagne on a tray and focused her attention on him, "Well, all places with substantial age and happenings have some type of <em>haunting</em>, Eric. Just some places have more than others," she said finally and waited for his response.<br><br>Eric's facial expression was that of someone who had never even encountered a strange noise and didn't have a logical way to explain it. He looked momentarily disappointed and then that smug skepticism appeared and he looked precisely like he had when they had met two days prior to this evening. They had eaten dinner and he had spent the majority of it trying to find out if she was a complete quack or some typed of infamous phony. For him, the dinner had yielded little more than her half-assed response to his question. She frustrated him because he was a man who liked to be in total control and in <em>the know</em> in every aspect of his life. Peridot's statement had irked him, she could tell because she could see the thunder in his eyes. Eric was a handsome man, all right, but he had a temper.<br><br>Peridot did not give in the intense stare though. She gazed evenly back at him and finally won the contest when he turned away and held his hands up to get some attention. "Ladies and Gentleman! In about ten more minutes we will have the toast and then all of your pumpkins will arrive to take you home," he paused a beat to let those who were going to chuckle at his comment do so and then continued, "that is, everyone but the ticket winners. We will bid the farewell and hear all about the scary ghosts tomorrow morning," he finished, smiling in a practiced way. Then he turned and jogged up the stairs to the second floor.<br><br>Peridot took another glass of champagne and sipped it thoughtfully as she watched the host disappear through the crowd of people mingling up there.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Hurdy Gurdy Train: Haunted Mansion </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Ixy</strong> on <strong>23-08-2015, 03:24:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/tpEsEij.jpg)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</div>Micah Hyde<br>Attire (http://i.imgur.com/RoatmO1.jpg)<br>Location: First floor reception area<br><br>Micah was targeted for a few more torrents of camera flashes-- and for a moment she could actually imagine the captions, any number of scenarios... <i>Here, in a lovely green dress, is Micah Hyde, winner of the Golden Ticket and invitee to stay overnight in the Peridot's reconstructed house-of-horrors.</i>&nbsp; If she was lucky, this would be in a spread including a red carpet dress-- with her in front of the entourage, being asked for a candid from the magazines, being tugged aside from that mummy-dipped-in-tallow that did the interviews, her bust securely taped to the dress to ensure she didn't waste her new-found fame for a moment's nipple slippage worthy of a 30-second spot on TMZ followed by a lifetime of "who was she anyway"s.<br><br>Better that than <i>Last photo of aspiring starlet</i> because that was the romantic way of saying it, <i>Michah Hyde, taken hours before her mutilated body was found...</i>.&nbsp; A ridiculous notion, sure-- far-fetched even for this world where someone like Peridot might-- just might-- do <i>anything</i> to get into the headlines and onto the talk shows.<br><br>She shivered... wrote this off to the chill of new AC for the recent renovations, and teased at her hair in case the massive product dump her image consultant (hairdresser) had slathered her with should come free.&nbsp; She sidled forward for a good-bye kiss on the cheek from a thin young man with gaunt cheeks and too much makeup-- low-end reporter, sure, but that didn't stop him from taking the opportunity to appear in her photo, just in case she became <i>someone</i>.&nbsp; The man took the proximity granted by his chaste and friendly peck to whisper a short bit of exceptionally vulgar proposition... something whispered, with harsh consonants and a long low purr in his teenage-ish voice about his tongue, her 'honey', his cum bubbling and his friends running a train... she froze, agape, her cheeks furiously blushing, and she knew in an instant what he'd done.&nbsp; His smile never changed, but her reddening was shocking on her pale complexion, and just off to her left came a furious staccato of a digital SLR capturing her reaction.&nbsp; <br><br>Just in case she became <i>someone</i>.&nbsp; <br><br>They withdrew, left her standing with her champagne glass trembling-- waiting for them all to leave so that she could suffer through the humiliation... just make it through for a little longer... then regather herself in her room, change to her next 'costume...' the stylist Peridot had assigned had suggested a champagne dressing gown and a white gauzy shawl... rather Lilly Munster meets Greta Garbot, but a little understated.&nbsp; He said to wear no bra, that her "peaks" would pick up nicely, but not be lewd... <br><br>Oh, god, this was terrifying.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Hurdy Gurdy Train: Haunted Mansion </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Fetwick</strong> on <strong>29-08-2015, 06:40:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://www.seducingwithstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/dark-flannel-shirt-men.jpg)</div> She was one of <em>those</em> types. The kind that usually mistook Gary for some clueless country bumpkin. He wasn't the sharpest crayon in the box, but he wasn't no fool. Normally an attitude like that would get a scathing talk from the workers at the mine, but Gary decided to play her game. Even if she wasn't trying to be rude, the air of her nonchalance put him off. There was only one way to respond to such behaviors in his book... stoop to their level.<br><br>"Yes mam, and it's also nice to meet you, JANE." He emphasized before continuing. "I actually found my ticket by chance. I was panhandling at one of those California spots, and I happened to come across this huuuuge golden rock. It was obviously fake, I thought it was a tourist ploy for a minute. But I cracked it open and out came a ticket. It was weird, it was like we were handpicked to get into this mansion. That or those are some incredible odds!" He let out, playing up his accent just a tiny bit.<br><br>When she groped his bicep, a funny look came across his face, before he masked it with a smile. He could tell Jade was trying to seduce him a little bit as she leaned forward unnecessarily. He'd be lying to himself if he said he wasn't attracted, but he was in competitive mode now. The classic battle of country vs city life was at hand, and he was going to be damned if he lost. Giving her a once over, he smiled before reciprocating and rubbed her bicep.<br><br>"Damn girl! You need to eat!" Gary bellowed with a hearty laugh, before planting a hard pat to her back and walking away. It was then Eric had his attention as he prepared for the evening's main event.
			</dd>
		</dl>
		<div id="footer" class="smalltext">
			
			<span class="smalltext" style="display: inline; visibility: visible; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?action=credits" title="Simple Machines Forum" target="_blank" class="new_win">SMF 2.0.19</a> |
 <a href="https://www.simplemachines.org/about/smf/license.php" title="License" target="_blank" class="new_win">SMF © 2021</a>, <a href="https://www.simplemachines.org" title="Simple Machines" target="_blank" class="new_win">Simple Machines</a>
			</span>
		</div>