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Post by popkop on Apr 19, 2009 17:27:00 GMT -4
In the distance, something was singing about, "C is for Cookie, and that's good enough for me." in the bass voice that Rose had heard back at the chest.
A pair of rats in little black pants with suspenders, and white gloves, were on either side of a modest hunk of white cheese. The one with a visor-brimmed cap and a small knife squeaked at the other one several times, who squeaked back. The cap-wearing rat then started slicing a portion of cheese off for his customer.
Little pinpricks of light, such as the diamond had been illuminated by, were surprisingly common once ones' eyes adjusted to the place.
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Post by stjimmy on Apr 19, 2009 17:41:45 GMT -4
Rose blinked in surprise at the two rats. When he had first heard squeaking and scratching paws, he had expected a feral rodent. He was about to step out and ask for directions, what a thought struck him. What if these creatures were inhabitants of the mansion, just like the humans upstairs? Were they loyal to the master, and how would they react to a thief? No, it was better to sneak on past. He pressed himself up against a wall, or possibly a crate, and sidled past. "This new male body might be stronger," he thought "but in spots like this I could do with being more slender. I just hope they can't smell me over that cheese."
Anyone watching, and listening to his inner monologue, might have been amazed at just how casually s/he was taking this. Rose him/her self had just written it off as good coping skills and moved on. Had s/he been paying a bit more attention, what Rose would discover later would have come as far less of a surprise.
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Post by popkop on Apr 19, 2009 18:00:41 GMT -4
The word 'slender' seemed to vibrate and resonate in Roses' head for a few seconds after s/he thought it, along with a tingling sensation between the shoulderblades on his/her back. But whatever magic had tried to start up didn't work; the one word wasn't enough to run the arcane subroutine.
Beyond the latest crate were a row of four coffins. In order of decreasing size, they were purple, green, yellow, and red. The smallest was about sized right for a toddler, and all four had large, obvious padlocks on them. Some sort of note on white paper was affixed next to each padlock.
Past the coffins, there was a door frame leaning against the wall. The door in the frame was closed, and had a gold star near the top.
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Post by stjimmy on Apr 19, 2009 18:28:52 GMT -4
Dubious of another change, Rose tried to keep his thoughts focused on his own, female, form. "Shapely. Grey bodysuit, perfect for sneaking. Brown ponytail. Black mask... well that's still here. Little taller than average... Oh, gold!" His eye was immediately drawn to the star above the door, though after closer inspection it turned out to be simply gold leaf. The prospect of wealth a distant one, for now, he moved back to the coffins and began to examine each one carefully.
"Hope I haven't wandered into a crypt by mistake." he mumbled, "Robbing the dead is always a little creepy. A sexy cat-burglar, or dashing gentleman thief, should have a bit more class. Still, I can't help but worry about those locks. They might be keeping me out, or something in. I don't want to release ANOTHER monster. Who knows what it might tun me into."
He turned to examine the door again, but couldn't help but feel his thoughts wander. "Who knows indeed. Ha, I might get turned to stone, or burnt to a crisp. Or, haha, turned into a bottle of cola. Heh, that would be silly."
He turned around again, and began to read the notes on the coffin lids, smiling again at the mental image of a human drinks bottle, his old female form with pressed glass features, wearing a paper label for a dress and a strangely shaped bottle cap as hair.
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Post by popkop on Apr 19, 2009 18:36:08 GMT -4
The thought of her true self had no magical effect, but did have psychological benefits.
The coffin's notes were all the same. They read,
"Do NOT open."
And were signed with a very famous name. Mary Poppins.
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Post by stjimmy on Apr 19, 2009 18:45:29 GMT -4
"Mary Poppins?" He exclaimed aloud, before remembering his situation and continuing the train of thought in his head. "Is this a joke? What did she do... chimney sweeps, entering the chalk drawing, sliding up the banisters, spoonful of sugar... certainly no vampire hunting. What else... flying with an umbrella, tidying the room by magic... AHA! Maybe that's it, these boxes contain all sorts of swept up junk!"
He completely disregards the note, and begins working at the lock on the largest of the four coffins. Without proper tools it is slow, but some wire and springs from the fake magic wand do a good enough job. Soon the lock clicks, and Rose stands before the coffin ready to lift the lid. Remembering the last locked box, he opens the lid only slightly and keeps the locks and chains ready to snap closed again, before peeking into the crack.
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Post by popkop on Apr 19, 2009 19:01:52 GMT -4
There's not nearly enough light to see what's inside through the crack.
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Post by stjimmy on Apr 20, 2009 14:03:37 GMT -4
No roars, songs or groping hands from inside is good enough for Silk Rose. He opens the lid wider and peers inside.
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Post by popkop on Apr 20, 2009 15:27:47 GMT -4
Inside, it looks like a typical, nice coffin. But instead of an occupant, it contains... a rather plain purple purse.
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Post by stjimmy on Apr 20, 2009 17:05:37 GMT -4
Rose was surprised by this turn of events, but all things considered it could have been much worse. The purse didn't LOOK like it contained fabulous riches, but he was feeling optimistic and so decided to open it.
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Post by popkop on Apr 20, 2009 18:49:15 GMT -4
Upon opening the purse, Rose's hands started to ripple and change. Octarine sparks spat furiously from the cuff of the sleeves, the magic of the suit and the magic of the purse battling for control.
And a man's voice spoke from somewhere overhead, "One day in Teletubbyland..."
In the back of Rose's mind, a sleepy voice said, "Tinky Winky."
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Post by stjimmy on Apr 21, 2009 17:32:54 GMT -4
Rose dropped the purse, but by then it was too late. a right of sparks started at his wrist and began moving up his arm. Where they passed was purple fuzz, possibly fur. When they reached his neck, Rose cursed his stupidity and braced himself. "Why didn't I pick green?" he thought "I already HAVE a top hat, I might have left it alone."
It wasn't as bad as he was expecting. Before he knew it, the change was finished. He had a feel around his face and stomach. There was an antennae like a wire coat-hanger, and a smooth square. Mentally things seemed quite normal, or as normal as they got. There was no sudden desire to roll down a hill or seek out his counterparts. He was a bit thirsty, some custard would hit the spot nicely, but he wasn't sure where to find any. Still, he lamented his choice of colour.
"Why the purple one? It's bad enough that I'm a woman trapped in a biscuit trapped in a man, but now I'm the male tellytubby who carries a handbag. I REALLY hope no-one sees me like this."
Suddenly there was a sound that Rose heard not with his ears, but with his antennae. His tubby telly flickered into life and played a short film about Rose's trip through the cellar. He wasn't paying much attention, until something caught his eye.
"Again."
The film played again from the start, this time he was paying more attention and was nearly sure of what he saw.
"Again again!"
Yes! There it was, an empty and open crate. From this side it looked like any other, but going through it would lead right back to where he left his bag, and all it's tools.
"Okay" he thought, "Let's do this."
He took a run-up and ran shoulder first into the crate, but all that happened was that he bounced off and landed on a padded rear. Several more attempts later and nothing had happened. He was almost sure he heard an amusing sound-effect and a child laughing.
"We're doing this the hard way then," he thought, "Fine. I'll be back for you, crate."
Rose shouldered the handbag and half walked, half skipped, further into the cellar.
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Post by popkop on Apr 21, 2009 20:05:42 GMT -4
Interestingly, Teletubby eyes seemed to work much better in the dim light of the cellar than any of Rose's prior forms had seen. And in the process of making Rose purple, the purse/handbag had absorbed the red of the magician's suit.
This strange place was big, and there were so many crates and shelves that it was like a maze. A feeling that became painfully obvious when Rose encountered a paper fastened to a support pillar, with a map on it. An arrow and red X marked "You are here". Three more papers below the first provided a legend to what was in which section of the cellar.
Bizarrely, most of the entries that Rose could recognize were television shows, especially psychedelic ones, with a handful of books & movies thrown in. But there was no mention of treasures such as the little diamond.
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Post by stjimmy on Apr 22, 2009 7:26:53 GMT -4
Rose took out the diamond, and examined it more closely. "You'd better not be a prop." he thought.
He took another look at the maps, about to try and navigate towards the grown-up tv section, when a name caught his eye.
Mr Benn.
"Yes, result! A magic costume shop is just what I need right now."
It was on the other side of several unlabelled areas, but Rose was in a hurry.
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Post by popkop on Apr 22, 2009 13:24:44 GMT -4
The diamond didn't say anything, and it did look like a real diamond.
The map, on the other hand, spoke up and said, "A costume shop? Aren't you already overdressed for this weather, Miss?"
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