h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A group of salonistas have decided to venture up the slopes of Mt. Sandeverest into Moxon Wood, in search of a suitable Christmas tree for the atelier.

Researchers are gathering at the hallway exit onto the terrace, donning suitable clothing and waiting for everyone who wants to come to get ready.

Matina is preparing thermoses of coffee and hot chocolate, along with a selection of foods, and Lil has sent a message down to CLI requesting an escort of bots to carry the supplies up and the tree back down. It is hoped that, bar the bots, this will be a comparatively low-tech, low-magic trek.

Now read on.

*wearing a white snowsuit, fur-lined wellies and a white knitted hat with magenta sticky-up bits to accommodate ant antennae* ties elastic to two pairs of mittens whilst waiting for other folk to arrive*

*worrying already*

Perhaps we should be high-tech enough to all wear cellphones with transponders in case the snow is ~really~ deep, or there's an avalanche...

*has donned all her polartech clothing over silk thermals*

*Arrives looking like George Mallory (no, not dead!) in his best tweeds and hefty climbing boots (with plywood insoles don't you know). He has a hat with a feather set at a jaunty angle.* What ho! Now, then, just top up me hip flask from the trolley, and get some spare Kendal Mint Cake and I'll be ready.

*wanders up dressed to the nines in her winter gear with snowshoes strapped to her boots* Love the hat, Munchers!

Are we ready, then?

*takes out her thermos of and sips*

G7

// a ly lurker above the group

*comes out from one of the guest rooms dressed in a yellow and blue hawaian shirt and green bahamas shorts, with red socks/tights traveling upwards from his puma-clad shoes towards... unmentionable bits. All this is covered by a golden yellow kimono. Atop his head is a fuzzy red hat with a green ball attached to the end.*

I'm all set! *slaps hands together* For is it not written "Wrap up warm or you'll catch your death?"

*wearing a very fetching peacock blue snow suit with a white 'fur' trim, yeti style boots and matching mittens*

*even for interdimensional pockets, they appear to be rather bulky*

This time I've got plenty of snacks, guys, and heeeeeewwwwwwwggg jar of marmite and some mince pies.

*blinks at Sporky for a few moments, then turns to caer without commenting*

Mmmm... Marmite!

G7

Chloe, fetch Sporky a VPB, please, and make sure there's a thermostat attached.

That is quite all right, Lil. I follow the way of Mrs. Cosmopolite.

...

Okay, my clothes are thermal insulated. Sheesh. Nothing like a hostess to draw the mystery from a situation

Belay that, Chloe.

OK, Spork. I just didn't want for us to have to carry you down as well as the tree. But good, that keeps us in the low-tech category, still, bar the cellphones.

I've sent a message to Amos to hitch the Clydesdales up to the haywagon. He'll take us right up to where the trail starts to climb, and pick us up when we come back.

*Chloe returns with a basket of cellphones on belt clips*

Clydesdales? Are they Shire horses?

As you can see I know very little about horses, they tend to be a little bit on the scary side for me.

What sort of tree are we looking for? Nordman, Scots pine? Anyone have a particular preference?

*rummages in her pockets for snow goggles and tennis rackets*

Clydesdales are related to Shires, Caer. And generally they are very good tempered creatures.

G7

Hello, I'm coming. Just to comfort everyone, I've left my spellbook, OmeGauntlet, extremely advanced wristwatch, and many of my other gizmos and gadgets at home. But I've still got my sword.

This is a dangerous mountain. I'm on killer rabbit patrol.

I hope we don't have to use the cell phones... the sonic tones might trigger an avalanche or twenty...

*GL wanders over.*

Do I smell mince tarts?

*lets out a sigh of relief at Affy's statement*

G7

*Tales preparatory swig from his hip flask* I always like to go for a Douglas Fir. Lovely chap, old Doug, but very tall.

*gallopes into view, clinging to the back of a pug dog. She is wearing what appears to be doggie booties on all her paws. Both she and the pug have on Santa hats*

Oh, goodie, you haven't left me! *claps hands with glee, nearly falls from pug, steadies herself. Pug manages to convey amused disdain while remaining inscrutable*

This is Ruppy...

Pug - Fnerf!

Oh, terribly sorry, Madame Ruppy Fairy Princess. She'll be my mount this time out so I won't slow you down - you know how I hate to be a bother - she bounds through the snow quite like a dolphine in the surf.