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

*&.

*hears a loud "THUNK" as the tossed stick collides with the cart the tiny mouse is in .*

Ouch!

*The remains of the pie and the tiny mouse both fly through the air towards lilac*

[ooc]
From the end of Post 218:
"*Watches as the 'dog' begins to throw the bucket into the air and snatching it up again*"

Interesting development, but it is using another person's character to take an action not necessarily in keeping with its "character." One player may ~initiate~ an intended action, but the other player "on the receiving end" has free will to choose the ~outcome~ or ~response~ of their own character. This is how we practice "ad-libbing" with one another to add flavor to the story, by working from the situation, the comments, and the 'set-up' actions proposed by each participant.

Now, to rectify this little situation, {B4 reaches into his pocket and pulls out} I happen to have a tiny phial of Continuity Bleach. It's the equivalent of White-Out™ and can be used to {he applies a small dab of it to the posting mentioned} cover up a little mistake like this. There! That should do it. Now the player who was using Flamedancer can move forward with their ~intended~ actions, if they still fall nicely within the situation, since the other player made a response to the ‘dog with its head in the bucket’ situation. {He stands back, raises his thumb and squints through one eye, as if he were an artist checking the way his latest painting is shaping up.}
[\ooc]

B4isharethelyricsofaKateBushsongwithUallbecauseitfitsthesituation

Watching the painter painting / And all the time, the light is changing / And he keeps painting
That bit there, it was an accident / But he's so pleased / It's the best mistake, he could make
And it's my favourite piece / It's just great
--- Kate Bush, Aerial, "An Architect's Dream"

[ooc]
Another continuity problem:

Nbb - it has been made perfectly clear that there is only one stick around - the one that is being tossed for the bucket-headed wolf. All the rest have been collected up by Spike and stashed in a cave that he is guarding. This poses a problem for the group to solve. Without problems to solve, adventures are pretty dull. And we, the behind-the-scenes players (i.e. Pie Monster, Spike, Squid - so far), go to some effort to make adventures such as this entertaining for everyone.

So, an offhand comment like "everyone bring your sticks and follow me" is pretty frustrating for someone like Spike who has carefully set up the no-sticks problem.

The next step in this triathalon is for everyone to go ~find~ sticks. At which point they will follow continuity and discover that there are none to be found and will then try to figure out how to get some from the Bear.

So, everyone else, your proper, continuity-following response to nbb's comment is: "Sticks? What sticks? We haven't collected any sticks yet."

[/ooc]

[ooc]

I hadn't said it was possible for everyone to actually do so

I had in fact intended for my character (who has already been seen as a rather impatient character (not that he in anyway imitates my RL person...not at all ) to wander up to the bridge, expecting not to be followed

*starts preparing the inevitable pooh-stick triathlon paperwork*

*checks off risk assessment form

i) Cannon fire
ii) Flying sticks
iii) Weaponised pies
iv) Undersand monsters
v) Squid
vi) 2legs

[ooc] My bad. I was giving the wolf a get out in case I didn't get back to this thread for a while [ooc/]


*ducks as she sees pieces of pie flying in her direction*


It's dangerous out in the open!


*dives under her Matt*

[ooc] Sheesh, now I feel bad about that hissy fit I threw this morning... all is forgiven. If I'd remembered Continuity Bleach, I could've used it myself... Let's see if I can remember what was going to happen, after all that fuss[/ooc]

*Thing-over-head suddenly lightened as Flamedancer hears a tumble-thud behind her.*

*Can't see! Smells meat that smells like meat nice lady gave her earlier. Smells water. Hears THUNK from direction STICK was going.*

*Trying to stop (was going top speed on dry sand--not the best traction) Flamedancer comes extremely close to the umbrella near Lil as she passes.*

*Flamedancer's path seems to be approaching min's*

{B4 shakes his head and chuckles, trying not to look away, as he might miss the next few antics of the she-wolf charging toward the pie cart full-tilt.} Just like a kid; all pent-up energy and nowhere to let it loose...

{He starts walking toward where the action is about to ensue.} If she can't get that bucket off her head on her own, I might need to help her. And I'll doubtless have to fetch that special Pooh Stick myself. Wouldn't want to incur the wrath of that Bear for misplacing it...

B4istartbuyingstockinContinuityBleach&makeakilling

*tiny mouse, remains of pie and pie tin fly throigh the air. Over lilac and towards flamedancer*

Aaaiiiee!

(OOC) I don't mind if I hit someone or something (OOC)

[ooc] Um, Flamedancer is now closer to the pie cart than either lil or Lil are... So I'll just read it as you flying over Flamedancer, etc [/ooc]

*Hears whoosh overhead, feels light splat on back*

*Still trying to stop, feels paws contact wood*

*Obviously not tripping, since she obviously meant to go into a stumble/tumble at the exact instant her paws contacted a stick [ooc]yes, STICK, but F doesn't know that[/ooc], Flamedancer obviously also meant to crash rather hard into the pie cart, at the exact same spot the THUNK came from moments earlier*

Wait for it... Wait for it.....

B4wefigureoutjustYcaninesabsolutelyLOVEtochasesticks

The sailor regains consciousness surrounded by several empty pie tins. the waves from the rising water of the tide licking at his toes.
'How can this "lake" have a tide?' he wondered. Only oceans have tides!

Prompted by Nbb's announcement of the start of the Pooh Stick event our sailor quickly shimmies up the nearest tree. There are certain useful skills learned in a youth wasted at sea.

He uses his clasp knife to shave a long, smooth stick from the branch. Looking at the group gathered below - he also cuts a stout twig from the branch and flings it to the wolf below.

F S

* A very large and surprisingly nimble (which here means teaches ballet in his spare time) bear snatches the thrown stick out of the air (which here means executes a grand jete and gracefully catches the stick in his mouth mid-air and lands en pointe) and then turns (which here means pirouettes) and runs (which here means quicker than the road runner) to the base of the tree from which the stick was thrown.*

I say, you up there in the foliage. Please desist from manufacturing your own sticks and relinquish to me the stick you have recently created. All sticks in this forest are the property of the Pooh family, of which I am the enforc…, er, representative. I am generously presenting you with this opportunity to demonstrate your contrition and remain animate, having it in my capabilities to retrieve the stick myself and leave you in the opposite state.

*Gives the tree a mild shake (which here means causes it to sway alarmingly), by way of demonstration, and smiles kindly (which here means with fangs showing, indistinguishable from a snarl).*

[ooc]
I will be away for a week and not likely able to post. Sorry to leave a plot point hanging.
[/ooc]

*Pops a few stick of PAG in his mouth*

The sudden shaking of the tree is little more than effect of a white squall while working in the rigging, Our sailor estimates the bear's mass with the weight that could be supported by the the surrounding branches and concludes he is safe in his present position. He begins to work his way from tree top to tree top in the general direction of the bridge.

Along the way he pauses long enough to carve a few more sticks for the others. They can not be true 'Poo Sticks' until they have been dropped from the bridge... he justifies his defiance to the bear's threat. Some of us do not care to be threatened.

F S hopes the Squid, Pie Monster, Merfolk and B4 will help protect him on the bridge.



F S

{B4 looks over his shoulder.} What's all that commotion over by the trees?

{He adjusts his shades and cranes forward in the direction of the tumult.} Oh, no! The Bear! {gulps} The Bear from the forest... {He points and can say no more for a few seconds. It takes a force of will for him to compose himself.}

What's it doing shaking that tree so ferociously? Is it trying to dislodge some-- {He notices Florida Sailor hanging from the limbs and making his way outward on a branch.} ...one? It's FS!
{B4 makes a move in that direction, checks himself, turns in the opposite direction, stops from bolting out of the country or trying to hail a passing spaceship, turns to the rest of the party and waves wildly for everyone to--} Look! Look there! FS is trying to evade the Bear! He'll never make it to safety unless...

{He notices FS is leaping from limb-to-limb, tree-to-tree, trying to skirt around the Bear.} ...unless he keeps doing the "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" aerobatics! Or, unless the Bear is distracted by RL for a week...then he might just make it.

{B4 rounds again on Flamedancer, to see if the she-wolf has picked up his Pooh Stick, intending to retrieve it before the Bear notices he's not minding it properly. No sense getting clawed to pieces over taking a few liberties with a Pooh Stick...}

B4wesitoutamajorplotscenariountilRLgetstheheckouttatheway

*awakes from her post-prandial nap and looks around to see typical beach activity -- El Squid and the pie monster in some kind of stand-off the mer-people, with a pie cart up to its hubs in the surf, a group of CLI securibots firing pie balls at the ship on the horizon, a wolf frolicking with researchers, NBB heading toward the bridge with his nose in some paperwork, and hearty crashing noises from the forest edge*

Oh, has the stick hunt begun yet?

[ooc]
Blubottle's post in the first led of this thread gives a link to a map. We are not too far from the bridge. No need to adjust the topography.
[/ooc]

BOOOMMMMM!

*Lil pulls a telescope from her etui and looks for the ship on the horizon*

It's... it's... the HMS Gootanic?

*lifts head to gaze wonderingly at the various sources of screaming*

What is it this time?

(PPC) forgot flamedanxer was closer sorry

*the mouse sails through the air and lands with a 'splat' on the moving wolf's back. The wolf trips up and the mouse flies back off the wolf and straight into a cherry pie*

Hmmm pie!

*El Squid de Castilla rises up on all eight of his walking tentacles*

Hah! I thought not. You will not engage in this contest for fear of the repercussions between our clans, no?

*he bends and twists, focusing one piercing eye upon the Merman*

It is well, then, that we do not pursue this any farther, mi Primo Segundo.

*he dips the tip of his sword toward the sand and lowers his shield*

*El Squid nudges the Pie Monster and motions for him to make a path through the circle of Merfolk*

Mi amigo Azul, I am compelled to solicit your assistance in one other matter before we relax.

*he points past the outskirts of the Merpeople, where the trees are shaking in the distance*

Perhaps we can calm the savage beast doing this, with our diplomacy, our combined strength, or with the bribe of delicacies from the food tables. Can you gather enough victuals to sway his mind, so he no longer sways the trees?

*El Squid de Castilla ‘slithers’ beyond his high-brow cousins, not giving them a second glance as he passes*

BOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!

*continuing to watch through telescope* Well, looks like they have plenty of lifeboats. Oh, some of the people are jumping out of the lifeboats so they can wash the pie off. And then climbing back in. The Gootanic is still afloat, but she seems to be deeper in the water.