Time passes much more quickly in Rohandor and many long and happy years have gone by since the characters retired to enjoy their respective 'happily ever afters,' their greatest foes were imprisoned in the Forever Stone, bound in an eternal sleep. Until Now.
Happily Ever Afters takes place in Rohandor, a mystical realm on another plane of existence from our own. Here our favorite Disney heroes and villains live in a world all their own; Alive, but far from well. Heroes and heroines fight to keep peace while newly freed villains seek their revenge. Come join us in an epic adventure as the characters you love clash in a struggle that will determine the fate of Rohandor!
HEA is an AU canon-only animated crossover Disney Play-By-Post Role Play with minimal word count.
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4/24/21: We've been on hiatus for a number of years now. I don't know that I'm entirely ready to return BUT I have been cleaning up the site and working to update everything since a number of movies have released. There is still A LOT of work to do but if you see this update and were an active member of the site prior to the hiatus, please send the Yen Sid account a DM to let me know you're still interested in playing and if you wish to retain your current roster. I hope you've all been doing well and staying safe!
Happily Ever Afters is a play-by-post forum role playing game based on the movies and television series of Disney and Pixar. It was created for recreational and entertainment purposes only and not intended to step on any toes, offend, or infringe. We did not create nor do we own the content from the Disney and Pixar stories and movies. None of the threads and writing on this forum is associated or affiliated with Disney/Pixar in any way. We do not make any money off of this site or its content. The icons used in the Forum Information & Statistics and those like it throughout the board as well as the BBC buttons and smileys were taken from a layout called Absolute Madness made by PookyTart from Userbar Depot. All of the other graphics used on this board were found, created, or otherwise edited by Yen Sid or Te Fiti. Please don't steal or use any graphic from this board without explicit permission. All storylines and plots used in the threads/topics were created by the staff and members of HEA and should not be copied or used on another board without permission.
The first time Ariel had visited Londontown, she'd nearly died. Several times, in fact. Eric had barely been able to keep her in their carriage as they navigated the bustling, borderline chaotic London traffic. Then, when the two had reached their destination - an outdoor market full of trinkets, gadgets, gizmos and everything else her heart could desire - Ariel had finally circumvented her husband's protection and tried to rush at a display of feathered things across the street. Ariel had proceeded to narrowly dodge an automobile, been caught off-guard by a blaring whistle blown by a man in a peculiar uniform, been forced to leap over a pair of mice that were dressed in the most dapper miniature clothes, and accidentally fell into the lap of a man in a futuristic vehicle that floated several feet from the ground.
The redhead simply couldn't help herself, though. If her inquisitiveness had been boundless before, after the Pearl Kingdom of the Shell situated itself within Rohandor Ariel could scarcely remain indoors on any given day. Usually Eric didn't like her to go to Londontown without his accompaniment (their first visit was justification enough for that little bit of overprotective attitude). Which would explain then, as Ariel sat, hanging almost entirely out of her carriage's window - primitive compared to the assortment of vehicles in Londontown, but not alone along other horse-drawn contraptions - to stare, wide-eyed and grinning at everything that passed, had neglected to tell her husband that she was coming.
Eric was on some form of business or other. Ariel had been given the logical explanation, and declined coming, because she knew that she would have only gotten in her husband's way. She'd been encouraging of Eric's going, but mournful of being away from him. Then, when in her room, Ariel's gaze lighted upon a gadget (Eric named it a 'monocle', but Scuttle had insisted it was properly referred to as a 'gimble') that she'd purchased on her most recent visit to Londontown. The rest was fairly self-explanatory. Ariel continued to hang out of her carriage window, listening to the sheer volume of the city, nearly jumping from her seat to investigate each new whatchamacallits that she spotted.
Ariel's head swiveled when she heard a yapping barkto see a frumpy-looking dog being walked on a length of leather - a leash, they called it - by a man who looked exactly like his pet. She didn't even have time to widen her grin in amusement when, because of the sound, the large head of an Old English Sheepdog thrust itself out of the window alongside her. Eric had insisted that Max accompany Ariel during his several days away during his venture, and the dog was just as enthusiastic of the trip to Londontown as the redhead. "We're nearly there, Princes Ariel," the driver called over his shoulder to her.
"Did you hear that, Max?" Ariel reached down and scratched the dog's ear fondly. He looked up at her, tongue lolling out of his mouth in contentedness. "We're nearly there!" Ariel was going to go to the place that Eric had taken her following the market excursion the first time they visited Londontown: the museum.
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Post by Basil of Baker Street on Jun 1, 2013 18:28:00 GMT -5
"Onward Toby. Keep up the pace."
Basil kept his arm tucked under the collar as a safety precaution as his other arm held up the ear he was speaking into. Currently he was riding his faithful Bassett Hound Toby around the streets of London, weaving in, around and under the legs of the other pedestrians. It had been a few weeks since Basil had received his royal seal from the Queen at a gathering of the miniture heroes of the world. Others such as the Rescue Rangers and Bianca, Bernard and Jake of the Rescue Aid Society had also received their seals making them official representitives of Mousedom as they combatted villainous forces all over Rohandor. Unfortunatly with the extra assistance Basil had found that the interesting cases were drying up fast leaving him with minor, boring and thuggish criminals. The frustration and boredom had left Basil almost climbing the walls of Baker Street before Dawson had suggested a night out to take in some culture, perhaps the library, or some opera or a museum. Basil barely managed a thank you before he was out the door bellowing for Toby.
Secretly he longed for a villain like Professor Ratigan to match wits with. Voices similar to the chipper tones of Olivia Flaversham scolded him for this somewhat selfish train of thought given how Ratigan, the self titled worlds greatest criminal mind, had controlled every criminal in London with clockwork precision nearly leading to a royal takeover. A sharp turn cut off his thinking as Toby suddenly rushed onto the road to run alongside a carriage.
"Toby? What in blazes. This isn't the time for games."
Basil peaked out from under the happily flopping ear to see what the distraction was, catching sight of a larger white shaggy dog waggling its tongue as it hung out the window of the carriage. This was clearly what had gotten Toby so excited. Two dogs just meeting could spend a long time greeting each other and would be nearly impossible to separate for someone of Basils size. Worse still was the red haired young woman next to the new dog. Basil shot back under Tobys ear to keep out of sight, his heart pounding in his chest as his mind now raced with the possibility of shrill screaming and violent stamping should he be discovered. He was finding it difficult to hold on as Toby tried to jump in with his new friend.
"You need to get away from them right now Toby. Human females don't respond well to me. Quickly now. Stop jumping Toby!"
Max had always been Ariel's biggest fan. Though their first few meetings had been tinged with her fear at such a large, unknown surface creature, once Ariel saw the tenderness of the canine they'd been fast friends. As the two hung out the window of the carriage, she looking at the sights, him more interested in what scents could be caught on the turbulent city wind, both were content. Then, with a baritone whuff! from Max, Ariel's attention was drawn to the cobbled street that the carriage was trundling over, which another dog was bounding alongside them. "Oh!" Ariel said in surprise, then she smiled at the creature, auburn brows knitting in a soft frown of amused admiration.
"Max, it looks like you've attracted a new fri- Max!" Ariel had turned to talk to the Sheepdog, only to see that he was no longer panting out the window. No, he had backed up to the other side of the carriage and was now thrusting his hind quarters in the air, a look of determination on his furry face. Ariel could see Max's intention, but was too late in reacting. The princess tried to throw her arms wide to dissuade the dog from going through with it, but he was already charging. Ariel gave a brief gasp and pressed herself against the back of her seat. Max barreled past her and dove through the window, barely fitting his broad shoulders through the opening.
"Max?!" Ariel turned back to the window, leaning precariously out. Max was now half a block behind and growing, happily greeting the dog that had come so close. For a moment, Ariel had the urge to throw herself through the window as Max had, but then thought better for it. Even so long above the waves, Ariel was still getting used to the evenness of the surface. Everything was horizontal. To get higher you needed to climb. In the sea, maneuvering was made easier by the freedom of motion, and the cushion of salt water wherever you went. Mastering her impulses, Ariel whipped her head around, auburn locks flying over her shoulder, and turned toward the front of the carriage, and the driver seated there.
"Dmitri! Dmitri, stop the carriage!" Regardless of the absurdity of the question - he was driving in a bustling afternoon traffic alongside vehicles much more robust than the horse-drawn cart he was toting - the driver gave a terse call, and a decisive tug on the reins. Both horses whinnied in protest and rose momentarily on their back legs. Traffic behind the carriage screeched to disjointed halt. There were several small accidents or collisions, and above the regular purr of the city came a chorus of individuals calling complaints to one another.
Ariel was out of the carriage as soon as it neared a stop. She grasped her pale green skirt in two fists and landed lithely on the grimy street. Though several crude remarks were aimed her way, Ariel was too focused on getting back to Max to heed them. "Max!" she continued to call out. She couldn't see him through all of the foot traffic and other obstructions until she was directly upon the canine meeting. The Sheepdog was on its back, tongue lolling, when Ariel stopped over him. Tufts of fur that usually screened the dog's eyes were falling back, showing his merry gaze. The princess propped both hands on hips. "Max," she said again, tone scornful instead of worrisome, "bad dog."
The canine's glance changed from gleeful to nervous as he shifted slightly on his back to see his redheaded owner. Max rolled slowly onto his stomach and a squeaky whine started growing in his throat. "Oh, don't you even try it." The sheepdog stopped whining, and eyed Ariel with remorseful apprehension. His tail gave a tentative flick, but stopped when the princess's stern expression didn't soften. Ariel pursed her lips in thought. She could never stay mad at Max long because whenever he'd do something to anger Ariel, he was so terrified of her disapproval. After a moment Ariel sighed. "Who's your new friend, then?"
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Post by Basil of Baker Street on Jun 4, 2013 14:55:14 GMT -5
After the sheepdog managed to squeeze himself out of the carriage Toby moved the encounter back off the road to avoid the dangers of traffic. Once safetly out of the way of cars and horses, whilst at the same time forcing everyone on foot to walk around them, the two dogs got to the standard period of head tilting and yapping that made up most greetings between two of the same species. Basil had resigned himself to waiting it out for now, though he wasn't enjoying it. It wasn't easy for a mouse of his reputation to have trouble controlling his tracking hound.
Toby hushed up once the owner of the sheepdog, now named out loud as Max, caught up with the pair and scolded her pet while he rolled on his back to gain pity and forgiveness. Toby watched the interaction until he was addressed, proudly looking up at the princess and barking. This didn't hold for long though as the hound dropped to a sitting position and raised his rear leg up to start scratching at his ear, depositing Basil onto the hard cobblestone pavement when he finally lost his grip. The detective landed face down, pushing himself up to a sitting position as he regained his bearings.
"Now really Toby. I try to enjoy a night on the town and I start it all having to tag along with your horseplay and abuse."
Well if the human woman was going to panic and call someone to have Basil gotten rid of he could at least go out with as much class and dignity as he could muster. Dusting himself off as he stood, he took a bow while tipping his deerstalker in respect. He could always rush into the crowds if necessary.
"Good evening young lady. Basil of Baker Street, Detective and Agent of the Crown at your service."
The dignity didn't last long however as Toby grabbed Basils tail in his mouth and picked him up, resuming his proud face as if you say 'I'm with him. Are you impressed?'. Basil folded his arms as he dangled and huffed at the humiliation.
"You know Toby. If you're trying to embarass me this childish act makes you look more foolish than I do."
The dog that Max had befriended stared happily at Ariel. When the young woman looked in his direction, he barked in greeting at her, but was quickly interrupted by an itch that needed scratching. Max, meanwhile, was still on his stomach, doing his best to look pitiable in his slight cowering. Ariel was just glancing in the sheepdog's direction when, as the other dog pawed at one of his ears casually, she saw something in the corner of her eye fall from his collar. After a quick glance, Ariel beheld a mouse in a sharp outfit that had been cast roughly to the pavement face-first, eliciting a half-worried half-surprised "Oh!" from the princess.
Ariel wasn't offered time to give any more of a reaction because at the sight of a new furry creature, Max had abandoned his image of woe. Up on all fours, the sheepdog was moving in on the mouse inquisitively, nose working overtime to sniff in its direction. "Max," Ariel called out. Thankfully, her voice was commanding enough to break through the curious spell that most canines found themselves lost to at new scents. Max looked up abruptly and after he saw Ariel's countenance, he halted, cowered slightly again and edged closer to her, sitting down slowly at her side.
By the time that Ariel had looked back, the mouse had raised on his feet and begun dusting himself off, scorning the other dog in much the same fashion that Ariel had been scorning Max. The difference being that Toby - as he was so named - didn't seem inclined to listen. Ariel's surprised expression returned, but in a tender way. When you spent your childhood making conversation with schools of fish, trying your jokes out on whales (they were fun to make laugh) and answering to an irate crab, a talking mouse wasn't difficult to accept. Especially beings that Ariel had met her fair share of talking animals since finding herself in Rohandor.
She pressed one palm to her chest, listening with wide-eyed intrigue as the mouse introduced himself as one Basil of Baker Street. Ariel smiled thoughtfully. Normally when she was outside of her homeland in Rohandor, she didn't really acknowledge the stringent parameters that her title came with. She scarcely adhered to all of the protocol when in her and Eric's palace, let alone out and about for a visit in Londontown. Given the dignity and official air with which Basil introduced himself, she felt that he deserved the same kind of verbose honesty from her. The young woman grasped her skirts in both hands and bobbed a slight curtsy.
"Princess Ariel of the Pearl Kingdom of the Shell at yours," she replied. That was when Toby reached down and plucked his owner up off of the pavement by the tail, jutting his chin proudly toward Ariel, indicating the frustrated creature hanging from his maw. Max took the opportunity to jut forward and begin sniffing Basil, apparently thinking that now since his new friend had taken the plunge, it was acceptable. "Sit," Ariel instructed, and Max plopped his furry haunches on the ground - tail stirring up dust as it wagged. The princess knelt slightly forward so that she was on eye-level with the other dog. "Toby," she asked softly, "could you drop Mr Basil, please?"
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Post by Basil of Baker Street on Jun 5, 2013 16:02:08 GMT -5
The introductions went over better than expected. The young lady introduced herself as a princess of all things. Basil had kept up with new sciences and research carried out when the other isles had turned up. For some reason females of royal bloodlines tended to form friendships with animals, even communicate with normally non verbal animals. Ariel had said that she was from the Pearl Kingdom, Basil wondered if she was familiar with the Milo Thatch expeditions, or the ship that was attacked some years back by what witnesses described as a 'massive tentacled sea witch'. She could be an interesting person to converse with. Her request to Toby however interrupted his thinking.
"Wait! Don't tell him to drop..." He hit the pavement for the second time. Standing up again and straightening his hat as he grumped. "Humph. You always listen to everyone else don't you Toby?"
The night out was fast becoming a regretable disaster. Humiliated twice and in front of royalty no less. Briefly he considered returning to Baker Street, locking the door, playing his violin and never coming out again except for an earthshattering case. Though again he was internally scolded, this time by the voice of his partner Doctor Dawson. Just like their first case together whilst in a seemingly unsecapable trap his voice told Basil to pull himself together, to show how worthy he was of the title of the Great Mouse Detective.
"Well Princess Ariel. I hope you are enjoying London. Perhaps this loyal mouse and his faithful tracker could serve as your local guide. It would be both our duty and a great honour."
Ariel had had very good intentions when she asked what she did of Toby. She envisioned the dog gently setting Basil down on the pavement, allowing him to gain some dignity in the process, and for them to continue their conversation. The Mouse Detective heard her request and desperately tried to stop her. Too late. Toby obliged simply enough, and opened his maw at once. Unfortunately, that meant that Basil was sent crashed to the ground for the second time in just a few minutes. Ariel inhaled deeply in worried surprise, clapping one palm momentarily over her mouth. "I'm so sorry, Mr Basil," she hastened to assert.
The princess drew her hand away from her mouth and bit her bottom lip in fretfulness - a quirk very standard for the redhead. Ariel's brow creased with concern for Basil as the creature once again drew himself up and began dusting himself off. Toby continued to pant, looking very much like he were smiling, alongside Max, who had come nearer his new friend and was now looking at something transpiring across the road by hanging his head over Toby's back. Basil appeared to be wrestling with something that made his expression furrow in deliberation. Ariel felt a soft blush of embarrassment rising in her cheeks.
"Are you alright?" Ariel was given a proposition instead of an answer. She tilted her head curiously at the new tact that Mr Basil was taking. Her forehead, previously crinkled in worry, was now made so out of thought. When Basil suggested that he and Toby act as Ariel's guide to Londontown, her features smoothed out in delight. "Oh! That would be-" she stopped herself from gushing. Basil seemed very cultured and knowledgeable. Ariel had the feeling that whatever question - however outlandish - would be answered extensively by the small intellectual.
Basil turned every phrase eloquently. The least she could do was try to maintain her composure. "That would be wonderful," she finished, clasping both hands against her chest as she smiled. An especially loud rise in the public outcry interrupted Ariel then. She turned to see that Dmitri was taking the brunt of the other drivers' discontent at being disrupted. Her carriage driver was trying to get to the side of the road, but it was proving an impossibility. Ariel turned back to Basil. "I'll be right back. I just need to get my bumbersnatch," she said matter-of-factly.
The young woman rose, bid Max to stay put, and wove through the foot traffic back to the carriage. After a brief number of sentences, Dmitri agreed to await her inevitable arrival at the museum. Lastly, Ariel slipped into the carriage itself and, after a bit of jostling, extricated from it a rather peculiar item. A simple, worn wooden bucket came with Ariel, filled with a bizarre number of items ranging from a handkerchief and a bundled bit of gauzy clothe meant to be a shawl to a bent fork and a yoyo with a knot in the string.
Ariel had seen how some women of Rohandor toted clever little packs that held their prized possessions so they could be carried with them. Amazed, the princess had called upon the genius of her good friend Scuttle the moment she was back home. With a bit of doing, and a few minutes dedicated to Ariel explaining what she had seen, the seagull had a name for the device: a bumbersnatch. What more, Scuttle only had to look briefly around the docks of the Kingdom of the Shell to find a suitable one.
When Ariel questioned him (Eric had named the same device a 'bucket' and it was supposedly intended to carry water and other liquids) Scuttle smoothly replied that that was only one of their uses and, when they were employed in that way, they were called buckets. The method that Ariel was going to use, however, made it a bumbersnatch. Ariel was thrilled at the discovery, and here she was today, shouldering the bucket as she made her way back to Basil. Traffic on the street was beginning to pick up again now that Dmitri was off, and Ariel scarcely picked up on the confused looks she was garnering from passersby.
Once back to Basil, Toby and Max, Ariel stopped, beamed and said, "Alright, I'm ready."
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Post by Basil of Baker Street on Jun 6, 2013 16:55:55 GMT -5
"Excellent. Ready when you ar....Bumblesnatch?"
Basil and Toby looked at each other in confusion as the Princess rushed back to her transportation, Toby briefly looked to Max for clarification. When Ariel came back towards the three carrying a wooden bucket it led to a collective curious head tilt. Basil quickly instructed Toby while she was still out of ear shot.
"It must be a foreign custom Toby. Be polite." The Princess caught up with them. "Ah, that's a fine looking Bumble...snatch. Shall we?"
Toby bowed down allowing Basil to climb up to his riding position, from a ground level he'd have to run at a full sprint to keep up with Ariel and Max. After they determined that the eventual intended destination was the museum Basil worked out a scenic route. First off he pointed out Big Ben and his own history with the clock tower, namely his near fatal final battle with Ratigan.
"Remember if you're ever in such a situation try to move with the rotation of the gears rather than against them. Otherwise you'll just tire out faster."
Toby hijacked the tour next, stopping to press his front paws to a bakery window. Max followed suit as they both stared transfixed on a display of cakes. Reluctantly Basil pulled some money from a stash he kept tucked under the Basset Hounds collar so that the other three could buy themselves something.
"and...the bakery. Not much of a sight but some people enjoy it."
The following highlights were the usual well known and travelled areas of London, though Basil seemed to have an anecdote of a prior case to add to whatever informational tidbits that were related to the spot. A riverside building would be linked to an old group of smugglers, a row of houses burglarised by an ill tempered raven and a library which once had its archives pillaged by agents of black market art collectors. In all these locations Basil had brought the criminals to justice. The tour wrapped up at the museum where Basil stopped to look at a folding sign announcing a new exhibit of treasures from around Rohandor.
"Hmm, facinating. Well here we are Princess, I hope this tour was most enlightening for you."
Ariel beamed at the compliment that Mr Basil awarded her Bumbersnatch. She noticed his mispronunciation of the term, but dismissed it as most probably a difference in customs or cultural slang. "Thank you very much!" After that, Mr Basil pressed on with the tour, and Ariel was delighted to continue. The unlikely band of companions walked over much of Londontown proper. No matter the strange beings that the city hosted as part of Rohandor, a woman with a bucket on one arm wrapped in fine fabric, two dogs, one of which a mouse in human clothes was still a sight to behold.
If Ariel wasn't one to take note of strange looks garnered to begin with, she was doubly so then. Because Mr Basil showed her the most amazing sights. Many that she had already seen when visiting with Eric, but still other, less obvious architectural or historical wonders of Londontown. Even those that Ariel had already witnessed once or twice were made new in her eyes with the stories that Mr Basil attributed to each scene. Ariel was in awe for most of the tour, and did not hesitate to assail her guide with any question that came to mind. Basil didn't seem to mind.
Quite the contrary, he appeared more content than ever when pressed for more information. To be truthful, Ariel's questions were probably not the most orthodox. When Mr Basil detailed a riverside building as having hosted a band of smugglers, Ariel asked why being smug was a crime. The two shared a nearly unceasing conversation as they walked. Meanwhile, Toby and Max had begun what would obviously be a lasting friendship. Frolic and play was muted somewhat given Toby hosting Mr Basil on his collar, but they still managed a good deal of innocent fun.
At last, several hours after they begun, they collectively arrived at the museum. Dmitri gave a small bow of acknowledgement from where he waited beside the carriage. Ariel's guilt at having left her driver for such a long time was tempered by seeing the Londontown cuisine at his elbow and a fellow driver - though, of an automobile - beside him, giving genial conversation. Ariel looked back to Mr Basil as he spoke, and after a moment flashed him an earnest smile. "Oh, yes, it was! Thank you so much for showing me around, Mr Basil."
The princess wasn't quite ready to depart from the smart little mouse, though. She'd learned so much in his company. Though, again, the knowledge that Ariel retained was considerably askew from the standard norm, and related more to the general workings of Londontown than the subtle details of Basil's adventures. Ariel looked to the museum and back at her guide. "Would you like to join me to see the exhibit? I would love if you came." Ariel put on her most convincing small grin, brows frowning with insistence.
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Post by Basil of Baker Street on Jun 11, 2013 15:50:30 GMT -5
Basil looked up at Ariel. Given her expression she seemed sincere with her offer. Toby was enjoying his time as well, it would be hard to pull him away even if Basil wanted to go. Though with the chance to see the exhibit on the first night the mouse wouldn't turn it down for anything.
"I would be honoured Princess."
Basil bowed to return the invitation. followed by sliding gently down Tobys ear to dismount. With complete honesty Basil was enjoying the company tonight, Ariel didn't seem to mind how much of a know it all he was, how much he rambled on and even asked questions to keep him going. Her curiosity seemed to have no end, a refreshing contrast to how many people would go through a conversation looking like they wanted to strangle him, it was like they enjoyed not knowing they were wrong about things.
The steps up to the museum required a swift scurrying to ascend in time with the others. Upon reaching the door Basil stood aside to allow the Princess and Max first entry, Toby falling into line beside him, they were here as guests of royalty after all. Following in the quartet found themselves in the heavily decorated main foyer where several other wealthy patrons in formal wear were already mingling, a veritable who's who of aristocracy. It seemed the new exhibit was quite the social event. A Herald introduced them.
"Princess Ariel of the Pearl Kingdom." The man bellowed. "and.....pets?"
A light applause followed, along with a few shrieks and a sudden faint from several noticing the mouse joining the party. Due to the species making up its citizenry, Mousedom wasn't well recived among the upper classes of humanity. Basil glared up at the Herald, his whiskers twitching in annoyance, this was the third time he'd been embarassed in one night. At least Ratigan had the decency to try and have him killed afterwards. Toby didn't seem to take as much offense as his nose led him to a banquet table laid out for the guests. Too angry to retort to the insult Basil rushed off to one of the anjoining rooms, climbing up to a display case and taking a thoughtful look at a display of two interlocking pieces of a golden scarab, apparently the key to a hidden living cavern of treasure in the desert. Up in the rafters a pair of leering figures followed the mouse with hungry yellow eyes, their tails hanging down behind them swaying in unison.
"Do you see what I see sister?"
"I see an interloping detective. Does he know we came for the treasures?"
"Then we can have our snacking pleasures. A head for you and tail for me."
The two potential assassins stayed out of sight and earshot, slinking into a crawlspace. Back down at the display Basil focused on the display unaware of his watchers. Maybe he'd just look at the less crowded exhibits the rest of the night. They were more interesting anyway.
Ariel was thrilled to have the miniature detective accompany her through the exhibit that evening. Honestly, it was all just happenstance, her visiting Londontown, and intending on perusing the museum the same evening that a new collection was being opened. Pleasant happenstance, but happenstance nonetheless. Mr Basil dismounted his furry steed and began scurrying in stride with Ariel as she mounted the broad stairs of the museum's front. Ariel gave a hushed warning to Max to be on his best behavior. The sheepdog gave a huff that momentarily puffed the fur above his eyes up, revealing a disgruntled expression.
With a soft smile, and a thanks given to Basil as he allowed her to enter the building ahead of him, the quartet were in. The foyer was even more grand than Ariel remembered. Partially because it had received an even more thorough sprucing in regard to the event that evening, and partially because her wonderment had a knack to never be diluted. No matter how many times the princess saw something amazing in her mind, she was just as awestruck the next. Ariel woke every morning and, before she got out of bed, she had to stick her toes out from beneath the covers and wiggle them, still amazed at having them.
Apparently her arriving unannounced was of no consequence. Ariel had been quite a delight for the curators of the museum upon her initial visit. Eric had been at her side giving proper introductions that she normally forgot to address that ensured all of the workers knew of her station. It was Ariel's sincere interest in what the curator - who had insisted he give them the tour personally - showed that earned the museum staff's lasting fondness. The curator just happened to be checking up on the exhibit's entrance, where entrants needed to be checked with a guest list, when Ariel, Mr Basil, Toby and Max entered the building.
A member of security was just explaining rudely to Ariel how her bumbersnatch and pets in general were not allowed in the building when the curator intervened, insisting that the standard protocols were to be discarded when it came to the princess. Ariel was lost in thanking the man and being led deeper into the marble halls of the building, ensuring that her company was still in tow and offered her clearance. Before she really registered what had happened, she was blinking dumbly in the light of the exhibit proper, countless members of the social elite looking up at her.
When the herald announced her as Princess of the Pearl Kingdom of the Shell, there was an initial round of gasps and interested, albeit jealously cunning looks up at her. Then, upon seeing the redhead with two dogs and a mouse with her, and a junk-filled wooden bucket in the crook of one elbow, that chorus of oo's and ah's changed to one of derisive snorts and weighted glances. Ariel didn't notice, she was too busy descending the stairs into the exhibit. However, by the time she'd reached the base floor, Mr Basil was gone, and Toby and Max had pattered over to a banquet table, where they were doing their best to make the socialites there guilty enough to feed them.
"Oh," she said softly. The princess looked around, trying to find Mr Basil, but catching sight of a mouse was very difficult in the sea of tuxedos and gossamer gowns. Ariel bit her bottom lip in slight distress, and finally resolved to awkwardly drift through the crowd to one of the less busy displays. Ariel diverted her attention on the objects arrayed within the glass casings to help her ignore the knot settling in her stomach. She refused to allow herself to fidget, regardless of how uncomfortable she suddenly felt. Thankfully, what Ariel's gaze fell upon almost immediately forced that apprehension to fall away.
Her eyes widened and the irises glittered with piqued curiosity. She was looking at nothing more than a velvet pillow situated beneath the glass pane. Upon further investigation of the placard propped up before it, Ariel discerned that it was the same pillow that Cinderella's glass slipper had been displayed on once upon a time as it was ferried through the kingdom to find the young maiden whose foot it fit. "I wonder if Cinderella even knows this is here," she said thoughtfully.
Last Edit: Jun 11, 2013 21:25:40 GMT -5 by Deleted
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Post by Basil of Baker Street on Jun 12, 2013 17:21:57 GMT -5
"Hmm, Atlantean gemstones. I wouldn't mind testing a few of these back home."
Basil walked along the display of rare jewel and gem samples from around the world, organised by location making the layout a random pattern of colours and sizes. He had continued to stay in the atriums that were less visited, half not wanting to embarass Ariel by having others see her socialising with him and half in a grumpy mood about the reaction to him even being in the museum. A soft tap on his shoulder startled him into turning around, suprisingly coming face to face with noone. A rattling from inside the case caused him to turn back, seeing that some of the stones were missing. Someone had pried open the case while the detectives back was turned and helped themselves.
"Hello. Let's see if we can get to the bottom of this."
A check of the lock revealed a clue to the culprit, a tuft of black and beige hairs caught in the keyhole. The thief was apparently an animal, probably picked the lock with its claws. Too bad there was no time to get back to Baker Street and run it through the chemistry set, a good use of the senses would have to do. Basil held the hairs under his nose and gave them a strong sniff, the results stripped away any excitement that came from his work and replaced it with a primal fear.
"Cat hair."
Basil tucked the hairs into his coat pockets and scurried on all fours back into the entrance hall. Rushing under and between the legs of the crowds the mouse tried to find the others, taking a cat on by himself would pretty much be considered suicidal. Luckily Toby and Max were still at the banquet table, both laying down over a plate that someone had generously loaded up for them. Toby sat up when he saw his master coming.
"Toby. I need you and Max to put your noses to work. There is depravity in the works. I need you to look for a cat."
Toby started snarling.
"Yes. Grrrrr indeed." Basil uninentionally tended to mimic Tobys actions when he was describing a target that needed hounding. "Black and beige, very fast and stealthy, likely jangling."
"Aroo?" Toby tilted his head in confusion.
"The cat stole some rare jewels from the exhibit, so...yes, jangling. Detain them if you find them. I'll go alert someone."
Toby nodded as Basil rushed off again, lapping up the last of the food on his plate before starting the search. On top of the banquet table a long black tail snaked out from under a centrepiece, coiling around a wine glass and splashing the contents onto the two dogs. They were left looking around soaked and confused as their tormentor giggled and rushed out of their reach.
Basil finally found Ariel at the Princess Cinderella display, rushing up the table leg and across the glass case to get her attention. He was mildy winded from running around locating his companions, gasping as he talked.
"Princess...sorry to disturb but we have a problem." He panted a few times. "This establishment is the target of criminal intent. Fiendish forces wish to abscond with the contents of the museum and I require your aid immediately. The game is afoot!"
Ariel might have been uncomfortable after suddenly being thrust into the spotlight, but the mild anxiety was short-lived. When you grew up the youngest of the royal family - and a very rambunctious one at that - you were used to such gatherings. Moreover, such gatherings where you were the object of gawking and whispers that were made more obvious by attempted discrepancy. Besides, there was no place better for Ariel's passion to take over than this. Her fingers ached to get a feel of the objects that she looked over. Her eyes were burning from how little she blinked. Even her cheek muscles were starting to ache from her persistent grin.
Ariel had made it throughout the entire side-room that she'd entered, and was back looking at Cinderella's pillow, quite unconcerned that she had already seen it, when her focus was wrenched from the display. Mr Basil had scampered lithely up one leg of the glass case and skidded to a slightly ruffled halt directly before her. "Hello, Mr Basil. I was wondering where you wen-" Ariel was interrupted by the mouse's cultured voice speaking in knotted spurts between sporadic episodes of panting. Had the detective simply tried to speak at a normal pace, perhaps he would have been better off.
As it was, Basil quickly threw out a string of harking words so fast that he could not breathe during their syllables, then broke away to sharp gasps to reintroduce oxygen to his lungs. Ariel's eyes widened not in awe or glee then, but in shock and alarm. "What?" she said, rhetorically. "Someone's trying to steal items from the museum?" Ariel couldn't help but notice that alongside Basil's worry at this news, he had the same light in his eyes that the princess herself had had while perusing the exhibit. Even referring to the plight as a 'game'.
Ariel didn't pay much mind to this. From what he had explained over the course of their tour of Londontown, Basil was a superb enough investigator to approach hostile mysteries like this with competent ease. But, as a lover of strange and extraordinary things, and a person with a virtuous heart, Ariel was not going to allow the culprit to get away. Her expression of alarm turned into stubborn resolve. "I don't think so," she said with a touch of ominousness. "Should I tell the curator?" she asked, straightening up and peering around to see if she could catch a glimpse of the man.
Posts: 164 Likes: 100 Health Points: 146 Courage Points: 200 Played By: Daryl
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Post by Basil of Baker Street on Jun 13, 2013 14:18:07 GMT -5
Basil was impressed with the sudden intensity Ariel was showing and her willingness to spring into action in the service of a good cause. He made a mental note to later ask if she had done this kind of thing before. Her first idea was to warn the curator, to which Basil shook his head.
"I'm afraid that would be futile and even counterproductive. Normally the building would be locked down and the guests sequestered until the proper authorities could sort everything. However with this type of crowd they'd surely object to being detained and the culprit could slip out easily. I have already instructed Toby to track the thieves and Max is with him. I suggest we join the chase."
In truth this was mostly ego talking. When Basil was on the case he preferred to ask for as little help as possible, if he wasn't looking for a possibly hungry cat he might have even 'forgotten' to ask Ariel. Taking the princess by the hand, or rather the end of her smallest finger, in his own the detective rushed off the end of the display trying to bring her with him. After a few seconds of running comically in mid air he remembered that he was working on a different scale of partner, this wouldn't be like dragging the good Doctor Dawson behind him. Letting go and hitting the floor sprinting he led Ariel through the exhibit rooms. More cases had been picked open and several smaller items removed from their displays.
"We're on the right trail Miss Ariel. Perhaps we can catch them in the act."
Basil stopped in the centre of the next room, an exhibit of stone carvings including dragons guardians of China, the Sentinels of Atlantis and replicas of the gargoyles from the Notre Dame among others. A jangling noise had caught his attention. Apparently the suspects were in this room. Basil signalled for silence as he tracked the noise, taking off his hat to let his ears move freely. Up in the rafters the two feline looters stopped to watch the Princess and detective with amusement. They slinked off in different directions to set up an ambush. One hid among a line of smaller animal statues, sitting upright to match the other poses. The second balanced on a curtain rail above Ariel, idly sawing at the ropes holding the curtains up.
"Something is wrong. Perhaps we'd better..."
Basil didn't finish his thought as a paw hit him from behind sending him into a wall. At the same time a final slash brought a heavy red curtain down on Ariel, nothing painful or impossible to escape but enough to confuse her for a second. Both cats bounded down to the prone Basil, laughing at his stunned form. Through his blurred vision he made out a pair of siamese cats. Had he time to consult the canine citizenry of London he would be told that these two were Si and Am, mischievous twin sisters who enjoyed finding as many ways as possible to taunt their opponents and had made an art form out of complimenting each others speech and movements. Many a rodent, bird or fish had attempted to flee from one of them only to run right into a trap set by the other, once caught the two would divide their prize fifty fifty. Other animals trying to defend themselves from relentless teasing found themselves muzzuled or put out of their own homes as the cats started acting injured as soon as a human showed up. A set of pouches strapped to their sides contained the items they'd collected from the new exhibit.
"The Princess is under a wrap." Si grinned as she watched a bundle under the curtain trying to get out. She snapped up Basils deerstalker and dropped it on her own head as a trophy.
"Now we play with the detective until he snaps." Am licked his lips as his picked up Basil by his tail and batted him back and forth like a well dressed pendulum.
When Mr Basil advised against seeking out the curator, Ariel abandoned the effort of searching through the crowds visible in the exhibit's main hall. Instead, the princess turned back to the detective standing on the glass case before her. Ariel leaned over slightly again, listening earnestly as Basil explained why notifying the museum's staff wouldn't be a wise decision. Her lips pressed together and she nodded. Mr Basil's reasoning was sound, which she had expected. Ariel gave a bob of her head in agreement with his assessment.
Mr Basil quickly summarised his plan, explaining that he had already instructed Toby and Max to try to sniff out the culprit. Without further ado, the mouse snatched up Ariel's little finger and began leading her to the edge of the display. "Of course," she said. Basil leaped off of the display and only appeared to realize belatedly that his company was slightly larger than what he was most likely used to. The whiskered investigator dropped nimbly to the floor and began scampering off at a pace that Ariel could keep up with.
Ariel and Basil struck out, princess following detective, moving from less populated branches of the new exhibit to entirely deserted alcoves. Basil seemed pleased with their progress and confident that they were going to catch whatever was behind the thefts before they had a chance to make themselves scarce. That was when the unlikely pair stopped in a sinister room. Ariel worked on steadying her breath as she turned about on the spot, looking at the menacing masonry and sculptures arrayed throughout the empty room.
"What could they steal in here?" Ariel whispered in thought, just before Basil voiced his concern that something wasn't right. There was a flash of movement and the detective collided with the nearest wall. Ariel whirled about, calling out in concern to her friend, just when she heard a ripple of fabric, and a thick red material fell over her. "Hey!" Ariel shouted in protest, but the more she tried to work herself out of the curtains, the more entangled she seemed to get. She'd thrown up her arms defensively at first, which caused her bumbersnatch to crash onto the floor and roll away, littering its contents across the entire room.
At last, with a final flourish, Ariel freed her upper half. Still, the twisted fabric around her waist and legs meant that jumping to Basil's aid against the two cats that had attacked them was going to take some doing. Or, it would have, if she had been intending to. With her head and arms free, Ariel was more than capable of launching an offensive. Righteous fury was in the princess's eyes, but tinged with poorly disguised worry for Mr Basil's sake. She brought her thumb and index finger to her lips and, after a sharp inhalation, let out a piercing whistle.
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Welcome to Happily Ever Afters!
Tony Dracon: Responded to your PM, Kat/Ratigan, incidentally.
Jun 27, 2018 20:25:02 GMT -5
David Xanatos: Kat's back. Hope the vacation was fun.
Jul 21, 2018 21:00:05 GMT -5
Professor Ratigan: 'Twas a good trip! I'm sad it's over, but at the same time I'm glad to be back home so I can finish up my cosplays for a con next month and hang out with my cats
Jul 26, 2018 12:34:56 GMT -5
Basil of Baker Street: Hope the cosplay goes well. I'm putting away a little extra for a con in a few weeks. and yay cats, they're always good company. Except for that one who slaps me unprovoked XD. So what cosplays do you have in mind unless they're secret?
Jul 26, 2018 17:07:41 GMT -5
Professor Ratigan: I'm cosplaying Pearl from Steven Universe and Joseph Joestar from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure!
Jul 26, 2018 23:16:41 GMT -5
Professor Ratigan: I'm almost done both of them, I just have to finish styling Pearl's wig and fix up Joseph's gloves and wristbands
Jul 26, 2018 23:17:31 GMT -5
Basil of Baker Street: Awesome. Had to look up Jojo because I'm not hip with the modern pop culture but I hope they turn out well.
Jul 30, 2018 15:33:15 GMT -5
Professor Ratigan: I only just started watching the anime last year and I haven't even touched the manga, so I'm barely hip with it lol. fortunately I have my cosplay buddy guiding me through the whole experience
Jul 30, 2018 22:29:38 GMT -5
Professor Ratigan: also I finally finished the gloves! They were more of a pain to work with than I expected, but they'll hold together... I hope...
Jul 30, 2018 22:30:13 GMT -5
Basil of Baker Street: Niceness. Hoping they hold also. Got the Dublin comic con next Saturday here. Hoping to meet Karl Urban.
Aug 1, 2018 19:05:32 GMT -5
Professor Ratigan: Cool! I think he's coming to my city in the fall, if I remember correctly. Hope you enjoy the con, Daryl!
Aug 2, 2018 19:10:23 GMT -5
Basil of Baker Street: I spoke too soon. Karl Urban had to cancel for schedule conflicts. They got Nick Frost though, I'm gonna ask him if he'll sign my Hot Fuzz.
Aug 3, 2018 18:08:47 GMT -5
Professor Ratigan: Dang! Nick Frost is great though, I love his character in Into the Badlands
Aug 4, 2018 22:54:36 GMT -5
Basil of Baker Street: Enjoy your weekend Kat, hope the costumes came out as you wanted.
Aug 10, 2018 16:49:31 GMT -5
Basil of Baker Street: Met Nick Frost and Michael Dorn at the weekend. Both very nice blokes.
Aug 13, 2018 15:22:59 GMT -5
Dodger: Happy 2019 everyone
Jan 1, 2019 10:54:04 GMT -5
Yen Sid: If anyone is passing by I posted a Hiatus update. Hope everyone is doing well!
Apr 18, 2021 11:31:09 GMT -5
Yen Sid: I've temporarily disabled account creation while I update the site. Sorry for the inconvenience and thanks for your patience!
May 9, 2021 18:31:45 GMT -5
Owen Burnett/Puck: Checked the site again and saw the update! Here's hoping to a revitalized 2022.
Dec 15, 2021 14:41:27 GMT -5